“Seventy-two in total.” Talian sat atop a crate, sharpening one of his daggers on a whetstone. Beside him was a small box packing a variety of trinkets including needles, a small hammer, embalming oil, scrolls, rope, and metal clasps. “We'll need to keep our spellweaver after all for delivering a message requesting additional soldiers and instruction for how to allocate these slaves. If it's a suitable alternative, I can request two hounds for you to take. That way you can make up for lost time and take the additional spellweaver after this place is secured.”

“I'll decline. I would prefer to travel with a bit more discrepancy. Two soldiers will do, I will find the rest from Lord Mellor's lands. Anyone light of foot who can carry these bags for me will be fine.” Farra turned about, looking to slaves being corralled inside a weathered building, their clothing being stripped of their bodies with tatters given to replace them.

“I have a few soldiers in mind who should do the job just fine. Where's the girl at any rate?”

“She was barely rousing from rest when I came over here. A soldier can carry her while she sleeps if need be. I can't afford to waste time.”

Talian sheathed his daggers, shutting his crate of tools and pulling himself from atop his perch. “Then I'll go get your escort. I'll need to get started on torturing. Once you leave, a few of the beasts that were here previously might feel a bit emboldened unless their situation is obvious.”

Farra turned away from the slaves being confined, looking to the camp's barracks where she suspect Naia still lay resting. The two officers parted ways, Farra turning back for a moment and calling. “Talian, this is something I'm sure you're aware of, but try to impress upon the soldiers to not needlessly brutalize the slaves. We all fight for the same purpose.” Talian held a hand back with a wave, acknowledging her words and continuing on.

The moon was half full by the time Farra set out, the encampment's blended with the darkness behind them, masking any sense of distance. Surrounding Farra on one side was a dozing Naia, yawning often underneath her hood. On her other side were two soldiers carrying the bags the feirin had initially set out with. One was the blue-scaled lizard she had met prior to the tribe's raiding, the other was the orc who despite his temperament, sported the larger of the two bags with ease.

Words between the traveling band fell short. They ascended the hills three of them had trekked through the prior moon, each proceeding hill cast a shadow on the previous in the scarce moonlight. The ground, dry and comprised mostly of packed dirt that was solid as stone, had only the occasional root growing from it that Naia or the orc would sometimes catch their feet on before pulling away. The typical wind was dead with only a still cold remaining to dampen the land.

Farra steeled herself. Not only for her own sake, but for her soldiers. She was Erres' blade, but she also possessed the duty of leading these soldiers. Normally her body would feel some amount of shivering in this penetrating darkness and silence, but being garbed in her regalia provided a sense of warmth within her. Her mission and responsibility for her soldiers kept her focus pointed, exerting her sight to scour the surroundings in detail at the slightest hint of movement. The thought of asking her soldiers to speak for the purpose of combating the isolating shadows was something she could not consider. Never was it her responsibility to oversee or manage others as a commanding officer, she attained her position by merit alone. The nuance of words was something she was far from gifted with. Yet at the same time, part of her relied on the presence of others. Wandering in the darkness alone—it was another thought she did not want to consider.

As the moon waxed, Naia yawned again, stumbling over her feet at the same time. Farra held an arm out in front of the unaware Naia, catching the girl's stumble without turning. Naia's cheeks and body flushed, biting her lip and turning side to side, searching for a way to open conversation to distract from the simple carelessness. After breathing quickly, causing all three soldiers to look to her as she attempted to ventilate the heat and nervousness from her body, she parted her mouth to utter a noise, seeing all their attention fixed on her.

“Aa.”

“Aa?” Farra copied the noise, her head twisting a slight amount before facing back forward.

“Human children are so very strange. I wonder if Lord Erres or any officers were like this when they were younger.” The blue-scaled reptile remarked, speaking to the orc who returned a fervent nod.

“Lord Erres I would imagine not. But I can certainly see Teilve being as such, looking at how he turned out.” Farra smiled as the group descended the last hill within sight, entering a depression of flat land containing periodic crags. The ground softened the slightest amount, becoming a slight amount softer on their feet and fostering the growth of more stray roots than the ground above.

“I was trying to thank you catching me.” Naia muttered quiet. It was a quiet far from enough to obscure her voice to any of the soldiers in the world's silence.

“Then think nothing of it, it is my duty as an officer to look after soldiers as well.” Naia reared her head away from Farra, sighing at the feirin's candor in lieu of an attempt of open conversation. A smirk became Naia as she glanced back.

