It took a week of hard travel to get to greener pastures in Escor. The ranks upon ranks of satyrs who accompanied them did not complain or say much of anything. Nor did they fan out to look at the countryside. Estela or Varsus would glance warily at them occasionally, but nothing happened. Their obedience to him seemed absolute now that Lucius had agreed to work with them. The Dust Elves kept regular shipments of supplies going to keep them moving.

At last, the sands gave way to grassy hills, and Estela looked pleased. She stretched her arms, throwing back her cloak as she did while her hair flew behind her in the wind. "Finally, Escor! I haven't been back in ten years!"

"There must be many friends waiting for you," said Relma. She wondered if she would have a chance to meet them. Now that she'd thought of it, Estela had not spoken a great deal about Escor.

"Some," said Estela, voice darkening. "Hopefully, they're alive. Several rebellions happened while we were gone."

"Can't you exchange letters?" asked Relma.

"Most of them probably can't read," admitted Estela. "And uh, Father never was one for wasting paper."

"Keep ranks!" called Reginald from beside the satyr column. A hand was at the sword at his side as he walked. "Stay on the march! Your god has commanded that not one innocent death is to be done to Escor, nor damage rendered! Obey him, or you will taste my steel!"

"Reginald seems to be having fun," said Relma. Too much fun.

"He's a De Chevlon," said Estela with a smile and shrug. She seemed like she was in a good mood to be coming home. "They've always been able to understand satyrs because they're kin to them."

"What does that mean?" asked Relma.

"Oh come on, Relma," said Estela. "They're ruled by vampires."

"Oh right, I forgot about that," said Relma. It hadn't seemed necessary.

"I'm pleased to see you are enthusiastic," said Varsus. "But the tricky part has only begun. There is little to steal in this place, and enemies are elusive. In Escor, it will be another matter.

I suggest addressing them at some point.

"I'm surprised at how well the satyrs have behaved themselves, to be honest. I was expecting to have to keep them in line with constant executions."

"They are devoted to their god," said Relma, feeling less herself. "These are all volunteers on a crusade, not mere raiders. They've come to die for their religion, not live for material gains."

"Well, I hope we can explain that to King Vortegex," said Varsus. "Are you looking forward to going home, Estela?"

Estela remained silent for a moment. "I'm not sure."

"What do you mean 'you're not sure.'" Asked Relma.

"Well, I... my Father, he sent me away to Gel Carn," said Estela. "I've always wanted him to be proud of me, and well, I'm not sure how things will-"

"It'll be fine, Estela," said Relma, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You've done many great deeds since you came to Gel Carn. I'm sure he'll be proud of you."

Then, one of the scouts came out of the hills. "The army of Escor is ahead. They have arrayed themselves for war."

Varsus nodded. "Run up the flag of conversation and also the banners. We'll try to meet them."

The army of Escor was vast indeed. It had chosen a spot between the hills with many slingers atop them. Ranks of white armored men stood with spears at the ready in the front ranks. On the flanks were men in cloth and leather with spears and perhaps an axe, if lucky.

When they raised the banner of conversation, a figure came forward. He looked old, about sixty, but he had an aura of authority. He had a short, white beard and cut short, graying hair. A scowl was on his face as he came forward. His face looked like he spent a great deal of time scowling, actually. "House Gabriel, House De Chevlon, what treachery is this."

"Treachery?" asked Reginald. "You speak of-"

Varsus put a hand on his shoulder, and Reginald halted before stepping back. "No treason. And I am not the one who commands here."

"They are mine, Father," said Estela proudly as she came forward. "Allies brought to aid Escor against its enemies."

"Allies?" asked King Vortegex, raising an eye without expression. "You've brought a legion of satyrs as allies? Are you mad, girl?"

"It was not a plan that was developed ahead of time, Father," said Estela. "For now, however, they are here to help against Stormstrike and the Dragon Empire."

The old man scowled harder. "I take it, then, that Pandora is among your number."

"She is, King Vortegex," said Pandora, emerging from the ranks.

He eyed Pandora distrustfully. "We'll discuss the matter later.

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"For now, the Dragon Empire may strike any moment, and you've drawn my forces off at a critical juncture.

"What of the treasury?"

"I have it here," said Estela quickly, drawing off the box and offering it to him. "The winnings should go a long way to funding future campaigns."

The King looked in a better mood at that, but he did not look at Estela. Just the box. "So they will.

"Lady Pandora, can you ensure these satyrs stay in line?"

"Yes," said Pandora. "Or I would not have allowed them to be brought."

"Very well then," said King Vortegex. "General De Cathe, do you agree?"

Edward De Cathe came forward and kneeled. "It is. And I believe that they may turn the tide at last."

King Vortegex nodded. "Very well. Shadow the formation while it goes to the Pass of Dragon Bones. I will join you there as soon as I am able."

"As you will, my king," said De Cathe.

"Estela, you will head with me to the capital at once," said the King.

"But I should be with you at the-," began Estela.

