Departure

Aymon's breath crystallized as soon as it came out of his mouth creating small clouds in the air. It was early in the morning and the last crates were hastily being loaded onto the ship. The dwarfs worked hard the past two days to organize the supplies needed with a more than satisfying result. Enough ammunition and weapons to maintain the frontline for several months were delivered. Some of the guards were bribed to pass the controls confirming his theory that the officials in this region were corrupted to the core.

"Brrr, cold. It seems that winter is approaching." Samira came down from the vessel warming herself up by rubbing her arms.

"Seems so, we should hurry up with the transportation of the weapons otherwise we won't be able to defend ourselves when they attack us. Anyway, how does it look with the placement of the explosives on the Empires ships?"

"We are as good as finished only two ships are missing and that one" She pointed towards the one that was being repaired.

"Skip that one, we don't have much time since we are going to depart in about an hour. I don't want to stay here longer than needed. And what are the result of your investigation regarding the Clodagh Company?"

"Not much, they seem to be the wealthiest merchant company in the whole Empire. Their head office is in the capital and they seem to control about eighty per cent of the market. Rumours say that neither the police nor the army can really go against them since they are partly financed by them. Sadly I couldn't find out more about them."

"That's not really reassuring, it seems that their influence is reaching out everywhere, probably even in our country. I don't like that, I don't like that at all. Sigh... problems keep piling up without an end in sight."

"Well, that's good otherwise life would be boring wouldn't it?" A mischievous smile showed on her face.

Workers were going up and down the pier with the crates as they were talking when Omrax suddenly appeared before them.

"We are soon finished with loading the ship, I suggest that you immediately leave after we concluded. You're already starting to attract unwanted attention." He looked in the direction of two persons wearing trenchcoats and were drinking coffee at a restaurant nearby.

"I will count on your help when we are in the same pinch as you now, therefore don't you dare die on me. Here is also a gift from my part, so that you can kick their asses with my regards, ahahah."

Omrax gave him a case containing a double-barreled rifle. The magazines were two revolver drums for each barrel that looked out on the sides of the rifle. Each of them could hold seven shots allowing him to shoot fourteen times in total. A doubled scope was attached on the upper side one for close distance and the other one for long distances.

"I spent the past two nights crafting it, since I heard that your magic power is so big that it always destroys the weapon you wield I made sure to create a durable one. It should work well with your capabilities so I hope you like it. I named it Svarog like our god of craftsmanship."

"I... I don't know what to say, you helped us more than enough with the supplies and now you even present me with this wonderful weapon. I'll make sure to greet the Empires, soldiers, with it."

"Ahahah, I didn't gift it to you but I traded it don't forget your promise lad."

Omrax waved at them as he left the port with his workers. The ship was now filled to the brim with the necessary resource to fight a war.

"We should leave now that everything is ready, how far are the two teams we sent out to apply explosives?"

"One just returned, but there are no new of the second team."

"Send someone to search for them if they don't return in thirty minutes we will depart without them, including the person you sent. Prepare the ship to leave at any moment and don't make anything suspicious since we are being watched."

As Samira sent someone and prepared the departure Aymon sat down and waited for a while observing the activities on the port. One of his men approached him, it was a High Elf.

"Want a cigarette Lieutenant?"

"Thank you for the offer but I don't smoke"

"Quite the nerve-wracking situation we are in huh. I wouldn't be able to handle it without my share of tobacco."

A small trail of smoke came out of his mouth and spread the odour of the plant nearby. The cigarette fell on the ground the moment they were startled by a shot fired in the distance. Shortly after more shots followed while civilians ran away in panic. Soldiers ran down the street towards the sound of the shots and screams.

"Immediately start the machines we are departing now, move move move! Detonate the explosives as soon as we are 500 meters away. I want immediately every man who is not busy starting the ship on the railing and shooting at any approaching enemy."

Hectic broke out on the ship as everyone was wildly running around and starting the vessel.