Around noon of their last day of travel, the group passed a road splitting off from the trade route. Unlike the dirt tracks that connected the surrounding villages to the main road, this one was just as wide and paved, and in even better condition.

“It leads to the army fort.” Bordan answered when Edwin voiced his surprise. “They need a lot of supplies and quick access to the road network, so they get a proper one. Guess it’ll see even more traffic now with the draft.”

As the passed the junction, Edwin followed the road with his eyes until it disappeared between the trees. Having soldiers in the north of the duchy was still a strange concept to him. As it was completely cut off from the rest of the three duchies on all sides but the south, a single shipping port in the north-west being the exception, there was no reason for soldiers to be stationed here. During Walter’s time, or rather from the founding of Harvand as a duchy until a few years prior to Edwin’s birth, there had been only three divisions, stationed near the major cities closest to the border.

“Why did they put the new divisions up north anyway?” Edwin asked Bordan.

“Recruitment. Anyone could join before as well, of course, but for the northerners the border is so far away that way fewer made the trip to join up. During my active time, more than two thirds of all soldiers were from the southern half of the duchy. Young people wanting to fight or protect their country were much more likely to become adventurers here. I assume the idea was that if the division is only a few days away, and made up mostly of other northerners, people are more willing to sign up. Not that willingness is much of an issue now that the draft went through.”

“Huh.” Edwin muttered, scratching his chin. Walter had never had a reason to care about the inner workings of the army, so having Bordan to explain things was helpful. “So, it’s mostly people from around here at this fort?”

“All of the recruits are locals. They selected the officers and bannermen from the southern divisions, of course, to have experienced soldiers for training and leadership. They gave first choice to soldiers who are originally from here, though.” Bordan kept walking, looking out into the forest in thought. “They asked me too, you know. I had just retired, and I still thought that I was done with fighting. I wonder how things would be different if I’d said yes.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t!” Edwin said, slapping him on the back. “I can’t imagine a better leader, nor would I want anyone else. Look at the ridiculous stuff they made us do, and you got us home safe!”

Leodin and Salissa voiced their agreement, and Bordan gave them a wry grin.

“Gee, thanks guys. I’m moved to tears. Don’t say that, though. We still have half a day before we’re actually home, and with how everything else went, Edwin is due to get mauled again.”

“How rude!” Edwin exclaimed, feigning insult. “I throw myself in front of danger time and time again to protect my dear teammates, and you mock me? Why, Bordan, your words hurt me more than any monster ever could!”

Laughter and banter easily carried their feet towards their destination, and despite Bordan’s prophecy, nothing attacked them. Some hours later, they spotted the high stone walls of Pel Darni through the trees. They were home.

--- ----- ---

“How long will you be in the city?” Bordan asked Fedder. They were just inside the gate, having passed the guards’ inspection.

“That depends on how quickly we get everything sold, and how quickly we find the supplies that we need.” The trader replied. “A few days, I suppose. I also wanted to show Ronil some of the city.”

“Right.” Bordan nodded, smiling at the boy. “It’s your first time here, isn’t it? How do you like it?”

“It’s all so…big.” Ronil answered. His head had been on a constant swivel ever since they approached the gate, and his mouth hadn’t closed since they had entered the city. “I love it!”

“I’m just glad he’s still too young to be drafted.” Fedder told the adventurers. “It’s not that I don’t believe in the importance of defending ourselves, but…”

“I understand.” Bordan said, waving off the man’s excuse. “I have children myself, and the thought that they might become soldiers one day terrifies me. Well, we wish you all the best, both here in the city and on your way back. We’ll go report to the Guild now, but I sure hope that we get a few days off.”

“You’ve definitely earned it!” Fedder told them with a smile, offering each of them his hand. “Thank you for getting us here, and I hope for your safety in your battles to come. Good fortune with you.”

Ronil also awkwardly said goodbye, his eyes lingering on Salissa as the cart started moving and turned into a side street, heading towards the western quarter.

“I think he has a crush on you.” Bordan chuckled. He looked at Salissa and noticed the eyes of his teammates boring into him. “What?”

“You have children?” Leodin asked.

“Of course. Didn’t you know?”

“How would we know?” Edwin said with exasperation. “I can’t believe we’ve been traveling together for over a month, and you never mentioned them.”

“It didn’t come up.” Bordan said defensively. “Look, what does it matter? Come on, let’s just go to the guild house, it’s getting late.”

“Of course you want to get going.” Edwin said with a sigh, shaking his head in mock sadness. “You want to get back to your secret children. What else have you kept from us Bordan? Oh, the betrayal!”

“Yeah right, keep your shirt on you clown.” Bordan said unimpressed. “It’s bad luck to talk about home while deployed. You wanna hear about my kids? Because I’ll tell you about my kids. I can talk all day about them, just you wait!”

--- ----- ---

As it turned out, that wasn’t an empty threat. When the party arrived at the central square and walked towards the Adventurer’s Guild, Edwin, Salissa and Leodin had a good understanding of how amazing Dellin and Linea had turned out to be and were properly impressed by what cute little angels they were. Edwin had never cared about children – they were loud, illogical and annoying – but he found that he enjoyed seeing the usually focused and proper Bordan smiling and happy.

