Plains outside of Durendall, Myria's P.O.V.

My patrol is almost over, soon I can go back to camp, I hope someone has word about Ash. We haven't heard anything since he left for Illium, it's not like him to not send word. Even if he can't send a message he can have one of the goddesses pass a message through Leyla.

Yet we haven't heard a peep from them either, the silence is driving all of us nuts. The others except for Leyla have been taking it out on the enemy soldiers, and I admit I have done the same. I'd be at the city now if Mercy hadn't sent Mericel and me out on patrol.

I don't see the need for these patrols, any reinforcements that were coming have already come and been wiped out. It should only be a few more days before the city falls too. Maybe then we can all head to Illium and look for Ash, he deserves a good beating for making us worry.

He just has to be okay, he has done so much for me and I've barely even begun to pay him back. I really don't think he realizes how many people's lives he has affected for the better. He saved me and almost my entire village from slavery, not to mention almost ten thousand beastmen from the mines.

Ash is a hero to every tribe of beastmen, only they don't know it yet. Once word spreads of his deeds most of the tribes will join him without a fight. Only the strongest tribes will need convincing at that point, and knowing Ash he isn't done with his outrageous deeds yet.

That is probably what worries me the most, Ash is most likely off doing something insane right now. He may be the strongest man I have ever seen, but he has this way of finding situations that even an army would avoid. Then he just barely escapes with his life, and when he tells us about it he plays it off like it was nothing.

That is the most infuriating thing about Ash, he acts like his life doesn't mean anything. He is so important to all of us, and he acts like he has no idea at all. And the worst part is we can't get him to stay still long enough for us to show him what he means to us.

Mericel says "It's all clear."

"Ahh! How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me?"

Mericel says "Sorry, but I am a ghost after all. There are no enemies anywhere in our area, we can head back."

"Alright, let's head back."

When I turn to look at the soldiers I am leading they are all smiling and won't meet my eyes. Either they found Mericel scaring me entertaining or they have been staring at my butt, or both. Anyway, I signal them to follow as I turn back towards camp.

"Mericel, go on ahead and see if there is any news."

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Mericel says "Okay, give me a few minutes. I'll come back and let you know."

A few minutes of walking later I can't take it anymore and order my men to pick up the pace. Our patrol was uneventful so jogging a bit won't hurt them. Besides, Mercy is always saying soldiers need to stay in shape, so a little exercise will be good for them.

Surprisingly, they follow me without complaining, maybe they want to get back in time for dinner. I could run all the way to camp without much trouble, but these humans don't have that kind of stamina. Although for humans, Mercy's people are pretty decent, she has trained them well.

These past few weeks have been very educational to say the least, I had heard of human wars but never imagined the scale. After seeing Mercy's army lay siege to Durendall I have a whole new appreciation of how the humans wage war. The beastmen's tribal conflicts are nothing compared to how humans wage war.

The beastmen have always viewed the humans as weak and not a threat to the tribes. While it may be true that individual humans are much weaker than beastmen, their numbers are far greater. The humans also work together much better than the beastmen, who will only fight in tribes.

The tribes will never fight together even against a common enemy, unless someone unites them by force. The only one who really has a chance of doing that is Ash, so he needs to survive. My thoughts are interrupted by the sight of Mericel floating towards me from the direction of camp.

"Hey, Mericel, any news?"

Mericel says "Yes, we have a visitor from Illium! You should get back to camp, they are waiting for you."

"Sergeant, you are in charge. I will see you back at camp."

Sergeant says "Yes, sir!"

Even as he is responding I take off running towards camp and within seconds I am going full tilt. At this speed I should reach camp in about twenty minutes, I can maintain it at least that long. Mericel is floating along with me but I am running too hard to spare the breath to talk to her to find out more.

Mericel says "There's the camp, head for Mercy's tent!"

When I arrive at Mercy's tent the guards wave me straight in, they know me but still that's unusual. When I enter I see the big table is set up and everyone else is already here, even Alannis who I haven't seen in weeks.

Since Alannis' big sister is second in command of the army it's no surprise Alannis has been the busiest of us. However, the one who draws my eye is the one I don't know sitting at the end of the table opposite Mercy. Or rather it is the sword on the table in front of her, Ash's sword!

Mercy says "Myria, this is Black, High Priestess of Krenocia. Please have a seat, we have been waiting for you to hear what she has to say."

Black says "A little over two weeks ago Ash was abducted from Illium."

Alexa says "What?!"

Isabella says "By who?!"

Mercy says "Quiet! Let her finish!"

Black says "We aren't completely sure, but he was carried away by air. Myria, was it? Are there any beastmen who can fly?"

"No, the only bird race is the Owl tribe, and at most they can glide a little."

Black says "Then the most likely option is that he was taken by a demon. They were last seen flying in the direction of the land bridge."

Leyla says "Has the goddess passed you a message?"

Black says "Yes, just yesterday. That is why I am here. Ash asked that a message be passed to you."

"So he's alright?!?"

Black says "What Krenocia told me is that he is alive, but he is the prisoner of one of the demon lords. Wait! Before you start shouting let me finish. He says he is alright, he has a plan."

Mericel says "Oh, no!"

"Ugh, not another one of his plans!"

Mercy says "Did Krenocia say anything about what his plan is?"

Black says "Krenocia said he told her and her sister the details and they think it has a good chance of working. She didn't tell me the details, just that if it works it will buy us a few more years before the invasion."