King of the Humans!

Chapter: 6 - Welcome to Fort Frostmoth!

The strong scent of sea-salt seemed to cast the ships' deck in a mist of it's odour. Seated on a rickety old chair on the deck, I pulled my newly-acquired cloak tighter against my shivering form. The metal plates across my body seemed to absorb all the heat from my body, leaving me deathly cold. A particularly strong gust swept through my cloak and made it flail in the wind, taking my scraps of warmth with it. Thankfully my cloak was held down securely by leather buckles and straps securing the cloak to my armour. My helmet sat beside me, it's metal glinting in the sickly sunlight. The rays couldn't even halt the amount of frost collecting along the steel.

It seems that the Stronghold had been led by an old friend of mine for over 200 years, which really puzzled me. I had asked him about how he could live so long, but even he replied with a shrug from the lack of any true answer. All he could say was that he split from the initial group a couple years after my death, and that he wandered the world for purpose until he came across a mysterious axe capable of splitting open the head of even a troll. He wielded that axe for what he claims decades until he lost the weapon in battle. He apparently spotted a castle made from solid ice and entered the fortress. Within was what he claims to have been some giant troll which chased him out with a legion of strange monsters at it's back. Swinging the axe, it became lodged in a shield the size of an adult human which made him flee without his trusty weapon.

I was tempted to call him out as a liar for the tale, but the look on his face was what a man makes when he loses his axe. He obviously thought of his axe as more than a simple weapon, so I took pity on him. I had declared to venture out and reclaim his weapon and deliver it back to him. He was stunned for a moment, pleading that I wasn't ready for such a task so soon, but he relented when he saw my stone resolve. That is my task but, besides that, I don't know my true path in this world anymore.

Returning to the present, I watch as Lyra walks over to me and pulls up a seat. She shuffles nervously as she keeps her eyes towards the horizon, eyes reflecting the turquoise waves.

"Something on your mind?" I ask with a slight frown.

"Oh, it's nothing..." She says with a jump.

Unconvinced, I turn away and focus on rubbing my hands together for warmth. A shout from above on the crow's nest diverts my attention from my task, the voice causing me to look up slightly and spot a distant light. I swiftly stand from the chair, and grasp the handle of one of my blades, pulling on the handle slowly. Before the sword is freed from the sheath, a hand is planted on my shoulder, causing the blade to halt in it's leather bindings and me to turn my head slightly to the left. A human warrior stood beside me, an elderly look in his eye which was paired with his wrinkled skin and snow-white locks of mangled hair. This elderly man really surprised me, and not because of his appearance being sudden. It was more of his appearance in general, since his entire body except his head was coated in metallic plates and chainmail. His chest piece is highly polished with small dents and scratches detailing the armour, obvious signs of someone who has tasted combat and came out victorious many times. Around is waist is a blue cloth which seems like some form of belt. His snowy hair waves weakly in the wind his face stern as it stares towards the landmass slowly drawing closer as we sail onwards.

"Don't worry, that's just the Fort." He speaks with a rough voice like gravel pouring over stone.

Without waiting for some form of reply, he storms up a set of wooden steps into the captain's cabin. I turn back around and watch half the ship vanish as it leaves the storm behind, and soon the entire ship is free of the thick mist. Though it seems we only left the worst of the storm, because a few drops of rain were still falling onto my shivering form and a powerful wind was still bellowing across the area. With the mist gone, I can now actually see the Fort and some of the area around it. Including the wooden make-shift harbour we were slowing down at. The harbour was really just a square of stone bricks attached to the fort via a dirt path, the only real sign of it being a harbour was the wooden plank which was being carried by a uniformed human guard. Drawing as close as possible to the stone platform, the guard on the other side lays down the plank of wood across the sliver of water and onto the ship's deck. I swiftly pick up the helmet and tuck it inside a the leather bag given to me for the journey by my old general at the Stronghold. The ship is then anchored as I walk cautiously on the plank and set foot on the stone. The guard greets me with a firm metal-clad handshake before leading me towards the fort a short walk away. I halt him by holding onto his armoured shoulder firmly before turning around watching Lyra gallop swiftly towards us, the sound of her hooves being barely audible. Spinning around, the guard quickly raises his weapon, a pole arm, and points it towards her as she comes to a sudden stop. With haste, one of my swords slips from it's bindings and is locked with the guards pole arm firmly, pushing it downwards.

"What's the issue here, soldier?" I half growl, glaring at the guard's face which is the only place currently not hidden by his helmet.

"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again." He says, lowering his weapon and bowing his head slightly in respect. "It's just that we've heard stories of beings such as this one sneaking around forts in the lands which are further south. We imagine that they can't be sneaking around for any good purpose, so we're just very cautious. But... wait... may I ask a question, sir?" He asks.

"Of course, soldier. Ask." I reply with a small laugh.

"it's just... are you a teenager? I expected you to be an adult, that's all." He says with thick curiosity.

