Daniel checks his own magic bag to make sure he has everything he wants for the journey to Fort Peony. It’s supposed to be a short trip, but just in case, they’re making sure they have rations, as well as weapons. It shouldn’t turn into a scuffle, but Daniel won’t hesitate to protect his family. After all, just because Commander Leiwelles shouldn’t prove to be hostile, that doesn’t mean the others will be so accommodating.

Just as they’re preparing to leave, Ryukana approaches Daniel. “Daniel, I will be observing you from here. If there is any trouble, I will remove all of you from the area. Rest assured.”

Daniel nods politely. “Thank you, Ryukana. But, focus on the dragons and Hekate. I don’t think it’ll come to a firefight, but they shouldn’t attack Gwenesphia or Treia, and Aoloan and I will be in disguise.”

Treia speaks up, “Daniel, that reminds me. You… remember about Leiwelles, right?”

Daniel nods. “She can detect lies. That doesn’t mean she can’t lie herself, right?”

“What?”

“I’m reasonably confident she’ll protect my new identity. After all, I’m the lord of the Citadel and have brought the dragons to my side. Even if I won’t serve the eastern alliance, having the dragons eliminated as a threat will be a big relief to the Flower Garden. Ideally, she’ll understand the problem with revealing that to the east.”

Hekate remarks, “I thought you were going to have the dragons intimidate the easterners if they try to invade.”

“Mm-hmm. Still true. And, we’ll let Commander Leiwelles know that. The goal is to de-escalate the war. If they invade during the draw-down, then the war isn’t actually over, and we’ll provide support for the side actively pursuing deescalation. Many things can cripple an army. Destroying supply lines, trapping and altering the terrain, and causing chaotic noise while they’re trying to sleep. The east doesn’t have any mass means of air travel or combat. A dragon flying overhead every couple hours roaring and breathing fire would likely be enough to keep any eastern army from sleeping, even if they believe the dragons won’t hurt them.”

Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel laugh softly together. Hekate instantly puffs up as big as she can get -mostly thanks to her tail-. “What about me!? I can scare people, too!”

She begins chanting and creating a fireball, but she halts when Daniel’s hand lands on her head gently. “I have a better idea for you, Hekate. Something only you can do.”

“R-Really!?”

He nods with a smile. “You can haunt them. Day, night; your ability to turn a corner and vanish and reappear anywhere you want will cause them to be on guard even more.”

Daniel reiterates to everyone, “Remember, though. This is all hypothetical. If the easterners don’t invade, there’s no point, right?”

They all nod together, humming in approval. None of them want to go to war, but they also want to ensure their life can continue.

“Alright, then let’s head out.”

Daniel and his companions, excluding Xyreko herself and Ryukana, who is laying low, depart on a wing drake’s back. Since the dragons had long ago tamed the various species of drakes, it was a trivial matter to send some of them to retrieve the drakes and migrate them to the Citadel. Drakes are useless as beasts of burden for anyone but a dragon, but Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and even Geirahoel are happy to help. The wing drake they’re riding on is about half as big as Ryuogriar in her dragon form, but it’s still plenty large enough to carry Daniel, Hekate, Treia, Gwenesphia, Aoloan, Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel in human forms. The plan is to fly into the controlled zone, remaining out of sight with magic, and then send the wing drake to wait somewhere else to be summoned by Ryuogriar when they’ve finished their business.

Daniel watches the sky for flares. He knows the scouts of Fort Peony are alert, and they’ll be quick to report danger, especially if a possible dragon is flying straight over the recon perimeter and entering Fort Peony’s controlled zone.

Thankfully, Reignleif’s spell seems to work, as there are no flares, and they are able to find a clearing to land in and disembark near enough to the base to walk. Hekate playfully sneaks along, reminding Daniel of a kid playing secret agent, in a sense. Everyone else walks in a cautious group, mindful of avoiding being spotted by free scouting members of the fort.

