Arcane splendor begins with the throne

Chapter 165 Brynden

"It's snowing in Amastasha?!"

Brynden sat restlessly on horseback, wearing an old black mail shirt, a studded belt, and a long sword and dagger at his waist.

A dirty gray woolen cloak trimmed with purple forged edges was attached to the shoulders, soaked in water, and embroidered on the chest was a emblem of a purple dragon spreading its wings and swooping with the earth as the background.

It is simply too abnormal that it will snow in the territory of Amastassia.

He couldn't help thinking with a gloomy face: The Kingdom of Amastasia, the last pure land of the elves: the plain of Lolastro, which was once green and beautiful.

The Yuexi River flows from the plain to the Golden Bay. This clear river has been rushing and deep long before reaching the plain.

Because Blacktman's wild mountains and Dusk Forest are rainy all the year round, countless springs and streams have been born, all of which flow into the Moonbrook River, and the entire Lorasdro Plain around the river has become fertile and pleasant.

The silvery brook flows from the Twilight Forest to Lorasjo,

In Lorastrium in the verdant fields,
The grass grows and flowers bloom,

Beneath the fragrant hillsides,
The leaves are long, the vines are green,
The elf river was surging.

……

Brynden was glad that he had been silent in the ocean of book knowledge, which allowed him to understand the secrets of many races.

Many sages believe that the plains of Lolastro are the cradle of the elves.

The tide of elves started from here, flocked to the outside world, conquered and occupied the entire Asno world, and finally lost the last pure land of "Lolas Zhuo" 500 years ago, and completely withdrew from the big stage of history.

However, such an adventurous spirit still appears from time to time in the plains of 'Lolastriol'.

Many elves came out of the Dusk Forest and came to the port city of Abrela to explore their destiny as mercenaries, adventurers, and exiles.

This group of long-lived races has never forgotten their past glory, and they have never forgotten the former Lolastro Plain, the last touch of pure land.

However, this is not what it used to be. Brynden walked all the way under the forest wall surrounded by Blackman and Dusk Forest. What he saw was that most of the area had been turned into wasteland, full of weeds and thorns.

The roses that the Tasha people were once proud of have turned into despised wild roses.

They have spiky thorns that are unapproachable, creeping on the ground, climbing up bushes and river banks, forming fluffy caves, and even many small animals live in them.

There are no tall trees on the plain, but among the weeds, you can vaguely see the stumps left by the old trees that were burned and cut down.

It was a dreary country, dead silent save for the sound of the rushing river rushing over the pebbles, and the smoke and steam drifting and lingering in the hollows under low, sullen clouds.

Brynden was even a little skeptical about the frustrating end his journey would lead to.

The road he walked had to pass through the Dusk Forest before he could reach the great plain kingdom of Campos until he reached Tigrila.

Yes, his destination is the royal city of Tigrela, and he must complete the first task assigned to him by Duke Purple Dragon, Brynden kept reminding himself in his heart.

His original travel plan was to start from the Golden Feather City in the Kingdom of West, along the Goblin Wasteland to Yandi Town under the Thunderstone Mountain Range.

Then, pass through the deserted trade route hidden in Blackman from the border of the Kingdom of West, so that you can reach the Kingdom of Tegrila as quickly as possible.

However, the plan could not keep up with the changes.

Although he had already been prepared to be on guard against the elves that suddenly appeared on this deserted trade road, and the sharp arrows that shuttled through the forest, he did not expect evil humanoid creatures that were more terrifying than elves.

Not only has he heard of the goblin wanderers and kobold warlocks known as the "Two Heroes of the Wilderness", he has also witnessed the tragic scene of the followers of the God of Hunting slaughtering the village. Spotted by a group of ogres.

With so many dangers, he had to give up his plan to take shortcuts and choose the relatively safe route through the two kingdoms of Amastacia and Campos.

After all, he had already walked through it once when he went to Golden Feather City, so he was naturally very familiar with it.

Because of this, he wasted a lot of time.

At this time, Brynden was located in the north of the Amastaxia Kingdom, and was leading a group of people towards the Moonbrook River.

The place is overgrown with weeds, rocky and rugged, and he knows very well that this road at the foot of Blackman Mountain is difficult to walk in normal weather, let alone after the snow last night. Get muddy.

It's really weird, Amastacia can also snow, and it's still in late autumn, he couldn't help complaining in his heart.

Of course, the snow did not fall very much, and the next morning, when the first light of dawn appeared, it melted away.

Regardless, Brynden still felt the anomaly was a bad omen.

The heavy rain, rising water, looting by evil humanoids and wars some time ago have caused civilians to lose two opportunities to harvest crops in succession.

