The office was neat and orderly, with everything in its proper place, with not so much as a dust molecule to be found anywhere. The office had a single occupant. This office was her throne room. On the wall behind her were her qualifications as well as all the accolades the company had bestowed upon one of their most efficient employees.

She was scanning through a log on her computer, over lunch break of course, never on company time. It was a log of how all the employees under her spent their time on their computers. The reason she did so well, is because she had streamlined everybody beneath her. As a result they shared in the glory of recognition and accelerated promotion. Eventually they all shared her cutthroat efficiency approach to their work.

She knew them well enough to know that they'd continue performing well. In fact, the only reason she was checking the logs was because there was a new employee under her who didn't yet know how things worked around here.

Sure enough, Callem Sanders had spent five minutes on Monday messaging a relative, ten minutes on Tuesday, and eleven on Wednesday. She sent him a quick memo, summoning him to her office.

Minutes later he came strutting respectfully in. "You wished to see me, Miss Izelia?" he asked, taking a seat before being invited.

Zuheil had her work cut out for her. "Yes I did." She leaned back in her chair. "Are you happy working here, for us?"

Callem straightened his back and clasped his hands. "Yes I am. I am very honoured to be given the opportunity to use my skills to the benefit of the company. I feel like-"

"Do you know why you were assigned to me?"

Callem gulped. "Because my extraordinary skill set could be best utilized in your department."

"Indeed. Our job is to ensure nothing slips through the cracks of the algorithms and software. As we all know, a dripping faucet can drain an ocean, given enough time."

"I agree. This department has saved millions since its inception."

""Right? So, with all this knowledge, I don't understand why you would willingly become a leaking faucet."

"I um… don't get your meaning, miss."

"You've been texting your wife on the clock."

"Oh, that. We just had a newborn child a month ago. This is my first job as a father actually. I periodically check on how things are going at home once in a while."

"Listen, Mr Sanders, the way this works, is that I pay you for the time that you give me. Now you signed a contract, detailing what hours of the day you were going to give me." Zuheil hit a button, and the printer whirred. "I just checked my logs, and you spent a total of ten minutes on non-work related activities on Monday - the very day you started here. That's not a good start, oh not at all! Ten minutes a day turns to fifty minutes a week turns to two hundred hours a month turns to twenty-four hundred a year.

All those hours belong to me. Understand? You are stealing from me."

" I- well- I-"

"I'm going to need you to pay me back. You'll be working Saturdays until further notice."

"Until further notice? How long is that??"

"Until. Further. Notice."

"But I haven't wasted nearly enough time as needed to justify such measures."

"Disciplinary measures are firmly in my domain. Now, the way I see it, you have a choice." She slid him the resignation letter she had printed for him. "You either sign this and go home, or suck it up and pay me what you owe."

He read the letter, his face contorting in anger and disbelief. "This isn't fair. HR will be hearing about this."

"Please tell them how you stole time from the company."

"I've been working here for three days. I have not 'stolen' thousands of hours."

"But you could have, if I hadn't caught you."

"That makes no sense."

"It makes perfect sense to me, and to my bosses who seem to keep commending me year after year on above average performance for me and my underlings."

"I want to talk to a lawyer."

"Feel free. But be sure to mention the millions the company spends on union-busting law firms. Break time is almost over. Get out of my office and make your choice.

They had been marching for five days already before they came to the river Wynn, border between the Grand Duchy of Ginawaine and the Grand Duchy of Euwaine. It was unprecedented speed, and it made some of the men look at Druscilla like a great genius General.

Druscilla welcomed the flattery but she was under no illusion of her true abilities. All she had done was call for more horses and insist that the men travel without arms or armour. Naturally she was met with resistance. 'Our arms are our pride' they said. Even those who learned how to jab with a spear days prior stubbornly clung to them like a child on its favourite toy.

All in all Druscilla was the voice of authority, so they had to comply. They loaded their weapons and armour onto carts and travelled lightly. Despite their feelings of nakedness they marched on. In record time they made it to the north coast. The plan was to sweep South in a wide left turn, meeting their allies somewhere along the way. Ginawaine itself was on the Southern part of the duchy. If Gwen was quick enough she could wreak havoc on the major population centers to the north of the capitol. That would neuter Sancho's forces.

The last threat would be Tarwaine and Hosterwaine. Druscilla hoped the Grand Duke of Hosterwaine could be bribed, either with money or something else. As for Redfield, they wouldn't go down without a fight. That was when the ugliness of the conflict would rear its head.

"This seems like a good place," Druscilla said. She was pointing at an expanse of flat beach. "What do you think, Marshal?"

"We should move a bit further from the water for when the tide rises, but yes, this is a good spot."

Thankfully, the suns were setting. Day after day on the road made Druscilla feel like her life was an unbearable oven, given how humans were only active during the day. She spent her time in a carriage with Gwen and Pen. And when she had to poke her head out to check on progress she was covered in cloth. She even wore a scarf over her face a lot of the time.

When she was going through the ranks she realized something concerning: she could not ride a horse. It didn't take a genius to surmise that it could be an issue going forward. Especially now that they had made camp on the edge of enemy territory.