Gwenesphia remarks gently, "It all still looks the same, so that’s good."

“The former lord’s brother wanted an easy target,” replies Ryuogriar with disappointment in her voice. “He made himself one, instead.”

Geirahoel, surprisingly, is the one to chime in a little bitterly, “Live a life of war, die in battle. They got what they deserved.”

Reina and Ryuo glance at her, but it’s clear that they don’t disagree.

Daniel redirects after a moment. “It’s also good that the rest of the demon armies haven’t invaded either. My own personal philosophy has always been that boring is good. It just means no one I care about is dying.”

The group nod together, including Hekate.

However, Xyreko’s voice reaches Daniel through his helmet, and he slows to a stop. “Daniel, you have a new mistress.”
He sighs. “Do you have to put it that way, Xyreko? Hekate’s right here.”

“What did she say!?” snaps Hekate.

Daniel idly fends her off as she tries to pounce on him and get his helmet, “Who is it?”

Xyreko projects her voice to them, “The lady Vaergraes. Apparently, former Demon Queen.”

Everyone turns serious, including Hekate. Daniel ponders on her words, while Ryuogriar asks, “Does that mean…? Did the other covenant members remove her?”

Xyreko reports, “Lady Vaergraes, Lady Thymeria, and Illianna have arrived with virtually nothing of value, Daniel. Without titles or authority to leverage, I can…”

“Find them rooms, Xyreko. If they prefer a house in the castle town, prepare one for them, please. We’ll hear it from Lady Vaergraes when we return.”

“As you wish. Another matter to report, Daniel.”

“What is it?”

“A handful of goblins arrived with Chi’rinnis villagers, and they are also reporting troubling information. Apparently, a large contingent of eastern forces have gathered at the central fortress along the mountains and begun marching west. Fort Twilight, I believe. Among them appears to be a strike force of Stalvaltan soldiers.”

Daniel continues to think, and Ryuogriar asks gently, “Retaliation for your ‘death’, Master?”

“I don’t know. They can’t possibly think they can win. Even with my phone… Wenlianna won’t be able to make firearms, I think.”

“Phone?” asks Geirahoel.

Daniel is silent when he looks at her, still deep in thoughts of his own. He states to Xyreko, “Xyreko, we’ll need to organize our own stealth mission. If you can, fend off all attackers with non-lethal force. Prisoners are acceptable. Just find a place to house them.”

“Of course, Daniel.”

“Alright. We’ll be back tonight. Keep the status quo if you can.”

“I will.”

After Xyreko confirms, the others are quiet for a moment. Hekate asks, “What does all of this mean? Why would Vae not be Queen anymore?”

Gwenesphia asks, “And, why would imperial forces invade now?”

“Maybe they want Daniel’s weapons,” remarks Treia pointedly. “If it can be used by anyone, then they only need to escape with the weapon.”

“That doesn’t explain Vaergraes, though,” counters Ryuogriar.

Daniel is the one to finally respond, “Isolated, I don’t think either event would mean much. Treia’s probably right. They may be hoping the dragons and Hekate don’t know what they have and will either part with it or have it lying around somewhere easy to steal. They have no concept of how deadly the Citadel would be if they’re uninvited.” He then adds, “Vaergraes being banished suddenly… I hope it’s not what I fear.”

“And, what’s that?”

Daniel asks a little distantly, “Do any of you know what a perpetual war is?”

The others glance at each other, and Treia is the first one to venture, “Is it what it sounds like?” All of them readily accept that Daniel’s world is very different, and in many ways, further ahead in time compared to how Zenkon operates. 

Daniel nods in a partial way, “You would think so, but unlike wars in the typical sense, a perpetual war has no real end. The enemy is chosen in such a way that an ending is virtually impossible for the foreseeable future.”

He looks at Ryuogriar, specifically, because she’s the oldest person present and may more readily see his point. “When both sides can profit in some way, why end the war?”

