The reverberations of Alice’s family's protests still played in her mind. Her father’s screams towards anyone and everyone over her disobedience. Her sister’s cries and terrors respectively, both stating that she was going to throw her life away traveling to Skysea Adalay in wartime. Those she could tolerate, but what pained her the most was the complete and total lack of connection with her mother.

Her sight gone, and her mothers voice lost, there was only touch they shared. But her mother since the moment of hearing the news did not visit her. In the days leading up to the trip she cried bitter tears over it. Not even knowing what her mother felt made the situation all the worse.

But she never expected this to go down easily. That was even considering the now explosive news that she was going to travel across the country with a Lord, herself an unmarried woman. Much to her expectations, the elite of the country shook at the sudden power imbalance. Small as his house was Rigur was a lord, with all that title included. He was only 3 steps below the king in terms of political power. King, High Magister, Regent, Lord.

Suddenly every man and woman who could have claimed to have spent an hour in the same room as her turned up at her doorstep wanting to reminisce about things that never happened, as if she was blind and stupid, instead of just the former. It would have been futile to make a statement, any noise she might make would be outweighed by the vast possibility of what she could potentially be hiding.

Rigur escaped most of the drama simply by virtue of being a lord, all it would take is a whisper in the right direction and he could have people jailed. Not that he would do that, but nobody knew that.

This all led to the final day before they left, everyone involved knew that having a blind woman travel across the country without attendants would be foolish, so their caravan consisted of two carriages and a small detachment of a traveler corp for protection. Besides Rigur, Alice, and the corps there were her two attendants for Alice as well as a friend of Rigur who rode in the second carriage. He was some sort of colleague Rigur had from his time before Cylas and despite the pleasantries before they left she didn’t know much about him. Her attendants also rode in the second carriage to give Rigur and Alice privacy.

It cannot be understated how much of a political fireball they had just thrown into the capital. Right up until the moment she stepped into the carriage there were people badgering her with questions about their relationship. Whether they were set to marry, or if it was some kind of political ploy. Just as many were livid as others were curious. The clamor got to a point that people needed to be restrained from trying to reach them.

Once they left the city things cooled down, those who were unhealthily interested in the debacle tried to follow them but were eventually turned away. After a few days the mood had calmed enough that Rigur and Alice could speak without worrying about roving paparazzi invading their privacy.

“So, Lord Sherchower.” Alice said with a slightly mocking tone. “Pray tell, what do you really plan on doing once you reach Betel?”

“Alice, can you not do this? This whole situation has massively gotten out of hand.” Rigur said. Alice sat back in her seat with a quiet harumph.

“We both knew that coming into this, why is it bothering you now?” Alice asked.

“I’ve never been much of a people’s person. I much prefer to be at home and peacefully manage my house and tend to my plants.” Rigur said.

“But you intend on traveling across the country and raising a fuss in another region?” Alice said. Hearing that Rigur was silent for a moment then let out a barely audible, yet pain racked, wince.

“Y-Yes, that is the plan…” He said.

Alice laughed, which caught Rigur off guard.

“Is something funny?”

“No, well, yes, a bit.” Alice said.

“Do tell.” Rigur said mockingly.

“It’s just a bit, hmm, flattering. For lack of a better term. You’re obviously traveling way outside your comfort zone, all over a girl you’ve barely known for a few months. I said it before but most people wouldn’t go that far without… Ulterior Motives. I wouldn’t have assumed you two were that close.” Alice said. Her tone picked back up its sass. She couldn’t see Rigur’s face but from his silence she could only guess.

“We aren’t.” Rigur said flatly, the tone of his voice surprised Alice. He wasn’t flustered in the least bit.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I do have some worries for her, but my focus remains elsewhere. It’s already clear by the assault you and Andromeda endured that we are not safe. Should anything happen to her it would most certainly rebound back to us.”

“Of course, but surely there would be better options than what you propose?” Alice said, having been entirely thrown off of his intended goal.

“While my name and reputation are not among my highest concerns, I do have some things I plan on keeping safe. While I am reserved by nature, I have the same drive as any other to reach out with my hands to grasp an opportunity that my words can only move with the breeze.” Rigur said.

“That sounds like you do have someone you are looking out for, if not Andromeda.” Alice suggested.

“You would be-” He started. But he was interrupted by the carriage suddenly coming to a stop. Rigur leaned out the window behind him to investigate.

“Magisters have the border locked down my lord, what do you suggest we do?” The driver asked.

Rigur stepped out of the carriage and walked a short distance ahead of the wagon to get an idea of the situation in front of them. There were dozens of people all gathered in a large crowd near a makeshift border checkpoint that seemed to be based out of an old guard post. There were carriages and wagons in a line for hundreds of feet clear up to right in front of him.

“Park up and get settled. The horses look thirsty too, it’s best if we just pull off to the side and make camp.” Rigur said.

“Yes Lord.” The Driver said.

Just as soon as he was finished he turned to see that Alice was already out of the wagon with the assistance of her attendants and walking toward him.

“What’s the situation?” Alice asked.

“It seems that there is some kind of commotion at the border, I can count at least 20 magisters and dozens of stuck travelers.” Rigur said.

