The Western Border Station—Mont

About ten days had passed since the villagers of Iluk had vanquished the aqua dragons, and in the domain of Baarbadal, the temperature was slowly dropping with the change of seasons.

Mont was walking along the western border station ramparts in the early afternoon, his wooden leg clacking loudly against the stone floor with each and every step. The sound of it sent shivers down the spines of the nearby guards and kept them firmly on their toes. This pleased Mont, who nodded to himself as he continued on his way.

The western border station rarely received visitors. The only arrivals of late were either the Peijins, who came for trade, or the nearby beastkin people, who wanted to thank Iluk for aiding them during the earth dragon attack. Given that both came peacefully, one might have thought that there was no need for the guards at the border station to keep such a tight watch over things.

However, the border station was named such because it sat on the border of a neighboring country, and that nation’s intentions were, for the most part, unknown. There were also monsters to consider, and neither rhyme nor reason could be found among such beasts’ motivations. Mont thus firmly believed that the border station should be at the ready at all times.

Once he had walked the length of the ramparts facing the Beastkin Nation, Mont walked the ramparts facing Baarbadal’s grassy plains and, by extension, the Sanserife Kingdom. Here, too, Mont made sure that everyone nearby heard his wooden leg upon the stone walkways—he would not have the domain guard slacking on his watch.

Some fields came into view along Mont’s route, at which point he saw fit to shout at the guards working them.

“Those fields have been chanted over by the lovely ladies Senai and Ayhan!” he barked. “Any slackin’ and I’ll eat you alive!”

“Sir, yes, sir!” responded the farming guards with a salute, their voices clear and their movements sharp.

Fields like these did not exist only at the border station—some could be found around Iluk Village too. The fields here at the border station, however, had been established on Mont’s orders in part so that the domain guard could keep themselves busy even during times of peace. The other part had to do with Baarbadal’s general food situation.

The truth of the matter was that, at present, Iluk relied on sources outside of itself for the majority of its food supply. This was not to say that Iluk did not produce its own food—there was the black ghee meat they hunted, the white ghee for producing dairy, the vegetables they grew, and the nuts and berries they foraged in the forest. However, this only covered about half of the domain’s total consumption.

We’ve had an increase in livestock, and making meat of some of that will mean more food, but we still need more and we still want a good stockpile, which leaves us no other option but to buy from outside of the domain. It’ll be a while before our ocean trade ventures bear any fruit... More than anything, I just want us to be prepared in case the worst comes to pass and we don’t have access to food from beyond our borders.

Mont thought while he walked, scanning the area to see whether there was a way to expand their fields in this area. Fall’s arrival was imminent, and winter would follow not long after—any fields they started now would bear little, if anything, in the way of a harvest. Mont concluded that any expansion would be best left for next year.

The twins say that fall is a great time for foraging, but we can’t lean so hard on the village’s young to keep our food supply going...

Mont’s eyes continued to survey the area, looking for a good spot. Mont thought of the area northeast of the border station, where a reservoir had been built to collect water from the mountains that housed the mines. The cavekin had put a number of amulets at the bottom of the reservoir, crafted with some of their own beard hair. The amulets kept the water from being spoiled by toxins. In fact, they kept the water crystal clear and warded off dangerous insects to boot. As far as water quality went, it was top notch...and all in all it meant that Baarbadal could easily widen its fields without issue.

We’ve got enough water, and if we increase our production then we can increase our population with it. If we keep on slaying any stray monsters that appear, then the black ghee will need regular culling, which means we can keep on hunting the excess for meat. We’ll need a lot of it too—I want at least another hundred or two hundred soldiers in the guard just in case of an emergency.

As Mont considered the domain’s future, he barked orders at nearby guards to work the fields as soon as they finished their guard duty. While someone who didn’t know any better might think those orders to be off the cuff, for Mont they were anything but.

The Eastern Border Station—Klaus

Work and development continued at the eastern border station with one key goal at its forefront—to one day allow for the smooth coming and going of huge numbers of people. And from the day he’d arrived at the station, Klaus had set his mind to seeing that goal to fruition.

But as of this morning, he found himself dealing with a veritable horde of merchants that had arrived at the station gates. Dias had yet to send official word to Eldan, but already rumors were changing hands alongside coin. There was lots of talk. He had slain earth dragons, they said. He had slain aqua dragons, they said. Many believed that their materials had piled up in the grassy plains of Baarbadal and that their markets were sure to be booming.

“Why would we just sell dragon materials at our local markets like fruit?!” Klaus said, countering the merchant as they spoke. “It’s not the sort of thing people buy when they’re out doing their daily shopping! And you—you want to introduce yourself to Lord Dias? Do it by letter, please—the man’s a duke, for crying out loud. You can’t just go knocking on his front door. And you. Did you just say you’ve got permission to enter as Duke Mahati’s official approved vendor? Lies will get you nowhere at this station, and do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’re getting yourself into? Deceiving a duke’s servant is a high crime, my friend. Oh, hello there, right this way, sir.”

Klaus was steadfast in his response to the gathered merchants and let in only a single one. The gates were opened for the approved merchant, who went inside with his cart...but as another tried to follow, he found Klaus’s spear blocking the way and heard the growling of the nearby mastis.

“Come now, surely you didn’t believe that was going to work?” Klaus tutted. “Oh, that kind of passion for your work is commendable in Mahati, you say? Well guess what? This is Baarbadal.”

The gates closed while Klaus was speaking, and when Klaus finally finished dealing with everybody, he entered the station through a side door. Inside, Canis, the mastis, and the other domain guards were chatting with the visiting merchant and perusing his wares. This particular merchant had taken refuge at the border station during a time of unrest in Mahati, and Dias had bought out his entire caravan. It had been enough for him to create a connection with the domain, and he had since proven himself a good-hearted dealer who liked to visit the border station regularly. He bought and sold during the day, he spent the night at the border station when he was done, he paid for his lodging and food, and he left quietly and without any fuss.

While it was true that the merchant did want to meet Dias again, and that he also wanted to see greater Baarbadal with his own eyes, he did not want to cause any of the residents trouble, and he was grateful simply to be able to do business with them. Another factor, however, was that he was provided unusually lenient treatment—he happily paid for food, lodging, and the care of his horses, but he did not need to pay any traveler’s tax. After all, technically speaking, he did not actually cross the border.

When the buying and selling quieted down, Klaus and the merchant were able to chat.

“Is Duke Baarbadal well?” asked the merchant. “I heard rumors that another dragon appeared not far from your home.”

“He’s as healthy as ever,” said Klaus with a grin. “There was indeed some trouble some days ago, but he emerged unscathed...albeit drenched to the bone. He was grumbling for the next few days about how hard it was to polish his armor.”

The merchant felt that Klaus had given him a good chunk of information with his answer and felt it wise not to push for anything more. Instead, he smiled kindly and changed the subject to a different matter entirely. In this way, Klaus and the merchant were able to exchange and share intel—and in turn work out if there was anything they should be doing or anything they needed to do in the coming days.

When their chat was over and the merchant was done for the day, he was led to a yurt. Klaus then went to his home, which was not a yurt but an impressive wooden home worthy of the captain of the border station. Canis was waiting for him inside, and the happy couple was all smiles as they talked about Canis’s most recent purchases.

????—??

“You heard me the first time! What the heck was that gigantic thing?!”

The man’s angry shouts rumbled through the darkness, but he received nothing in the way of a clear reply.

“What? What do you... You mean there’s a connection? But it’s more like an...ally, and not a subordinate? There’s a group? And it’s not a part of it?”

Though the man did not get the answers he was hoping for, he could at least grasp the greater meaning of what he was told, and with a sigh he accepted that this was as good as he was going to get.

“And there’s no threat of it turning on us? You’re certain? Because if you’re wrong, this is not going to end well.”

The man slumped back into his chair, staring at what lay before him, his mouth drawn into a thin, tense line.

Feeling the First Signs of Fall on the Breeze—Dias

We’d vanquished the crayfish, and then we’d thrown a banquet to end all banquets to celebrate. With things quieting down and a nip in the air, we bid farewell to the Peijins, as well as Sulio and his friends.

Peijin-Do had to report home about what had happened, and he was taking the loot he’d earned with him—we’d given him some crayfish material and some baar wool. The twins had also prepared a jar of honey for little Doshirado that was so big he had to carry it with both hands. The kid probably couldn’t stop smiling if he tried.

Sulio, Leode, and Cleve told me that they were going back to Mahati just to update Eldan, but they planned to return. Well, they all wanted to return, but if and when they did was up to Eldan and Neha. We gave them the same stuff we’d given Peijin-Do, along with a magical stone and a letter for the king. Given that we were at the start of fall and had another harsh winter right around the corner—not to mention a lot of hard work to prepare for it—I figured the earliest we’d see the lionkin would be next year.

Yep, summer was on the way out, and fall was hot on its heels. That meant Iluk was going to be real bustling, preparing for the arrival of winter.

“We’ll need way more of a stockpile than we had last year,” I muttered, “but we’ve got all the hard workers and all the energy we need to get it done. I bet as soon as we spot the migratory birds and get into it, Iluk Village is going to be booming.”

I was to the west of the village looking out at the plains, and it was right then that I heard the loud rumble of approaching footsteps.

“You guys are as lively as ever,” I remarked.

The footsteps belonged to the baars. There was Francis in the lead, Francoise and their six children behind him, and then Ethelbald and his family, plus the eighteen new baars—Baatak, Baalia, Liugene, Liukilly, and all their friends.

They were all off in one gigantic group as usual, and as usual they were doing the rounds chomping on the white grass around the plains. There was a reason for all the eating, though—the baars knew winter was coming too. They also knew that there were newborn dogkin, there were Mont and my old war buddies, and there were other new residents, and every one of them would need warm clothes for winter.

What that all meant was that we’d need a whole lot of wool. The baars were also aware that the more wool we had, the more we could sell to increase our winter food stockpile, so they were chomping and chewing away like their lives depended on it.

They ran all over the plains with their dogkin guards in tow, headed straight for their favorite white grass. They were real serious about it too, because the more the baars ate, the more wool they grew. When they set their minds to it, sometimes we’d see a whole mountain of baar wool in a single day.

Some of the baars, including a few of Ethelbald’s wives, were pregnant, and I wasn’t sure if it was good for them to be too active, but the white grass made them mighty healthy, and it even seemed like all the running around was good for them. They were getting livelier and healthier by the day, and most importantly, Alna had given it all the okay, so I didn’t have any complaints.

Francis bleated loudly at the others to tell them all that there was white grass to the south, and the others bleated a reply before they all pretty much stampeded off and left me on my own again. I couldn’t help smiling, and I was grateful for just how helpful they were. As I was thinking that, I heard more footsteps trudging my way, but these belonged to Narvant, who arrived with a couple other cavekin.

“Hey there, young Dias!” boomed Narvant. “We managed to get our ice reservoir done before winter, so we wanted you to check it out!”

I didn’t know what in the world he was on about. I was just about to ask, but Narvant must have figured it out from the way I tilted my head, because he gestured north with his jaw for me to follow him. I walked north with the cavekin quite a ways from the village proper until we came to a strange wall built not far from the stream.

“A stone wall...?” I murmured. “And I guess this part in front of it is the reservoir?”

The area in front of the wall was a floor made by packing in stones real tight, but a part of that stone flooring was concave. Though actually, it might have been more accurate to say that the stones had been piled higher around it—I’m not sure... In any case, it was a spacious area built from stone.

“The wall blocks the sun,” explained Narvant, “and yep, the depression in the middle is our ice reservoir.”

Narvant said that all we had to do was fill it with water from the stream or our wells, and the winter weather would turn it to ice. Then we just had to carry it to the storage cellar conveniently built behind the wall, and we could start the process all over again. If we did it the whole winter, we’d have mountain loads of ice for summer next year. Narvant seemed to think we could sell it too.

“I see,” I said, taking it all in now that I knew what it was. “A reservoir for making ice... An ice reservoir. But, Narvant, Ellie said that the other domains are going to be making ice on account of how well ours sold earlier this year. She isn’t betting on us making much profit from ice next year.”

Narvant’s laughter boomed through the air.

“It’s a matter of quality, my boy! Quality! This ice boasts a hidden element that no other domain can match... Our beards! They have a purifying effect, which is important—sometimes water might look clean but it isn’t, and our beards can clear away whatever toxins it’s carrying!”

The cavekin had mixed their beard hair with the stone flooring of our reservoir, and Narvant said it would make our ice cleaner and somehow tastier than anybody else’s.

“With delicious ice on the market, everybody’s gonna want it, and even if we’re competing in an ice market, ours will be top dog, I guarantee it! That value will also come with a higher price tag! But even if we can’t sell it, who’s gonna complain when Baarbadal has more ice than it knows what to do with in the summer? Iluk’s gonna be flush with the stuff next year!”

“Hmm... Well, I gotta admit, things were a lot easier this summer thanks to our ice, and the Wives’ Club was mighty happy for how much longer our foodstuffs kept when they were cooled too.”

“There you go! You see? If we can store food for longer, we can prepare bigger stockpiles, and if necessary we even have the option to sell straight out of our stockpiles too. All the ice might also mean we can eat the sort of stuff we ordinarily couldn’t out here. I mean, think about it, young Dias—we’re going to need ice if we ever want to get fish here from the south. That might not be all we can do with the ice either; we could use it for them cold sweets I’ve heard people talking about.”

“Cold sweets? Like an...ice dessert? Now that’s a new one. What would that even look like?”

Well, my confusion only resulted in more of Narvant’s raucous laughter, and he explained it to me as we walked around to the back of the reservoir wall. When he was done he went right into explaining the cellar.

For starters, the storage cellar was solid, sturdy stone, and it looked perfect for storing ice. There was a stonework entrance hut with a locked door, and behind the door was a stone staircase leading down to another locked door, behind which was the cellar proper. Narvant took me down there and I saw just how spacious it was. But then I noticed another door...

“Where does that lead?” I asked, pointing.

“Sorry to get your hopes up,” replied Narvant, chuckling, “but there’s nothing but a short corridor behind that. When we’ve got some more time, we’ll build some more stairs to a dedicated space to use as an evacuation shelter. If the villagers have nowhere to go in the case of a dragon attack, we’ll just end up with more hurt citizens or worse... But no flame dragon’s fire will get down this deep, so people can bide their time down here while you do your dragon-slaying thing. We’re also planning to build a livestock shelter by the stables too.”

“Wow! What an idea! I’d been thinking for a while that maybe we should make Iluk into more of a castle or fortress some day, what with all the dragons we keep running into, but underground shelters might be the better option, huh?”

Narvant nodded and chuckled again.

“Me and my people talked things over, and we reckon you’ll be just fine with your border stations. The land in these parts is flat, you see, so rather than building up big immovable buildings for defense, you should probably think more in terms of offensive mobility. That means building carts especially for battle and improving our baar wagons so we can respond to threats at a moment’s notice.”

Narvant admitted that castles and strongholds were helpful in their own right, but the upkeep for just one took a lot of manpower. He also didn’t like the idea of taking too much of the plains away from the wild baars that lived here too.

“Well, you’re the expert when it comes to this kind of thing,” I said, “so your word goes. I do have one concern though: Are you sure it’s okay to build so deep into the ground? The rooms won’t cave in, will they? And what about the air quality?”

“Did you forget? We cavekin have been living underground for as long as we can remember. You’ll be good as gold. We already know that monsters don’t much like attacking underground, and that’s in part because there ain’t much of that miasma they like so much. But don’t worry, we’ve put our magic to use so we can respond to any attacks if we have to.”

“That’s a relief,” I admitted. “And if you’ve got some more time, maybe you could put some shelters along the main road too? I reckon it would be worth having them for the onikin, any traveling merchants, and of course the wild baars. I’m more than happy to welcome any wild baars for a temporary stay like we did last year, but some of them just aren’t into that, you know?”

I felt bad asking Narvant and his cavekin to do even more work, but Narvant just laughed like he always did.

“Always thinking of the wild baars, aren’t ya?” said Narvant, who then thumped his chest. “Leave it to us, young Dias! We’ll whip something up so they can come and go as easy as they like!”

He didn’t even hesitate for a second. The cavekin were totally on board with my suggestion and I was nothing but grateful to them. But it was right at that moment that we heard some grass rustling nearby. We looked over, thinking it would just be some dogkin, but then a baar peeked its head out gingerly from the long grass. It was wild, and I knew it was wild because I’d watched all of our baars run off south not so long ago. The wild baar looked awfully timid as it slowly approached us.

“A female, and a mother to boot,” I muttered. “Look at that belly—it’s just like Francoise last year.”

The wild baar looked scared, but she plucked up her courage and spoke up in soft bleats. I’d been around baars enough now to understand the basic gist of what they were saying, but I could barely understand so much as a bleat from this new visitor. I got maybe about a half...of a half of what she said, but I couldn’t get the whole message. It was actually crazy that I understood anything at all, being that usually it took wild baars a few days at least to pick up human language.

“Hmm...” murmured Narvant. “I’m betting she picked up slivers of our language from listening to us speak, which means our lovely baar here has probably been hiding nearby for a couple days, I reckon.”

Narvant took a few slow, gentle steps towards the baar so as not to frighten her, then knelt down in front of her. The two shared words and bleats in what became a slow and patient conversation between the two of them. Narvant was a much better baar whisperer than I was, so I just let him work his magic. After much talk, Narvant picked himself up and returned to explain things.

“This baar has a husband, and the two lived proudly on the plains, wild and free. But the other day she and her husband got separated, and she hasn’t found a trace of him since. She’s at her wit’s end and completely exhausted, so she came here looking for somewhere safe to rest. She’s been here in hiding for a few days, and she happened to overhear us talking about the baar shelters. That made her feel safe enough to approach us. She’s hoping you might help her find her husband or at least look after her long enough for her to see her kids safely born.”

“Oh boy...that poor baar’s been through the wringer, hasn’t she? We’ll put word out to the dogkin, Sahhi, and the onikin and start a search as soon as we can. If she’s happy to stay in Iluk Village then we’re happy to have her, and she’s welcome to stay to raise her children for a while too. All we’ll ask in return is some of the wool she’s growing, but that aside we’ll treat her as we would one of our own.”

Narvant passed my message along, and the baar approached me, all sniffly. I crouched down to offer a hand and the baar put her head in my hand as if to humbly introduce herself and accept my offer.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I said. “If you’re worried at all about anything baar-birth related, you just go right ahead and ask Francoise whatever you like. She gave birth to six little ones last year, so you can think of her as your big sister in that regard.”

I gave the baar’s jaw a rub, and she smiled gently. With our agreement settled, we took the baar to Iluk Village and started putting up a yurt for her so she could get some rest.

The mother baar that was staying with us in Iluk really was completely spent, both mentally and physically. No sooner had we put the yurt up than she was out like a rock. She didn’t wake until around noon the following day, but when she did she flew out of her yurt, confused and terrified. She stood outside the door looking around for a few moments before the memories came back to her, and then she heaved a great big sigh of relief.

I happened to be walking by her yurt when it happened, and I wasn’t sure how best to handle the situation...but fortunately the six young baars all came running over, each one of them smiling and bleating to welcome the village’s new visitor. When the mother baar was faced with that bright and joyous energy, she relaxed and responded with a smile of her own.

“Ah, you’re awake! Good morning!” said a nearby dogkin. “I’m one of the resident sheps, and your caretaker while you’re staying with us. Here, have some white grass. It was freshly picked this morning. I’ll bring you some fresh water too, so just wait right there.”

The shep brought over some grass with the help of the six young baars. That particular shep had actually given birth herself the previous year, and she was well-versed when it came to childbirth. We knew that made her perfect for looking after our new guest, so we’d asked for her help the previous night.

The mother baar still wasn’t used to the Sanserife language, so she bleated a little anxiously in reply. The shep didn’t skip a beat, however, and she just smiled kindly and said it all again, slowing things right down so the baar had time to hear each word and bleat if she didn’t understand anything.

Once the mother baar was fed and given some water, the shep brushed her. This actually doubled as a chance to see if she had any injuries, and it allowed the shep a moment to place her ear to the baar’s stomach to hear how her babies were doing.

“Hmm...” she said afterwards. “Lots of healthy movement in there, so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. All the same, let’s ask Lord Dias to bring over the carpet for you... Oh, you don’t know about the carpet? It’s the strangest thing—it heals injuries, and that goes for both you and the little ones inside of you.”

The shep told the mother baar that the twins and Alna would be along soon enough with some herbal tea, and after that they’d go for a little stroll for some exercise, do another round of brushing, and then settle down for an afternoon nap. I had to say, that shep knew how to talk a whole lot more than the others I’d met, and even the mother baar was a bit overwhelmed by it at first. Still, she understood that we had her best interests at heart, so soon enough she nodded her agreement.

I marched over to the storehouse to get the carpet, and it was then that I heard the familiar sound of flapping wings approaching. It wasn’t Sahhi this time but one of his falconkin pals. I hadn’t met him before, but I held out my arm so he’d have a place to land, and as soon as he did he was talking to me.

“Greetings, Duke Baarbadal! I’ve heard about the situation from Sahhi! How tragic for a pregnant mother to be separated from her husband! It’s certainly a problem best solved sooner than later, and we’re going to get everybody on it! We’ll spend the whole day crossing the plains from corner to corner. We’ll find that baar if it’s the last thing we do! All we ask in return is that you reward the falconkin who finds him with some coin!”

“Well, I’m fine by that,” I said, admittedly a little puzzled, “but if the whole clan is going to be taking part in the search, then I’m happy to pay all of you what you deserve. With that mother baar staying with us, we’ll get a decent amount of baar wool as payment, which means I can give you all something no problem.”

“Nope! Unnecessary! The decision to go all in is ours, and given that the goal is helping someone in need, a single reward is all we ask for! It’ll make everyone all the more hungry to succeed in the search, and it’ll speed up the whole process too! If the reward is a good one, that’s more than enough!”

“Oh, well...if you’re sure. You have my thanks, all of you. But in return, if you falconkin ever find yourselves in need of a helping hand, don’t hesitate to ask us here at Iluk, you hear?”

“Nothing could make us happier than an official vote of support from the Duke Baarbadal himself! We’ll get to searching immediately, but before we do I have to ask—this baar we’re looking for, does he have any unique physical traits? If he doesn’t, we’ll have to ask every last wild baar we find out there, and, uh...it’s not exactly easy to communicate with wild baars, if I recall. We won’t be able to check if it’s him, and we won’t have a way of conveying to him that his wife is here in Iluk. So, uh...how are we going to handle this?”

The falconkin tilted his head, confused. I did the same. I didn’t even know how many wild baars were out there in the greater plains, but given the size of the ones I’d seen, I had to assume that there were more than the resident count of Iluk and the onikin combined. So how were we going to find the exact baar we were looking for, then explain the situation to him?

Well, me and the falconkin both had our heads dang near stuck to our shoulders, making various odd noises between us as we puzzled it out. That was when Fran, the eldest of the young baars, came running up to us with a few energetic bleats.

“Huh? You want to go with one of the falconkin to act as an interpreter? You can speak with wild baars, Fran?” I asked.

I mean, it was true that having a baar with the search teams would make things go a whole lot quicker, but I wasn’t sure that it had to be Fran that went. He was still so young, and I felt like that was an issue. I was leaning more towards someone like Ethelbald teaming up with the dogkin search parties. I tried to explain this to Fran, but he just came straight back at me with some right bold bleats.

“You’re not listening! I’m saying I’ll help out from up there! The sky!”

Fran? In the sky? The poor kid didn’t even have wings. I wasn’t sure how to break it to him, but before I could he was bleating again.

“I’m small! I’m light! The falconkin won’t have any issues carrying me with them! So we’ll work as a team, and when we find a baar I’ll handle all the talking!”

Well, when I heard that I just froze. So did Fran’s siblings. Actually, so did the mother baar, the shep with her, and all the dogkin who happened to be in earshot. None of us could believe Fran would say what he had. Baars were supposed to be timid—cowardly, even. They were incredibly cautious by nature. But Fran’s behavior was the exact opposite. I couldn’t just send him out into the skies with a pat on the back and a “have at ’em, little guy!”

I knew that everybody was thinking the same thing as me, because we all wore the same worried expression, but Fran didn’t care one lick for how we felt about it. His face was the very picture of confidence. He raised his chin up high and puffed out his chest.

His whole attitude screamed, I can do it! And I’ll prove it to all of you!

I didn’t think I could get even more staggered, but he sure was trying to prove me wrong. I had no idea how to handle Fran’s stubborn guts, admirable as they were. That was when Alna showed up, having just finished her chores. She took a look at us all, and when I saw the question mark above her head I explained everything to her.

“Huh,” she replied, nodding.

Alna actually flashed a grin as she walked over to Fran and knelt down in front of him.

“You’ve got real courage in you, Fran,” she said. “You were raised here in Iluk, surrounded by the strong and protected by them, and I guess that’s made you a little different from regular baars. I can’t have you flying the skies in a falconkin’s talons... However, if we secure you nice and tight in a basket or something, then I think you’ll be just fine. I’ll have to speak with Narvant, because we want to have some kind of safety measure in place in case you find yourself falling from way up high, but he’s a smart one—I think he’ll have a way to help us out.”

I heard the words, but they were still pretty unbelievable as far as I was concerned. Still, Fran looked happy with the outcome, and everybody else had clearly decided that if Alna was okay with it, then they were too. I wanted to voice an objection, because I felt like it was still really dangerous, but Fran and the falconkin were already raring to go, and if they secured the help of the cavekin then I didn’t feel like I had much of a case to make...

And so it was that Fran joined the search party and planned his first ever trip to the skies.

With the plan settled and Fran heading for the clouds, the cavekin got to work immediately. First, they made a travel basket for Fran—it was real nice and sturdy and stuffed with baar wool cushioning. The handle on it was designed especially so that the falconkin could hold it with ease, and a rope was prepared that could be tied to a falconkin’s leg. This made it so the falconkin could release the handle without fear of losing Fran completely, but the falconkin could also cut it loose if they deemed it the safest course of action.

The cavekin also installed a last-minute countermeasure in case Fran’s basket came completely loose and plummeted downwards towards the earth. I didn’t understand the greater details of it, but in the case of a sharp fall, air would push through the basket and engage the countermeasure, which was like a giant, uh, cloth...umbrella? Narvant told me it would make for a much, much gentler descent and ensure Fran’s safety. The basket was sturdy and Fran was still very light, which meant if the umbrella opened, there were no hard landings to worry about.

While Fran was in the basket, the falconkin would work in pairs, meaning Sahhi and one of his wives or friends. That way, if anything happened to the falconkin carrying the basket, the other could swoop in and support them.

Given the extent to which everybody had considered safety measures, I couldn’t really complain. That, and Narvant wasn’t the type to lie about his work, so if he said things were good to go, then they were exactly that. Fran’s basket was completed by the late afternoon, and he was ready to take to the skies immediately.

The basket was placed in the center of the village square, where Fran boarded. His family quickly ran up and gave him their blessings.

“Make me proud, son!” bleated Francis.

“Do your best out there, but do be careful,” bleated Francoise.

Fran’s brothers and sisters were all bleating loudly and with great vigor, butting the basket gently with their heads to encourage their brother.

Fendia and the paladins, meanwhile, were on their knees at the very idea of God’s own messenger taking to the skies. They raised their hands and offered prayers, their faces as tearful as they were filled with awe.

“To even imagine a baar taking flight...” muttered Zorg.

Zorg was standing next to me, watching from a distance as the rest of the village huddled around the basket to wish Fran well.

“To be honest, I’m still not totally sold on the idea myself,” I said, “but we’ve come this far, right?”

“I know how you feel. You don’t find baars as brave as Fran very often. But look, we’ll be running searches of our own. If we find the baar you’re looking for, we’ll send someone to let you know.”

“Thanks, Zorg. I sure hope it doesn’t take us long.”

“Yeah, me too. Oh, and by the way, the chieftain wants to talk to you. Said you should visit when you next have the chance.”

I nodded, but I couldn’t help being a little surprised. I didn’t think that the chieftain had any real reason to call on me.

“She wants to thank you,” Zorg explained. “It’s because of you that... Actually, you know what? I think it’s best you just hear it all from her. But it’s nothing bad, so relax, okay?”

“Oh, sure. Thanks.”

Zorg took a look around at the village, and I could feel a question coming as he tilted his head.

“Hey, those, uh...goblins, was it? What happened to them?” he asked. “I don’t see them around.”

“They’ve barely left the cavekin workshop lately. Something to do with making stuff with the giant crayfish materials. They’re so eager to see the finished product.”

Zorg’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“When you say ‘crayfish,’ you mean dragon, right? I did hear about all the materials you gathered thanks to it having that weird regenerative ability...but its shell isn’t that strong, yeah? What are the goblins making?”

“Armor for themselves. Crayfish shell is good in water—it doesn’t rust or degrade. It’s light and water just flows right by it, so apparently it’s just perfect for the goblins. That, and apparently it also holds water, meaning the goblins don’t lose any water from their hides...ah, their scales, I mean. That means they can use it as effectively on land as in water. They have to cross the wasteland to get home, so the armor will play an important role when it comes to ensuring a safe return.”

“Huh. Interesting. I can see why they’re so excited. I know how it feels. And aren’t you making a waterway through the wasteland too? I sure would like to see some grass growing in those parts... How’s it looking?”

“The waterway is coming along little by little, and the cavekin are slowly increasing the amount of water to the area. A few cavekin are actually surveying the big hole that the crayfish came through, because they think maybe if they can redirect the water from there they can make big changes to the environment...or something like that. I’ve left the wasteland in Hubert’s hands, so he’s the guy to talk to if you want the finer details.”

“Hubert, huh? He’s not a bad guy, but it’s just his... He’s not all that strong, you know?” Zorg mused, scratching the back of his head. “If he could just get a little better on horseback and learn to use a bow, we’d be able to find him a fine wife, but as it stands...the guy’s got zero manliness.”

I could tell by Zorg’s tone of voice that he wasn’t trying to belittle Hubert or anything like that. Rather, he sounded worried about the guy and like he earnestly wanted to find him a good wife.

“Hubert’s a good deal smarter than the both of us,” I said. “And he knows a whole lot about a whole lot of different things. He’s a man with a lot of experience in his field, and the type that could make a lot of money if that’s what he put his mind to. Isn’t that a kind of manliness too?”