Druscilla had gone to Pen, who had graciously agreed to teach Druscilla. They hadn't had time for lessons yet, seeing as they had been on the road. Their lessons would start tonight, given that Pen and Druscilla needed no sleep.

"You're certainly excited," Druscilla said to Gwen. They were in the huge tent that had been set up for the Royal. It even had compartments for Penelope and Druscilla.

"I am," she said, putting down the chicken bone she had been nibbling. "Isn't your blood rushing from the anticipation?"

Poor choice of words. "Well, you're going to need that bloodrush for the days to come. Take a moment, and think deeply about what is to come. You'll need to be mentally prepared."

"Oh?"

"Just do it. Me and Pen have something to do. We'll be right outside. If you need anything, just shout, we can hear you. And remember our little rules for when I'm not around…"

"Yes, yes, do not take anything to heart and do not make any decisions and wait for you to return. I know all that. I'm concerned with what I don't know. When will we continue our lessons?"

"Soon. That's my problem, don't worry about that."

"If you say so. Goodnight Dru."

"Goodnight Gwen."

Druscilla found Gwen in a patch of open sand behind the Royal tent. She was holding the reins of a big, black warhorse. "I'd have rather started with a pony," she said on Druscilla’s approach. "But this'll have to do. Come on, let her see you."

The horse whinnied when Druscilla approached. It tried to rear its forelegs but Pen's grip was unwavering. "It doesn't look happy to see me."

"Nor was it for me, but patting her head helps. I think she can sense our nature."

Druscilla reached out and the horse shied away from her touch. "Would charming it work? Did you try that?"

"No actually I didn't. The thought never crossed my mind."

Druscilla reached into the deep black pools that were the horse's eyes. What she found was a mind-numbing fear and irrepressible desire to run away as fast as possible. Druscilla dissolved this fright, replacing it with the trust one might give a guardian. The horse eventually calmed down as it became still.

"Well that feels cheap," Penelope remarked.

"It got the job done. You need to learn to use all the tools at your disposal. You're so much more than you were." That's rich, given that I'm still figuring things out myself. Druscilla did not yet have a clear picture of her powers and limitations. All she knew was that her abilities expended energy. But instead of MP like a video game, the energy she used was more akin to brainpower. Being too wasteful would result in headaches and nosebleeds.

"I can't think like you do, you know?" Penelope sighed. "You know, there was a time all I wanted to do was leave home and go away for a long time. Hah, very similar to Gwen I guess, but at least my jaw doesn't drop at everything."

"Yes, I'm giving you what you want. All I ask is for your time in return."

"Sometimes I'm not sure what I want. One day I'll go back to the familiarity of my home. But anyway, this isn't about me. Get on the horse."

"Uh...okay."

"That's a stirrup your foot goes in it- now hoist yourself up-"

"This feels odd…"

"Good, you're halfway there. Now straighten your back…"

The next few hours were spent learning the basics of equestrianism. There was a lot of leg work and core body movement. Simply put, it was not as simple as Druscilla thought. It turned out that the horse had a mind of its own and was not a simple vessel used for getting to point B from point A. Still, it could've been a much more unforgiving experience. It really helped that Druscilla had fake bonded with the horse.

Their practice had to be cut short when the horizon lightened with the impending sunsrise. "We'll continue this later," Druscilla said, clumsily dismounting. "We're meeting with the Marshal to go over the plan of attack one last time. Freshen up and make sure Gwen's ready."

Druscilla went ahead and changed into her daytime clothes: her bootleg nun habit. She drank from the wine skin she had been given by Pen. It was filled with goat blood. While way too fatty, it was the only way she and Pen could stave off their bestial hunger. At least until the fighting started. And the fighting would start soon. Perhaps even that very day.

Outside, there was a table set up for Gwen. Seated across from her was the Marshal, smiling awkwardly to hide the absence of social graces on his person. Behind Gwen stood Penelope, who seemed mildly disinterested in the Marshal.

Druscilla joined them, taking a seat at Gwendolyn's right hand. "Everything is going well, Marshal?" she asked.

"As well as can be...uh my lady. The raiding party should be ready to move tonight."

The raiding party consisted of the light cavalry and a few heavy footmen. "Did you send scouts into the country?"

He looked at her with mild irritation. "Of course. The population is oblivious to us at the moment...my lady."

"Then the raiding party will have an easy time doing their job then."

"So they shall. We might encounter some token resistance at Fineby. It'll be the first proper skirmish of the war. The win will do a lot for morale. Especially when we raise our banners in the fight over their town."

Hmm, something odd about his tone and wording. "Marshal, is there something you want to say?"

"Nothing-my lady, just that it might be an inspiring symbol if uh…"

"If I was the one doing the banner lifting." She completed the thought for him. He actively wants me in harm's way.

"I can't allow that. Druscilla is important to risk," Gwen interjected.

"She can barely ride a horse either," Pen added.

"This is all very flattering," Druscilla said. "But I don't mind. I'll gladly be your golden girl." Even though I'm sure there are professional standard bearers available. "When do we move out?"

The Marshal's face twisted into a genuine, toothy grin. "Why, tonight, my Lady…"