"It is necessary to our terms with Stormstrike," Said the man, cutting her off.

Estela stared. "Terms? After all their rebellions, you're going to make concessions! I just made an army that could wipe them out for good!"

The man looked to the others. "Leave us."

Varsus quickly withdrew. Aunt Pan seemed to humor him and drew off. The King looked to Estela flatly. "Gail Arengeth has helped arrange a truce which will allow me access to their armies for good. It will secure my rule over Escor for the future. They will bend the knee and acknowledge House Vortegex as the rightful overlords. In return, your son, by Jomas Endorean, will become King after me."

"What?!" said Estela in a fury.

"I am marrying you into their family. Do you question this decision?" asked the King.

Estela remained silent, looking enraged. But beneath the King's gaze, she looked down. "No, I just... your letter said nothing about this."

"Of course, it didn't," said King Vortegex. "The other nations might have withheld you if they knew we were growing stronger. Now, one other thing: I note the House Gabriel and De Chevlon banners in your company."

"Yes, Reginald and Varsus volunteered to aid us-" began Estela.

"Fool," snapped Vortegex. "I would have dismissed them. But their presence would have made controlling the satyrs impossible. Why would you allow their kind with us? I assume you learned nothing at Gel Carn."

"What did you want me to learn?" asked Estela.

"Respect and understanding your position, for one," said the King. "A Lady of Escor gives up her sword once married."

"And you mean to sell me to Stormstrike for an army," snapped Estela.

"What would you do?" asked the King.

"Unleash the satyrs on them," said Estela. "Kill the whole family. Raze the fields. Leave no one alive."

"Set a precedent like that, and you invite a reputation as a mad dog," scoffed the King.

"The honor of House Vortegex-" began Estela.

"My every decision is for House Vortegex," snarled King Vortegex. "When you say 'the honor of House Vortegex,' you mean your personal honor. You want others to regard you as outstanding, to wield a sword in battle even when it is not practical.

"Your duty is to House Vortegex. Not honor or glory of any nonsense of Harlenor Reunited. What matters is the family and that when we die, our house will be more substantial for it.

"This marriage will cement our control over Escor. In so doing, it will lay the foundation of a Kingdom that could last a thousand years. And time is pressing. You will marry Prince Jomas Endorean of Stormstrike when you arrive. Then, I will lead our forces to battle against the Dragon Empire.

"Do you understand?"

"I don't think this is-" began Estela.

"Do you understand?" repeated the King.

Estela looked down. "Yes, Father."

Relma had not seen any reason to draw off with the others. She'd been distant and reflected that she technically outranked this man. "You know you're setting yourself up for future rebellions, right?"

The King looked up at her like she had grown a second head. "What?"

"Rule through fear only lasts as long as people are afraid of you," said Relma. "The second they no longer fear you, they'll carve you to pieces unless they have an incentive not to."

"And what would you know of such matters, girl?" said the King, drawing near.

"Well, I did help get Estela that army heading to the Pass of Dragon Bones," said Relma. "I was the weakest party involved in those negotiations, and look at how I came out."

"Ridiculous," said King Vortegex. "Who is this brat?"

Estela marched forward. "A girl I have taken on as a squire, Father. She has been invaluable in-"

"I should have known you'd lack the ability to gain respect," said the King with a snarl. And then he brought around an armored hand to strike Relma across the face. It hurt a lot, and Relma felt blood on her cheek. "Let that remind you to speak to your betters." Then he struck her again. "And that for lying."

Relma didn't make a sound. She wasn't as attached to her body as most people, and she began healing the injury. It wasn't good.

"She, she wasn't lying, Father. She did arrange all this," said Estela. "On my behalf."

The King looked up. "Then perhaps your choice in subordinates is not altogether worthless. Come, a wedding awaits."

And he stalked off. Estela moved to Relma. "Relma, don't say anything to him. Don't speak at all when you're with him. I don't want to lose you."

"Estela, it's fine. I'm not going to die," said Relma.

"But you could!" said Estela. "Relma, once, when I was a child, my younger sister Cadia befriended a village boy and got close to him. They were children, but Father, he... one of his men shot the boy while hunting. It was an accident, but... well, at least that's what we were told.

"Early in his reign, a house called Altar rebelled against him. Father took their castle and killed everyone. He threw the Lord's infant son from the balcony himself."

"Didn't you suggest doing exactly the same thing?" asked Relma.

"I... well, I may have overreacted," Said Estela quickly. "My cousin was killed by the King of Stormstrike. And I panicked.

"I want my Father to be proud of me."

"He seems impossible to please," noted Relma.

Estela sighed. "You have no idea.

"Relma, I... I want you to stay behind. You'll be better suited to keeping the satyrs in line anyway."

"If that's what you want, Estela," Said Relma.

"It is," said Estela.

"I gave you an order," snapped the King.

"Yes, Father," said Estela. "I am coming."

And so they parted. Relma decided then and there that King Tyus would set himself up for a wrong end. She just hoped Estela would not be around when it happened.