When Ethan and Angelina returned to the camp, they found four people waiting on the ship. There were three men and one woman: three knights in armor and a mage with a tall, pointed hat. They had arrived on griffins, creatures with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, native only to the Northlands. The Duke of the Northlands, known as the Hawk Duke, earned his title from these creatures. Legend has it that the first Hawk Duke a thousand years ago was the first griffin rider. With the griffin's unmatched mobility and his unparalleled strength, he made a name for himself in the Northlands and was crowned King of the North. This family has faithfully guarded the Northlands for generations, and now the current duke is the 46th in line. While empires have risen and fallen, the title of the King of the North has remained unchanged. Whenever a new dynasty emerged, their first move was to appease the Northern Duke with titles, lands, and power, highlighting his significance.
The Northlands Duke holds a unique position, being a duke of both the Aslan Empire and the Heringard Republic. It sounds absurd, but it's a fact. After the fall of the unified Tudor Empire a thousand years ago, human territories fragmented into numerous countries, each going through its own cycles of dynastic changes. The two largest countries today are the Aslan Empire and the Heringard Republic, both sharing borders with the Darkmoon Wasteland, home to orcs. This situation means that dividing the Northlands could compromise the safety of all humans. Instead of risking this, both countries continuously supply the Northlands with resources and manpower.
The Northlands are crucial for preventing orc invasions, acting as a stronghold that ensures the safety of the lands behind it. While this means the Northlands have little time for internal conflicts, it doesn't mean they accept their harsh life willingly. The Northern Duke has ways to maintain balance. If either country tries to abandon the Northlands, he'd withdraw his forces, leading to a catastrophic invasion of the mainlands by the orcs. With his elite troops, he could establish a new base, while the remaining human countries would struggle against the orc onslaught.
Thus, every new country must negotiate terms with the Northlands, ensuring a steady supply of manpower and resources. Essentially, the Northlands Duke's approval is a prerequisite for nation-building. The Northlands function almost like an independent country, with all the necessary infrastructure. However, as time passed, smaller countries, driven by greed and ignorance of the Northlands' plight, began shirking their responsibilities, leaving the burden on others. Even the largest countries, the Aslan Empire and the Heringard Republic, are tempted to do the same if not for their shared border.
Ethan understood these dynamics well. His assignment here was deeply connected to this situation. He sympathized with the Northlanders, who faced external threats and internal exploitation. The Northlands Duke's reliance on the mainlands to fulfill their obligations while avoiding internal conflicts was a flawed strategy, putting his fate in others' hands.
Reflecting on historical records, Ethan noted that whenever a major internal conflict arose, it was often preceded by orc invasions, suggesting possible collusion or opportunistic timing. If Ethan were the Northlands Duke, he couldn't see a clear solution either. Letting the orcs in would mean collective doom and a reputation as a traitor.
Ethan admired the Northlands Duke's dedication and noted his efforts to turn obligatory support into trade. Using trade routes, they attempted to supply the Northlands, but land routes were problematic, hence the shift to sea routes. This was why Ethan was stationed here. However, Ethan didn't understand why the Duke's representatives made such a public appearance, especially when the initiative wasn't fully legalized. Additionally, Ethan wasn't in a position of authority, making their visit seem futile.
With these thoughts, Ethan boarded his ship. The deck was cluttered with scattered goods and firewood, not from a fight but because the visitors had tossed them aside to make room for their griffins under a makeshift tarp. Frowning at the mess, Ethan said nothing. Andrev greeted him at the cabin door, informing him that the guests were waiting in the captain's cabin. Nodding silently, his face stern, Ethan walked in.
At the end of this chapter, I'd like to add a couple of words—not just to fill space, but because I envision this book to be quite lengthy. Feel free to guess boldly: what kind of person is the Duke of the Northlands? What kind of person is Nolan? To what heights will Ethan ultimately rise? If you have any characters or plot elements you'd like to see included, don't hesitate to let the author know.