The rest of the day was rather uneventful, Sam broke out his art supplies and started drawing the Enki, Alex returned to the crow’s nest playing his guitar, and Noah kept on writing. I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t cook on a ship because I would need fire to do that and the captain had been very very clear on his no-fire policy. I couldn't talk to the sailors because they were all terrified of me. I couldn't read anything because I hadn't brought a book. In the end, I spent most of the day sparring with Silver.

My eyes crossed as his sheathed sword cracked over my head. I stumbled back a step, not lowering my guard for even a moment. He disappeared in a blur and I spun around, not willing to use my trait. A crash sounded from my left.

“Fuck me!” Silver swore as he stood back up, “how do you control that?”

“Practice,” I grunted and swung my sword down at him with a two-handed overhead grip. He raised his massive greatsword, bracing the blade with his other hand. The sound of wood on wood rang out. He kicked me in the shin and in one clean motion leaped back up onto his feet.

He waggled his eyebrows at me, “Still too slow.”

“Lick my balls.”

“No thanks.”

/-/

A day later the ship pulled into the docks of Rosegarden. Hundreds of guards and thousands of workers and sailors scurried around under the watchful eyes of sergeants and captains alike. Sam practically leaped off the ship and onto stable land, not that there was any real motion on in the canal.

“Land sweet land!” he cried out, kissing the ground. I scrunched my face up in disgust. Most of the onlookers did the same.

“Brightlord, I would not do that. Think of all the disease that could be on that ground.”

“If I die, I want to die on solid ground,” Sam gasped, rolling around on the ground, Shaking my head I tossed his luggage to him. Our arrival had not gone unnoticed and soon enough a messenger boy sprinted to our side.

“Brightlord! I bring a message from Highlord Agustus Rose.” he paused, “‘Prince Samuel of House Bright, we had received word of your coming arrival to our great city and it would be my honor to take you into my house and hold a banquet in your name.’”

Sam looked back at us, “what do you guys think?”

“Free food sounds great.” Noah shrugged, “I’ve always wanted to go to a feast.”

“It would be a good opportunity to meet some more nobles.” Alex mused.

I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my head. “I think we should probably get going before Agustus wraps us into another one of his schemes. You know, we still got the mission.”

“Well,” Silver interrupted, stomping on my hopes, “we do actually need to go to their messenger and find out what’s going on in Pitzer.”

Sam grinned, “It’s decided then. Tell Highlord Rose that we would be honored to attend a feast.”

“Yes, Brighlord. A carriage shall be sent immediately.” The messenger boy bowed and ran off.

“Fucking fantastic,” I muttered to myself, “this is going to be awkward as hell.”

As we waited for a carriage to arrive. Though why we did, I have no idea. We have feet. People began to notice my presence. It was slower than normal, as I wasn’t wearing any obvious markings of my house. But once someone did notice, it spread like wildfire.

A crowd had gathered in front of me, a mob of swearing, screaming peasants. One, in particular, seemed more enthusiastic than the rest and she led them in a chant.

“Down with Varus!”

“Justice for the Roses!”

“Death to the Dogmeat General!”

“Down with Varus-”

At the last one, I leaned over to my team who were standing in abstract shock. “You know, I still don’t get why they call me that.”

Sam slowly turned to face me, “Your taking this really well for someone who’s got an army of peasants baying for your blood.”

“Eh, it’s pretty normal behavior. Actually, this is a little bit better than what I usually get. There hasn’t even been an assassination attempt yet.”

“-Death to the Dogmeat General!”

“Enough of this,” Sliver snorted, “I’m getting out of here. Someone give me a holler when this is over.” He downed the paint thinner in his flask and disappeared, probably using my trait.

“Why are they so pissed?” Noah shouted over the noise.

“He killed my father!” one of the peasants screamed. “They stole my land!” another added, “-burned my house!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I grunted, “That and more. Serves you right for trying to rebel from the throne.”

The mob paused for a moment, shocked into silence. Then the girl spoke up, “this is why we must cleanse the world of the red-eyed menace! Death to Varus!”

Alex sighed, “Ryze, that really did not help.”

“Why are you guys mad? You know I’m right.”

“The only thing you are is a murderer and a pig!” the girl screamed. I was starting to get more than a little pissed.

“Would you shut the fuck up?!” I screamed and drew my sword, “did you know it’s a criminal offense to threaten nobility?”

The mob went silent again and they edged away from me. I glared at them and took a step forward.

“Y-y-you’re n-no noble.” the girl stuttered. I rolled my eyes.

“If I’m not a noble then what am I?”

“You’re a coward and a bandit!”

