The next morning, Andy, Arlene, and Kermit made their way down to the courtyard, where Morwen, Sven, and PL were waiting.

"PL!" Kermit said, running over to the pig who wagged its tail and grunted happily.

Morwen nodded professionally at the three of them. "I trust you're ready to go?" she said.

"Yes," said Andy, "but we haven't been briefed on anything."

"Don't worry," said Morwen, "we have a long walk ahead of us."

The group quickly began to walk through the noble district and over the bridge, where cobblestone turned to dirt road, and dirt road turned to mountain trail.

The hectic bustle of Cresthaven gave way to the unsettled stillness of nature.

Finally, Morwen broke the silence.

"Our task is to accompany a noble, Verin Wells, on a hunting trip," Morwen said. "To be honest with you, this should be pretty easy. Much easier than the usual fighter initiation missions than we've had in the past."

"Why's that?" Arlene asked.

"It just happened to be the job that we needed help on at the time," Morwen said. "You got lucky, is what I'm saying."

"We're lucky!" Kermit said, patting PL as he walked beside him.

"And with a giant boar, I doubt anyone will be messing with us," said Morwen. "Thanks for agreeing to come along, Sven."

"Oh it's no trouble," Sven said. "Besides, it's not like I had a choice about following orders from the Noble Court."

"That's true," said Morwen.

Sven had the same appearance as he had the night before: sweaty, dirty clothes, generally unkempt. But his demeanor was decidedly more cheerful.

"We're headed up through a pass," Morwen said, pointing to Mount Aurora ahead. "It will feel like we're going up a mountain, but we're not going anywhere near the top, don't worry. Once we get on the other side of Mount Aurora, the toughest part of our journey will be behind us."

"Maybe we'll see Lilly and Rowan!" Kermit said.

"Who?" Morwen asked.

"Probably not," Arlene said to Kermit. Then she addressed Morwen, "They're the scholars who were left in charge of the spawning pools," she said.

"Ah, scholars, an eccentric lot," Morwen said. "You never know who is hanging out at the tops of mountains."

"They're nice, and they make good food," said Kermit.

"Well, I'm afraid we won't have time to stop," said Morwen. "If we want to reach Verin's estate by nightfall, we can only spare one short rest, and we better save it for when we're hungry."

The group had already hiked a long way. The skyline of Cresthaven receded into the distance behind them as they became swallowed by the mountain forest.

Things were more serene out on the mountain paths. Occasionally the group would pass a small stone shrine, and the path itself was well maintained, but other than that, there were no traces of humanity. Only verdant forest, bubbling brook, and the chirping of birds.

"So we're just, like, going on a hunting trip with a noble?" Andy asked.

"Sort of," said Morwen. "We're not doing any hunting, of course. We're only providing security."

"Security from what?" Andy said.

"Well, mainly beasts and other sentient creatures," Morwen replied. "You wouldn't believe how many nobles have been assassinated while on a hunting trip. A hunting noble is a remarkably easy target… More than likely, though, you won't see much action."

"Got it," Andy said. "So we'll just be hanging around a hunting trip."

"Exactly."

After some time, Morwen spoke up again.

"Are you looking forward to your fighter level once the mission is through?"

"Yes," Andy said, "very much. I put a level in combat, so hopefully that helps momentarily, but I really want to get to the point where I can combine Fluid Strike and Wallop with my greatsword attack without getting exhausted so easily."

"That will come soon enough," Morwen said. "I admit, you are already a formidable opponent with the greatsword. Any levels in combat will certainly help, as will fighter levels. What about you, Arlene?"

"I also want to focus on combat," said Arlene. "I want to get to the point where I can one-shot an enemy from a long distance."

"Your feat combinations are already fearsome," said Morwen. "Combining the Alchemical Bomb with your longbow and Righteous Wrath, well, that nearly killed me yesterday. You don't have long to go before you're a consistently deadly sniper."

Arlene smiled.

"Sven," Andy said, "what do you want out of this mission?"

"Oh," Sven said, almost flustered. It was as if he didn't realize it was possible for him to be part of the conversation, and now that he had been invited into it, he didn't know what to do.

"You'll be paid in gold," Morwen said, "but what will you spend the gold on?"

