“Everything starts with preparation.” - Old folk saying.

“All right, so I’m definitely going myself to escort the Misses Astra and Ze’phane. Friede, I’d like you to come with me as well, bring a handful of your most trusted who are at home in the forests,” said Reinhardt the day after the company reached Zephirous and set up camp. He was in the midst of a meeting with his various platoon commanders to plan out who would be going with him for the escort mission. “Usual procedure, keep your second and third in commands here in case they’re needed. Lars has command until we return.”

If he brought too many people, it would be inefficient and beside the road to the Unliving’s city was more of a cleared forest path than anything, so it would be difficult to bring too many people through it. In fact, bringing too many people might get him seen as a threat. He still needed enough people to fend off the troublesome wildlife that gave the Forest of Despair its moniker, however.

“Sera should be the one who’s most at home in the forests, but since she can’t come… I guess I’ll take Olyvee and her friends then. Nicole, can I borrow Lili and Rózsa from your unit as well? They ought to fit Rein’s needs since we’ll be going through a forest,” said Elfriede after some thought. Her platoon did have some people of elven descent who were typically well-suited for forests, but not that many of them.

“I don’t think they’d mind the vacation, Lady Boss,” replied Nicole somewhat cheekily. An escort mission was likely more relaxing work compared to their usual grueling workout schedule, so for Nicole to term it that way wasn’t wrong. “Anyone else you’d like to borrow from my folks?”

“The twins will be enough, I think,” answered Elfriede with a nod.

“Good. Mischka, I’d like you to bring a half dozen of your best shieldbearers for this. You’re coming along as well,” said Reinhardt with a nod as he shifted his attention to the large-bodied therian matron. Elfriede’s people were good on the offense, so he needed some people to shore up their defenses since they needed to keep their escort targets safe as well.

“That’s nice. Always been curious to have a look at this city the Unliving made for themselves,” replied Mischka with a toothy grin on her face. “I’ll get you my best as ordered, Boss-man.”

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“Ery, Aly, each of you get me a dozen of your best, both of you are with us as well,” said Reinhardt next as he turned to his daughters. Their faces visibly brightened up at being included and both of them quickly gave him assurances that they will be ready with their best subordinates. “If anyone else wants to tag along, speak up. If the Silver Maiden happens to be present when we get there and in a mood to help, she could pretty much get rid of all your ills just like that. Not an opportunity you get often, trust me.”

There were murmurs and chatter throughout the tent at his announcement, and after a while, he noticed three hands that shot up for his attention. One was Egil – not too surprising since the goblin platoon leader was feeling his age, which was entering the late years for his kind – while the other two were Soledad and Alva.

“I won’t ask the details, since you probably want to keep it quiet. Each of you pick five to ten of your most trustworthy subordinates and be ready for when we depart. We’ll depart in… three days I’d say. Let’s make sure that things are in order in the camp first,” said Reinhardt as he nodded sagely. He was not one to pry into his people’s personal matters unless it potentially involved the company.

“Nobody else? All right then, dismissed. Those who are going, have your preparations done on time. The rest of you are staying here on standby. Regular workout schedule, we might stay here for a year or so at most I’d say,” Reinhardt continued. “Lars, I’d like you to keep an eye on the contracts on offer like usual. You’re familiar with our preferred criteria by now, so I’ll entrust you with this.”

“Understood, Captain,” replied Lars with a salute. He had gone far from a captive that was semi-forcibly recruited to someone who was arguably only second to Reinhardt himself when it came to authority in the company. It was a development that still baffled him at times. Such a thing was completely unthinkable in his homeland, which was now merely a footnote in history. “Should I send one of Hannah’s to inform you in case I stumble upon a good one while you’re still away?”

“Unless it’s really urgent and needs my decision right away, better not. I heard that the Forest of Despair is risky to fly over. Plenty of big flying predators and whatnot. No need to risk them unless it’s truly an emergency,” replied Reinhardt after a moment of thought. “If it’s not an emergency, I trust you to respond to it appropriately.”

“Understood, Captain,” Lars repeated with another salute. The show of trust was one that moved him, given his upbringing. He would have never thought he’d find a home that appreciated and trusted him to such an extent amongst mercenaries, but as they often said, life was often stranger than fiction. It was definitely stranger than the tales he had heard when he was younger, to say the least.

Over the next few days, the Free Lances settled down to their usual off-duty routine for the most part, something the Company had grown accustomed to. Those who would continue on the trip to the city of the Unliving gathered around a few customized wagons three days after the meeting. The wagons had been modified to be able to traverse rough terrain better, and the Nialosian Humpback Goats they had tethered to the wagons similarly uniquely suited to harsh terrain.

The smaller group departed to goodbyes from the rest as scheduled, and the small convoy headed towards their destination, the Forest of Despair.