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Chapter 13 - General Carcass

Remus, Leo and Pompey, the dwarven Arch-Maester sat around a large round table in the Arch-Maesters tower.

Leo was in a triumphant mood after finally gaining his title of Maester and was content to sit silently while pretending to read a book about the history of the Midlands. Pompei continued to tinker and experiment with his new tool, the magicule microscope while Remus studied the leather-bound tome given to him by the Arch-Maester.

"Eureka!" Remus finally exclaimed.

This drew the attention of the other two men in the room.

"Have you finished your research?" Pompey asked. "How long will it take before you can begin creating magic swords?"

Remus lowered his head and seemed discouraged by the question.

"I now have the design but I need to learn all sorts of enchantments to actually produce one," he said. "You wouldn't happen to have another book that can teach me all the enchantments would you?"

The dwarf merely smiled. "Unfortunately, no such book has been written."

"But if you can convince the king, he may allow you to browse his collection of magic swords," Pompey continued. "The largest collection of the most powerful swords ever made, including Human, Elven, Dwarven and Orc are kept securely underneath the Royal palace in Newtown."

This seemed to lift Remus's spirits.

"I just need to find a way to do something for the King in order to gain that privilege," Remus said.

"I believe that you've achieved that already," Pompey said. "The word has spread about your heroism at the border. According to what I hear, you faced off against 1,000,000 orcs with nothing but a bow and arrow."

"That's a little exaggerated," Leo said. "But it doesn't surprise me that rumours have travelled halfway around the Kingdom so quickly."

"How do I meet the King then?" Remus asked.

"I will send two letters to the King and his top General, Lord Tacitus, requesting that they allow you to study his magic sword collection," Pompey said.

"Will that work?" Leo asked.

"I may not look it but I am a prominent member of the Ruling Council of the Kingdom," Pompey boasted. "My words carry weight. Once the King reads my letter, he will surely summon you and grant your request."

"I appreciate that," Remus said.

"Before you thank me just be careful what you wish for," the Dwarf said. "Your name has travelled far and wide. Your popularity will attract a few friends and a lot of enemies. Before you meet the King, you need to decide what it is that you would like to accomplish with your power."

Remus had a look of confusion.

"What power do I have?" Remus asked. "I don't have a title, an army or even a lot of gold."

"My dear boy, power isn't about titles, sword or gold," Pompey replied. "Power resides with whomever the people believe is powerful. All the members of the ruling council like me seclude ourselves and try and play up our importance to seem more powerful than we really are. Whether you know it or not, you have become the Champion of the people. The young warrior who tamed the Duke of the Eastlands and defeated 1,000,000 Orcs at Genesis singlehandedly."

Remus considered his words carefully.

"He has a point, Master Remus," Leo chimed in. "If I didn't know you at all and only heard about your deeds, I would've believed that you were a Legendary General and a skilled tactician. If you decide to lean into the image and portray yourself as that then you could accomplish much."

***

The next day, a messenger for Lord Tacitus, Commander General of the Imperial army, made his way through the busy streets of Oldtown as the merchants prepared their stalls and the first of their customers began to eye their wares.

The sun was just rising over the horizon and just beyond him, the Citadel and its tower loomed large. As he got closer to it, it got larger.

Once he arrived at the gates, merely showing the seal of the Imperial Army was enough to be let into the building.

"I have a message for Master Remus," the messenger said to the receptionist for the Arch-Maester. He is summoned to appear before Lord Tacitus."

"Give me the message and I will make sure that he receives it," she said.

"I can't do that," the messenger replied.

"Why not?" the secretary asked.

"I have orders to deliver it to him personally and escort him to Newtown as soon as possible," the messenger said.

***