When Daveth awoke, he found himself in a bedroll with Aurene.

Everything was completely black and unlit, and there was a sense of grogginess and confusion. What happened? He tried to think back, and put the pieces together.

First, there was the fight with the Orgus. Things had gone well, though he’d gotten a blade in his side for the trouble, an unlucky cut at the beltline in the vulnerable gap between coat and leg, right at the hip.

Then Eirawen, the strange elven frost knight had tried to heal him. What happened then?

He struggled to get up and his thrashings woke up Aurene, next to him.

“Mmm?” Aurene mumbled and woke up. “Relax, Daveth. You’re in your tent.”

“What happened?” He asked.

She took a breath and released it. “That witch healed you.”

“Witch?” He asked stupidly. “Wait, do you mean Eirawen?” he asked.

She nodded. He couldn’t see that in the dark, so she spoke.

“Yes. She healed you. Her healing spells are... different from what we are used to. Maybe they are best on her. I do not know. But her healing spell chilled you pretty badly, and you passed out as a result.”

“I hope you didn’t hurt her too much.” He replied.

She bit him on the shoulder.

“Fuck! Ouch!” He yelped. He moved to touch his shoulder and realized he could feel similar marks on his arms, shoulders, chest and even his head. What the fuck?

“We ... fought.” She allowed, ignoring his expression as he examined the rows of bite-marks on his arms. “Like my sisters, no weapons.” She paused. “Eirawen was very... formidable. We have an understanding between us now.”

“Well, it’s nice to know you’ve been getting along.” Daveth replied sarcastically. Would her fight with Eirawen count as a violation of the rule? He’d have to check with Aldric.

Wait. Tent. They were encamped, then. Where? The oasis? He tried to rise up to a sitting position, but Aurene pushed him down.

“Why have you been biting me? I am not a steak.” Daveth complained.

She chuckled, leaned down and licked his lips. “We haven’t been together in three days.” She breathed. “I could not help myself.”

“Sure you could. You could just not bite me.” he replied sourly. “Where are we? How long have I been out?” He tried to get up, but she restrained him again.

“We have arrived at the oasis. You have been unconscious for... about sixteen hours.” She was rubbing herself against him seductively as she spoke. “Well, asleep. you were only unconscious for a few hours.”

“So you decided that I was something to snack on?” He asked.

She chuckled. “Don’t be angry with me.” She murmured, kissing him.

*****

Aurene was napping when Daveth rolled out of his cot. He dressed quietly and examined himself critically in the mirror, which really was just a bit of breastplate that had been pounded flat and buffed to a high polish.

The bites on his arms and shoulders could be covered by his clothing, but the ones on his head... He rummaged through his belongings and wrapped a quick bandage around his forehead. That should suffice, he decided.

He stepped out of his tent and squinted, anticipating the brilliant desert sun. However, it was cool and shady, with large trees everywhere. A cool breeze stirred his coat. It was true, then. They’d reached the oasis while he was asleep.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and let it out slowly. The scent of the desert was there, dry and pervasive, the dust of sand tickling his nose, but there was also the scent of trees and earth and water. Birds twittered somewhere nearby, and there was a sense of living things scurrying about in the underbrush.

He decided the first stop would be the mess tent as he was famished. Food first, then Aldric. He glanced around the camp, and spotted the flag of the mess tent, and started on his way.

Alysia and Lynnabel came out of their tent across from his own, and spotting him, fell into step with him.

“Good morning, Lord Commander.” They said, nearly synchronous. “I’m no lord.” He grumped, but nodded a greeting.

Lynnabel leaned towards Alysia. “He smells of her.” She whispered in a volume that was obviously meant to be heard.

Alysia’s nose wrinkled distastefully. “How vulgar.” She whispered back.

Daveth caught it anyway, but elected to say nothing. relationships weren't prohibited in the Seventh Seal, as long as they didn't interfere with responsibilities. Also, teasing and joking were supposedly good for morale.

“That’s an interesting bandage, Lord Commander.” Alysia murmured, reaching out to touch his head.

“Bah. Aurene bit me this morning.” He replied grumpily. Lynnabel took an ostentatious step away from him and Alysia snatched her hand back. “I... see.” She said carefully.

“What?” he asked. Alysia shook her head, and also took an obvious step away from him. “I have no idea what you’re insinuating-” He started, but she shook her head.