“Farra. You mentioned Lord Erres and Teilve, do you like either of them?”

“Of course, Lord Erres is my lord and I serve him without hesitation. Teilve has been a companion for almost my entirety of time within the War Faction.”

Naia’s smirk dissolved into disappointment, letting out a breath and leaning forward to see whether either of the other soldiers understood the intended meaning of her words. Seeing them uninterested, she swallowed and decided a more forward approach, regaining a grin and deviously innocent voice.

“No no, that's not what I meant. I mean do you love either of them? You know what love is right? You were talking about lovers briefly at...” Naia's voice faded, biting her lip when the images of what occurred at the beast tribe's camp flashed through her mind. Her stomach became a pit, admonishing herself under her breath for making light of their raid.

“I've considered the matter of love before.”

Naia turned upward, her mouth agape as she took time to process the words escaping Farra's mouth. The orc turned to the reptile who returned the look with a shrug of his yellow eyes.

“Between Teilve and I, I think it is something akin to sibling love that we share. He has known me since I was younger than you are now; I suspect he came to see me as a younger sister. He often has his eyes turned toward the number of exotic girls visiting from Mellor's court now.”

Farra held a finger over her chin in thought, Naia bobbing her head side to side in response, eager to hear more of her officer's thoughts despite the aside she felt to be not remotely romantic or related to the feirin.

“Perhaps Lord Valen I have always felt a deep sense of admiration for, in both his work and caring after me, I suppose that would be something of love would it not?”

All three soldiers looked back at Farra, Naia gawking.

“That's not what love is. What about Lord Erres?”

“Is it not?”

“No.”

Farra dipped in thought, taking a shred of focus to scan the surroundings, wary of wild creatures or unexpected run-ins.

“Then maybe Lord Erres might be the answer you're looking for. But even then I am unsure. He has no need for me as an object of passion. He is restrained and focused, and I am his blade. If bedding with Lord Erres would produce effects supporting our cause, then I would without hesitation. But I believe I witnessed the one he loved and whom his heart remains with in that sense, perish before my eyes. If he needed me to fill some void left by it, then I would, but he is a resolute man and does not.”

“That's a bit morbid instead of romantic.” Naia kicked her foot against a rock chipped from the side of a passing crag.

“I'm unsure how one might find time for such feelings with danger so prevalent. It is unfathomable to me. I find the brothels distasteful and only tolerate the purpose they serve.”

Naia gagged, choking on her spit.

“Don't confuse brothels and that stuff for romance. Sorry for bringing it up.”

“I don't mind it. There's nothing else to focus on for the moment. We are within Lord Mellor's territory now but we likely won’t reach our destination within this moon. An encounter with anyone else should be unlikely. I am sorry however, for my lack of experience with love.”

“Don't apologize…it's a bit scary coming from you—but then can I ask for what you think about love. You seem sort of interested in it. You mentioned it to that man when the beast girl tried attacking you.”

“I see.” Farra remarked quietly, reaching and pulling her blade from underneath her robes, causing all the soldiers to back away from her for a brief moment when she began to look over it within the moon's waning light. “You shouldn't mistaken one thing for another Naia. I wanted to see that chosen's conclusion given what he had to say. He had noble ideals.”

“Then why?” She murmured, yawning in an attempt to feign disinterest, stretching her arms with her chime in hand, looking at Farra from the corner of her eye.

“He wanted simply to protect and saw us as enemies for harming others. But he must have only recently been plunged into these lands. I understand little of his situation, but it was apparent enough to me there would be no parley.” Farra flipped her blade in the moonlight, looking over the edge and tapping a finger against it. “It would be ignorant to acknowledge life in these lands as lush or happy. Doing what is correct and what is right in one's mind...they're things that seem to dance so closely together as to be the same. He called Lord Erres and our faction cowards and murderers while killing one of our own soldiers for what he felt was right. There was no difference in our actions, just he thought he was doing the truly right thing. But his understandings were one limit. If he understood these lands for what they are, he perhaps would have gone mad from hopelessness as so many others have. Hopelessness derived from his weakness. If he was strong enough to stand up to me, he could have freed those beasts and attempted to protect them from the darkness in his own way. But he simply was not. As a consequence of being both unwilling to adhere to our expectations and weak, he died. I gave him the opportunity to decide that woman's fate, but looking back perhaps it was a foolish expectation for me. He never would have chosen for me to end her life as was the morally correct thing to do, to spare her from any more suffering. To live without power in these lands is a forsaken feeling, but if one clutches to life, they might survive long enough to see those strong enough able to change something. That is Lord Erres' intent, to change this wretched world so those who are weak can live.”

