The Usurper War

There were rumors that a rebel faction had arisen by the claim of a bastard son from the brother of King Theatus III. Some nobles supported the usurper’s claim due to their personal connections with the usurper himself, Count Peralus Eterus of Altera. Many other lords supported the King due to their own benefits of fighting a civil war. However, I preferred to stay out of the war unless levied by the King himself, for I was only a lowly Baron, and the primitive squabble of the ruling class was beyond my house’s meager desire to be involved.

Regardless, my people’s safety was in question. We required deliveries of certain livestock and goods for the commonfolk to survive and work their businesses. When civil wars rage in a kingdom, the trade and supply lines become inaccessible without warning. Most of my people would struggle to survive during the war. It was my responsibility to make sure that we survive with surplus to rebuild after the winter ended.

The neighboring lords were rather difficult to work with. They would ask me to join the war if they were to open any additional trade routes with me. I would decline as respectfully as possible, but they were passionate, and would berate me for hiding from battle. They were correct in that I would be avoiding the war all together, but they had no right to insult me with their tails tucked between their legs as they themselves were hiding from battle. Negotiating with them felt like arguing with castle towers.

During the heights of my internal struggle to manage my stress, I was pleasantly surprised by a letter from her. The arrival of these letters, accompanied by the flutter of the messenger bird, provided me such a warm feeling of comfort.

“My Dearest Marcus,

I am so elated to receive a letter from you. My heart melted in your passionate language. I have fallen even more in love with you. I long for the day that I can have you in my arms again.

The story that you wrote to me was breathtaking. Most peasants and commonfolk do not see nobility in a good light due to our king’s lack of political intrigue and his confusing views on internal economy. However, your lord seems like the ideal leader in every way; respectful, generous, and quite youthful in character. Oh how I wish the kingdom would follow in your lord’s footsteps. Perhaps the world would not be as daunting as it is now.

I shall tell you my own story:

Four days ago, my mother required Thraliga to treat one of her many ailments. I ventured into the forest alone during the day to avoid encountering the monsters that come at night. Due to my misfortune, I was in the forest until nighttime, with only half of the amount of herbs I needed for my mother. The monsters tracked my scent throughout the forest during the day, and hunted me during the night. As you know, dire wolves are much faster than us humans, so it was in no time that they appeared to me at the exit of the forest. I managed to kill them and take their pelts and meat for our villagers, but I had little Thraliga in my possession.

If we had a lord like yours, perhaps he would have expanded hunting and gathering expeditions to collect a decent supply of herbs and pelts, instead of spending vast wealth on his monthly extravagant feasts that yield no benefit to the people.

I hope for the world to be better someday, but I truly believe that your lord has already begun to make my hope a reality.

Please write back soon, my heart longs for you again.

Your Beloved.”

I was completely enamored by the fact that this woman seemed to share the same political beliefs as myself, and she was also able to articulate her opinions of the current government without justifying their nobility. It seemed as though she was a noble herself. If so, then what county does she serve?

Also, she stated that she wandered in the forest by herself. When I was younger, though I was treated like a man, I required 3 men to accompany me to hunt just one dire wolf. Since The Great Oddity, monsters in deep forests have become even more powerful, and somewhat more intelligent. She was able to fight multiple dire wolves, and also butcher them and carry their parts home all by herself despite the speed and strength difference. It was also necessary to mention that this was during the middle of winter, when the snowpack was about two feet thick during the day. Who in Underearth was she?

Thraliga, a wild herb that only sprouted during winter and spring around melting ice ponds, was usually an ingredient to treat seemingly incurable diseases, but the nobility has historically harvested these weeds in secret before allowing the peasants and commonfolk to begin their search. She was aware of these dynamics and acted accordingly to help her family.

In the beginning, I wanted to feel like I was loved. But after these months of sending each other letters, I had truly fallen in love with her, despite her being someone I do not even know the name of. The mere thought of loving someone unknown, while strange in this world, excited me beyond my heart’s own understanding. I wanted to know more about her, and I wanted to continue to share stories with her, and hopefully share laughs with her someday.

“To my eternal Beloved,

Hearing back from you is akin to seeing the first spring sun after three months of snow… oh how your sunlight touches my soul with the hope of life continuing for the rest of time.

I agree that Thraliga has been taken from the commonfolk for so long. I have heard of many new ailments that could be cured by the herb, but some local lords have been hoarding it for themselves. As a tavern keeper, it is difficult for me to keep customers if people have been bedridden and ill without any cure insight. Perhaps I can talk to my lord whenever he visits the tavern again.

I have yet another story I want to share with you:

There is another tavern across the town, with thankfully many patrons as I do. The tavern keeper served in the Perseus Wars many years ago as a Sergeant-of-Arms for my lord’s father in his campaign. Most low-birth people do not have the honor of achieving Sergeant-of-Arm, as the position was created for the eldest son of lords to serve. This man was hated in the army, and other Sergeant-of-Arms spat on him for being low-born. He fought hard, despite the hatred and the contempt, and he helped win the war on his lord’s behalf. Rumor has it that he was offered an adoption into the noble family to give him a titled name, but he refused and began working for the local tavern. Eventually, he had enough silver to buy the tavern for himself, and he has been the owner of that tavern for 30 years. He tells me that his service to the commonfolk has been more fulfilling than serving a nobility that would continue to throw him aside regardless of his new titles.

My sympathy remains with him because I understand his anger against the current kingdom. The kingdom has greatly limited many avenues of trade as of late, which has affected my production of mead. This is in addition to the Thraliga supply limitations already enacted by the nobles around the land. Rumors are spreading that a civil war is looming, and I am struggling to keep my stock in place. I wonder how many other tavern keepers and other commonfolk businesses will survive this war.

I am frustrated for my people, but I will keep working this tavern to keep everyone happy and warm in these cold winter nights. I feel fortunate that you are in my life. My anger and frustrations are weakened from your letters and the assurance that I have someone waiting for me at home. Thank you for being my love.

Love always,

Marcus”

Regulus Brackus, the legendary low-born Sergeant who had killed Courdland’s highest general with his brave battalion charge into the general’s elite spearmen line, and escaped his capture within a half-day, was my tavern keeper. He was at my father and mother’s bedside shortly before they died, and he was one of only a few people who appeared at my Helena and Isaac’s vigil as well. My tavern keeper had been one of my biggest inspirations during my adolescent life, and my source of mead and stories during this stage of my life.

Though I could not show my identity to my beloved, I wanted to share the stories of the people I was truly grateful for. The people who had helped me grow as a boy and as a man. I had hoped she would see who I am through the eyes of these people.