Chapter 6 Marcus

 Marcus woke up as he always had and always will. Early enough to wake their neighbor Daniels rooster up before the annoying old bird could do it to him. Daniel had lived next to Marcus for close to Eighteen years now and he could swear the rooster was there even longer. 

Moving out of the bed quietly enough to not disturb his beautiful wife Lydia he quickly got dressed. Entering the main room he poured a cup of Ale to quench his morning thirst. Normally he would walk down the hill to the well at the center of town but it was far too cold for him to want to do that. It's not like the water was the safest anyway at least in alcoholic form it was distilled and not carrying any diseases. 

Slipping on his boots he walked outside to his forge. Starting the fire and preparing all his materials beforehand was always apart of his routine. While he was a simple smith in a rural village many came from outside areas to request his work. He prided himself on being able to quickly and efficiently complete any and all orders he received.

Today was even more important that most days. A royal order had been sent from the capital itself requesting a very large amount of arrow heads within a handful of weeks. Normally orders for weapons and armors were reserved for smiths within cities or guilds so if he was receiving them it could only mean the war with Arendin their southern neighbor was about to have a spurt of high intensity warfare. 

A new stage in the war was both good and bad for Marcus. It did mean more business and thus more money but at the same time Cardonia had already been at war for a handful of years now so the treasury had to be running on fumes. Since the deafen at the grey mountains along the border over a year ago the war had turned into a stalemate with neither country able to gain any advantage over the others. With rumors of a Ceadlaeryn potentially joining Arendin's side in the war Cardonia might even have the tides turned against her.

Remembering his years in the army well over a year ago now he knows full well the tribute a defeated nation would have to pay. They had done the same thing to Luirenda there western neighbor when our previous kind George II waged a war to force Luirenda to become a client state of Cardonia.

That was another reason losing the war would be bad. If Luirenda sensed our kingdom was weak they would not hesitate to betray us. Esting being nearby the border would almost certainly be caught in the crossfire.

He would have to make some form of preparations incase of that happening. However that was for the future at the current moment he needed to get work done since he had an extra mouth to feed now. Not that he couldn't afford it Marcus just had a goal to turn his small forge into a larger workshop so the more money he saved the faster he could accomplish that.

"Hey Marcus! ready to get to work?" He recognized that voice. It as Edwin. He was a very close friend more akin to a brother to him. They had served together side by side when they were in the army almost twenty years ago. He was the unofficial bailiff of the village and their closest thing to a mayor or guard.

He didn't collect taxes for himself like most other mayors he only collected them for the duke which meant most people got to keep even more of their crops than most other villages. He relied on handouts and working with Marcus whenever possible. Everyone either loved him, respected him, or both so everyone kept him feed without question.

"Yeah. lets get to work we've got a big order for arrowheads from the capital." Marcus put his gloves on and got ready to work "So the king really is going to launch another offensive." Edwin is amused by the idea. Unlike Marcus Edwin actually enjoyed serving in the army. He thrived in war unlike most men.

"Hopefully it's over soon. I like the money but I'd hate to see any young men from the village get levied to go fight." Marcus began pouting the melted iron into the cast iron molds.

 "The good news is that your boy is too young to go eh Marcus." Edwin knew Marcus well. Including what he was sensitive to.

"He is not my boy Ed." Marcus grunted at the attempt to provoke him. "Oh come on Mark I know if you actually hated him you would be talking shit. Instead you just avoid mentioning him. Means ya like him." Edwin whole heartedly believed what he was saying. "Drop it Edwin." Marcus annoyance was a lot more audible this time.

"Fine, fine. By the way did you hear what happened in the capital?" Edwins question intrigued Marcus. News took along time to spread so to make it all the way out here it must be interesting.

