Bjorn had never been particularly gifted when it came to riding, so needless to say he felt awful after the first hour with the princess in front of him. And it just got worse during the other seven until they finally stopped to make camp.

“So...what are we going to do with her?” Bjorn asked as he more or less pulled the woman off his saddle.

“Tie her to a tree or something? I don’t know.” Taya said, “The only thing on my mind right now is...Peng, that was fucking amazing!”

Peng flinched as Taya shouted at him.

“I mean, how did you make something that even does that?” she exclaimed.

“I, uh...I had some help.” Peng muttered, clearly unused to getting this much attention.

Dust seemed to materialize from the air, assembling into a humanoid figure made of wood with metal decorum on its body.

“This is the Fool Carpenter, my Shedim.” Peng said.

As Taya and, more gently, Ruhak and Cecile showed Peng their appreciation, Bjorn dragged the princess to a tree and used another bola to tie her down.

He too thought Peng’s strategy was pretty amazing. Though, it was more than just the Shedim. The ability to make something like the rig of crossbows he described required incredible knowledge and skill. Where did someone learn how to do that?

“I think I recognize that man with you.” the princess muttered.

Bjorn ignored her.

“The Nikan man. He’s not what you think.”

“If you’re trying to convince me he’s a traitor, you may want to reevaluate your strategy.” Bjorn sighed.

“He was born with a Shedim. He was Silenced as a child and we can use-”

“Oh my, I’m so betrayed.” Bjorn muttered. “How could I possibly trust my ally after someone whose first impression was just murder told me he’s lying?”

“He’ll be your downfall, Ascomanni.” Yahui called.

He walked back over to the others.

“Bjorn, Bjorn!” Taya called to him, shouting like an excitable child, “Peng said he’s gonna stay with us!”

“That’s good. Glad to know you’re with us.” Bjorn offered Peng a smile.

“I was involved in the kidnapping of one of my royals. So even if I did go back, they’d find out eventually and just execute me.” Peng explained, laughing nervously, “I think I’d have better odds of living with you four.”

“So…” Ruhak spoke up, “Are we going to stick with our plan? Or are the Bane Knights cause for reconsideration?”

“The Koini border is only a few days away, meaning we can get our ferry within three weeks.” Taya said, “We should be fine to continue along that path. Cecile, can you get a fire going?”

Cecile nodded, “Sure.”

“I’ll hitch the horses. Ruhak, you go collect firewood. Peng, we got some water skins. Can you go fill them up at that stream? Bjorn, you go watch the prisoner.” Taya said.

Bjorn nodded and made his way over to the princess.

“Aw, now I have no one to listen to my stories.” she pouted with faux disappointment.

“I’m not exactly pleased either, princess.” Bjorn muttered.

“Drop the formalities. I insist you call me Yahui.” she said.

Bjorn grunted in response.

“You know, these ropes with balls on them don’t exactly stop me from using my Shedim.” Yahui said, “And as far as I know, you’re far newer at this than I am. I could just set this whole place aflame.”

“And I could crush you in any form of martial contest. It evens out.” Bjorn said.

“You really think you could defeat me in combat?” Yahui scoffed playfully.

“I almost did before we were interrupted. I mean...look at me. I’m an Ascommani twice your size who’s trained his entire life to be a warrior.” Bjorn said, “And you...well, you look like you were born to draw eyes, not gouge them out.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?’ Yahui chuckled.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Bjorn muttered, “Looks-wise, you’re just shy of ‘make-me-inadvertently-betray my-friends’.”

“I was about to say you weren’t so bad yourself. But that personality...ugh.” Yahui gagged in an exaggerated motion, “You’d best work on not being such an ass if you ever want a wife.”

“It’s not being an ass that was the problem in the first place…” Bjorn murmured, low enough so that she could barely hear, “I’ve got the feeling that romance simply isn’t what the gods had in mind for me. Nothing more to it. And I’m cutting this line of conversation off.”

“Oh, come now, this banter is starting to get interesting.” Yahui pouted, “Most of my would-be captors can barely get a coherent sentence out of their mouths.”

“You get kidnapped often?” Bjorn raised an eyebrow.

“No. But people try quite consistently. They always end up dead.”

“Guess there’s a first time for everything, then.” Bjorn said, “What’s even your problem with us in the first place?”

“That would be my brother and father’s problem.” Yahui said, “Personally, I don’t mind you lot. My father, the emperor, wants all Shedim Masters to either be captured or killed. Which is somewhat hypocritical, considering I’m a Shedim Master.”

“Maybe he thinks you being his daughter is essentially like having you captured.” Bjorn suggested.

“Hm...interesting thought. Anyways, my brother is just fame-hungry. He still has all the delusions of glory, honor, and whatnot.” Yahui said, “He thinks if he captures enough of you, father will give him a title.”

