I follow my brother from afar using my eyes to my advantage during the night and the hills during the day. No one pursues which is a relief but I can't help but worry about my enemies who could track him down with clues he may have left back at the village.

I keep tracking him as he heads south-west until he reaches an even smaller hamlet made up of three houses at the foot of a mountain next to a forest. They appear to be woodcutters because they have quite a few draft animals and large carriages.

I approach as much as possible in case there's trouble but he merely greets them and stays for the night before leaving in the morning. It hurts to see him depart without hesitation because it means he is serious about cutting ties.

That he didn't tell me where he's going in the heat of the moment is one thing, but that he chooses to stay on his journey without looking back... It makes it difficult for me to let go because there is no telling how I'll find him again once I do.

It'll be entirely up to him whether we meet again, and it could easily be never if his worldview doesn't change. Or I could find him as an enemy on the other side of a battlefield.

Circumstances being what they are, I decide to speak to these lumberjacks and let go because my time is very limited, I cannot spend a month tracking him to his destination.

I take off my armor and weapons as I wait for my brother to disappear from sight with a pit in my stomach. I arrange my cloak to conceal the absence of my left arm before heading for the cabins. A large bulky man with a thick black beard and a woman of similar caliber walk out in work clothes.

“Hey there, stranger.” The man speaks up with a puzzled expression.

“I'm...” Jezebel is a bit too obvious. “Alana.” I tell them.

“Two visitors in the span of a night and day doesn't feel like a coincidence.” The woman mutters with a frown.

“He merely forgot he owed me a few coins before leaving.” I reply with a thin smile. “I'd like to know where he's going.”

“He went that way, you could catch up.” The man replies with a flat expression.

At least they can tell it's suspicious and Mersey made a good enough impression they don't want to sell him off to save trouble. They might not speak to us but they could tell others once their impression fades, there are ways to get them to keep quiet.

If they understood, yes, but I don't want to. Besides, these are low born who would hold Nobles with far more reverence than they should, thus threats would not work for long. I ponder for a moment.

“He can't pay me back now, I merely wish to be able to find him once he's found work.” I tell them. “A name and destination would suffice, if it isn't too much to ask.” The two exchange a glance.

“He said it would be best he didn't give us his name because he's in some trouble and we didn't ask where he's going.” The woman tells me with a sharp tone, making it clear she suspects me.

“Well, that's partly why I'm not trying to get my coin back now.” I tell them with a half-smile. “I'll be leaving then, thank you.”

I drop my lips as soon as I turn my back, aware that I'll be unable to track him without a name but conscious that others may not have the same issue. His refusal to name himself will make it relatively easy for anyone who learns of it to conclude it was him that stopped here.

There isn't anything I can do about it other than hope I'll be able to find him in a few years, if I'm alive and he hasn't looked for me. I sigh but return to my gear.

Once I'm equipped, I flick the umbrella back on my shoulder and head straight east towards the clearing I left the others which might take a couple of days to reach. I hope you'll change as you seek a new life, brother.

--- --- ---

As I trek through the forest at the base of the round mountain in the middle of the night, I spot light from a campfire way off where I left them. Worrying that Saunas could have found our camp and spilled my purpose for coming here, I decide to check it out.

I lower my stance and bend down to reduce my profile to approach stealthily. I find Uhla sitting cross-legging in front of the fire, looking dismayed, which quite amusingly dismays me.

“What are you doing here by yourself?” I ask aloud while stepping out of cover.

“Oh, shit!” Uhla cries out as she snaps up to her feet and brings her hand to the dagger at her waist.

“Calm down, it's me.” I tell her as I step into the light. “What got you so on your guard?”

“I, uh, no. You just surprised me.” She mutters with her hand on her heaving chest.

“I'm supposed to be the one to see blades in shadows, what's up with you?” I question.

“There isn't a moon up and the wolves have been howling.” Uhla mutters with a slight blush.

