"I need you to return to Grom."

Jimmy stared at the girl as everything he ever wanted came crashing down.

The young blade shut out his surroundings. The palatial manor by the sea side. The red cloaked spearmen. The Grommish war Galley in the harbor. Even old Admiral Edmund standing in the background was nothing to him as he focused on the stern face of the girl from the mango grove and her sad sad eyes.

"You….you don't mean that Sammy…what about everything we said? What about everything we promised to each other?"

The girl's composure did not break. She simply shook her head and turned away. "You can't hold me to those things. We were…we are both young, and foolish and did not think through our words. I have responsibilities, duties, and so do you. We can't ignore them. I am to be wed to a nobleman to bolster my country's strength. Your presence here, will be ... detrimental."

Jimmy could not believe what he was hearing. His attention drifted back to his surroundings as he scanned for her uncle, Sardar Milan. The old man in the colourful robes and the large jeweled hat stood impassively as he nodded to Sammy's every word. He was behind this, he must have been. He arranged this, he made her say those things.

"No…this can't be happening. I'll not return. I'll stay here, prove my worth. I'll make my fortune. I'll support you and your country. I'll beat all your foes. I'll show everyone,show…"said Jimmy frantically as he scrambled for a response.

"Jimmy…" said Sammy her voice softening. She took a step towards him, but she was blocked by Nahlie her bodyguard. Sammy stood a head taller than her guardian, but she stopped nonetheless. " I care deeply for you, that won't change…but think about it. I am the heir to the holy temple, the last Princess of Nashput. The people won't accept me if I continue to associate with a person from a lower, no different caste. I have a duty to my family, my god, my country, my people…What we shared. I'll never forget. It was a pleasant dream, but if you think about it, it's ridiculous for us to be together. No, that's not right I meant it's..."

Jimmy ears burned. Ridiculous. He was ridiculous to her. He knew she didn't mean it but the words seared into his soul. Common wasn't her native tongue but she spoke it well enough, in fact better than most. She might not have meant it, but it hurt all the same.

Jimmy was a young lad, barely in his teens, but he was already a seasoned warrior before he met Sammy. He had fought raiders, demons, and monsters, and took his fair share of wounds. He had taken arrows to the heart, and blows to the head that would kill a normal man, and he would have died save for the ministrations of the Baroness Stille. He had his pride though. He would endure this. She needed him more than he needed her.

Jimmy turned abruptly, and marched away towards Admiral Edmund, hiding his face from Sammy. He was not crying but he wouldn't risk himself breaking down before her. He wouldn't let her see his weakness. He'll be bigger than her, stronger than she could imagine. He wasn't a nobody, he was important. He wasn't a mere ridiculous little boy."

"Jimmy, don't be like this," said Sammy. "I don't want us to part like this…"

"Mistress," interrupted Nahlie. "Your uncle and the Bey of Ghata are waiting."

Jimmy ignored the both of them as he reached Admiral Edmund. While his master Martinez had a working relationship with him, Jimmy knew very little of the famous old man. He had escorted Sampada back to Vinraj personally after she was rescued, but other than that he was mainly involved in diplomatic work. Jimmy expected a cold reception and a stiff escort, presumably back to his ship, but instead the old man placed a firm hand on his shoulder and gave him a slow nod.

"Sometimes it's best to just let things go my boy."

Jimmy appreciated the empathy and nodded numbly, but it wouldn't be that simple. He would finish his training with his master, strike it rich, buy his way into nobility, and show her. He wasn't ridiculous. He was somebody. He was James the Blade.

Jimmy grumbled to himself as a large bump in the road broke his sleep. He was normally a light sleeper, but Chloe had insisted they pushed through the night. He stayed awake as long as he could, but even his endurance was no match for that of his companion's. Whether it was because she was half dwarf, or half tree, or amusingly enough in her own opinion, full teamster, Chloe pushed their wagon through the night.

