'Til Kingdom Comes - The Banished Prince Vol 4: The System

Obsidian And Mithril Deal

Sunday, 20th November 1442

I greeted the 4 mythical races and they beamed at me as they were delighted to see me after some time.

The children were clamouring among them and they too greeted both our son and daughter with respect, like an adult to another adult and not towards children.

Maybe it's their way of life since the mythical races have rarely seen any children, even in their kingdom. However, they saw the huge basket of fruits and knew they I would be there to conjure up the Life Force jewelled candies to them.

Aerin and Artemis were delighted and they helped to haul the baskets nearer to us when we all sat around the fireplace where the boiling cauldron could be seen as Heather was checking the contents to ensure the water is sufficient and the sweet corns to be properly boiled.

The amount of salt was enough to bring out the taste of the sweet corns that had been cooked and it would be a delight for everyone to share since the weather was rather chilly at this time of year.

"So what brings His Majesty here back to Safehaven and to the Caras Kingdom? We, on behalf of Caras Kingdom, wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude to you and your army for stopping those greenskins before they managed to enter the perimeter of Caras kingdom."

"Fortunately, the greenskins were stopped in time and we wondered how these monsters could find out and pinpoint exactly where our Caras kingdom lies. It's very difficult for us to fend if not for your timely intervention using the big cloud in the air to shoot down fireballs from there."

"Ah yes, thank you for getting rid of the greenskins corpses. We would not be able to do it if not for your Priest and Priestess magical skills. Your Priest and Priestess had done a great job. They are not here with you, innit?"

Aragorn inquired me since he knew we had taken out the major part of the horde that was on their way to invade Caras kingdom before.

"It is alright, Aragorn. It would be our duty to bury those corpses. If not how would we be able to get rid of them and they would definitely foul the lands of their rotting carcass and their greenish blood that would stain the grounds for Eternity."

Aragorn nodded his head as he knew that even Caras had lost two parts of the forest to bury these greenskins but then, they also knew that the forest would be filled with new sprouts of Baobab trees that had been sown by Priestess Penelope and the archers.

Doc raised his arms and waited to be noticed before I gestured him to speak his mind. Doc cleared his throat and then declared that "We have successfully able to regain control of the 3 enchanted mithril mines in the vicinity of Hellsgate."

"Our kin is truly grateful for you and your support for eradicating the first batch of greenskins there."

"Even though it may seem that the whole ground had been churned up from miles underground, but it does not affect the enchanted mithril mines at all."

"Besides, there are tonnes of obsidian pieces that had been left near the mouth of the mines and I think you should be the one who would receive them. What do you think, Mars?"

Hmm...obsidian pieces. Sharper than any steel weapons or blades in this era. Definitely, it would be worth for Old Jack and Andy Cole to be turning them for our militia instead.

And tonnes of obsidian pieces really means that we need to utilise the airship to transport the obsidian pieces from the ground and right into its cargo hold.

"Let me set up a date to get the cloud over and transport the pieces up to them. Thank you so much for your kind offer."

I bowed slightly to them as I knew these obsidian pieces would be beneficial in the long run for the archers.

"I would like to give you some mithril pieces as well, Mars. The amount may be significantly small to us but I think it would help you sculpt something awesome in your armour or weaponry."

"Remember, mithril is lighter and much stronger than steel. It's being used to construct these huge gateways and pillars and plaza area back with the elven kingdom, am I right Aragorn?"

Aragorn, which was listening intently also nodded his head since the mention of mithril brought his hand subconsciously to touch the ornament that was hanging around the neck.

"Do you mean to say they I should be using the mithril pieces to make armours instead of weapons since you would be giving us tonnes of obsidian pieces which are considered as useless junk to you to me?"

I inquired as I was quite piqued as HRH JR and HRH Amy came up and sat on both of my left and right sides as they took out their own personal journal and immediately take down notes on the mention of those tonnes of obsidian pieces and mithril pieces.

HRH JR was the first one to raise his little hands and asked Doc about the quantity of the mithril pieces that they would be giving to us and the answer was truly shocking...!

"It would roughly weigh about one tonne, my little friend. It would be enough to make lots of armour pieces for the military forces."

"I am sure your Daddy is competent in making those because he used to make a lot of armour pieces for his own army way back before, you know."

"But of course, those are not mithril but made of leather pieces. I'm sure your Daddy could make some pieces of armours or shields using these mithril pieces."

Wowsers...! One tonne of mithril pieces could do wonders...! How many shields I could make out of them? Even though Doc had hinted to turn those mithril pieces into armours and shields, I am sure that he wanted us to turn those obsidian pieces into weapons instead.

Wow...! Double and triple WOW...! This is terrific news to my sweet ears and especially to the sweet ears of corn that had been boiling inside the cauldron.

Heather did not stoke more firewood and let the fire slowly died down as she let the boiling water inside the cauldron to simmer down. She held two big spatulas which she used to pick one up and peel the husks and the silk away before she tested the kernels.

IT WAS PERFECT...!

"Darling, the ears of corn are ready to be eaten. I would let the cover open and then let it cool off, yes? I think, at this juncture, I could help you with the fruits to make the Health Lozenges through the furnace for the 4 mythical races."

The moment the mythical races heard that there would be Health Lozenges to be made afterwards and was confirmed when Aerin and Artemis were going through the assortment of fruits inside the basket, they all sat up straight and even informed us that the stock had been running steadily low.