“I know what you’re trying to say,” said Zorg, shaking his head, “and I know that a moneymaker is a good support for a family too. But I think it comes down to a different set of values at the end of the day... Most of the onikin women, they appreciate people who can make money, but they want someone they can lean on in times of crisis too. Here on the plains, you have to know your way around a horse and bow... So I think I’ll find some time to train Hubert myself.”

And with that, Zorg strode towards Fran to say a word or two before takeoff. I couldn’t help thinking that Zorg looked like more of a man than he used to... I was impressed. It was like getting engaged and taking on more responsibility had shaped him into a real honest-to-goodness adult. It made me realize that his wedding was probably right around the corner, and that meant that Joe and the others would be getting married pretty soon themselves—some crayfish material as a betrothal gift would seal the deal.

I figured we could talk more about all that kind of stuff just as soon as we were done searching for the mother baar’s husband. Either way, it was something I hoped we could get all wrapped up and planned before winter.

“Okay! Good to go!” shouted Sahhi. “Let’s run our first search and do as much as we can before sundown!”

The baars all bleated at Fran to do his best and come home safe, and Fran got himself all settled in while Sahhi fastened the rope to his leg and grabbed hold of the basket. Then, with a flap of his powerful wings, they rushed upwards. All we could hear was one long, surprised, and exhilarated bleat as Fran got his first taste of flight.

Soaring the Skies—Fran

Fran bleated with excitement, but his voice was mostly drowned out by the scream of the wind. They were high above the grass he knew and moving faster than he could have imagined on his own legs. It was so new and such a thrill that his body trembled and his heart pounded in his little baar chest. He no longer understood fear—he was having far too much fun.

“Baa baa!” he cried.

His bleats carried no real meaning, and Fran shifted in his basket, poking his head over the side. From here he could look down at the plains, at the way the wind played with the grass. To see such a sight filled him with joy, and Fran could not wipe the grin from his face as he peeked out a little bit more.

The wind caught his little tail and he wobbled slightly. Sahhi looked at him and spoke up, his voice carrying even through the roar of the wind.

“Hey! Don’t lean too far over the edge! Leave the baar spotting to us, okay? Even from this high up we falconkin can still spot an insect on a blade of grass!”

Fran obediently tucked his head in, knowing that his Uncle Sahhi was only looking out for his safety. That was what Uncle Sahhi and his wives always did. When Fran and his family were running around the plains eating grass, the falconkin always swooped down to take care of any mice or insects that got too close. And when Frannia had gotten lost, it was Uncle Sahhi who had found her.

Fran knew that his uncle was speaking from a place of kindness, but he also wanted to take in the sights. He wanted to watch the plains wavering below just as much as he wanted to find the father baar who’d been separated from his wife. So, he found a delicate balance between staying safe and peeking out of the basket.

Down below, Fran spotted a group of onikin on horseback, traveling in a horizontal line with everybody at the same speed. From up this high, they looked almost like migratory birds. Fran thought that someday he’d like to do the same thing with his siblings, and it was as he was imagining this very thing that Riasse spoke up.

“I’ve got something!” she cried.

Fran spun in the direction that Riasse was looking and squinted hard as Sahhi brought them in for a closer look. As they did, the shape of a herd of wild baars emerged, all of whom looked very shocked and cautious at the sudden arrival of two falconkin. Fran was quick to spring into action, bleating out assurances to the wild baars.

“It’s okay! We’re friends! Don’t be afraid!”

Fran poked out from the basket to show himself in an attempt to help calm the wild baars, but the sight of a little baar flying in a basket only left them more confused.

“What the heck is a baar child like you doing up there?!” they cried. “What even is that thing you’re in?! And why are you being carried by falcons?!”

Fran answered as best he could, and as Sahhi let him down he explained their mission. Sahhi was as kind as ever, and Fran landed without any real shock whatsoever. Fran loosened the ropes keeping him in the basket to speak more easily with the wild baars. When the wild baars heard that a husband and wife had been separated, their faces turned from shock to worry, and they began bleating among themselves.

“Where do they hail from?”

“They’re not from our herd.”

“Do you know where he might be? Have any of you seen a wandering baar?” Fran asked.

“Nope, sorry.”

The herd could offer nothing in the way of information, and though Fran was a touch disappointed, he thanked the herd for all their help and asked that they tell the father baar about Iluk Village if they found him. Fran also made sure to pass on a message from Dias himself—that Iluk Village would soon be making an evacuation shelter for baars. Fran told them where it would be, how to use it, and that they were all welcome to stay in Iluk at any time for the low, low price of a little baar wool.

The wild baars all looked puzzled. But in the end, they all seemed to accept that if a village was willing to run a plains-wide search for a single baar, it wasn’t all that surprising that it would also build them a shelter. The herd leader looked Fran in the eyes, nodded, and gave him a single bleat.

“Got it.”

Fran was happy to hear it, and with that he hopped aboard his basket to continue the search. Sahhi and Riasse flapped their powerful wings and the trio once more took to the skies.

“Feels good flying the skies on a day like this,” said Sahhi. “Warm weather means lighter air, and it’s so much easier.”

Fran bleated a question.

“Really?”

“Yep,” replied Sahhi as they continued upwards. “When the sun heats the air, it rises, sometimes even creating big airflows like pillars reaching to the heavens! Catch one of them and you can glide on up without any need for flapping. We hail from the mountains, and the location makes for lots of such pillars.”

Sahhi noticed something ahead as he went on.

“Ah, there we are. Watch this, Fran! We’re going to fly on up and I won’t flap my wings even once!”

Sahhi spread his wings out wide and began to circle the air. And just like he’d said, it pushed them upwards without Sahhi having to do anything. It was the strangest, most incredible thing, and Fran bleated excitedly like he was a baby baar all over again. When Sahhi saw how happy it made the young baar, he kept on climbing and climbing, and the trio conducted their search from way up high.

The trio kept up their efforts until the sky turned red, but they did not find the father baar. They continued for the next two days as well but still found nothing. It wasn’t all wasted time, however—they met many wild baar herds and were able to tell them all about the evacuation shelter and Iluk’s open-door policy for baars. But even then, Fran couldn’t help but feel dispirited to have spent three days searching with nothing to show for it. By the afternoon of their fourth day, everyone began to fear the worst.

But that was when they spotted him. The father baar was actually not all that far from Iluk, but he had collapsed in a heap, and his wool was matted with blood.

At the Same Time, South of Iluk—Hubert

Specialty shoes, saddles, and bits had been made for the camels, and then Hubert had needed to study riding horses under Alna and the onikin, but now he could happily ride on camelback, and it was in this way that he had returned to Iluk from the wasteland.

Horses tended to be nervous and easily frightened, but camels were calm and easygoing, to the point that one might have called them dopey or slow. All the same, Hubert had come to love his camel. It was a joy to ride, and he’d gotten comfortable with it on account of his many trips to the wasteland of late.

The camel, too, liked Hubert for how well he took care of it. When they returned to Iluk, the camel grunted and made a fuss until Hubert gave it the affection it craved. It was here, as Hubert gently patted his trusty sidekick, that the powerful sound of flapping wings filled the air.

The wings belonged to a young falconkin—one of Sahhi’s clan—whom Hubert had hired. The falconkin approached Hubert clasping a fairly big leather bag in its talons and placed it on the ground before him. Hubert took a gold coin from his wallet as payment.

“Wow! I can buy a whole heap of jerky with this! Thanks!”

“No, thank you,” replied Hubert.

The falconkin took off north, the gold coin held tightly in its grasp. Hubert leaned down to pick up and open the bag, from which he retrieved a letter addressed to himself and scanned its contents.

“So they’ve finally arrived, have they?” asked Orianna.

She must have seen the falconkin messenger and come over. Hubert passed her the other letter in the bag, which she quickly read. Both had received replies to letters they’d written to associates living in the royal capital. The letters detailed recent happenings in the capital along with news on the spirited deeds of one Count Ellar.

The count had gone to the capital on Dias’s behalf, acting as his proxy in matters of noble politics and social gatherings. Ellar had asked for this responsibility, but it was only now that they were hearing how it was going. Ellar had been bright blue after an onikin soul appraisal, and so it seemed the count had made his offer out of the goodness of his heart, but that alone was not enough of a reassurance.

After all, Ellar had not so much as waited for Dias’s reply and might not have even returned home before heading straight for the capital. The Iluk representatives thus thought it best to judge Count Ellar by his accomplishments. They wanted to see if he really did have Iluk’s best interests at heart and if he was truly worthy of acting as Dias’s representative.

It was for this reason that Hubert and Orianna had written to associates living and working in the royal capital and asked them for any updates or news pertaining to the count. It was said that a falconkin could reach the capital in a matter of days at top speed, and sure enough, their letters had reached their destination in almost no time at all. And now, finally, replies had arrived.

Both letters said largely the same thing—Count Ellar was, of course, not Dias’s official representative, but he was doing his utmost within noble circles to improve the duke’s reputation while making an effort to not cause him or his domain any trouble.

Count Ellar told people that upon meeting Dias in person, he had found the duke to be a most impressive individual. As a man of common birth, he was a touch rough around the edges, but he had a firm grasp of the etiquette expected of his position. And while he still needed time to settle into his new authority, he had a firm respect for noble culture and society.

As discussions grew deeper in meaning, Count Ellar informed those around him that the duke did not abuse his power, nor was he arrogant about his countless accomplishments. He was modest, and his failure to appear in the capital’s social circles came from a fear that he still had much yet to learn, and a belief that he was unworthy of mingling with families steeped in long, well-respected traditions.

Count Ellar shared his own impressions and takeaways, at the same time making sure to show off the outfit he’d had specially tailored from the baar wool received from the duke as a parting gift.

The count was an experienced socializer, it would seem, and incredibly eloquent to boot—his story was like a tale of adventure that started with his struggle to help with the nation’s restoration and led to a brief meeting with a hero. It was a story that pulled in and charmed all who listened.

Still, Count Ellar acted responsibly. He knew he was not Dias’s official representative, and so he never crossed the line into saying something that it was not his place to say. That said, he was laying all the groundwork to ensure he would do a fine job if he were to one day be given such a responsibility.

When Hubert and Orianna finished reading their correspondences, their eyes met, and they shared a nod. They knew now that Count Ellar was putting in the work to properly earn their trust, and so they would spend the next few days working out the finer details of just how much authority they would bestow upon him.

Dias was still...problematic as a noble, and neither Hubert nor Orianna thought it wise to have him visit the royal capital. As such, the best outcome for all would be to have Count Ellar handle the duke’s business there. Ellar would also make for a handy shield or decoy should the need for such a thing arise...but even the count knew this, and he was still working hard to ensure his efforts paid off. In this sense, the relationship was one that worked well for both parties.

Hubert and Orianna were set on working out their plans immediately, but as they made to leave, a rather impatient camel clamped its teeth on Hubert’s shirt and yanked him back.

“Forgetting something?” it seemed to say.

Hubert chuckled.

“Please get started. I’ll be right there,” he said to Orianna.

And then he took to patting, rubbing, and scratching his camel until the animal was well and truly satisfied.

Hurrying to the Father Baar—Dias

The father baar had been discovered, covered in blood, within walking distance of Iluk Village—just a little ways from the ice reservoir. Riasse had arrived to report their findings, and as soon as I heard I raced for the storehouse. I hefted the magic carpet on my shoulder, then took off as fast as my feet would carry me. Alna and a few others were close behind.

I found the father baar with Fran by his side and Sahhi circling the skies above in search of any potential danger. I laid the carpet out along the ground and gently lifted the father baar onto it...but didn’t start working the carpet’s magic just yet. Instead, I waited for Alna and the others to arrive.

It wasn’t long before Alna arrived, along with a number of dogkin pulling along a baar wagon which was carrying some cavekin and one of the grandmas. Her name was Hia. She wore her hair short and her expression was sullen.

“Don’t use the carpet yet!” said Alna.

She brought out a pair of shears and began cutting away the baar’s bloodied wool. When she was done, Grandma Hia was ready and waiting with a clean cloth and a tub of water, which she used to clean the baar’s wounds and get a better look at them.

A few days after we’d received the carpet from Peijin-Do, we’d taken to working out just what it was capable of. We’d wanted to get a general sense of the extent to which it could heal, how fast it healed, and how deep wounds would have to be for it to not work. But also we’d wanted to know if the healing came with any side effects.

We’d tried treating minor injuries with it, and whenever anybody got hurt we’d used the carpet on them. Naturally, we hadn’t gone as far as actually intentionally injuring anybody really badly just to test the carpet, but we had gone as far as we were confident. Through all that testing, we had learned that the carpet was a right crazy thing.

Basically, the carpet pretty much healed you right up, like it or not. The speed of it was breathtaking, and the power with which it worked made us pretty certain it would heal up anything short of death. Even complicated wounds would just stitch themselves right up, but that wasn’t to say that there weren’t some issues. You see, the carpet didn’t give a damn if a wound was dirty or there was a foreign object stuck in it—it just healed right over it.

This was a big problem. The carpet didn’t know how to clean wounds and didn’t know how to remove foreign objects from them—it only knew how to heal. What that meant was that if you used the carpet incorrectly, you might end up hurting someone worse after you healed them. So we always had to make sure that we properly inspected and addressed an injury before we let the carpet do its thing.

“Get the spirits, yeah?” said one of the cavekin. “It’s the best stuff for cleaning an open wound.”

Grandma Hia took the bottle of liquor from the cavekin and used it to quickly clean the father baar’s wounds. The blood kept flowing, but it gave Grandma Hia a chance to inspect the cuts more closely.

“Is this everything?” she asked, patting the baar gently as she looked him over. “Poor thing. Are you bleeding anywhere else? Tell me if something’s got you worried. I sure wish we could just shear off all of this wool, but we don’t have time.”

Ordinarily, baars could use magic to shed their wool like an ordinary person would take off their clothes. Unfortunately, the father baar was barely conscious, so that was out of the question. Alna simply cut away the wool near anything that caught her attention, and in the process she and Grandma Hia made sure there weren’t any other wounds to be worried about. When they were done—and they were done quick—Grandma Hia stepped back and I got the carpet started.

Grandma Hia had worked under a doctor who treated livestock for injuries and illness, and while she claimed not to be perfect, she had a lot of knowledge in the area. She’d stitched up livestock wounds with a needle and thread, and she’d even used fish skin to help heal up burns, which was a method I hadn’t even known existed. So when she said I was good to go, I funneled my power into the carpet and the father baar’s wounds all closed shut. All the while, Grandma Hia kept a close watch over him.

“That looks like all the wounds taken care of,” she said, “so the best thing now is to let him rest. Once he regains consciousness we’ll have him drink some warm water, and I think he should be fine to eat a little too.”

The father baar really must have been exhausted, because he settled into a peaceful sleep within moments. Fran, Alna, and the cavekin all let out sighs of relief. The dogkin had been in such a panic that they’d been running circles around us, but finally they calmed. Once Sahhi saw that things were fine, he sped off to inform the rest of Iluk Village.

“Let’s wrap him in the carpet and get him to his wife,” I said. “Better to bring him to her than to drag a pregnant baar out all this way.”

We wrapped the father baar up so he’d be easy to carry, and when Grandma Hia was satisfied, everybody who’d come by the baar wagon jumped back in, while Alna stuffed her shears and the cut wool in her leather pouch. I hefted the carpet and baar up into my arms, and I walked back to Iluk, careful to be as gentle as I could.

Once we got to the north of the village, where the mother baar’s yurt was, I knelt down and opened up the carpet so she could see her husband. You could hear how anxious she’d been from her cries, but she was relieved to see her husband well and she cried tears of joy. But just moments later her expression turned to one of anger as she started asking how he’d gotten hurt and how he’d gotten himself lost in the first place.

“Come now, take it easy,” I said, placating her. “Let’s save the complaints until he’s awake, yeah? For now, let’s get him inside, and you two can just rest for a while. I know that you haven’t been sleeping well, and that’s not good for the little ones in your belly.”

The mother baar wasn’t exactly sold on my suggestion, but she begrudgingly retreated to her yurt and I followed after her. I put the father baar down on the grass bed we’d made, and instead of lying next to him, the mother baar lay down so that her head was touching her husband’s. I figured she didn’t want to let him out of her sight again, because she just stared at him until her eyes grew heavy and she drifted off to sleep. I quietly left the yurt and closed the door gently behind me.

The morning after we found him, the father baar woke. He was still very weak, and he needed rest before we could start asking him how he’d gotten separated from his wife. Grandma Hia said that he’d need two or three days of sleep, warm water, and white grass. I had to admit, I was very concerned about what it might have been that had hurt the father baar, but I knew it was no good to force things. I decided we’d have the falconkin and patrolling dogkin on high alert in the meantime.

I informed the falconkin that we’d found the father baar, and I gave them some coin for their help. They said it wasn’t necessary, but I insisted. I also made sure to pay the onikin for all of their support too. Both clans had put a lot of manpower behind our efforts, and I thought they all deserved at least some payment for that. In any case, paying the onikin was a good chance to meet with the chieftain, Moll, so I filled my coin pouch a bit and headed off.

“You can entrust Iluk Village to us!”

“We’ll protect those new baars with our lives! They, too, are messengers of God!”

“And if any untoward types try anything wicked, we’ll beat them into submission with these here scepters of ours!”

“Though if it’s a dragon we’re looking at, we may well need your support, Duke!”

The paladins all came to see me off, waving their scepters all the while—maybe they wanted to put my mind at ease. Patrick and his pals really thought of all baars, wild or otherwise, as messengers of god. They protected the baars just like they would any other resident. And admittedly, I did feel relieved to have them looking after things while I was gone... I got the sense the baars must have felt the same way.

I headed to the onikin village alone this time, dressed in my usual outfit, with my battle-ax on my shoulder just in case I met any trouble on the way. But I’ll tell you what, the onikin village was a whole heap bigger than when I’d last seen it, that’s for sure.

There were more yurts, and they all looked bigger than I remembered. There was more livestock too. All the adults were bustling about, busy with tasks and chores of all sorts, and the youngest children were looking after the baars and caring for the newborns. It looked to me like they were running a little short on people now that their village had grown. Still, everybody looked happy to be busy.

It was a far cry from how things had looked when I’d first visited the onikin village. I couldn’t help thinking that things had changed for them, just like they’d changed for us in Iluk Village. Everybody was used to the fact that I was a part of the plains now, so nobody really paid me any mind. The onikin who knew me waved and said hello as I made my way to the chieftain’s yurt.

“Mind if I come in?” I asked at the door.

“Enter,” came the reply.

I opened the door and found Moll wearing accessories that were a little more lavish than the last time we’d met.

“You’re looking well,” I said. “Actually, I gotta say, you’re looking better than ever.”

Moll cackled with laughter at my greeting.

“Indeed, and I owe it to you,” she replied. “The village is wealthy now. The villagers are having more children. We are adding more livestock too. And thanks to the betrothal gifts we’ll get from your soldiers that are soon to marry, we’ll soon be even wealthier. Whenever we hear news that the frog merchant is on his way, the villagers tremble with excitement.”

“Ah, yeah. I talked to Joe and the other guys about that. I guess the battle against the aqua dragons was a prime display of manliness for all of them. So they’ve already prepared betrothal gifts, have they? Then I guess the weddings are just around the corner.”

“Yes, though one of the girls still has yet to finish her wedding outfit, and so we’ll wait for that before doing anything else. But with marriages between our villages certain, our bonds will grow even deeper. That connection will allow us the chance to trade with the kingdom’s merchants, which may mean items we’ve never seen before and work we’ve never had. Those inroads will make us even wealthier.”

Moll’s mention of wealth reminded me that I still hadn’t paid the onikin for their help, so I informed Moll that we’d found the father baar. I thanked her for all of the onikin support, then gave her the gold I’d prepared as payment. Her face wrinkled as she smiled. Ordinarily she would have been quick to put the coins with her stash, but this time she stared at the money in her hands.

“Money is astonishing,” she murmured. “To think that you can trade such things for livestock. Jewels, I understand, but money? Jewels can be used for magical purposes, but money is useless. It is simply nice to look at. And yet that same useless money will prove useful should we make inroads with the kingdom... How very strange indeed. I understand the idea of currency and how it works, but all the same I find it a most curious thing.”

I tilted my head. Everything she’d said was pretty obvious to me, so I didn’t know why she was saying it. But Moll simply cackled with her usual laughter and used her cane to climb off her seat. I thought she would go to the shelves filled with boxes like she always did, but this time she went to a big cupboard. She put the coins in there, but she also brought out something in a big cloth sack.

It was so big she had to carry it in both hands, and it looked heavy too. Moll was so wobbly on her feet that I ran over to help with it. But instead of letting me help her, Moll pretty much pushed the sack onto me before returning to her usual spot and sitting down.

“That’s for you,” she said, letting out a relieved sigh. “Think of it as a token of our gratitude for everything you’ve done for us. If you think it’s too much, feel free to use a portion of it to buy us some livestock—yes, a few white ghee would be wonderful.”

A token of gratitude? White ghee?

I didn’t even know what I held in my arms, so I took a peek inside and found a big old chunk of gold. I was left speechless at the sight of it.

“We kept that as a safety precaution,” Moll explained. “It was something to fall back on if we were to ever lose the plains and have to start over somewhere entirely new. The Beastkin Nation values gold highly too, you see... But it is of use to us no more. Our village is growing, our lives are stable and secure, my granddaughter safely gave birth to her child, and our next chieftain is coming along nicely. All of which is to say that we no longer need to worry over measures for such trying times.”

Moll’s explanation only made it harder for me to speak—there was a lot to take in. My jaw hit the floor, but I found it in me to pick it up and put it back in place. My head was still out of whack because of the shock I was in, but I dug deep and I pulled out whatever words I could find.

“S-So you’re a great-grandmother now,” I stammered. “Congratulations...!”

I must have been a real sight, because Moll just burst out cackling all over again, and it echoed through the yurt.

At That Same Time, in the Wild Baars’ Yurt

“Baa...”

The father baar woke. He drank some water, ate some food, and went back to sleep. He was calm in his rest, and the mother baar let out a sigh. She was relieved to see her husband safe. There was so much here she was experiencing for the first time—the strange cloth house, the dried grass bed, and the baar children huddled in close with the two of them.

The young baars had come to play and had summarily run themselves completely out of breath—they now slept soundly at the baar couple’s sides. The mother baar looked upon them and smiled—she hoped that perhaps she, too, might have such adorable children. Six would be difficult to take care of, and the mother baar thought that any more than three even would be too many for her and her husband to handle. As she thought about the matter, the father baar stirred from his sleep and murmured.

“Where did you go?” he bleated. “I looked everywhere for you. I searched and I searched, and I even went all the way to the northern mountains because I thought that monsters had dragged you away. And look at me now—I’m a mess.”

“Why would you be so stupid?!” bleated the mother baar. “You went to the northern mountains?! Have you lost your mind?!”

“You know what I did when I found some monsters?” the father baar replied. “I told them they better let you go or there’d be trouble. I remember charging at them with everything I had, but then...this big—and I mean big—baar just came straight out of nowhere...”

“You picked a fight with monsters?! But I wasn’t anywhere near any monsters!”

The mother baar had never felt shock anything like what she did now; to think that her own lover would do something so completely unbelievable. She felt nothing but gratitude to the big baar that had brought her husband to the outskirts of Iluk, but all the same she smacked her lover in the forehead with her hooves for doing something so dangerous, and she gave him a strict talking to the likes of which he’d never known.

On the Way Back to Iluk—Dias

In the past, Moll had watched members of her clan—her own family—die. It had been heartbreaking, and a terrible ordeal, but she had not lost everyone, and in time she saw herself surrounded by a new family, and it was this family that had supported her all this way. With the village growing, and a new life on the horizon, Moll had started to consider retiring as village chieftain.

Moll saw her last job as that of retiring early and leaving the village in another chieftain’s capable hands. From there, she would offer support and wisdom when the new chieftain found themselves in times of trouble. However, there were still things she needed to do before she could happily sit back and leave things in the next chieftain’s hands.

First among those tasks was clearing things up with Iluk Village and making things between us square. By giving me that giant chunk of gold, she’d done just that. If I’m speaking honestly, I really didn’t think that Iluk’s relationship with the onikin was quite so one-sided. Still, Moll and the onikin didn’t share my point of view, and in fact she’d made the decision to give me the gold with the full support of her village behind her.

But let me tell you, this chunk of gold was big. It was bigger and heavier than the golden sword that Sachusse had given me, that was for sure. It had to be worth a lot. It just had to be. I’d tried to tell Moll that I couldn’t just accept something so valuable, but she’d been pretty blasé about it.

“Let it go. It’s a gift,” she’d said. “Just accept it; that’s what you’re supposed to do. And if it’s that hard to accept, why not think of it as an up-front tax payment? You take the gold, and we don’t pay taxes for the next decade or two. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

Naturally, she’d followed all of this with her usual cackling, and she wouldn’t let me have things any other way. She’d brushed me off with a hand and sent me packing. I didn’t see her logic though—the onikin had their own land now, and I was never going to make them pay taxes. So in the end, I really did just have to accept that it was a gift and take it in the spirit of goodwill.

“But it won’t be easy selling or using a chunk of gold this big,” I muttered as I carried the gold in both hands. “I mean, I could maybe buy a whole castle with this.”

I knew the gold was worth a lot, but the problem was that it was worth so much it was hard to know how to handle it. That was when I noticed Alna with some dogkin and four goats. The dogkin had the goats surrounded so they wouldn’t stray beyond a set area, and Alna was watching them closely, her arms crossed like she was judging something.

“Goats aren’t all that strange a sight around here anymore,” I said as I walked up to her. “So what’s the problem?”

“Well,” she said, her gaze still locked on the goats, “I heard from Maya and her friends that goat milk and meat are both delicious, so I started thinking maybe it’s worth having more of them. I’m observing them to decide how wise a decision that is.”

“Huh? You can tell that just by watching them?” I asked.

“Yep. You just have to take careful note of how much food they consume. We can’t have our goats eating up so much grass that there’s not enough for our baars and horses. And with us just about to start on winter preparations, we can’t make decisions about livestock lightly.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. So how’s it looking? Think we can accommodate some more goats?”

Alna’s head tilted slightly as she thought.

“Compared to other animals, goats are... Well, they’re kind of brash. Baars and horses like their grass soft. Baars will eat tougher grass begrudgingly if they have to, but horses hate the stuff. That can make feeding horses a whole ordeal, but goats? As long as it’s grass, they’ll eat it. White ghee aren’t picky, but goats will eat just about anything. Doesn’t matter if it’s stiff and chewy, soft, or even just rough, crinkly leaves from the forest—it’s all a feast to them. So we don’t have to worry about the goats bumping heads with the other livestock in that regard.”

Alna seemed to think we could up the number of goats for that reason, but she was admittedly a little worried about doing it so close to winter.

“As long as they eat our grass cheese and the grass under the snow, then they’ll make it through the winter. I want to up the number now so they start having kids, and then next year we’ll see even more growth.”

The idea of it all brought a quiet smile to Alna’s face. There were things to consider carefully and things to worry about, but this was all part of the fun, it seemed. I think she liked having the luxury to even worry about this kind of stuff.

Alna’s sincere joy in all of this reminded me that she knew what it was like to fall on hard times. She’d experienced food stocks running empty in the middle of winter, and that’s why, when we’d jammed our storehouses full last year, she’d looked upon our preparations with the most satisfied smile I’d ever seen.

I’d always thought that Alna’s favorite thing was horses, but seeing her here like this made me think that maybe she liked foodstuffs and stockpiling them just as much. More goats meant more kids, more kids would mean more milk, and when those kids grew up, more goats in general would mean more meat. When I thought of it like that, goats were kind of like a living food stockpile. I could kind of see how considering their number and our future growth was so much fun for Alna.

“Well, I imagine that with this we can just buy some more goats and food for them,” I said, “so why don’t we just do it all in one swoop? Let’s get them while we can, and if we run into trouble we’ll either make food of them or sell ’em. We can buy some more white ghee and donkeys while we’re at it. Might even be worth preparing for beyond next year, you know?”

I opened the leather sack to show Alna the gold inside, and she must have known about it already, because although she reacted with surprise at first, things clicked into place for her moments later and she grinned.

“I guess the chieftain was finally able to relieve herself of that burden,” commented Alna, nodding. “And if she’s given us money to spend, then I’m happy to spend it. Let’s get what we need from Eldan’s market. White ghee have huge appetites, so we can hold off on them for now. As for the donkeys, well, they’re such social creatures that we’ll want to buy two or three of them. That just leaves the goats, and I think four is the magic number... No, wait. Five... No, no. Four. Let’s go with four.”

“I reckon we could buy ten or twenty if we wanted to,” I said. “We could easily do that and buy the onikin the livestock they want, and we’ll still have money left over. If that’s too many, we’ll butcher them or sell them to our neighbors. I don’t think we’d want to release them into the wild, but... Look, I’m just saying it’s no problem to indulge a bit, so you just do what feels best, Alna.”

All the same, that left the problem of how we would turn the gold into money we could spend. The gold chunk was so big that I expected exchanging it to be a problem in and of itself. In any case, Alna’s eyes went wide for a few seconds as my words slowly sank into her skull, but as she mulled them over her expression softened and she chuckled.

“That’s you, isn’t it, Dias?” she said. “You’re a manly man, and you’ll always see us through in times of trouble. I’ll take you at your word when we do our shopping. After all, the only thing you ever complain about is alcohol, right? Everything’s going to be fine with you around, so yep, let’s get ourselves some goats and donkeys!”

Alna hopped over to my side with her arms crossed and started elbowing me in the side. When she started doing that, the dogkin took the goats and silently left. I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t really know what to say, so I was just left there puzzled for a while.

I couldn’t tell you why, but Alna kept on elbowing me in the side all the way back to Iluk. We went from there to the pub, where we found Goldia busy sweeping the place in an apron. The cavekin had made him the apron and broom to suit his muscular frame, and he was whipping his broom around like a master at work.

“Goldia,” I said, plonking the chunk of gold on a nearby table. “I’d like you to buy some livestock from Mahati, but...think you’ll be able to pay for it with this massive chunk of gold?”

