>>6134180You find Alvin sitting alone, away from the campfire and the rest of the party. The Adjunct sips from a canteen, staring off at the endless dunes before him. Noticing your arrival, he offers you a sip. You find it to be sweet wine; your first taste of alcohol since having left Solis, and a welcome reprieve out here. You take a seat on the ground next to the mage.
“Lord Tristain.” Alvin says, smiling. “Congratulations, you may now count yourself amongst the very scant number of Fodlanders to walk across the desert of Morfis. Tell me, how are you enjoying our travels?”
>“This sucks.”Alvin laughs. If the man were offended at the various jabs you’ve thrown at his country these last few days, he does not show it. “I suppose that response is only natural. I understand there is nothing like this back where you’re from. Still, I would hope you grow to get used to this. If you win Princess Yulia’s hand, you’ll become Morfisian royalty. It would certainly do you no favors to regard your newfound country so poorly.”
>“Will it really go that easily?” You ask. “Will the people of Morfis really accept me as their new ruler?”“They’ll accept whatever the Princess or the Royal College tells them to accept.” Alvin shrugs. “Sometimes those may be conflicting ideas, but the fact is, they’ll fall in line one way or another.”
>“And what about you? Would you accept me so readily?”“If you were a good king, sure.” Alvin says, taking back his canteen and sipping from it. “I don’t know what these other contenders are like, but you’ve given me no reason so far to think you wouldn’t be a good husband to the princess. You’re an honest sort. You’re blunt, perhaps almost brutally so. But you have no problem with sticking your neck out for others. And you have the strength to accomplish what you set out to do. I earnestly believe Morfis could very well prosper under your leadership. And what is best for Morfis is ultimately what matters to me the most.” He offers you back his canteen.
>“I had no idea you were such a patriot.” You say, taking another drink.“The Sorcerer King has always been an inspiration to me.” Alvin says. “For him to take a nomadic and tribal group of people and create from nothing a sorcerous empire capable of taming these wastes…it is nothing short of miraculous. I believe it falls to all of us in the Royal College, myself included, to continue his work in improving our nation. And there is still so much more of that left to be done.”
>“Well, I appreciate your honesty. If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate just a bit more of it as I ask you this next question. Tell me, is there more to this journey for you than just transporting the ore you brought back from Rusalka?”“What do you mean?” Alvin asks, his brow furrowed in confusion.
