The Travels of a Hairy Hermit

The records chamber door opens, and Sister Maelin enters dusty from the road. The adult woman’s worn pilgrim’s cloak is powdered with gray dirt, and she clutches a sealed letter against her chest.

Maelin extends the letter across the desk without breaking its seal. Joric Fen rises from his route notices, while Master Corwin Pell turns sharply toward the royal mark impressed in the wax.

The sealed letter rests between the route notices and the supporting records. Maelin waits for Nilsar to receive it, while Joric and Corwin hold back, leaving the decision and its consequences with him.

Nilsar steps between the sealed letter and the records, his quiet command leaving no room for casual inspection. Commands Earned Trust makes the boundary sound established, while Identifies Authority places custody of the letter solely with its named recipient.

Joric lowers his eyes to the route notices, and Corwin steps aside from the desk. Maelin places the sealed letter directly into Nilsar’s hand, preserving its seal and his exclusive custody.

The letter is now safely in Nilsar’s possession, unopened and unseen by the gentlemen. The room waits in respectful silence, leaving him free to decide where and when to break the seal.

Nilsar leaves the records chamber alone and returns through the academy corridors to his room. He keeps Karosh's Letter secure in his hand, undisturbed and unexamined by anyone else.

Inside, he shuts the door, places the letter beneath the window’s light, and studies the seal, address, and folded construction before opening it. Records Research fixes each detail in order.

The seal breaks cleanly. Nilsar unfolds the royal sheet and reads the formal address, the issuing office, the date, and the king’s acknowledgment of his proposed marriage to Aveline Marrow.

The letter grants permission for both families to negotiate openly and allows the Yarbs to conduct the ceremony under their customary rites, provided lawful consent, witnesses, and the final terms are submitted to the crown.

A second paragraph acknowledges the eastern gate reform and orders its monthly reports delivered through the royal clerk. Records Research separates the marriage permission from the trade directive, preventing either authority from being confused with the other.

Nilsar finishes the letter knowing its complete contents: royal permission to proceed, conditions for recognition, and continued scrutiny of his trade reform. He folds it carefully and keeps it with his private papers.

Nilsar places Karosh's Letter beside a fresh sheet and copies its date, issuing office, marriage conditions, and royal recognition request. Records Research preserves every requirement without omission.

He drafts the invitation in formal terms, naming the king as guest of honour and requesting his presence at the wedding. Interprets Legal Records keeps invitation, consent, and final recognition distinct.

Keeps Reliable Accounts fixes the ceremony’s proposed date, place, witnesses, and family representatives in a clear list, while the Service Record supports Nilsar’s standing without overstating his authority.

He adds that the king will receive the couple’s final terms and customary rites for lawful recognition. Commands Earned Trust gives the request confident courtesy rather than entitlement.

Nilsar signs the invitation as Captain Nilsar Yarb, encloses a faithful copy of the royal letter, and seals both with instructions for delivery through Osmic at the king’s office.

The completed invitation formally requests the king’s attendance as guest of honour and his speech blessing the marriage. Its terms are ready for the royal clerk to place before him.

Nilsar drafts the letter beside Karosh's Letter, naming the proposed date, northern coastal place, the baron’s estate, and the arrival of Aveline and himself by ship. Records Research preserves each condition, while Keeps Reliable Accounts lists witnesses, family representatives, and responsibilities.

He requests a marriage sword, rings, and a gathering open to all Anuncagra and the baron’s estate. Household Stores confirms that the family can provision the feast, while Commands Earned Trust gives the request the force of a serious family undertaking.

Nilsar signs the letter and encloses copies of the royal permission and proposed terms. Diplomacy turns the request into an invitation rather than an order, but its breadth creates a concrete cost: he promises his family a costly public celebration and owes them a future accounting of every expense.

He seals the family letter with Household Silver and sends it through a trusted coastal courier addressed to Gravam, Eiluj, and Aritik at Anuncagra. The request is dispatched in full, carrying the proposed ceremony, the required wedding goods, the public invitation, and the planned ship arrival.

Commands Earned Trust turns the request into an accepted party arrangement rather than a demand. Household Silver covers the tailor’s promised appointment, while Catrin agrees to escort Aveline separately.

At the Karosh Tailors, bolts of deep green wool and silk are brought forward with narrow gold braid, embroidered edging, and matching fastenings. Edric and Pellan approve the chosen design, while Catrin and Aveline depart for the bridal fitting, leaving the wedding parties coordinated and the outfit ordered under Nilsar’s silver.

Nilsar presents himself before the king in a decorative green and gold floral shirt, black pants, brown boots, a green silk sash, and a green and gold silk bandana. The attire marks celebration without disguising his captain’s disciplined bearing.

He places the Royal Writ before the king and states the wedding date, place, customary rites, and the families’ request for royal attendance. Commands Earned Trust makes the request confident, while Identifies Authority directs it to the crown’s final decision.