“But, the covenant banded together because of the Devourer!” retorts Geirahoel. Reina nods in agreement. 

Daniel adds gently, “A perfect enemy. One that can force an army to invade another, but can’t be defeated. And then, when it is, the scapegoats are cleansed while new plans are formulated.”

Again, the others are quiet. Daniel knows that it’s a little paranoid to feel that way, but too many things are foreboding. A strike force is invading shortly after the Devourer was defeated, and Vaergraes is simultaneously removed from being Queen, all while the east refused to hear out diplomatic negotiations with the Demon Queen, assuming Vaergraes is telling the truth. Since Daniel can’t recall any calls for diplomacy from the easterners while he was with them, especially since they knew that if the dragons went on offensive, they didn’t stand a chance… Daniel is suspicious, to say the least.

Knowing this is neither the time or place, though, Daniel says gently, “Let’s get this visit over with and deal with all of that later. We’re here to visit friends, right?”

Reignleif is the one to joke, though keeping quiet, “Two of us are…”

Gwenesphia says softly, “Thank you all for accompanying us.”

“Hmph!” grunts Hekate as she crosses her arms. “You’re a comrade to us, and you were kind to Daniel when no one else was. I need to make sure you’re safe for his sake.”

Gwenesphia smiles, and Treia nods politely. 

They emerge from the forest and approach the gate. Most of the landscape has been restored since Daniel defeated the attack force, though some of the pits from his makeshift landmines remain. Geirahoel remarks a little cynically, “If I didn’t know Daniel, I would be ashamed to consider the red knight a dragon.”

“Or a knight,” adds Reignleif.

Treia asks, “Why’s that?”

“This fortress is tiny. It shouldn’t have lasted five minutes.”

Aoloan adds awkwardly, “If it makes you feel any better,... I think it was over in around five minutes.”

The others look at her, and then at Daniel. He admits, “I wasn’t keeping track of time. I was being attacked by a dragon.”

They share a laugh, and the watchstanders on the wall challenge them as they approach. “Halt! Who goes there?”

Gwenesphia steps forward. “Lieutenant Gwenesphia kos Vendarron, returning from long range reconnaisance with a diplomatic envoy.”

Her words are correct. There is a procedure. But, it’s so rare that anyone arrives to speak in this manner out on the frontier, that she has to chuckle a little when it catches the watchstanders off guard. They glance at each other, discussing it for a long moment.

Finally, the watchstander that spoke, Sergeant Melooenne, calls out, “Name the envoy.”

Gwenesphia looks at Hekate, and the young girl steps forward. They discussed it after the Stalvaltan soldiers visited, and Hekate chose the title she wanted. 

Gwenesphia replies, “Allow me to present, her wise and idealist imperial greatness, Empress Hekate, ruler of the Citadel and the newly founded Fievegal.”

Hekate stands proudly, and the others study her for a moment. While obviously a child in virtually every way, her entourage is dressed the part, and it’s all true. The Fievegal doesn’t have much authority yet, but it is a distinctly different entity from the rest of the demon covenant, which is all the more important now that the demon queen has been usurped, by all appearances.

Several long minutes pass by. It’s highly probable that the watchstanders are informing Leiwelles, and she is coming up with a quick plan on how to handle strange distinguished visitors from the west.

Melooenne appears again, announcing, “The commander will meet with you. Stand by, your Greatness.”

Hekate nods politely, and shouts of rallying organization on the spot can be heard, but are mostly unintelligible. Eventually, after another few minutes, a voice calls out, “Open the gate!”, which is repeated a couple of times.

The gates are opened, and they are met with guards lining up both sides. Daniel finds it a little odd that Leiwelles is inviting them in, but it’s possible Gwenesphia introducing Hekate without being in apparent distress might have factored in. Though, Leiwelles will undoubtedly have contingencies.

They walk in, following Hekate as she walks regally, clearly imitating how Ryuogriar is walking to carry herself like a regal being.

