Volume 1.1

The darkness of the forest surrounded young Garvin, he had a feeling that something was amiss but he just couldn't figure out what. It was almost as if there was some ghastly presence lurking within the dark waiting for its moment to reach out to him. The rustling of the leaves and the swaying of the branches caused him to look back at his path several times. There was of course nothing there, just the quiet, lonely dark of the Frevah forest. The Frevah forest consisted of a collection of woodlands that stretched northward into the Helios mountains and even beyond that to the great plains of Helder. This young man was now a full days trek into these woodlands, if he had been anyone else he would have easily been lost. However Garvin had spent most of his youth within the forests that surrounded his home. His grandfather loved to hunt and would often take him along to teach him about the perils of nature. The young man knew that one mistake here and it would be impossible for any help to come. The Frevah was too vast and he didn't have the means or know-how to mend any kind of severe injury that he could incur. To make matters worse no one would even know where to go looking for him. "Measure each step", was what his grandfather taught him and Garvin did his best to mimic his movements. He'd take a light step making sure of his footing in the tangle of roots before pressing onward.

The night air howled once more and he couldn't help but look back, he felt eyes on him unsure of where but he was almost certain they were there. "Show yourself," he called out but received no answer. Garvin had brought a sword for his travels, it was heavier than it looked, hand and a half sword is what they called it, its red hilt was a bit flashy but the black guard and pommel made up for it. Although he wasn't trained in its use he still brandished in front of him threateningly, he wasn't sure if he would need it but he felt better having it. He held there for what felt like lifetimes to him but it was to no avail. Garvin sheathed his sword, he was sure there was something their but decided it was just his nerves getting the better of him. He continued onward and let the feeling fall away.

Garvin had a long trek ahead of him before he would make it to the Town of Dorian. From there he'd find transport over the mountains and at last his travels could begin.The city of Rubic, his home, was far behind him but he could still feel the weight of it bearing down on him. His home Rubic is the largest City-state of the Dagorian empire. Its was the capital and where Felor Keep the home to the king presided. Being far to the south Rubic was always warm and as such its where most of the nobles would stay through the winter. Though he had spent his whole life in Rubic, he felt no fondness or love for the city he had called home. He was seventeen years old, very young, but still felt the wear and tear of age. Sitting with his family as the local lords prattled on about politics, border disputes, and the growing unrest of the Torvellan's to the east had become all too familiar to him. He was the heir apparent, " the man who will be king." A fact his father never failed to remind him of. He was expected to attend every event, listening but never speaking as was his duty. His father, the king, thought he could get some insight on the happenings of the kingdom from the parties he'd host. As the sole heir entertaining the king's court and subjects was naturally part of his job. It bored him to no end.

Garvin had no passion for politics, debate, or even the decadence of a party thrown by the king of an entire nation.

However none of that mattered now, smiling to himself as he continued down the path he had memorized months prior, he finally felt something he had been longing for, freedom. Welling up in his chest was a euphoria that swirled within his heart. With his new found confidence for the road ahead he felt invincible.

Drogian winters stretched southward from the northern peaks of the Helios Mountain range and where infamous for lasting long and being harsh. Though they were far to the south even Rubic and its people felt the bitter snap of the cold months. So as to alleviate the cold altogether, all nobles and most common folk would move towards their capital or be long prepared for the winter months. After four long frozen months the changing of the seasons came. When the last snow fell over the plain of Helder, the nobles would return to their homes, as was tradition and with that began the next tradition, commonly known as the long ride. The long ride began in the first month of spring and would last till the last noble of the kings court's home was visited by the king himself.

The night was cool and silent, and though Garvin was hopeful for what lay ahead of him he still couldn't help but look back. The eerie calm of the forest at night was haunting him once more. Every leaf that rustled and every branch that swayed gave him pause.. The trees where closer together now, harder to walk through, but still he persisted. The path he walked was a wayfarer's path that had been abandoned long ago. The Frevah was a place only a skilled hunter or tracker would ever dare to go. It was filled with all matters of superstitions and mystery, many had never returned home from a trek into these perilous woodlands. Garvin's destination was beyond the Frevah and over the Helios Mountains, an entire nation where no one knew the name Garvin Van Draig. Adventure is what he sought and with his father absent from the kingdom during the long ride Garvin had made his move. His plan was simple, once his father Antony II had left the city with his escort of knights and personal guards there wouldn't be many left in attendance within the keep itself. The only people that would concern themselves with him were the guardsman that never left the keep, and the various maids that attended the keeps daily needs. It was as simple as requesting various things from different maids to avoid arousing suspicion and requesting a dinner that was easily taken on long journeys. Once he had amassed enough supplies in secrecy he simply took a sword from the armory and was ready for his escape. His dark green cloak had been a gift from his grandfather, same for the boots and the dark leather jerkin he wore. In the dead of night he made his escape, he had been sneaking out of his home since he was a small so he considered himself an expert when it came to leaving a place unnoticed.

It wasn't long before the forest became far too dense and dark to continue. Yet the thought of Rubic being only a day behind him wasn't concerning enough for Garvin to do something foolish. So he began to put together a makeshift camp. He found a rather flat surface to drop his pack and to unroll his bedroll. He didn't have the means to make a tent but he did want to make a small fire for himself. Even this far south it was still rather cold in the dead of winter so he collected some suitable fire wood and started to work his flint and steel. It wasn't long before the first embers started to emerge and the warmth of flame sprang to life.