Cass was sitting in the carriage on her way to the Rence Barony along with Natalie, Owin, and Svala, wishing that she did not need to leave Tyine so soon. But on the other hand, she was proud of her new position and the trust her Master had put in her. For that matter, she would not be gone for nearly as long this time and she wanted to be successful, perhaps someday she would be happy serving Lord Hall without having to wear the collar.

But that was for something far in the future, Cass did currently enjoy her position.

“So you came from Beergmutar?” Svala was asking Natalie.

“Yes, I am from the Sone Caste.” Natalie said a little shyly.

“Stone Caste?” Svala was confused by the term, “what is that?”

“Beergmutar is divided socially into different groups,” Cass explained while idly looking out the window at the passing scenery. “They are all, aside from the Strioi, determined by who your parents were. The Stone Caste are servants and workers from birth and the second lowest caste.”

“Well that does not sound so bad,” Svala said. “How did you like it there?”

“I don’t know.” Natalie said, “I thought it was good, but then things happened… I am not sure what to say anymore.”

Svala was able to read the mood, and did not ask anything more, but the atmosphere had already become quite awkward. So Svala tried to change the subject, coughng lightly before saying.

“Well hopefully you enjoy it here in Haj, though honestly I would not know much about what is here myself!”

Cass found the changes in Svala quite interesting, seeing her trying to be cheerful was strange. Especially because even now, Svala’s life was not precisely enviable. Some of it was undoubtedly a result of her maid training, she had to maintain a certain attitude regardless of her own feelings- but the rest Cass could only chalk up to her never really knowing Svala to begin with.

“All things considered,” it was Owin who chimed in here. “There is not much for people below the aristocracy to see anywhere. Having said that Natalie, you could probably convince Cass to take you to visit the theater when we make it back to Tyine.”

“What is that?” Natalie asked curiously, and to be honest, Cass herself was not really able to answer that. She knew what it was academically, but she had never been to see a play and only had hearsay to go on.

And listening to Owin explain, she somewhat thought it sounded like a waste of time better spent elsewhere. However, Natalie was fascinated by Owin’s stories, and Cass made a note to take her next time they were in the capital.

Owin was, for the time being anyway, actually quite suave and well mannered. Cass probably should have expected him to be capable of it, him having had a noble upbringing, but it contrasted greatly against the thug she was used to. Perhaps it would be accurate to say she really did not know Owin as a person either, especially considering the conversation they had had before the group left.

“It is so odd to think there are not castes here,” Natalie was saying. “How do people know who is what or how to treat each other?”

“Just because the castes are not codified does not mean they are not socially there, it is just a bit more complex!” Owin laughed, “There are nobles and commoners, and there are subdivisions among those divisions. The main difference between here and your erstwhile homeland is that people can move between those groups. Svala and Cass were once homeless dregs, but freewomen, and I was once a noble- now all three of us are slaves and even in this we are divided. Although I am surprised Hall let me live knowing my identity, now that he does I have a different level of treatment than Svala will and Cass is, of course, Hall’s Hand. So she is in a somewhat raised position herself.

And then there is you, an employed freewoman with some favor from Hall’s House. Sure, most of that is a result of Cass’s position as Hand, but Lord Hall goes along with it, so it is basically the same thing. Theoretically, you are equal to any other freeperson, but the reality is that you are socially in the upper group of commoners.”

Natalie’s expression was a mix of confusion and glazed eyes, she had clearly given up understanding what Owin was talking about and Cass did not blame her. Cass had just about cried trying to absorb not just this information, but the reasoning behind it. Still, Natalie looked absolutely adorable with her face like that to the point that Cass could not help but give her a hug!

And so the first day of travel passed rather uneventfully, and at night they converted the carriage’s seats into small beds. After dinner, Cass took Owin aside and promised him a slow and painful death if he did anything with Svala with Natalie and Cass so close by and did not trust him regardless of how he answered. Natalie was placed on the side of the bed that was away from the other pair and Cass was on the side towards them.

The next day was equally calm, but on the third day the guards reported spotting others watching them in the distance.

“We are hardly two days out of Tyine,” Rammuson said with a frown. “There is no way that security has fallen so far to allow bandits this close to the capital.”

“Then who are they?” Cass had thought that at least the journey would be calm, but it seems like that would be unlikely.

“At the very best,” Rammuson sighed. “They might have nothing to do with us, but realistically they are probably mercenaries of some lord or another dressed up as bandits.”

“The question then is if they are targeting us specifically or are just trying to sow chaos,” Owin added. “Considering our forces, my money is on them leaving us alone. For that matter, if they do decide to attack us they will be in for one hell of a surprise.”

That much is true. Lord Hall was pushing for all soldiers in the Empire to be glyphed, but in terms of actual numbers there were very few of them and by percentage of soldiers they were almost nonexistent. So, be they bandits or mercenaries, they would not likely have any idea what they were getting into.

“Just keep an eye out regardless,” Cass instructed. “I cannot think we would look worth attacking anyway- no merchant would travel like this after all- so if we are attacked, they will probably be prepared.”

“Every time we travel together,” Svala sighed to herself. “Something happens. You cannot help but attract trouble, can you Lady Cass?”

Why are you saying that like this is my fault? Cass thought to herself, but said nothing. Coincidence or not, it was hard to argue with the fact that since she had been captured her life had become eventful to say the least. Thankfully, there was no way that this group would have something like the antimagic orb that had given her such a headache last time.

“Well, you are the only noncombatant here,” Cass said to the carriage driver. “So if we are attacked, just make sure the horses do not run off and we will take care of whatever happens.”

“What about little Natalie here?” Svala asked with a concerned voice, causing Cass to laugh.

“Well, I will keep her out of the fight if I can,” Cass explained. “But Nat is pretty strong, you know?”

“Lady Cass applied my glyphs herself!” Natalie added, “and Warrior Odal has been training me!”

“So I see!” Svala and Cass were trying not to laugh, Nat could be a bit too cute at times- but her words were correct. Despite her size and looks, Natalie was terrifyingly strong compared to normal soldiers, let alone normal people. Combined with her hand to hand combat training, she was quite capable of holding her own in a fight if she had to. Not that Cass planned on letting her fight, but the girl could if she had to.

Since the conversation had dragged on, they decided to stop for now and eat lunch. It was a simple meal, much as you would expect while traveling, of dried meat and bread. One of the things Cass had learned quickly in her few travels since Tyine was just how much space and effort the food and water people took with them takes. Food and water for twenty soldiers, one servant, Owin, Svala, Natalie, Cass and the horses drawing the carriage, enough to last a whole week, was a huge amount! Thinking about stories where people would stop and eat stews around a campfire made Cass laugh now when she thought about it- how the hell did they transport the pots and the water for it?

Also, when had she reached the point where she was slightly more concerned about the quality of her food than the possibility of being attacked?