The next day I just took my sword with me as I continued to explore Illeria. The more I saw, the harder I knew my task would be. Trash, filth, and waste clogged the streets; the houses were barely standing and looked cold and dank; the cobbles in the streets were cracked and tripped you up.

I browsed some of the local merchant stands but the wares were substandard, like the people took little pride in their work. I managed to avoid detection as I inspected everything in the city and made a mental list of everything that needed to be done. Once I returned to my room, I wrote down the list of things I believed that needed to be done on some paper I had bought. I then made a list of supplies that would be needed, a rough estimate, given that I was a solider not an engineer.

I overheard a commotion outside my window causing me to leave my musing. Outside my window I saw a family fighting with several guards outside of the blacksmith's shop just up the road. I grabbed my sword and rushed outside.

As I neared the blacksmith's, I noticed the blacksmith appeared to be protecting a young girl who was crying in her mother's arms. The blacksmith was in a rage as he roared at the guards.

"I will never allow that filthy scum-sucking pig to touch my daughter! If that bastard wants her, he'll have to come pry her from my cold dead fingers!" The blacksmith roared. He glanced up towards what was left of the fortress and yelled, "You hear me General Isgard? You want my daughter you have to come get her yourself, you disgusting son of a bitch!"

"Watch your tone, Hrothgar," one of the guards growled. "Words like that will get you killed no matter how important you think you are."

"Come on Hrothgar, don't be like this," another guard added. "Everyone chips in and this city continues to go on. When you don't, we all face punishment."

"What's going on here?" I asked. Hrothgar turned to face me and I noticed he had a very large hammer in his hand. He had tensed when I had spoken, but relaxed when he saw I wasn't a guard.

"None of your business outsider," the first guard growled.

"Hey, how did you get into the city? Outsiders are forbidden in Illeria," a third guard said.

"You people have poor security," I smirked.

"You two arrest him. The rest help me with Hrothgar and the girl," the first guard ordered. Two men came towards me and I held up my hands to show I meant no harm. They took places on either side of me and just looked menacing. Both were too young to be involved in this.

"Hrothgar just give us your daughter and this will end peacefully," the first guard ordered.

"Come and get her. Anna, take Maria inside," Hrothgar ordered. The guards started towards Hrothgar and things quickly got ugly. Hrothgar's hammer met the first guard's arm with a sickening crunch. Hrothgar's elbow slammed into the other's face breaking his nose. I drove my elbow into the boy on my right. Pivoting on the balls of my feet, I drove the same arm into the boy on my left's gut. Both collapsed and I charged to help Hrothgar. I cuffed one of the guard's ears, disorientating him and then slammed him into the ground. Hrothgar had dispatched the other guard leaving him an unconscious bloody mess, but alive.

"What was that about?" I asked annoyed.

"Doesn't concern you," Hrothgar growled.

Now that I saw him up close I noticed his soot and grease covered clothes, apron, and hands. His body was like a tree trunk and his beard was wiry. His brown eyes were full of sadness but there was kindness there as well.

"Sir, I am here to help. Not just you, but Illeria as a whole. But I can only do so if you tell me what's wrong," I said calmly. Hrothgar sighed and said, "Come back here in the morning and I'll explain." He disappeared back into his shop leaving me with the moaning guards.

I awoke to another commotion outside my window. I sighed and grabbed my quiver. Two guards were restraining Hrothgar as two more were dragging his daughter out of the shop. I slung my bow and notched an arrow. I carefully took aim and fired.

One of the guards restraining Hrothgar released him and jumped aside as the arrow whistled past his ear, embedding itself in a beam behind the guard.

"If you do not leave now, the next one will be between your ears," I stated loudly and evenly. The guard snarled but didn't more as I notched another arrow. The guard dragging Hrothgar's daughter, Maria, stopped moving.

"What's going on out here?" a voice snarled. From Hrothgar's shop emerged a short stocky man with a black beard. It was neatly trimmed and had grey streaks in it. He wore gold armor and a large battleaxe was hanging on his back.

"You and your men have no right taking that girl against her will. Return to your barracks now," I ordered evenly.

"Outsiders are forbidden in Illeria. You have no right to be here nor to become involved in our politics. Leave now and I will forgive your insolence," the dwarf in gold stated.

"I'm sorry, but I can't stand idly by while a cruel man takes advantage of others," I stated.

"Men seize him! I will deal with the girl!" the dwarf barked. He roughly grabbed Maria and headed towards the castle. I fired my arrow at the feet of the guards who advanced towards the inn.

"One more step and the next one will pierce your body," I said. "I will leve and you can continue to live." The guards backed away and together the four of them left. I quickly gathered my supplies and left the inn.

"Wait, where are you going? Are you really leaving my daughter in Isgard's hands?" Hrothgar asked desperately.

"What does he want with her?" I asked.

"That lecherous bastard takes young girls from every family and has his way with them. The poor things can't resist or their family suffers. Isgard takes them at his leisure and whenever the moment strikes him," Hrothgar explained in a defeated tone. "I had managed to protect my little Maria for so long because I had influence in this city, but once Isgard becomes fixated with a girl, no one can stand in his way."

"I'm sorry, but I can't stand against an army. I have a mission of my own in this city, but I can't do it if I'm dead. Nor do I want to kill the men pressed into Isgard's service," I explained thinking of the young boys from last night. "I am sorry about your daughter, but even if I could rescue her, Isgard would know who did it and come and punish you. That I cannot allow."

"I understand," Hrothgar sighed. "Just go."

I nodded and escaped into the abandoned section of Illeria. I found a relatively secure area in a secluded corner and hid my rucksack again. Making sure the Dragon's Egg was safe, I began mapping the city; every house, road, timber, and broken stone. I recorded the guards routes, shifts, and how many there were. I also kept tabs on what was happening in town and talked to the townsfolk. After several days, maybe a week and a half, I had a complete map of the city, guard routes, and numbers. I also had a better understanding of Illeria's past and current situation.

I discovered that Illeria's leader, General Isgard, was actually the leader of a military occupation. The city of Acropus had become a strong empire in the last two decades. It had seen how weak Illeria had become and decided to take over. Heavy taxes were placed on the citizens of Illeria and the cruel General Isgard was sent here as punishment.

From my exploring of the burnt-out library I had learned that much of the ancient knowledge that we Atlantians held so dearly had either been destroyed or stolen. The elders who guided Illeria and had protected the Great Dragon had been killed when the Anthropus had originally attacked. Whatever knowledge those elders had had apparently been lost with them.

I knew I had a long journey ahead of me but I had a good start. My next step was to gain the trust of the people; make them believe that I was there to help. I think I'll start with Hrothgar.