In the same day a few hours before even Heikko got out of bed, in a camp about 40km away from the city of Drakki, there was a group of 20 heavily armed people with almost 100 horses with them.
the place where they were was in a field on the side of the road that connected the community of Drakki with the central area where the Assembly of Alpingi was.
this place had a small forest about 30 meters from the clean area of obstacles and on the other side the wall of a cliff more than 100 meters away.
While visibility was good, this was a place prone to suffering from a surprise attack, but under the guard of 12 Black Iron Practitioners, 9 Copper Practitioners and 4 Silver Practitioners, an ambush was the most difficult to take effect.
This group, of course, was the Drakkison family group, they rest here being still early to leave, so that they could arrive with good energy to attend to all the matters that would be waiting for them, while 12 members of the guard were resting and 8 were guarding, the Great Chief, their son and his commander had a talk inside the main store.
Even when it was a casual talk, it could notice the seriousness of the matter in the faces of those present.
'' Father seems that things get complicated with the distribution of permits, I do not think that Snoith Sturlengar allows so easy that the permits are distributed in a way that is inconvenient for him ''
Jarhaid said as he thought about what his father had told him about the Alpingi meeting and how this had concluded, although Jarhaid was young, he had the head to be able to think more wildly and be able to make implications that his father could not because they would be dangerous political issues.
Ulfthein was thinking for a moment and with a neutral voice that could not perceive the slightest surprise, he said.
`` I would doubt more if he let things be so simple and easy, with people like Snoith Sturlengar you should not only doubt every action he takes but even his inaction, you are still too young to understand this type of individual ''
Jarhaid frowned and looked at his father Ulfthein with a little disbelief, although he knew that Snoith Sturlengar was savvy and resourceful, he was annoyed as it seemed that his father had some admiration for this subject that he thought was not that of a big deal.
"But father ... I don't think Snoith Sturlengar reaches that point of being able to plot something so complicated ..."
Ulfthein turned to look at his son who at 17 and was already a Silver Practitioner, although his martial talent was high, it was more than clear that even with an intelligent head he lacked experience dealing with problems of political and social levels.
with some deception that disappeared in an instant, Ulfthein answers Jarhaid
'' That is Snoith Sturlengar's greatest talent, to go unnoticed ... for most people he does not seem like the big deal, this is so, that many think that the fortune that has managed to accumulate is only a matter of mere luck, but by the time you realize his true character then it's too late, for someone young and inexperienced as you, Snoith Sturlengar is the worst rival or enemy you can run into. ''
Jarheid frowned more and seeing that his father dismissed him by drawing his conclusions from Snoith Sturlengar and the permits, he added a few words.
'' Even so, I think we should be attentive to the movements of the other Gode's, Snoith Sturlengar may be as intelligent as you say, but I don't think everyone is equally intelligent, father, the position we are in is increasingly compromised! if we are still waiting, there will be no one to defend the autonomy of the island! ''
Ulfthein remained silent looking in front of him a mug of fermented mare's milk.
'' There are times that you have to wait for the right time to fill your stomach, a single mistake and instead of eating a fragrant cheese you will have to eat rotten milk that will take you to the grave, everything has its moment and this is not our time to take action, even when the island is small, the interests are great, an armed conflict is not the solution, we have not reached that point yet.''
Jarheid was outraged by his father's words, in his eyes there was a touch of boldness and desperation, that his father was not direct and simply easily resolved this by the sword, but when he met his gaze with that of his Father, this unwillingness disappeared at the instant.
'' ... ''
his father's gaze was penetrating like a flaming blade, this could shake anyone's soul just by looking into his eyes, there was a touch of madness and blood craving on them, it wasn't the first time he looked at his father with this look, but this time it was mainly intense.
That's when he understood his mistake, his Father was not running away from combat, Ulfthein was fighting at every moment of his life! Everything he did was directed to combat and his war efforts, if he did not fight directly for the hegemony of the Island was because he was waiting for the right time!
'Perhaps ... my father got to a realm of fighting spirit beyond my understanding? ... how is it even possible to get there?'
Jarheid was petrified for a few seconds before he could speak and ease the atmosphere a bit.
'' The most immediate thing to organize would be the new fleet to be able to use the permit..., the cost to be able to make the 5 ships of the fleet is nearly 7,000 gold coins, even so, the number of men we require is quite high, if we disperse some men who are as free troops, we will weaken the free forces for at least the next 3 or 4 years, father, do you intend to keep the Permit? ''
Ulfthein when he saw that his son changed the subject, he thought about this problem, although he had money to spend, 7,000 gold coins was not a small sum, he had many expenses to pay and the income was few, he already had 30 ships of war which keep from their own pocket and 50 trade local ships also thing of 4 merchant fleets with permission of 20 ships.
If he had hands-free good commander it was simple to be able to establish a successful merchant fleet and could see results of his investment in a matter of 2 years or less if the leader of the fleet was someone who was a fool then this would die at sea and he would lose his money stupidly.
Thinking for a few seconds what was the best course of action, he decided to take things on the side that implied more risks and at the same time more benefits.
