large majority of the populace still remain concerned by incident that had befallen the Port of Arteria earlier this year. The vicious explosion at the former Braveskull headquarters and subsequent demonic attack at the Krennonian Arena has only heightened the unease felt by the populace in the wake of the Abenstadtian-Traxian war.”

  - Arterian Affairs, Fifth Page, “Worries Of The People”

  The trio rejoined the others at the gates of the city, a small wagon having been rented by Arnold’s party, Runebound, to haul their supplies, while Sophie and the others rode on one they had rented themselves.. They weren’t alone however, for true to her suspicions and his ominous words. Inquisitor Philippe Roche was joining them alongside two templars, an agreement already hashed out between Arnold and him during Sophie’s absence. He and Mila exchanged a tense stare off for a few moments before the two backed down and accepted each other’s presence.

  For Sophie, the main unknown factor in this motley assortment of people was the strange orc that accompanied Mila. He was menacing, that much she concluded by how he carried his shield and halberd. They were wield by one more than accustomed to fighting. Naturally, she was well aware that her own experiences with the greenskins had been less than pleasant, but Mila seemed to trust him implicitly, and that judgement was worth something to her.

  “Sophie, hey, hey!” Arnold called out.

  “Yeah?” She replied.

  “All good on your end?” He asked.

  She turned to check on the others, a few nods returned to her. Cleared, she held up a small thumbs up to the adventurer.

  “Good to go!”

  Arnold beat his chest in affirmation and turned to their newest guests.

  “Church folk, ready?”

  “No need to be so crass, we are always ready to go.” Philippe grunted.

  “Just checking.” Arnold shrugged, “Alright folks, we’re still ahead of schedule but let’s get moving. Gil.”

  The former warrior who was once dead but now alive once more nodded, a simple clank of his gauntlet to show affirmation. A few gentle jolts, and the horses of Runebound’s began their journey with Arnold riding atop a steed of his own off to the side.

  The Lily Knights were next and their own carriage set off, guided by Raylani, the dark elf’s skill at controlling the beasts a surprise to all but Elaria. Mila had her own mount with the orc riding beside her on an oversized warhorse. The two engaged in a hushed discussion about strategies and plans for the undead. Noting how serious Mila looked, Sophie worried about what might be waiting for them to have spooked the inquisitor this badly.

  Behind them, the templars and Philippe rode by themselves, each riding on a warhorse provided for by the city. Their job was obviously to keep the junior inquisitor safe, but have likely been expanded to Mila as well.

  The girl noticed her glancing over and scowled at her, slowly trotting her horse a little closer to the wagon. Mila beckoned for Sophie, waited for a moment, then motioned to Lucinia as well.

  “What Lady Serilda discussed, you keep that to yourselves. And don’t let it get to your heads.” She growled.

  Hearing the threatening tone after their talk with the senior inquisitor, Sophie could only chuckle a little. Lucinia took her cues from Sophie and relaxed, having realized that this was to be nothing overly serious. Mila was displeased by her carefree reaction and rubbed her brow.

  “Just make sure he doesn’t know anything or we’ll have problems, got it?” She snarled.

  Sophie didn’t even need to turn her head to know that she was talking about Philippe. She had no intention of ever sharing such things with the junior inquisitor. She neither knew him that well nor did she ever intend to betray Mila's trust. But she didn't voice that, instead, feeling a little playful, she just giggled and nodded.

  “Alright friend.” She quipped at the last moment.

  Mila tried her best to ignore the call and returned to her position on the flank. Sophie smiled, she’s definitely easier to get flustered than before.

  Lucinia looked at her with an almost smug grin at the amusing display. Then, almost as if the imperial realized that she was smiling at an elf, quickly wiped the expression off her face and huffed before turning away. The sudden shift in demeanor making Elaria let out a snort from the other side of the wagon, earning her a glare from the former princess.

  “Hah, relax a little, my lady. We’ve a long ways to go and we’ve only just started.” Elaria chortled, “After about an hour or two, we’ll all go back to brooding and wondering why our asses hurt so much.”

  “Pfft.” Sophie snickered.

  “So? Fruitful discussion with the chief blackhat?” Elaria quirked an eyebrow in curiosity.

  Lucinia once again looked to Sophie, throwing the onus on her to respond. Sophie searched her mind for an answer then settled on one that wouldn’t embarrass Mila too much. She leaned in conspiratorially.

  “Said she’s really happy that Mila’s our friend and that we’re her friends too.” Sophie whispered.

  “No way.” Elaria feigned a shocked gasp.

  “Indeed.” She grinned.