As Hekate walks in, she admires the fortress -as Daniel recommended-, remarking aloud, “Soooo, this is the rumored ‘Flower Garden’, is it? I see why.” She turns to Gwenesphia as they walk, leading into a question. “But, I can’t imagine all of these women here are fully satisfied as soldiers, are they?”

Both Gwen and Treia are quiet for a moment. Leiwelles is one of the few people likely capable of commanding Fort Peony as it is specifically because she has no tolerance for drama and will root it out mercilessly. She’ll do it in a roundabout way, but everyone that sided with Bellstram during the last time Daniel was seen on base was later put on restriction and formally reprimanded. Bellstram was also transferred off of Peony, revealing that, whatever her plan was, Leiwelles really was using Daniel, but had no intent to let him die.

Melooenne meets the group on the ground, escorting them to a conference room in the administrative building where Leiwelles’s office is. 

Leiwelles is already present, standing with a handful of other younger officers who are mentoring under her, as well as a couple of guards.

Melooenne announces the arrival, “Commander, presenting Empress Hekate of the Citadel and the Fievegal and her entourage.”

Leiwelles bows at the waist, saying politely, “Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Commander Leiwelles, commanding officer of Fort Peony. I apologize for our simplistic accommodations. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Hekate takes one of the more comfortable chairs prepared in haste for her, and the dragons take seats at other chairs in the conference room while Daniel and Aoloan stand at the back. Gwenesphia and Treia also stand nearby, but make their presences more obvious to Leiwelles, who takes a seat. 

Leiwelles doesn’t ignore them, but for now, she needs to address in order of importance, and she wastes no time at digging into who Hekate is as politely as she can.

“Forgive me for saying so, your Majesty Hekate, but I am only familiar with the Citadel, and rumors at that. To my knowledge, and our current intel so far as I know it, the demon territories have no countries, castles, or families by the name of Fievegal.”

Hekate replies warmly, “That is because it is my territory. I am the ruler of the Fievegal, a newly founded empire, if that makes it easier to understand. I do not serve the demonkin covenant nor your eastern Empire or its kingdoms. I want no part in this endless war. I just want to keep to myself and rule people who wish to be ruled by me.” 

Leiwelles hears her out, and she doesn’t smile or frown. She keeps a stoic expression, pondering the implications of who all she’s looking at. With his helmet on, Daniel is the only one she can’t explicitly identify his race, assuming she knows the dragons can change into a human form, though they preserve their horns and tails.

“I see,” is Leiwelles’s simple and polite reply. “Congratulations on founding your own territory, your Majesty. I would expect that you’ve considered all of the benefits and detriments, and it would be foolish of me to apply what little I know to your situation.”

Hekate smiles brightly, unleashing her pride and bragging. “Why, I wouldn’t call it ‘foolish’ to give me advice. But, I think conquering the Citadel speaks for itself, if you know why it was unaffiliated for so long.”

“I know only that the rumors that have reached me speak of a monster that resided there. I, of course, mean no offense.”

“None taken. A monster did reside there, and my Darling killed it before gifting the Citadel to me.”

This causes Leiwelles to be a little surprised. According to her, she can magically discern lies and truth, making it virtually impossible to lie to her. However, if someone else was able to conquer a supposedly unconquerable castle, it would be surprising to most that said individual would not then become its ruler.

“Your… Darling, you say?”

“Mm-hmm! My husband!”

That causes Leiwelles’s gaze to narrow. Daniel smirks in his helmet. While Hekate may want it to be true, she knows it’s not, and now Leiwelles knows it as well.

However, she doesn’t press the issue yet. “You are very fortunate, your Majesty. If I may, what brings you to my humble corner of the world? If you seek to conquer us, I must inform you that we are required to resist.”