I then frown, and begin to slowly draw my blade upwards which, with me being in deep thought, made it seem like I was raising it to slay the guard who was now slowly backing off with his pole arm raising with it's metal shaking. I then turn the sword it reveal it's flat side to me, which I then use to show my reflection due to it's shiny surface. As I suspected, my face hasn't even changed over the millennia of "death" I was afflicted with. Whatever revived me seems to have restored how I looked the day I died, hence the youthful look I still held, a look the guard lacked. Strangely, the guards I've met have been adults where my old friend who runs the Stronghold is also a teenager in appearance, but obviously must hold many more experiences than that of the average teenager. Even my black hair had returned to it's original length, without a single grey strand within it. Surprised, I sheath the blade and look quizzically at the nervous guard before huffing and continuing on towards the fort with Lyra to my left and the guard on my right. The fort was composed of a metre thick stone wall surrounding the area, with turrets as defensive positions, and the inner buildings which were barely taller than the wall, and would peak above it slightly with their grey rectangular forms.

"So, what's this fort's name?" I ask with my eyes focused in-front of me.

"Oh, this is Fort Frostmoth. When the first sailors who found this island got lost in a thick storm, a moth appeared the next morning with the colours of frost across it's wings. The sailors followed the strange moth, and it lead them to this island. The central building, where the captain sleeps, is the site where the sailors landed on the shore and found the moth frozen stiff. Years later it became actual frost which never melted, and every captain of the fort wears an amulet with the moth's frost-coated body in it's centre." He answers.

I nod in respect, finding that the fort's name wasn't simply something they thought-up in the light of a sunset. We eventually reach the fort's steel portcullis, which is raised high so that we could enter the fortress. Once inside the fort's walls, the courtyard around was smaller than expected which gave a mixed feeling of both claustrophobia and also a deeper feeling of actually being defended. Ahead of me was a building slightly larger than the rest, making the structure seem more central than the others giving me the conclusion that this was the captain's area. A slight clanking sound resonates from my body as I swiftly walk to the main building's doorway and I soft click is given off when I turn the doorknob and enter.

A soft warmth passes over me as I enter the room, the quiet crackling of a hearth reaching my ears which no longer felt like they were going to be frozen off. I could still hear the echoes of rain splashing outside, and It seemed stronger than the slight dripping I had felt earlier. The wind had also turned into ghostly wails outside, it's strength increasing past the weaker breeze I had felt on even the trip here. I look around and spot an armoured figure sat on a wooden chair close to the fire, with their back to me. I notice the guard from earlier enter, along with Lyra, but I focus on approaching the fire. The figure shifts slightly at the sound of my approach, but doesn't turn around. Clasped around the form is thick sheets of steel with silver around the edges of each plate for detail, as well as thin leather straps holding the plates together tightly. Cloaking him is a large blue hooded robe which trailed down his back and reached the stone tiles of the floor.

"Captain?" I ask the form, the form slowly turning it's head.

The form gives a huff, exhaling a breath from it's hidden mouth before it, he, turns to me. His gender is finally revealed by the short brown beard poking out from the shadow cast by the blue hood. He reaches up with a hand armoured by a steel and silver gauntlet, and pulls the hood back so that it rests along his shoulders. His light brown beard apparently closely shares the colour of his hair, which explains the flowing locks of brown hair hanging limply from his head and down his robe. Three large scars dominate the left side of his face, the longest of the scars reaching his forehead and crosses his eye. One of the scars even appearing across his nose. The one going across his eye, however, has left the eye on that side of his head milky and blinded. Despite this, he looks like he doesn't need another eye to cleave my head into pieces. He lifts his chair and turns it towards me, leaning back in it casually.

"That's me, who's askin'? He answers, a deep guttural voice emanating from his throat.

I don't utter a word, I simply reach for my blade before he can react and toss it towards him. He's startled by the action, but catches the blade's handle regardless. Bringing the sword closer to his eyes, he observes the metal closely. Squinting his eyes, he notices the marks along the top of the sword, along the blade itself. He reads the symbols carved into the sword and looks up at me.

"How did YOU get the Ancient King's swords, kid?" He asks.

"Look at my armour, it's the same worn by the original wielder of these swords." I say whilst pulling out the twin of the sword in the Captain's hands. "It's also a perfect fit, since it was crafted by me." I finish.

He looks at me quizzically, looking at the guard who had entered after me. The guard nervously goes into the satchel at his waist and pulls out a small scroll before hurrying to hand it to the Captain. The Captain of course takes the scroll and opens it and begins to read. His eyes skim side to side as they descend along the page, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief. He finally hands the guard back the opened scroll, said guard leaving the room, and looks up at me with a single hazel eye with the other being a blank white.

"Well, it's true then. I was expecting someone a bit older, but I guess you should always expect the unexpected. All there is to say now is: Welcome to Fort Frostmoth!" He declares whilst opening his arms jokingly. "What do you need?" He asks.

"I came here to reclaim your leader's axe, thinking it as just a task to help an old friend." I say whilst pulling up a wooden chair and sitting on it. "But I need your leader's help, so I need to gain yours too." I finish.

"Help with what?" He questions.

I pause before leaning in, the flames of the hearth causing a flickering glow to cast across my features. I finally speak after taking a deep breath, not knowing how he might react. "I want to reform my kingdom to how it once was." I finish.