“Wolves don't howl when they hunt, Uhla, they stay silent.” I tell her with an amused look. “Otherwise, people wouldn't lose as much livestock to their packs.”

“Ah.” She exclaims in embarrassment.

“So, what are you doing here?” I ask.

“I went out for a walk and... got a bit lost.” She mutters.

“A bit?” I chuckle. “Where did you think the camp was?”

“There, east.” She points at where I came from.

“I can see your problem.” I mutter with a laugh. “That's west, south-west actually.

“Is it?” She asks while blinking.

Did she sneak off on her own? Report to a Shade maybe? Or a Templar tailing us since the two organizations don't mix if they can help it to avoid suspicions cast on the Order.

Look at her, I doubt she could trick even a kid. I let out a self-derisive laugh as I inspect Uhla's bright eyes. We extinguish her fire and head off to the east. To her embarrassment, we find the camp within an hour.

“There you are! We looked for you all day!” Nahl exclaims with a relieved expression.

“And didn't let anyone take a nap.” Idali grumbles.

“We would have looked for you if you got lost.” Rowland admonishes.

“I wouldn't have gotten lost.” She replies while rolling her eyes.

“City girl like you? Wonder if you'd find your way if I dropped you off where I found her.” I speak up.

“Of course I would, I know the four cardinal stars.” Idali denies. “Come 'ere, I'll show you because I'm not spending another day looking for you next time.” Idali snags Uhla by the collar and drags her away.

“Thought you wanted to sleep, you big softie.” I mock.

“Stuff it, dwarf.” She rudely counters.

“Come here and tell it to my face, you overly tall blonde with breasts to feed a litter!” I yell at her back.

“I have back problems, couldn't bend down enough to say anything to your face!” Idali utters with a laugh. “And the rest were compliments as far as I can tell!”

“Were not!” I deny childishly. The woman ignores me, taking the win. I glare at Rowland and Nahl from the force of habit. They raise their hands to appease me and fail to completely hide their grins. “Cook me something, or else.”

“We didn't say a thing!” Nahl protests.

“You're responsible in some way, I'm sure.” I argue.

“I'm not, he's the one who kept her up to search the area once in a while.” Rowland immediately betrays.

“Hmph.” Nahl snorts and grabs a pot of food to heat it on the fire. “Did you find what you were looking for?” He asks.

“I did.” I reply with a heavy sigh. “We'll leave at dawn, where are the temple guards?”

“They went ahead, said they'll take the opportunity to visit a few Temples in the regions we're meant to cross on the way to Mirus.” Rowland tells me. “They'll meet us in one of the border towns.”

“Lucky for them I do have a use for Templars.” I mutter. “Do you think they left because they didn't want to be near what we'll do?” I ask.

“What are we doing?” Nahl asks with a suspicious frown as he stirs the pot with a wooden spoon. “You're implying there's something other than Sykus?”

“Idali!” I yell at the woman pointing to the sky. “You didn't tell them?”

“Why would I if you haven't?!” She yells back with an annoyed look.

“Good girl!” I scream at her with a grin.

“I'm a woman almost twice your age, kid!” Idali protests.

“That doesn't work to your advantage considering how we met.” I note with a wicked smile. Idali grimaces and turns away, hiding her face.“Aw, don't pout. I was joking.” I needle her.

“I know, enough Jessica!” Idali snaps.

“Okay, sorry.” I call out. She doesn't reply but both Rowland and Nahl stare at me as if they've seen a ghost. “What?”

“You apologized.” Nahl notes.

“What? Are you implying I'm rude?” I ask with narrowed eyes.

“Not indeliberately, no.” Rowland replies.

“You can be very polite.” Nahl agrees.

“ ... wait, do you mean I'm only polite when it's deliberate?” I question.

“We would never say that.” Rowland protests with an innocent expression.

“Because you'd probably...” Nahl starts with a wicked smile.

