They rose early. Captain Ishki led the morning prayer, beseeching the Pontifarch to watch over Gem’s soul on its journey through the cycle of reincarnation. Then they left Kisiga.

The mayor and head constable were there to see them off. They didn’t seem sad to see the soldiers go, but it wasn’t as if they were hurrying them away. Assuming things went as planned, the convoy would pass through town again on the way back to the capital, only a few days hence.

Although Xerxes kept thinking about how Gem should have been there with them, he was still excited to get into the Yellow Forest. This was the first time he’d traveled any distance from the capital, and as such, it went without saying that it was his first time leaving the kingdom. He almost couldn’t sit still in the saddle.

The Yellow Forest covered most of the northern part of the continent, and it was considered free territory. Neither Isin, Fal, nor Od held any official sway once you entered the ancient trees.

The mages were mounted, as were the officers, those being Captain Ishki and Sergeants Tamharu, Aniskipe, and Nozar. The rest of the soldiers were infantry, with Squads One and Three being heavy infantry, and Two being light infantry. Those soldiers were on foot, with the exception of Ap, who drove the cart they’d purchased in Kisiga.

Although Captain Ishki said it was unlikely Master Ligish was doing anything illegal, in the remote chance he was, they might need to arrest him and bring his illegal machinery back to the capital as evidence.

But illegal machinery was the last thing on Xerxes’ mind as they followed the muddy path out of the village, across the bare hills, and into the Yellow Forest. The rain had passed, and clouds still choked the sky, but occasional patches of blue shone through as well.

Both clouds and blue sky disappeared once they were in the forest itself. The trees were huge, with snaking roots, most of which were covered by blankets of vines. Presumably those were the ones that would turn yellow with flowers in spring.

This was an ancient expanse of trees that had remained mostly untouched by man for centuries upon centuries. In another, more ancient time, there had been a civilization which claimed the northern territory. But that civilization fell, whether to war, famine, or disease, few people knew except for the most learned and scholarly mages. The forest had long since reclaimed the lands, with only scattered remnants of that ancient civilization remaining. One example was the Ligish Castle, which was said to have been the last bastion of the now-extinct northern kings.

The forest smelled different than anything Xerxes had encountered before. There was a mossiness in the air, as well as something vaguely spicy, presumably from whatever fragrant herbaceous plants grew in the shadows. And there were mushrooms also, which Xerxes assumed was the source of the earthy undertone to everything. Birds called here and there, and it was possible to hear the chitter of small animals, presumably arboreal rodents of some sort. Of course, there was the occasional drip of water as the trees continued to shed their blankets of rainwater.

There was something calming about this forest that appealed to Xerxes. It seemed at harmony with itself, as if every element belonged. No wonder the woodsmen liked to live out here.

About an hour into the journey, some of the soldiers started singing Maribel’s Magic before veering off into other popular songs. But Xerxes was too caught up in the novelty of the forest to join in. In fact, all of the sights, smells, and sounds were so distracting that it took a few hours before he realized he had no companion riding next to him. The officers rode together toward the front of the column, and Xerxes had to look over his shoulder to see Bel and Gandash behind him.

You’ve got to be kidding me, he thought. They’re already all cozy in public?

Looking back out into the depths of the forest, he chuckled softly to himself. He wasn’t the type to get jealous. In fact, he was happy his friend had finally gotten over his years-long hesitancy and bared his heart to the girl he liked.

When is my soulmate going to show up, though? he wondered.

He’d long since learned that the soldiers didn’t like it if he tried to talk to them while mounted. Nor did they appreciate it if he dismounted, led his horse by the reins, and tried to make conversation that way. So for the time being, he kept to himself.

As the day wore on, the forest got thicker and darker. Also colder.

Upon reaching a clearing that was obviously used as a resting spot for travelers, the convoy stopped for a midday meal of bread and cheese. Xerxes wasn’t the only one who had noticed the sudden closeness between Bel and Gandash. The soldiers kept their jokes under control, though.

In the past, he might have sat down with Gem, Ap, and Rihan to eat, but not today. He stuck with Gandash and Bel instead. Bel seemed to be spending some extra time with her horse, which meant he had a moment along with Gandash.

“Forgetting about your old friends now that you’ve got a girl, Gandy?” Xerxes said, trying to keep a straight face.

“Hey, it’s not like that,” Gandash said.

“I know, just messing with you,” he replied, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Bel joined them a few minutes later.

“Sorry to steal your friend, Xerk,” she said. “We just had some… things to talk about.”

Xerxes put his palms out. “It’s fine. Back home at the Academy I can’t get him to stop jabbering about mage history and spellcasting theory. Believe me, it’s nice to get a break.”

Gandash shoved his shoulder playfully.

“What do you think this Master Ligish is going to be like?” Bel asked.

Xerxes washed down some bread with a mouthful of water. “My bet is there’s nothing to the allegations. Nobody on Mannemid has been arrested for illegal machinery in what… centuries?”

“Decades,” Gandash said. “Seventy-two years to be exact.”

Xerxes stared at him. “How the hell do you remember that?”

“It was a test question last semester. Don’t you remember?”

“Uh….”

“I remember,” Bel said. “Hillalum the Wise of… some city in Fal.”

Gandash nodded. “Good memory. Yeah, this fellow Hillalum built a whole gearwork factory right under the noses of the mages of Fal. It went on for ten years before word leaked. Got arrested by High Seers Ninsunu and Be’at, although they were only Seers at the time. Anyway, Hillalum the Wise got taken to a higher starisle, I guess to be imprisoned, but who knows, maybe they executed him.”

“We’re just lucky the Nergal didn’t come,” Bel said.

“True.”

Xerxes made a spitting sound. “There’s always some idiot willing to break the law and think they’ll get away with it.”

“True,” Bel said. “The Pontifarch’s eyes are farseeing. Only fools and the mad defy his will.”

“Er, right,” Gandash said.

Xerxes nearly choked on his bread as he tried not to laugh.

“What?” Bel asked, looking at him quizzically.

He gave her a look. “Come on, Bel, you know. Ol’ Gandy and I aren’t exactly on board with all the mainstream beliefs.”