Goldia collected everything he’d swept up neatly into a dustpan and discarded it out a window.

“Look at you, getting yourself another chunk of gold,” he commented. “Jeez, Dias. You could buy the whole dang market with this thing. I reckon you’re better off getting that converted into currency first. So that’s what we’ll do. We’ll get things sorted at the guild branch in Mahati, then buy you your livestock... I reckon we’re looking at about four or five days before it gets here.”

Ellie had her own trading responsibilities, so Goldia decided to entrust Aisa and Ely with the task.

“Those two...” he muttered. “They don’t like working the pub, and they don’t want to work the guild branch either. They’ve got something else up their sleeves. I think they want their own shop, or something like that. I mean, seriously, when’d they get so presumptuous?”

Goldia took to sweeping the floors again. From the back of the pub, Aisa appeared in an apron of her own. She was all smiles as she looked at Goldia.

“Who’s the guy who had a whole pub built before even employing any staff for it?” she asked, as if she were talking to herself. “And come to think of it, who was it that abandoned their mess at the guild and left everyone else to clean it up? And didn’t the guild master just go into semiretirement? Because I’ve got a lot of thoughts about that, and I’d say that your behavior of late has been just as presumptuous, if not more so, hmm? You’d be in shambles if not for our assistance, Goldia.”

Aisa’s tone was as soft and gentle as always, but there was power lurking deep within her voice, and Goldia couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye. Instead, he picked up the pace and started sweeping the floors with even more gusto. But Aisa hadn’t liked the gossiping, and her gaze remained firmly on him. Her hands were on her hips, and she was leaning forwards to really let him know who she was putting her pressure on.

“All right, all right, that’s enough of that, Aisa,” said Ely, emerging from behind his wife. “No point in pushing him around any more than you already have. We knew what we were in for when we decided to move out here...”

He was also wearing an apron, and he put a reassuring hand to his wife’s shoulder in an attempt to calm her. The two of them had been helping out with the guild, the pub, or both since the day they officially moved in, and it seemed to me like their hearts were elsewhere.

In which case, let’s find out what they want to do and let them just do it.

“What do the two of you want to do here in Iluk?” I asked.

The couple looked at one another, and then Ely spoke on behalf of both of them.

“We’d like to run our own merchant caravan,” he said.

“A caravan? You mean something different from what Ellie does?”

“Yeah, it sounds the same, but it’s a whole other thing. Ellie takes our produce and sells it outside of the domain, but we want to transport and sell goods within the domain. Baarbadal is more than just Iluk Village now. You’ve got the two border stations, then the guest houses, and the onikin village and the falconkin too.”

Ely said that making Ellie handle all of that would just put too much on her plate.

“Ellie works hard, and she deserves a rest when she’s home,” continued Ely, “so Aisa and I thought that we could handle domestic trade.”

Ely pointed in the direction of the forest and explained things in more detail. The forest provided us with wild animal meat, timber, nuts, berries, mushrooms, and honey. The western border station was stocking up on steel. Iluk Village was the domain’s hub for baar wool and textiles. Aisa and Ely planned to help spread these products around and sell them where there was demand.

Until now, Ellie and the dogkin had been splitting that responsibility between them, but Aisa and Ely wanted to make it their full-time job. They also wanted to extend those responsibilities so they encompassed managing any visiting merchants. That meant buying and selling from merchants who weren’t allowed in, as well as preparing dedicated markets for the merchants who were. They wanted to manage the running of these markets and the security to ensure that crime wasn’t an issue.

“Basically, we’ll be Baarbadal’s dedicated trade and procurement service,” Ely concluded. “Better to entrust that responsibility to people you know than somebody you don’t, right? And you can trust us to ensure fair trade with Goldia and the guild too.”

Goldia let out a wry chuckle. He wasn’t ever going to try any sort of underhanded trading with us, but Ely made it clear that he and Aisa were going to be working in Baarbadal’s best interests, not the guild’s.

“All righty, I guess that means we’re going to need to spend some of this gold on horses and a caravan for our new merchants,” I said. “Along with the goats for Iluk and the goats for the onikin village... Oh, Moll also mentioned that she wants some more white ghee. And we need some nonperishables, seeing as we’re about to get ready for winter and all. How does that sound, Goldia?”

When I said that, Aisa and Ely held off from saying a thing and instead looked to Goldia. They expected him to have the final say and give the okay, and Goldia just chuckled and nodded.

“Yep, not a problem with a hunk that size. But I’m going to need some helping hands for a job that big. With Joe’s and Lorca’s guys all getting ready for their weddings, I’m going to have to pull some of Ryan’s troops. I also want to hire some people to replace Aisa and Ely, so I’ll ask some of the onikin and cavekin if they’re interested. That work for you?”

“As long as they’re happy to do it, I’m happy to let them,” I replied. “I know I don’t have to worry about it with you in charge of things, but pay them what they’re worth, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it covered. Oh, and one more thing. We’re going to need to get ourselves a lot more booze. People won’t be going out much in the winter and they’ll want something to warm them up...so I’ll stock up on that while we’re at it. And none of ya give me that look! The profit we make from the pub goes right back into Iluk. I’m not looking to profit off your money, Dias.”

He’d had that little outburst at the end there on account of the way that Aisa and Ely had narrowed their eyes and looked at him. But to be honest, I didn’t know very much about the Baarbadal trade situation at all, so I figured I’d just leave it in their care. Alna took a seat at one of the tables and stared at the booze lining the far wall, and I took a seat opposite her.

Once Alna and I had rested for a short spell, we left the pub. We were on our way back to our own yurt when the mother baar poked her head out from hers. She looked around, and when she saw me and Alna, she bleated a single “baa” and ran over.

“What is it?” I asked, kneeling down to meet her.

The mother baar started bleating away to explain, and Fran ran over to us to help translate what she was saying. Alna and I focused as best we could to just listen carefully.

“So let me get this straight,” I said. “Your husband recklessly charged into the north and got into it with some monsters?”

“He went there to look for you, but you weren’t there,” said Alna, “but you’re worried that he might well go off and do the same thing again.”

Fran translated our messages back to the mother baar, who nodded.

“So because you’re worried about going back into the plains on your own, you want to stay here until you’ve had your kids?” I asked. “Well, I don’t mind in the slightest. There’s a harsh winter coming, so you can stay here until you give birth, and we’re happy to host you until your kids grow up too.”

“We’ve got a host of experienced people here when it comes to child-rearing,” added Alna. “Francoise has given birth already, her children all know how to look after baars, and we’ve got specialists here too, so stay as long as you like. And whenever you feel like leaving to live on the plains again, just say the word.”

The mother baar beamed at us both and nodded, then returned to her yurt. But just moments later...

“Baa baa?!” bleated the father baar. “Baa! Baa baa baa!”

“Baa!” shot back the mother baar.

Her single bleat was followed by the sound of a solid smack. Neither Alna nor I needed Fran’s translation to work out what was going on.

“I think I got that first part,” I said. “‘Are you crazy?! I’m not letting some damned humans look after us,’ right?”

“And then he got a fierce scolding for it,” said Alna.

Fran was hopping around our legs begging for pats for his efforts, though he shook his head as if to say, Can you believe that guy?

The Palace Storehouse, the Royal Capital—Richard

At the bottom of a long staircase at the southern end of the royal palace was a cellar being used as a storehouse. Prince Richard was down there alone, and while he was indeed checking on things a touch early, he wanted to be sure about the goods and money that had begun to accumulate. After a time, another set of footsteps could be heard descending the stairs, and an elderly knight appeared behind the prince.

“How goes the knights’ domain?” asked Richard.

The candle in its holder on the wall flickered as the knight, Sild, replied.

“They’ve only just begun work,” he said, a little troubled, “and unfortunately there is very little to report. However, the knights that have entered the domain have received rewards beyond their expectations. This has pleased them greatly, and they have thrown themselves into the work most conscientiously.”

“I see... I’m glad to hear it. But why have you decided to see me here, when you know better than any how busy I am?”

“I have a report, Your Highness. A noble from the western frontier, Count Ellar, has arrived in the royal capital. He holds himself as though he is Duke Baarbadal’s representative. Though we have discerned that he is not the duke’s official proxy, he acts very much as though he may well hold that position some time in the near future. I thought you should know, in case you think it necessary that we take action.”

It wasn’t until he heard this report that Prince Richard saw fit to turn around and face the knight. He looked equal parts surprised and annoyed, and he dropped into thought. When he spoke, however, it was with great calm.

“I must admit, I’m surprised that the duke would have the count working in such a capacity, but upon further thought, having the count here in his stead works far, far better for us than having the duke himself. If he were to try visiting the capital and engaging with noble society, who knows what tragedy would await? Noble heads would roll, I’m certain of it. I don’t know who the count is, but if he’s a run-of-the-mill noble, then I’ll take him over the duke.”

“We’ve done a little reconnaissance, and he’s very much an old-fashioned type. Very...run-of-the-mill, as you put it. He hasn’t caused any problems since his arrival in the capital, and he hasn’t made any substantial moves. If anything, he’s keeping things relatively quiet. We also have reason to believe that we aren’t the only ones who took a closer look at him—we think the guild might have done the same.”

“I’d have to assume they want to know if they can trust him with the position of the duke’s representative in an official capacity. That means we need not take any action... Actually, send a few from within our own faction to praise the count for his efforts. Sending an official messenger is unnecessary. As he’s a more traditional noble, that should be a clear enough message to the count that we accept his behavior.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

Sild saw this as his cue to leave, but before he could, Richard slapped a gaudy wooden box sitting upon a shelf, drawing the knight’s attention. It clinked with the heavy sound of countless coins, and Richard told Sild that it was to be used for the governance of the knights’ domain. The knight placed his hand on his chest in salute, took the box, and then left. Richard nodded briefly before once more losing himself in his work.

The Domain Lord’s Office in Merangal, Mahati—Juha and Eldan

“Finally... We’ve finally done it...” muttered Juha, dumping a stack of papers on the desk at the far end of the domain lord’s office.

Finalizing everything had left a great many of the nation’s civil and military officers completely and utterly exhausted, and they had collapsed, sleeping like the dead in the domain lord’s office.

It had all started several months ago, with the rebel uprising in Mahati. Juha had been left frustrated that he had been unable to predict its rapid advancement and unable to stop it. He had vowed that such a thing would never happen again on his watch and had come up with a plan. And to see that plan realized, he had worked tirelessly and without rest until this very day.

To quell future rebellions, Juha had decided against a more pervasive watch over the population. He had also decided against using the nation’s greater authority to keep the populace under firm control. He had instead poured huge swathes of Mahati’s resources into enriching the lives of the nation’s citizens—facilities had been constructed; the arts were encouraged and promoted; and song, dance, and art could be enjoyed almost everywhere.

Juha’s plan was to bring the populace such joy that the very idea of rebellion never even entered their minds. It had taken a breathtaking amount of work and a staggering amount of money, but it was finally beginning to bear fruit.

At first the changes had been subtle—almost invisible. The crime rate had slowly dropped, and with it the number of thieves and bandits. Households and pubs once ripe for potential crime saw less trouble, and smiles could be seen more often among the regular citizenry. People had less to complain about and more in the way of good stories to share, and slowly Mahati’s economy began to thrive as a result.

When Juha had first suggested his grand plan, some had spoken up vehemently against it, questioning whether it had any meaning at all. For the first few months those voices had grown louder still as people had pointed to the fact that Juha’s plan had changed nothing. But that was then—now everyone had no choice but to acknowledge Juha’s efforts. Even those who had railed against him for failing to defend against the last rebellion had nothing more to say.

“The results speak for themselves,” said Eldan, “but it was a behemoth of an undertaking... I never want to have to do that again...”

Eldan slumped back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. He felt just as listless and sluggish as when he’d suffered from the malady now cured by the sanjivani.

“You and me both,” replied Juha.

The duke’s military adviser stood up and left the room on shaky feet. He was heading to the pub for the first time in many long months, and he deserved it. Kamalotz entered as Juha left, and Eldan turned to his right-hand man.

“How are they all doing?” he asked.

He was asking about his wives, none of whom he had been able to spend much time with in recent days.

“They are all well,” replied Kamalotz with a gentle smile. “All of the expecting mothers are in fine health, and Patty is especially energetic—perhaps thanks to the herbal tea she received from Senai and Ayhan.”

Eldan smiled. The discovery that Patty was pregnant seemed to have acted as a stimulant, and in the months following several of Eldan’s wives had fallen pregnant. The doctors who had once watched carefully over Eldan now had their hands full with his pregnant wives.

Still, while the days were hectic and sometimes stressful, Eldan’s wives and his doctors were all smiles, seemingly enjoying every moment. Eldan thought of the joy he’d seen on their faces, and it made him look forward to the birth of his future children. Though at the same time, he could not help but think of the herbal tea he and Patty had received—a tea powerful enough to cure him of a lifelong debilitating affliction.

Eldan put his hand to his jaw and fell into deep thought. After much deliberation, and thinking not just of his wives but of his friend Dias and the people who had gathered around him, he spoke.

“Which reminds me, do they offer prayers for safe births at the temple? As both a domain lord and a member of the nobility, ties with the temple are of great importance, and it would mean trouble if we were to shun such responsibilities.”

“You are correct, my lord,” replied Kamalotz, “but unfortunately, as it stands, the temples would not welcome your family.”

The temples of Sanserife followed the ways of the modernists, who promoted discrimination against beastkin and demi-humans. Their ways were slowly seeping into Mahati territory, and the thought of it left Kamalotz wincing. But Eldan knew this too, and it gave him cause to flash a knowing smile.

“But we cannot go without such prayers, being that they are for both my wives and the children inside of them,” he said. “So I am thinking that instead of the temples here in Mahati, we travel to our neighbors in Baarbadal. A god descended upon their domain not so long ago, after all, and perhaps we can ask for the priests at their temple to offer up prayers?”

Eldan knew that at this stage, it was best for Patty to remain in Mahati, but his other wives would be fine to make the journey to the neighboring Baarbadal.

“I am aware that we will be placing something of a strain on Dias and his people, and that the...herbal tea they serve there is a sensitive topic, but this is for the sake of my wives and future children. I must act. My mother is beside herself with worry to think that one of her grandchildren might be born with the same affliction I once suffered from... If there exists any potential to eliminate such a thing from happening, I must pursue it.”

A god—or at least something like one—had indeed appeared in Baarbadal. The news had come by way of Sulio and his fellow lionkin, and while there were yet many who doubted the veracity of their claims, Eldan and Kamalotz were not among them. They and a few others were certain that the news was true, and they had reason for believing it—namely that Baarbadal had already received the blessings of the gods in the form of the sanjivani. If he had done enough to receive such a miraculous plant, it was not very difficult to believe that he would also be graced by the presence of the gods themselves.

Eldan and Kamalotz had felt the power of that very plant firsthand, and if Eldan’s wives were to receive its blessing, he was sure they would give birth to healthy children. Entrusting their prayers to the Baarbadal temple would also work to keep the modernists at bay. Then there was the simple fact that Eldan simply wanted to see his friend after so long. All of these were good things, and Eldan quickly found himself reinvigorated.

“Aha,” said Kamalotz. “A fine idea. That said, it would be rude of us to visit simply to ask for such blessings, and so it is imperative that we prepare gifts of thanks that go well beyond mere tokens of our gratitude. We’ve had a good harvest, so we have much to give. Sugar, tea, spices, livestock, and... Ah, yes. Lady Alna is a fan of jewels, is she not? We should purchase the jewels that were discovered by the river recently—they will make a fine gift.”

By his expression, it was clear that Kamalotz felt very much as Eldan did.

“Hmm...” murmured Eldan, rubbing his jaw. “All good ideas, but we should prepare a gift to celebrate the construction of their new temple as well—something they can decorate it with. I’d like nothing more than to prepare a statue of their god...but such a work of art cannot be rushed. We’ll need to get accurate measurements, make plans, and get a list of the necessary supplies. Kamalotz, please talk with Sulio, Leode, and Cleve again, and begin preparing whatever we think Dias might want or need.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

Eldan watched Kamalotz leave, then raised his arms up towards the ceiling and stretched. There was more muscle on them now, and Eldan was in the mood for training, so he strode towards the central gardens, where he always exercised.

Acting as Iluk’s Tour Guide—Dias

It’d been a day since the mother baar had told us about her husband’s misadventure. I thought it best for me to have a good talk with the guy, so I went to their yurt. He was actually much calmer than I’d expected, which I guess could be attributed to the fact that his wife had chewed him out but good the day before.

In any case, he’d accepted that they were going to see out the winter in Iluk, and he was okay with the idea that they’d be paying for their accommodation and protection with wool. The whole conversation went much more smoothly than I’d anticipated.

Sure, the father baar had recklessly plunged horns-first into monster territory, and sure, he’d been dead set against the idea of living in Iluk Village, but...in the end that came down to the fact that it was his first marriage and his first child (or children). He’d been forced to adapt quickly to circumstances outside of what he was used to, and it had shaken him. He’d responded to that by going a bit wild...or at least, that’s how he explained it.

As I’ve said before, baars were usually cowardly creatures, and they certainly weren’t the sort of animal to charge into monster-infested lands. But sometimes they were born more bold, like this father baar. These reckless baars were a constant source of trouble for their herds, but sometimes, if they learned to control their own stubbornly strong wills, they became the sort of herd leaders that others looked up to as heroes.

When I thought of Iluk’s baar population, I could see a little of that same personality trait in Fran, and I wondered if perhaps we should keep an eye on him to make sure he didn’t do anything too crazy one of these days.

“Baa baa baa?”

The bleating of the father baar roused me from my thoughts. I’d been showing him around the village with the mother baar—she was curious too. I didn’t know what they were both bleating about, but fortunately I had Franz splayed out atop my head, acting as a lazy translator.

Franz was about as laid-back as baars got, and his slow, languid bleats were just another part of it. Still, he helped me understand what the two baars were asking.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, that’s our laundry space,” I said. “It’s not finished yet, but for now we’ve got a roof, the washing space, and the ovens you see there. It’s where we wash our clothes, our pajamas, and the baar wool we intend to sell. The cavekin ladies did most of the construction... Actually, at the moment they’re working on making some barrel contraption with a handle that you crank to spin it. Apparently it makes washing real easy. Now, I don’t know if it’s actually possible—I’ve never seen it before—but they tell me there are stories about it going way back in cavekin culture. They’re trying to replicate it.”

The cavekin had laid a wide flooring space like we had for the kitchen range and put a pillar in the center to hold up the roof. There was a section for washing at the river, another section for drawing water from the river, a well for when the river water was dirty, and ovens for whenever laundry had to be boiled. And, of course, there was a dedicated spot for drying it all.

The drying section of the space was split between roofed and open, and there were poles and step ladders so that even the dogkin could put things up and take things down without trouble. Even now some dogkin were there, all working in long aprons to make sure their fur didn’t get on anything.

Not far from the laundry space was a spot for the cavekin to build and test new tools for it, and they had a number of those barrels spinning. Some of them were broken, so I guessed that they must have been failed attempts.

On the washing line at present was a whole lot of baar cloth, all of it waving gently in the breeze. Franz lazily informed the father and mother baar of how it all worked, and they looked really shocked about it. They bleated out their surprise and Franz casually translated their comments for me.

It turned out that they were initially surprised that their wool could even be made into such cloth. More than that, though, they were surprised that we handled it so carefully and had even built a dedicated place to clean it.

“Baa baa baa baa!” bleated the father baar.

“Baa! Baa baa!” replied the mother baar with a scolding tone.

She followed it up with a firm headbutt to the side of his face.

“I’m guessing he said that if their wool is so valuable, then we should be treating them like kings, and then his wife put him in his place, yeah?”

Franz yawned a sluggish bleat that I read as “Yep.”

We’d already told the baars about the price of baar wool, and we’d also told them we wanted as many as we could get at the village. But even then the father baar couldn’t help himself—it was like he was always itching to make another snide remark. I was getting a little fed up with it. The mother baar must have seen that on my face, because she bleated awkwardly and apologetically.

“Look, I know what he’s like, but he has his good points too,” she seemed to say.

It made me think that the father baar really was blessed to have a wife that would stick up for him like that. Just as I was thinking that, I heard a familiar flapping of wings. But it was a lighter flapping than Sahhi and the falconkin, with a gentle, almost musical rhythm to it. It was Geraint, and while he wasn’t a threat, the wild baars still moved instinctively, hiding themselves in the tall grass nearby.

“It has been an age, Duke Baarbadal,” said Geraint, landing on my outstretched arm. “Hoo hoo hoo! Iluk Village is a truly marvelous sight to behold now! I almost don’t recognize it!”

“Hello there, Geraint,” I replied. “Uh, have you put on some weight? You look really well, so I’m glad to see it.”

Geraint laughed at my comment, and it seemed to reassure the two wild baars, who looked at the dovekin with curiosity brimming in their eyes. Geraint noticed them but didn’t take any real notice, as he understood Iluk to be home to many baars. Instead, he got straight down to business.

“I am here in advance of my master, Lord Eldan, to inform you that he has heard about your newly erected temple and would love to visit to celebrate its construction. He is expected to arrive at the border station tomorrow and will be traveling with a group of twenty-five, made up of his wives, Sir Kamalotz, and his security retinue. He has prepared a number of gifts for you too, and he hopes that you will host him while he stays.”

“Well, of course I will,” I replied. “It’ll be great to see Eldan after all this time. But tell him that he doesn’t need to go overboard with his gifts, okay? And as for our temple... Honestly, it’s a pretty simple building at present, and I feel a little bad getting him excited about something so plain...”

Geraint, however, only laughed.

“Pay it no mind. Eldan would of course like to celebrate the opening of your temple, but he also has good news to share. That, and he would like to personally thank you for your support during the rebellion some months ago.”

Geraint told me that things in Mahati had calmed thanks in large part to Iluk’s efforts, and that with its new safety the economy was booming.

“But I’m sure Eldan is excited to tell you all about Mahati’s improved state of living himself,” continued Geraint. “Still, that everything was handled so swiftly is in large part thanks to your efforts, Duke Baarbadal. Eldan and all of his loyal subjects are nothing but grateful to you and your forces.”

Geraint chuckled again and, having gotten my permission, took off to inform Eldan. I watched him fly off into the distance, hooting with each flap of his wings, and it was then that I realized Franz was asleep. Or at least, he was until I raised my head, which woke him up.

“Baa?” he bleated, gripping my head tighter with his little hooves before gently knocking me on the head with them to express his displeasure.

Passing Through the Forest to the Border Station—Eldan

Eldan’s entourage rode along the paved road through the forest and reached a most impressive border station when they made it to its midpoint. It was, to be completely honest, far more impressive than any could have expected.

More than its large and imposing walls, the station also boasted watchtowers and walkways. With his heightened sense of smell and hearing, Eldan also knew that there were other security contrivances at play here, invisible to the naked eye. He heard dogkin bustling about on the walkways, behind the walls, and even in underground passages. Above the watchtowers as well, he sensed a number of invisible observers watching them.

Sulio told us about Baarbadal’s border stations, but these defenses are far beyond any such station I’ve seen... This is a veritable fortress. But it is vast even when compared to other proper fortresses... Just what do they intend to defend against here? A fortification like this in the midst of a forest that’s already difficult to navigate... Even my own military would struggle to attack this place.

Eldan poked his head from his carriage—a carriage that was luxuriously decorated to the extreme—and took the border station in. The front gates opened, and as they proceeded inside he saw wells, farming fields, workshops, houses, and a number of storehouses to keep the whole place running.

Indeed, this is no border station. This is a fortress.

Eldan was shocked. It was written all over his face. Sulio’s report had clearly been severely lacking in pertinent details. It was then that the border station captain, Klaus, approached. He was dressed in earth dragon armor—his formal wear.

“Duke Mahati, we humbly welcome you to the domain of Baarbadal. Our lord, the venerable Dias, is eagerly awaiting your arrival in Iluk Village. It is my honor to act as your guide today on the way to...”

It was a most spectacular introduction, as polite as it was respectful. The entourage was received warmly and its horses were fed, and Klaus insisted that Eldan speak if he should need for anything whatsoever. Eldan replied politely in kind while his horses were taken care of by a number of small-ilk dogkin and Klaus’s wife, Canis.

Carpets were rolled out for Eldan and his people to sit on and relax, and freshly brewed tea was served along with light snacks. Eldan indulged in the hospitality, his thoughts racing the entire time.

Armor is the proper formal wear for a knight, which would indicate that the captain seeks such a rank. I had heard that Baarbadal had employed an etiquette instructor, but I had not expected their impact to have reached as far as the domain’s borders... Klaus’s manners are not perfect, but they have vastly improved over the last time I saw him. He’s been working hard, clearly, and I just cannot wait to see Dias!

Still, I could never have expected that even the small-ilk dogkin’s manners would improve too! How it vexes me that I could not make better use of them when they lived in Mahati...

Eldan simply couldn’t help but feel a little frustration about the small-ilk dogkin as he talked with Klaus, his entourage happily enjoying the tea they were served, and their horses given the highest level of care Baarbadal was capable of. But once the horses were fed and rested, it was back on the road to Iluk Village.

Klaus led Eldan’s carriages from atop his own horse, accompanied by a number of dogkin. Eldan also sensed a number of presences trailing behind them too, though he could not see them. With Klaus leaving the border station, Canis assumed the role of captain while he was gone, and with her were the remaining dogkin and a few more of the invisible presences that Eldan had picked up on. The border station was a formidable defensive structure now, and none were worried in the slightest at Klaus’s short absence.

In a sense, this border station is exactly what you might expect from Dias and Klaus, both of whom spent many long years at war. It is a rugged, simple construction that puts a clear priority on defense. It is a border station that does not feel like the ordinary sort...

Eldan passed the time thinking on this matter and speaking to the two wives that accompanied him in his carriage. He had brought six of his wives with him on this trip, and the remaining four followed closely behind him in a separate carriage, in which they could more easily relax and rest their bodies. That said, all six wives were healthy, and the road to Baarbadal had proven a smoother journey than all expected.

Everybody was in good spirits thanks to the hospitality they’d received, the gentle gait of the carriage horses, and the recently constructed road through the domain. The road kept the carriages from rocking to and fro, and looking back, Eldan felt there was a world of difference between this trip and his first. It was so comfortable, in fact, that Eldan felt it was perhaps worth visiting his neighbor more often...and he could tell by the smiles on his wives’ faces that they all felt likewise.

Eldan turned his gaze out the window to the grassy plains swaying in the wind like waves of green. He opened the window for a better look, and a refreshing breeze rolled into the carriage, carrying with it scents that could be found nowhere in Mahati. There was of course the grassy aroma Eldan was familiar with, but he also caught the aroma of spices, which told him they were nearing Iluk Village.

Soon after, they heard the chatter of excited voices, the clacking of looms, and the clanging of forge hammers. It was a cacophony that, in its totality, spoke of the many ways in which Iluk had grown and developed.

“To think they’ve made such leaps and bounds in only a year...” Eldan muttered.

He still had yet to lay eyes on the place, but he felt it all through his nose and ears. His wives, however, simply smiled.

“We’d expect no less of one you look upon as a dear friend,” said one.

“But you’re working just as hard, if you ask me!” said the other.

At That Time, in Iluk Village—Dias

Eldan was on his way to Iluk. A dogkin had been sent ahead of Klaus to inform us, and Iluk’s bustling energy ratcheted up a notch. Lady Darrell had taken charge of preparations for Eldan’s welcome, but given that he was coming to celebrate the construction of our temple, Uncle Ben, Fendia, and all the paladins were also hard at work making sure everything was set. Alna and the twins were of course a part of it all, and they just couldn’t wait for Eldan to arrive—they’d all dressed up in the outfits that Neha had given them the last time we met. As they walked around the village, their long skirts fluttered behind them, creating rainbows of blues and reds and yellows. They also had long shawls that went from their heads to their legs, secured in place so that even with all their moving around, nothing came out of place.

As for me, well, I just watched everyone rushing about while my hands were busy brushing the young baars and the father baar. There was no heavy lifting for me to handle, and I was under strict orders to stay put. I was dressed in the formal wear I’d worn the last time we went to Mahati, and I was being careful not to get it dirty.

So basically, I was just hanging out with the baars.

“Baaa baa baa,” bleated the father baar.

Fran kindly translated the message for me, which was basically the father baar making a bit of a snide comment about how weird it was for the leader of the herd to have so little to do. I didn’t reply—I just kept on brushing.

I mean, maybe I could have helped out the grandmas or the cavekin with what they were doing, but that would have made it even more likely that I’d just dirty my outfit. Brushing wasn’t especially helpful in the grand scheme of things, and the baars tried to keep themselves looking pristine anyway, but brushing them was the one thing I could do without too much worry.

Just as I was mulling that over in my mind, a group of sheps sped into the village square.

“Our guests have arrived!” cried one.

“They’ll be here in just a few moments!” shouted another.

“And boy, do they have a lot of carriages!” added yet another.

They sped around the village shouting their report, and it looked like they were having a blast—they kept on running even when they were done. They raced around the square and then over to me, and when they saw the brush in my hand they started hounding me about giving them a brushing because they’d done such a good job informing everybody of our guests’ arrival.

So because they had done such a good job, I gave them all a good brushing and then finally stood up so I could greet Eldan and his people. That was when Grandma Maya and a few friends appeared practically out of nowhere with baar cloth, which they used to wipe all the fur off my clothes. Only then did they give me a gentle shove in the back and point me towards the incoming carriages.

Actually, the grandmas had pointed me in the direction of Alna and the twins, all at the ready after having finished their own preparations. Aymer and Lady Darrell were also with them, so I got a move on and joined them.

It wasn’t long before Klaus appeared on horseback. He was trotting towards us at a relaxed pace, and behind him was a truly finely crafted and luxurious carriage if I ever saw one. It was black with gold trim, with artwork painted across its body and what might have been expensive jewels decorating its roof.

Eldan had visited us once before in his bed-like carriage, and that had looked plenty expensive, but the one he was in now made “luxurious” not sound like enough to describe it.

The surprises didn’t end there though—behind the main carriage were others. The one right behind the main carriage wasn’t as glamorous as the first, but it was a fine carriage in its own right. The first two were the most exceptional, and the five that followed were comparatively ordinary. The whole entourage was surrounded by guards, and honestly it was like welcoming a king to our lands.