Jimmy blinked the last of his slumber. He guessed they were in Grom City from the sounds of the market in the background, and was glad they were finally finished with this stupid journey. He was tired of all the Griffin riders, shadow demons, spooky swords that change shade, and of course all the sleeping outdoors. He just wanted to drop off their package to their 'appraiser' and get the hell back to Lower Lueders.

"Thirsty?" asked Martinez as he handed a bottle towards him with wobbly hands. Jimmy grimaced as the exact contents of the brew was obscured by dirt, grime, and who knows what else on the glass, before finally accepting it and taking a swig.

It burned, but it jolted him to full consciousness. "Thanks," he muttered to his old mentor. "Let's get to an inn, tidy up, and we'll fix both our problems."

Martinez looked at him, eyes unfocused, before taking a long chug of his brew. The haggard man released a long burp before slumping down I the cart, back into his drunken stupor, literally subding the demons festering inside him.

Jimmy paused as he gazed at the prone form of his teacher. This was going to be a problem. While he had discussed his plans with Chloe, he had not said anything to Martinez. That was going to be tricky. The fact that Hoaglie's fence was also the person that might have had a tiny part in Martinez's mental breakdown might just make matters worse. The Baroness had always had a leveled head person. Resourceful and wise, but seeing Martinez in his current state might rattle her, but at least she was a professional. Jimmy was sure she could overcome their encounter. Martinez however was a different story. There's also no telling what his old mentor would do if he saw her. He was a bit flaky to begin with, and who knows what craziness he would do if he confronted her again. Perhaps if he could cart him to her while he was fully inebriated.

"Take a turn at the end of Merchant Street, we'll make a stop at the Green Gnome," said Jimmy. "It's the big inn with the double chimneys. We'll restock on hootch before we head to the university."

"I know that place. Unfortunately we're nowhere near Grom City yet." Jimmy was expecting Chloe to respond and was a bit surprised when Rina did instead. Jimmy popped his head over the cart's box boards and saw only Rina at the driver's seat. She had taken her breastplate off but still wore her leathers. Her hair was tied up in a scarf as she stoically guided their wagon slowly down the trail. He was about to question where his partner had went, but was more disconcerting was that they were still on the road, surrounded by at least twenty or maybe thirty merchant carts. He could see the coast on his left, and a small fishing village down the road with even more merchant wagons ahead.

"What in the pit is going on here?" asked Jimmy confused by the sight. While merchant carts on the road were not unusual, this many on the back roads to Grom City was. Unless they had taken a drastic detour, he guessed they were at the town of Ramsford. A quaint fishing town, twenty miles north of Grom City, that was as far away from anything exciting as one could get.

"Chloe was wondering the same thing," said Rina. " We were making good time during the night, when we began to be joined by various wagons, carts, and assorted traders on foot. It's dangerous enough to drive a wagon on these mountainous paths, but even more dangerous to do so at night."

"So what the hell are they doing here?"

"Chloe asked the same thing, but …well these are Grommers after all. They said there was a large trade expedition in Ramsford, and they wanted a jump on the competition I guess. We could have taken a detour and saved a few hours. The path would have been longer, but at least we would have made better time, but…well I guess Chloe is a true Grommer as well, since she jumped at the opportunity to find out what all this talk about business opportunities are and went ahead to scout it out," shrugged Rina.

Jimmy frowned. Another delay. He stared at the village again, and noted five large strangely shaped but oddly familiar ships in the harbor and what appeared to be another six war galleys far in the distance in the ocean.

Jimmy wasn't sure what was going on, but pulled himself to the back of the wagon and waved at the man driving the large merchant cart behind them. "Hey, what's going on here?"

The man yawned and waved back. "We're here to make some gold like you," he laughed with a smile. "Buckets of it!"

"Trading with those ships?"

"Of course! They're a trading expedition from far off Vinnyragy so I've heard. That means spices, silks, and all sorts of rare trade goods! Me and the missus have some exotic earthen ware we want to sell them, and buy up who knows what else they brought with them."

