“Halt,” called a knight from the wall, adorned in full plate, carrying a blade strapped to his side. He was surrounded by at least a dozen soldiers, each armed with crossbows. “What is your business with the south?”

“I am Sir Vonda Eastlake of Life’s Rose,” the young woman replied, removing her helmet to reveal her scarred face. “We have no business with the south, we only wish to stay the night within the protection of the outpost’s walls. We have been sent by the Adventurer’s Guild of Red Oak to deal with the outbreak. We will be heading westward in the morning.”

The knight stared down at the young noblewoman. “Do you have proof of your words?”

Vonda took off her amulet and held it up for a soldier to come take it from her, though they would need to open the gates.

“Do you have any proof you are from the East Lake family?”

“I have my name, but I am a sister of the order before I am a daughter of nobility,” Vonda replied.

“…” The knight disappeared for a moment before the gates opened and he led a group of a dozen soldiers out, his eyes glued to the young priest. He took sight of the amulet, which Vonda turned so he could see the intricate details of the back, before he bowed his head. “Welcome, Sir Vonda. You are here to deal with the outbreak westward?”

“That is correct. Two years ago we also dealt with the outbreak in a small outpost we had built west of here.”

“The southerners once passed that way to flank us. I am uncertain if they remain, but they may not be as kind as we who have nothing but the greatest of respect for those within the Order of the Good Mother,” the knight stated, bowing his head.

“I will pray they retain their senses.”

The knight eyed up the wolves, the Aswadians, and the Iyrmen. His eyes paused upon seeing the young man in puthral, and then Jurot, who wielded an axe and shield, and whose tattoo was painted with a blue circle and blue diamonds. His eyes returned to Vonda. “I must ask that your group pay the tax if they are to remain within our walls. Out of respect, we will only ask for thirty gold.”

Vonda bowed her head in response. “We thank you for your kindness, Sir…”

“Sir Earl Hightree,” the young man replied.

With that, the group were allowed within the outpost walls, led to a section where they were allowed to settle themselves. Meanwhile, the knight made his way to the office building, motioning an aid to gather the captains together.

The bell rung three times, and Adam raised his brows towards Jurot, letting out a soft sigh. “Are we going to have to…” Adam noted a soldier watching them from nearby.

“It will be a good story,” Jurot said.

“There is no reason for them to act upon us,” Vonda said.

“I can name three reasons right now,” Adam said. “Adam, Lucy, Mara.”

Vonda’s eyes fell towards the two demons, relenting to Adam’s words.

As the captains approached the officer, the knight, tasked with defending the outpost for the next year, turned to face them.

“There are some visitors within the quarters, those who have brought Aswadians, wolves, and Iyrmen. One unit will need to take command in watching over them from a distance.”

“What is so special about the newcomers, sir?” a captain asked.

“I recognise some of them. I was in the company of Sir Roland Fords, who had arrived with the horsemen sent from West Fort. He spoke of a group he had met, an Iyrman he was familiar with. I do not recall the name, but I remember his description. I recognise him from another, too. Last year, there was a tale that passed through, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. The Vice Commander of Black Moon.”

“He was disarmed,” the captain replied, doing his best to hide his smile.

“The old Iyrman who beat him was a cripple.”

“One arm, I heard.”

“I heard the same. He had a particular tattoo, that of a blue circle with blue diamonds. The Iyrman in that group matches the description of the fellow Sir Roland knew, and not just that, I heard he had won the Noonval Tournament, even against the likes of Sir Logan.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The captains weren’t entirely certain how strong Sir Logan was, but slowly nodded their heads at the knight’s explanation.

“He must be related to the crippled Iyrman, and if he is half as crazy, we might find ourselves coming into some trouble with Sir Vonda of Life’s Rose. Keep an eye on them, and if there are any issues, bring them directly to me.”

“Yes, sir!” the captains shouted, before they glanced between one another. One of them eventually bowed his head and stepped forward, taking responsibility for the role of keeping an eye on these strangers.

Sir Earl thought for a long moment of how he was going to write his report. He was certain he needed to leave out the mention of the demons, otherwise there would be cause for concern. He was glad that Sir Vonda had revealed herself to be a noble, since that would allow him to pass through the situation relatively unscathed if he were caught. ‘I will write of devilkin Iyrmen and leave it at that.’

Omen: 4, 19

‘It’s going too well,’ Adam thought, glancing around during their afternoon meal. ‘Will we really get to it tomorrow without meeting anything? Not even him?’

As the party began to double check their gear, Adam stepped away from the camp. He thought of how little trouble they had come across in the outpost of the army, even when more soldiers arrived later.

