King Valdemar's Quest for an Heir

Time frame: wartime

Ragnar, Ymat, and Rersiat landed at the edge of the cliff where King Valdemar and General Pindale had been waiting for them.

King Valdemart came to his biological son, Ragnar, whom he recognized as the adopted son of his best friend in front of Cescil's army.

The dragons walked with a steady gait, their eyes fixed on their imposing forms. Ymat's scales shimmered under the sunlight while Rersiat's fiery breath illuminated the rocky terrain around them.

As King Valdemar approached the dragons, Ymat and Rersiat towered over him, each reptilian eye scanning him with eerie intelligence.

Ragnar jumped down from Ymat and saluted his father and General Pindale. His father was busy continuing his conversation with the Cescil warlord.

"General Pindale says that women in Cescil live long lives. He has a wife waiting for him at home aged 40 and three children. It looks like they can accompany and serve their husbands for a long time. The quality of Cescil women seems to be quite good."

King Valdemar listened intently to General Pindale's words, his mind turning to the prospect of finding a suitable companion for his own son.

The idea of a wife with a long life expectancy was appealing, and the fact that the women of Cescil were known for their exceptional qualities only strengthened the notion.

As King Valdemar and General Pindale chatted away, Ragnar listened intently, trying his best not to let his curiosity show. He had always been fascinated by the politics and diplomacy that went on behind the scenes of the kingdom, and now, he finally had a chance to witness it firsthand.

Though he was only a young man, Ragnar had already proven his worth as a warrior and was respected by many.

Ragnar's father leaned in and whispered in his son's ear, "You were supposed to marry a princess or noblewoman from Cescil, but those two Cescil women we met earlier seem quite promising as well." Ragnar's eyes widened at the news, stunned that his father had chosen to reveal such personal information to him.

Nevertheless, he trusted his father's judgment and knew that he would always do what was best for the kingdom. Ragnar took a deep breath and straightened his posture.

As King Valdemar and General Pindale discussed the possible alliance, Ragnar's thoughts drifted to his own future. As a prince, he knew that a political marriage was inevitable, but hearing his father mention potential brides from Cescil gave him a strange mix of excitement and dread.

On the one hand, he had always been curious about the land and people of Cescil, and the thought of marrying someone from there intrigued him.

On the other hand, under the influence of Lady Sophia, he had always envisioned choosing his own partner, someone he could love and respect, regardless of their birth.

Still, he trusted his father's judgment and knew that the decision was not entirely up to him. With a calm and steady presence, Ragnar waited for his father to speak to him directly, curious about the future.

King Valdemar's voice lowered as he whispered again, "The two healer girls just now are beautiful and poised, although I'm not sure that they will have long lives." Ragnar listened in as his father assessed the qualities of the women they had met earlier, Sophia and Adeline.

"Hm, seemingly poised," Ragnar repeated to himself while holding back his laughter. His father was completely fooled by Sophia and Adeline's weak appearance.

But Ragnar was reluctant to correct his father's wrong judgment. He was actually the type who was lazy to talk about something unimportant.

"Ragnar, this time, I want you to forget your responsibilities and choose whichever girl pleases you. But if I may make a suggestion, choose one who is likely to be physically strong and long-lived. She will probably bear your child several times before she dies."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Ragnar replied obediently. King Valdemar's words rang in Ragnar's ears as he considered his father's unexpected encouragement.

He was grateful for the opportunity to have some semblance of choice in his life, but he knew he could not simply ignore his responsibilities as a prince.

As the future ruler of their kingdom, Ragnar had a duty to choose a wife who could provide heirs.

As King Valdemar and Ragnar discussed the matter of choosing a wife, General Pindale listened in silently, feeling a sense of discomfort at their conversation. To him, it sounded as though they were discussing a valuable animal to be bred and not a companion for life.

He had always known that politics and marriages were intertwined, but the prospect of selecting a partner based solely on appearance and the ability to bear children made him uneasy.

As King Valdemar mounted Rersiat and prepared to leave, General Pindale gave him a respectful nod, silently conveying his best wishes for a safe journey.

Meanwhile, Ragnar and Ymat walked alongside King Valdemar, guarding his flank and watching the surroundings.

The journey ahead would be treacherous, especially since they had to cross enemy territory, but they were determined to ensure the king's safety above all else.

As Rersiat lifted off into the air, Ragnar and Ymat followed closely behind, their eyes fixed on their leader and his dragon as they made their way toward the war border.