In fact, they couldn't harvest the crops at all, because the roses in the field, which the Tasha people called 'gold', were covered with hideous thorns and became worthless.

A rose that blooms into a disaster is not brilliant, but desolate.

The common people of this kingdom that is proud of 'roses' are so stupid that they choose to grow flowers instead of growing food. It is really difficult for Brynden to understand their thoughts.

If this continues, if the cold wave comes quickly, there will definitely be a famine, and many Tasha people will not be able to fill their stomachs, and even starve to death.

This guess is not correct, because they have already started to suffer from famine. Walking along the way, he saw many Tasha people fleeing to the south to escape the famine.

Where can they escape to?thought Brynden.

He had heard his marquis father tell him the story of the mountain people in the north of Tigrila.

Because the life in the mountains is very difficult, whenever the cold wave comes, the snow covers the sky, and the food is seriously scarce, the young people there have to leave their hometowns and go south to work in the city or a castle, while the old people leave the remaining food for the women and children and gather together. With all his strength, he headed to the Dragon's Spine Mountains, claiming to be out hunting.

In fact, they can only chew their memories and die alone in the ice and snow. Some bones may still be found in spring, while others will disappear forever...

The purpose of his marquis father telling this story is to tell him that although they have an unsatisfactory life, they have a heart to cope with difficulties.

Where can these victims flee to?
Dusk Forest?

Gnolls, ogres, trolls, even kobolds and goblins, these vicious humanoids would happily throw their hands up in favor of this benevolent suggestion.

I just don't know how the elf's sharp arrow will feel?
Perhaps Abrera City is their most correct choice.

Brynden only hoped that he would never become one of them, he thought pitifully in his heart.

But as far as his luck was concerned, it was not impossible.

He never had luck, Brynden smiled bitterly.

Yeah, he's a doom-ridden man.

This damn misfortune has been accompanying him ever since the day he was born.

This reminded him of his own bits and pieces.

From the moment he was born, his mother died in childbirth. For this, his heir brother never forgave him.

It is said that the children born due to dystocia, these poor people, seem to be born with guilt and bad luck.

This is the fact.

He would never have luck, and the most notable features of the Tigrila were: a sturdy, strong body, with extremely broad shoulders and chest, and his father and brother had all inherited this feature.

But he had inherited his mother's middle height and build, and could never have been a mighty knight.

His mind is not enough to be a scholar, his piety is not up to the standard of a priest, his talent will never be able to become a wizard, and his character determines that he cannot be a qualified mercenary and adventurer.

Brynden felt that the gods were very stingy to him, leaving him nothing but the birth of the second son of the Marquis of the River in Stormwind City.

If you pursue it seriously, at least it will leave him with the curse of bad luck like a magic swordsman, so that he has no luck at all, he thought bitterly.

When he was ten years old, he was sent by his father to his mother's family, the city of Ajmal, to be the adopted son of his infertile viscount uncle.

At that time, everyone thought he would become the future Viscount Brynden, but Blackman's elf ruined everything for him.

Before he was even ready to leave, his viscount uncle was shot through the chest by an elf ranger while hunting in the woods. Because he had not had time to appoint him, his uncle's title and territory were also taken back.

So when he was 13 years old, his father tried his best to get him a chance to become the servant and companion of the illegitimate prince in the King City of Tigrila.

Unfortunately, when he was sent to Tigrila City, the half-elf prince, who is now the Duke of Zilong, had already escaped from the palace ahead of time, and he had to be sent back the same way.

On his name day, his father won him a position as a personal bodyguard with the Governor of Longshou Port.

However, Goddess of Luck never favored him. Longshou Port was jointly overthrown by mercenaries, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lord of the Storm Islands, and pirate organizations, and declared independence, becoming the first free federal trade port city on the mainland.

And the governor's body was mercilessly thrown into the sea.

Despite this, Brynden still did not choose to give up on his future. He honed his combat skills in the martial arts training ground in Stormy Waves City, and enriched his knowledge in his father's library.

Perhaps it was his firm belief not to succumb to fate that made misfortune miss him again.

Last year, his marquis father still did not give up and asked for a young daughter of the earl's family back for him.

There was no reversal of fortune, and as usual, on his wedding night, the slender, iconic bride told him that she had grown up like a conformist, conformist golem , So she wanted to pursue her own future, so she burned the wedding house while he was not paying attention, jumped into the Aurum River, and disappeared without a trace since then.

Brynden could hardly believe his luck.

Under such heavy blows, even he himself didn't know why he hadn't fallen completely, but instead was inexplicably inspired to fight.

Perhaps it is the unwillingness of fate.