"Apparently that fool Adrian and a large part of the royal cabal were found dead from some sort of failed ritual. From what I hear Kayla stepped up as the new head of the Cabal." The news was shocking. Adrain despite Edwin calling him a fool was a very powerful mage very experienced. Marcus had even seen him in battle a couple times. What really peaked Marcus's interest was the mention of a failed ritual. "Do you know what the ritual was?" Marcus had a hunch that he wanted to confirm.

"Nah. The investigation is still ongoing but I'm sure Kayla would know. I would say see if she remembers you and ask her but who am I kidding she is way to important now to see a commoner." He was right the last time he saw Kayla she was just a child working the land with her parents until the mages sensed her potential and took her. There was no way for him to get an audience.

With the sun now going down and a large amount of their quota done Edwin convinced Marcus to go grab some drinks at the local Inn. It was located some thirty minutes away from the village and a popular destination for merchants going to and from Cardonia and Luirendia.

They pass under the sign hanging above the door reading Silver fox inn and took their usual seats by a window at the back left of the building where the breeze was the best. It was always a busy Inn but today it was much busier that usual being almost completely packed. The bar maid Valoria brought them each a mug of beer as she usually did.

"Hey Val. Who are all of these people? They all look foreign." Edwin spoke before I had the chance. "We'll Eddy that's because most of them are foreign. Some are hunters and adventurers going to find the griffon that was spotted in the mountains a couple days ago. Most however are mercenaries coming from across the strait to answer the princes call." Valoria took a second to glance around the room Marcus followed her example.

Many had odd tattoos and hairstyles. They mostly spoke in an unknown language or with a heavy accent. What they all had in common was that every single one was armed.

Valoria continued "Most should be leaving after tomorrow. I talked to one of the mercenaries and he said they planned on leaving for the capital tomorrow morning."

That made Marcus set down his drink for a moment. "Mercenaries? The crown is broke how can we afford Mercenaries? Don't tell me the king took out yet another loan from the elves." Edwin look up at Marcus's words. The crown was already to far in debt for Marcus to see it paid off in his life time. More debt meant higher taxes and that would almost certainly doom his plan for a new workshop.

Valoria chucked. "My goodness you really spend to much time at that forge of yours. You really didn't hear?" Valoria pointed at all the prices at the bar. They were all discounted. "We are celebrating Crown prince Oswins victory against Arendin. Apparently he crushed a force of ten thousand and sacked some city that held The Arendinain's entire treasury. We will certainly win now."

After spreading the news Valoria left to go attend the other patrons of the bar.

"Well that is both great and shocking news." Edwin had a unreadable expression on his face as he spoke. "Marcus! My greatest friend. It is time to celebrate and get Hammered!" Edwin stood up and shouted at valoria following his declaration "Two more!" Valoria shot him a dirty look.

They spend a couple hours knocking back drinks to get very drunk. They were seasoned veterans at drinking so it took a good while and a Lot of beer. Eventually they alongside any others not sleep at the inn were kicked out.

They swayed as they walked back to their homes bleching and burping as they went. "Marcus…" Edwin paused to burp. "Man you really gotta be noicer to tha boy ya know." Edwin Nudged Marucus's shoulder. Marcus hiccuped before opening his mouth to speak. "I know Ed. It's just that I don wanna lose Anotha son man." Marcus barley caught himself before he tripped over his own foot. Edwin grabbed his arm and they used each other as support.

"Yah ya ya I get it brotha but he is already gonna get it hard enough with the hair and the eyes and all." Edwin was the one to trip over his foot this time. Failing to catch Himself he brought Marcus with him as he fell to the ground. Instead of moving they just laid there.

"The Ascension day festival is coming up. Take Alexander with you mark." Edwin turned on his Side to vomit. " yeah I probably will. It's not like Lydia would go with out him anyway and we haven't missed one in over a decade." Marcus knew he acted like he hated Alex but in reality he just didn't want Lydia or himself to suffer another lost son.

A moment later it was Marcus's turn to start vomiting. Neither of them ever did get home that night.