It’s a good thing that The Freigt kingdom is at war with the elven kingdom to the west. There are many reasons that war is great for our great nation. It creates jobs and increases patriotism. But one of the best benefits of the war with the elves is war prisoners. The reason is simple: war prisoners equals war slaves.


    Slaves do many great things for our nation. They feed our great kingdom by working the fields. Without them we would have pre wartime food supplies where only the nobles eat. There is the idea that the nobles could eat less extravagantly, but this will never happen, so slavery is the better alternative.


    They are great for other types of labor as well as. They build our buildings and work longer hours for no money at all. This builds our cities larger and faster than working with normal hired civilians. It’s a positive for our great nation.


    And now that supply is threatened and less importantly, I’ll lose profits. I suppose I could live for the next few years without running out of money but I’ll have to give up my lifestyle and how could I do that.


    I have much sympathy for the slaves though, being forced to work is something I had to do. I became a soldier to get money and as a soldier I Respect them as fellow warriors. But it is natural to protect one''s own country over other countries and the people of those countries.


    “Sir, albert?” said the soldier I called into my room. I had been standing still thinking, making him rather confused.


    “He didn’t say much but during his battle with the mantis knight he said” the soldier pauses and gulps down “‘I’ll put you down like a dog’”


    “So he got away from the mantis knight?” I say


    “No he didn’t” the man says with a tremble in his voice.


    “Hmm” I respond


    “He k-killed the knight.” the soldier says.


    I look at the soldier “What? Did he say anything else important?”


    The soldier looks at me and says. “He threatened to eat anyone who would come through his territory with slaves.”


    I pause for a second “I see.” I say “Thank you for your report. What was your name?”


    “It’s Frasis.” says the man


    “Thank you Frasis, you may leave.”


    Frasis bowed and left trembling.


    The Freigt kingdom is split into two parts because of a massive mountain range splitting them. The war is between the western part of the kingdom and the elf nation to the north. The war is for land between them. slaves come from that war. And have to make their way to the east of the kingdom. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The only flat land between the two halves of the kingdom is between two mountain ranges and in between those mountain ranges is the flat land split by the Halfsoil village. Halfsoil is the perfect halfway point. for the transports they get their food and shelter but that may no longer be doable.


    Sea transport? No impossible we are landlocked and something as unpopular as the slave trade is not going to get people wanting to expand to the south


    Mountain travel? No Mountain ranges are deadly not just because of the common dangers of hiking but because of the danger of monsters and unknown dragons. But one dragon made the mistake of coming close to civilization.


    Money must be made and the best way is to get rid of that dragon.


    How to do that though? This is a powerful dragon who killed a mantis knight. Adventurers are the obvious choice but how to get them on my side? They are freedom lovers and will not support the slave trade. What to do. I’ll have to convince them of the evil of the dragon


    Soldiers won''t be strong enough and the knight’s owners don''t want to lose anymore knights. So what is there to do? I can''t let this dragon run free.


    I ring a bell and a butler walks in. “Servant, get me the person from the group who talked to the villagers.” I say


    A few minutes later the man appeared, the man who talked to the villagers about the dragon.


    “Hello sir Albert Flen.” he says


    “No need for pleasantries let''s get down to business about that dragon tell me everything you know.” I say.


    “Well the dragon took residence in an ancient castle as dragons like to do.” he says


    “Did he take anything from the villagers?” I ask.


    “Why of course.” he says.


    “What did he take?” I ask.


    “He demanded an offering but didn’t say what he wanted.” he says.


    “What did they give him?” I ask


    “Some gold, gems, food, and a villager.” he says.


    “They gave him a villager?” I ask.


    “Yes, a woman from the village,” he says.


    “Do you know her name?” I ask.


    “Etheda” he says as I smile.


    “Write that down for me.” I say “servant.”


    “Yes sir” says my servant.


    “I need to design an adventurer request.” I proclaim “slay the dragon, save the girl.”


    “You may leave,” I say to the man who talked to the villagers.


    “Yes sir Albert Flen.” says the man


    Every adventurer party wants the chance to save a helpless woman. It’s in their genealogy.


    “Oh yes servant one more thing”


    “Yes”


    “Make sure my name isn’t on the request.” Albert continued “and “refer to the woman as a girl.”


    “It will be done.”


    Your era will end before it begins, Spike the dragon.


    -voice-


    In the distant castle a voice rings in a sleeping dragon''s ears “danger, danger.” it says. The dragon looks back and forth but sees nothing, the voice disappears and the dragon returns to sleep.