On a clear and starless night, with no land, no money, and only a suit of armor, a sword, and a horse, he quietly left without anyone watching.

He came to Longshou Port and joined five small mercenary regiments.

There is no doubt that these mercenary groups were either buried in the underground mines full of monsters in the dwarven kingdom, or disappeared in the vast snowfields of the orc tribe.

There was even a wife of a mercenary regiment leader who got a rash, so that the dozen or so members of the entire mercenary regiment, except him, all suffered.
The thrilling and chaotic mercenary adventure career made him drift like rootless duckweed in Longshou Port.

Fortunately, on such a day, an idea came up to him inadvertently: to go to Golden Feather City, to take a closer look at the real Sky Overlord Griffon.

Who would have thought that he would accidentally run into the competition held by the old King of West for the princess, and let him happen to meet Brian, the newly appointed Duke of Longshougang.

The illegitimate son of the Tegrila royal family, the titular lord of Dragonshead Harbor and the Storm Islands.

These familiar words seemed to tell him that all the attendants and personal bodyguard positions he had missed were waving to him.

In his opinion, this is called destiny.

This made him start to believe in fate.

Destiny has many faces. His fate is beautiful on the outside, but hides a terrifying essence. It is like the river in Stormy Waves, swirling around him, making his steps heavy, but he must not turn back, otherwise he will only sink. into the bottom.

So, without hesitation, he knelt down in front of the new duke, swore an oath in the name of the land and rivers, and swore allegiance to the lords of Longshou Harbor and the Storm Islands.

"May Asno, the long night is dark and the smoke disappears, and the day is bright and prosperous. May you see the essence of the world, the truth surrounds you, and everything is clear at a glance... Please, I am Brian, the lord of Longshou Harbor and the Storm Islands... ..."

Brynden recalled the Duke's congratulatory speech again. The blessing in his words was not his own territory, but the whole world.

With that serious face and solemn and sacred words, it seemed that he had become the real ruler of the world.

The strange thing is that he was not surprised by such 'arrogant' words. Instead, he was so excited that he seemed to be performing an unforgettable ancient ritual, just like what was sung in the poet's ballad.

This finally gave him the motivation and goal to move forward.

Thinking of this, Brynden touched his chest subconsciously, and took out a pendant worn around his neck.

On the pendant is a gold coin engraved with a woman's face, and the surrounding space is dotted with a circle of golden clover.

"May Tymora, the goddess of fortune, protect me."

He touched his lucky gold coin and prayed devoutly in his heart.

This is a gift from the Duke of Longshougang to himself, and there is also a meaningful sentence:

One should act boldly to truly live.In most cases, the courage and determination to take risks are far more important than careful planning.

Never hesitate, trust the goddess and leave yourself to your destiny.

Believe in the luck you have, you are your own master, and the goddess will let you know whether it is luck or bad luck this time.

As long as you go forward and pursue your dreams bravely, the goddess will help you.

Without any set goal or direction, you will quickly fall into the arms of Beshaba and experience the "mercy" of doom—that is, the lack of mercy.

…………

There is no doubt that the young duke has investigated his past clearly.

Although this is just an ordinary gold coin, in Brynden's view, this is his lucky gold coin.

Whenever he was about to set off early the next morning, or when he felt restless, he would take out this lucky gold coin and pray to Goddess Timola.

Because of this, a group of 11 of them successfully entered the land of Amastacia from Rockland Town without hindrance.

Eleven people... he thought bitterly.

In fact, his escort team included him and Tistan of the White Crow Mercenary Group, a total of 19 people, including 4 noble children from Tigrila, 6 wandering mercenaries and warriors, and 7 free riders.

But on the day they set off, when they learned about their next mission and the Duke who had never shown his face, five of them shook their sleeves and left angrily on the spot.

After the other 2 people arrived in Yandi Town, when he said that he planned to go to Tegrila from the Kingdom of Amastacia, they left disappointed again.

As for the last person... There was a hint of guilt in Brynden's eyes. It was a young man who had just turned 16. Like him, he was also a noble child of Tigrila.

What left the deepest impression on him was his innocent smile and his longing for an ideal future.

He had clearly warned the young man not to leave the campfire at night, but he fell asleep. Although he was awakened by his shouts, he chased the monster out immediately and drove the monster away. , but the young man's heart had long been taken out, and even his family crest, two intertwined war hammers, was only half left.

The boy stayed after his patient persuasion.Unfortunately, he could never bring him back to Tigrila.

This is the first partner they have lost from Golden Feather City to the present, and Brynden can only secretly pray that this is just the beginning, and it is also the end.

He dispelled his sad thoughts, collected his mood, and concentrated on driving the horse to continue on the road.