Jimmy nodded and gave the man a thumbs up before slinking back into his own wagon. Now he understood what all the commotion was about. Trade with Vinraj had been sparse at best, and since the sinking of Alphatia roughly twenty years ago had dried up completely. He had made the trip to the mysterious kingdoms himself once with Admiral Edmund, but most of the traffic that braved those dangerous mist filled waters preferred to dock at Thyatis or Ylarrum instead of going all the way to Grom.

Still, why were these ships docked at Ramsford instead of Grom City, or even Port Griffin or the Rock of Doug for that matter? He doubt they were simply hitting up all the big trade ports and this mud hole of a fishing town was last on their list. Were they simply lost? Doubtful, they were close enough to Grom City that they could see its lights in the darkness. It wouldn't take much to strike south and do business with proper merchant houses that had much more coin and goods to offer.

Jimmy popped his head up from the box boards again and stared intensely at the ships. It took him a few seconds but then he understood. Those were merchant ships, they were War Kaylons, great warships from Ghata and Nashput. He remembered them when Admiral Edmund's War Galley was escorted out of their waters by Sardar Milan's war ships. Jimmy smiled. Their presence was simply a diplomatic gesture, but a part of Jimmy knew they were to make sure he was sent packing back to Grom and out of everyone's hair.

"I don't know much about ships, but I don't think those are merchant ships," said Rina as they made their way forward.

Jimmy was surprised at her insight, but then saw she wasn't pointing at the ships, but instead to a clearing up ahead. A massive iron golem towered over a company of soldiers…no they were Grommish marines on closer inspection. The marines were busy excavating what appeared to be a pair of giant metal legs sticking out from the ground. There was no signs of battle, but their presence sounded alarm bells in Jimmy's head. Most of the merchants avoided them and rumbled their way towards the town, but Jimmy signalled Rina to pull over.

"Hey, guys. What's going on?" asked Jimmy straight to the point.

The marines nearest the great legs ignored him and continued digging, but a big bald sailor with a red face walked up towards their cart and waved them forward. "Keep moving," he ordered gruffly.

Jimmy regarded the man and shrugged meekly. "We'll gladly do that, but my companions and I are a bit averse to danger. Is there anything we should be worried about in Ramsford?"

"Keep moving," said the man again, a bit louder as his face grew a bit redder.

Jimmy was about to press the matter, when a voice from the main camp of soldiers interrupted them. "Stand down Nigel. "

Jimmy stopped and saw a naval officer push his way past the digging men towards them.

"My, my," said the officer with a big smile on his face. "If it isn't young James. My, how you've grown. And it looks like you've done well for yourself, with such a lovely wife at your side."

Jimmy and Rina paused and stared at each other horrified. Jimmy was about to correct the man, when he finally recognized him. One of the few men that called him James with attaching airs to it, which was odd since he prefered that name, but everyone seemed to use Jimmy instead. "Officer Hartley! " said Jimmy with a crisp salute. He remembered him as one of Edmund's men. A friendly fellow he met when he first crossed the sea of dawn, but he never really knew him till he took the time to console him on his long journey back to Grom City.

"That was Warrant Officer Hartley, but now its First Lieutenant now. I see you've moved up in life as well. Gave up all that demon hunting nonsense and learned a trade I see. All the sharp merchants are here I see, and it shouldn't surprise me to see you with them."

Jimmy considered correcting him, but decided to let the man believe what he wanted. It would be better for him to think he lead an honest and peaceful life, instead of growing up to become a mob enforcer. He gave Rina an uncomfortable hug, and started a brief conversation with Hartley, making up a boring but plausible past for himself and his young wife as he plied the man for information.

"So….what's up with the marines here. Are these Vinraji traders…hostile? Or are you expecting someone to be robbed?"

Hartley sighed, and waved Jimmy to his tent. The lieutenant invited Rina as well, but she humbly remained to tend to their 'stock'.