Sven walked silently for a few strides. "I think I might like some new boots," he said.

Andy looked at Sven's feet. He wore light leather boots that were nearly falling apart.

"Nothing feels finer than a fresh pair of boots," Morwen said. "And what about you, Kermit? What do you hope to gain from this mission?"

"I want to find my brother, Millford," Kermit said. "He's probably in this world somewhere, and I have been waiting to see him for over a hundred years."

Morwen seemed to contemplate Kermit's words carefully. She became lost in thought. Then, finally, she spoke up.

"A hundred years is a long time," said Morwen.

The group continued silently down the trail.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

***

After a couple of hours, the elevation began to change, and soon enough the party was headed downward again on a declining path.

"We're headed through the pass," Morwen said. "We're making good time. We can stop for a short rest."

Up ahead, there was a small shrine with benches. The group took their seats around the stone monument, a small statue of a diminutive, smiling nature spirit covered in leaves, holding a walking staff. There was an inscription that Andy couldn't read.

"Does anyone know what that says?" Andy asked.

"It says 'rest a while,'" said Morwen. "The statue is a dryad, a forest spirit revered by the local druids and commoners. Dryads tend to be kind and watchful, helping travelers in the woods. At least that's the legend. Sometimes people will leave food or trinkets on the dryad's shrine for good luck."

The group found their seats on the benches and pulled out the rations that Brea had packed for them: dates stuffed with walnuts and honey (seemingly a staple around here) and some jerky. Despite being trail food, designed for ease of handling rather than flavor, it was quite good.

"I admire your commitment to finding your family," Morwen said to Kermit. "I spent a long time looking for mine, too."

"Did you find them?" Kermit asked.

Morwen paused for a moment, looking toward the dryad statue. "Not the family I was looking for," she said. "But I did find my new family. My friends and comrades in Cresthaven."

"Where did your other family go?" Kermit asked.

"I don't know," said Morwen. "I never found them. I grew up in an orphanage out in the country. Really, it was in the middle of nowhere. The best I can tell, my parents didn't have enough money to support me, so they entrusted me to the orphanage when I was less than a year old. I searched and searched, and I eventually found my father's name on a ship log. Not long after they dropped me off at the orphanage, I suppose my parents went to a northern continent. Perhaps they were going to start fresh and forget about me… perhaps they were going to try to make a better life, and then come back for me when they could take care of me again... I'll never know, so I try not to wonder about it."

Over the course of her speech, Morwen's voice had softened. Her gaze on the dryad statue became pensive, unblinking. She had zoned out.

Then she snapped back, shaking her head. "In any case," she said. "I eventually found my new family. Bertha, Gar, the whole Order of the Behemoth."

"The behemoth?" Kermit asked.

"Why, yes," said Morwen. She pushed her cloak back to reveal the hippo-skull patch on her shoulder. "The Order of the Behemoth, the most feared creature in the region. The Behemoth is a powerful animal that defends its pack with ferocity and single-mindedness, as our order aims to do with all the people of Cresthaven. It's skull is said to be a very powerful mystical object, filled with natural defensive magic. Of course that may just be superstition, but it's a fine image for our order." She covered her shoulder patch back up with her cloak.

"Are you at odds with the nobility?" Andy asked, biting off a piece of jerky.

"Oftentimes we are," said Morwen. "But they couldn't do anything about it. With all the fighters, berserkers, tacticians, and other honorable warriors in the Order, any efforts to stamp it out would only lead to a revolution. So the nobility puts up with us, and to a certain extent, we put up with them. It is how it's been for decades now. We run missions for the nobility, they allow us to exert our influence every once in a while as long as we don't publicly undermine their authority too much."

"So your group is made up of fighters and berserkers, like the ones we saw at the arena the day before yesterday?"

"Yes," said Morwen. "Yes we have many folks from different classes among our ranks, but fighters and berserkers tend to make up the majority. People in those classes tend to resonate the most with the order's mission. Of course, the arena this week was the furthest the order has pushed the nobility in a long time. I was nervous it might have crossed a line, but so far it seems ok."

"Does your order take otherworlders?" Arlene asked.