Eldan had said he was coming with twenty-five people in total. I counted five carriages with five drivers, eight guards on foot, which made me think that all the carriages were for the twelve others, including Eldan. Then I noticed that Kamalotz was sitting next to the driver of the lead carriage, which meant eleven.

When I’d first met Eldan he was full of surprises, and I wondered if he had another in store for me. I was wondering what it could be as Klaus came over to announce Eldan’s arrival. At Kamalotz’s signal, all of Eldan’s carriages came to a halt.

The door of the main carriage opened, and Eldan appeared from it. Iluk’s villagers all started talking among themselves in hushed whispers. Those of us who’d been to Mahati recently knew that Eldan had changed, but none of the other villagers had seen Eldan’s transformation. He’d lost so much weight he looked like a different person, but I could see that he’d put on some muscle since we’d last met.

Eldan had really grown a whole lot in the last few months, and he looked like a full-fledged adult now. He helped his wives out of his carriage, then faced me for a greeting.

“Duke Baarbadal, it has been an age,” he loudly cheered. “I heard that you constructed a temple, and so I have brought my wives in the hopes that they might receive its prayers. I have also brought with me a humble selection of gifts that I hope you will accept in the spirit of goodwill.”

My eyes went wide. The way he spoke, it just wasn’t like the Eldan I knew.

“Oh, uh, it is wonderful to have you here,” I replied. “It is a true honor for us to have Duke Mahati visit our domain personally. I’ve no doubt that the gods are just as pleased as us.”

Now it was Eldan’s turn to look shocked, because I sure wasn’t speaking like the Dias he knew either. But after a few seconds Eldan burst into laughter—and infected me with it too. While we were chuckling at our formal introductions, Alna and the twins introduced themselves, and Eldan’s wives did the same.

The nervousness in the air dissipated as we caught our breath, and Eldan turned to Kamalotz to signal something before clearing his throat to speak to me again.

“Sir Dias, I am here today for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I wanted to see you, my dear friend. I also wanted to help celebrate the construction of your temple and thank you personally for the role you played in helping to quell the rebellion in Mahati. Finally, I have come in the hopes that your temple might offer prayers for my pregnant wives, that they may give birth to healthy children. I come of course bearing gifts I offer in the name of gratitude for the service. There’s so much I want to talk to you about, but would it be okay for us to see to the prayers first?”

The tone of voice I remembered was back now, but there was a new, confident grace in the way he spoke. I nodded and was about to show Eldan to the temple when Uncle Ben appeared at my side and slid in front of Eldan.

“Welcome to Baarbadal, Duke Mahati,” he said. “I, the humble Bendia, have the honor of overseeing our temple. Please allow me to see you safely there and offer up prayers for your wives.”

There was a gentle smile on Uncle Ben’s face the likes of which I’d never seen, but when he turned to me, the mask was off and he looked as stern as always.

“Dias, you’re with Alna. Make sure Eldan’s horses are taken care of. Oh, come to think of it, Eldan’s wives are going to need somebody to look after them while we offer prayers. Senai, Ayhan, would you two be so kind as to help us out? You don’t mind, do you, Alna?”

I...didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t really make heads or tails of Uncle Ben’s orders to me. Eldan’s guards were being looked after by Grandmas Pison and Jimechi, who worked the guest house, and Lady Darrell was already making sure things were running smoothly. I didn’t think there was any need to leave me here... Come to think of it, I didn’t know why he’d chosen the twins to help him out instead of Alna or one of the other grandmas.

Uncle Ben must have seen my confusion, and he decided to confuse me further.

“Come on, Dias, we’re not going to anger the gods with something like this. I know you’re not the greedy type, so we don’t need to worry about our plant withering and turning to dust.”

I had no idea what Uncle Ben was talking about, but Eldan suddenly looked tense, and I noticed him go a little pale. Alna gave Uncle Ben the thumbs up, and the twins ran by with their hands hidden in the folds of their outfits as if they were hiding something. They ran on ahead while Uncle Ben took Eldan and his wives to the temple.

Alna, for her part, did exactly as Uncle Ben had told us and started taking care of the horses. I was still confused, but I shrugged it off and got to helping out.

“Lord Dias,” said Kamalotz, “I have here the list of gifts that Lord Eldan mentioned earlier. This list catalogs the gifts to celebrate the temple, while this one contains the gifts for you and, by extension, the Baarbadal domain. We’re going to unload it all from the carriages now, so could you please ensure everything is in order?”

And just like that, I had two lists in my hands. I scanned both of them, and my goodness, these lists were long. On the other hand, seeing the lists at least answered one of the questions I’d had since Eldan first arrived.

“Makes sense...” I muttered to myself. “You’d need a lot of carriages to carry all of this stuff...”

It was then that the answer to my question brought on yet another question—why was Eldan giving us so much to celebrate the construction of our temple? But try as I might, I could not find an answer, and so I decided I’d just get to making sure that everything on the list was accounted for.

We had a lot of people unloading all the goods. There were Aisa, Ely, the dogkin, the cavekin, Joe’s platoon who had come as security, and even the goblins. While I was looking everything over, Lady Darrell arrived at my side with Hubert—who had been readying the storehouses for all the new stuff—to help me out.

We weren’t trading anything with Eldan, so we didn’t need to worry too much about the finer details; we just had to make sure everything looked about right. Still, we were talking lists that were pages long, and I still couldn’t get over just how much there was.

“Kamalotz,” I said. “Don’t you think this is just too much for our temple? I think this is the most you’ve ever brought us...ever.”

Kamalotz looked as calm as ever as he replied.

“The Baarbadal domain has grown far bigger since we last visited, as has its population, and so it is only natural that we bring you more to accommodate this growth,” Kamalotz said, sounding very much like everything had already been decided and was completely and utterly final. “The Mahati domain’s economy is also in an excellent place at present, and so we haven’t gone beyond our means to bring you all of this.”

Kamalotz assured me that Eldan had been overjoyed to hear about the new temple and wanted nothing more than to celebrate it appropriately. His joy was in large part due to the fact that the current religious teachings by the modernists in the royal capital did not sit well with him. At the same time, some of the teachings in the traditional doctrine were no less difficult for him to accept. He had felt at his wit’s end, and the arrival of a god in Baarbadal felt very much to Eldan like the gods literally offering him a helping hand.

“We do not think it a coincidence that Sulio and his two lionkin friends were present when the god appeared here in Baarbadal,” continued Kamalotz. “We are certain, in fact, that it was the will of the gods, and with that in mind, it is only natural that we prepare you gifts befitting such an event.”

He spoke without a hint of hesitation, smiling all the while, but actually that made the whole thing even more suspicious. I felt like he was hiding something, but on the other hand...I didn’t feel any ill will or scheming, and Alna was right by the carriages and didn’t say a word. I decided it was better to take what he was saying at face value.

“Well, then,” I said, “if that’s the case, then we’ll gladly accept what you’ve brought for us. And by the way, there’s livestock at the end of this list here—I see it says goats and white ghee—but I don’t see any.”

“Given the sheer number prepared for you, we thought that bringing it all at once would only serve to cause you trouble. For that reason, we’ve brought with us ownership rights to pass on to you. The livestock is being treated with the utmost care at Lord Eldan’s residence and ready to be transported to you the very moment you say the word.”

Kamalotz said that it was also totally fine for us to have the livestock sold at the local markets or given to somebody else. He also said we could visit Mahati again and have them cooked up for a barbecue if that’s what we wanted.

“Huh, so that’s how it works,” I uttered. “You know, this is perfect timing. We were literally just thinking about getting ourselves more donkeys, goats, ghee, and whatnot. We’re doing pretty good in the food department, but on that note... We’ve been buying up a whole lot of food from the Mahati markets of late. Is that going to cause any problems, Kamalotz?”

Our village had grown, and that meant we were consuming more food. There was a limit to what we could do in terms of hunting, farming, and gathering, and I was worried that maybe we were taking too much from Eldan’s own people.

“Quite the contrary, Lord Dias,” replied Kamalotz with a warm smile. “With the rebellion having ended, we’ve lost much in the way of sales to the armed forces, and with so many returning to their farms, the harvests have been so bountiful we’ve had trouble finding buyers. The merchants and local farmers are only too happy to have you buying such impressive amounts, and even Lord Eldan himself couldn’t be happier. Should you opt to hold back, it would only make things more difficult on our producers and distributors, so we do hope you’ll keep buying from us. And of course, given the amounts you buy and our gratitude, we’ll do our utmost to make sure you get the appropriate discount.”

Kamalotz’s smile wasn’t hiding anything this time. It was a pure, honest smile. I nodded at him and went back to checking the lists he’d given me. When most of the checking and unloading was done, the guards and our villagers sat down to take a break, and the grandmas were on hand to bring them freshly brewed tea. A welcome calm filled the air.

Nobody had actually announced or so much as mentioned that we’d be taking a break. It was more like we’d all just kind of collectively decided that we’d relax until Eldan got back from the prayers at the temple. That was when a young masti came up to me with a big box decorated extravagantly in gold.

“Lord Dias!” the masti barked. “Look at this tremendous piece of work! Reckon we ought to put it in your yurt instead of the storehouse?”

The masti held the box up so I could see it, and I sat down to take it in my hands and get a better look at it. I made sure the masti could see when I opened it, because the little guy sure was curious. Inside was a leather bag, and when I opened it I saw that it was filled with jewels.

“Wow, Lord Dias!” barked the dogkin, his eyes glimmering. “That bag’s jam-packed! Boy oh boy, I was right when I said we should store it in your yurt, huh? That’s gotta be the safest place for it!”

“Yes indeed,” I replied, giving the dogkin a pat on the head. “We’ll keep the bag and the box in my yurt. I reckon Alna’s the best person to look after the jewels, so would you mind taking them to her and asking what she wants to do with them?”

The dogkin nodded happily. He made sure the bag was closed up tight and that it was safely inside the box before carefully placing the lid back on the top. He handled it all with great care as he raced off to Alna. For my part, I picked myself up and brushed the dirt and dust from my pants just as one of the resting guards stood up and started walking my way.

The guard had a curved sword hanging from his belt and wore clothing similar to Eldan’s, though the jacket part was open on account of his bulging belly. That belly, along with his face and his hide, reminded me a lot of a boar. I say he had a belly, but he was more muscular than he was fat, and I could tell by the way he held himself that he was a man who stayed in shape.

He had a scar on his forehead, and with his impressive tusks I had to think he was probably a boarkin. Based on the feel I got from him and his expression, I figured he was about my age, or maybe a bit older.

In any case, that boarkin walked over to me, his earrings clinking together as he approached and his eyes watching me very carefully. I’d felt that look of his before, and the pressure in his bearing was all too familiar to me. I straightened my back and looked him right in the eye.

Facing Dias—Glin the Boarkin

Glin’s lord, the great Eldan, respected the human Dias so much that he called the man a sworn brother. This same Dias had bested even the lionkin Sulio in a test of strength. But Glin was not one to back down, and he had taken it upon himself to size Dias up, man-to-man, and sent him a fierce glare to declare his intent.

The boarkin was now discovering firsthand what it meant to know true intimidation.

This overwhelming pressure. It’s unbearable. I’m supposed to be giving him a piece of my mind, but I cannot so much as manage one word! Are you telling me that Sulio endured this but pushed through it to take this human on in hand-to-hand combat?! I laughed at the lionkin’s folly and thought his loss pathetic, but now I realize the sheer will it takes to even make such a challenge!

Glin tried to open his mouth. He tried to speak. But try as he might, his jaw would not obey. The pressure that exuded from Dias had come as if out of nowhere the very moment that Glin had shot him a glare. He had merely wanted to intimidate the human, but Dias had responded with a silent, invisible menace all his own. It took hold of the boarkin’s spirit and shrunk it down to nothing.

When I saw him just moments ago he struck me as nothing special, but...is he as generous with his allies as he is merciless to his foes? Was it wrong to allow even a flash of enmity to show? But how could I do otherwise?! How can I allow a human to best me...?!

Glin racked his brain and eventually decided that discretion was the better part of valor. He pushed down his hostility and forced a smile to his face.

“D-Duke Baarbadal,” he stammered. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance and to meet a hero like yourself. Such were my nerves that I fear I might have given you the wrong impression. I beg your forgiveness.”

The moment he uttered the last words of his statement, Dias’s pressure lifted from Glin like a boulder from the boarkin’s shoulders. He flashed an easy smile and offered Glin a casual greeting.

How does one defeat such a human?! An impossible task, and yet one I cannot ignore. Even now there are a great many human supremacists in Mahati, and I will not stand for one to rise among them as a figurehead. To leave Dias to his own devices is to invite the invasion of our home! How is it possible that the gods chose this man to grace with their presence? What were they thinking?!

When Glin had heard Sulio’s report of the god descending on Baarbadal, it had left him terrified. He had known then that he had to make sure that the days of the past—the days of slavery—never returned to his home. He had resolved to take Dias down, no matter the cost, and if he could not do so directly then he would turn his focus to those around him.

Glin thought of all of this while he maintained a friendly smile and chatted with Lord Dias, then looked around until his eyes spotted the village’s small-ilk dogkin. His mind raced, searching for a way to strike a defiant blow against humankind.

In the Temple Common Room—Eldan

While Eldan’s wives were being seen to by the twins and the priestess Fendia in the temple’s dedicated prayer hall, Eldan was taken to the common room to wait. The room was spacious, had a carpeted floor, and boasted impressive windows through which there flowed a pleasant breeze. Eldan sat on the comfort of the room’s carpet, his legs crossed as he sipped at the tea he’d been served.

Behind Eldan were his two beastkin guards, and with them the kindly paladin Pierre, who had stayed in Mahati for a few days on his way to Baarbadal. A few dogkin assistants could also be seen running here and there while they saw to various tasks around the temple.

In front of Eldan sat none other than Dias’s uncle, Ben. The man’s manners were immaculate, his every movement shockingly graceful as he ensured that Eldan received hospitality befitting his status. So perfect was his etiquette that Eldan wondered why the village had even needed an etiquette instructor at all, but the old man’s manners outside of the temple were, well... In short, Ben behaved very much like any ordinary man his age, to the extent that it was difficult to believe that he was a priest at all.

Eldan could not help but wonder if it was all intentional. Had Ben foreseen Eldan’s true intentions? Had he perhaps already realized that Eldan’s visit was all in an effort to have his wives blessed by the sanjivani herb? Ben had already hinted at this in the words they’d shared thus far, and his countenance in each and every moment showed that he could read Eldan like an open book.

Eldan had prepared a vast array of gifts for Dias and the residents of his domain, but all the same he felt a certain inescapable guilt. He knew, after all, that to use the sanjivani for the wrong reasons was to see the plant wither away, never to be used again. The very thought sent a trickle of cold sweat down Eldan’s back.

Still, when Eldan thought of his wives, and when he thought of the children they would give birth to in the future, he knew that for as sorry as he was, he still wanted whatever he could get to ensure their health.

For a moment he wondered what Dias might think, but he was quite confident that Dias had no idea of his motives and that, even if he did, he would have no qualms about sharing the sanjivani. He would understand that Eldan was looking out for his family. But what of the other residents? What of the priest Ben with whom he now sat?

These thoughts clouded Eldan’s mind, but no matter how much he meditated on them, the worried skies over his heart never cleared, and eventually he decided it was more important, at least for now, to deepen his relationship with the temple’s head priest.

“I consider Lord Dias my sworn brother, and to see that he has a person such as yourself by his side brings me no end of joy,” said Eldan. “After all, my brother’s kindness knows no bounds. However, this kindness is a cause for concern on occasion, and he needs people like yourself supporting him in his efforts.”

Ben looked a little shocked when he heard the formality with which Eldan spoke.

“I am honored to receive such high praise,” Ben replied. “But you need not worry, for he is a man of far more than just kindness. While I have only ever heard the stories, there is no doubt that only one with a will to fight can survive twenty grueling years of war.”

“I often hear the stories of the past from my adviser Juha...but in getting to know Lord Dias, I have seen that a great deal of his success and achievements is due to those he keeps by his side...”

“Hmm? Yes, well, I can see how it might look that way, but... Ah, perfect timing.”

Ben’s gaze went past an open door to the corridor beyond it, where a man with a wooden leg was busying himself with some errand or another.

“Mont,” Ben called out, “would you be so kind as to tell the duke here a little about who Dias was during the time of the war?”

The man with the wooden leg looked a touch reluctant, but he entered the room all the same.

“I’m a busy man,” he said. “I’ve got things to do for the young ladies, but if it’s Sir Bendia calling on a favor, I’ll make time... Just bear in mind that if you’re expecting a story the likes of which will entertain a duke, you might be in for disappointment.”

Mont sat down in a corner of the room. After a few words with Ben, he stroked his chin and thought for a moment. He took his time, and when he was done he turned to face Eldan and began to speak.

“During the beginning and the middle of the war, many in the empire set their minds on solving the problem of how to vanquish Dias. They wanted him dead. But come the second half of the war, none were interested in tackling this problem. Why? Because any who held that desire had all been vanquished themselves.”

Dias, Mont said, showed a certain mercy—a certain kindness—to those who engaged him in direct battle.

“The goal of war is not to wipe out the enemy in their entirety. To rob your enemy of their morale is enough. Killing enemies that have fled or given up is meaningless, not to mention troublesome. Dias was lenient with those who surrendered, and he did not pursue those who fled from him in battle. But that kindness did not extend to those who resorted to tricks and subterfuge—and it is this merciless side of Dias that many speak of when they speak of Dias during the war.”

To back up his point, Mont brought up a battle that Eldan was familiar with.

“When that princess came here with her forces looking to overthrow Dias and invade his domain, she escaped with her life. You know why? Because she met him head-on. Could have been dumb luck on her part, but still...had she tried some underhanded trick on the guy, he would have hunted her to the ends of the earth to see justice meted out. Dias knows from experience that letting those kinds of people escape only means more victims—more allies and more friends left hurt.”

When Mont paused to let his words sink in, Eldan’s brow furrowed. Eldan had heard similar tales from Juha, and while he did not think that his adviser told any of his stories in jest, Eldan simply had difficulty taking Juha at his word—the Dias in the stories was simply far too removed from the one Eldan knew.

Yet now the truth seemed to finally impress itself upon him. Knowing Dias, and knowing just how generous, kind, and loving he was with his friends, Eldan could understand now that if he had indeed lost someone close to him in the midst of war, he might have responded with an unforgiving, unstoppable rage.

“I’m sure Juha’s already talked your ear off about this kind of thing already, but...I guess what I’m getting at is that kindness and tolerance are two different things. Dias is kind to his allies... He’s as kind to them as he is to his own family, which is why his rage is just as staggering when he sees his allies harmed. And it’s at its most powerful when his enemies target women, children, or the weak. Whenever an enemy used such a tactic, it wasn’t uncommon for even Dias’s own troops to run, tails between their legs, because they knew the tragedy that was soon to come... And well, I saw it myself. I’m a former imperial, but I can say with certainty that nobody should ever have to witness those sorts of massacres.”

Eldan shuddered. He was keenly aware in that moment that it was to everybody’s benefit and happiness—including Dias’s—that Dias was out here on the plains, where enemies were few and far between.

Strolling Through Iluk Village—Glin

Once he finished talking with Dias, Glin asked if he could take a look around the village, and strolled through the square. After a time he noticed that the village livestock had been put out to pasture, because the stables were empty save for the one dogkin cleaning them. Glin paused to watch them at work.

The dogkin wore leather boots, gloves, and an apron, and they had their mouth covered in a cloth mask. The pitchfork they used had been tinkered with so it was easier for the small-ilk to handle, and they put the tool to work moving new bundles of grass into the stables. The dogkin hummed as they worked, enjoying the task at hand, but Glin’s face twisted into a snarl, because he saw the situation very differently.

To Glin, it looked very much like the work of an entire stable—dirty work, to be clear—had been pushed onto a single dogkin. Wasn’t the cleaning of stables work more suited to a bigger-bodied individual, like a human? Making a small-ilk dogkin clean the stables was no different from having a child do the same thing, and Glin felt the dogkin should have been allowed out on the plains, where they could play freely.

All of these thoughts made Glin certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the dogkin he watched was disgruntled about their life here in Iluk. He walked closer to the dogkin and spoke to them, but he was careful not to raise his voice. He did not want to draw any unwanted attention.

“Hey there,” he said. “They’ve forced you into some demeaning work, I see. You’ve got it rough, huh?”

The young dogkin looked up curiously, confused by the boarkin, their nose busily sniffing the air. When they saw that it was Glin who had spoken, their nose wrinkled and a look of displeasure washed across their features...but they replied with not a word and went back to work.

If Glin could have heard the dogkin’s thoughts, he would have heard the following:

Who does this guy think he is? I’ve never seen him before, and he barely has a hint of the grassland scent on him. He’s not a villager, that’s for sure. Why would some out-of-towner decide to march in here and get in the way of me having a good time? I love this job!

Glin, however, was no mind reader, and so he went on, oblivious.

“So... How about coming back to Mahati? The economy is booming; it’s safe and secure. You’ll be given all the sugar and tea you could possibly want. Imagine that—a big pile of sugar to lick to your heart’s content. And I’m assuming you small-ilk have never had the pleasure of high-quality tea, right? I can’t imagine you’ve had much in the way of a good life here, forced to grovel under the rule of that damned human...”

The lines of displeasure etched into the young dogkin’s face only deepened as they listened to the boarkin.

Is this guy for real? We don’t get sugar and tea every day, but we get a good share of it. And all of us have tasted the good stuff.

Dias often made the dogkin a priority. He was impressed by all the hard work they did with their little bodies, and so he often offered them things like sweets and tea as a means to recuperate and ease the strain on their bodies. And when the young pups spoke more with their stomachs than their manners, Dias even gave them some of his own share. Sometimes that meant he was left with nothing for himself, but it never bothered him. Dias was always happy to share what he had.

That’s our Lord Dias. That’s the kind of leader he is.

The young dogkin with whom Glin spoke was a shep, and they had never tasted sugar or tea until they got to Baarbadal. They had never once had the chance in Mahati. And so the very idea that an outsider would attempt to disrespect and disrupt life here made the young shep mad. In Mahati, the small-ilk dogkin had never been entrusted with any job of significance, and they had never had a leader that they wanted to serve with all of their hearts. The shep and their fellow dogkin had been through hard times before meeting Dias, and as those thoughts bubbled in them, they let out a low, menacing growl.

Lord Dias was different from the tribe’s leaders. He was overwhelmingly strong, and to follow his lead was to feel safety and security unlike any other. He was a leader with a deeply pure scent, and under his watch the small-ilk dogkin tribes and families had been able to live life to the fullest, safe in the knowledge that they were protected.

And yet this guy who didn’t even understand their way of life—who looked down on them—had the gall to ask them back to Mahati? This guy who called their work lowly and thought they were groveling? The young shep was enraged, and their growl sent a message through the air that only the other small-ilk dogkin could discern.

Glin, meanwhile, had no idea what was happening. He couldn’t work out what had gotten the dogkin so angry, and it was then that he heard the other dogkin running in, their hair standing on end as they surrounded him. They barked angrily, ceaselessly, and Glin was left even more confused. He didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, but he was unable to move from where he stood.

Soon enough, others were drawn in by the barking—Glin’s traveling companions, the residents of Iluk, the baars, and even a big falcon. Trapped at the center of attention, Glin looked to calm the dogkin in the hopes that he might de-escalate the situation.

“C-Calm down, friends,” he stammered. “What’s gotten you all so riled up? I haven’t done anything bad, have I? I just made a simple suggestion, and I had all your best interests at heart!”

Unfortunately for the boarkin, his words only served to further anger the dogkin group, and it was at this point that Eldan himself appeared on the scene.

“Glin!” he cried angrily. “We are visitors here! This is a foreign domain! What did you do?”

Glin winced at the question, but before he could answer, a human gave Eldan a pat on the shoulder. He was an elderly man dressed in a priest’s robes.

“Everybody calm down,” he said, slowly approaching the dogkin Glin had first talked to. “That means you too, Sahre. The man’s a guest, so cool down. I’ve already heard about it from the others, and I understand how you feel, but control yourself please. Your honesty is truly a virtue, but there’s a time and a place, my friend.”

The old man knelt down as he spoke to the young shep, and the dogkin’s expression softened. Their tail had been pointed skyward, but it now sunk down as if to express the shep’s dejection. When the old man saw this, he gave the dogkin a reassuring pat on the head.

“Sir Ben,” said Eldan, bowing. “I apologize for the trouble we’ve caused...”

The man named Ben told Eldan that there was no need for apologies. He smiled as he stood up, then turned his gaze on Glin and walked slowly towards him.

“It would appear there’s been a misunderstanding,” he said. “From what I’ve heard, you had Sahre and the other dogkin in mind when you spoke to them, but unfortunately there was a miscommunication of sorts. In the future, I ask that you direct your...kindness to me and my colleagues.”

Ben had brought calm back to the area, but Glin felt a force from the old man that glued him to the floor. Even with the dogkin calmed, Glin couldn’t bring himself to move. The pressure was similar to what he’d felt from Dias, and while Ben maintained a gentle smile, the energy emanating from him could not be ignored. Glin was aghast. He could not stand the idea that he was being so thoroughly brought to heel by a human of such advanced age, and without thinking he turned to Eldan to plead his case.

“Lord Eldan! I swear...I only had everyone’s best interests in mind!”

A flood of a confession followed. Glin’s fears were laid bare. With the human supremacist teachings spreading in Mahati and Dias gaining power by the day, Glin saw a future in which Dias invaded Mahati and made the beastkin slaves once more. It was a future that terrified the boarkin.

Glin explained that he had never intended to repeat Sulio’s mistake. Sulio’s treatment of an important guest had been a big issue at home, and Glin had never wanted to do the same. But even then, he understood how Sulio had felt at the time. Sulio had acted on behalf of Lord Eldan, and Glin had respected the lionkin for standing up for what he believed.

But when Sulio had returned from his trip to Baarbadal, Glin had seen a lionkin who had lost his spine. Sulio’s former convictions had evaporated, and so Glin had felt he had no choice... To do what must be done, he had decided he would have to take matters into his own hands. The goal remained the same, but the methods had to change.

Eldan’s face went pale as he listened to Glin speak, and he was left exasperated. Ben, however, offered only that gentle smile.

“I see,” he said, his tone of voice as soft as his expression. “It’s only natural that you would feel that way, given your past and your position. I can understand why you thought to take the action you did. Even Sahre and his friends can sympathize. However, the state of your heart is most certainly causing you great suffering, so perhaps you might allow me to proselytize, that it might lessen the load on your heart.”

So saying, Ben pointed south with his cane. Glin did not know what was out there, nor what the old man’s true intentions were, but it seemed he wanted to offer his counsel farther south. Glin was a responsible boarkin, and so he nodded his agreement. Though it should be noted that as he began his preparations, his every action was spurred on by Ben’s silent, inescapable pressure—and Eldan’s own stern gaze, which was just as impossible to ignore.

The Village Square—Dias

“Dias, look at these jewels!” Alna beamed. “Every one of them will hold a good deal of magical energy! I can’t believe Eldan’s people just went out and mined these! I guess Mahati is a treasure trove of such jewels!”

Now that the guests had been looked after, the stock unloaded, and everything stored away, Alna had a chance to check on the box of jewels we’d received. And boy was she happy. The jewels were all big and beautiful to look at, and they were all carved neatly into shape. I had to think they were worth quite the sum. But to Alna, none of that mattered next to their magical capacity... She just didn’t think the aesthetics mattered all that much.

“We could weave these into people’s hair, or we could make necklaces out of them,” Alna continued. “Or we could pass them around to the villagers so they’ll have them on hand if they need them.”

Alna was still working out exactly what to do with them, and it was nice, sure, but I did kind of want her to understand that she was handling really pricey, quality jewels.

“Lord Dias!” cried a dogkin, rushing our way. “I come with a message from Sir Ben! He’s taking Lord Eldan and some beastkin to the wasteland to, uh...ser...serma... Sermonize? Whatever it is, that’s what they’re doing! Apparently it’s going to take some time, what with all the travel, so he asked you to look after Eldan’s wives while they’re gone!”

“Dias, what exactly is this...sermonize?” asked Alna.

At first I wasn’t sure myself, but I dug through my memory and found what I was looking for.

“It’s part of a priest’s responsibilities,” I explained. “It’s sharing the saint’s teachings with people who’ve never learned ’em before. But also it’s just a form of counseling—priests will listen to people’s worries and suggest ways to solve their problems. It’s basically advice. I don’t know if Eldan or his companions actually need it, but knowing Uncle Ben, I’ll wager they’ve already left.”

I looked at the dogkin, who nodded. All I could do then was shake my head.

“I guess we’ll just leave Uncle Ben to his fun,” I muttered. “Now tell me, where are Eldan’s wives? Are they still at the temple?”

“Yep! That’s where they are!” came the bright reply.

“Great.”

When she heard that, Alna closed the lid on the box, and we decided to go see Eldan’s wives together.

In the Wasteland—Glin

“When the dragon attacked and burst through the mountain, it made a new stream form. We expect that stream to run through right about here,” explained Ben as the group alighted from the carriage. “But either way, this is where we’re planning for a new river to run. Originally, we had planned to draw upon the stream that runs through Iluk, but we’ve changed plans since then.”

The carriage had followed Ben’s directions and, truth be told, even the accompanying dogkin guards weren’t exactly sure where they were. The traveling group had come in two carriages and consisted of Ben, Eldan, Glin, two of Eldan’s guards, ten mastis for extra protection, and five eiresetters to drive the carriages and look after the horses.

All around was wasteland. There were no plants to be seen, and naturally no insects either. Ben led the group onwards and continued to speak.

“You may be wondering why I chose this as our place to speak... But I’ll explain that momentarily. For now, I would like to talk about ridding you of your worries, Sir Glin. Let me tell you first and foremost that looking to harm Dias out of fear of the modernists was a poor decision. Put simply, inflicting harm upon a human—any human—plays right into their hands. Such actions only serve to prove to them that beastkin and demi-humans are a threat.”

Dias was not just any human. He was a hero, a savior, and now a duke. Even those who were not religious would be left with a bad impression of beastkin were one to harm him in any serious way.