Farra took a long breath.

“But those are my scattered thoughts. I am poor with words, so pay it little mind.” She sheathed her sword, readjusting her hood to drape far over her head.

As time passed and the moonlight faded, Naia found her feet exhausted, beginning to walk slower and slower. Farra turned, taking note of her wear, halting the other two soldiers and looking up into the sky. “Perhaps we should rest for the time being. Set up a tent; Naia rest as you need, the three of us will rotate watches until the next moon shows itself.

The next moon came, and as soon as the tent was packed they set out again, this time Naia finding herself atop the lizard’s shoulders for their first hour of travel, then switched to the orc’s at Farra’s command. The action would have come as embarrassing for all involved if not for the feirin’s orders. After the initial period of time Naia was once again on her feet beside Farra, keeping up pace with Farra whom had a longer step.

“There is a camp on the northern end of Lord Mellor's territory we can expect to arrive at before the moon fades completely. We will rest there until the next moon. The trek from Lord Mellor's lands to the east will take several moons.”

The wind swirled about them , picking up in its ferocity as they crossed the sullen lands. Despite much of the land sitting at a lower elevation, the gales picked up in their ferocity. Farra reached a hand to Naia’s, taking hold to ensure she would not be blown off her feet as they traveled.

“Farra, do you really think there could be such a thing as better times for these lands?” Naia stammered within the gales, her voice being eaten by the wind.

“If I did not then I would lack the will to properly support Lord Erres. But before one seeks to change a world, they must first know themselves or risk being swept from their feet. Naia, you are a mender and practitioner of magic; tell me do you hear any voices?” Farra turned, even in the interim moon, a glint escaped an indigo eye, peering from underneath the hood to Naia.

“I haven't felt anything of the sort.” Naia turned away, looking into the vast darkness.

“If you ever venture outside these lands within Lord Belthemot's dominion, it likely wouldn't be long for you to understand as a spellweaver. Even within our lands, I would suggest against venturing into the darkness alone, for there could be evil masking its presence where there are gaps within Belthemot's protection. Being in the courts of Lords and the temple grounds, their overpowering presences and faith are bastions. I lack such qualities compared to that of Lords Valen, Erres, and Mellor, or even Lady Bathalian such as I loathe to admit. They are Lords for a reason, and I am no such individual.”

“Then, what does that make Lord Raom?”

“I have never visited the eastern territory or met Lord Raom, as he only has ever sent delegates to the gatherings of officers and lords. I suspect he is of the same making as the other Lords. When you are are in disagreement with someone, it is that much more important to acknowledge who and what they are, rather than dismiss them only to be blindsided.”

Naia nodded as the wind consumed the conversational void. The crags came in fewer numbers, replaced by series of steeper dips within the ground, carved out by some force. In the center of each was an abyssal hole. Farra's body shivered, able to see the rumblings of insect-like creatures underneath the ground. She released her hand from Naia’s own hold, instead wrapping the same arm around Naia to the latter's surprise, directing the group from the center of the depressions, rounding the brief inclines while attempting to stay a straighter but round path around the field of holes. After enough time did the outlining of a small tower come into view.

“There is need to aid Lord Mellor perhaps in culling creatures in his domain, but that must come at a later time. Shield your eyes now, we are within view of a mage.”

Naia turned her head, the two guards heeding Farra's words as a brilliant violet light shined upon them from the distance, piercing through the darkness and lighting the surroundings. Naia attempted to peek from an eye, making a gap between her fingers while Farra stood squinting and continuing forward. The light faded the moment after, disappearing almost as quickly as it had come. With its disappearance the shadows seemed all the more encompassing, as if the light's appearance at all was merely an illusion.

“It's good to see Lord Mellor's soldiers are as vigilant as ever.” Farra continued onward, her troop following close behind as the three made a path inward to the encampment.

The outpost was comprised of several smaller structures. Toward the center was a single watchtower erected from the top of a building which far exceeded the size of any other. A figure obscured in the darkness waved a staff in the air as the soldiers began to draw near. From seemingly nothing, two more figures gradually materialized beside the first, awaiting for the group to come closer. As the distance lessened, welcoming waves came from the three soldiers whose features became obvious even within the limited light.