Once they had safely passed the enemy's borders, Ragnar and Ymat bid King Valdemar and Rersiat farewell, watching from afar as they disappeared into the horizon.

After escorting his father to the outer border, Ragnar returned with Ymat to the Cescil camp after a brief reconnaissance. From his vantage point atop a craggy outcropping, Ragnar surveyed the peaceful landscape of Newside.

The air was warm and still, and the only sounds were the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

It was hard to imagine that this land was ravaged by war and conflict not long ago. Ragnar's mind drifted to the recent battle, now a land of mourning and sorrow.

He knew that the sudden departure of Ostrill and Trurian, the once-proud ruler of Ostrill, had left a power vacuum that the armies of Gamaaloth could easily fill.

Ragnar took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He knew that he must act quickly if he wanted to protect the innocent people of Cescil at the next outer border.

With the arrival of Gamaaloth's full army, Cescil had the strength to move to Newside and fight at the next border, Tornbridge Fort. Meanwhile, the Trurian army had fled after being defeated by Gamaaloth's dragon rider army.

Unlike Cescil, which was unfamiliar with Gamaaloth, the Trurian Empire was located not far from Gamaaloth and had long been in conflict with Gamaaloth.

News of the possible death of the Crown Prince of Gamaaloth from their poisoned arrows spread to Trurian, and word spread that after the prince's prepared funeral ceremony was held, Gamaaloth was already preparing to attack Trurian.

The news was actually true. King Valdemar Clementine had intended to attack Trurian after paying his last respects to Ragnar Clementine - the crown prince who was presumed dead.

Of course, Ragnar managed to persuade his father to cancel the attack. But he supported his father in making a ceasefire agreement and sanctioned war against Trurian for trying to harm Gamaaloth.

As Ragnar Clementine arrived at the edge of the cliff overlooking Gamaaloth's encampment, he spotted Roman waiting for him, holding the reins of Ymat, Ragnar's trusted dragon.

The two exchanged a brief nod, then Ragnar handed the reins to Roman with a grateful smile. Roman nodded back in acknowledgment.

As Ragnar and Ymat entered the camp, the sounds of clanging metal and whistling arrows filled the air. The smell of smoke mingled with the scent of roasting meat, and Ragnar's stomach rumbled in anticipation.

The camp was a bustling hub of activity, with people weaving in and out of tents and makeshift buildings.

In the distance, Ragnar spotted a group of soldiers practicing their archery, their bows and arrows gleaming in the sunlight. Nearby, a group of healers tended to injured warriors, their hands glowing with a soft blue light.

Once at the Dragon Riders' camp, he looked around and found Reeves panicking while Arn and Rast were laughing at him.

Ragnar watched as Reeves let out a sheepish grin, his face now flush with embarrassment. He turned to Arn and Rast and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What's going on?" he asked.

Rast's smug expression immediately faltered, realizing that his teasing was beginning to backfire. He cleared his throat before responding. "Your Highness, Reeves is going on a date with Shi tonight. It's his first time, and he's feeling a bit nervous. He didn't know what to expect."

"What is a date?"

"Your Highness, a date is when a woman and a man just go out together to spend time together to get to know each other. That seems to be Cescil's way of choosing a partner because the women in Cescil have a fairly high life expectancy so that they will spend a long time together, so when they decide to be together, they also need to make sure whether they are compatible or not. Unlike the women we usually buy in Gamaaloth, at most, they only last one year and then die."

"Oh." Ragnar nodded. He immediately widened his eyes. Didn't Sophia's invitation just now also fall under the dating category?

"Oh!" This time Ragnar's voice rose even higher.

"Yes, Your Highness?" All three said at the same time.

Ragnar looked at his three friends with a puzzled look. "What should I prepare for a date with a woman?"

Reeves, Arn, and Rast gaped. "Yes, Your Highness, who are you going on a date with, uh, sorry to be presumptuous, we mean, where are you going, and what are you planning to do?"

"To the city to shop for food, clothing, and medicine."

"My apologies, Your Majesty. A lot of money, perhaps?" Arn replied timidly. "It is said that Cescil women like men who have abundant wealth and money," Arn replied innocently.

Reeves looked at Arn sadly. He wondered if Shi also thought the same as Arn's observation.

Ragnar shook his head. He had no money at all. At least not the Cescil currency. It was obvious that his date with Sophia would be ruined.

"Arn, call Yeoman here," Ragnar said in the end.

*