"We don't have a law against it," said Morwen. "But most otherworlders don't stick around long enough to meet the minimum requirements, and the missions that we offer don't pay well. It doesn't tend to attract adventurers so much as those who are truly committed to the well-being of the people of Cresthaven. That tends to be locals. People with roots here."

Arlene nodded.

"Tell me about Millford," Sven said, speaking up. He was on the ground, laying his head on PL, who was curled up beside him.

"Millford!" Kermit said. "He is very cool. Millford is my older brother. When I left earth, he was nineteen. He was good at cooking, and he was good at music."

"Did he play an instrument?" Sven asked.

"Mandolin," said Kermit. "He had the coolest mandolin. It was from the city. I never went to the city, but the best toys always came from there. And Millford's mandolin was the coolest. He could play all kinds of songs."

"He sounds talented," said Andy.

"He was, and he always made me pancakes for my birthday," said Kermit. "After mom… passed away. Millford was the cook. He cooked for all of us. Me, Sheldon, and Dad."

Morwen leaned over and put her hand on Kermit's shoulder. "If he's here, in this world, I'm sure you will find him." She smiled.

***

The group finished up lunch and began packing their things. Kermit placed a small piece of date on the dryad's shrine.

"There you go!" he said.

Andy turned to go, hoisting his sword and pack onto his back.

That's when he saw someone approaching the trail through the woods. A tall figure dressed in simple woodsman gear, with a wide-brimmed hat held firmly in place with a strap that tightened under his chin. The man had whiskers, as if he hadn't shaved in a week or two, but hadn't planned on growing a beard. He squinted in the sunlight as he emerged from the thick forest into the sunlit trail, but he wore a wide smile.

"Greetings travelers," the man said.

"Hello," said Kermit, who was still gathering his things by the shrine.

Andy looked toward Morwen, who stepped between Kermit and the strange man. She seemed alert, but not overly alarmed.

"Hail, stranger," Morwen said, her hand resting on her belt. Andy noticed her finger making contact with something, perhaps a hidden knife blade. "We were just on our way."

The man stood there, facing the group.

"Allow me to introduce myself," he said, waving to the group, "I'm Atnar, and I'm a wandering woodsman. I have been collecting berries." He opened a basket at his hip, revealing a bounty of small raspberries. "Have you seen any good patches around?"

"No," said Arlene. "I can't say we have."

"That's a mighty big pig you have there," Atnar said, gesturing toward PL. "Where'd you pick him up? It's rare to see such a well-behaved boar."

Sven put his hand on PL. "This here is our pig," said Sven. "Apparently he has a new name, PL."

"PL? Hmmm that's an odd name," said Atnar, scratching his stubble, "but I like it. I like an unusual name. Does it mean anything?"

"Pig Large!" Kermit exclaimed.

"What?" the man said, scratching his beard. Then he began to laugh. "That's a bizarre name, but completely fitting!"

"We really should be on our way," Morwen said, stepping toward the man. "If you would kindly let us pass."

"Oh, of course!" he said, stepping to the side and gesturing down the trail. "Don't let me keep you, I would hate to make such a lovely group late for their important business."

Arlene stepped forward, and Andy followed. As the two approached the man, he held his arm out.

"Wait," he said. His nostrils flared as he sniffed deeply. "You have a peculiar smell," he said. Approaching Andy.

Andy put his arm out, pushing the man's chest back.

"Get off of me, weirdo," Andy said.

The man stumbled back, and then he crouched, his eyes squinting as a dark look came over him.

"You smell like the nobility," he said, reaching behind him.

"Don't do anything stupid," Morwen said, drawing her katana and holding it to the man's throat.

Atnar held both of his hands up in resignation.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about me," he said. "But you may need to worry about them."

Atnar began to laugh as several more figures emerged from the woods, all dressed in simple garb that blended in with the emerald green of the mountain forests. Several brandished katanas, others brandished spears, still others brandished clubs and maces.

PL lowered his head and began to huff.

"Oh no, now you're upsetting the pig," said Sven nervously. "I do not advise this."

Kermit reached for his frying pan, remaining by the shrine. His eyes were fixed on the approaching men.

Arlene spun around, getting a three-hundred sixty degree view of the situation. She drew her bow.

Andy drew his greatsword.

At least a dozen men surrounded them.

"Alright boys," said Atnar, "Let's get some gold, and some bacon!"