Before he can finish, I raise my hand and send all the air I can seize at them both. Continuous gusts of wind crash into them to mess up their clothes and send them stumbling. Their cloaks flap around, occasionally slapping them while Rowland's tunic ends up over his head.

“Do something like that.” Nahl finishes with a bitter smile as he glances down at the extinguished fire.

“I suppose the Exemplar had other things to do.” I mutter, raising my expectation of the trouble I'll find in Mirus and possibly in Hetlan.

--- --- ---

We arrive at a small town where most buildings have a second floor. I picked it first because the Countess isn't especially powerful relative to others holding the title, especially considering Castle Lance which now makes me realize that Leomi's house was wealthy despite not ruling as many people.

Edusa merely suspects her of cheating on taxes to fund an army. While that's understandably concerning to Edusa, I don't intend to bother if that's really all the Noble is doing because I'm not a sword for hire. The reason I came here anyway is that there is a good chance this Countess is, at the very least, stealing from her subjects.

“Split up to gather information before they know we're here. Rowland go contact Edusa's people in this town.” I speak up.

“Why me?” Rowland protests.

“You used to be in the army and you're a bastard, Nahl is too nice.” I explain.

“I'm sure he would do fine with her officers, they're low born. I would do much better at the tavern.” He insists.

“You can invite them to a drink for all I care.” I tell him, annoyed.

“Nice try but I'm not leaving your side.” Idali speaks up.

“Yea, yea, come on.” I wave her off.

I head off with my cloak wrapped around me to hide my gear, which is a bit useless considering Idali is trailing behind with her spear in plain view. I sigh and tell her to wait back as I look for people to speak to.

“Hey there.” I call out a cute boy running past in the street.

“What?” The kid asks as he skids to a stop.

“I'm wondering where everyone is.” I tell him. “The streets are pretty empty.”

“It's boon-day, just came back from bringing pap his meal.” He replies.

“Unusual, how many of those are there?” I ask.

“Five!” The boy exclaims.

Five? That can't be every week. As I think over the response, the kid runs off as if I'd finished talking. I shrug and let him go. Five day's work for free every month is quite a lot but not as bad as it could be.

--- --- ---

None of us learn much other than this, Rowland and Uhla tell me of frequent brawls between soldiers of this demesne and those sworn to Edusa. The Countess' officers don't respect the low born leading their Duchess' troops and often throw insults that trigger fights, or pick the fight directly themselves if the response given offends them.

It is surprising that no one has died yet but it seems the town's Templars have managed to intervene in time and prevent it. It won't last long, one day one of them will draw a blade or punch too hard with a strengthening construct. I end up sending the three back to gathering news inside an inn, which neither protests very hard.

“We've learned about all we could at this point.” I tell Idali. “They don't appear to be paying any more taxes than is usual.”

“Too soon, I would look into the regular disappearances.” She replies. “Three in half a year is a lot for such a small village.”

“Considering the boon-days, they ought to be runaways.” I note. “They said there was no sign of struggle.”

“No one up and leaves like that.” Idali counters.

“Who's being paranoid now.” I roll my eyes. “People don't seem worried about it, only one mentioned it.”

“I was a guard for years, Jess, this is unusual.” She insists.

“One more reason to visit her cute little castle.” I say with a raised eyebrow as I glance to the stone structure with arches to support the weight at the center of the town.

“You're just impatient, aren't you?” Idali asks with a suspicious look.

“Either they ran or the Countess is killing them because, otherwise, she's be hunting whoever is gutting her free labor.” I reply coldly. “Whatever it is, we'll obviously not find answers among these people.”

“Fair point.” She acknowledges.

I pick up my helmet from one of the hilts at my waist and fit it on. We come across a few patrols on the way but they don't stop us despite giving us dark glances, clearly taking us for the Duchess' people.

The guards do stop us at the stone structure's large wooden gate and refuse us entry. I decide to wait for whoever it is they're calling while concealing my lack of a left arm underneath my cloak. A tall man ends up showing up in a black coat with a white fur collar.

