<The Drinking Bear>
War! Sweden is at war. There are rumours from the customers at the Inn that the Lord Minister of Defense has ordered a massive mobilization in Stockholm and other cities across the empire. This is my chance!
My name is Oscar Karlsson and I live in the small little Swedish town of Karlstad. It is a quaint little town, located near the near the northern forest of the same name. My father owns the local Coach Inn – The Drinking Bear. I help him in managing the Inn and taking care of the customers. Life is peaceful...but boring.
From the time I was but 8 years old, I have been fascinated with the rich military history of our great nation. The Thirty Years War, the Scanian War, the First Northern War...fascinating stuff! Unfortunately I was not even born at that time, but the small little library over at Mr. Ludwig’s allowed me to go back in time. Many were the days when I used to spend hours with my nose stuck into these books, and then imagining marching with the glorious troops of Sweden to one battle after another!
My father wouldn’t even think of allowing me to join the army. “T’is no job for a respectable son of mine!” he would bellow. After all, this was a time of peace. Sweden’s borders were reasonably secure. Sure, Danish privateers sometimes terrorized Swedish trade ships in the Baltic with impunity, but the only enemies the greatly reduced Swedish Army faced were the bandits and brigands that infested the forests and preyed on travelling traders.
But it seems that the new King, Karl the XII, wants to re-claim the glory of the old Swedish Empire. And with it comes the chance to be part of something that will be remembered in history. Of course, my father will not let me go. And that is why I have made up my mind to slip away in the dead of night.
I will miss my family and specially Annie, my sweet little sister. I have drafted a letter for father and will place it on father’s table in the study. He sure will be mad! But this is something I must do. My bag is packed and I now set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Destiny calls and I must answer her.
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