“It would be... improper... to speak so casually of such things, Lord Commander. You should be more... restrained. If not for your sake, then perhaps for Aurene’s.” Alysia advised carefully. Lynnabel nodded emphatically.

Daveth palmed his face but decided to let the subject die.

He stepped into the mess tent, and grabbed some slices of ham, some of his beloved pickles, a couple pieces of flatbread, and sat down to eat.

Alysia and Lynnabel joined him, sitting opposite him. They seemed reserved and reluctant to speak to him.

“Fill me in on what happened when I was out.” He stated, moving the ham and pickles between the flatbread. They visibly relaxed.

“After the fight, Lord Captain Aldric had us strip the dead of their belongings, and appropriate one of the sand-boats. Since we had no way of deciphering how it was operated, we ended up using it as a sledge to carry the things we found.” Alysia reported. He nodded.

“He made us throw away the meat.” Lynnabel added, a touch of sadness in her voice.

“A poor decision, for certain.” Alysia agreed.

“A very wise decision.” Daveth objected. “They’re cannibals.”

Both girls recoiled.

“You didn’t eat any of it, did you?” He asked. They shook their heads in stereo.

“No telling what sort of meat it started out as.” he said. “Horse, deer, cow, human, orgus, elf...” He trailed off. “You’re better off playing it safe.” They nodded as one.

“Did they have vegetables?” he asked curiously.

Alysia nodded. “A few. Mostly preserved fruits.”

Daveth nodded at that. “Preserved fruits are often tasty. Look forward to them. Well, unless Aldric claimed them for himself.”

Lynnabel wrinkled her nose distastefully. “We do not approve of ... looting the dead.” She said. “It is offensive.”

Daveth nodded. “Aurene said the same. You’re not required to participate.” He replied casually. “We do it because we need the money. Or someone may find a better weapon, or a magically enhanced piece of armor, or they simply pick up the things to sell them so that they can buy the gear they want. There are a million justifications to do it.” he offered indifferently.

“And yet there is only one reason to refuse, Lord Commander.” Alysia countered smugly, and appeared satisfied, as if her statement sealed her victory.

“We’re mercenaries.” He stated flatly.

“That doesn’t mean we have license to be dishonorable, Lord Commander.” Alysia rebutted.

“We’re just going to have to agree to disagree.” He replied.

Alysia’s lips compressed and her brows lowered angrily, nostrils flaring, but Lynnabel laid a hand on Allysia’s arm, interrupting her.

“If we are to... ‘agree to disagree’, as you put it, Lord Commander, may we then agree to not... discuss this any more?” Lynnabel spoke up.

Alysia turned to Lynnabel. “I will do no such thing. It is offensive and dishonorable.” She spat hotly.

Lynnabel looked at Alysia. “I, at least, remember our vows to Lord Captain Aldric.” She stated threateningly.

“This is separate.” Alysia stated.

“It is not.” Lynnabel replied reproachfully.

“I agree to your terms, Lynnabel.” Daveth spoke up, and they looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.

She bowed her head respectfully. “We have an agreement, then. We will not speak of this again.”

“Lynnabel, I-” Alysia started, but Lynnabel shook her head. “We will not speak of this again.” She emphasized dangerously, and Alysia subsided reluctantly.

“You were filling me in on what happened while I was out.” Daveth prodded, returning to the original topic. Lynnabel blinked, and looked to Alysia.

“The squads collected everything usable, we used the sails from the sand-craft to shroud our dead, and we made for the oasis.” Lynnabel stated, and Alysia glanced to Lynnabel and picked up the thread of conversation.

“Your team lost your mages, Lord Commander.” Alysia reported. “Two to spontaneous combustion, the rest to the Orgus.” There was a note of confusion in her voice.

“I don’t know much about mages,” Daveth began, “Beyond the usual caveats of madness and mutation, but I’ve heard that sometimes if they overextend themselves, they burn themselves out. Sometimes they can’t use magic anymore, sometimes they explode.” He let out a long sigh, and after a long moment of thought, “How many, total, did we lose?”

“Two full files of infantry, seven cavalry, and all the mages in your division, Commander.” Alysia reported.

“Fuck.” Daveth swore. “Continue.” He urged.

“We engaged another group of Orgus when we arrived. It seemed that they were in the process of leaving. We intercepted them as well.” Alysia mentioned. “We did not lose any fellow warriors, though several were wounded. We have an abundance of supplies and we have secured the oasis to function as our base of operations. Lord Captain Ald-”

She was interrupted when Aurene called out behind her, “What are you three conspiring about?” Alysia straightened minutely, turned, and regarded the taller woman.