“Well then...why not join our side?” Bjorn asked.

Yahui burst into laughter, grabbing Cecile and Taya’s attention for a moment.

“That’s a good one, Ascommani!” Yahui chuckled, “But, I actually care that my brother diverts from his path. And joining you would more or less instantly guarantee my death.”

“Now, I think we’ve earned a bit more credit than that.” Bjorn said.

“Sure, sure. It would guarantee my death within the month.”

Bjorn rolled his eyes.

“What about you, Northman? Why do you fight with the Sklaveni? My country would gladly take in any Shedim Master who doesn’t wish to fight against us.”

“Well let’s just say when it comes to foreign policy, your father isn’t the most credible man in the world.” Bjorn said, “Moreover, that deal would be based completely on fear. We are afraid of the Nikan and the Nikan are afraid of us. Not a good basis for a working relationship.”

Yahui pursed her lips, “And that’s not the case with the Sklaveni? She is far more powerful than any of you. Does she not coerce you into following her?”

“I don’t think that idea could even grace her mind.” Bjorn scoffed, “Half the time, I don’t even remember that she’s more powerful than us. She never forces us to do anything.”

“That seems indicative of weak leadership. If you suffer no consequences, why do you still follow her orders? Even when you would prefer not to do them.”

Bjorn hesitated for a moment, then answered, more for himself than for the princess. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so truthful. “I...I guess it’s just because we trust her. She trusts us to get things done on our own and in our own way. And in turn, we trust her to provide direction.”

“Hm,” Yahui considered, “Back before my father’s father took power over Nikan, our nation was torn apart by a war between a thousand factions. There was a king, who fought among them that would’ve liked Taya’s style of leadership.”

“Really? What happened to him?” Bjorn asked, “He would’ve been far better a ruler for Nikan, don’t you think?”

Yahui chuckled darkly, “That king ended up on a pike at my grandfather’s hands. You see, while some of our dynasty are clouded by notions of glory and greed, my father and our emperor represent what it means to be a true leader.”

“That being?” Bjorn crossed his arms.

“The king failed and died because his people failed him. They can’t be relied on.” Yahui said, “Your average peasant is not to be allowed so much faith, lest they fail under the weight of great expectations. It is not the place of the ruler to believe in their people, but rather the role of the people to believe in their ruler. The ruler is of a higher caliber than the people and thus, should be trusted to order the lives of the people.”

Bjorn spat, “That’s just tyranny.”

“Tyranny? Perhaps. But it is also chiefhood, kingship, councilmanship, consulship and any other kind of government where the ruler is not decided upon by the rabble.” Yahui argued.

Bjorn scoffed. She was wrong. He knew she was. But he didn’t know how. Trust shouldn’t be solely placed in the hands of the ruler. But nor can it solely be entrusted to the people. Both. That was how Taya was different. She did both.

Bjorn began to belt out a rebuttal, but was cut off.

“Well, this has been fun, but I’m starved. Get me something to eat and we’ll pick this up later. I give you permission to tell me your name.”

Bjorn raised his eyebrows, “You give me permission?”

“Your name.”

“Look here, you stuck up bitch, I-”

“Look here you stuck up bitch...hm, too long. I’ll shorten it to Bitch, alright?”

Bjorn pinched the bridge of his nose, “My name is Bjorn.”

“Well why didn’t you just say so?”

Bjorn wondered if it would be worth it to break her arm.

__________________________________________________________________________

Bjorn stood with his legs apart over his shield, the metal boss directly under his crotch, as Taya found him.

“What the hell is this?” Taya asked.

Bjorn focused on the boss, “Just an experiment. I figured out the other day that I could attract lodestones to me with my Shedim as if I were made of iron. I’m going to try and make myself a reverse lodestone.”

“A reverse...is it working?”

“Give it a second.” Bjorn’s Plague Scars crackled with bright azure energy, his hands outstretched towards the ground.

The shield started to dig into the dirt, while a force started pushing on his hands. Bjorn locked his elbows to prevent himself from getting the angle wrong and increased his output of power. Arcs of blue lightning crackled across his skin and between himself and the shield as he was lifted ever so slightly by the force.

He let out a nervous laugh as his feet left the ground, “I’m doing it! I can fly!”

“I wouldn’t quite call it flying. But impressive nevertheless. Just be careful about how much power you’re using. If we get caught off guard, I want you to have energy to spare.”

“I’ll have enough for a skirmish.” Bjorn said, “I just wan-”

Bjorn was thrown backwards as though a god had swatted him out of the air like a fly. He slammed into the dirt, pain blossoming across his side.

“You alright?” Taya laughed.

“Yeah. I lost focus on the angle.” Bjorn staggered to his feet. He cast out his left hand, causing an arc of electricity to launch out and hit the iron boss on his shield. The shield flew back to his hand on its own.