Hekate nods, “Yes, I would assume so. But, as I said, I have no desire to rule anyone who does not wish to be ruled by me. Actually, I only made this visit as a courtesy, so that you know the time of your soldiers was not wasted, and to also ensure that you know they are unharmed.” She gestures at Treia and Gwenesphia, who both bow politely and greet Leiwelles softly. “Commander.” “Commander.”

Leiwelles nods her head, but she asks, “Are these two your prisoners?”

Hekate scoffs. “Pfft! What? No! They’re parasites! They showed up at MY castle looking for someone, and now I can’t get rid of them. Though, I don’t hate them, so I guess it’s okay.”

Leiwelles looks at Treia and Gwenesphia, who try to give nothing away, but they are far from stoic as Leiwelles. Daniel notices the Commander’s gaze move to him, and it lingers for a long moment, before trailing across the dragons and then back to Hekate, all within a short period, but enough that she just sized up everyone a second time, and likely has come to a conclusion.

She suddenly states coldly, “Leave us.”

There’s an awkward silence for a moment, as it’s unclear who she’s speaking to. However, she looks over her shoulder at the guards and mentees, reiterating sternly, “Leave us. Now.”

“C-Commander?” asks one of the mentees.

“I will not repeat myself. Leave this room, or leave the Garden. Final warning.”

The mentees hesitate, but they quickly scoop up their notebooks and make for the door, passing between the conference table and Daniel. Leiwelles then adds, “You as well.”

“Commander, what if…?”

“Everyone in this room from their side can level this entire fort faster than my preparations could accomplish anything. If you genuinely think you can protect me better in here than you could out there, then you can protect me from Fort Twilight. Get out.”

The guards hesitantly make for the door as well, leaving Leiwelles alone in the room with Daniel’s group. She pulls a device out of her messenger bag and places it on the table, turning it on. She remarks, “A friend of mine was able to get his hands on one of these and sent it to me. Ironic, in a way. It came from Wenlianna, of the Stalvaltan Grand Duchy.”

Hekate asks dryly, “Should I be familiar with that territory, Commander?”

“I see. Another lie. You are familiar with them, which just about confirms everything I wanted to know.” She looks pointedly at Daniel, saying without a doubt present in her voice, “It’s good to see you again, Daniel. Before anything else, are you a prisoner?”

Daniel hesitates for a moment, and the others look at him for silent guidance. But he did come to speak to Leiwelles, even if indirectly through the others. “I am not a prisoner.”

Hekate chimes in instantly, “That’s right! He’s my husband!”

Leiwelles points at her, stating, “Lie. Pardon the disrespect, your Majesty, but I know most of what you said is true. That is not.”

Hekate gasps, stammering as she glances at Daniel and then back to Leiwelles. Treia comes to her rescue, stating, “Daniel and Lady Hekate conquered the Citadel together. Lady Hekate is only trying to pressure him into marriage.”

“That’s not…! Well…! He’s mine! I’m going to marry him! That’s final!” She crosses her arms and huffs indignantly, and Daniel walks up to her, petting her head.

Leiwelles cocks her head, starting, “Maybe I have it backwards. Daniel, are these women your prisoners?”

Daniel tries to reply, “No,” as Geirahoel, Reignleif, and Ryuogriar all say playfully, “Yes,” and Aoloan innocently replies, “No.”

Daniel answers, “There are strange circumstances, but they are my friends. And, what Hekate said is true. We wanted to escort Treia and Gwenesphia back here so they could check in.”

Leiwelles sighs, leaning back in her chair. It’s definitely the most relaxed she has been on official business, so far as Daniel has seen. “I’m glad you’re all alright. You included, Daniel. You’re welcome back here at your station, though I’ve also heard rumors that the Stalvaltan Grand Duchy is mobilizing west in search for your weapons.”

Daniel twitches. He suspected it, but he was hoping that wouldn’t be the case. He asks cautiously, “What weapon would that be?”

She smirks at him. “The one that slays dragons.”

“I see. That complicates things more than I hoped.”