  Then her joy dropped and she moved onto a more serious answer.

  “Also said that the church has its eyes on us.” Sophie continued.

  Elaria kept the smile on her face but the joy vanished from her eyes, “Figured about as much. I guess there’s a reason she told you this?”

  “Aye. Plan to keep ahead of the curve. Reinstate Mila but have her be the one who supervises us overall.”

  A glimmer of understanding twinkled in the bard's eye, “Ah, crafty. Like how Eva has those blackhats watch over some of her movements too.”

  “Mhmm.”

  “Least Mila’s quite cute.” Elaria chuckled.

  Sophie had no words to say in response, just a minor look of bewilderment.

  Mila had obviously noticed their huddled whispering and glared at them. But Elaria scored yet another point on the confusion meter when she confidently winked at the girl, catching the inquisitor off guard. Mila’s scowl quickly turned into a confused frown before going back to ignoring them. I think she might yell at me later, Sophie grimaced at the thought.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Lucinia was positively aghast.

  “What?” Elaria smirked.

  “I can’t believe it. You just winked at an inquisitor.”

  “Bah, tis just Mila.”

  “Sure, but she’s still a church official.”

  “It’ll be fine,.” Elaria dismissed the concerns with a wave.

  "Even then, the sanctity of the church!"

  Sophie leaned back as the two bickered. Her eyes turning to the land outside of Mare’s Berth.

  Gentle hills broken by little segments of trees and pastures. Wind worn rock formations towered over the landscape, strange almost alien structures that likely originated from times long past, second only to the countless large manors, estates and castles that seemed to pop up wherever she looked. Vibrant grassy knolls rustled lazily around them, the clatter of horse hooves adding a rhythmic melody to her thoughts.

  Contrasting with the relatively calm scenery, the people of the land were suffering. The prolonged civil war had drained many farmsteads and supply depots. Both the Republic and Kingdom of Gratia were economically hamstring by the conflict, neither able to establish outright control of the nation. With the arrival of Annalise’s forces and the creation of her domain cutting into valuable farmlands the situation had deteriorated further. And that despite the current truce holding the three sides back from fighting, it is the peasantry that had already suffered the most.

  Diminished manpower and lower harvest meant that more and more people had to seek other means to survive. Worries about undead raids along the border regions alongside actual raiders and skirmishes from both nations also meant many armed miltias and citizenry were created, taxing the beleaguered knight orders and chevaliers on the Kingdom’s side’s ability to maintain stability. These gaps were then exploited by the rise of less scrupulous armed folks, bandits and gangs.

  Though given that the current terrain provided them with clean sight lines all around them. Alongside the fact that almost the entirety of the group being armed to the teeth, there was little to worry about. All before considering that they were travelling on well patrolled roads.

  Sensing no need for her to remain vigilant in the moment. She stretched herself out and leaned against the wooden pannelling on the side. She began humming to herself, then she closed her eyes and relaxed.

  They stopped by the town of Venelli for the night, having travelled a fair distance during the day. Here, she could tell they had wandered that much closer to the frontlines, though not quite there yet. The city’s walls were old but patrolled, the weathered walls yet unmarred by signs of battle. Behind the town itself stood the castle of the lord who held vigil over the land, a structure which seemed to glow an eerie pale yellow gray under the moonlight. Outside the town itself dozens upon dozens of torches lit up the surrounding fields, a small pallisade enclosed military encampment having been erected to house Gratian soldiers.

  Within the town itself, life carried on without a care of the world outside. The nightly hubbub surrounding the taverns and drinking holes of the city spreading a much needed cheer for the people of Gratia. A few gendarmes patrolled the streets, units of five to seven moving together to dislodge any drunkards or ruffians. Sophie even managed to catch sight of a knight order’s chapter house. Their coat of arms of a bear displayed proudly front and center. Beyond that however, as Arnold joked to the group, Venelli was 'A town remarkable for how unremarkable it is'.

  These brief rest stops were probably the only time that the group would scatter on their journey over to Monte Del Trisse. Runebound and The Lily Knights would quarter at an inn, while the church party resided within housing provided by the local diocese. Their rooms were divided into two per party, meaning that they would have to squeeze a little tighter than usual, though still far preferable than camping out in the wilderness. Elaria and Raylani snagged one room immediately, none of the other three making any attempt to protest beyond Lucinia until she realized what those two might get up to. That left her, Mila and Sophie to squeeze into one room, the inquisitor finding it hilarious that there were only two beds provided.

  Deciding to take the noble road, Sophie volunteered to sleep on the floor in her little camping bedroll. Mila then occupied one bed, the inquisitor appearing to be surprisingly jovial all things considered. Then, they could both hear the terrific sigh that came from the other end of the room.