The king signs the attendance confirmation beneath the royal permission and orders Osmic to preserve a copy. The king’s written commitment now joins the marriage papers without altering the Yarbs’ customary rites.

Nilsar returns to his room and closes the door, carrying the king’s confirmation safely in his papers. He removes the decorative wedding clothes without wrinkling their green and gold fabric.

His Skilled Craftsman’s care shows in every fold. He places the wedding garments in a clean chest, cushions the silk sash and bandana, and secures the lid against dust and careless hands.

Nilsar changes into his green and brown sailing outfits, checking each fastening, belt, and seam as naturally as he would inspect a repaired hull. The practical layers settle comfortably over his frame.

He dons the plate armour piece by piece. Legendary Agility keeps the process swift and orderly, while the armour’s fitted straps and balanced plates leave his movement controlled rather than cumbersome.

Finally, Nilsar settles the black fur coat over his armour and sailing clothes, fastening it high against the capital’s chill. The dark coat conceals the metal without restricting his stride.

Presentable for travel, court, and any formal summons, he checks his reflection once, then leaves the room in his established travelling attire, wedding garments safely stored behind him.

Nilsar returns to the academy armoury and retrieves the Northern Helm from its secured rack, where it has been kept among his approved equipment. He carries it to the polishing bench.

His Skilled Craftsman’s hands work oil into the engraved metal, lifting dust from every groove and brightening the masked face until the northern pattern stands sharply against the steel.

He settles the polished helm over his long dark hair and secures its straps. Then he takes up the Gilded Round Shield, its green and brown face, partial gold rim, and raised donkey boss ready for use.

Nilsar bel​​ts on the Damascus Longsword, its patterned steel catching beneath the armour, and carries the shield firmly on his arm as he crosses to the training ground.

He begins strength work with shield holds, controlled lifts, deep squats, and repeated longsword movements. The weight taxes his muscles, but steady technique keeps every exercise measured and effective.

By the end of the session, Nilsar has completed the training and feels his body answering more cleanly under armour. An academy weapons instructor watching from the fence marks him as a candidate for advanced field conditioning.

The academy weapons instructor steps from the fence: a broad-shouldered middle-aged man with close-cropped iron-gray hair, a weathered face, and a brown training coat. His calm attention shows that Nilsar’s request has earned serious consideration.

Garrik points across the ground, assigning a measured circuit of shield holds, steady footwork, short recoveries, and repeated changes of direction. Commands Earned Trust helps him tailor the advice to Nilsar’s proven command responsibilities rather than treating him as an ordinary recruit.

Garrik writes the regimen on a practice slate: two endurance circuits, one hill session, recovery between efforts, and weekly drills under accumulated fatigue. He leaves Nilsar with practical field-conditioning guidance suited to his captaincy and academy obligations.

Nilsar follows Garrik’s slate exactly, beginning in plate armour with shield holds, measured footwork, and repeated changes of direction across the training ground.

He pushes through the first endurance circuit, keeping his breathing controlled as the armour’s weight settles into every step. Steady Under Fire preserves his judgment when fatigue rises.

Nilsar completes the second circuit, climbs the academy hill, and returns with his shield steady and sword controlled. Plate Armour becomes conditioning rather than a burden, strengthening his movement under load.

After a full riding-duty interval, he repeats the footwork drills and recovery changes. His breathing stays even, his judgment remains clear, and no technique collapses under fatigue.

Garrik records the completed circuits and hill session on the slate. Nilsar has finished the demanding regimen, earning a reliable foundation for field service in armour.

Garrik marks the regimen on his slate. Nilsar’s Skilled Craftsman adjusts each strap and grip, while Commands Earned Trust secures the instructor’s cooperation and Plate Armour turns every climb into practical conditioning.

Nilsar climbs with the Gilded Round Shield braced against his forearm, its green and brown face and gold-rimmed donkey boss steadying each recovery. The Damascus Longsword remains controlled through every turn.

During the appointed rest, Nilsar places the king’s attendance confirmation and a faithful copy of Karosh's Letter into a sealed packet. He addresses it to Osmic at the king’s office, requesting preservation with the marriage papers.

The sealed packet leaves by reliable academy courier for Osmic, carrying the king’s confirmation into the marriage record. Nilsar resumes the hill regimen with the royal notice safely dispatched.

Nilsar finds Aveline in the academy reception room, where the royal marriage letter and the king’s attendance confirmation rest beside the family papers. The proposed date is ready for final agreement.

Commands Earned Trust makes Nilsar’s confirmation carry the weight of a settled promise. Interprets Legal Records keeps the date, consent, customary rites, witnesses, and royal recognition as separate requirements.

Aveline writes the confirmed date into the Marrow memorandum, while Nilsar copies it beside the royal permission. The Royal Marriage Letter anchors the entry, giving the agreement a clear crown-recognized basis.

The confirmation is complete: Aveline accepts the date, both families can act upon it, and the royal conditions remain attached to the ceremony without altering the Yarb customs.