“Oh for the love of-” I sighed and took a breath. The crowd slowed to a standstill and I clasped a hand around the back of the girl's neck. The world sped up for just a moment before it slowed again. In that time I yanked her from the mob and dragged her back to where I had been standing.

She screamed in panic as she did what, to her, seemed like teleportation. I got right up into her face, red eyes boring into her blue. In passing, I noted that she smelled like woodsmoke and steel. “Listen here you skank, I want to be here just as much as you want me here. The only reason I’m in this godforsaken backwater hellhole is that I’m on a mission right now to potentially save some innocent people's lives. So if you would kindly piss off and let me go in peace then no one’s going to get hurt. Do you comprehend that you inbred, commoner, whore bitch!”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The docks were silent for a moment before a slap rang out. I winced, turning my head as her hand caught me on the side of the face. Red flooded my vision as I grinned at her.

“On second thought,” my sword came from its scabbard, “I’m going to kill Every. Single. One. Of. You. Useless. Bastards. And it’s all going to be on her hands.”

“Wait!” she cried out as the mob quickly dispersed, men and women, running in all directions, “don’t hurt them! They don’t deserve it.”

“Then who does? Because I certainly don’t deserve the hatred I receive for actions my uncle committed before I was even born!”

She was silent, “I do.”

The red began to fade from my vision, “what?”

“I deserve it.” She whispered, “It’s my fault, I riled them up. I’ll take whatever punishment you force me through. Just let them go.”

I turned to my team, they watched on with varied expressions. Sympathy, concern, disdain. My hold on her loosened but she didn’t run. Instead, she just stood there with steel-eyed determination.

“Hah, I can respect that.” I huffed, “whatever, get out of here before I change my mind.”

Behind me someone coughed awkwardly, I shifted my attention to find a massive man wearing paladin armor leering down at me. Behind the man, several dozen guards shuffled nervously next to two wagons.

“Can I help you?”

The paladin nodded, “yes, you could start by releasing Miss Hightower.”

“You know her?” I asked with surprise, she had seemed like a common enough peasant at first glance. But after some more careful analysis, I realized that she was far prettier than the average urban rat. Long dirty blonde hair framed a heart-shaped face. Ice blue eyes glared at me as she folded her arms under larger than average busts. Honestly, she reminded me of someone from Leviathan.

“What are you staring at?”

“Guh! I wasn’t staring.” I snapped, turning away from her. To the side, I heard a snicker. I glared at my teammates and they quickly walked over.

“So you’re our ride?” Sam asked, looking the paladin over. He studied the older man with amused eyes. They were almost the same height, meaning that both were giants. Though the paladin was missing the sheer confidence that Sam carried with him.

“Yes bright lord, I am Sir Albin Finch. A paladin in the service of House Rose. Please do not cause any trouble and we will not have any trouble.” At that last part, Albin hefted his massive war hammer onto his shoulder and walked towards the carriage. “Because of the bright lord’s prestigious size, It’ll be three to a carriage I’m afraid so one of you is going to have to sit with Miss Hightower.”

“She’s coming with us?”

“Indeed and one of your numbers will be sitting with her.”

“Nope.” the three traitors immediately made a B-line for the front carriage. I took a breath and walked in front of them, blocking their way to the entrance.

“Now, now.” I grinned, “I thought we were a team.”

“We are a team.”

“So then, we should vote on who has to sit in the other one.”

They looked each other in the eye, “ok.”

Alex tapped his chin, “all in favor of Ryze sitting in the other one say aye.”

“Aye.”

“Aye.”

“Aye.”

“Then it’s decided.” My hand dropped and I stared into the middle distance. The three of them walked by me and into the carriage.

“Tough luck.” Noah patted me on the shoulder.

“Next time,” Sam reassured.

“Heh, go get her lady killer,” Alex smirked. The door closed shut and Albin slapped one of the horses and the carriage shot off.

“Lord Varus, I suggest you begin to make your way to the palace. After all, it is bad manners to keep a lord waiting.”

I looked around making a last-ditch attempt to save myself from an incredibly awkward ride, “what abou-”

“Silver Baldwin will make his way to the palace in his own time. You have nothing to worry about young lord.”

“Fine…” I sighed and climbed into the wagon.

“What a gentleman,” Hightower huffed and clambered in behind me, “I don’t want to be stuck with you either.”

The carriage began to move, the sound of hooves hitting the ground and horses neighing accompanied the dead silence inside the wagon. The inside was rather cramped with two rows of seats facing each other. I kicked my legs up onto the seat across from me and intertwined my arms behind my head.

“Ahh, this is nice.”