"Since we are aiming to counteract the Sturlengar faction then we must take risks, when we arrive we will begin to establish the fleet."
Jarhaid upon hearing this could not help letting out a happy smile when he saw that his father was aggressive towards his political enemies, but the following words moved him even more.
'' You are already a man and what you need is experience to see through the plans of people like Snoith Sturlengar, in my plans it was that you train cleaning monsters and Sub-races in the vicinity for another 3 years before letting you go to experience the world, but since you are destined to fight against deceitful enemies as Snoith Sturlengar, the faster you experience the world the better! "
Jarhaid stayed with his mouth open and had an idea of his father's next words, and this did not disappoint him because they were just what he thought.
Ulfthein turned to see Arnar who had remained silent from the beginning, already had several jars of fermented milk in his stomach and seemed satisfied with it.
"Arnar in view that you are the best sailor on the island and under my Godi, I appoint you as a newly established fleet navigator, I hope and help Jarheid get out of any problem that this son of mine can give you."
Arnar upon hearing this, he lowered the jar and with an uneven laugh patted Jarhaid heavily on the back, the blow resonated in the tent.
"HAHA, trust him with me! Since he is my son-in-law, I will not leave my daughter being such a young widow and take good care of him! Jarhaid I have seen you grow up since childhood and I am sure you will be an excellent Chief in the future! Even more than the wise of your father! ''
Arnar laughed again with a loud voice and this time patted Ulfthein, unlike Jarheid he only reacted with a slight smile and the blow was choked as if it were a dense material, Arner just removed his hand and rubbed it.
Jarheid reacted to what his father had said, he was somewhat incredulous but when processing all the information that had suddenly come to him, he got up and gave a formal hug to his father who had also risen.
PAC PAC!
both slapped each other hard on the back and jarhaid as he retired he looked respectfully and gratefully to his father.
"Thank you father, for the trust and opportunity, I will bring honors to the Drakkison family and the Norsmans!"
Ulfthein smiled a little with the corner of his lips and said in a serious tone.
"I do not expect less from you, just do not die stupidly and impulsively, impulsivity is the greatest value of youth and also its greatest weakness"
Jarhaid took his father's advice seriously, after all, he had just given him a fleet of 2 warships with 60 men each and 3 merchant ships with 20 men each!
a total of 180 people under his command! at 17 this was simply unthinkable, there were historical characters who had embarked even younger and had great myths after going out to sea, but that was not the norm, besides those were legendary characters that would be sung by the troubadours for centuries come!
Arnar seeing father and son could not help adding a bad joke.
"Haha, of course, that he cannot die, even if it costs me my life, I will bring him in one piece, if something happened to him then the only one who would follow in the line of successor would be Heikko! Haha, that boy is a lost case! HAHA .. ., sorry''
Arnar fell instantly that he felt a couple of cold looks on him, he could only get depressed from the fact that both the father and the eldest son spoiled the second child too much, being the one who had inherited most of the characteristics of the mother, had a great weight in the heart of the Drekkison family, if it were not so, something else would be, but a shame that it was.
"Maybe my brother will not be a great warrior in the future, but after all, he is still a Drekkison, so he is destined to be someone peculiar, I respect you as my fiancee's father and even more like Sailor Arnar, but any offense to the family is out of place ''
Jarhaid did not want to fight for something like this, but in front of him he would not allow them to offend his younger brother, even when Heikko seemed to have a great aversion to him, Jarhaid continued to take care of him.
Ulfthein for his part was more composed and he just added a few words so as not to have a conflict over something so small.
"In short, Heikko is still young and has great possibilities, do not belittle someone for his modest appearance, who would say that someone like Snoith Sturlengar could control almost 30% of the entire island's trade with that face?"
Arnar scratched his head with some grief and with a muted laugh he tried to calm the matter.
`` Hehe, I know how much you love Heikko, I just think you should have a little more hard hand with him, even Lydia has managed to enter Black Iron Practitioner at such a young age, I don't think you could expect less from Heikko ... ''
but before finishing Arnar his sentence ...
'' Enemy attack !! defend the center they have archers! They are goblins and ... Goblins and Kobolds !! ''
At the end of saying this, a loud shout that woke everyone up at the camp
Jarheid took the shield from the floor and unsheathed his sword quickly, for this his father Ulfthein had already taken the ax from his back and even when it was 2 hands he held it with one hand and with the other hand a round shield.
the blade of his father's ax was a vibrant green Oricalcum but had vermillion red waves crossing the edge of it, the ax transmitted a thirst for blood that was obvious even to a civilian.
Arnar also had an ax although it was not from Orichalcum, yet it was of excellent material and in his hands, you could see that he had more than 1 digit of enemies cut by it.
when they left the store, the guards were already in front of the camp fighting with the Goblins and Kobolds.
At the back of the shields of the guards were already Agatrhia and Lydia with a pair of bows shooting with certainty to the Kobolds that fired arrows at the unprotected positions of the guards.
Ulfthein snorted as he saw an arrow fall at his feet, when he saw that the arrow had a polished iron metal tip, his face showed more his contempt for these enemies, and those who had set a trap to him using sub-species.