Andorhal

The ornate carriage rolled slowly through the old city gates and into Andorhal. Unlike the outer walls, which looked somewhat dilapidated, the streets inside town were neat and clean, lined with tightly packed brick-and-stone houses.

Since the town's trade center was near the docks in the southeast, most of the buildings Alvin and the others passed were two-story homes, with the occasional general store selling everyday goods.

Situated in the Eastern Tirisfal Glades, Andorhal's builders often used whatever materials they could find locally, including a greater proportion of timber. Though the houses before them had high roofs, most were only two stories tall. Wooden structures couldn't safely bear too much weight.

Since it was afternoon, most residents were out working rather than at home. The residential district was rather quiet, with only a few children about as tall as Alvin watching from a distance under the care of their mothers or older sisters as the carriage passed, surrounded by knights riding tall horses.

After about half an hour passing through the quiet residential district, the carriage gradually climbed a gentle slope. Ten-odd minutes later, it stopped in the square outside the City Hall walls. Abberton, who had been riding beside the carriage to guard it, knocked on the window and called inside, reminding the archbishop and Alvin that they had arrived.

By the time the steady knocking woke the prince, Archbishop Alonsus Faol had already risen. The old man patted the boy on the head, his deep voice full of affection.

"We'll be staying in Andorhal for a while. Benedictus arrived two days ago to notify Mayor Martin. You can explore the town over the next few days. I don't suppose you've had much chance to go out before, have you?"

After nearly two years together, the old man trusted that the boy wouldn't become difficult to manage just because he'd suddenly been given some freedom, as an ordinary child might. He hoped Alvin would use this time to relax and let go of the tension he'd been carrying. Once they reached Stratholme, the lessons he had planned for the boy would be no easy matter.

"Yes, teacher." At the old man's permission, the prince nodded respectfully.

Though he'd always worked hard, Alvin was still curious about how ordinary people lived in this world. Even if Archbishop Faol hadn't given him permission, he might have been unable to resist sneaking out with his personal guards to take a look around town.

Now that the archbishop had given his word, he'd decided to visit the docks to the east tomorrow. He'd heard that they were the commercial and trade center of all Andorhal.

Before then, however, he still had to face the middle-aged mayor, whose hair was almost entirely gone, along with the small nobles of Andorhal and their descendants waiting behind him.

Though many people believed Alvin had almost no chance of inheriting the throne of Lordaeron, that did nothing to diminish the respect ordinary people showed him. He was a genius, and might one day become humanity's greatest practitioner of the Holy Light after Archbishop Alonsus Faol.

Unlike the mages of Dalaran, who believed only in truth and power, most nobles were practically falling over themselves to win his favor because he was a prince. Holy Light above, if they could marry their daughters to the younger brother of the future king of Lordaeron, their families would strengthen their ties to the royal family!

And that wasn't even considering Alvin's astonishing talent in the ways of the Holy Light. In this era, most people still believed in bloodlines. The union of a royal genius's bloodline with their own was an irresistible temptation to any noble who valued their family's continued prosperity.

So when Archbishop Faol saw the young girls behind the nobles who had come to welcome them—girls who were still quite young, behaving themselves but with mischief in their eyes—he was already prepared for what was coming. Alvin, the target of their attention, was lost in his own world and paid no mind to what was happening around him.

"Your Highness Alvin, Lord Faol, on behalf of all the residents of Andorhal, I welcome you. These gentlemen of some standing in town have been waiting for you both for quite some time."

The young prince had just jumped out of the carriage when Mayor Martin, a round-faced man, hurried forward and bowed respectfully to the two distinguished guests. As an official of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, however, he showed the young prince even greater deference than he did Archbishop Faol.

"Please, there's no need for formalities. I believe my disciple Benedictus has already conveyed King Terenas's orders to you. I hope Andorhal can come up with a suitable plan as soon as possible. We don't have much time."

The archbishop waved a hand and answered briskly.

To avoid causing unnecessary panic and chaos, the preparations this fall would be only a drill until war was confirmed. For now, only a few kingdom officials and high-ranking nobles knew the truth. He needed to deal with matters here quickly, then take Alvin to Stratholme, where he would oversee the preparations.

Compared to Andorhal, which had enjoyed peace and quiet for a long time, the region of Darrowmere Forest often suffered raids from trolls, gnolls, and other humanoid monsters. It would demand far more of his time and energy.

"Of course. We've already prepared a luncheon. I'm sure His Highness Alvin and the warriors from the capital will enjoy Andorhal's local delicacies."

As he spoke, the smooth-talking mayor made the arrangements. A group of attendants led Alvin, his guards, and the nobles with their own agendas toward the back courtyard, while Martin himself escorted Archbishop Faol to the hall.

The old man merely patted the boy on the back, letting him know that this was an "adult" secret and not something a child could be involved in.

Perhaps because he knew the archbishop's simple tastes, the short, plump Mayor Martin had prepared only a small luncheon in the City Hall's back courtyard. After a long and exhausting journey, the chance to sit down and rest should have been soothing, but the minor nobles kept bringing their daughters over to approach him, and Alvin found it hard to bear.

The inexperienced prince had no idea what the nobles who kept approaching him during the luncheon were after. He only knew that after several tiring days, those seemingly well-mannered men and little girls pretending to be ladies were thoroughly irritating.

At that moment, he had only one thing on his mind: finish his daily prayers, get a good night's sleep, and go explore the town tomorrow.