Aurene had unbraided her hair so that it flowed, unbound, down her shoulders and past her hips. She had forgone her armor in favor of simple leathers.

Lynnabel smiled at Aurene, who returned her smile.

“We are not conspiring, sister.” Alysia replied calmly. “I was debriefing Lord Commander Daveth on the events that occurred while he was incapacitated.”

“Thank you, sister.” Aurene said simply, and left to the food line.

Alysia didn’t particularly like Commander Daveth- he was too coarse, undisciplined, and often chose what was casually expedient and morally ambiguous. Still, for a moment she considered telling him what Aurene had intended with her bites, and what he could anticipate in the future, if for no other reason than to sow discord between Aurene and Daveth. The results would be twofold: Aurene would not get her way, and Daveth would have been shown up. The moment passed, and Alysia frowned. That would have been cowardly and dishonorable.

Aurene sat herself next to Daveth.

“How much have you been caught up, Lord Commander?” She asked, taking a small fruit and popping it into her mouth.

“I told him about the encounter we had with the Orgus when we arrived at the oasis, sister.’ Alysia replied. Daveth nodded.

“Yes. We caught them unawares. Still, they fought well. Your elf took an arrow to the knee, but Lord Captain Aldric’s healers saw to her. I spoke with her before coming here, she is well.” Aurene commented.

“There is a huge abundance of water here. There are several springs, and some large pools. There is a pool of boiling mud, too. It smells.” She wrinkled her nose distastefully. “One other thing: We lost two of the three Azsig-Noth guides. The last is reluctant to continue.”

“I don’t blame him.” Daveth remarked, finishing the last of his food. “Still, we’ll not let him go so easily.”

He pushed himself up from the table. “Well, I should report to Aldric.” He waved his hand dismissively at the trio and sauntered out of the mess tent.

*****

Aldric joined him almost immediately as he left the mess tent.

“You been debriefed?” Aldric asked, as the three sisters immediately began bickering amongst themselves.

“We lost a lot of people, Aldric. I have doubts we’ll be able to complete this one.” Daveth replied.

“They’re always bickering.” Aldric mused with a backward glance at the three women. “And if we didn’t keep them in check, they’d be fighting each other as well.” He turned back to Daveth.

“I know. I understand what you’re saying.” Aldric agreed. “I sent your elf out towards the Crystal Flats to arrange for a discussion with the local Anglish.”

Daveth gave him a baffled look. “My elf? Why does everyone always refer to Audra as ‘My elf’?” He complained. “There are plenty of elves, in both of our divisions.”

Aldric shrugged. Part and parcel of being a member of the Seventh Seal.

“And I thought we weren’t going to cross with the Anglish.” Daveth reminded. "Something about how they'd more likely kill us than speak with us."

“We need intel. The Anglish might have it. Besides, I gave Audra the necessary flag signals, so it’s likely they won’t bombard her with cannonfire before she gets too close to their operation.” Aldric explained indifferently. “Also mages. If you want replacement mages-” He paused significantly, “And we do.” he emphasised, “Then we have to deal with the Anglish. They love their mages. Scour every city and town for anyone with a scrap of magical talent.”

A sore point of contention between the Merchant Cities of Tannit, Begierde, and Einsamkeit and the Anglish Empire was mages. Both sides were hungry for them wherever they were found. The Anglish wanted all mages associated with their Miskatonik; the Merchant Cities wanted all the mages with their competing Innsmouth. Neither were willing to budge an inch, despite the fact that the Merchant Cities were once part of the Anglish Empire.

“How long until we hear back?” Daveth asked.

“Shouldn’t be long.” Aldric replied. “Should only take Audra a couple of days to reach their installation, and luck willing, a couple days return.”

“Then we head over there and negotiate for mages?” Daveth asked.

“Mages, mercs, whatever we can get our hands on. Likely we’ll get nothing.” Aldric replied glumly. “But as you said, we really need to replenish our forces if we hope to continue.”

“So we wait a few days? How should we fortify our position here?” Daveth asked. “There’s likely not enough trees here to build a respectable palisade, or even a proper fence.”