"Truth be told James, they aren't merchants, but I bet you already figured that out," he said when they were out of earshot from his men.

"I wasn't sure at first, but that was my impression when I saw they were War Kaylons," said Jimmy as he played along with the script.

"Officially, they are on a diplomatic mission from the Great Khanate of Vinrahjay, but Admiral Edmund thought it odd."

"Aye, a diplomat needs only one ship, not a small fleet."

"Yes, they are a bit well armed, but not enough to pose a serious military threat. Still, Admiral Edmund sent a fleet of our own to …dissuade them before they reached Grom City. If they wanted to trade they could do so one ship at a time, but well…they were very persuasive," said Hartley nervously.

"They defeated you in battle?"

"No, not quite. We dictated our terms to them, but then we were swept up by a storm. No not a storm. I've seen storms. Even ones summoned by those Hayrophant druids. This was a typhoon, just like those bad boys in Vinrahjay. It came out of nowhere on a clear day and nearly scuttled the lot of us. We almost did sink, but the storm stopped before we got ourselves in real trouble. Our best mages and clerics were powerless to stop them. The best they could do was to tell me that the storm was magical nature and it was something we shouldn't mess with," he snorted.

"Before we could send more ships or some Royal Adventurers to deal with them, these Khanate guys sailed north and landed at Ramsford. Officially we saw it as a compromise, but we prepared for the worse. We even sent a landing party with two iron golems to stem a land invasion, but as you can see that ended poorly."

"Two iron golems?" asked Jimmy confused as he only saw one. He glanced outside and was shaken as he realized what the metal legs were. "What? How? Iron golems are supposedly immune to magic. How did they pick it up and drive it through the ground?"

Hartley shook his head. "I don't know. One moment we were setting up a blockade, the next thing we knew a great shadow, a great golden shadow, covered us and we felt the presence of something….something big…something colossal and radiant. Actually most of us fled in fear before we got a good look, but when the darkness left and we got some order back in our ranks, we found one golem tossed off a cliff, and the other driven into the ground. It took us two days to get the first one back, and we're still digging out the second one."

"As you can imagine we braced for the worse. They had such power at their disposal, but no invasion, no attack came. I still don't buy their story of them being a diplomatic envoy since they haven't sent any ambassadors, but it's not like we have any say in the matter until Admiral Edmund or the Royal Adventurers arrive. Even still, I'm not sure if they can stop anyone that can summon a Typhoon at will, or toss iron golems around like dolls."

"So now you're just letting them trade?"

"Not initially. Our orders were changed to just keep an eye on them. We weren't inclined to let anyone enter Ramsford, but when we were busy digging out the golems a couple of your fellow merchants snuck in, did some trades and quickly returned with …well riches. It didn't take long for others to come, and soon the whole road was choked with you guys. We could have stopped them, but our guests seem to welcome them..and…."

"…and …it's easier to send your spies in…to get a feel of what they're doing," said Jimmy with a grin.

"Ahh….always the sharp one. Merchant or not, I knew you had a good head on your shoulders."

Jimmy considered the situation. They were still a day from Grom City, but this piqued his curiosity. They were Vinraji ships, but not from any region he was familiar with. Also, Hartley mentioned Khanate a few times. While he wasn't the most informed on geopolitics from across the world, he was pretty sure Khanate meant horselords, and this seemed an odd place for nomadic herdsmen. Also their ability to summon storms and toss golems gave him pause, but it was nothing he hadn't dealt with before. He used to hunt demons for a living. He was pretty sure he'd seen stranger and more powerful things on his travels. Lastly, he couldn't move without Chloe, and knowing her, she was eyeballs deep in Khanate trouble now.

"So, if it wasn't too much trouble. I was wondering if you and the missus wouldn't mind keeping your eyes and ears open when you head into town," asked Hartley meekly. The man wasn't the smartest and he was clearly out of his field of expertise but Jimmy found it hard not oblige him.

"Of course. I think we could do that for an old friend. For a small favor of course."