She nods, though she stops when Daniel says pointedly, “In any case, I’m not returning. My home is the Citadel, now. I accomplished what I was brought to this world to do, and I’m not going to be involved with the war, except to end it.”

Leiwelles cocks her head. “What you were brought to this world to do? I have it… on rather good authority that your summoning was unintentional.”

Daniel cocks his head in surprise, and he asks quietly, “You met a mutual, amber-eyed aquaintance?”

She nods. “She was looking for you. I assume she found you, then?”

Daniel smiles, replying, “She did. It’s all settled. Even without direct guidance, I found what I was summoned to destroy, and I destroyed it. The war should come to an end soon, though circumstances around that are hazy…”

Leiwelles sighs, “Daniel, you’re a wise man. I’ve never really doubted that. But, I don’t think you know how and why wars are fought.”

“I know you think this war is being fought by blood thirsty demons and the Empire and kingdoms are the righteous defenders.”

She narrows her eyes in anger, but he adds, “I know what a war fought between mutual allies for profit looks like.” Her anger turns more to confusion, and she continues to look at him skeptically.

“My world called it ‘perpetual war’, or ‘endless war’, creatively enough. War is an effective population control in every possible way you might desire. Too many people? Send them to war. People with too much money and free time on their hands? Send them to war. Pesky endangered animals or trees? Send people to war. Political opponents threatening to usurp you? Send them to war. It’s all about control, and it requires cooperation between the most powerful on ‘both sides’.”

Leiwelles doesn’t like what she’s hearing, and she looks at the others with a sour expression for a moment.

Daniel adds, “I know how it sounds, especially from the perspective of a noble, honorable, and loyal soldier. Even if the cause of the war is ambiguous -needfully so-, people are dying on both sides. Expendable people. Fourth, fifth, and sixth sons and daughters. Peasants. Inconvenient fools. Otherworlders who stumble across a political situation they don’t belong in. The very fact that everyone else in the world will deny what I just suggested is because only a tiny handful of people neither of us will likely ever meet are the ones who are manufacturing the war. Everyone else believes the lie, and it’s extremely difficult to prove until long after the fact. I first noticed it when almost no one from the demons’ side knew why they were invading. And, the fact that neither side pursues diplomacy very aggressively. Or why you will allow three dragons to sit in your conference room, knowing what you said is true, but still think the east can win the war. Or, even survive it if it were to truly escalate.”

This has everyone quiet and ponderous. None of them like the idea, least of all Daniel. He knows the outcome is drama, freedoms being taken away, and oppression when it all falls into place. Those in the highest positions, using the war for controlling the world’s population, don’t care about the damage it causes. They manufacture tragedies and new things to fear when real threats don’t exist, and cling desperately to any real threats and ways that it can be used to further the goal of the neverending war.

Daniel doubts Vaergraes was privvy to it, since she got booted out by all appearances. She was the scapegoat if things went wrong, and the next tragedy if she were to be slain; the beloved Queen, killed and…

Daniel decides not to say any further. His mind is going down a dark path, and until he knows for sure, further speculation is going to make it worse.

Leiwelles finally says quietly, “I know you are telling the truth as you know it, Daniel, but I can’t believe it. Especially because no one around you does either.”

“Regardless, you have the option to play a part, Commander. When my companions and I return to the Citadel, you can inform the east that the dragons are no longer a direct threat, or you can go on like none of this ever happened. We’re just old friends catching up. After all, what’s the first thing that’s going to happen when the Imperial commanders learn that the dragons are no longer going to side with either side?”

She sucks her teeth, realizing exactly what he wanted; she’ll find out the hard way if he’s telling the truth if she takes an active role in it.

“Why should I believe the dragons won’t attack?”

Ryuogriar replies for herself, “Mind you, Lady Commander, that we won’t let you destroy what we love. We won’t be invading. There’s a difference. We also won’t defend the west if they won’t back down either. All of us here want the war to end. Those who proliferate it are our enemies.”