Silence.

“You know, in the south, we never had any of these fancy carriages. We used our feet to get from place to place.”

Silence.

“I know you think us southerners are barbaric and crude but I’m just saying. Living a harsh life is the only way to marshal success.”

Annoyed huff.

“Maybe if House Rose had spent a little less money on carriages and a little more on military training, then they wouldn’t have lost so early on in the war.” The comments continued for a good ten minutes.

Finally, she snapped, “would you shut your mouth?”

“Oh? She speaks?”

“Yes I speak and I have a name!” she hissed, “and would you stop with your asinine comments? It’s infuriating.”

“Is it now?” I asked with mock surprise, “I apollo-yeah I don’t care.”

“Why are you like this, what is the point of pissing me off?” She gritted her teeth together.

“Why am I like what?”

“You know.” she clenched her hands together in front of her as if imagining she was strangling me.

“Needlessly antagonizing and annoying?” I added cheerfully.

She nodded vehemently, “Yes that!”

“Because I’m bored.”

“What!” she practically screeched.

“I was bored and had nothing to do so I decided to make my own entertainment.” I rubbed my hands together. “And let me just say, you have not disappointed me in the slightest.”

“Aaaarrghh!” she slammed her head against her backrest. I closed my eyes and nodded in bliss. Nothing like the sound of frustrated screaming to calm the mind.

“How ‘bout this.” I said after a while, “Let’s redo this whole introduction thing. I’ll stop being an annoying little brat and you drop your frankly incredibly discriminatory view on me.”

She crossed her arms and huffed, then turned her head away and held that pose for several seconds. I spent that time checking her out in that way every guy does but would never admit. And let me just say, I liked what I saw.

Finally, she turned her head back to me, “fine.”

“Perfect, let’s start with names. I’m Ryze Varus, first in line to the throne of Varus and team leader of team RSAN or Arsenal.”

“You’re the team leader?” she asked skeptically, “I would have thought the prince would have been a better fit.”

“You clearly do not know the prince very well.”

“Anyway, my name is Delaney Hightower. Niece of Highlord Rose and a lieutenant in his personal guard.”

“Oh? You know the Wilted Rose?”

“Do not call him that. Lord Augustus is a dignified and nobleman.”

I wanted to ask what was so dignified about a man who needed help making his way to the bathroom, but I held my tongue in the name of polite conversation. “My apologies Lady Delaney. May I call you Delaney.”

“If you wish.”

“Excuse my rudeness but aren’t you a little young to be in the lord's guard? You can’t be much older than I am.”

“In that, you would be correct, I am only seventeen.”

“Is it a trait then?”

“It is not, my trait is rather mundane. Which is the reason why I did not leave for the battle academy.”

“What is it then?” I asked with genuine confusion. She gave me a slight smile.

“Allow a woman some secrets would you?” I opened my mouth to speak when the wagon slowed to a halt. “I think that’s us.”

I kicked the door and it slammed open, knocking a stout old man to the ground. “Oops.”

/-/

Forty-two men, less than half of the number that had set out stood atop the ramparts of Fort Ire. Oliver looked on with exhausted eyes as the sounds of steel-toed boots crushed the brick and gravel road to dust. Even from several miles away, the Steel Legions stuck out like a sore thumb. Their polished plate armor shone like mirrors in the blistering hot sun.

“Well lads, we did it.” Washington said, leaning on his rifle, “Here’s to hoping we never have to do that again.”

“Men, make ready!” Graves shouted from one of the towers along the wall, “I want uniforms checked and guns polished. You better be inspection ready by the time that army gets here or so help me God.”

Oliver turned to his left where the remaining men of first squad stood. Of the thirty-three men that had left the camp a week ago, only twelve had survived the scouting mission. Four had died in the attack that had occurred two days after the first, and six had died on the final day before they had arrived at the Fort. Though through either luck or some divine intervention every member from Tent four had made it through alive. Alive but not unscathed.

Highlord Kaedin Varus, walked alongside his men as they entered the clearing before the Fort. Along the walls, the remnants of the scouting party he had sent stood at near-perfect attention. Their uniforms were patched and clean, bayonets carefully sharpened and readied. He strode out in front of the gate and paused.

“Halt and be identified!” One of the men called, he frowned.

“That’s the fucking Dragon you idiot.” another hissed, cuffing the first over the head.

“At ease men, your mission is over.” he smiled, “I must say, I am impressed. I had not expected so many of you to make it through in one piece.”

The men stared at him in shock, “Now if you would kindly open the gates. I will have you properly rewarded for your bravery.”

“Aye, sir!”