Mathias walked alongside his brother headed to the backyard. “Fen Pay wit Eat.” Fang looked from his brother to the sleeping East. She had a hard time with Mathias because of his clumsiness, often he would throw her around like a rag doll. And while none of this could hurt the small dragon it was not a pleasant experience.

“No I don’t think she wants to play right now.” Although Mathias looked a little dawn it wasn’t enough where Fang had to do anything in particular to raise his mood. “Now what do you want to play?”

Looking at his little brother that would obviously out grow him in a couple of years Fang smiled.

“Fight.”

Nodding Fang gave his younger brother a small wooden sword and took out one of his own. Both swords were covered in protective runes making it impossible for either of the two to get hurt. Fang happily played with his little brother as he clumsily swung his sword about, ever so often Fang would use his sword to catch his brother and stop him from falling to the ground.

_____________

Tal looked at his two sons playing with the swords he had made.

“Wife that child of ours gave me a real scare. Those moves seemed natural not practiced but showed an innate disposition to combat far greater than mine or any I have seen before…”

Looking at her troubled husband Luna understood that this was not the only problem he was facing.

“Tal, what's wrong.”

Tal sighed and shook his head.

“Nothing major it’s just that the king has been insisting on having the blood tome creation method. While I can keep his requests at bay by simply telling him that Fang is unwilling to give up that information, a king can only be ignored for so long… It also seems that some of the upper nobles know about it and have started to indirectly put pressure on my subordinates.”

This wasn’t all that troubled him but he as a man would not place any burdens on his wife.

“... Then do you want me to speak to Fang I can ask him to make a trade with the king or maybe start a small side business that centers around blood tomes that way the king can purchase them and Fang keeps his secrets.”

Tal looked at his wife and figured it would at least be better than continuing to tell the king of his lack of progress.

“Yes it would be best if you speak to him. If we can get something then it’ll be of great help.”

With a plan in action the two now only had to see what compromise Fang was willing to reach in either trading for some information or selling ready made ones through a middleman.

______________

Lesser walked along a dirt road on both his sides were mountains and forests. He had the appearance of an elderly man well past his prime wearing nice silk clothing and a walking cane in hand. Despite the road being only flattened dirt this was a well used road as it lead from the Military kingdom of Kasnora to the great Dwarven Kingdom. He was on his way to see a long time friend.

“I wonder if what she told me is true did that mad elf really settle down and become an overly protective mother. Hahaha if she did I'm going to have some fun. Maybe I can even steal the boy away to some far off academy or military group. She’ll blow her top in rage.”

He continued walking as many merchants and other travelers passed him by. Laughing and whistling to himself made him seem a bit odd but most ignored him as travelers would mind their own business as a general rule. After three hours of walking alone Lesser was stopped by a rowdy looking group of seven middle aged men.

“Hey old timer, you got some fancy clothes. We’ve been having some hard times recently you know and thought that since none of our targets lately have worked out we might help ourselves to you.”

The first to speak up was a browny man that could be mistaken for an ogre if he didn’t speak.

“Kekeke old man hand over anything you have and we’ll let you off easy.”

Despite the road being full of traveling merchants no one here was a hero much less willing to step in for some random old man who would go out alone wearing such nice clothing. While the men prepared to rob Lesser his smile grew wider and wider.

“Ohhh it’s been awhile since something so fun presented itself. I guess these clothes were worth the extra money. Now you young gentlemen, let’s have some fun.”

The seven men while slightly confused recognized the old man provocation. They figured that the old man was a knight of some sort or maybe a mercenary in his heyday but now he was just their target.

The largest of the men brought up his fist to quickly end the old man, despite his attempt at murder no one seemed to care. With a small sigh Lesser looked around to see the various people averting their eyes.

“Well might as well do this myself.. No show to be had today, no young lady knight to come save me. Such disappointment.”

Just when he finished speaking he brought up his cane and smacked the back of the large man’s wrist. With a loud resounding snap. The man began to wail in pain.

“AhhhhhhhhhhhHHHH!” Looking at their companion who was said to be the toughest among them the other six backed away slightly.

“Stop your crying it’s only dislocated and maybe a little fractured you’ll be fine in a couple of weeks.”

Then looking at the other six would be robbers Lesser smiled.

“Now for the rest of you, come let's have some fun use all the skill and strength you have.”

