After arriving back in Nalandor, Sorela wasted no time in telling Lord Warfink she had been granted permission to find his son, and that he had no need to remove his Serafe commanders from the fields of battle.

Lord Warfink frowned. Lady Salain said, “When do you leave, Lady Casen?” Today had been another forlorn one. Lord Warfink seemed disappointed, as if he wanted to go to war, but could not, not after agreeing to let Sorela find his son. He probably thought the council would refuse her request.

Sorela glanced at Captain Caldren atop the dais beside Lord Warfink. “I may leave tonight, my lady, though I cannot set out on this journey until I find suitable assistance.”

“Assistance?” the Captain said, then paused. After a moment he turned to Lord Warfink. “I will go with Lady Casen, if it pleases you, my Lord—I will bring my best men-at-arms.”

Sorela contained her reaction. Lord Warfink nodded his ascent. Men-at-arms would not be enough.

“Thank you, Captain, your presence will be necessary, though I also need soldiers with...” Sorela wanted to frame the words so not to insult Caldren. “...with more experience.”

“More experience?” the greying man said with a frown. “I assure you, Lady Casen, my men—“

Lady Salain cut him off, her tone more firm now. “Lady Casen is right, Captain.” She turned to face Sorela. “Bring my son back, Lady Mage. Do whatever you have to—find whoever you have to—just bring my son home.”

“I will,” she said with a bow.

Sometime later, Sorela went to the barracks to see the captain commander. He ushered her into his office where they could speak in private. “I want our departure to be as discrete as possible, Captain.”

He moved behind his desk. “I assure you, Lady Mage, I will bring only my most trusted and most skilled men.”

All of these men you speak off are off fighting a war, Captain. You have boys. And they will not be enough, she thought. “How many?”

“Oh,” the Captain said, scratching his temple “twenty or thirty at most.”

How would they travel into a land at war with thirty men-at-arms without drawing attention to themselves?

“Lady Mage?”

Sorela found herself eying a ragged cloak with an oiled leather hood and a thought came to her. Yes. They could travel incognito.

Best not to draw attention.

It was a good plan, so far as she could see. “Captain, I want you to disguise yourself and your men as merchants. Prepare some wagons and some wares.”

“Wares, Lady Mage?”

“Yes,” she said. “Merchants sell wares, Captain. We may need them to make our ruse believable.”

“As you say, Lady Mage,” he replied with a small bow. “I will need a few hours to ready and prepare my men so we can depart on your say so.”

“Very good, Captain.” She turned to leave the barracks.