Aldric chuckled. “I imagine that if we were to cut down the trees here in the oasis, we’d lose what little support we’ve received from Azsig-Noth. We’ve no land advantage, no high ground, no way to control an assault.”

“Trenches?” Daveth asked, and Aldric laughed.

“Tried it already while you were making the beast with two backs with Aurene; no point. Desert fills them right up with sand.” Aldric stretched, twisted, and Daveth could hear the man’s back pop and crackle.

“No, we’ll lick our wounds for a couple of days, see if the Anglish are willing to treat with us, and if not.... Well, we’ll continue on to the next oasis. A job’s a job.” Aldric decided. “Have the cavalry out and patrolling regularly.” He ordered. “Also, I took the liberty of securing your share of the spoils, since you passed out before you could claim it. It’s in a chest in my tent. Come claim it when you’re ready.”

*****

Daveth was sitting at his desk when Aurene knocked on the door to his tent.

“Yeah, who is it?”

“Aurene, Lord Commander.” She replied.

“Come in.” He called, and as she came in he chided her gently. “You know you don’t have to do that.”

He eyed her briefly as he went over reports from his troops and support staff. She was dressed in her armor, sword scabbarded at her waist, and stood stiffly, arms clasped behind her back.

Oh, so it was going to be a formal visit? He thought.

“What is it, Aurene?” He asked, moving the page he’d finished reading into a stack of documents he’d already reviewed.

“I am resigning my commission, effective immediately, Lord Commander. I apologize for the inconvenience this places on you.” She stated stolidly. He frowned.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” He replied.

“I have demonstrated behavior that is unbecoming of a knight. I need to return to the Order of the Wolf and retrain. As it is, I am ineffective as a warrior.” she reported stiffly.

Daveth folded his hands and tapped his thumbs together meditatively.

“What sort of behavior? Is it the fighting you and your sisters do from time to time?” He asked.

She shook her head. “Fraternization with my commanding officer.” He raised his eyebrow.

“You’re resigning... because of us. Is that right?” He said carefully. She nodded. “It’s improper conduct and dishonors you, myself, and the Order of the Wolf.”

“What if I said that it was fine? Or Aldric were to say so?” He asked. “There’s no rule against such things in the Seventh Seal unless it creates a conflict of interest.”

She shook her head.

“You’re leaving, no matter what.” He stated. She nodded.

“I don’t get a say in this? My feelings for you are irrelevant?” He asked hotly.

“Do you have feelings for me, Commander?” She asked quietly.

He tossed his hands wide. “Yes. No. I have no idea. I never stopped to think about that sort of thing. up until this moment I thought we were connecting pretty well with each other.” He paused for a moment in thought. “There’s a lot of things I don’t know, don’t understand about you, your sisters, or your Order. I didn’t think I needed to. I’m just a guy with a sword. I don’t need much beyond a bit of food, a bit of coin, my men at my back, a blade in my hand, and a fight in front of me.”

Aurene nodded. “I think we were connecting well with each other as well.” She said in a low voice. “But as much as I desire to remain by your side, I cannot. Please release me, Lord Commander.”

Daveth looked at the papers on his desk, and then at his hands. He sat back and looked at Aurene.

“Stay for the remainder of the campaign here in the desert.” He urged. They definitely needed the help, with so many of their forces gone.

“I cannot.” was her immediate reply.

“You mean to return to Azsig-Noth?” He asked. She nodded.

“Stay the night, then. We’ll have dinner together, maybe sneak out to the springs tonight and bathe together.” Her face broke.

“Daveth.” She said quietly.

“Stay the night with me. I’ll release you from your oath and give you your pay in the morning. It should be more than enough to hire a boat back across the sea... or if you prefer, a couple of remounts so that you can ride all the way home, if you can’t stand the boat.” He said, his voice thick.

“I won’t release you from your oath until tomorrow. So you could leave right now and be a deserter. I don’t care.”

She knelt down on the carpets. “I will stay the night with you, Daveth.” She said in a near whisper. He nodded, the lump in his throat too thick for him to speak.

“Fine. Let’s get you out of your armor.” He remarked, and she smiled at that.

*****

She was dreaming when he shook her.

“Hmm.” She mumbled, and dug her nails into his chest. She didn’t want to be disturbed. “Wake up, Aurene.” He murmured. She opened her eyes and regarded him quietly in the dim light of the tent. “What is it? Enemy attack?”