“What of the land conquered by the demons? That was land belonging to eastern kingdoms. Some of them no longer exist because of this war and the invasion.”

Daniel replies curtly, “Negotiate for them back.”

“The demons…”

“Won’t negotiate now that they’ve gotten rid of the Queen. I know.”

“What?”

“Demon Queen Vaergraes, the ‘Demon Tyrant’ as she’s referred to in the east, is no longer in charge. She wanted diplomacy, and the east refused. Every serious push eastward by the demons succeeded, and as you likely have heard, they were mobilizing once more, but have stopped. I know you’re just one commander on a base at the far end of the world. Do what you want with the information we’ve given you, but I’d recommend finding a way to avoid becoming just another small piece of a heartless machine.”

Hekate states, “If you do give up, you can live with us. The Citadel is impenetrable and we have Daniel, Dragons, and me. You will be required to praise me occasionally and willingly provide the Citadel with mana. That’s about it.” She climbs off of her chair, pointing at the commander sternly, “But, you’re not allowed to seduce Daniel. He’s mine!”

Leiwelles stares at her for a moment, and then looks at Daniel. She makes eye contact with the others as well, thinking. She finally lets out a sigh, saying softly, “If I decide that’s what’s best for me, then I’ll send word. Thank you.” She looks at Gwenesphia and Treia, stating “Now that you know Daniel is alive and well, I expect that you’ll return to your stations peacefully.”

Gwenesphia and Treia both shake their heads. “No Commander.”

Gwenesphia adds gently, “I’m sorry, Commander, but we’ve already decided that we’ll be returning with Daniel and Lady Hekate.”

Leiwelles narrows her gaze skeptically. “I’m but a humble military commander, but at least one of you would be throwing away the chance for a proper marriage to be… one of many, it looks like.”

Gwenesphia blushes sheepishly, glancing nervously at Hekate, who is lightly glaring at her. “Come what may, Commander, I personally choose to be by Daniel’s side and face whatever obstacles that presents.”

“How very… accomodating of you.” She turns her gaze to Treia, asking, “And you?”

Treia bows her head, “I owe Daniel a personal debt. And,...” She glances at Daniel, doing her best to ignore Hekate, “I am fine with being a mistress. After all, my family has no nobility to be gained or improved by me marrying someone who isn’t worthwhile.”

Hekate makes her presence known by growling impotently, but she remains close to Daniel. Leiwelles sighs, finally saying, “I can’t say I approve, but I’m not your mother. Far be it for me to stand in the way of love or stupidity.” She puts her chin on her hand with her elbow on the table. She looks at Daniel, adding, “Daniel, I trust you’ll take care of my soldiers, since they have so much trust in  you.”

Daniel nods, “I don’t know of anywhere they could be safer in this world. And, I agree with Hekate, if the day ever comes that you wish to move your family to the Citadel, let us know. You’ll be welcome.”

She nods appreciatively. “I’ll keep your survival to myself for now. Until I know whether or not what you said is true, I don’t want to make any rash decisions.”

“I understand completely. With your permission, though, I believe Gwen and Treia are hoping to gather their personal belongings.”

“Granted. Your personal belongings are in crates in the quartermaster’s storehouse. Let me know if anything is missing or damaged.”

They both salute the commander, saying together, “Thank you, Commander.”

She smiles, saying softly, “Be careful… All of you.”

The three dragons rise to their feet, bowing respectfully, “Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Commander.”

Leiwelles rises and bows as well, “Thank you for your friendly visit. May your journey be safe and comfortable.”

The group then make their way out, escorted by Leiwelles and a few others, who help Treia and Gwenesphia retrieve their belongings, which they store in a magic bag after confirming everything of value is in good condition.

Leiwelles sees them off as they depart the fort the same way they arrived, and they return to the clearing they were in to summon the wing drake. With a small personal excursion taken care of, it’s time to address the brewing problems of the ongoing war.

********