“Woah. Now that’s an impressive trick.” Taya grinned.

“I’ve been practicing, since my bow isn’t in great shape. I can throw my axe and bring it back to me fairly easily.” Bjorn said.

Ruhak, Cecile, Peng and himself spent at least an hour each day exploring the capabilities of their Shedim while Taya kept watch of Yahui.

“We’ll need to get on the road soon.” Taya said, “With any luck, we’ll reach the Koini border before sunset.”

“We’re that close?”

Taya nodded, “Let’s go check up on the other two.”

Bjorn followed Taya away from his clearing towards the nearby river where Cecile was experimenting.

“Anything new?” Taya asked.

“I was able to purify some river water. But...I don’t really see that being useful in battle.” Cecile said, “I don’t appear to have any telekinetic abilities, however.”

“What?” both Bjorn and Taya asked.

“I can’t move it with my mind like a Bane Knight could.” she explained, “But I can alter the speed and momentum of its movement.”

Cecile waved her hand through the air, causing a section of water in front of her to lurch forward. Then, she held her hand up, preventing all the water behind it from moving for a moment before letting the river flow naturally.

“I can weaponize it like this,” Cecile wetted her hand in the river and flicked the droplets of water off her hand towards a tree. The droplet flew faster than wind, chipping the wood, “It likely won’t get through armor, but I can still deal some damage.”

“Good thinking.” Taya grinned, “Koinelia’s close, so we’re going to try and cross the border today. Let’s try to make good time.”

The three of them returned to their campsite as it was being torn down by Ruhak and Peng. Guard duty more or less defaulted to Bjorn when he wasn’t training, so he grabbed Yahui by the arm and mounted his horse with her.

The other four packed their things and got on their own horses before heading out.

Over the past few days, the forest had gotten more and more claustrophobic, the trees getting thinner and higher in quantity. It seemed to signify that they’d reached the edge of Sklava. The actual border laid on the edge of the River Djukva.

They finally left the Sklaveni forest as the ground became rocky and covered in grass. Bjorn looked out forwards and saw one of the massive stone bridges that crossed the river and led into Koinelia. Towers or white limestone stood at each end, hosting soldiers guarding the border.

It seemed that they weren’t the only ones to make this journey. Descending towards the bridge, a camp started to come into view. It was massive, full of children and the elderly while their adult family members took turns waiting in the giant line to get into the country.

“Gods…” Taya murmured, “I didn’t know so many Sklavenis were running…”

“Let’s just focus on getting into the country.” Ruhak said, “We’re a stateless guild, so we can demand immediate entry.”

“I never knew you all were a guild.” Yahui said.

“It’s so we can raise a military force to protect our homelands from your country.” Bjorn growled.

“Hey, I’m not the emperor, alright?” Yahui twisted around to give him a look.

“You don’t have to be him to support him.” Bjorn scoffed.

He and his allies approached the guards at the entrance to the bridge.

“Oi, get in line if you want to cross the bridge.” a soldier said.

“We’re a stateless guild, sir.” Ruhak said, “We of the…” he turned to Taya, “What’s our name again?”

“The Searing Breath.” Taya said.

“The Searing...what?” Ruhak shook his head, “We of the Searing Breath request the ability to cross into Koinelia, as is our right.”

“I can’t allow that. The emperor mandated the halt of all stateless guild traffic.” the soldier said.

“What?” Ruhak asked, “How?”

“Mandate 4023. Passed a month ago.” The soldier stepped over to a table full of scrolls, and picked one up before showing it to them. Ruhak looked carefully at it, then sighed.

“That’s legitimate. We have to wait like everyone else.” Ruhak muttered.

Bjorn rubbed his forehead in irritation.

“Hold on.” Taya said, “Our mission in your country is one of dire necessity. Our actions there will lead to the liberation of Sklava and Ascomarch.”

“We are only concerned with the protection and preservation of the Empire of Koinelia. We haven’t the resources to aid anyone else.” the soldier said.

Taya hopped off her horse and started to advance towards the guards. They lifted their spears.

“Don’t push it, Taya.” Bjorn put his horse in her path.

“Hey, what’s with the two Nikan?” a man said.

The other guards looked at Peng, who seemed to shrink, and Yahui.

“One’s a traitor to their country and an ally.” Taya said, “The girl is a prisoner. Third imperial princess.”

The guards stared at her, then started to chuckle.

“Right. And my brother’s the emperor.”

“It’s true.” Yahui pursed her lips.

“Get in line and stop wasting our time.” the guard ordered.

Taya let out an exasperated sigh.

“The only thing we can do is just wait.” Bjorn said, “We’ll get through.”

“Fine. Let’s set up camp.” Taya muttered.