The Kingdom is quiet. A season has past quickly since the time of troubling. Winter is upon us now and my intrepid cadre of heroes have mostly gone their separate ways. I am left with only my inner circle now and even they too shall soon pass into obscurity. The Mage, his studies almost complete, will soon depart for greater challenges. The Barbarian, too long in these lands, will need to seek greater foes so that he might find his death in battle instead facing the decline in dignity that age will bring the rest of us. The Lieutenant, having returned after the successful negotiation of our previous treaty, will be looking for more than these lands alone can provide him. Even my Rival, her training complete shall soon depart, a victory marred by father time's hand rather than my own.
As for myself I find I am content for now. The earlier trials I weathered and defeated have been recognized and my Lord has elevated me in title. My promotion has come with additional duties that challenge me however scarcely more coin reaches my pocket. With age I no longer seek the path of the miser, seeking out each coin as if wealth alone will bring me what I need. I have enough. While my adventurers are on their way out, they are not gone yet. The Mage, ever one for lively debate, still challenges my deeply held concepts that hold this world together. The Lieutenant regales with his tales of travel for any situation in which we find ourselves in. The Barbarian himself a source of unintentional entertainment, his offensive behavior now crudely endearing. With them I still employ the Ronin from time to time when his travels bring him near our fair lands and the Squire has remained and become a force in his own right. His even temper and obedience keep our path straight and our tasks simple.
In terms of my personal life I have given up on the Council. My only link to them, tenuous and frail, will readily snap if either side decided to pull. While this balance has last since the time of troubling with varying degrees of effort, time will surely end it soon. My travels, my wars, my life, have made me a man too unlike those who wear the robes. I will not stop with my studies of the Transmutation of insects but I will have to be more discreet in the future without their sanction.
The Woman, my princess still accompanies me to battle and bed. It is through her effort that I am most content to stay here and live the life I have avoided for so long. To create a home that is more than can be stuffed into the contents of one wooden trunk. For the first time I do not see the quiet as a thing to be feared but as a thing to be enjoyed. A chance to enjoy food and mead, of which I do too readily. It will not last these periods of calm but I will not have it written on my tomb that I ran from battle to battle never knowing peace. I know it. I appreciate it. It just will not last.
As for myself I find I am content for now. The earlier trials I weathered and defeated have been recognized and my Lord has elevated me in title. My promotion has come with additional duties that challenge me however scarcely more coin reaches my pocket. With age I no longer seek the path of the miser, seeking out each coin as if wealth alone will bring me what I need. I have enough. While my adventurers are on their way out, they are not gone yet. The Mage, ever one for lively debate, still challenges my deeply held concepts that hold this world together. The Lieutenant regales with his tales of travel for any situation in which we find ourselves in. The Barbarian himself a source of unintentional entertainment, his offensive behavior now crudely endearing. With them I still employ the Ronin from time to time when his travels bring him near our fair lands and the Squire has remained and become a force in his own right. His even temper and obedience keep our path straight and our tasks simple.
In terms of my personal life I have given up on the Council. My only link to them, tenuous and frail, will readily snap if either side decided to pull. While this balance has last since the time of troubling with varying degrees of effort, time will surely end it soon. My travels, my wars, my life, have made me a man too unlike those who wear the robes. I will not stop with my studies of the Transmutation of insects but I will have to be more discreet in the future without their sanction.
The Woman, my princess still accompanies me to battle and bed. It is through her effort that I am most content to stay here and live the life I have avoided for so long. To create a home that is more than can be stuffed into the contents of one wooden trunk. For the first time I do not see the quiet as a thing to be feared but as a thing to be enjoyed. A chance to enjoy food and mead, of which I do too readily. It will not last these periods of calm but I will not have it written on my tomb that I ran from battle to battle never knowing peace. I know it. I appreciate it. It just will not last.
