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On route to the Karswyn kingdom, I filled Professor Sageira in about my domestic dilemma, and all I got in response was an amused snort. "Is that all? Well, that is good, I suppose. So should I expect to see my godchildren within a year?"
"Godchildren?! The hell are you talking about?" I asked.
"You know what I am talking about. Emma likes you, and you like Emma. From how you describe her, both of you are practically together already, so start making me some godchildren. As the dragon sponsoring your new bloodline as a recognized wyrm, it is only proper that I would be your future childrens' godparent." Professor Sageira said it as a matter of fact.
"No! That is not what I meant! Sure, I like her, love, dare I say, but we are just too young for that kind of commitment, much less children." I shot back.
"Bah! You mortals, making something as simple as reproduction so complicated. All of you live such short lives, yet find so many ways to make them harder. It is a miracle your civilization advanced as far as it did," she grumbled before adding, "I will drop the matter for now, but if you do not marry that girl and start giving me godchildren the moment you become a legal adult, I am teaming up with your mother to nag you until you do."
That threat alone sent shivers down my spine. I would rather be in a siege against overwhelming odds, at least then I would have a chance of winning.
***
When we reached the Karswyn kingdom, I was dropped off near a village that supplied the keep I was to infiltrate and wait for my target. As I walked to the village, I spotted what looked like an unassuming traveling merchant, who was most likely my contact, by the side of the road.
As I closed in on the traveling merchant, I saw his hand move to his side, out of my view, no doubt reaching for a small crossbow or something. Before he gets any funny ideas and takes a potshot at me, I'd better ask the challenge question to make sure this is my guy.
"Your wares look untouched by rain. Were you lucky with the weather?" I said, trying to look as disarming as I could. Upon hearing my question, I saw the twinkle in his eyes, all but confirming that this was my guy.
"Luck helps—but knowing when to cover your goods helps more." the travling merchant replied to my challenge question with the correct answer, confirming that this was indeed my guy. He then raised a small crossbow from where his hand hid out of sight and rested it on his lap as a subtle warning to me in case I tried any funny business.
When I got close, I reached out my hand to introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Li-"
But he raised his hand to interrupt me. "Son, in this line of business, the less I know, the better. As far as anyone is concerned, your name is Lev and mine is Ash." He then proceeded to kick sand on his fire and told me to load up his wagon.
We reached the village that provided for the keep, and with "Ash" vouching for me, we made it into the village. From there, I was handed off to a sergeant of the Karswyn kingdom's army who was stationed in this village. He was in charge of transitioning incoming and outgoing troops to the keep, and making sure that the soldiers who come to this village on break do not get into trouble.
The sergeant, who did not bother introducing himself, handed me a standard-issue tabard to wear over my armor, a standard-issue spear, and a wax-sealed scroll. I was then told to wait in the holding barracks with the other men, and that we would move out within the hour for the keep.
When I entered the barracks, all I was afforded was a glance from the other soldiers inside before they went back to their talks, gambling, or sleeping. So I walked up to the first empty bed and put down my stuff before sitting on the bed and desecreatly opened the scroll the sergeant passed me.
Inside was information about my current identity. I was now Rowan, an orphan from the capital of the Karswyn kingdom who had joined the army the moment I was old enough. It also told me where I fit in the command order, and my identification papers were rolled up within the scroll.
After memorizing the information, I pocketed the identification papers and used a bit of magic to wet, blend, and dehydrate the scroll into a paper pulp puck and tossed it under the bed.
I then lay back on the bed and waited for the time to move out.
A few hours later, a sergeant came into the barracks, and the soldiers scrambled to their feet to stand at attention. I followed their example. We were then told to load up into a wagon that was in the middle of offloading some soldiers and crates.
After us soldiers and a few crates of supplies were loaded up on the wagon, we were promptly out of the village and off to the keep.
***
After reaching the keep, we were assigned our squad, bunks, and patrol/sentry shifts and left to settle in.
After changing into something more comfortable, I pretended to take a nap to avoid being approached by the other soldiers who wanted to socialize, and fed mana into Professor Sageira's dragon scale.
{I'm in. When is my target coming?} I telepathically asked Professor Sageira.
{Give me a moment} Professor Sageira replied.
A few minutes later, Professor Sageira replied, {Your target just got back from a hunt. Her father is currently setting things up, expect the attack within the next day or two.}
I thanked her for the update and relaxed my mind for an actual nap.