When they entered the guild house, Fiona looked up from the reception desk, a smile lighting up her face when she recognized them.

“You’re back!” She exclaimed happily, looking from one to the other as if counting heads. “How did it go?” Her smile sank a little when Edwin stepped out from behind Bordan, his right arm still covered and in a sling.

“Pretty well, all things considered.” Bordan answered. They walked up to the counter, and Bordan started digging through his backpack for the paperwork.

“I’m fine.” Edwin answered the unspoken question, wiggling his bandaged arm. “A small disagreement with a direwolf. A quick trip to the hospital after this and I’ll be right as rain tomorrow.” Of course, his arm had been fully healed since before the direstag fight, but he had been keeping it covered the entire time. It had been surprisingly annoying, and he was really looking forward to his nonexistent healer’s appointment.

“That’s good to hear.” Fiona said, scanning the rest of them again, then taking the request letters from Bordan. “I’ll have to check these, you can come back tomorrow for payment and such. In fact, with the longer trips parties have been doing during the monster wave, we typically do a debriefing once I’ve sighted the documentation. Just come back around noon tomorrow, if you can.”

The adventurers promised they’d be there and turned to leave when the receptionist stopped them again.

“Would you mind heading out back for a minute? Mennick is still there, and even though he would never admit it, I could tell that he was worried about you, especially lately.”

“Sure, why not.” Edwin said and started heading towards the back corridor. “You guys coming?” He turned around, only to see Bordan and Leodin share a conspiratorial look. “Wait, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Bordan said, following. “Don’t worry about it.”

They entered the empty training yard, but when their steps echoed on the wooden deck, Mennick stuck his head out of the equipment room.

“You’re back!” He said, and a rare smile lit up his weathered face that usually only showed a dozen different kinds of grumpy. “I was thinking you’d all died and been eaten!”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence!” Edwin laughed. “No, we all made it.”

“What did you do?” Mennick asked, walking up to Edwin and poking his arm.

“A direwolf got me on the…sixth fight, I think? Nothing too bad.”

“Speaking of direwolves…” Leodin said, stepping next to Edwin with a wide grin. “Guess who didn’t cover their legs in the very first fight and was flung around like a chewtoy.”

Mennick narrowed his eyes at Edwin, who raised his good hand in defense. “Traitor!” He hissed at Leodin who was chuckling.

“See? I knew it. That’s exactly why I’m surprised you’re alive!” Mennick ranted. “You think you don’t need to defend yourself because you’re such a big freak, and that’s exactly what gets adventurers killed!”

“I don’t think that.” Edwin grumbled, but Mennick wasn’t listening and turned to Leodin instead.

“And what about you? How well did your swordplay hold up, hm?”

“I never had to use it.” Leodin said, backpedaling now that his ambush had turned on himself.

“That means you’re out of practice then.” The instructor said with narrowed eyes. “Gods, I wish I had the time to beat you boys into shape.”

“What’s going on here?” Bordan asked, indicating the yard with his hand. The grass around the training circles was trampled flat, and now that Edwin was looking for it, he saw evidence of heavy traffic everywhere he looked.

“Chaos, that’s what.” Mennick grumbled. “Ever since the draft, we’ve had so many recruits applying to the Guild, I hardly know what to do with them all. And every day, more arrive. Everyone who’s of the age but doesn’t want to become a soldier suddenly remembers that we exist.” He huffed. “Where were they half a year ago, when we needed the manpower?”

“Makes sense.” Edwin said slowly. “The army is not going to be happy about it though. Their draftees are basically fleeing into the Guild.”

Mennick nodded. “The Chaptermaster said the same. Apparently, the same thing is happening throughout the country, and the Guildmaster has to do some heavy political lifting to smooth it over. It can’t be helped, though, we have to give everyone the opportunity to join. It’s in the charter. I’m ramping up training intensity to make the quitters drop out, but that’s hard to do with just me.”

“Do you need help?” Bordan asked.

“Yes, but you just got back. You need time off.” Mennick ordered categorically. “Make sure you relax, recharge, spend some of your newfound riches if you want. If I see any of you in the yard in the next two days, I’ll beat you back out the door.”

They chatted some more, but soon said their goodbyes, as each of the party members could feel the last month’s exertion taking its toll. In front of the guild house’s doors, they came together in a last huddle.

“I’ll go shopping for supplies, weapons and armor tomorrow morning. I was thinking of heading to Armin’s in the western quarter.” Edwin said. “Anyone want to come?”

“Sure.” Bordan agreed. “I still need to get my spear fixed, and the sooner that’s taken care of, the easier I’ll rest.”

“I don’t really need anything from there.” Leodin said. “I mostly need new bolts, and I have those specially made by a fletcher I know. I’ll meet you here at noon.”

“I’ll come.” Salissa said. “I was thinking I could use a proper weapon.”

“Sounds good.” Edwin said. “So, tomorrow at tenth bell in front of Armin’s? It’s one of the largest shops in the city, you should be able to ask your way there if you don’t know it.”

With that, they said their goodbyes, and each headed their own way. Edwin walked towards the hospital, but he was already looking forward to a bath and then a good night’s sleep in his own room.