“But even if you were to get Dias out of the picture,” continued Ben, “you would only get another human domain lord sent here as a result. What would that new domain lord do? How would the other domain lords react to the change? And is the plan to simply wipe out lord after lord until only a world of beastkin remains? That would make for a very chaotic and damaged world indeed.”

Ben walked to the left and to the right and eventually came up to Glin’s side and matched his stride. He turned his gaze on the boarkin and looked him right in the eyes. Glin gulped. He could not believe what he saw in Ben’s eyes, and the sheer pressure forced him to take a few steps back. Eldan, watching over the proceedings, did not really know what passed between the two men, and so he simply heaved another exasperated sigh. Glin heard the change in Eldan’s heartbeat—the slight shift in the duke’s scent that said he was fed up—and he broke into a cold sweat.

“So then, how do we ease your worries...?” mused Ben. “The answer to that is simple. We need to do something not about Dias but about the modernists. For it is the modernists who are spreading the wrong teachings, and without them we can right the ways of those who believe that discrimination against beastkin and demi-humans is a just act. To do so would indeed lift a burden from your shoulders, would it not?”

Glin’s eyes were as wide as they had ever been. Crushed under an invisible pressure and filled with terror, Glin responded with a shout.

“D-Don’t play dumb with me! The modernists have allied themselves with the first prince! For all intents and purposes he is the crown prince! The heir to the throne! The modernists have money! They have authority! They are untouchable! The fundamentalists tried, failed, and were reduced to dust for it! Isn’t that why you’re here?! Because you couldn’t stop them?! If you don’t tell me how to stop the modernists, then all we’re talking about are pipe dreams!”

Ben was the very picture of placid as he took Glin’s words in, smiled, and replied.

“The ‘how’ of it all is just as simple, my friend—we lean upon the power of the gods. I’m sure you have heard, Sir Glin, that a god graced the lands of Baarbadal and aided us in our time of need. Just as with Saint Dia before us, the true path is the one which the gods themselves choose to support. The modernists have not walked the path to meet the gods. They have not seen the holy lands. They have only their words, and their words carry no weight in comparison.”

“You can’t possibly think me that stupid!” replied Glin. “Yes, Sulio and the other lionkin encountered a creature godlike in its power. Yes, the rumors are spreading, but how can we possibly prove it to be true?! How do we prove that it was in fact the gods that came to these lands?! Nobody, not even the young, will lend such stories any credence! They will snub them! Ignore them!”

“Then allow me to show you, Sir Glin, so that the young will lend you their ears, and so that many others will believe that we can be touched by the favor of the gods. This will be a fine experience for Duke Mahati too, I believe, so I ask that you give me a few moments.”

Glin’s outbursts did not faze Ben in the slightest, and his calm in the face of Glin’s intense passion left all present in shock. While they were trying to comprehend Ben’s poise, he knelt and drove his cane into the ground. Holding it with both hands, he began to speak.

“Gods at rest in the earth below, I beg of thee: Reveal yourselves to us. Hear our prayers and give us water. For in providing us a path to the sea through water, you build us a path that the heroes of the gods might walk. Hear this from me, Bendia, a humble priest who has reached the holy lands.”

The ground before Ben began to fracture. A fearful, nervous sweat poured from all present, frozen in disbelief, and dogkin tails wagged in excitement. As the gap in the ground widened, a huge brown lizard, covered in tough scales, slithered to the surface.

“Didn’t think I’d see the day...” the lizard sighed. “You, of all people. And you request...water. No, a river, is it? I did tell the forestkin children that this was where the river was to flow, but I did not think it would be you who would see it built. This time I will aid you, for the sake of the brave adventurers who crossed the wasteland, but do not make the mistake of thinking that this power can be called upon at your leisure. Once in a lifetime, perhaps a hundred years—no. Once for an entire country. You’d be wise to consider this your one time.”

The lizard continued, “I’ve no interest in new or old, and will not pick sides in your petty arguments. Go elsewhere for such help, as perhaps another may find entertainment in such things. And just as with the sanjivani, should you stray from the path, then prepare yourselves for divine punishment, for all of this relies on the swaying of my mood, and I will not hesitate to raze your lands should you make a poor decision.”

It was then, once the lizard had spoken, that a deafening rumble could be heard underfoot. The earth shook as something fought its way upwards from deep underground. It was insanity to even see a lizard speak—and this was one with a most mysterious aura indeed—but what it was doing was well beyond the shock of seeing such a creature in person.

Everybody in the wasteland had heard Ben’s prayers, and all were in unspoken agreement—this lizard was a creature one would call a god. Of that there was no doubt. Eldan’s guards fell to their butts as their legs failed them. The dogkin’s excitement reached such heights that their excessive tail wagging began to cause them pain. Eldan managed to stay on his feet, though he could feel his face blanching with each passing moment. Glin, for his part, felt on the verge of losing consciousness entirely—he struggled to keep from doubling over sick as every hair on his body stood on end.

But even as he was assaulted by such pressure, Glin stood his ground and remained conscious as water burst up from the ground. The fractured earth cracked and split southwards, as if to carve a path for the rising water. It happened so rapidly that by the time everyone realized what was happening, the river had already begun speeding for the sea.

At this point, Eldan finally fell to his backside. As Glin pushed down his urge to vomit, he felt other emotions surging within him. He was filled with awe—with reverence. It quickly overpowered him, and he fell to his knees and wept.

The lizard glanced down at the boarkin, then groaned, “Saint Dia, and you as well... Why are you priests all like this?”

It had nothing more to say, however, and it let out a heavy sigh. A sandstorm brewed with its breath, and everyone closed their eyes for the few brief seconds it lasted. But when the sandstorm dissipated, all signs of the lizard had vanished.

At the Temple Square—Dias

I thought it would be problematic for me to be alone in a room with Eldan’s wives without Eldan in attendance, so we all gathered in the yard in front of the temple. It was a wide open area we were planning to use for meetings in the future, and it was already nice and clean. We laid out some carpet, took a seat, and talked over cups of tea. After a while we heard a real commotion down south, and not long after a dogkin arrived to tell us what had happened.

“L-Lord Dias!” cried the dogkin. “You won’t believe it! There was all this water! It was all like ka-BLAAAH! The ground was all like RIIIIIP! It split in half and filled with water! Ben did it with the power of the holy lands!”

I’ll be honest with you. That little dogkin was so excited I hadn’t the slightest idea what they were trying to say. Their tail was wagging a mile a minute, so I gave them a pat on the head for doing the best they could, then told them gently to calm down and start over.

“Um, well, okay, so, we’ve got water in the wasteland now!” the dogkin exclaimed as they tried again. “The ground just ripped and split in half, and all the rushing water that sprang up filled it in. It’s a river, and it runs all the way to the ocean, apparently. That means the goblins can finally go home!”

On their second attempt, the dogkin was much clearer and I understood what they were telling me. All the same, I couldn’t help wondering—how in the heck did water just “spring up” in the wasteland? And stretching all the way to the ocean... How was that even possible? I wasn’t the only one confused. Alna, Eldan’s wives, and the twins all sat there with me, heads tilted, trying to work out answers to these impossible questions.

I mean, it didn’t seem like the dogkin was lying, and it seemed like that’s just what had actually happened. It was just hard to wrap your head around it. So we all stood up and headed south. All the while, other dogkin sped around the domain reporting on what had happened, and Sahhi and his wives took off to check on the river. Iluk was really bustling by the time we got there.

I wanted to go and see the river for myself, but with the wasteland being so far and so vast, I couldn’t exactly take off and follow the new river all the way to the ocean. Instead I waited at the southern end of the village, where I met with Hubert, some cavekin, and the goblins, all of whom had heard the same as me. We were all waiting with bated breath for Sahhi and his wives to return.

While we were waiting for Sahhi, Uncle Ben returned with Eldan’s group. For some reason, the boarkin with them—Glin, I think his name was—was kind of smiling and crying at the same time. Hubert ran over to get an accurate report, and Uncle Ben and Eldan explained things properly, which resulted in a whole lot of surprise.

At first the story was hard to believe, but we all knew that Uncle Ben and Eldan weren’t liars and that Sahhi and his wives would easily prove them wrong in an instant if for some reason they were lying. So we took their word for it, and that got everyone bouncing with glee.

“That’s crazy!” shouted the goblin leader, Iberis. “It’s a miracle! They built us a path all the way home! It’s like the gods themselves have demanded we return home victorious!”

The other goblins all cried out with joy. The whole group was ecstatic to learn that they had a clear waterway back home, and every single one of them wore a big, toothy grin.

“Well...looks like all that planning we did was for nothin’,” said Sanat, “but if we’ve got a river just waiting for us out there now, work does get easier. And if we draw the spring water made by that aqua dragon to the new wasteland river, we’ll have quite the stream. We’ll keep doing our maintenance on the Iluk stream and get a reservoir built in the wasteland.”

You could take the river away from them, but the cavekin were still going to cavekin, and Sanat was already scribbling on the ground at his feet, revising his plans and drawing up new ones at the same time.

“It’ll be amazing if we have a reservoir in the wasteland, right, Ayhan?” said Senai.

“Yep! We don’t have to worry about rain or windy weather over there either! Might be a great spot for some fields!” said Ayhan.

I found this mighty confusing.

“You girls think we can get some fields going...in the wasteland?” I asked. “We don’t even have any weeds out there, and the ground is real hard to work. Doesn’t seem very conducive to plowing...”

The twins were only too happy to explain things to me.

“Um, so we’ve been going to the wasteland a lot. There’s no heavy rain and no strong winds, so fields can totally work!”

“But until now fields were impossible because there was no water. But now we’ve got heaps of water! That means we can grow heaps of vegetables! And fruits too! It doesn’t matter about the hard soil! We’ve got water! We can make it work!”

“There are lots and lots of verdant leaf stones in the wasteland, so if we’ve got water, and then we plow the land with the stones in it, we’ll have great fields!”

“It’s always sunny in the wasteland, and all that sunlight is going to make everything grow! I think we can even find things to grow over the winter with that weather!”

I hadn’t actually thought about it until then, but the girls were right—the verdant leaf stones we used for our fields had all been gathered in the wasteland. That made me think they were probably right—maybe the wasteland really was well suited to fields. The only problem until now had been getting water to it, but that problem was solved now that we’d had a miraculous spring just pop up. I thought about what the wasteland might look like covered in fields... Yep, it would be quite the sight.

Oh, but we can’t put anything near the salt plain. Salt and fields don’t go together at all.

“That’s really great, girls,” I said, giving them both a pat on the head.

It was then that I noticed Uncle Ben meandering around in the corner of my eye. I headed after him and realized that he was leading me back to his yurt. He went in, I followed, and then he took out two cushions that the twins had made for him and put them on the floor. He took a seat on one and gestured for me to sit on the other.

“Dias,” he started as I got comfortable, “don’t even say it. I know what you want to ask me. It’s about the holy lands, isn’t it? Well, the answer is yes—my pilgrimage took me to the holy lands, where I met the gods.”

“But why didn’t you ever say anything?” I asked. “Discovering the holy lands is a massive deal, isn’t it? Wouldn’t the king have drowned you in rewards? But even if you couldn’t tell the king, I sure wish you would have told us...”

Uncle Ben looked me right in the eyes.

“I did it for you, Dias,” he said, and I heard the resolve in his voice, clear as day. “If I’d told you what’s there, and what they know, you wouldn’t have gotten anything from it. But I can tell you that you would have gotten some burdens for it, that’s for sure. And look, here’s the thing—you’re incapable of lying, Dias. You can’t keep a secret to save your own life. So I wanted to keep quiet until the village grew and we had more allies around us. I wanted things here properly set up. But I’ll be honest with you, Dias—the holy lands left me disillusioned. All I felt at the end of that journey was hopeless and discouraged. I just... You’re my beloved nephew, Dias, and I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“I see, so there were no gods in the holy lands...? Or I guess it was more a case of gods being there, but them not being the gods that you or my mother and father always believed them to be?”

Uncle Ben looked a little surprised that I would say such a thing, but he nodded firmly and lowered his head. I wasn’t sure what to say seeing Uncle Ben like that, but I scratched the back of my head and looked for some words.

“Well... If the gods that were spoken about in the temples really existed, they never would have allowed for a decades-long war, would they? They would have done something to stop it sooner. I can’t say I’m surprised. I prayed for years and years and nothing ever changed. At some point, I plumb stopped believing in gods at all; all I really had for support was mom and dad’s memory. I reckon I know how you feel, Uncle Ben. But someday, when you’re ready, do you think you could tell me about the holy lands? What it was like, and what you found there?”

“Yeah, one day...” said Uncle Ben, lifting his eyes to meet mine again. “And I can even take you there if you want. But now’s not the time. So for now just think of my having been there as...a way to keep the modernists in check while we spread the influence of the baar temple. Me using the power of the gods just now? It was the first and last time... If we ever want to do it again, you’re going to have to slay a whole lot more dragons...which is to say you’ll have to handle the gods’ enemies, or visit them in the holy lands yourself. But remember this—the place ain’t worth it. In truth, it’s horrifying, and if you depend on it the way I did, only disappointment awaits.”

And with that, Uncle Ben gave his knee a slap and stood up. He looked down at the ground for a moment, then headed for the door, speaking to me as he went.

“I’ll talk to the villagers and our neighbors about things,” he said. “I’ll explain that the power of the gods is not just something you pull from a hat. I’ll say that I put in decades of work, and that’s what it takes. I’ll tell them that getting to the holy lands takes just as much effort...and a whole lot of luck. The people need to be told that it’s a long, hard road. They don’t need to go looking for it themselves...”

I watched Uncle Ben leave, and then I dropped into thought. In Uncle Ben’s words I got the sense that the holy lands were easier to find than I’d first thought, as though people could get there if they were simply intent on finding it. I mean, if Uncle Ben had to tell people that it took decades of work and that it was a grueling journey, was that because it was actually pretty easy to reach?

He did say he’d take me if I wanted...

The pilgrimage to the holy lands was something many had tried and failed. Priests, merchants, soldiers, and nobles alike—everyone and their brother, basically—had all returned with nothing to show for it. The holy lands had turned into a myth because of that, and almost everybody had come to see it as a fantasy—a place that existed only in stories.

So where in the world are the holy lands, then?

Where is this place that giant baars and giant lizards call home?

And come to think of it, the baar and the lizard both came up from out of the ground, so does that mean the holy lands are...underground?

But I found it kind of hard to believe that the home of the gods could be found in such a place. Uncle Ben had made it sound like it was way easier to get to than that.

And so I decided I wasn’t going to waste any more time thinking about it. I didn’t know when Uncle Ben would decide to open up to me about it, but I was going to trust that he would and trust in his judgment.

I gave my own knee a slap and stood, then headed outside, where everybody was still just as excited as when I’d entered the yurt earlier.

The day after Uncle Ben called the gods to make us a river in the wasteland, Iluk Village was still buzzing. Hubert was intent on making the entirety of the wasteland our domain at this point, all the way to the ocean. The dogkin didn’t really know what was going on, but they knew that something had happened and they were all wagging up a storm over it. The paladins were all overjoyed and gained renewed vigor about decorating the temple, and Eldan and his entourage all decided to visit the place again.

As for the goblins, well, they were bustling about getting ready to go home. Firstly they did swimming practice, because apparently breathing on land and in water were very different abilities they could consciously swap between. However, they’d spent so much time on the surface of late that their underwater breathing had gotten rusty, and the practice was a chance to get a feel for it again. More importantly, if they tried breathing underwater like they did on land, they’d choke.

The cavekin were busy making sure everything was ready for the goblins’ departure, and at the same time they started making a boat. The boat could be used to carry food, but it could also be used for rest when the goblins got tired. It was made so people could be ferried back and forth as well, as we expected more travel between Baarbadal and the ocean in the future, along with lots of trade.

The cavekin also worked hard to outfit the boat with features to make it easier for the goblins to use. This included indents around the boat that the goblins could easily grab. Inside of these indented hollows were knobs that ropes could be tied around to allow for towing. Then the cavekin added canvas roofing to offer shade from the sun, and ladders and footholds on the side of the boat that made it easier for the goblins to board. All of it was made to cavekin standards—thoughtfully designed and seamlessly fitted.

The goblins were a bit hesitant to accept such a well-crafted boat, but the cavekin insisted—they’d never had to build something for people who lived underwater, so the new project offered them a refreshing change of pace and they loved it.

As for Lady Darrell, Aymer, Kamalotz, and Hubert (who was racing around preparing for a domain expansion), they were all drawn to the idea of cultivating fields in the wasteland. The dry, hot climate wasn’t very well suited to wheat, but it could be good for select potatoes and melons. Lady Darrell seemed to think that it was perfect for grapes. According to her, dry soil, sparse rain, and good drainage meant delicious grapes. Furthermore, good grapes meant good wine, which might result in another Baarbadal special export.

But it wasn’t just potatoes, melons, and grapes—the wasteland seemed pretty good even for sugarcane, which was a Mahati specialty. Processed sugar was yet another potential domain product that we could put on the market.

Still, whether it was brand-new produce or produce already grown next door, it wasn’t going to be a simple job. But with two forestkin overseeing things, and their parents acting as consultants, the future looked bright.

That said, the twins were already really active around the place, what with the village’s current fields and all the work they did in the forest, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to put too much extra weight on their little shoulders...but the girls were nothing if not passionate for the wasteland project. I figured I’d just let them have at it and make sure they weren’t pushing themselves past what they were capable of.

With all that in mind, we set off a little after lunch to check on the wasteland. I was out riding on Balers, and Aymer settled into the saddle on Aisha’s head. The twins came too, but they were off their horses and by the riverside as soon as we arrived.

“First we’ll need to work on some dedicated roads to and from the area,” said Aymer as we watched over the girls. “Then we’ll want to settle on a dedicated spot for our first fields. We’ll want to keep them away from the salt plains but close to the river. Once we’ve locked down a location, we can start cultivating.”

“Hmm,” I murmured, thinking it over. “And we can’t just put them here right by the river?”

“We’d run the danger of accidentally dirtying our new water source,” said Aymer, shaking her head. “And the weather in this particular area isn’t very stable because of its proximity to the plains. Farther south is better, where it’s more temperate.”

Still, Aymer thought that if we went too far south then travel would be an issue...but even then she seemed to think it might be worth putting up housing by the new fields so people could stay there instead of committing to a long commute every day.

“The onikin yurts and furniture are designed around the idea of being easy to move, so let’s make use of them,” she said. “And in any case, this site here is probably going to turn into a tourist destination of sorts or a pilgrimage site. That’s how we’ll probably sell it, because this is where the gods appeared and worked a miracle. We won’t want to put fields here.”

“Yeah, that sounds like what Uncle Ben will want to do,” I agreed. “Still, it’s just the idea of cultivating fields here... I mean, I listened to you all and I understand the way it works, but it’s still not sinking in. Now that we’re out here looking at the wasteland, it’s real hard for me to picture.”

“As someone who hails from the desert, this place has always struck me as having workable soil,” said Aymer. “There’s a lot of potential here, and I wonder if that might be why there are so many verdant leaf stones. It’s possible that they occur here naturally, but it’s also possible that somebody placed them here with a reason in mind—maybe they wanted to populate the lands with fields, or for someone else to do exactly that. And from what I’ve heard from Sir Ben, that lizard asked the twins to make a forest of this place, right? I just wonder if that’s why there are so many verdant leaf stones around.”

“I mean, if the gods can create a river out of thin air, then you’ve got to wonder why they don’t just whip up a forest while they’re at it,” I commented. “Putting leaf stones here, asking the twins for help... It just sounds like taking the long way around, you know?”

“Hmm, I wonder...” murmured Aymer. “If that lizard was indeed a god, then it stands to reason that it thinks on a level beyond us mere mortals. Oh, speaking of which, that lizard said something about bringing ordinary humans back to the lands. The way it spoke, it was like it was simply watching over the wasteland until that happened. As far as we know, humans used to populate this area, so maybe one of them struck some kind of deal with the lizard, and that’s why the lizard is protecting it? If that’s the case, then it makes more sense that the lizard would ask the forestkin for their help and that it would entrust the wasteland back into the care of its former residents: humans.”

“I mean, it makes sense to ask the forestkin, being that they’re so skilled when it comes to fields and plants and the like... And I guess I can see the logic too: ‘It’s your land, so you make the fields,’ that kind of deal. But if it wanted ordinary humans back here, then...does that mean the former residents of this place were just ordinary humans too? They were living here in an empty wasteland? Or was it different long ago?”

At this point, Aymer’s ears shot skyward and she started looking around. But no matter where we looked, there were no signs of anything man-made and not even a single trace that might have resembled human history. So in the end, no matter how much we thought about it, it wasn’t going to be easy—if even possible—to get to an answer. That was right around the time that one of the twins’ dogkin guards, a shep, ran over to us. He had something cupped in his paws.

“Lord Dias!” cried the dogkin. “There are bugs here! Bugs! Hard little bugs! I don’t know when they got here, but there’s lots of ’em now! I guess they must have been drawn to the water!”

I got the sense that bugs were a new arrival to the wasteland, because that dogkin’s tail was wagging like crazy. He was so dang happy to have found a living critter out here.

“Well, I sure hope that’s just the beginning and we see a lot more life here over time,” I said.

“And what a tasty-looking bug!” commented Aymer.

That was when I remembered that back where Aymer grew up, mousekin caught bugs and ate them. Aymer wasn’t in the habit of eating bugs in Baarbadal on account of us having such a wide variety of foodstuffs available, and so it had slipped my mind until now and threw me for a bit of a loop.

But while I was surprised, the dogkin looked down at the bug curiously. I could read his face clear as day: This is delicious? His head tilted back and forth, and he even opened up his mouth to get a taste. Aymer and I had to move quick to stop him.

A Stronghold in the Empire’s North—A Cavalry Knight

The young knight was decked out in black heavy armor and accompanied by an attendant. They stood together on the ramparts of an impressive stronghold in the empire’s north, one which overlooked a forest of tall, slender trees. The knight’s long red hair trailed from his helmet and drifted on the breeze while his narrow eyes scanned the landscape beyond the stronghold. Between his tanned skin and youthful good looks, he cut an impressive figure.

The section of the stronghold upon which the two men stood was undamaged and, in fact, had only recently been reconstructed.

“Finally, the damage caused by the earth dragon has been repaired!” declared the knight, his voice as clear as it was distinctly high-pitched. “This should be a time to rest, to take stock, but those idiots refuse!”

The knight’s attendant, who wore a noticeably shoddier set of armor unadorned with any color whatsoever, replied.

“I did wonder why you left the meeting so suddenly...but I understand how you must feel. To speak of revenge against Dias... What in the world could they be thinking? We already have our hands full with the monsters coming from the northwest.”

“They’ve already tried everything. Assassins, poisons, various murder strategies... All of them ended in failure. Why do they think things will be any different now? I believe them when they say they want to ease the emperor’s heart, heartbroken and bedridden as he is upon our nation’s defeat, but...we cannot conquer the impossible. Dias is beyond our means!”

“When I saw him on the battlefield, I truly believed him to be a dragon in human form,” said the knight’s attendant thoughtfully. “Entirely surrounded and bereft of even a single ally, he swung his weapon with a furious, unending might, cutting down any foe that dared step within range... All who saw it from a distance had their confidence shattered. The fleeing soldiers made complete and utter chaos on the battlefield. Some turned on the superiors who insisted they stand their ground, while others dropped to their knees in surrender. Others still began carting out our supplies in the hopes they might be shown mercy... It was a joke.”

The attendant took a deep breath, then added, “The extent of it was, in a sense, beautiful to behold. It was the pinnacle of violence personified. It’s no wonder that a man of such magnetism has seen his way to the rank of duke! Should we decide to go to war with Sanserife a second time, that duke will be fully ready for battle, and he’ll lead an army of his own. He will not be reined in by the rest of the military and will be free to run rampant as he sees fit!”

In the last war, jealousy had simmered among Sanserife’s nobility, and they had looked to stymie Dias’s efforts, leaving him in less than truly favorable conditions. But those same hurdles would no longer stand in his way now that he was a duke himself... The empire had struggled in the past, but to commit to war now would be to cement its own demise.

“Did you know that even Prince Richard, who holds sway of the kingdom, never fails to detail Dias’s recent achievements in his diplomatic correspondence? ‘The Duke of Baarbadal remains ever loyal,’ he writes, and ‘this month we received a dragon’s magical stone from the duke,’ and ‘the duke has acquired new territory for the kingdom.’ We’re a defeated nation, and all of his flowery updates imply the same thing: Should another war be declared, Dias will lead their forces from the front lines. There is no greater form of intimidation! None! Our hands are tied for the next few decades! We have no choice but to wait until Dias grows old and frail!”

“Our intelligence operatives report that Dias has formed friendly relations with the nation to the far west... While I think it unlikely they will offer military reinforcements in the event of another war—the distance is simply far too great—it is likely that they will offer supplies. That and the prince’s reforms pose great problems. But if we are intent on seeing something done about Dias, then perhaps inspiring civil war or unrest within Sanserife is an option?”

“We have the pieces in place to do such a thing, but any attempt is sure to end badly!” declared the knight. “Any revolt would not be substantial enough to truly shake the nation, and were Dias to move in and quell it he would only gain yet more allies to aid him in retaliatory action.”

The young knight then flashed a grin.

“If we really want to put a scare into the kingdom,” he continued, “it has to be through the sea! Sanserife has yet to put any meaningful effort into their navy. If we make seaworthy vessels capable of long distances and make use of them both east and west, we can avoid Dias entirely. The man and his forces are landlocked! With enough ships we can also make trade inroads with the western nation! Dias is no fish! He has no mastery over the oceans! Let him try to swing his stupidly gigantic axe among the waves! Surely you see the genius of my idea?”

The knight’s attendant smiled, and the two chuckled.

“The emperor’s dream is no longer within reach,” said the knight in a low voice, his expression once more darkening. “He will not unite the continent under his rule, nor will he rid the land of monsters and carve his name into the history books for such feats. There isn’t enough time. Even if Dias were to die today, and Sanserife to collapse, there simply isn’t enough time! His dream was not a goal that could be achieved in a single generation...but the pace at which we annexed our neighbors and expanded our scope had us all believing it might be so.”

It was that pace and its accompanying confidence that had led the empire to declare war on Sanserife. What had seemed like inevitable victory had ended in ignominious defeat, and the emperor’s spirit had been so thoroughly crushed that his body suffered and he was now bedridden.

“We should not concern ourselves with matters of revenge. Not now. We should be rebuilding our country, preparing a naval force, and readying ourselves for a comeback. Now should be a time of preparation! If we insist on vengeance, then Sanserife will build their own navy before we have ours, and then we will have to consider an entirely different future altogether.”

The knight’s attendant, upon hearing these words, inched closer and looked around to ensure nobody else was within earshot.

“A different future, you say?” he uttered.

“It should go without saying,” replied the knight. “We will ally ourselves with Sanserife—no, with Dias. I was born and bred here in the empire. I trained to become a knight, and pledged my loyalty to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. But my grandfather was the leader of a clan who fought tooth and nail against the man I now serve...and in me flows the pride of my ancestors. If I am moved to action as he once was, none will have reason to deny me. I will ally with Dias and serve under his command, and if one day he sees fit to allow me my own domain, then the Meowgen clan may yet see its glory restored... It would likely be a long way from the lands we once called home, but no doubt it would bring a smile to the faces of my brave ancestors.”

The young knight removed his helmet, revealing two furry ears just atop his head of red hair. His expression was pained, and one could tell that he still harbored feelings for the home that his ancestors had been forced to part with. The same ears, resembling those of a feline, could also be spotted upon the head of his attendant. Both men sported tails that peeked out from their armor, though unlike the knight’s, the attendant’s tail whipped around in such a way as to express delight.

“When that time comes,” said the attendant, “I and the rest of the clan will be by your side. As for whether Dias would accept us, well...the answer is already apparent. The stories are well-known. He was generous with both imperial citizenry and captured soldiers and even made some enemies into allies. So, shall I return to our people and have them begin preparations?”

“Wait. No. You’re not even— Stop! Don’t forget the navy! We start by trying to build a navy, okay?! And if that fails, then we consider our other options!”

The attendant’s tail stood on end.

“Call it a hunch,” he said, his voice as clear as his confidence, “but I feel that we should begin preparations sooner rather than later, for I think it likely we will soon encounter a Dias that swims, and one whose axe flies even over the waves of the ocean... If your plans are brought to light, there could be trouble, and we’d best ensure things work out should your strategy not bear fruit.”

The young knight nodded obediently. His attendant had been with him since he’d been but a boy, and the man’s hunches had never once been wrong. The young knight could not imagine Dias seizing control of the seas, but he could not simply refute his attendant either.

He turned his gaze west, his thoughts on what might be happening across the border, in Sanserife. For a time, he thought back to the way Dias fought and allowed himself to indulge in daydreams of what life might be like serving the Duke of Baarbadal.

Training in the Village Square a Little After Lunch—Dias

A few days passed. Preparations for winter were well underway, the cavekin water-management project was on track, and the ship building was going swimmingly. All in all, everything was going about as well as we could have hoped. The goblins were still doing their training for their trip home—which was also going well—and even with visitors in the domain, daily life pretty much went the way it always did.

As for Eldan and his entourage, they were thoroughly enjoying their stay. I was a bit worried about him staying so long, because I wasn’t sure if it was okay for the duke of a domain to be away from home for long periods, but apparently it wasn’t such a big deal. Because of the short distance between Mahati and Baarbadal, correspondence was easy—the dovekin could deliver messages from Mahati if any problems happened to arise, and Eldan could just as easily issue orders as necessary. It was kind of annoying to do it like this, but outside of that it was mostly business as usual.

But from Kamalotz’s point of view, some time away from the office was just what Eldan needed, even if it came with a few minor hurdles. After overthrowing his own father and then having a whole domestic uprising to deal with, Eldan had been working himself to the bone. Everyone thought he needed a break. So much so, in fact, that Kamalotz really wanted Eldan to stay until winter was pretty much at our doorstep—as long as possible, in other words.