“Farra, it is good to see you again.” A soft voice escaped the lips of the figure shorter when compared to the two surrounding her. She lowered her hood, exposing the already apparent two horns extending from her forehead and hardly obscuring a third horn protruding from one side of her head. She was clothed in a thick robe that tightly wrapped around her body with two belts strapped around her torso.

“You as well Estelle, forgive my coming without notice.”

Estelle shook her head, waving for Farra and her troop to follow inside the encampment, tapping her metal staff to the ground with each step.

“Courtesy of Lord Valen, Lord Mellor informed me that you would be coming on some manner of business. I was told for myself and to tell other soldiers to not pry into the details of your coming, but aid in the extent we could with any request you have.”

“Then we will be seeking rest here until the next moon, and if possible, I require need of more soldiers to accompany me on a journey farther east.”

Estelle rubbed a finger to her lips, her eyes looking over each of Farra's soldiers for a brief moment then examining each soldier by her side, both of which possessed their own horns.

“A troop left not long ago. They should return by the next moon but I suspect they will be worn down. You see, some rather ghoulish creatures as of late have pinched into Lord Mellor's territory from the southeast. They do not seem too well organized from scouting reports, so we think it may be some manner of the darkness twisting what once were ordinary creatures. As a demon I can't help but feel sorrow for them. But it means you will have to wait until the next moon at best to see what soldiers can be taken into your ranks Farra.”

“I don't suppose it's close enough by to lend aid and return here timely?” Estelle shook her head in response.

“You may be of Lord Erres and Lord Valen's finest, but you shouldn't overexert yourself. And venturing there alone will be unwise, you would need to bring a companion with you at the least.”

“Then it isn't an option.” Farra let out a sigh, lowering her hood.

“Please maintain the watch both of you.” Estelle spoke to the demons beside her, and immediately they heeded her request. With a bow from both the demons accompanying Estelle, they faded back into the darkness. She then pointed with her staff toward a smaller hovel on the side of the watchtower's base before stepping close to the group, between Naia and Farra causing the former to jump back upon the invasion of her immediate space. Without a word Estelle wrapped her arms around Farra's own, leaning her head close in a way as to avoid stabbing the feirin with her horn while still squishing her cheek against Farra. Upon adjusting she turned back, her lips parting in a gasp as she saw the lack of tails.

“What happen to them? Were you attacked?”

Until those words Farra had felt no embarrassment at Estelle's actions, rather her soldiers were the ones feeling the embarrassment from Estelle's closeness for the feirin. But Farra felt the heat in her cheeks, looking into Estelle's wide and blackened eyes, full of concern.

“I cut them myself. They were becoming a nuisance for a while. I did not want them to be one on this mission.” She muttered back quiet, the two continuing to the hovel Estelle had pointed to with Farra's soldiers following behind.

“I disapprove Farra. But at least you and your robe are as soft as you ever were.” A shred of disappointment came from the demon's voice, one that seemed to compensate for itself by only squeezing tighter to Farra and waving an arm to Naia for her to come closer. Naia looked back with hesitation, glancing to the reptile and orc who returned shrugs and unhelpful glances. The girl stepped closer to have the arm wrap around and tug her close, pulling her into Estelle's side.

'She's soft.' The thought crossed Naia's mind, trying to glance from around the demon's robe to observe Farra's own reactions, shocked to find the feirin not offering any resistance to Estelle's advances as they tread toward the building.

Draping over the entrance to the hovel was a cloth, light and thin, but its dark fabric completely obscured view from either side. Farra swiped her hand, holding it out of the way so they could enter unimpeded, handing it off to the blue-scaled soldier as they entered. The inside was spacious, the building proving larger from the backside than the front. Two beds were along each of the four walls, the entrance acting as a fifth wall. One bed sat low, carved from the wall and ground, with a second smaller bed tucked above in a small loft accessed by a ladder, making for a more cramped second bed. In the center of the room was a small table, with a single large magical stone hanging within a basket over it. The stone glowed with a light that emulated one of a standard fire.

“Forgive us, it's my understanding that the mighty garrisons that Lord Erres prefers are probably what his soldiers are accustom to, but Lord Mellor's army primarily consists of demons. We demons often see one another as kindred even if were not of the same species; Lord Mellor's court and army tends to be very intimate. Even then, soldiers who are not demons but enter our ranks follow suit and become close as well. Having hovels designed like this is just a consequence of that.” Estelle smiled, releasing both Farra and Naia before continuing. “We understand the other Lords might have it a great deal more difficult, finding harmony between the numerous races they attempt to hold together, even when taking into account the Warlords' doctrine. It is respectable the effort they are putting in. Do you require a separate hovel for males and females?”