“Do you know why the border is locked down?” Alice asked.

“No idea, that’s my next goal. You ladies get settled in and I’ll go see what’s wrong.” Rigur said.

“With all due respect, no. WIth less than due respect, Absolutely not.” Alice said.

“But My lady…” One attendant said.

“I’m not feeble. I can walk in a straight line well enough, here, Rigur, give me your arm.” Alice said, without waiting for his permission she stepped forward and took a few blind swipes until she touched his arm and grabbed the sleeve.

“Are you sure?” Her other attendant asked.

“Very, now if you would please prepare my bedding for tonight.” Alice said.

“Of course.” Both attendants said in unison.

They took off, leaving Rigur and Alice alone.

“Well, we should hurry before it gets dark. I’d hate to be caught out in the rain.” Alice said.

“Fine…” Rigur said. Realizing that the agency he had on this trip was less than he expected. As the pair got closer to the commotion, they walked past a man who was fuming, leaned against the side of the cart. The man looked spooked to see two obviously well dressed nobles in the middle of podunk nowhere.

“What brings the nobility this far south? Yall planning on taking the rest of our grain in person?” The man asked in completely bad faith.

“We are simply traveling to Betel as peacefully as we can. Is there a problem?” Rigur said. His voice was more forceful than Alice was accustomed to, she could almost feel the reverberation of his voice in his chest through his arm.

“Not with me, I can’t scarcely afford to keep my kids fed on this trip. Let alone tussle with a CapDan”. The man said.

“Look, I’m not here to start a fight. Can we just be on our way?” Rigur said. The complete and total evenness in his voice was a product of carefully refined patience. This impressed Alice because she was five seconds from ripping the man’s head from the proverbial stump and tossing it in the ground to grow an asshole tree.

“Sure, ain’t no skin off my back to see the magisters throw you off.” The man said. While it wasn’t devoid of antagonism, it sounded like he was giving them a veiled warning.

“Why would they do that?” Rigur asked.

“Something about some folk they’re lookin’ for. Somebody done slaughtered a whole band of dirt scuffers up the way and spooked them. They ain’t lettin’ anyone through unless they got info.” The man said, then he spit in their general direction.

“Are all Adalinians this rude or are you just special?” Alice piped in.

“I ain’t from ‘round here lass. My family had to close shop in King’s Grove cause of the grain levey. Not something I’d guess you have much a mind of.” The man said. Alice felt Rigur’s arm tense up under her grasp.

“Tell me, who was your landowner? If any.” Rigur said, the composure in his voice very slightly strained, only enough that Alice and her heightened perception could notice.

“Not that it matters, but it was Sherchower. The old man’s probably kicking up in a mansion somewhere in the cap drinking an ale while I’m out here in the cold.” The man said.

There was a silence between them for a moment, then Rigur sighed.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Let us be on our way Alice.” Rigur said.

They walked on without another word.

-----

Once they reached the edge of the crowd, people noticed them approaching, and from the way they were dressed deduced they were nobility. They parted, both in an attempt to not anger them, but also because they all held the small hope that if anyone might sway the magister’s to let them pass it might be them.

Rigur was met by a man in a distinctly unfamiliar outfit. It vaguely maintained some details of a mage’s robes, but was covered in a uniform layer of light leather armor. He was still a mage, as was evident by the faint glow that emanated from his hand as he projected the ward between them and the crowd.

“Speak your name and intentions.” The Magister asked.

“Lord Rigur Sherchower.” Rigur said.

“Sure kid, and I’m the king. Now tell me your real name.” The Magister said.

“I assure you sir, I am Lord Rigur Sherchower, if you want me to produce proof I am more than willing.” Rigur said. The Magister didn’t say anything, but gave him a look like one a parent gives their child when they know they are fibbing.

Rigur reached into his coat pocket and produced a small, golden medallion that faintly shined from its intense polish. The Magister rolled his eyes.

“Look kid, it’s clear you're some bigshot noble, but if you keep trying to claim to be a Lord then I’m gonna need to arrest you.” The Magister said.

“But I’m not-” Rigur started to say, but Alice interrupted him.

“Sir Magister, you are speaking to a Lord of Legoria, and not only are you personally disrespecting his station and position, you are disregarding his dignity as a member of the people you swear to serve. If you desire more proof of his title, you need only speak with the number members of our caravan. Upto and including myself, a daughter of Lord Magrisal.” Alice said, channeling her abject fury at the situation into noble indignation. Then, as if it planned from the beginning the head of the Traveler corps they hired ran up to them.

“Lord Sherchower, we’re finished setting up camp for the night.” The man said.

“Good, make sure our guests are properly settled in, it seems we are not being taken seriously. We may need to turn back in time.” Rigur said.

The whole crowd got intensely quiet as the truth of the matter dawned on them one by one, most of all the Magister standing in front of them had become several shades less pink with each heartbeat.

“L-Lord Sherchower? But he is an old man…” The Magister said, trying in vain hope to maintain even the slightest amount of sense in his mind.

“Yes, my father is indeed among those of advanced age. But to call him an “Old Man” doesn’t give him quite the respect he deserves. Now, if you could, please explain to me the situation at hand.” Rigur said.