I was happy for Eldan and his group to stay as long as they pleased. When I’d visited Mahati with my family, Eldan had really given us the gold-star treatment, and then there was the fact that he’d come here with multiple caravans’ worth of gifts. If he decided he wanted to stay until winter, then I was happy to have him.

It wasn’t like he caused any trouble either. In fact, Alna loved talking with Eldan’s wives, and the twins loved playing with Kamalotz. Even Eldan’s guards had a great time once they hit it off with Mont and the guys, and they all started training together.

Me? I spent a lot of time with Eldan just hanging out, and we even trained together ourselves. It was my habit to train every morning after breakfast, and I’d train with anybody who wanted to go a couple rounds. Usually it was the dogkin, or the paladins, or Joe and my old war buddies, but when Eldan saw my regimen he said he wanted in. He fought with a wooden sword and shield, and I fought with my wooden battle-ax. It was good training, and every time I ended up victorious.

But even though I won the rounds, Eldan sure didn’t make it easy on me. It always came right down to the wire, and I always felt it was my decades of experience that helped me eke out victory by the skin of my teeth. But I’ll tell you, now that Eldan was healthy and growing by the day, he was getting just as strong as some of the fiercest warriors I’d ever met on the battlefield.

I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, even when Eldan had been ill he was still able to lift me up like I was a baby! It was only natural that he was going to be even stronger now that he was healthy. And sure enough, when he saw fit to use his elephantkin might, he was one heck of a handful. He was strong, he was fast, and with his trunk in play he basically had a third arm he could attack me with. We were only sparring, so he never wielded a weapon with his trunk, but if he’d had some kind of knife or spike attached to the end of it, I would have been in real trouble.

With three arms, Eldan never even really needed to land one decisive killing blow. All he had to do was just keep hunting for openings and pounce on them with his trunk when he found them. Then he could just keep up the pressure with his main weapons and...yeah, it’d be death by a thousand cuts. No ordinary human stood a hint of a chance against the guy, that was for sure. In fact, I had a feeling that if we kept up our training, then eventually he’d rise well above my level.

And I had to say, my training with Eldan reminded me once more of the true power of the beastkin, as well as the wonder of explosive growth among the young.

In the Midst of Training with Dias—Eldan

Eldan had taken to having live sparring rounds with Dias, and it had left him with a crystal clear understanding of just how very weak he really was. He was fit and healthy now, and his muscles were developing rapidly, and so he’d taken to training with much gusto to make up for lost time. He’d invited many masters of the martial arts to train him, but for all his hard work, he felt like screaming for how little it got him in his duels against Dias.

In truth, Eldan had never truly believed he could best Dias in battle, but he had convinced himself that he at least had a chance. He had been certain that he could at least put up a decent fight, and he had never expected that Dias would completely shut down every technique he threw at the man.

During a number of rounds, Eldan had managed to push Dias to the very brink, and yet every time he could not seem to find that last step—the final attack—that would see him arrive in the domain of the victorious. And to top it off, even when Eldan was a sweaty mess and heaving to get air back into his exhausted lungs, Dias’s smile never waned. No matter how sweaty or tired Dias seemed, he had a knack for knowing how to rest his body and mind in the midst of battle—he could find a second wind in an instant, and Eldan could never seem to reach a truly advantageous position.

On occasion Eldan would unleash his beastkin power to gain a clear weight and strength advantage over Dias, but even then he always felt as if Dias ended up reading his every move. As such, whenever Eldan felt himself on the cusp of victory, Dias’s experience—or perhaps his finely honed instincts—saw him draw on a mysterious determination and pressure that always ended in Eldan’s defeat.

This was the pressure that Sulio and the others had felt. It was not like the pressure Eldan felt from his other martial instructors, nor was it like a murderous rage, and yet it was not at all vague or nebulous. The pressure that came from Dias was a clear, almost physical sensation, and it was a most puzzling power.

Dias was physically gifted, he was powerful, and he had a confidence the likes of which emerged only after decades of combat experience. He boasted all of this and a strange, impenetrable pressure...

How does one beat a foe of such measure...?

This question scratched at Eldan’s mind constantly as he swung his sword at the ever-smiling Dias. And just like that, another session came to an end, and Dias’s fiancée was waiting for them with fruit juice when they sat to take a break.

“Thank you once again for allowing me the honor of sparring with you,” said Eldan.

“I should be thanking you,” replied Dias. “I don’t think it’ll be long before you’re wiping the floor with me, Eldan.”

Eldan was unsure what to make of this.

“Dias, wipe off your sweat with this,” said Alna, passing him a towel. “Then drink up and rest a little. Getting to play with Eldan has clearly gotten you overly excited.”

Alna essentially took over at this point and happily doted on Dias while he did as he was told. Eldan was unsure exactly what to make of this too, and he watched Dias and Alna as Lorca brought him a baar wool towel and a cup of fruit juice.

“Thank you so much for your kindness,” Eldan said. “By the way...are Dias and Alna always like that? Have they always been like that since they were engaged...?”

Lorca looked a little surprised at the question, but he glanced at Dias and Alna before lowering his voice to reply to Eldan.

“Well, that’s mainly Lord Dias, you see,” he replied. “He’s used to Alna now, and she’s accustomed to his ways too... Lord Dias isn’t the type to break a promise that he makes, and she knows it. I don’t think it’s an issue.”

“Perhaps, but, I mean, they live together, and he remains so...coolheaded even when she offers him such...loving care. I’m surprised, to be honest. You said they’re used to each other, but are you telling me that Sir Dias is used to such treatment?”

“Hmm... Ah...” murmured Lorca. “Well, when we were freeing territories back in the war, there was no shortage of women who wanted to ‘look after’ Lord Dias, if you know what I mean. Even in occupied territory it was the same, I think because the man’s a gentleman whose steadfast nature never wavers. Then you had Juha hiring dancing girls, and those types always did their best to get in good with the boss...who in our case was, of course, Lord Dias.”

But according to Lorca, Dias had a will of steel.

“Lord Dias stayed true to his parents’ teachings and the lessons of God, and all he concerned himself with was how to end the war—man kept that up for decades. He said that he was so busy worrying about other things that he just plain stopped thinking about his sex drive. I think that’s why so many people wanted to serve under him—it’s because he stayed strong that so many others stayed strong too... But for me and the domain guard, it’s just Lord Dias. It’s who he is and who he’s always been.”

“Wait, no, wait,” said Eldan, unable to stop himself. “No, no, no, wait, no...”

Eldan was flabbergasted, flummoxed—downright dumbfounded. Such was his state that he had seemingly forgotten basic speech. He dropped his head into his hands and thought about things. He had come on this visit with a number of goals in mind—to celebrate the construction of Baarbadal’s new temple, to deepen his ties with Dias and his people, to rest and relax, and to make the most of a rare opportunity to train with a national hero.

Eldan felt that he had accomplished all of what he had set out to do, but here, at this very moment, he found another goal before him—one he felt needed to be seen through to completion.

Eldan thus decided that he would take it upon himself to deepen the bond between Dias and Alna.

He realized that perhaps he was overstepping his boundaries, given that Dias and Alna were already engaged, but he couldn’t bear the idea of them remaining exactly as they were until their fateful day of marriage arrived. And when it came to matters of marriage, Eldan was, in fact, quite a bit more experienced than Dias. Surely he would be able to offer advice and counsel. This was a task to which he felt he was uniquely suited, and a smile grew on his face as he stroked his chin in contemplation.

The day after Eldan had decided on his new goal, he awoke in his room, which was located in the inn attached to the side of the Iluk pub. He got ready for the day ahead with the help of his wives.

The pub and inn were comparatively unique in Iluk due to their all wood construction, and in fact the inn had been put up quite soon after Eldan had arrived. The inn had always been part of Goldia’s plans, and the timber had been ready for construction, but even then the speed at which the facility had been put together was shocking. This was to say nothing of the superb craftsmanship and attention to detail. It was a simple building, yes, but the color and natural patterns of the timber were all put to use to give each room a feeling of luxury.

The inn wasn’t yet entirely complete, and there were still some rooms yet to be built, but after staying a few days Eldan had no complaints to speak of. The baar wool towels and bedding made for a most relaxing, pleasant stay.

When Eldan was fully dressed, he left the inn and went to breakfast. It was a meal that contained a great deal of Baarbadal’s unique herbs, and while one would not have called it extravagant, it was prepared with great care and tasted amazing.

What shocked Eldan about breakfast in Baarbadal was that everyone—from Dias to the children—ate the same thing. It made Eldan wonder exactly how one would discern the nobility from the other citizenry. Then there was the sheer amount of food that had to be readied for everybody to eat the same thing... It was a sight Eldan had never seen before, and he realized that in its own way it was a luxury of the lands.

Still, it must cost a lot of money to keep enough food for everybody to eat so much every day... I suppose what it comes down to is that they don’t spend money on much else in the way of luxuries, and they instead funnel that into their food and health. It’s not even an extravagance here; it’s just daily life. Then again, I do remember hearing that Dias has always been insistent on eating well since he was young, and you need only look at Ellie and Goldia to see the results... I suppose when the results are so clear, money is but a small price to pay in the scheme of things...

These were the thoughts that went through Eldan’s mind as he chowed down. When he was done and cleaned up, he did some training with Dias, then rested. This rest time was essentially time with which he could do whatever he pleased. Today, he went to the village square and took a seat at the tea table that Kamalotz had set up, and carefully observed Dias and Alna while he thought of how best to deepen their ties.

Dias and Alna had been engaged for about a year and a half. Eldan did not think that a little nudge would do the trick. It would take more. However, the usual go-to in such situations—alcohol—was out of the question owing to the fact that Dias despised it. Eldan also knew that working an angle from Alna’s side would also prove ineffective, so he tried to think up a different plan altogether.

In Eldan’s view, the only way to push things along was to make more time for Dias and Alna to be together. Unfortunately, Dias and Alna were essential to the running of the village, and both were very popular—not to mention constantly in demand. There was almost no opportunity in which to create a way for the two to spend any quality time together completely alone.

Eldan clutched his head in his hands as he struggled to find an answer to the problem before him, and it was at this point that he noticed a couple walking by—a male and female shep. They looked happy and in love as they went on their walk, and Eldan silently watched them for a time as they disappeared into the plains beyond the village.

Ah, so one only needs to leave the village, and not all that far, to find some time alone...

But did Dias and Alna ever spend much time on the plains alone? Eldan pondered this fact as a young shep walked by.

“Excuse me,” said Eldan, stopping the dogkin. “Do Dias and Alna ever head out on the plains alone, just the two of them?”

The question was nothing if not direct, and ordinarily one would feel it odd to be asked such a question by a visitor so suddenly, but this was a small-ilk dogkin, and they did not think very deeply about the matter at all.

“Yes, sometimes they do!” they yelped. “They ride off on their horses to see which one of them is quicker! It looks like lots of fun! They always come home talking about who won and who lost.”

“I see! Thank you, my small friend!” replied Eldan.

Eldan chuckled at the answer. And while he didn’t feel much in the way of romance in the dogkin’s explanation of Dias and Alna’s outings, he at least knew they spent some time together alone...which meant all he had to do was figure out a way to add an element of romance to the proceedings.

The young dogkin tilted their head curiously as they looked at Eldan, wondering if he was done and if it was okay to leave. Eldan continued to think on matters for a few moments before standing up and deciding that he would consult Alna before committing to any plans.

Eldan had a reasonably good understanding of how Dias’s mind functioned and what he thought of his current engagement situation, but he wanted to hear more about Alna’s point of view. Fortunately, Alna had just finished the laundry and was in the village square, and Eldan saw this as the perfect opportunity to catch her.

But it was at this very moment that four cavekin men marched into the square carrying a strange black boat.

“Hey!” shouted one. “Where’s Dias? We’ve completed the prototype!”

“And where are the goblins?!” asked another. “We won’t know what to polish and refine until they’ve tried things out!”

“And where’d Hubert get to?!” cried the third. “We painted the bitumen on the boat just like he asked!”

“It’s waterproof all right!” declared the fourth. “It’ll hold, but boy does it stink!”

The boisterous voices of the cavekin drew everybody’s attention, and it wasn’t long before a group had gathered to check out the boat. The timing was unfortunate, and it slowed Eldan significantly, but he navigated through the group and closed in on his target. This time, however, the sound of dogkin feet pounding on the western road came closing in fast.

As a beastkin himself, however, Eldan could hear well beyond the dogkin and heard something else behind them. Whatever it was, it had a whole lot of energy. All the same, he tried to approach Alna only for the dogkin to beat him to her.

“Lord Dias!” barked one. “Visitors are coming!”

“It’s a really big, wet, and sticky guy!” cried another.

“But he’s got heaps of other people with him, and boy are they lively!” shouted another.

The dogkin arrived with gusto, creating another huge commotion. Eldan could only sigh, having been interrupted twice in a row, but Alna seemed not to notice.

“So Peijin’s in town!” she declared, smiling. “Call the Wives’ Club! It’s time to do some shopping! I don’t know why he’d bring so many people with him, but it doesn’t matter! Eldan and his friends are here, so we’re going to throw a banquet for everyone tonight! Get ready to get busy, people!”

Alna was off like a flash, preparing for shopping and getting things in place for a banquet. When Eldan saw her like that, he knew that he’d lost his chance, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. Kamalotz had been behind Eldan the whole time and was unsure what to say to comfort his master, but he didn’t have to.

“I know how you feel,” said an elderly woman who had appeared at Eldan’s side. “The same thing’s happened to me on countless occasions... When it comes to those two at the head of the village, it’s a frustrating endeavor, it really is.”

The elderly woman had been in Iluk since the early days, and everything about her said that she understood Eldan’s pain, that she had met with the same struggles over and over again during that time. Eldan turned to look at her, the two of them sharing that pain through their expressions. Still, Eldan pulled himself together, reached deep, and resolved to see his task through, even though he realized he was mostly just being stubborn at this point.

With the banquet decided, the Iluk Village square started buzzing with energy as everyone ran about preparing everything. And all the while, the lively sounds of Peijin’s caravan crept up from way off in the distance. Eldan heard lively shouting, singing, and even musical instruments, all of which quickly threatened to grow far louder than what was going on in the square.

When the villagers finally noticed the sounds from the west, curiosity crept up on them, and their gazes turned as one to the bridge over the stream. The sound of a beating drum bumped its way through their bodies. The sound of flutes tickled their ears and added a bewitching tone to the air. Mixed in was something that sounded like the banging of steel plates. And riding atop all that was a chorus of voices.

“Grats! Big grats!” the voices sang. “The hero, duke, and dragon slayer meets the gods, and they bless the plains with their grace! Blessings and love all ’round, where all live together in harmony! We come in peace and friendship, oh duke whose lands know no starvation, no solitude!”

The voices sang in the Sanserife language, but mixed in were words from a language that none in the village had ever heard before. There was something nostalgic in the song, and it looked very much like the caravan had traveled all this way like a parade, singing their way to Iluk.

The villagers stood in a stupor, never having expected to see such a wave of energy march towards the village. Eldan’s guards all stood firmly at the ready, but even they were drawn into the revelry. Still, nobody was more curious than Duke Baarbadal himself, who marched out ahead to meet the parade of song and dance and find out what they were doing.

“Duke Baarbadal! Duke Baarbadal!” came a booming voice from the center of the musical troupe. “Congratulations! How wonderful for you! My son returned to the Beastkin Nation to tell me all about your encounter with the gods, and I, Peijin-Octad, put aside all matters of business to visit you posthaste! I bring the usual gifts, of course, but also the gifts of song and dance! I am well aware that the residents of Iluk are the hardest of workers, and I want only to provide them a few moments of joy, that they might lose themselves in delight!”

The loudest voice of all belonged to the giant frogkin Peijin-Octad, sitting upon a mat that was held aloft by several attendants. When Dias saw him, his face broke into a smile, and he waved his hand high.

Dias’s greeting appeared to act as permission for the musical group, and a number of brightly dressed individuals hopped into action. Some of them had strange instruments inside wooden boxes, which they secured to their bodies with rope. Others wore dazzlingly colorful outfits with equally dazzling makeup, their every gesture and motion hinting at the theatrical as they sang. Surrounding them all were their security detail.

These performers set themselves up in groups all around the village, their carriages close behind. The giant frogkin gave orders to the drivers, all of whom came to a neat stop and began unloading boxes and preparing various tools and items and laying out bright red carpet along with peculiar paper parasols. Then the performers all began at once—a mix of dancers, actors, singers, and yet more instrumentalists.

With so many different performers all setting up vastly different shows across the village, one would have expected chaos, but clearly these performers were practiced hands. Not one performer interfered—accidentally or otherwise—with any other. And in what felt like just a few breaths, each display from the troupe was easily on par with anything the best theaters and jesters could offer in the royal capital and the castle halls.

This sort of entertainment was something that the residents of Iluk were not familiar with, and the village square practically exploded with excitement. A smile covered every face as Iluk’s residents momentarily forgot about their planned banquet and found the shows capturing their eyes, ears, and hearts.

The theater troupe performed a play about Dias. It told the tale of how he’d arrived at the plains and all the adventures that had come his way since. They were...rather over the top, all things considered, and their version of events was more than a step or three separated from reality, but because the story was one that the villagers knew, they loved the chance to see it play out again in dramatized fashion.

Alna was usually the type to scold anybody who ignored their responsibilities in favor of leisure, but even she couldn’t keep her eyes off the performers. She was wide-eyed and slack-jawed; she sat herself down on the red carpet and clapped along to the rhythm of the music without even being fully aware that she was doing it.

Eldan watched the villagers warmly, and the performances with a discerning eye.

Ah, so they’re subtly changing their performances in response to the crowd’s reactions to ensure that everybody enjoys the shows to the fullest... This is well beyond anything we might ordinarily call first class. You won’t find any performers of this caliber in the castle, let alone the rest of the royal capital.

Iluk’s banquets are big but fairly simple, so to the villagers this show is like a dream come to life. What better present could one possibly give these people? I daresay that this is not just an empty gesture either—that giant frogkin truly wants to celebrate Dias’s fateful encounter with the gods as best he can. I must assume that they hail from the lands Dias has told me about...

As Eldan watched the performances around the village, the excitement continued to grow. All of the beastkin performers utilized their unique physical gifts to push their acts to their limits and beyond.

Those with monstrous strength lifted and tossed their acrobatic companions, while those with long legs flipped through the air gracefully. Some of the performers twisted into such contortions that everyone was sure they would break, while others used hands, feet, and tails alike to play their instruments. Some among them even made use of their long noses. The winged birdkin singers boasted beautiful voices that felt entirely out of this world, and their charming tones never hit a wrong note. There were also hard-skinned beastkin who used their own hides as percussive instruments, adding very unique sounds to the music.

It was at once overwhelming and inspiring, and Eldan, Kamalotz, and their entire entourage were drawn in and just as captivated as everybody else. They had seen shows in the royal capital at impressive theaters. They had seen all manner of instruments and flashy outfits, and the performers who made excellent use of them.

But even having experienced all of that, Eldan was entranced. More than anything else, it was the fact that the beastkin and demi-human performers embraced their unique abilities and, more than that, made use of them to truly make their work shine.

Such performances simply did not exist in the Sanserife royal capital, which was home to only humans. Eldan felt as if he’d been brought to a completely different world, and he let himself simply drift through it until Dias arrived with a giant frogkin in tow.

“Hey, uh, Eldan,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to introduce you to my friend here for the longest time, and it looks like the perfect opportunity just dropped into our lap. This here’s Peijin-Octad, a merchant from the Beastkin Nation to the west. I thought it would be good for you to meet and make inroads with the merchants there, seeing how your mother once called the place home.”

The frogkin lowered his head into a deep bow and looked at Eldan with his big, round eyes. Eldan felt something like joy in that gaze, and he felt a simple happiness in being able to meet someone from a place he had wondered about for so long. He bowed politely in return and introduced himself.

The Village Square—Dias

Eldan and Peijin-Octad started talking, and when I saw things take off and the two of them share a firm handshake, I knew it was the beginning of a productive discussion, so I left them to it.

I headed to the center of the village square, where a lot of villagers had gathered to lose themselves in all the wonderful performances. It was just heartwarming, it really was. The twins were flying all over the place with the six young baars in tow, and they were all soaking up the festive atmosphere together. Sometimes Patrick or Ellie was with them too, just to make sure that nobody fell over or crashed into anything.

All the grandmas were watching things from some long benches that I guessed the performers must have brought in and set up. They peacefully enjoyed all the beautiful singing. The dogkin had all gathered around their respective clan leaders, and they were all at the beck and call of the more dextrous performers, who had them swaying left and right, rolling over, and running this way and that.

Goldia, Aisa, and Ely had brought food and drink, which they were passing around for people to enjoy while they took in the sights. The cavekin took this as a chance to drink up, and they all agreed that there was nothing like a good drink to go with a good performance. The goblins were enjoying it too, but they were still a bit dumbstruck.

“This must be heaven, bro!” cried one.

Joe and some of his guys had come from their usual posts, and they had their arms draped over each other’s shoulders as they drank with abandon and basked in the festivities.

The baars, too, were having just as much fun. Francis, Ethelbald, and their families were having a blast, as were the new baars and our guests. They all banded together and started singing along with the band. Even Alna was letting herself go and enjoying every second. Truth be told, I couldn’t remember having seen her that happy since the day we got Balers and the other horses.

It was safe to say that every last person in Iluk Village was having the time of their life. And yep, it made me want to see it all again some day, and to grow our home while we were at it so even more people could enjoy life here. I couldn’t help but think of that as I watched over the villagers, and it was then that one of the performers came up and spoke to me.

“Allow me to introduce myself, Duke Baarbadal. I am Tilo An, and I am the leader of this troupe.”

By his voice I figured he was male. He wore the same sort of robe-y looking clothes as Octad and Kiko, but in flashy shades of yellow, red, and purple. He was a tall guy with long legs, and he looked a lot like a deer, or maybe a goat, on account of the two short horns on his head.

“We’re here at Peijin & Co.’s request, and though we can offer little more than our rather meager performances, please know that we put everything into our work. Have you enjoyed the show so far?”

“Yeah, everybody here looks like they’re loving it,” I said. “And judging by just how much, I reckon we’ll want you back some day.”

“My oh my. There’s no greater compliment for us than the desire for a repeat performance. What a tremendous honor. Just say the word, and we’ll be back as many times as you like. We can put on shows every month that wow audiences.”

“Hmm...” I murmured. “Actually, I reckon about twice a year would be just right. Once in spring when the snow thaws, and, uh...once in the fall when we’re done with the harvest. That’d be perfect.”

Tilo responded with a little surprise and thought to give word to it.

“Do you mind if I ask your reasoning for two performances a year?” he asked, wringing his hands together. “Do you perhaps find our performances lacking in some way?”

“Oh, nothing like that. I’ve never seen an act so good, in fact. I just figure if the people see it too often, they’ll tire of it. But if it’s twice a year, it’ll feel like a special occasion, and it’ll give everyone something to be excited for. That, and you’ll have time to polish and develop new acts, right?”

If Tilo had looked surprised before, now he looked downright stumped. His eyes were all wide, and he stared at me like he was looking for something.

“Duke Baarbadal, I...don’t suppose you come from a family with a history in theater, do you? You aren’t quite as...bedazzled as everybody else here, so I can’t help but wonder if you’re accustomed to such traveling troupes.”

“Oh, well... You know, I had this friend in the war who was really into this kind of thing—called on performers all the time. Sometimes he even put on acts himself. I just got used to it, I guess. Actually, it was that same friend who told me that twice a year was the sweet spot, so to speak. He always told me that it wasn’t good to call too often.”

I remembered the reasoning pretty well: Give people something to anticipate, and give the performers time to develop new songs and plays and whatnot, and you get more fun all around.

“But don’t worry,” I added reassuringly, “we’ll pay you what you’re worth. You’ll only be coming twice a year, and from far away to boot. That same friend liked to say that when it comes to craftsmen, you’ve gotta pay them what they’re worth.”

“It would seem your friend has quite the impressive mind,” commented Tilo An. “In which case, we’d be more than happy to bring your village two performances every year. We’ll want the appropriate payment for our services, of course, but...might I inquire into the sorts of performances that are held to the east and what’s popular in the royal capital at present? Such information will aid us in learning to develop our own skills while also helping us to set a fair price.”

“Hmm? Well, I mean sure, we’d be happy to, but I’m not all that knowledgeable when it comes to such things, honestly. I reckon you’ll want to talk to Goldia, or maybe Hubert...”

At that very moment, as if on cue, Lady Darrell swooped in.

“In which case, allow me,” she said politely. “I’ve lived in the capital a long time, and I’m well-versed in all manner of art and culture and what’s in vogue. In return, I wonder if we might make this an exchange? I would love the opportunity to learn the same as it relates to the Beastkin Nation, and it will make it that much easier to better host any visitors we receive from abroad.”

Tilo An was only too happy to go along with Lady Darrell’s suggestion, and the two quickly got into a very enthusiastic discussion. I could tell that neither of them had any use for me anymore, and it looked like the twins had been hoping for such an opening—all of a sudden Senai had my right hand and Ayhan had my left.

They pulled me along, saying, “Dias! You have to check this out! Over here! It’s amazing!” and “We’re going there next! They’re throwing knives and it’s so cool!”

With Eldan and Tilo An both looking happily occupied, I figured it was fine for me to indulge the twins, and so I let them pull me where they wanted and spent some time enjoying the festivities with them.

Among all of the revelry was a small moment—the tiniest of pauses—in which the performers went about readying their next acts. Eldan, Tilo An, Peijin-Octad, and a number of Octad’s staff all gathered together right about the same time. Eldan seemed to be at the center of it, explaining something to the others, and then even Lady Darrell joined in to partake of their...discussion, or planning, or whatever it was.

I couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about, being that they’d all kinda just met and all, but boy were they all really gung ho about something. Every now and again one of them would turn to look at me, but not like they wanted me to come over, and not like they had something they wanted to talk to me about... It was more like they were scheming something.

I was about as curious as a man could get, but before I could do anything the performers started swinging and singing all over again.

“Dias! It’s starting again!” Senai cried.

“You have to watch it this time!” Ayhan demanded.

And just like that, my attention was drawn back to the show, and all I could think about was the wondrous song and dance playing out before my eyes.

I walked around the village square with the twins, checking out all the different performers, and we met up with the young baars, who were doing the very same thing with their parents. The young ones must have been a bit worn out from all the excitement, because they were all yawning.

The twins didn’t hesitate to act, and they picked up the young baars and walked off to our yurt. I watched them go, wondering what to do next, but I didn’t have to think for very long. Peijin-Octad had finished his discussion with the others and was on his way over to speak with me.

“I tell you!” he cried. “Thanks to you, Duke Baarbadal, I’ve met some truly wonderful people! I couldn’t be more grateful, I really couldn’t, but I’ll be sure to repay you for all the connections somewhere down the line, I assure you! Anyway, I brought you a whole host of good stuff, and I sure would like a chance to tell you all about it. My attendants have already unloaded it, and it’s neatly lined up in front of your storehouses. I was wondering if you could spare a few moments to head over?”

I remembered then that Peijin-Octad had come with a huge caravan. I knew the carriages weren’t all full of gifts, but knowing Octad, he would have brought a lot for us. I figured that it was best to get to sorting the stuff sooner rather than later, and even though I was pretty sure Hubert was already on it, I thought I’d check it out myself too.

“All righty then,” I said. “Let’s go take a look.”

I walked with Peijin-Octad over to the storehouses, where there was some red fabric laid out on the grass, and on top of it were big chests the likes of which I’d never seen before. They were painted black and were all mighty glossy. The four corners of each were decorated in gold, and there was a steel handle on either side. There were even some decorations on the bottom that looked like little legs for the chests to stand on.

It was a bit unusual, but I’d seen similar chests before, just...smaller. These were like bigger, more luxurious versions. Each chest was big enough that, honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to carry one on my own. I wondered how you were supposed to grip the handles. But after a little thought, it dawned on me that each chest was a two-person job. Still, with that mystery out of the way, one still remained: What was in these expensive-looking chests anyway?

That was when Hubert came out of a storehouse with a whole bunch of paper in his hand that presumably listed all the stuff Peijin-Octad had brought us. When he noticed me he ran straight over.

“Lord Dias, are you here to check on the delivery?” he asked. “I’ve been through most of the list myself, but some of it I can’t actually discern by the name of the product alone... Sir Octad, would you be so kind as to explain what you’ve brought?”

Octad nodded happily, took a look at the list and what was giving Hubert some grief, and then walked over to the chest I’d been admiring moments earlier and took the lid off it. He left that on the carpet and began taking out the contents to show us.

“This here is amber,” he started, “and this is jade. This here comes from coral, and while it’s not exactly a jewel per se, in the Beastkin Nation we love it just the same. In this chest here we have a talisman doll, but it’s more a folk handicraft than anything else. Oh, and this is some high-quality fabric we make at home; it’s been dyed with the finest purple we have.”

Peijin-Octad went on introducing piece after piece, but to be honest I didn’t really know any of the stuff he was explaining to us. However, Hubert nodded along and said things like “Oh, I’ve read about that” and “I’ve heard about that,” so he was all ears.

“And in this chest we have a collection of traditional weaponry,” said Peijin-Octad. “It’s not to cause trouble or anything of that nature, but in the Beastkin Nation people happily receive such items as gifts. That said, they are weapons, and ordinarily carrying them across the border is prohibited. However, your reputation is growing thanks to you helping us fight off earth dragons and you having met a god. For that reason, Chancellor Kiko was able to obtain official permission for us to deliver you these as gifts.”

Peijin-Octad showed us a chest containing swords, another containing spears, and another containing bows.

“The names of the craftsmen who crafted the weapons are etched on the weapons and listed in the documentation we gave you. Ah, and in this chest we have a selection of books.”

When Hubert heard that last word, man, his eyes just lit up like a child’s. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and let out an excited breath. “Foreign books!” he whispered with glee and practically pounced on the chest.

Peijin-Octad helped to get the lid off, but the moment Hubert saw inside the chest he seemed to freeze.

“Oh, is this your first time seeing a treasure-bound book?” asked Peijin-Octad. “Much like weaponry, we’re usually prohibited from taking books into Sanserife, but we were able to get you a few concerning our history, our mythology, and some other topics. They’re all treasure-bound: embroidered with gold and silver thread, and decorated with jewels and gold foil. They’re true works of art, and valuable as much for their adornments as for their contents.”