Unfortunately none withstood even one strike from his cane, the seven were rolling on the ground each with various dislocated and fractured bones.

“Now the seven of you don’t look the type to travel a lot especially to somewhere like the dwarven kingdom, also this road has more bandits and robbers then usual. Tell me why and I'll fix you up, don’t and well… I get to continue my fun.”

The last part was said in a slightly lower voice scaring the seven. The first one to speak was the large man who had gotten off the easiest with only a few fractures and his dislocated wrist.

“... There’s a noble there… He sent out multiple people to various famous bandit groups, said something about a godly magical book that in the right hands could even out various master magicians… We, we don’t know the specifics but they want a large group to distract some elf and kidnap her kid.”

Thinking about it Lesser had an urge to go around and kill all the surrounding bandits and robbers but held it in.

“Then do you know the name of said elf? Maybe you know her kid’s name?”

The large man looked troubled and didn’t want to answer but once he saw Lesser lifting his cane once more he spoke immediately.

“Luna! It’s the blood elf… No one is suppose to know cause most of the bandits are being used as cannon fodder but I have a connection who got me the info. So a small group of us are going to take the kid while she’s distracted.”

Hearing this explanation Lesser was delighted, normally he went around killing bandits as he hated their kind. But if Luna was going to do away with them anyway, he could have some fun with this and get to kidnap the kid all at the same time.

Of course he would make up for all that by teaching the kid a few good tricks and if what he had heard before was true he could have a nice fight with Luna as well.

“Hahahaha well this is destiny I was just on my way to kidnap the kid, yes this will be fun. Good you seven are no longer scum you are now the disciples of the Lesser War Fiend. I'll teach you some things and you'll follow my instructions then you'll die in glorious combat somewhere, it’ll be fun.”

Hearing the name of the old man the seven paled. The Lesser War Fiend was a household name and the dread of any criminal. It was said that he was an old man who would capture criminals and turn them war crazed men who died fighting hordes of criminals. Seeing their pale faces Lesser smiled.

“Aaaa this is a good day.”

Swinging his cane he began to relocate the bones of the seven former bandits all while smiling at their screams of pain.

______________

The king laid in his chambers thinking about his ministers. He knew the plan to kidnap the child and while he didn’t quite agree with it he would turn a blind eye to what was happening as long as he could get his hands on the blood tome’s creation method.

Normally he would not be this desperate to obtain new weapons but lately the trouble with human kingdoms was worsening and help was nowhere to be found. So due to a plethora of reasons he could no longer wait around for his high general to get something out of his son.

________________

Fang sat in his room oblivious to the impending troubles. Not long ago he had spoken with his mother and she had proposed an idea. A trade with the king, either finished products or the creation method for any price he could name.

Sadly he had no real desire for monetary possessions and worldly objects meant little to him other than targets to be stolen.

‘Why don't you just had them something half finished maybe something custom to what they can do and let them work out the rest, in return you can have a couple more spells to place on me, maybe even have their Saint teach you some and give some pointers to your mother, she’s been having problems advancing to that level.’

East had a point instead of monetary compensation or even worldly objects what he craved the most was information and spells along with the safety of his family. And having his mother advance to the Saint level would definitely be a big help.

“Okay but how do I give them something customized for them and half finished that can be exchanged for something great.”

Fang liked the idea and could work with it but he needed something less vague than what he had.

‘For now why don’t you find a good smith and create better magic artifacts, while I don’t know much on what you can do. I do know that magic artifacts are just things that make casting a certain spell easier or channeling mana with more ease. If you could make something that allows you to cast spells simply by channeling mana or ki into it then you can have it be put into someone’s sword made by a good smith or shield, a thing really.’

Thinking about it what East said made sense.

“It’s odd to hear you having anything good to say and in such a serious way. But thanks.”

Petting East’s head Fang began to think of ways he could accomplish what East had suggested. For now he planned to research on common spells and how to engrave them onto metal without the need for a book or a sacrifice to make a blood tome. And the step after that would be simple as the dwarven kingdom was full of good smiths.

(Author's note: so I only gave one last week and for good reason. Had my first surgery, on my left knee no pain no disconcert and I'm walking around fine after only a week. The thing was the meds they give you make you really lazy. Could not do anything at all. Other than that this week I'll try and get out at least five before Sunday so this is number one of the week. Thanks for reading)

:)