“It’s been rather peaceful…” His eyes took in the sights around him, taking in the sight of the plains all around. “I’d love to thank whoever it is for this peace.”

Silence answered the half elf.

“Even if you’re not any of the Divine, I don’t mind thanking you,” Adam assured the air, his eyes still glancing about. “…”

“Adam,” Jurot called, having let his brother have his moment to one side. “We should leave.”

Adam remained still for a few moments longer, before he finally retreated back to the party. ‘Is no one following us this time? Are we just really lucky?’ Adam let out a sigh. ‘Nah, I can’t just assume things are coincidences any more.’

“Okay?” Jurot asked as they walked together.

“I’m fine. If anything happens, I’ve got a crit in my back pocket.”

Jurot bowed his head.

Omen: 12, 19

As the late afternoon sun shone ahead, the group found their old outpost. A wooden outpost with a small ditch around it, with stakes pointed outwards, similar to the outpost they had left from that morning.

‘Ah! There we go!’

As the group approached the outpost, several shadows and figures shifted about within the old outpost they had created a couple of years ago. They were figures which wore long, painted masks, each wielding spears and shields. The five they spotted on the walls wore scale armour, though Adam wasn’t sure if there were more waiting for them out of sight.

“Tribesfolk?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Jurot replied. “Kitool, Jaygak, we will speak with them.”

The group watched as the trio of Iyrmen left, making their way towards the outpost. One of the figures, who wielded a staff in hand, motioned with a hand, causing Jaygak and Kitool to remain a short ways away, while Jurot continued approaching. Adam couldn’t hear what they were saying, but noted the way they used their hands to form gestures, Jurot also doing the same. Eventually, the Iyrmen returned.

“They have claimed the outpost.”

“Did you tell them it’s our outpost?”

“I told them we created the outpost, but they did not wish to give it up. They promise not to interfere with us if we do not interfere with their rights.”

“Their rights?”

“They are here to claim glory.”

“Alright. So what do we do?”

“We should create another fort.”

“If you say so,” Adam said, stretching out his body, eyeing up the tribesfolk, who were still staring at them. “I’ll create two towers.”

“Okay.”

The Iyrmen made short work of the nearby trees while the rest of the adventurers began to dig a shallow outline, the wolves overjoyed to assist.

Adam spent a short while summoning two towers using his magic. The ground floor for each was different, one a bathroom, the other a dining room, while the rooms above were bedrooms, one for each of the noblewomen within their party. As always, Adam was first to bathe, cleaning the water and the bathroom with his magic between each group bathing.

“Name one other business that lets you bathe daily while on the road?” Adam boasted, his face a large grin.

“Are we a part of your business too?” Lucy asked.

“Do you want to be?”

“I don’t feel like working under you.”

Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Then no?”

“Would we get paid?”

“Yeah. Everyone will get paid.”

“Do we get magical weapons too?” Lucy asked.

“Don’t you already have one of the best the Enchanter has made?”

“Mara doesn’t.”

“You don’t?” Adam asked.

“I believe Lucy means to say I do not possess a Greater Enhanced weapon,” Mara said.

“Oh, right, yeah…” Adam slowly nodded his head. “I’ll send word back once the outbreak is over.”

“What of the watches?”

“With thirty people, we can set up, what, one hour shifts, three people at a time?” Adam asked. “We’ll have Hades and the others on…” Adam blinked. ‘Oh, oops.’ He snapped his fingers, trying to summon the owl, but it did not appear. ‘I don’t have the stupid thing to cast the spell.’ “The mounts can take watch too, so actually it’ll be about five or six beings on watch at all times.”

“Three people for two hour watches,” Jurot said. “We will allow people to sleep in further during the morning to catch up on their sleep.”

“Should we do an hour and a half?”

“We could,” Jurot said.

“Let’s do four people for hour and a half watches. We’ll have six watches, so that’s… twenty four people? We’ll have all the people that know magic not go on watch, like normal.”

“So less work for you?” Lucy asked.

“If you want to summon two towers so you can bathe, be my guest,” Adam replied.

“I think you should take a tower so you can rest better,” Lucy relented instantly.

“No, no, can’t be having the nobles think we’re looking down on them,” Adam joked.

“I do not mind sleeping outside the tower,” Vonda informed. “They are your towers.”

“I’m a chivalrous gentleman, milady,” Adam replied, tipping his helmet, before tensing up. “Alright, that’s the last time I’m going to be cringe for the rest of the month.”

“You won’t last a few days,” Jaygak stated. “By the end of the first week you’ll gush about your children.”

“It is my right as a father to gush about my children. You’re just jealous you don’t have adorable children like me!”

Thus began their month within the outpost, with a light air, and tension in the distance.