“For most people, taking in the sights as one walked the countryside was done purely for enjoyment and relaxation. For observant people, those very same sights provide a wealth of information about the area, its governance, as well as its people.

As long as one knows where to look, and what to look for, that is.” - Cuthbert Flanagan, explorer and cartographer.

“I am honestly surprised people managed to not just live, but also thrive in this sort of environment,” said Celia with not a little wonderment the next day. It was an hour or so before noon, though the temperature remained well below freezing given the late time of the year. The party of three had just passed through a small village a few hours west of Gulski.

The relative prosperity that the hardy locals attained in the frozen wastelands was what surprised Celia the most. This corner of Ur-Teros was easily the coldest, most unforgiving area between the two continents that was inhabited at all. That the locals managed to not only eke out a living, but even went further and thrived, surprised her a lot.

“These people’s ancestors first came here as refugees fleeing the wars to the west, often with little more than the clothes on their backs,” replied Aideen with an approving nod. Even the little village they passed – one barely of fifty households or so – had managed a level of stability and prosperity she rarely saw the last time she had been around the area. “They are descended from hardy people, and the environment ensured that their descendants grew up to be just as hardy.”

“We must also consider, Miss Celia, that the people of Gulski are already much better off than many of their neighbors. They had always been more prosperous thanks to the trade they received from their ports, and now that had been compounded by the trade that flowed their way from Istria as well,” added Calais as he mentioned some recent happenings Aideen naturally had no way of knowing. “Gulski is at the moment the second largest trading partner to the Lichdom amongst the Jarldoms, second only to Istria who had the fortune to directly border us.”

“Trade has been picking up of late, huh? Back then I recall many of them were still wary of our merchants so much as stepping foot on their soil,” asked Aideen. Many of the Jarldoms had a rather negative view of necromancy, which Aideen could not really blame them for, as some of them had bad experiences courtesy of Junoran necromancers.

“Prosperity always opened doors like usual, Aunt Aideen,” replied Calais. “Istria remained our main trading partner amongst the Jarldom until around nine decades ago, that’s probably shortly after you left for Alcidea,” he continued. “At that time, Gulski and Urovis both negotiated opening trade with us as well, Gulski being far more willing to open their borders to our traders of the two.”

“They quickly prospered, and even Urovis, despite the lesser agreement, also gained a notable boost in prosperity at the same time,” he added. “The other two had been in negotiation about merging their Jarldoms after a fortunate marriage between their heirs, so they came to negotiate with us only later, as a new Jarldom called Ejyafjord. After the whole alliance benefited, others also chose to open their borders to our merchants, at the least, though generally to a lesser extent.”

“I guess progress and profits are unstoppable after all,” replied Aideen with a smile. “Then again, if it has turned safe enough for you to travel here on your own, I guess that already said a lot.”

“To be fair, Aunt, there’s quite a bit of banditry problems in Istria especially. Most suspected that quite a few of the ‘bandits’ were actually troops from other, envious Jarldoms trying to damage the trade routes, but there had been no evidence,” replied Calais as he corrected Aideen. “That said, I went there with caravans from the Lichdom, and we never skimp on escorts, so it was safe, I guess. We might need to worry more if we’re just traveling with the three of us like now, though.”

“Hah! Let them come,” replied Celia with a chuckle. Probably because of her traumatic experience in the hands of bandits, the younger unliving woman had quite a bit of hatred for such types in her heart. Combined with the skills she learned from Aideen and the orcs, she was more than capable of taking out quite a few such people all by herself, these days.

“Like Celia said, we’re not exactly worried about bandits coming for us,” replied Aideen as she gave an easy twirl of her black adamant staff in a flourish. She had been using the staff as if it was a regular walking staff during their travels, so Calais was unaware of its nature. “Don’t tell me Yvgenia allowed you to travel on your own without teaching you to defend yourself?”

“Well… Mother and Father did teach me some, though I’m uncertain on how good I am,” said Calais as he brought out his weapon – coincidentally also a black staff, though his was clearly made out of wood – and showed it to Aideen. “This is what I use, Aunt.”

“Huh. Did your mother give it to you?” asked Aideen as she instantly noticed the subtle qualities behind the simple, unassuming appearance of the wooden staff. The staff was far more than what its humble looks suggested, and it was not likely to be something Yvgenia would be able to get her hands on, to her knowledge.

“She did, she told me it was a gift from grandpa,” replied Calais.

“Ah. You must’ve made your grandpa like you a lot, then,” replied Aideen with an understanding nod. Drietven would indeed be able to acquire such a staff, if he were to ask his long-time master for a favor. Knowing Grandpa Aarin, he was likely to agree to such a simple favor for his trusted servant. “What you hold in your hand there is made from Ebony Hardwood. You won’t find that sort of material anywhere except very few clusters of elven communities, and it’s likely more precious than your mithril weave underarmor. The only person in the Lichdom I know has some is Grandpa Aarin.”

“Grandpa Aarin?” asked Calais with an uncomprehending voice.

“Ah, right. You’d know him as the Bone Lord.”