At this time, they were preparing to go to the upper reaches of the Moon Creek River. As long as they reached the riverside and crossed the Moon Creek River, they would officially enter the Dusk Forest.

Then go through the forest and reach Campos, the plain kingdom, so that he can return to his hometown, Stormy Waves City, unimpeded.

He had already secretly made up his mind that no matter what, he would persuade his marquis father to get a team from him to help him develop under the Duke of Longshougang and help him gain a firm foothold.

After all, Kapas, the head of the White Crow Mercenary Group, directly swore allegiance to more than 500 members of his entire mercenary group.

As for him, he was just a loner.

If you want to pursue it seriously, the 8 people who followed him are actually his nominal companions.

However, it was the Duke of Longshou Port that they took refuge in, not him.

Although the Duke entrusted these people to him to manage, he did not entrust him with how to make these people follow him wholeheartedly.

Brynden couldn't help but glance back.

As usual, there were 11 of them, 4 horses, and [-] carriages.

Except for the two wandering mercenaries who explored the road, and a free rider who was in charge of breaking the rear, the remaining seven people were all sitting in the carriage.

Just when the group of them was about to struggle out from the muddy dirt road, two wandering mercenaries riding black horses appeared in his sight.

Brynden knew that the explorer had returned, so he hurriedly drove his horse to meet him.

"Hey, Mr. Xianyu, I found a tavern in front of me. The main building is located on the north bank of Yuexi River, and the long and low houses can extend to the river. There is no doubt that this is a ferry tavern."

The speaker was a poet on horseback with a lute on his back. He was short, about 30 years old, with very thin black hair, faded green clothes patched here and there with old leather, and around his waist. There is a circle of sharp flying knives and a dangling bayonet.

He was Ream 'The Onion', and he got that nickname because his songs, like an onion, could always make people cry.

Of course, this was of no use to him.

"Master Salted Fish" was a new title given to him by this group of mercenaries, which Brynden thought was quite appropriate.

Because the Jingtao City of their Hejian family is most famous for their dried salted fish.

Although Xianyu is still a salted fish after turning over, at least he has the courage to turn over.

"The tavern is built of marble on the ground floor and limewashed timber above, with stables and a gazebo covered with vines. Of course, there is no smoke from the chimneys, no light from the windows, and there is no sign of any human activity at all. ’ another scouting rider added details.

This is an ageless half-elf, as thin as the longbow in his hand, wearing a patched green cloak, studded leather armor, badly worn high leather boots, and sturdy fingerless leather gloves , carrying a quiver filled with eagle feather arrows.

This half-elf ranger is called Roland, an elf's name. It can be seen from his precise archery that he grew up in the holy land of elves.

Because he likes forest-colored clothes, has green hair, and has a thin and long body, he is nicknamed "Skinny Cucumber".

Roland and Rem were companions who were born and died together. Under the persuasion of the half-elf ranger, his poet companion reluctantly joined their team.

Brynden guessed that this might have something to do with their Duke being also a half-elf.

"When I passed by last time, this tavern was still open, and it seems to be deserted." He pondered for a while, and said to the two scouts: "The wine in this place is good, maybe we can find it in the wine cellar."

"I don't think it's appropriate." 'Onion' Rim worried: "I'm afraid there is someone hiding inside, maybe hiding in the cellar, waiting for us to take the bait."

"Does this scare you?" A slightly hoarse female voice came from behind the three of them, making them all look over.

Brynden saw a heroic female warrior driving a white horse with muddy fur over her.

She wore a patched wolfskin coat, long braids, a thorn whip hanging from her waist, and a two-handed sword on her back.

Seeing the thorn whip, he would always think of the man whose face was slapped by the thorn whip in Longshou Port. That hideous and terrifying face was something that people would never forget.

Because of this, among the group of wandering mercenaries and freeriders, the woman from Breland impressed him the most.

When the two first met, he had inadvertently offended her gender through a slip of the tongue.

The female warrior suddenly raised her head, threw back the long braid hanging on her chest, stared at him coldly, and roared with murderous eyes:
Except that I can't pee standing up, the lining of my coat is full of wolf and tiger fur, not rabbit fur and squirrel.It's best not to point fingers in front of Lao Tzu's eyes, I'm here to seek refuge with Duke Zilong, not you little bastard with uneven hair.

From then on, he didn't even have the courage to look at this woman. Fortunately, she liked to keep silent along the way and didn't cause any trouble to him.

With the arrival of the female warrior, the poet and the ranger shrank their eyes and quickly moved their eyes to other places.

"Then let's go to the tavern to take a look and make plans. Maybe we can find a boat to cross the river." Brynden said to her bravely.

…………

(End of this chapter)