Hubert was trembling as he wandered into the storehouse, and soon he returned wearing a pair of gloves. He carefully took one of the books in hand and, upon checking the title, opened it up...only for his shoulders to slump in disappointment. I was a bit confused so I peeked over his shoulder and...

Well, we shouldn’t have been surprised.

The book came from another country, so of course it was all going to be written in another language. But even if we couldn’t read the books, they were still mighty valuable to have as pieces of art. I wondered if actually that was the reason that we’d been given them, but then Peijin-Octad reached into one of his pockets and retrieved one more book. Unlike the ones in this chest, this one looked well loved, like it was worn out from years of use, and he passed it to Hubert.

Hubert accepted it with a curious look on his face, but as he flipped through the pages he understood what he was looking at, and he couldn’t believe it.

Hubert’s sudden change of expression got me curious too, so I took a peek and discovered that it was a dictionary. I figured Peijin-Octad must have used it to study the language of Sanserife. Octad was giving it to Hubert as a personal gift, and the latter was beyond overjoyed. He gingerly shut the dictionary and clutched it tight to his chest, then turned his head to the sky and stopped responding to anything.

He was so deeply moved that I didn’t expect him to be moving for a while. It would take some time for him to fully recover, so I told Peijin-Octad to just leave him be and explain the remaining boxes to me.

At That Time, in the Village Square

While Dias and Peijin-Octad were at the village storehouses, the village square was just a touch quieter now that the performers had relaxed a little. It was here that Eldan and Lady Darrell led preparations for a banquet—no, preparations for a party. Eldan had told Lady Darrell of his plan to get Dias and Alna some alone time, but Lady Darrell had suggested that it would in fact be better to create a romantic atmosphere in front of the domain’s residents.

As such, preparations were underway for not just a party but a dance party.

While they lacked some of the decorations and provisions for such an event, Eldan had brought quite a lot with him, and Ellie had a surplus of supplies just in case an event like this one ever took place. As for instruments, Tilo An’s people had that covered. All the parts were ready, and the villagers rushed to put them all together in time for the evening.

At the Eastern Border Station—Klaus

The forest border station stood tall under the clear autumn skies. Thanks to the assistance of the cavekin, the border station facilities were quickly coming to resemble more of a stronghold, and it was at one of the guard towers that Klaus now stood, complete with a suit of earth dragon armor and a spear made from the same material.

From the guard tower Klaus could see out into the surrounding forest area. As his eyes scanned the forest that stretched into Mahati, he noticed a shadowy figure darting among the trees to avoid his gaze. Klaus had a feeling the shadow belonged to one of the same intruders they’d been seeing quite often of late—more than likely bandits. Klaus had not taken action yet, because they remained within Mahati and just outside of his jurisdiction. They were causing him a great deal of worry.

As Klaus once more thought on the problem, he heard somebody climbing the guard tower ladder. He knew it wasn’t one of the dogkin guards, as they always took the staircases made especially for them, and any of the other guards would have announced their arrival before ascending. Klaus thus assumed it was his wife, Canis.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” he said when he heard her arrive at the top of the ladder. “They’re still just watching over the area...and us.”

“I see...” replied Canis, worried. “So they really are bandits?”

Klaus turned to his wife and offered her a smile.

“Probably. I’ve been keeping an eye on them and trying to keep track of faces. It looks to me like there are about ten of them. At a guess I’d say they probably fell out of work and banded together when looting was the only option they had left. But they’ll need a far bigger group if they want to have any chance at breaking through our defenses. Still, I guess with Baarbadal doing so well of late, the temptation was just far too great.”

“Only ten...? But what if they gather more allies?” asked Canis. “What if they come at us with a hundred people?”

“Well...then we’d be looking at a fight. But in the end they’re just bandits, and I don’t rate their chances very high. Bandits can only get to about thirty strong before they tear themselves apart. Any bigger and you need someone with experience managing groups and organizations to maintain any kind of order.”

Klaus explained that things got exponentially more difficult the larger a group of bandits got. There was just so much to consider: people, equipment, supplies, stock management, work distribution, finances—not to mention how to split loot. The more of this you had to wade through, the more likely you were to see fights break out within the group.

“More bandits means a higher chance of success,” said Klaus, “but it also makes for a smaller pot when the raid is done. That’s why bandit gangs stay relatively small. And even when you’ve got a good leader keeping everybody together, thirty is still usually as big as a gang gets. Any larger than that and the group either aligns themselves with a small nation or a noble, or otherwise sets their sights on bigger targets. But even a hundred bandits don’t stand a real chance against us. Heck, even an army would have a rough time of it.”

“Oh, so that’s how it works? But it seems a pity for someone with leadership potential to fall into banditry...”

“Yeah, and usually someone with those kinds of smarts turns to mercenary work or the military. It’s not common for them to turn to crime. More often than not, bandits are ordinary people with homes and families. They just have no other way to put food on the table. Fail and die, win and live on—that’s how it works. And most folks, when they get one big score they go back to their former lives. That’s another reason that it’s uncommon to see large gangs.”

“Just ordinary people, huh...? When you think about it that way, it’s a bit scary to think that bandits could live right next door. We haven’t seen that kind of thing in Iluk, but still...”

“There’s not much of a future in it,” stated Klaus. “You have to buy food, you have to know how to keep weapons and armor in good shape yourself, and most of all you need to know how to sell your spoils. That requires connections. Most people, they only ever do it once if they do it at all. Sure, it’s ordinary folk in towns and villages that are most likely to succumb to banditry, but you get mercenaries and soldiers at times as well.”

“Oh, I see...”

“That’s what makes it all the harder for us here—those bandits out there might be ordinary people, and they’re not doing anything just yet. It would be far easier if they were decked out and ready to raid...”

As Klaus and Canis talked, they heard the arrival of flapping wings. It was a familiar sound, and the two looked up to see Sahhi approaching. Sahhi was the messenger between Iluk and the border station, and he visited daily with updates. Still, it was unusual for the falconkin to arrive in the late afternoon like this, and Klaus wondered if it was something urgent. However, when Sahhi came to land on the guard tower’s dedicated perch, he spoke with joyous excitement.

“A merchant is visiting from the Beastkin Nation, and he’s come with a group of traveling performers who are putting on a grand show to celebrate the construction of our new temple! It’s all sorts of lively and fun! And to add to all the revelry, Iluk is throwing a dance party this evening! It’s for Dias and Alna, and I’m here to let you know that anybody who’s free is invited! But I should also mention that Dias asked the traveling performers to stop by each border station too. I think the plan is for them to visit here, let’s see...the day after tomorrow.”

Klaus looked at Canis. His gaze spoke for him.

I’m staying, but feel free to go if you like.

Canis, however, shook her head.

If they’re coming here, her gaze replied, then I’ll enjoy the show when it arrives.

Klaus looked Canis in the eyes, put his spear to the side, and took her hand in his own. Theirs was a love that was as deep as the ocean, but before their feelings could get any deeper, Sahhi cleared his throat.

“Look, I, uh... I can pretty much guess what your plans are, but I’m going to need something official and...verbal, if that’s okay? And, uh, you know, maybe some of the dogkin, onikin, and cavekin that work here might want to head to Iluk. The festivities are set to continue until evening, but even on horseback you’d want to leave now to catch the better half of it. So let everyone know, okay? Also, are you sure you want to leave those strangers out there to their own devices? I could scare them away if you’d like...”

Klaus smiled and shook his head.

“We’ll keep on doing our work here and wait for the performers to arrive,” he said.

Canis then went down the ladder to inform the rest of the station staff about the party. Soon enough, the place erupted with cries of joy the likes of which even startled the forest’s critters.

Traveling East to the Forest in a Carriage—Mysterious Men

The carriage trundled along the road. Its passengers had forged documentation proving that they were registered merchants in the Merangal marketplace, and this hung from the carriage as it went on its way. The men inside the carriage were all hidden in hooded robes which concealed dangerous weapons.

“It’s no good,” reported a man in tattered robes as he boarded the carriage. “A breach ain’t an option, nope. The captain’s gear is earth dragon stuff. I’ve seen it around more often lately, and there’s no mistaking it. And based on the way he holds himself, I’m willing to bet he was a military man. Not the type you want to go toe-to-toe with, no sirree.”

The man, likely their scout, slumped into a seat in the corner as the biggest among them let out a sigh.

“But we’ve got options, don’t we?” continued the scout. “We’re pretending to be merchants. Isn’t that enough to get us through the gates? Why all this talk of trying to bust down the door?”

The big man finally saw fit to respond.

“Because we’ve already tried every other option,” he grunted. “Merchants, traveling bards... It doesn’t matter how we dress—we always get caught out. We tried saying we wanted to be residents, wanted to be soldiers. It didn’t work.”

Other scenarios included hiring women to charm the guards, and even pretending to be slaves fleeing from a cruel master. Not a single thing they’d attempted had worked, the big man explained.

“The moment we told a single lie, they turned on us. Could be we need more talented actors...but either way, we haven’t had a shred o’ luck. To make matters worse, that captain’s a smart cookie—he knows the law, and we can’t pull any fast ones, no wool over his eyes. So all we’ve got left is a full frontal assault. That’s it.”

“But the border station only blocks the road leading to the plains, right? Why don’t we just go off the beaten track? Make our way through the forests?”

“You wanna give it a shot? Be my guest. But if you ask me, the captain knows we can, and I’ll bet he’s prepared countermeasures for anybody who tries. The punishment for breaking into a border station? Execution by hanging. Same if you try illegally crossing the border by forest. Thing is, we don’t have a map for the forest, and we don’t have any intel. That makes it no different from suicide.”

“Intel, huh? But who would’ve thought that some info would go for so high a price? Makes simple theft feel like a fool’s game.”

All the bandits had turned to their current line of work when they’d fallen out of employment. They had stolen from homes and stolen livestock, and then they’d heard from their trafficking contact that someone was paying a very large sum of coin for any intel regarding the Baarbadal domain. The bandits had prepared their things and set off immediately, but they had found themselves stuck outside the border station for more than a week now.

“But who’s buying?” asked one of the other bandits.

The big man, likely the group’s leader, answered.

“I did some digging—thought it might come in handy. Looks like it’s not just one person. Until now, everybody who’s ever tried to cultivate the plains failed. But this new guy made it happen, he slays dragon after dragon, and now he’s a lauded duke. Not only is he rich, he’s expanded his territory and even come into possession of a whole damned salt plain. Then apparently he’s got some rare sheep over there that grow some really top-tier wool.”

At first, everybody had assumed that Baarbadal’s duke was a nobody—a duke in name and name alone, destined for failure. But now that he’d come this far, people couldn’t sit back and let him continue marching his path to success unimpeded. They wanted any dirt they could get on him, but that was the problem—nobody had any real information.

“All the spies who are sent to sneak in get turned away, and when we tried bribing the merchants that Baarbadal works with, they either ignored us or they just didn’t know anything. It’s like the place is wrapped in some kind of fog, and that bothers people. And then Baarbadal sends a noble to the royal capital to talk them up. Nobody knows what the endgame is... Do they want to join the prince’s faction? Do they want to start a new faction? Who knows. Whatever the case, the nobility is getting cold feet. But you know who else’ll pay a cart-load for intel? Our fine friends next door.”

Friends next door—a code among the bandits, and one that they used whenever they wanted to talk about the empire and anybody working with them. They, like Sanserife’s nobility, were hungry for intel and happy to pay for it. And when the bandits remembered how much they stood to gain, they thought of all the delicious food they could buy and the land they might purchase. It was enough money for all of that and a wild celebration.

“Given the situation, we’ve got no choice but to team up with the other groups looking to do the same as us,” continued the bandit leader. “But once we bust through those gates, all bets are off...”

They were enemies from the moment they breached, in other words. Making a ruckus might also make the job harder, meaning reduced rewards, but at the same time it was better than simply doing nothing. The bandits had already spent money on travel and food, and turning back empty-handed simply wasn’t an option anymore. The last remaining option was not one that any of them particularly liked, but they all knew it was all they had left.

The bandits thus turned their thoughts towards how best to rid themselves of their rivals once they’d gotten through the gates. And as their carriage trundled onwards, silence filled the air, filled with the dreams of bandits hoping for a big score.

As the Sun Sets in Iluk—Dias

The preparations were done right quick thanks to everyone’s help—help that included Eldan, Peijin and his attendants, and even the traveling performers. And boy, the square was even more extravagant than I could have imagined.

There were pillars erected around the village square with rope connecting all of them. On that rope were colorful pieces of fabric, flowers both real and fake, and pretty bundles of white grass. And to light it all up and make it even prettier, we had a big old bonfire in the middle of the square.

The cavekin had whipped up a stage for all of us to dance on, and we had carpets and chairs for people to rest when they needed a break. Then there were tables lined with food and a whole heap of alcohol that Goldia had brought along as a matter of course.

There was also a dedicated place for the performers to keep on doing their thing and a marketplace for Peijin-Octad to sell his own wares. In fact, the party area grew so big that we had to move some of the yurts to make more space for everything.

This was no banquet. It was a whole dang shindig!

Some of the people that worked at the eastern and western border stations had turned up to enjoy the night too, and the square was jam-packed. It felt like a totally different world from what we were all used to.

I was watching over everything in my formal attire, and all the grandmas around me were dressed in beautiful red fabric. I guessed Ellie’d had a hand in that.

“Alna’s outfit is going to take a bit longer yet,” said one of them, “so you can go mingle with your residents, young one.”

Alna was getting dressed up for the occasion, and apparently that was a whole thing. It even required help from Lady Darrell, Ellie, Fendia, and all the grandmas to get her makeup and whatnot just right.

All I could really say in response was “All righty.”

I started walking, but I wasn’t actually sure where I wanted to go at first. Fortunately, I heard a lot of commotion coming from the knife-throwing area. A contest or something was taking place and the lostblood brothers were at the heart of it, so I headed on over to take a look.

Watching the Lively Festivities in the Village Square—The Visiting Baar Couple

Two separate groups of travelers had arrived in the village, both to celebrate the construction of a temple that worshipped baars. One of these groups had come with a veritable mountain’s worth of tributary goods, and so the village had decided to throw a banquet. It was a massively lively event, colorful and bright, and it sure looked like a whole lot of fun.

In a way, if one looked at it from the right angle, it could have been said that the banquet was being thrown in honor of the baars, and it was perhaps for this reason that the wild baar couple were overloaded with shock and excitement. They were as happy as they were filled with pride.

The husband of the couple snorted something about it being amazing that they would be worshipped to such an extent, and his wife butted him in the side with her horns.

“Don’t let it get to your head,” she bleated.

He was trying to heed her words, to be sure.

“But look at it all,” he bleated back. “Look at this grand banquet.”

“None of which is celebrating your achievements, mind you,” replied his wife. “Of which you have a grand total of none anyway.”

She’d hit the nail on the head, and with authority to boot. All the wind in the husband’s sails seemed to dissipate, and he began to consider what possible conquest might lie before him. Eventually, he found an answer.

In the village they stayed at, there were several leaders, and these leaders served a nation, which was made up of other similar villages under the command of other leaders. But there were also many nations...and as the husband came to understand the scope of the world around him, he felt that it was the duty of wild baars to unite.

The husband had heard that wild baars stayed in this village over the winter and that they were ensured safety and security until spring in exchange for wool—an exchange that was determined via negotiation.

The husband had thus come to a conclusion—wasn’t it necessary to have a representative for the wild baars? One baar among them to ensure that negotiations were fair and that their wool wasn’t stolen wholesale?

The husband baar snorted as he thought, and his wife read him like an open book. She let out a sighing bleat and noticed something out of the corner of her eye. A number of men, four of them, were gripping the reins of some of the horses that had come from the forest a short while ago and were quietly, stealthily, leading them back along the road towards the forest.

The men were all armed, and the wife recognized them as priests, but all the same she could not fathom why they were leaving. After all, the villagers were all celebrating and enjoying the party, and even the village leader—a man of keen instinct—was wrapped up in entertaining the village’s young. With preparations for some event just about to start, he had little time for anything else.

And so the baar watched as the four priests disappeared to the east, then turned her attention back to her husband, knowing it was her duty to keep him from doing anything stupid.

In the Forest—Bandits

The bandits hid within the shadows of the forest as the sun continued its descent. It had been a long wait, but finally they had something worth smiling about. After they had gone to the trouble of amassing greater numbers for a very risky plan, they’d heard voices from beyond the gates.

The bandits could not believe their luck! A banquet was being thrown, and it seemed that a number of the station guards had decided to join in the revelry. It was not long before the noise within the border station calmed and fell quieter than before.

The bandits had a clear course of action ahead of them—they would first breach the border station, then sneak through the forest and plains to Iluk Village. Once there, all they had to do was run reconnaissance and gather intelligence. Escape wasn’t likely to be an issue either—thanks to the intel they’d gathered scouting the border station in advance, they knew there were horses, and the bandits planned to leave a few men behind to ready the animals for their escape.

The stage was set. The bandits knew that this was their golden opportunity, and their blood boiled. The only questions that remained were when and how to strike. The main group wanted nothing more than to send in the others first, but the longer they waited, the more likely it was that the border station would call reinforcements.

Their chance was now. Waiting was a bad move. At the same time, there would be losses on the front lines—heavy losses—and so the bandits only crept forwards. They edged closer to the border station little by little, hesitant, not wanting to wait but not wanting to be the first to move either. Every single one of them was thinking the same thing.

Just go. Throw yourself in. I’ll be right behind you. Just go already...

The bandits glanced at one another as they inched forwards, unknowingly passing a line marked by stakes hammered into the ground. But even after they passed the line, the border station remained silent, as if waiting for something. But the bandits could make no excuses any longer—they were past the border. But as they neared ever closer, a fire blazed from one of the guard towers, and a voice spoke.

“Hold it right there! The station gates do not open after nightfall! Take another step and you will be arrested for the attempted breach of—”

The bandits did not wait for the man to finish. If anything, his commanding tone was more like a signal to attack. The bandits broke off in several directions. Some rushed to scale the walls, some darted to the left and right, and some carried a battering ram to charge through the gates.

The man who had ordered their halt from the guard towers leaped down to defend the gates himself, landing where the most bandits had gathered, and the moment he landed he swung his spear with frightening accuracy. He was a capable and experienced warrior, even in the darkness of night.

“Don’t think for even a second that we’ll allow a single bandit into Baarbadal!” he shouted.

With a single, smooth strike, he knocked the sword from one bandit’s hand, and with the next he slammed his spear into another bandit’s shield. His momentum carrying him, he then knocked two spears from bandit hands with yet another deft strike.

The man settled for weapons and did not take any lives, and this in itself was an unspoken warning: You do not stand a chance. Give up now, or your next act of defiance could come at a much higher cost.

But the bandits paid no heed to the man’s warnings. Those still with weapons clenched them tighter, and those carrying the battering ram charged in. The rest continued with their various attempts to make it in, and those who wished to fight picked up whatever weapons were dropped.

But moments later came the vicious sounds of howling, barking, and growling from among the trees, followed soon after by the shrieks and screams of any bandit who’d tried their luck in the depths of the forest. The bandits knew then that there were attack dogs on the loose and that even by the cover of night, in the darkness of the forest, they would not escape a dog’s powerful sense of smell. So they gave up on sneaking through the trees and readied their weapons.

“Hey!” barked one among the bandits. “We’re a hundred strong, and things will end better for you if you just open the gates!”

The spear-wielding man at the gates did not seem to care for numbers, and he continued to swing and thrust his spear.

“Bring a thousand! Bring ten thousand! Here in Baarbadal we eat dragons for breakfast!”

With each swing of his spear came the pained howl of a bandit. Weapons and shields flew as blood sprayed through the air, but the bandits knew they had the superior numbers. They believed that this was their battle to win, and so they pushed on.

And yet, not one man could get anywhere within reach of the spearman. Not a single bandit could land a single strike on him, and the gate behind him hadn’t even been touched. But no one realized this in the midst of battle, so they continued to charge, believing that their gamble would pay off with just a little more work.

The Iluk Village Square—Fendia

The square was luminous with the bonfire raging, and Dias looked truly dashing in his nobleman outfit. Alna was stunning as well in her flowing red skirt, woven from baar wool and animal hide, which added a touch of ferocity to her beauty. The lord of Baarbadal and his fiancée began to dance, and the villagers were in a wide circle around them, clapping and cheering.

Dias was an awkward man blessed with great physicality, while Alna was incredibly dextrous in addition to her own physical gifts. The two had practiced dancing under Lady Darrell’s watchful eye, and clearly it was paying off, as they were nothing if not the picture of grace. The priestess of the baar temple, Fendia, sat on a carpet and smiled watching the couple.

Dias’s rags to riches story of success was like the majestic rise of the sun, and Fendia found this romance budding throughout the tale to be breathtaking.

And yet, she was struck by how closely it mirrored the last chapter of the story of the founding king, a tome that was kept hidden and closely guarded in the Great Temple. Fendia, deeply faithful and pious unlike any other, had read that book religiously in secret, and she felt her heart warm to be a part of such a story herself.

Lady Darrell sat down next to Fendia and enjoyed brushing a few dogkin pups as she watched her students dance. Her gaze was exacting—much what one would expect from a teacher—but she seemed satisfied by what she saw.

“It hasn’t always been smooth sailing,” commented Fendia, “but I’m truly glad for how things have gone. If we can strengthen the bond between the engaged even just a little here at our celebration of the temple, then I’d say there was value in my coming here.”

“Indeed,” said Lady Darrell with a nod. “As subjects of the duke, and considering their ages, we want nothing more than for our lord and lady to deepen their bonds even further. Still, considering Dias’s strict adherence to official law, asking any more might prove difficult, even if the vast majority of the nobility act as if they are above such laws...”

“Dias was born and raised at the temple, and so it perhaps goes without saying. Even at the temples there are those whose duty is to educate and reprimand those who stray from the law. Dias was very close to such educators, and so it’s only natural that he feels more beholden to the law than others.”

“I see. That makes a great deal of sense. And speaking of priests, I haven’t seen the paladins around...”

Fendia covered her mouth and giggled.

“Those boys... A few dogkin arrived with a message from Canis, and they heard it. They left for the forest as quickly and quietly as they could. There’s no better way for them to put their skills to work than handling bandits. The worse they are, and the worse their crimes, the better it feels to return them to the path of righteousness. You should have seen the smiles on the paladins’ faces...”

Lady Darrell wondered if this was okay. She couldn’t help thinking that the paladins should have first reported to Dias. At the same time, this was a precious moment for Dias and Alna, and one that was to be treasured. Looked at in that light, a case could be made that the paladins were acting to ensure their lord’s time was not disturbed, so Lady Darrell gave the matter no more thought. Instead, she continued to brush the pups and watch her students dance.

Fendia giggled again at the expression on the etiquette instructor’s face and glanced east. She wondered just how many stray bandit hearts might be mended by the hands—and scepters—of the paladins, and the thought of it filled her with joy, making the banquet even more fun to be a part of.

Locked in Battle at the Border Station—Klaus

First it was ten weapons knocked away, then twenty...but as time went on and the battle raged, the bandits continued to pile on the pressure, and not a single man showed any sign of stopping. The penalty for breaking into a border station was execution, so few would have so much as blinked if Klaus had simply slaughtered the bandits where they stood. No doubt it would have been the easiest route for the captain of the eastern border station.

For every action Klaus took, however, there was always the question of “What would Dias do?” and he had known the man long enough to know the answer: He would spare the bandits their lives. Dias was always harsh on criminals, and he did not hesitate to mete out punishment as it was necessary, but his punishments were always, and inevitably...somewhat generous.

There was a brief moment in which Klaus wondered, Should we hang them...? Should we take their lives...? But as he thought back to the battles he’d fought since Dias had become the lord of Baarbadal, the movements of his spear dulled just a touch. The bandits must have sensed this, because it only spurred on their attack.

But it was not just the bandits who noticed Klaus’s mercy...

“We’ve got more than enough light from the fires!” shouted a voice from above. “Just say the word and we’ll send arrows through their throats!”

“We’ll have them dead in no time at all!” shouted another.

The voices belonged to two of the onikin women who had taken up work at the border station, but Klaus did not immediately answer. As he swung his spear valiantly, he struggled with how best to handle the situation, and it was then that a black shadow leaped towards him.

Even with the light from the fires it was still very dark, but the shadowy figure was able to target the openings in Klaus’s armor. Klaus parried the attacks and launched counters of his own, but the figure dodged each strike as gracefully as a dancer. Klaus knew then that his attacker was no human.

“A beastkin?!” he cried, unable to hide his surprise.

His attacker had moved swiftly and accurately in the darkness, and Klaus had spent more than enough time training with the dogkin to understand exactly what he was up against. He gritted his teeth and readied himself.

So even beastkin will stoop to banditry!

The shadowy figure moved with the ferocity and speed of one who did not need to rely on their eyes to find their target, and Klaus found himself on the defensive against their claws. As he struggled to stay in the fight, however, yet more shadowy figures appeared around him.

Just how many of them are there?!

Klaus had grown especially deep ties with the beastkin, and he felt himself scrambling for an answer to his problems...but it was then that a number of deep, booming voices echoed from above.

“Rejoice, sinners!” shouted one, unable to hide his thunderous laughter. “For you meet today with the teachings of the gods!”

It was Patrick, complete with big mouth, big nose, and ever-impressive beard.

“But know salvation, my friends!” declared the tanned, eyebrowless Paul. “For while our scepters teach painful lessons, they do not kill!”

“The future is bright, my misled brothers!” cried Pierre, who looked the most intellectual with his glasses but was in fact the most violent paladin of them all. “For at the end of your excruciating punishments comes the glory of wondrous sermons!”

“Woo!” yelled Primo, whose beard and eyebrows were always immaculate. “Let us crush these bandit bodies into dust in the name of Lord Dias!”

And finally, there was Klaus.

“Wh-What in the world are you doing here?!”

The paladins dropped down from the border station ramparts and straight into an attack on the shadowy bandits. Not once did their scepters betray any hesitation. The paladins swung with all the power they had, and with enough force that Klaus worried they might kill someone, scepter or not.

Bandit screams quickly filled the air.

“You foolish louts!” boomed Patrick, still laughing joyously. “To think you would choose to attack on the day we celebrate the construction of our temple! You will know the deepest of regrets for your choice, and you will learn the error of your ways!”

He seemed to light a fire in his brethren, and the paladins’ scepters became blurs in the dark. Klaus shook his head in disbelief, but he readied his spear and launched it at a nearby bandit.

The paladins fought with a “might makes right” attitude and used all the power they had at their disposal. They trapped the bandit weapons on the hooks of their scepters, and after they swept their opponents’ legs out from under them or had them on the ropes, they showed surprising dexterity...in launching their scepters with extreme prejudice yet somehow managing to avoid inflicting any critical injuries.

It became obvious in moments that the paladins were truly not out to kill any of the bandits but rather...to beat the teachings of the gods into them, whether they liked it or not. To Klaus, it was clear that the paladins had developed special methods with which to see their goals met.

But the paladins were capable of much more than violent lessons. They excelled when it came to protection in battle, and it was said that they made for exceptional guards at temples and locations of political importance. Watching the paladins in action, Klaus saw no reason to doubt this. The four men all worked like a single unit, defending each other and attacking in equal measure, in such a way that it was near impossible for the bandits to find an opening.

It was not unlike the way Klaus and Dias fought side by side, except that the coordination of the paladins was more refined... Each and every movement was made in perfect harmony.

While there was a huge gap between Dias and Klaus in terms of strength and ability, no such noticeable gap existed between the paladins. They were roughly even. They all wielded the same weapons, were all of roughly the same build, and because they matched each other physically, they were able to find an exquisitely high level of teamwork that was unique to them.

Truth be told, Klaus knew he could easily take each of the paladins down in a one-on-one duel. Even two against one, the odds were in his favor. However, if a third paladin were added to the mix, the path to victory became much more difficult, and against all four paladins at once? Klaus did not think he had much of a chance at all.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen them fight, but I didn’t think they’d be this formidable. Then again, they all hail from the temple where Dias grew up, so I guess I should have expected them to be capable warriors. And I have to imagine that they’re all in good shape because they believe in eating well, just like Dias...

As Klaus thought, he swung his spear in the same manner as one of the paladins might—targeting the arms and legs, and without holding back in the slightest—and knocked down a trembling bandit where he stood. He then moved right on to the next one—he knew he was using a spear and that a slight misjudgment might kill someone...but also he didn’t want to overthink things and have the paladins think he was a weakling.

In time, the bandits started to lose their will along with their weapons. Some considered hiding among the trees, but others, who saw their position weakening, tried to flee altogether. However, the paladins had known that this was coming and were quick to make those same bandits reconsider their plans...by bashing their legs.

“If you were going to flee, you should have done so far, far sooner, friend!” boomed Patrick, overcome with glee. “You will learn that fleeing at this point will only burden you with more sin!”

The other bandits who had attempted to flee were now surrounded, and it seemed inevitable that they would be summarily beaten into submission. After all, in front of them was Klaus, behind them were the paladins, and to their left and right were the darkness of the forest and the dangers that lurked within. Thinking Klaus the easier target than four paladins, some of the bandits launched themselves at him. Klaus knew that they’d made a simple calculation, but he also knew that in truth they stood a better chance against the paladins—after all, behind him in the border station proper were the dogkin and the onikin.

Even if the bandits did manage to take down Klaus, the border station gates would not go down easily. The bandits were simpleminded men in the end, and Klaus sighed internally as he swung his spear in a wide arc while the remaining bandits either took their chances in the forest or tried to make their way through the paladins.

None of the bandits actually believed they stood a real chance against the paladins at this point. Victory was a fool’s errand. They needed only enough room to make it past and flee.

The paladins showed them no quarter.

As Klaus watched them from the corner of his eye, he held his spear blade low to the ground and swung it left and right at tremendous speed. Bandits caught on either side of it went flying and flipping, most of them landing so hard that they were knocked unconscious, the rest left in so much pain they could barely stand. When the dust settled, the survivors were moaning and groaning and clutching their wounds.