“Lord Tolheim, consort of Lady Matilda, Countess of Hafjord.” The guard introduces.

“Haf-what?” I ask in confusion

“Haf-yorhd.” The guard repeats more clearly with a dark expression.

“We literally told you this a dozen times.” Idali murmurs.

“Did you? I'd have remembered that weird a name, I don't even recall being told the Countess' name.” I complain.

“You're picking a fight, aren't you?” Idali mutters with a sigh. “At the door.”

“I'm not.” I protest.

“If you are here to insult us, I would kindly ask you to go.” The Lord interrupts with his deep voice.

“No, not really.” I deny with a smirk despite having hoped he'd try to strike me. “I've heard people have gone missing so I came inquiring.”

“Is that so.” The Lord flatly responds. “Who might you be?”

“Jessica Freepath.” I utter while showing my teeth with an aggressive smile and flicking my cloak aside to reveal both my weapons and my lack of an arm.

The man blinks and the guards tense. Three pairs of eyes suddenly fall on my left side and then rise to my left cheek. Of them all, the one who pales the most is the Lord. Even his fingers start trembling.

“We've, heard of you.” He says after gulping. “We would be pleased to invite you for dinner tonight to make your acquaintance.”

“I'm not looking for noble entertainment, if you get me.” I reply with a widening grin. “The Countess is here. Ain't much better than the present to act, or meet as it is.”

“So I've heard is your philosophy.” The man mutters with an awkward expression. “Perhaps we could prepare something in the boudoir, tea or some other beverage. My Countess is preoccupied but she could no doubt make time for such a distinguished guest.”

“Let's do that then.” I agree.

The man invites us in with a wave of his hand but walks in first without waiting, no doubt rushing to whisper a warning to a servant to warn his spouse. I chuckle as I head in with Idali.

“Seriously? Threatening our way in worked?” She asks no one in particular with a baffled expression.

“I didn't threaten anyone.” I protest as my eyes trail the vestibule and all the paintings ornamenting the walls. “Lots of battles there.”

“Caeviel's early history was quite rowdy.” The Lordling speaks up. “There was conflict between regions long settled and those newly colonized, like Izla Meria who had allegiances to their former Kingdoms. The Empire was also taking action to assert firmer control of the outer territories by helping the Order take root.”

“Hm.” I mutter.

“I'm quite the enthusiast about history, if you'll forgive me.” Tolheim says while failing to conceal the slight contempt in his expression.

I flick my hand at him almost casually. A wave of golden energy rushes out of my body. I control a third to slam into the wooden doors behind us, closing them with a slight kinetic burst and sealing them with a merging construct.

I shape the air with another third of the flow to propel the man at the stone wall, breaking a painting's frame, and hanging him there while I add a defensive construct to the doors with the last third so as to slow down the guards who will soon try to break in.

“Grh.” The Lordling grunts in pain and faints. I may or may not have hit the stone wall with his skull.

“Seriously?” Idali asks, baffled.

“Preemptive self-defense.” I tell her.

“There was no sign he was going to attack.” She counters.

“Trust me, eventually he would have... with enough provocation on my part and maybe a slap or two with my fist.” I argue.

“There's no way that counts as self-defense, Jessica, preemptive or not.” Idali denies.

“You sure?” I ask, turning to her.

“Yes.” She confirms with a serious expression and a very unnecessary sharp nod that adds to my amusement. I suppress my laughter as I turn to the Noble hanging fifty centimeters off the ground.

“Well, good sir, I apologize for mischaracterizing my assault.” I apologize with a slight mocking bow. “...” I wait a while before turning back to Idali. “He's not answering.”

“He's unconscious.” She notes.

“Still, that is very rude.” I tell her.

“Quite.” Idali agrees and turns to the Noble. “You could have at least groaned or something, it would be the polite action to take as a host.” She admonishes while waving her spear under his nose like a parent would shake their finger to berate a child.