He shook his head. “Thought you might want an early start, while it’s still cool. If you’re quick, and you stick to the hardpan, you might be halfway back to Azsig-Noth by tonight.” He whispered. She reached up and kissed him. “Once more, and then I’ll go.” She whispered back.

Daveth wrote out her resignation while she dressed, and then marked out her pay.

“I’m deducting the cost of your horse from your pay.” He mentioned. She nodded, and he scooped up the pile of coins and handed them to her along with her resignation form.

She left quickly, quietly, and without fanfare. Daveth reported her resignation to Aldric, who nodded. “She was an impulsive one. I sort of expected it. Still, we’ll miss her sword.” he replied. He lowered his voice. “You two were ...close, right?” He asked, concern on his face.

Daveth frowned. “Not close enough, I guess.”

Aldric shrugged. “Maybe closer than you think. Sometimes women can get prickly like that. Especially the ones that embrace honor.”

“I’ll miss her.” Daveth stated, and Aldric nodded. “Course you will, m’boy. Of course you will.” He replied, patting him on the back. “We’ve still got work to do. I need you at your best.”

Daveth nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

*****

“She left.” Alysia reported to her sister, as they dressed in their shared tent.

“So she did.” Lynnabel replied. “How do you feel about this?” She asked Alysia.

“Saddened. She contributed much to the Lord Commander’s forces... and to his morale.”

“You could take her place underneath him.” Lynnabel replied, a small smile on her face.

“That was tactless, sister.” Alysia replied, slapping Lynnabel on the side of her head.

“Ouch.” Lynnabel calmly rubbed her head, and nodded. “I deserved that much at least.” She murmured.

“Do you think he got her with child?” Alysia asked.

Lynnabel slapped her sister in return. “Now look who is being tactless.” She replied. “That is irrelevant to us, and potentially hurtful to her.” She frowned at the thigh plate she was trying to attach. The latch that held it closed would not anchor properly. She would need to fix it.

“It would also be hurtful to the Lord Commander, if he found out.” She finished, reaching for the small parcel of tools they shared for maintaining their armor.

Alysia watched Lynnabel working on her thigh plate. After a few minutes, Lynnabel sighed. “I question our actions. Was it really appropriate to address this in the way we did? From Lord Captain Aldric’s behavior, he did not seem to care about fraternization, and they were ... arguably discrete.”

Alysia frowned distastefully. “I hardly think they were discrete, sister.” She replied.

Lynnabel shook her head. “To us, she was not. To them...” She shrugged. “They are not as perceptive as we are. They could not smell her on him, or him on her.” Alysia winced at that, and Lynnabel nodded.

“This also complicates how I regard Lord Captain Aldric.” Lynnabel said quietly.

“You... think of him that way?” Alysia said, dumbfounded. Lynnabel smiled serenely.

“I have considered it, from time to time. He is worthy. He has a noble bloodline, and although he does not openly display a strong sense of honor, you can see it in his actions: A comfort to his friends, a bane to his enemies. He has a strong sense of justice.”

“I had no idea you thought of him.” Alysia remarked, startled.

Lynnabel smiled. “I am neither forward or wanton as our elder sister, nor am I in heat. I also do not know him well, and I do not understand his motives enough to say that I would mate with him. But he is interesting to me.” She looked at Alysia. “Did you have designs on him, sister? If so, I will withdraw.”

Alysia shook her head. “You and Aurene are both...” She trailed off. “I did not leave our lands to seek a mate.”

Lynnabel chuckled, and then cut off when her hand slipped in her work. “We grew up in a sorority, sister. We were not exposed to men until we left. It’s reasonable and understandable that we would awaken to the... attraction to males.” She shook her head. “This is not what I wished to discuss. I wanted to say that it was perhaps inappropriate for us to castigate her so. She is a very skilled and accomplished warrior. How much have we weakened the Seventh Seal by sending her away?”

“It was necessary.” Alysia objected.

Lynnabel nodded. “I agree. But was it necessary right now?” She asked. “Could it not have waited?”

Alysia sighed. “I cannot answer that, sister.”

Lynnabel nodded. She opened and closed the thigh plate, and nodded. The latch was fixed. She affixed the clamshell to her leg and it closed properly.

“We shall have to work doubly hard to accommodate her loss, if we are to complete our mission.” Lynnabel observed.

Both of them shot to their feet at Daveth's shout, and reached for their weapons as Jonan ran past their tent, hollering a call to arms.