In this way, Klaus and the paladins brought the majority of bandits under control. Those who had braved the forest did not stay there for long and quickly popped out in front of Klaus. One look at them showed that the dogkin had made them reconsider escape—their clothes were torn, and their arms and legs were covered in bite marks. They had experienced terror in the forest and emerged from it only to find the rest of their crew broken, battered, or out of commission.

These bandits—most of whom appeared to work under the beastkin bandit—immediately settled on a course of action. Half of them threw down their weapons, threw up their arms, and surrendered on the spot. Of the other half, three ran towards Klaus, while the rest launched themselves at the paladins, hoping to find a way to escape.

That was when Klaus gasped. He couldn’t allow the bandits to get away, but the three bandits on him would not give him a chance to get to the others.

They’re not fighting me, they’re just keeping me from getting to their allies! These few aren’t just mere bandits! They move like they’ve had military experience...!

Klaus fought back, and while ordinarily he would have handled the three men like children, they were not interested in a fight—they were only interested in buying time. Klaus needed to get them out of the way, but they knew this and so they remained just out of range, not even trying to engage him.

Meanwhile, Patrick’s laughter once again filled the air.

“Try again! You’ll only learn the same lesson!”

The paladins were preparing to handle the incoming bandits as they had the others, but this time they were up against beastkin, who boasted enhanced physical abilities. They leaped up high, they bounded left and right, or they took to all fours to dodge the paladins’ attacks and evade capture.

The bandits let out whoops of joy at being out of harm’s way and a step closer to freedom, but they did not account for what came next...and an instant later arrows could be heard slicing through the air at the fleeing bandits. The onikin locked on to their targets by the light of the guard tower flames and were ready to fire again at a moment’s notice.

“Oh, you think you’re home free, do you?!” barked one. “Don’t think it’s going to be so easy! We’ll at least take your weapons if we can’t take your lives!”

“Hey! Boss! Round them up and be quick about it!” shouted another. “We’ll be in some trouble if they get around the other side!”

Klaus and the paladins did exactly as the onikin women told them, moving to capture all the bandits that now had arrows in their butts. While Klaus and the paladins did that, a few dogkin appeared from the forest, dragging bandits with them—more men who had tried to flee through the forest and failed.

Klaus looked around and did a rough head count before letting out a relieved sigh. He was fairly certain that this was all of them.

“Whew,” he said. “I’m glad we got that settled. But we’ll have to do far better next time... This border station’s going to need some more renovations...”

Klaus knew that one or two bandits might have given them the slip, but he also knew that the dogkin knew the area far better than them. Those bandits would be sniffed up, tracked down, and flushed out soon enough. Klaus reported this to the paladins, the onikin, and Canis, then took the rope passed down from the other side of the station and started on the work of tying all the bandits up.

A Few Hours Later—The One Bandit Who Made It to the Plains

There was only one man among the bandits—a beastkin—who stepped out onto the plains from the forest. His cloak was torn near to shreds and covered in dirt. The attack on the border station had failed, and so he had elected to switch strategies and plunge into the forest...alone.

When he had initially entered the forest with his comrades, they had hastily put together a plan to buy him the time necessary to get away. That plan seemed to have gone swimmingly, and the last remaining bandit smiled to himself at the thought.

What matters isn’t the guys you can’t even call your brothers, it’s the money. I made it out alive. I am the lone survivor and the lone success story here.

The bandit’s clothes were covered in the feces of wild forest animals, but the stench was worth it for the effect it had on hiding his trail. He looked up at the sky as dawn began to break, and put his game face on—his job was not done yet. The bandit trudged through the grass, knowing that there was a village out there somewhere. After some time walking, the bandit spotted a few small dogs.

Dogs? But—wait, no, they’re clothed... Are they beastkin children? Does that mean their village is somewhere nearby? But that can’t be... I can’t see or smell anything in the immediate vicinity. But I’ll bet that one of those little guys knows where I can find the village, and it can’t hurt to have a hostage if I happen to need one...

The bandit ducked into the grass and crept closer towards the dogkin pups happily walking along the road under the light of the rising sun. It was not long before the bandit had circled behind the children, and he stood to capture one in one fell swoop, but before he could he felt hands reaching out to grab him. They came together with a tremendous, unforgivingly heavy pressure, and the bandit quickly rolled away and turned to see a massively muscular man with golden hair standing before him. On his face was a portrait of rage for the bandit’s attempt to lay hands on a dogkin pup.

Oh damn, I just stepped in it for real this time...

The bandit kept his scream from rending the air and instead scrambled away on all fours with all the beastkin speed his body had. He plunged back into the forest, but the golden-haired man was hot on his heels. His back was straight and his arms and legs moved with startling consistency. On top of that, he was fast.

The bandit was in such a panic that the hood of his cloak fell from his head, revealing the head of a wolf. Still on four legs, he continued to run, but no matter where he went, the man was on his trail, even though it was clear he was just a human.

How is a human staying on me like this?!

His urge to scream intensified, but the bandit pushed it away as he sped through the forest. There was no shortage of hiding places here, and he weaved between trees until he saw the perfect place to hide and dove behind a rock. The space underneath the rock had been dug out slightly, and the bandit huddled inside, covering himself with nearby leaves. He knew he was safe and that his scent was still masked by the feces he was covered in.

No dog or boarkin will find this wolfkin, no matter how sharp their noses...

His heart pounded as though to burst through his ribs, and his lungs burned desperately for air, but he killed the urge through sheer force of will. The bandit felt certain his pursuer might yet hear him, and so he kept his breathing to the bare minimum, even covering his mouth with a hand to further silence any utterance he might make. He was sweating all over, snot poured from his nostrils, and tears flooded from his eyes.

Just a little more... I just have to hold on a little more; then I’ll have intel, and then I’ll have money, and then all of this will be over and I’ll have my dreams right in my hands!

The bandit tried to calm himself with his thoughts, but they offered no solace as hulking footsteps closed in on him and trudged towards the rock under which the bandit hid. Was it the man’s nose? Was it his ears? Or was it instinct that had led him here? The bandit could not comprehend how he had been found, but he knew that he had, for the man’s hand reached down, under the rock.

“Damn it all!”

The bandit knew he’d been spotted, and with a frustrated growl he took off once more. But no matter where he stopped to hide, the human always found him. He hid in a muddy swamp, in a flowing stream, up a tree, under a small rocky outcrop, in the hollow of a tree trunk, and finally, when every other option had been exhausted, he merely leaned against the back of a large tree. It offered barely any cover, but the bandit was at the end of his rope—tears blurred his vision as he held his breath, holding out for a tiny sliver of hope and praying that the human would just disappear.

But the bandit’s prayers landed on deaf ears, and so it was that the human’s hands reached through the branches of the tree and clutched the bandit by the scruff of his neck. The human’s grip tightened like an iron vise, and the bandit could do little more than offer a tiny “eep” before succumbing completely to his terror and passing out.

The human tilted his head curiously, clearly thinking it odd that the bandit would faint before anything had actually happened, but he shrugged his shoulders and called out to his friends.

“Klaus! I found a bandit over here!”

The man hefted the unconscious bandit on his shoulder as though the beastkin were little more than hunted prey and trudged through the forest in the direction of the border station.

On the Way to the Border Station—Dias

When Alna and I had finished our dance, the dance floor opened to the entire village, and boy was everyone excited. The dogkin couples were there, the cavekin too, the grandmas, and even the domain guard with their onikin wives and fiancées. Those who didn’t dance still had a good time eating and drinking their hearts out and watching the entertainment put on by all the performers.

This was the first time I’d ever seen Iluk put on a banquet so big, and everybody really made the most of it. They partied so hard that by the time the party ended, they practically collapsed into their beds.

The next morning, the sun rose as it always did, and another day began. Everybody was still hovering somewhere near cloud nine thanks to all the revelry, and probably because they’d partied hard enough for the buzz to last more than a couple of days. They were rubbing their sleepy eyes and talking about the banquet and how they couldn’t wait for the next one. I got ready for the day like I always did, and that’s when I heard that there’d been some trouble at the eastern border station during the party. I was pretty shocked, and even though I knew Klaus well enough to know that he’d probably be fine, all the same I hefted our carpet on my shoulder and headed over to check things out.

I was with Aymer and some dogkin pups whose dads worked at the border station. We were all walking along, and I was watching the pups run and jump and play along the main road when a bandit popped up right there out of the grass. He had his eye on the dogkin pups for some reason. This got me real mad, so I tried to catch him, but he took off into the forest... That led to a bit of a game of hide-and-seek, but in the end I caught him.

The bandit seemed to be real knowledgeable when it came to hiding out in the forest, but I had Aymer’s ears and the pups’ noses to help me out, so the bandit didn’t really stand a chance. When we finally caught up to him, he fainted out of sheer exhaustion. I figured if he was that tired then he probably shouldn’t have bothered running in the first place.

Anyway, I hauled the bandit to the border station. When I got there, I discovered that Patrick and his pals had come over the previous night as reinforcements against a raid. They’d worked together with Klaus and now all the bandits were tied up and in custody. By the looks of things, the paladins were using their scepters to teach all the bandits the error of their ways while Klaus and his border station guards discussed what to do with the criminals. I didn’t think I should butt in, what with Klaus being the head of the border station and him having captured them, but Aymer thought otherwise.

“Now that you’re here, you should weigh in on the matter,” she said. “At the very least, you should hear everybody out and then decide whether you’re going to give your opinion or leave things in Klaus’s hands.”

That made sense to me, so I had Klaus and the others tell me about the bandits, some of whom were apparently far too skilled to be your ordinary, run-of-the-mill criminals. Those ones were all beastkin, and they’d put up a pretty good fight even against Klaus. They also boasted some decent armor and weapons.

The bandit I’d captured was part of that same group, and based on the fact that they’d recklessly charged the gates to get a single man through, they’d been scheming something more than just looting and plundering.

But even after the paladins had given a thorough lecture to the bandits—a lecture that seemed an awful lot like an interrogation to me—Klaus still couldn’t get any solid information out of them. That left them with two choices—did they handle the group as Baarbadal would any other bandits, or did they take further action...like, say...a more intensive lecture session?

When Klaus explained it all to me, I thought about it as best I could, and while I was thinking Aymer spoke up.

“Looks like there’s a lot that has to be done, but unfortunately we lack the manpower and authority to handle this ourselves. As far as the kingdom and the continent are concerned, we’re still very small players without much influence, and we don’t want to play our cards wrong or it’ll work against us. With that in mind, let’s ask Duke Mahati to handle things for us.”

Aymer explained that Mahati had a lot of political sway in Sanserife, not to mention connections in the royal capital. That, and they had Juha.

“Juha is very likely to notice something we haven’t,” Aymer continued, “and I’m certain he’ll have something up his sleeve for a situation like this one—certainly enough to lead to a better outcome than we could manage on our own. It’s also not unreasonable for us to go to Eldan with these bandits—after all, they came from the east. With Eldan shouldering some of the responsibility, we’ll both be better equipped to deal with any outside criticism for the incident. It’s a solid plan, if I do say so myself. And besides, the bandits are clearly hiding something—they’re not the type we can expect to turn over a new leaf and become normal citizens.”

And even if we decided to punish them with physical labor, a hundred men was just way too many... We’d have our hands full just building a prison and making sure we had enough guards to watch over them. In that sense, leaving them to Eldan really was the better plan. I thought it was a pretty good idea, but the paladins looked a bit bummed out. Still, outside of them, Klaus and the others thought it was the way to go too.

“Okay, then I’ll run it by Eldan,” I said. “And fortunately, he’s in Iluk at the moment, so I can just talk to him when I go back. I reckon he’ll be fine with things. I’ll run it by the village reps too, but I’m pretty certain they’ll be on board as well.”

We were all in agreement, mostly, and once we finished up our discussion all the dogkin pups that had come with me ran over to their dads, who were watching over the bandits.

“Dad!” cried one. “Whoa! Did you really catch all these guys?!”

“You look so cool in your dragon armor, dad!” gushed another.

“Dad, they said the performers are coming here too! They’re so cool! You won’t believe it!”

The dads all smiled and their tails wagged like crazy, but they had to put work first and made sure they kept their wits about them. Still, seeing their dads like that made all the pups even more proud. It was a real heartwarming sight, but the bandits didn’t think much of it, because some of them clicked their tongues...until the paladins taught them the wonders of silence.

“Hey, Patrick...?” I said. “We’re going to be passing the bandits to Eldan later, and we want to make sure they can all still function when we do, so, uh...maybe go easy on them...a little? They’ll repent for their sins in Mahati, so how about we keep your lectures and lessons purely verbal until then?”

To put it simply, the paladins had been letting their scepters speak for them...and they did a lot of speaking. The paladins all looked a bit disappointed that I’d asked what I had, but they all nodded and then it was their voices filling the air instead of the whoosh of their scepters. Still, they spoke loud and their words were pretty harsh, and I honestly wasn’t sure if it was good to be so rough with kids around... Then again, it was also good for the young ones to learn that crime didn’t pay.

I decided I’d let the kids hang around with their dads for a little longer before I went back to Iluk to talk to Eldan. I had a feeling it was going to be another busy day, so I went over to Klaus and started telling him that he and his crew were going to be well rewarded for all their hard work.

The Domain Lord’s Office in Mahati, Some Ten Days Later—Juha

It was the day after Eldan had returned from Baarbadal, and he was back at his desk and ready to work. Juha, who had been governing things in his stead, headed over to get a report on what had transpired. Upon entering Eldan’s office, he offered a simple greeting, then got straight down to business.

“First things first... What in the world is going on with Glin? I passed him by on the way here and he...he smiled at me. He actually spoke to me of his own accord. The guy hates humans, but now he’s preaching the miracles of the gods? He’s acting like a priest all of a sudden!”

“Hmm...” Eldan murmured, wondering where to start.

Juha listened as Eldan described it from start to finish—Glin’s run-in with Dias and the dogkin and his trip to the wasteland with Bendia. Even now, Eldan couldn’t quite believe that Bendia had seriously called upon a god. The event had impacted Glin to the point that he was now a firm member of the faithful. Yes, he was a bit overzealous about it, but because he wasn’t causing anybody any harm, Eldan saw fit to leave him be.

Glin had professed a desire to repent for his behavior and had gotten down on his hands and knees before Dias and Bendia, his head touching the ground as he’d begged for forgiveness. It had been a bit of a scene, and Dias and the others had struggled to get the boarkin back to his feet. Everyone now approached Glin with a certain amount of caution, worried that his enthusiasm for the gods might cause yet another incident.

But that wasn’t the only event that Eldan wanted to talk about. He told Juha about the fishkin who called themselves goblins, who were staying in Iluk after becoming fast friends with Dias and his villagers. The ever-capable cavekin had already crafted the fishkin a boat, and they would take it back to their home by the ocean.

Eldan also informed Juha about the merchant from the Beastkin Nation he’d met and how he had succeeded in establishing friendly relations. Soon they would begin trade in earnest and arrange safe passage to the Beastkin Nation for those who wished to return home.

Finally, Eldan told Juha about the bandits he’d brought back and how they had apparently been there in search of intel on Baarbadal. Juha’s brow furrowed at the news, but he quickly came up with an idea and began to stroke his impressive chin.

“I’m impressed to hear of so much happening in such a short time,” said Juha, “but what makes it all the better is how all of it favors us. As for the bandits... Yes, we’ll make an example of the brass by executing them, and put the others to work at one of the mines with a surplus of guards to keep them in check.”

Juha’s idea to handle the actual seekers of the information was to spread false information through local pubs and brothels that the bandits had in fact succeeded in their attempt to get into Baarbadal.

“As for why the bandits weren’t able to report their findings firsthand, we’ll simply spread the news that they were apprehended for something after their successful operation. As long as they can’t access the bandits themselves, their employers won’t have any way to tell fact from fiction. Getting to the bottom of each and every tall tale will keep them very, very busy.”

Juha also thought it was worth getting in touch with Count Ellar in the royal capital, as the plan would be far more effective if they worked in tandem.

“I think it wise to promote trade and safe returns to the Beastkin Nation,” said Juha, “though I think it best we also continue with countermeasures to the modernists at the same time. Thanks to Dias, however, we’ve got one heck of a card to play, and things will likely go even better than I had originally hoped.”

The modernists promoted beastkin discrimination, and so their branch of the temple’s teachings was not something Eldan or many of his people could easily accept. They needed a way to resist the modernist push, and though Juha had come up with a number of plans, the best of them all had essentially fallen into their laps.

“The heroic savior of the nation, now a duke, sees fit to call upon the gods during your visit,” said Juha. “A miracle, to put it bluntly. At the same time, a new temple is built, one that teaches harmony and peace between human, beastkin, and demi-human. While their temple lacks the authority of the modernists, who are allied with Prince Richard, it will nonetheless garner support and amass an authority of its own—power enough to allow for negotiation.”

Juha believed that the prince had allied himself with the modernists to ensure their support, not because he himself believed in their discriminatory teachings.

“With the ability to negotiate, we can ensure the cards fall in our favor,” Juha continued. “But I must say, for such good luck to simply appear out of thin air... I’m almost convinced that it must be some kind of trickery.”

“Indeed...” agreed Eldan.

Even Eldan had to admit that since meeting Dias, he had met good fortune at almost every turn. Dias had become one of his closest friends, his illness had been cured, children were on the horizon...and all the problems that reared their heads like venomous snakes now looked to have solutions.

The flow of events was such that every outcome seemed to benefit Eldan in some way, and if Eldan were the type to believe in divine intervention, then he would no doubt have seen this as further proof. It was, even now, hard to believe otherwise—it felt as though the gods themselves were urging him onwards, along the path to victory.

Eldan knew that he had endured hard times as well even after meeting Dias, but when he reflected on them, he saw that they had still led him to ever more success or otherwise pushed him to grow as an individual. He felt now that he had been led to a place that his former self scarcely could have ever dreamed of reaching.

He almost wanted to chuckle, it was so preposterous, but while he pondered his own good fortune, Juha was thinking about something else entirely. As far as Juha was concerned, Eldan had indeed achieved a great deal, but it paled in comparison to Dias.

Eldan had gained much, but all of it had already existed in Mahati or otherwise had been acquired through development. Very little had come by way of what one might call outside influence. By comparison, Dias had amassed so much that one might even say Eldan was simply receiving the scraps that would not fit on Dias’s already-full plate.

It also bothered Juha that he still hadn’t been able to get to the bottom of who had been the mastermind of the Mahati uprising. He felt like he was a long way from getting any of the answers he wanted.

“In any case,” said Juha, turning his thoughts to other things, “let us begin construction of our own baar temple. It doesn’t have to be huge, but we’ll want to spend enough money to make it impressive all the same... Let’s also track down some of the remaining fundamentalist priests and invite them to serve there. Then we’ll assign some beastkin to study their teachings. We’ll have Glin be the first. We’ll even have them visit Baarbadal occasionally, like a study program. A single temple won’t be enough to ruffle any feathers, so it’s a good start...”

Juha felt a shiver down his spine at the thought, but Eldan clapped his hands.

“A great idea!” he cheered. “Glin’s faith is just as strong as any of the priests I’ve met, and with the baar temple’s teachings likely to spread west, we can expect it to also travel along our many trade routes too! A shared faith will make people feel safer working with one another, and if all goes well it will have a positive impact on trade as a whole. With foreign goods coming through our lands and spreading outwards, we’re looking at profits above and beyond anything we’ve ever seen!”

Eldan’s excitement—and more importantly, the content of what he said—was enough to take Juha’s discomfort and blow it out of the water. Here he was bearing witness to the fruits of his labors. He had taught Eldan much, and now Eldan was able to read into Juha’s suggestions and pull from them the various benefits without them having to be spelled out. When Eldan grew into the man Juha knew he would become, future negotiations would be that much easier.

“But we cannot be reckless in our approach,” said Juha. “We must budget wisely. I will leave negotiations with the Beastkin Nation to you, as it is only fit that you lead... Ah, let us make sure that Lady Neha is present as well. And if we spread our teachings to those who are returning to the Beastkin Nation, I’m sure it will make future relations far easier. That just leaves the matter of getting in touch with the count to spread a few rumors in the royal capital. I daresay that Geraint and his friends are going to be rather busy...”

Eldan nodded his agreement and began preparing his letters and decrees immediately. Juha saw his lord at work, nodded, and then brought forth an armful and then some of documents and plopped them atop Eldan’s desk. All it took was a smile from Juha to let Eldan know that it was all of the work that had piled up in his absence—work that required the attention of the duke himself before it could be considered done.

Afterword

As always, I’ll start with thanks.

Thank you to everybody reading the story and supporting me on Shosetsuka ni Naro. Thank you for all the fan letters too! Thanks to the editing staff for all their assistance, and to all the wonderful people who help with revisions. Thanks to Kinta for all the illustrations, the book designer, and all the people working on the manga edition—Yumbo, their assistants, and their editing staff.

Really, truly, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

It’s because of you that we’re at volume twelve and past 2,000,000 copies sold!

Volume 12 was about temples, priests, gods, and religion. The gods and the holy lands—once mere hazy, fairy-tale existences—have made themselves known and brought great changes to Baarbadal, Dias, and his people. They’re the reason Dias is where he is, and the reason for the state of the world, and one has to assume that they’re far from done influencing events.

There is still much simmering below the surface and ready to explode, and soon we’ll get to see just how Dias and his residents handle what’s coming!

Dias was born at a temple. His parents were high priests and his uncle is a priest, yet during the war he lost his faith. He found himself at odds with what he once believed and could not find answers in either temple or priest. As for the modernists, well...he’s got mixed feelings when it comes to them.

But in recent days, Dias received the blessing of the gods in the form of sanjivani. He’s also quite fond of Uncle Ben, Fendia, and the paladins. All of this makes his relationship with religion something of a mixed bag. But Dias isn’t the type to sweat the small stuff, and he’ll always choose to live to the best of his abilities over moping and worrying. I think in this sense, he and the gods are like neighbors who get along great.

Naturally, the gods have ideas and plans of their own, but Dias won’t learn about any of that until much later down the line.

And I’ve been thinking about all of it too! There’s so much I want to write! Too much, even! But I can’t get ahead of myself!

As for what I’ve been thinking about and what I’ve been planning, I’ve shared that with my editor; our illustrator, Kinta; and Yumbo, who handles the manga adaptation. Usually all of this goes down via email, but I’m lucky to be able to sit down with my editor to discuss things in person sometimes. That said, I’m pretty sure my otaku side comes out whenever we do, and it’s like all of a sudden I’m talking a mile a minute. I always come away thinking I should have done this or that. It’s a bad habit of mine, but I just can’t help it either—I’m so excited about this story, and I really love it to bits.

All that excitement and enjoyment just gushes out of me when I sit down to write, and I’m going to keep doing my best to make sure you get to share that with me!

Okay, okay, I know that’s a weird way to segue into talking about the next volume, but it is what it is. Just like past volumes, volume 13 will have a whole heap of stuff going down in it. So much I really can’t list it all out here in a tiny afterword. And you won’t even believe the expedition that’s ahead! Some of the female characters are really going to shine! I really hope you all like it!

I’ll end things here. I look forward to writing to you all again in volume 13!

Fuurou, Summer 2024

Bonus Short Story: Miraculous Springs

Walking Through the Wasteland—Dias

It had all started with a suggestion from Aymer.

“We often went out as a group to observe the desert and eat together during the cooler seasons,” she said. “It’s not all sand in the desert—parts of it are like the southern wasteland, and those areas were very popular.”

Aymer hailed from desert lands, and according to her the people there had their own unique values and culture.

“When people pass away, they return to the sand and the earth,” she’d said. “That sand and earth is then used to make plates and jars and other ceramics. For us, viewing the sands at these times is not unlike praying...though I’ll admit on a philosophical level it can be quite complicated.”

Aymer went on to explain what she meant.

“You see, in the end people are no more than granules of fine sand, and so some believe that the search for meaning in life is an empty endeavor... But others say that it’s far better to watch the sands and enjoy the moment than it is to bemoan the futility of it. It might just be for an instant, but in truth we never really know when we might be returned to the sands, and so our people arrived at an act known as ‘sand watching,’ in which we visit the sands during the cooler seasons. Why don’t we try it ourselves? It’s a good chance to see the miraculous springs too.”

Aymer suggested that we do our sand watching at the same place where Uncle Ben had recently called upon the giant lizard to make us a river. It was where the gods had left a message, and so those who were faithful to our new temple believed it a location worthy of pilgrimage. I didn’t think they were wrong, so everyone agreed to venture into the wasteland to see it.

And when I say “everyone,” I really mean it. Even all the grandmas, all the kids, and all the baars came along. Well, it wasn’t exactly everyone... The dogkin who’d already seen the river decided to stay back to look after the livestock and keep watch over the border stations. Klaus, Mont, and the goblins were the same—they wanted to make sure our borders were safe, first and foremost.

Anyway, given how vast the wasteland was and how far the river was from Iluk, we put the grandmas and the kids in our carriages and headed off at a very relaxed pace. We weren’t in any sort of hurry, and we even put up yurts along the way and spent the night away from our usual homes.

Relaxed as the journey was, it sure wasn’t lacking in energy. Everybody talked excitedly among each other the whole way, enjoying how the weather cooled and the scenery shifted between fall and winter. The grandmas hadn’t set foot outside of Iluk since they’d arrived, so it was their first time seeing our roads and rest areas. In that way, we headed south and just enjoyed the trip.

Like I said, we put up yurts and spent the night away from Iluk, then set off again in the morning the following day. A little after noon, we finally arrived at where the miracle springs had made us a new river—water gushed up from between split earth, and the river flowed to the south. As soon as people saw it, they started cheering and shouting.

The first to actually speak was Fendia. While the others were expressing their joy, she covered her mouth with both hands in sheer awe, but eventually she couldn’t help herself and the words poured out of her. They were loud and honest, and everyone heard them.

“Oh my heavens, this is the place! This is where the power of the gods brought forth water!”

Francis and Francoise were next, bleating loudly and happily. This spot was an important location for the baar temple. It was a holy ground of a sort, and Francis, Francoise, and all their little ones bleated happily and started drinking from the stream together with their fellow baars.

“Is the water safe to drink?” I asked, a bit worried.

“Nothing smells off about it!” yelped a young dogkin. “I think we’re all clear!”

“Then let’s have a taste ourselves, eh?” barked a senji. “We’ll get some of it into our own bodies and see how it goes!”

“Color looks fine, so I reckon we’re good,” woofed a masti. “But even if the color was off I reckon we’d still be good anyway!”

“I drank it a while back,” stated an eiresetter. “And I’m right as rain!”

I was a bit surprised to hear that from the eiresetter, but then I remembered that they actually came to the wasteland pretty often on patrol and what not. It actually would have been stranger if they hadn’t tried the water—I mean, there was no other water source in walking distance.

“If it’s already been tried and tested, then I think you’re good to go,” I said. “Just don’t drink too much of it, okay?”

My words were enough for the more hesitant among the dogkin to jump in and try the river water, and soon enough the riverside was packed and lively.

While the villagers were happily drinking from the river, Alna and Lady Darrell brought out carpets and placed them on the ground so we’d have a dedicated sand watching spot. The grandmas all helped out, and the Wives’ Club started making campfires and brewing tea. That was when Aymer told us more about sand watching and what kind of a place the desert really was.

Uncle Ben and the paladins caught up with Fendia, and as a group they went to the riverside to offer up prayers and give a sermon. The dogkin were running about happily, the twins were spreading seeds along the side of the river, and the falconkin were helping them out from up above. Goldia, Aisa, and Ely helped put up a table for drinks with some assistance from the Wives’ Club and the domain guard, and it wasn’t long before our dedicated sandwatching spot was set. Then Aymer officially kicked things off.

“Let’s enjoy this moment, everyone!” she cried out. “Enjoy the beauty of the sands, the history carved into the landscape, and the art as crafted by the wind and the earth, all of which no person could ever replicate! It is thanks to the earth and the sands that we understand how truly delicious our food and drink is! After all, the cups and plates with which we eat and drink are made from the very lands we stand upon!”

What she was saying was apparently something of a tradition, and when she finished, everybody held up their cups and plates. Even the baars clasped plates in their mouths—piled high with white grass—and raised them as high as they could.

We had a pretty scrumptious feast on our hands, all things considered. Alna had prepared food we could carry as we walked—I’d helped out with the heaviest stuff—and it included mountain loads of pie and bread, stewed meat and vegetables in jars, and even big melons that we’d gotten from our neighbors.

Once things had settled a bit, we naturally formed a circle of sorts and from there we took in the scenery of the wasteland. To be honest, I hadn’t really understood everything that Aymer had told us about, and I’d actually thought that if it was beauty we were after, we’d have been better off watching the plains, or the forest, or even just our fields of flowers.

But now that we were out here, looking at the rocks that formed the wasteland, I found myself taken by the way they were formed. How all the rocky outcrops had come to find their shapes was a mystery to me, and there were parts of it that looked almost like bones even—all in all, there was much more to appreciate here than I’d first thought.

Even the ground—which I’d simply thought of as...y’know, ground—had marks and tracks pressed or scratched into it, and over time these had become small rivers of sand. I realized after a time that although I’d always thought the wasteland to be empty, in actuality it was anything but. Something had been here, and perhaps long ago some creatures or people had lived here too, and all of it had contributed to the long history that shaped the wasteland as we now knew it.

Aymer talked about it more and I felt like that helped me understand it all a bit better. I could finally look out at the wasteland and think that, yeah, it was pretty darn pretty in its own way. While I was admiring the view, the grandmas walked around serving tea and sweets. I sipped from my cup and watched the scenery, and one of the dogkin who was enjoying their own stood up. They raised their arm and started swaying around in a kind of dance.

There wasn’t any special meaning to the motion, and it wasn’t anything with particular steps or patterns. The dogkin was just dancing because that was what they felt like doing. It looked like they were having a really good time, and soon enough a few people started clapping in time to it, then some others started singing. More people started dancing, and others found boxes to hit for percussion. All of a sudden we had a celebration on our hands.

Aymer had stopped talking to watch it unfold, and I noticed a gleaming smile. She just looked so happy to be a part of it, and quietly she said, “Sand watching is just so beautiful...”

“Yep,” I replied, nodding. “And I reckon we’ll find time to do it again one day.”

Aymer smiled up at me, and then she started swaying her body to the music too.