When I looked at the children, they held those candies on their front teeth and signalled to me where I laughed at them of their silly antics.

Aerin and Artemis assisted Heather in gathering some broad leaves which they reluctantly chopped away using the Assassin karambit as their utility knife.

Once they had gathered the broad leaves, the boiled sweet corns were placed on it and presented for everyone to grab an ear to have as their supper.

As for me, I was already in the midst of making the Health Lozenges as the children helped to throw inside the furnace. They were, in fact, playing more than helping me since they told us that the flame was not too hot to touch at all...!

=*=

"Alright, here you go guys. We have managed to turn all these fruits into Life Force jewelled candies along with the Life Force water. Here you go, there's more than enough for the 4 of you to bring back to your kin."

The children had separated the Health Lozenges into 4 small wicker baskets and also had carried the pound cakes and given them out to the mythical races as well.

They were delighted beyond words as they collected the Health Lozenges as well as the tins of pound nutty and fruity cake that Heather had bought at the grocery store earlier.

Artemis and Aerin helped me with the distribution of the Health Lozenges as even Amadeus of the wood elves Adventurers got himself a wicker basket filled with the Health Lozenges as well as 3 tins of pond cake.

"His Majesty, I would like to discuss with you in private regards to the redeployment of our kin to you know where from the Caras Kingdom. As you had learned about our condition, I guess there won't be anything much to add as we were eager to serve under His Majesty."

Amadeus spoke up softly and wished that he was not heard by the rest of them since it was once a move made by Aragorn to me for Amadeus to move out and be of some use to fend the town's people since they were not imbued with any magic at all.

I nodded at his direction and he shifted the attention towards matters that interest us the most. "His Majesty, even though you and forces had annihilated the two hordes of greenskins, but our Adventurers reported that there are some activities somewhere else within the Caras Kingdom."

"The other Adventurers were on the lookout and would report to me back once they had located the sources of the new activities."

The moment we heard about the new activities, our children looked up at me with their worrisome looks and knew that I would spring into action to get rid of the new emergence of these monstrosities.

I raised my forefinger to my lips and also raised my hands to gesture to the children. It seemed that these new activities were being investigated since Aragorn had also sent out a team to investigate as well.

"God...! It's not even a day right after we had intervened and prevented the onslaught of the greenskins. And now there are reports of new activities and I don't even know what to say right now.

All I could do was to look at their faces since they were the ones who would be facing these group of monstrosities and would be waiting for Amadeus and Aragorn's team to return with their findings.

=*=

Everyone had their share of Health Lozenges, tins of pound cake and also the boiled ears of corns that they had taken back.

The only person or mythical being left around the fireplace was Amadeus as he was waiting for everyone to leave the premise as he would have a perfect time and privacy to talk to me instead.

"His Majesty, thank you very much in taking the time to share with us your kindness and goodness despite not getting anything back from our kin."

"But I think you would have already known what we would be doing on your trip back here to collect the few tonnes of obsidian pieces that Doc have spoken and agreed with you earlier, am I right?"

I nodded in apprehension and I guess it would be time for the wood elves Adventurers to find their new home and also be adjusting to the human's way of life.

It would sometime soon when the new airship would be ready to be rolled out and I guess I would be under a new captain of the new airship then.

By then a few tonnes of those obsidian pieces would be winced up to the airships cargo holds and maybe by then the whole kinship of the wood elves Adventurers would like to come along.

It was as if Amadeus could read my mind as he spoke up, "His Majesty, without for her adieu and delay, we would like to assist to bring the obsidian pieces that Doc had offered to you and then the one ton of mithril pieces as well."

"A you can see, we are not only natural-born archers without any innate magical skills, but we are also can be considered as good tinkerers and we could workaround to make fine pieces of arrowheads and bows as well."

"Our womenfolk could also do a lot of handiwork as well for the town. We can see what else we can do for you, His Majesty."

*ZZRRIIPP*

It was the sound of a huge ass fish that had struck the hook, line and sinker and had presented itself before me.

The womenfolk of the wood elves Adventurers could do handicrafts as well and maybe they would not mind toiling in the farms along with the rest of the farmers. All they need is some guidance and everything would fall into place...!

"Alright, let me and my wife think of a way of what you could contribute to the town. At the meantime, we have a lot of vacancies to farm in the crop fields since we have the ability to grow crops even in winter months."

"Do you think your kinfolk would be able to work as farmers as you and the rest would be able to work on the obsidian pieces?"

"We would have mithril pieces soon and that would be turned into shields so I was thinking what types of shields would be best for archers as a good looking, flexible and yet stronger than steel breastplate for archers would be just fine, don't you think so?"

"We could recycle all the current leather armour and then make the ones that would a combo of these two materials — hard studded leather and mithril breastplate."

"At least it gives a frontal defence against attacks on the coral parts like the heart and kidneys. What do you think of it?"

Amadeus listened intently as his eyes lit up when he heard that there would be activities for the womenfolk even though they have to be on the ground and in their feet for some hours.

Besides, they would be able to help out churn the arrowheads and this time around, we have several types of arrowheads to meet different types of enemies — the armour piercing, the concussive explosive and the obsidian heads. Not to mention the blind and whistling ones for live target practice.

A smile cracked on his face as he responded in his own thoughts and ideas.

=*=

Dear friends, if you spot any errors, please leave your comments in the paragraphs or the chapter section. Thank you for the POWERSTONES and God Bless.