Having never used a portal before I was expecting a lightshow or something amazing. Instead I find out it is like being flushed down a drain in pure darkness with your stomach trying to reach your feet. It ends up only lasting a second but it feels much longer, Lizzy is not happy when we arrive in the forest.

As soon as we are out of the portal she turns and gives me a dirty look. I quickly apologize to her and pull out a drake bone for her to chew on before she takes her anger out on me. Dismounting and looking around I can see the rebel camp has gotten much larger.

That is no surprise since we sent so many people through the portal, and I can see many beastmen mixed amongst the humans. From what I can see everyone seems to be behaving and getting along. In fact as I look around I realize there is a lot of activity, it looks like the camp is preparing to move.

Pol says "My lord, Princess Mercy wishes to speak with you."

"Alright, I will go see her. Keep Lizzy company for me."

Pol nods but he looks nervous as he looks at Lizzy, but I know Lizzy won't hurt him, she won't hurt anyone needlessly. As I walk through the camp many of the rebels stop and bow or salute me as I pass. What is the most surprising is it is the humans as often as it is beastmen.

'Oh, man. What stories have been going around this time?'

Before I reach Mercy's tent a furry missle hits me. I look down to find Myria clinging to me, so I pet her soft silky ears. Before I can even try to pry her off I see all the other girls approaching at speed. Luckily, the rest settle for giving me a hug to welcome me back.

"You can all relax, I didn't even get a scratch!"

Myria says "We missed you!"

"I missed you guys too!"

Myria says "Master, did your fur get softer?"

"No!"

Leyla says "I think you are right, Myria."

Isabella says "Yeah, he does feel softer!"

I end up with no choice but to stand as they all pet me and rub against me enjoying how soft I am. I see Alexa and beg her with my eyes to come and save me, but she looks at me, smiles, and then walks away. That traitor, this must be revenge for taking Mercy into danger.

"Girls, enough! I have to meet with Mercy."

Myria says "But you are so soft and fluffy!"

"I said enough. I'm serious."

The girls reluctantly let me go, for now, I'm sure they will find me again after my meeting. I knew this new softer fur was going to cause me problems, I was just hoping it would take longer. I will worry about that later, for now I continue to Mercy's tent and the guards usher me right in.

Mercy says "Welcome back, Ash."

Zamart says "All done up north?"

"Hi, Mercy, Zamart, yes I'm all finished. You can close the portal anytime."

Zamart says "Good, I will go do that now."

Mercy says "So, Ash, what are your plans?"

"Next up is visiting Illium."

Mercy says "Alright, well I just want to tell you what we are planning."

"Oh, and what are you planning?"

Mercy says "We are going to take the port city of Durendall."

"That's ambitious, why Durendall?"

Mercy says "With all the borders closed Durendall is the only place they can bring in supplies. If we cut that off it will hurt the king and his war efforts."

"You know if you take it he will retaliate."

Mercy says "He will try, but since his secret army was destroyed he can't amass enough troops to equal us."

"Well, as long as you have plans in place then I have no reason to object."

Mercy says "Don't worry, I will treat your beastmen the same way I do my own soldiers. Since we now know about the shadow demon we can't attack the capital directly. So this is our best bet."

"I know you will take care of them, but they are the strongest fighters you have so use them."

Mercy says "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, they won't want to be kept out of the fighting. Besides, they won't get stronger if they don't fight."

Mercy says "Well, if that's what you want then I will use them well."

"Also, keep the girls and use them as well. They could use some seasoning."

Mercy says "You are going to get yourself in trouble."

"Not really, I will be dealing mostly with political stuff in Illium."

Mercy says "I mean you just got back and are leaving again without spending any time with them."

"Oh, I guess you are right. But they will be more useful to you with the fighting than to me in a city."

Mercy says "My sister is a perfect scout, and Leyla's healing will save many lives. The others are just fighters, they won't make much difference."

"I guarantee you they will surprise you. However I will take Drog with me, I can't leave him unsupervised for too long. And Lizzy will remain here by the portal until I return."

Mercy says "Um, who is Lizzy?"

"Lizzy is my mount, you saw her at the mines."

Mercy says "Oh, right, the lizard you were riding."

"Yeah, she won't do well staying in a city for long. Besides, I doubt I could get her through a portal again so soon."

Mercy says "Okay, just tell her not to eat any of the people I leave to guard the portal."

"Don't worry, she won't harm them unless they attack her."

Mercy says "I will make sure the people I leave behind are steady."

"Alright, anything else we need to discuss?"

Mercy says "Not really, but you could join me for dinner?"

"Thank you, but no. As you pointed out, I should spend some time with the girls."

Mercy says "Ah, right. Next time?"

"Sure thing!"

After saying my goodbyes to Mercy I ask a guard to take me to where the girls are camped. Over dinner I tell the girls the plan, they aren't happy with it but surprisingly they don't argue. Maybe they are getting used to me wanting to do things on my own.

After dinner I surprise them by pulling the bed out of the backpack. Of course the next morning I wake up buried under the girls, but even with that I slept perfectly. The girls wake up as I am trying to wiggle my way out of the pile.

They insist on cuddling with me for another hour before they will let me out of bed. Over breakfast I tell them about the attack on the mines and about the dragon. The only thing I leave out is the stuff about the soulscape, since none of them can create a soulscape it would be too hard to explain.

After breakfast we all say our goodbyes and I give each of the girls a hug before I leave the tent. I decide to entrust the backpack to Myria so the girls can keep the bed, I won't really need it in Illium. When I walk out of the tent I spot Drog hiding in the shadows nearby.

"Drog, you are coming with me."