Farra waved as she took the bag from the orc's shoulder, heaving it and setting it by her bedside. “No, such a petty thing won't be of concern. If you don't mind my asking, I wish to inquire about the situation with Lord Mellor and his borders though. Your mentioning it came as news to me. If it's something to be discussed between officers, we can move somewhere private.”

Estelle shook her head, walking over and taking a seat on the bed Farra stood closest to, taking her hand and pulling her down to sit beside her.

“Lack of openness in matters like this, I fear it creates distrust within our ranks. Some things must remain private, but we do little to create trust by holding secrets and requesting soldiers fight for something they have little idea of.” Farra nodded her head without a word, looking around the room and glancing to her soldiers when Estelle continued on. “I also fear—the Lords and Warlords suspicions regarding some sort of evil goddess. They were never unbelievable, but at the same time there was always capability for doubt here and there, even among our court. I regretfully say that may be the case no longer. I do not know if it is only Lord Mellor's territory, but terrors befall our borders and assault our kin. Lord Mellor himself has trekked from the stronghold to the border to aid his soldiers, close to where the desert you and Lord Erres went those years ago.”

Farra took a breath, feeling her hand clenched by Estelle as she was about to squeeze her own.

“Whatever manner of evil you saw in the desert those years ago, it roosted there and grew into something more. Some soldiers carry the misconception that the desert is our southern border when it is not. It is more apt to think of our borders as fluid, they're only safe so long as Belthemot's dominion is not intruded upon. It would seem that being in the darkness is none too safe for us demons. It's just as was suggested long ago, those more capable of magic certainly hear some manner of voice talking to them, a girl in fact. All demons are capable of magic. It is our curse, if we are saturated with it then we run tremendous risk of losing ourselves and taking on the forms of our savage kin. Seeing what feels like creatures corrupted by something out there, I can't help but be afraid that is what this evil goddess would do to us.”

Naia shuffled through her belongings, avoiding turning her gaze to the two sitting, deciding she had pretended to be doing something in her bag for too long and moving to lay on the rough stone bed clothed with a thin mat, her back facing the room. She looked into the wall, the flickering flame creating her shadow against the wall. She stared at it for a bit longer, blinking and imagining it with a pair of blood-red eyes and a wretched smile, shaking her head and expelling the image from her mind as the conversation continued, deciding to turn around to face the rest of the room.

“I am sorry we haven't lent our aid, I will see to it you find some relief. And after I finish my assignment, might I personally come over and lend my aid.”

“No, I did not mean all that in such a way. Forgive me for implicating such a bold thing. I wish we simply had the foresight to prepare for such things, but we did not and now we suffer the consequences. It is my understanding your mission is critical. That is all Lord Mellor told me, but I believe him, and so to impede you by beseeching aid even now may hurt us even more.”

“I will still take the matter up with my Lords when possible. The aid you are providing me and my soldiers is something I feel compelled to return in kind. Though tell me, depending on your soldiers when they return, is it at all safe to take some of them on my expedition?”

“We will have to wait and see I fear. I'm so very grateful you brought with you this mender girl, it's my understanding she's passed here before, though we haven't met.”

Naia shut her eyes immediately upon hearing the word mender, failing to make eye contact with anyone else in the room, finding herself feel a bit of warmth at the gratefulness and fact Estelle knew of her.

“Then we will hope for the best. I will turn in for the night. I did not sleep well the previous day and an incident occurred that called for the activation of my runes. Will you or either of the soldiers here need rest?” Estelle stood, finally releasing Farra's hand only once she grasped her stave with both her hands and clicked it to the ground.

“It won't be necessary, demons need little rest, but there are a few more soldiers already asleep in another hovel. They will take over the watch if need be. Is there anything you or any of your soldiers require before I resume my tasks?”

Farra looked to the lizard and orc who both responded with a shake of their heads.

“Well, if there is, do not hesitate to go look around for it. Lord Mellor said to provide you all the supplies necessary. Unless you find it part of a soldier's belongings, do not hesitate to ask to make use of it, after all as Farra's soldiers your preparedness is paramount to her success as well.” Estelle turned from the hovel, waving her staff at Farra without another word before disappearing behind the curtain.

Naia's eye perked open, both the other soldiers turning to Farra and waiting for a brief moment to hear Estelle's footsteps fade into the distance.

“Farra, you were saying about romance—what was that then?”

Farra blinked, looking back at each of them.