  “Don’t be a fucking idiot. Just take the bed, Sophie. You’re one of the frontline fighters. Logically, it’d be more advantageous to have you be well-rested than I.” Lucinia reluctantly suggested.

  Sophie glanced at Mila for an opinion, the inquisitor just shrugging and shaking her head. Disappointed, she let out a soft huff before chuckling.

  “Just take the bed Lady Lucinia. This is your first time on a journey like this. Rest easy.” Sophie answered, “Besides, I already had a nice nap on the cart.”

  “Yeah? And you ended up sore all over. Because it's a damned wooden cart with hardwood. You were even wincing when we stopped for a little.” Lucinia stated.

  “Ehhh.” Sophie tried to brush it off, “It’s fine. I’ve slept on practically solid earth before.”

  “That doesn’t make it any better.”

  “Well you two could share.” Mila suggested.

  This put a pause on the argument, the two glancing at Mila disbelievingly.

  “No.” Lucinia declined.

  Amused by the emphatic reaction, Sophie felt a smidgen of insulted but mostly curious at what else she could provoke.

  “Why not?” Sophie queried.

  A glint of mischievousness crossed Mila’s eyes, the inquisitor almost instantly picking up on what Sophie’s trying to do.

  “What? I mean, it’s impractical! We’ll both end up tired and none the better.” Lucinia scoffed.

  “Not because she’s an elf?” Mila chimed in.

  “I mean… that too!” Lucinia squeaked.

  “Am I that repulsive?” Sophie teased.

  “Yes! I… wait, no. I…” The traxian stammered.

  “Woe is me. A disgusting little creature.” Sophie wailed.

  “I mean, she’s not wrong.” Mila betrayed her.

  “Hey!”

  “I only speak the truth. I am a church official after all.” Mila smugly declared.

  Sophie paled. She had almost completely forgotten about the glare that Mila had shot her when they started their travels earlier. Her own misjudgment had come back to roost.

  “Traitor!” Sophie hissed playfully.

  “Hey, I am a friend after all.” Mila nonchalantly jumped into her bed to avoid any potential blows, keeping herself just out of Sophie's reach.

  “Goddess above. Fine. Just quit this childish behavior.” Lucinia spoke up once more, interrupting the two.

  “Huh?” Sophie let out a confused query.

  “We’ll share the damned bed. Just stay on one side and cease this pointless debate. We are a party and you are the party leader, that much I am aware of.”

  Mila and Sophie traded a look. Lucinia’s dissatisfied frown did not seem to be a joke. Mila raised an eyebrow as if to say that this was Sophie's problem, not hers.

  “Lady Lucinia, we were just joking around.” Sophie hastily tried to rectify the situation.

  Lucinia’s face seemed to morph into one display a mild bubbling fury. Her nostrils flaring in dismay as she glared at them.

  “I knew that.” She growled unconvincingly.

  Sophie felt guilty yet incredibly touched at the same time. For the traxian to even entertain such an idea sparked of growth that she hadn’t expected. Taking a moment to cool herself down, Sophie let out a soft giggle before scrambling over to the bed and carefully reaching out.

  “What are you doing, you churlish knife-ear?” Lucinia hissed, trying but failing to back away.

  Without giving her a chance to react, Sophie pressed down and gently pat the former princess’s head. She found that her hair was silky smooth even after their long journey at sea, a quality that she was fond of from her time spent brushing Eva’s hair in the morning. Just like the times in her memory, she cautiously switched to massaging the traxian’s scalp, much to Lucinia’s utter confusion.

  “Thank you. It’s very kind of you to share and to care.” Sophie whispered genuinely.

  Lucinia was still frowning, though the anger and fury seemed to have left her gaze. She did flinch a little when Sophie drew closer, but to even the half-elf’s surprise, the traxian did not brush her hand away or try to prevent her from touching her head. It was a gesture that had received tacit approval.

  “Good. Then you may remember be for my generosity.” Lucinia huffed and crossed her arms.

  “Well, well. Seems like I’m not the only one making new friends.” Mila snickered.

  That set the traxian off and she finally broke free from Sophie and hopped off the bed. The duo watched as she moved towards the rustic wardrobe provided by the inn and then she paused to glare at them once more.

  “I presume that we are waking early in the morn for the journey ahead. I also presume that common sense suggests that we sleep more comfortably when not in our war gear and travel attire?” She sarcastically drawled.

  Sophie and Mila shared a small chuckle.

  "I'm also trying to undress, stop looking at me!" She screeched.