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Chapter One: A sticky mess indeed
Konrad stomped through the pouring rain with disgust. This time last month he had been sitting in his study reading through his masters manuscripts and desperately seeking knowledge to add to his rapidly growing spell base. His toes would have been warmed by the heat of the roaring fire, instead he was left trudging through mud, his feet soaking wet and his skin ripped to shreds on the remains on his clammy walking boots. To make matters worse, this was not just any journey, he had been sent on his journey year by his master to learn the ways of the world? sounds fun until you discover the real reason, his master had received a summons from the Imperial army of Stirland, having more important matter to attend to his ?capable? apprentice was sent in his stead. Goblins and rain, a nasty combination by anyone?s standards this was compounded by the fact that Konrad had never entered battle before, it all seemed somewhat of a mess to him, certainly not something that a sensible wizard should indulge in. Still he was confident in his use of his staff in sparring and he had a variety of capable spells in his book ready for use if any Goblins got too close, still he was hoping that he could just wait this battle out, once he explained that he was only an apprentice and had not even reached the first grade at the Grey college he would be placed in safety and those better accustomed to fighting to get on with it.
At midday, the rain ceased and his clothes started to dry off. The sun laboured to shine through the grey clouds but never quite managed it. Still it did wonders to his morale as his feet squelched in his still sodden boots, by the time he had reached the aptly named village of Kleindorf he felt almost human again. Taking a deep breath and putting on his boldest Wizard stride he approached the town, the outskirts were abandoned apart from a young boy on a rickety tower that seemed unlikely to hold back a snotling let along a goblin horde. Shouting out towards the centre, the boy scampered down the towers ladder at an alarming rate and hurdled off down the main path. Shrugging his shoulders Konrad followed, adjusting his wizard?s hat which was surprisingly uncomfortable and brushing down his robes he started to see activity. A group of dwarves were busy erecting a rather solid looking barricade around all entrances to the main church, casting dark looks around and occasionally slipping out of there own tongue to bellow disparagingly at the villagers who trying to build similar barricades. The fact that this wasn?t what he was expecting dampened his mood further; his idea of an Imperial army was columns of glittering knights, batteries of cannons and the majestic wizards lighting up the sky with pyrotechnics and legions of soldiers marching forwards in tight formation. The only soldiers he could see were labouring away digging trenches and sharpening sticks to make staves and spears, hardly glamorous. He hadn?t dug his way out of the gutter just so he could dig new ones. One of the soldiers started walking towards him, pulling himself to his full height and standing with all the dignity he could muster in his travel worn clothing he greeted the soldier.
?Hail brave soldier, well met. I see you are preparing for battle, I take it the rest of the army will be arriving soon. I am Konrad Schlutz, trained in the arts of Grey magic, or as it is more commonly known?? turning his eyes into a piercing gaze he lowered his gaze to a more sinister tone. ?Shadow magic.? As the words flowed from his lips, for once Konrad was thoroughly enjoying himself, although his words seemed to have little effect on the ignorant soldier, he new that he sounded like one of the great heroes from the sagas of old. He could almost see Erich Dahlfler performing him on stage. ?I have arrived to provide you with magical protection in the upcoming battle.? Nodding regally he looked up into the flinty eyes of the unimpressed soldier, who waited for a moment to make sure Konrad had truly finished.
?Greetings, My name is Heinrich Wolf, I am Sergeant of the 53rd Stirland Blades. Do you have any spells you can use to fortify this town? Barriers in particular and traps would be ideal; we need them concentrated on the road entrances leading to the centre from the wood. Some kind of an alarm would also be useful.? Konrads eyes flickered as he digested the unexpected request.
?Well? not exactly, my skills are more of an academic nature.? He confessed ?In fact it is only recently that I branched out into the art of war.? Feeling the soldiers patronising gaze he began to speak louder as if that would make him feel better ?I should probably go join your generals; they could do with my assistance.? As he turned, something heavy blocked his path, pressing against his chest.
?Well if you can?t be using magic, you will need this.? Looking down Konrad saw the unmistakeable shape of a spade, soon after he saw the thick Stirland clay covering it, and with horror he saw the clay now spreading across his robes. ?Like I said, we need the entrances by the forest to be fortified the most, get to work on them and report to me when you are done.? A thin smile had crossed Wolf?s face. ?Captain Gruber is indisposed and you are under my command. You will be stationed with me during the defence and unless the defences are operation by the time the green skins attack we will all be dead.? Konrad realised with a sinking feeling in his chest that perhaps he wasn?t going to be as appreciated as he had previously hoped. Although outright rebellion entered his mind, realism seeped in. He was a mere apprentice and untried in battle, unless the trenches got dug he could only imagine the fate that would befall him when the goblins arrived and upsetting the very people who would have to protect him in the upcoming conflict seemed like a VERY bad idea. Thoroughly deflated he muttered his agreement and stormed off to where a group of villagers were frantically digging sweat streaming off there filthy backs. Giving one last and of course very audible sigh he drove his shovel into the thick clay, the rough handle almost instantly beginning to rip into his soft hands. After all, a wizard was hardly prepared for such manual labour.
Within minutes Konrad was exhausted, first the journey to get here and then the digging was more than he could take. After an hour of digging, every muscle in Konrads body was aching and he was desperate for a break, the fact that he was unable to make half the progress that the other villagers ripped at his ego and he continued without saying a word.
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