"Fine, you know what? We can talk about it. I'm sick of this wine get me a Taprisian mix." Lord Merrick sighed and ordered.

"Norge." Ayemon called and Norge walked out at once to get the drink.

"How much do we need for this? It's not going to be cheap." Merrick added.

"We will need ten million, so we will ask for thirty." Ayemon replied nonchalantly.

"Thirty? It's not enough to buy the votes we need for something like this," Merrick shook his head, "lord Eddwinn told me that you will be like this.."

"And how much did you want to pocket? This is not the time, you guys can eat later we cannot delay." Ayemon chided.

"What's your problem?" Merrick asked with increasing annoyance in his voice.

"My problem? Didn't you tell me that your dream was to liberate Vorian and save your hometown? What am I exactly to you?" Ayemon asked his own voice freezing.

"That was a long time ago. What are you to me? The best campaign manager." Merrick, "with your help I got into the Lord's council much easier than I would have done on my own."

"But.." Lord Merrick's voice grew lower and lower, "but, I am now a member of the Lord's Assembly, I'm a great lord! Me, not you! I am the leader of this faction, I call the shots. I am no longer the boy you once knew."

"I can see that." Ayemon replied.

"You know what? Lord Eddwinn suggested something he claimed that I am your puppet sometime ago." Merrick suddenly said, "that's ridiculous right? But I couldn't help recalling that every time I wanted the rest to vote on something they would tell me to ask you for your thoughts first."

"What does this have to do with anything? Did Edwinn give you a sheet of paper to memorize? You are the one sitting of the Lord's Assembly are you not?" Ayemon snorted.

"That's what I said. But it seems like I had to say it again, here, for everyone to hear. I think the wester reclamation bill won't pass, not any time soon. Does anyone here have any objections? If so then speak up."

Lord Merrick looked around at the people sitting in the small room and when no one sid anything he turned to Ayemon, "how about it, what do you think, Ayemon? Even great and powerful lords can encounter unfortunate.. accident."

"I.. I agree with you." Ayemon said, his head lowered.

"Look at these two," Meerick pointed at the two women behind him, "they're powerful Crestmasters, elites at grade two! Both of them have decided to follow me of their own accord after knowing my might and influence."

Aldrich bit his lower lip out of rage, he almost couldn't control himself and attacked the so called lord Merrick. He wasn't exactly sure of the details but he didn't like seeing Ayemon like that.

Suddenly the door opened, it was Norge and he was empty handed.

"Where's the Tabrisian mix?" Ayemon asked perplexed.

"We-we don't have it, sir." Norge looked absolutely regretful.

"It's fine, I've had enough alcohol for the night." Lord Merrick waved casually.

"Why don't we have it?" Ayemon asked Norge, "I specifically requested it."

"It's okay, Ayemon," lord Merrick interjected, "it's fine, maybe they couldn't get it. One man can't have everything."

****

Aldrich got back home after the party, washed up and change to a simple black shirt and trousers for bed. He had an interesting day to say the least.

*chink* *chink*

Aldrich was pulled out of his thoughts by a strange noise coming from one of his windows, he opened it and a small wyvern-like creature flew in.

'Oh, right, I sent it out this morning and forgot to keep the window open.'

Luckily it was a smart creature and waited for him to come back. Aldrich took the letter container on it's back and opened it. There was a new letter there.

Aldrich opened it, it was indeed Cole. Moreover what he penned down was incredibly important unlike the silly one that he expected.

It seems like he advanced successfully as a Crestmaster today, he got the dagger symbol of the Weaponsmaster crest.

This was not surprising to Aldrich, Crestmaster of this symbol specialized in stealth and sneak attacks, they could detect all kinds of traps and even had a talent in dealing with poisons.

Aldrich went to sleep and entered the nightmare realm, he went on a rampage to satiate his anger at what happened today.

He could not believe how that pig treated Ayemon.

At the end of the night he remembered to look at his first grade two wondrous item, Cazmer's ring.

Cazmer's ring: It can cast the sleep spell in a wide are of effect three times a day. The range is ten meters, the spell takes five minutes to activate. The targets will fall asleep for various time spans depending on their resistance to the spell. Has the power to store spiritual will for a long period of time.

'Not bad, but it was a little disappointing to be honest.'

Aldrich hoped that it could do more but it couldn't be helped. Not every grade two wondrous item was an awesome weapon.

It had a unique power so that could count for something, right? Anyway he will put it to some use some day.

He increased his savings to 28 green orbs and that was enough for the day.

He wrote another letter to Cole congratulating him on his advancement and reminding him that drinks were on him.

Back in the real world morning came and he had a hearty breakfast as usual with bacon and eggs and a side of mashed potatoes.

When he was done eating, the messenger returned, of course it was much faster than before because it got used to the location and the person it was intended for.historical

He opened the message, it read : Aldrich, I need your help please come to the inn fast my friends have been kidnapped.