When Robart entered the room, Ayla was getting dressed with the help of Mylla. She was surprised to see him back so fast. Ayla hoped that nothing bad happened, but the expression on his face was grim.

"My King," Mylla greeted, bowing in front of Robart.

"I want to speak to my wife in private," Robart said and waited for the maid to leave.

Once Mylla closed the door behind her, Robart already had Ayla in his arms. His eyes shined like melted silver. Cupping the back of her head, Robart kissed Ayla with raw passion, thrusting his tongue deep inside her mouth, tasting her. He kissed her a long time before letting her go.

"I am afraid that I have to leave for at least a week," Robart said.

"Leave? But we just got here," Ayla said.

"I don't want to leave either, but minecrawlers are in one of the mines, and I have to kill them."

Ayla gasped. She read about minecrawlers in a book called "Beasts from the Uzhor Continent." Minecrawlers belong to the most dangerous creatures on Uzhor. Minecrawler workers don't count among the largest of their species, but they are still enormously strong. Their natural realm are the caves that they keep enlarging and that they defend vehemently. If they track down an intruder, minecrawler workers will attack it mercilessly. They do this partly by digging themselves in with incredible speed and approaching their victims underneath the surface. Then they dig themselves out in a flash and ambush the intruder. In addition, minecrawlers have very strong natural chitin armor, which is sometimes used as an exotic raw material.

Minecrawler soldiers are distinctly larger and more powerful than the workers and protect the minecrawler nest. Minecrawlers will fight to the death to defend their queen.

Ayla heard tales of mines occupied by minecrawlers after they killed everyone inside the mine. And now Robart was leaving to fight these deadly creatures.

"You can't go! I have read about these creatures! They are big and strong," Ayla said, fearing for his life.

Robart's lips curved in a smile. He pulled Ayla in for another kiss. It wasn't as if he wanted to leave, but it was his duty to save the life of the miners still trapped in the mine.

"I will be fine. Some minecrawlers won't kill me."

"But..."

Robart pulled Ayla in for a hug. She was making it hard for him to leave. He wanted to send the entire world to Beliar, the Dark God, while he claimed Ayla over and over again. This woman had to be a witch because there was no way in the world he could be so torn for leaving her. He would even laugh if the situation weren't tragic. Of all the people in the world, he had to feel so attracted to Ayla. He pulled back from the hug and cupped her cheeks.

"I will be back as soon as possible. Fuck! Don't make that face. It is already hard for me to leave you. Do you think I want to go and kill some stupid minecrawler when all I want to do is to bury my cock deep in your tight body and to feel how you milk me of my seed?" Robart said in a husky voice, and Ayla's cheeks turned the deepest shade of red he has ever seen. After clearing his throat, he added, "Milton is staying in the Castle and will help you with anything you need. Also, a dressmaker will come later today. Ask for as many clothes as you need," Robart said.

Robart bent and brushed his lips on top of her lips. To his surprise, Ayla kissed him, thrusting her little tongue in his mouth, clinging to his cape. Her actions sent a shiver down Robart's spine, and he cupped her ass, pressing her body to his. Robart was about to get Ayla nake and take her to the bed when a loud knock on the door stopped him.

"Are you planning on staying in there all day long? We are ready to leave, so get out of bed already!" Robart heard Gorn's voice from the other side of the door.

"Do you have a death wish?" Robart barked.

Ayla felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. After last night, she understood what the Paladin meant. She buried her face into Robart's strong chest.

"I will tell the others that you need more time," Gorn said, laughing.

"Shut the fuck up! I will be there in five minutes!"

"You don't have to hurry for us, but think of those poor miners," Gorn added before leaving.

Once the heavy steps of the Paladins faded away, Robart finally let go of Ayla but not before whispering in her ear, "When I return, I am going to make you scream my in pleasure all night long. I am going to bury my face between your legs and make you come on my tongue so many times you will be chanting my name like a prayer."

With that, Robart left the room as fast as he could. By the time he was in the courtyard, Robart was already in control of his emotions, putting on a poker face. In the sanctuary of his room, Robart could be as wished, but outside those four walls, he was the King of his people.

The Paladins were waiting for Robart next to their horses. Nordmar horses were special breed to endure the cold and didn't get tired as fast as a normal horse. While most Nordmar horses were white to blend in with the snow, Robart's horse, Ilun, was black. It was also the finest horse Robart ever had.

Milton was giving a satchel of healing potions to Murak and some magic scrolls. Even if real magic could be done only by Mages with the help of magic runes, Paladins could also do some magic with the help of magic scrolls. In fact, Paladins that had mana could use magic runes that belonged to the Order of the Paladins. But magic scrolls were different from magic runes. Anyone that had mana could use magic scrolls, but the spell was much weaker. Normally the scrolls contained magical shields and traps. Some scrolls were for healing minor wounds.

After Murak took the satchel, Milton came next to Robart.

"If the miners found some black ore, bring me back some," Milton said.

Robart mounted his horse, then looked at Milton.

"Making some new runes? I thought you already had all the runes for the first three Magic Circle."

Milton shrugged and smiled like it was nothing.

"I just passed to the Fourth Magic Circle," the Fire Mage said.

Robart was impressed. Milton was only one year younger than him and already a Fourth Circle Magician. Usually, a Fire Magician started learning the Fourth Magic circle after the age of thirty-five, but Milton has proven his worth ever since he became a Fire Mage Novice at the age of ten. Six years later, Milton passed the Test of Fire, and his body and soul had been purified by the Fire of Innos.

Black ore was even rarer than magic ore. For every ten thousand ore nuggets, only one ore nugget was black.

"I am glad for you, my friend. You never fail to impress me," Robart said. Then the King looked on the horizon, "Keep an eye on Ayla for me. This life is still new for her."

After that, Robart gave a little nudge to Ilun, and the horse started moving. The Paladins followed Robart.

"If we hurry, we can make it by nightfall to the Strong Hammer Clan, and tomorrow we will be at the Old Mine," Robart said to the Paladins.

The road between the Castle and the Strong Hammer Clan was usually without any danger. Sometimes a pack of winter wolves or even a shadowbeast would come out of the forests and attack a lone traveler, but Robart and his Paladins were not afraid of some wild beasts. To their relief, the journey to the Strong Hammer Clan was without any incidents, and as Robart said, they made it there before nightfall.

The Strong Hammer Village was built at the base of the Hjalte Mountain, one of the sacred mountains in Nordmar. This was one of the most important clans in Nordmar, if not the most important.

The Hjalte Mountain was the home of the Forge, where all the magic ore weapons from Nordmar were made. The Forge was the biggest on all the Uzhor Continent, and no one knew who built it. When men came to live in Nordmar, the Forge was already there.

When Robart and the Paladins entered the village, Hauke, the village Chief came to greet them.

"My King, Paladins, it is an honor to have you here. Let me offer you smoked meat and bread in my house."

Robart and the Paladins followed Hauke to his home.

A little note- I am sorry if I don't upload too often or many chapters each day. I am trying to build a new world with a lot of things, and sometimes it takes time to imagine everything. But I will try to upload as much as I can each week. And thank you for giving my story a chance! I hope you like it so far and hope you will enjoy the adventure that Ayla, Robart, and the Paladins will live. I would like to read your thoughts of the story!