Rosslyn and her party set out in the new day, using a large hill as their heading.

Beyond that hill is the last settlement in our country. Beyond that, only the Deformed Forest separates us from Stalenton. The settlement was more of a fortified base than a city, and its main purpose was a visual indicator that the Kingdom of Claustria had not abandoned this land or ceded its claim to it.

Lord Baranack had agreed to stop there at mid-morning so that Rosslyn could inspect the troops. She intended to make the most of this trip that she could.

As the carriages moved forward, though, Rossslyn felt almost like a tourist on vacation with her stepmother for the first time in years.

“The border region is beautiful,” Rosslyn said, looking out the carriage’s curtains.

The landscape was a strange mixture of undisciplined plant life. This region had been farmland once, before the last war, when the king had ordered the region evacuated. No one had ever repopulated the space, and the plant life grew in strange twisted up knots. Trees pushing through bushes which were also entangled with thick weeds and shrubs.

Some of these plants, it was said, were still edible. Much of the land was still visibly shaped by the plows that had once chopped and organized the soil.

But the land had seen too much blood spilled over the years for anyone to believe that the soil could still grow something wholesome. The food for the garrison beyond the hill was typically all grown elsewhere and transported across this landscape rather than originating here.

Carolien leaned over beside Rosslyn and peered past her stepdaughter.

“It is quite strange, but very striking,” she agreed. “I wonder how the vegetation in this area comes to look like that.”

“There is unique plant life here that may only be seen in proximity to the Demon Empire’s borders, Highnesses,” Lord Baranack commented. “The histories record that such plant life is not uncommon at other places and times where powers have shared space with the Demon Empire.”

Rosslyn wanted to say so many things to that. What happened to the powers that made those historical observations? She knew the answer. They were absorbed, of course. She also wanted to ask Lord Baranack what he believed caused the strange patterns of plant growth. The unholy disruptions of the natural order. She knew what she believed, which also, in this case, coincided with the official stance of the clergy. The unnatural experiments of the demons, driven by their worship of the Demon God.

But Rosslyn had decided not to squabble with Lord Baranack today. Soon he would be left behind in the Empire, and with good luck for her, she would never see him again. If he was truly excellent in his diplomacy, he would remain in the Demon Empire and ensure the peace there as best he could. If he was truly ineffectual instead, he might be relieved of his duties, but probably not so that he could return to work at the palace. So there was little point in aggravating that fractious relationship in the few days they had left being acquainted.

“Do you think any of those plants out there can be safely eaten?” Carolien asked.

Lord Baranack hesitated and shifted in his seat. “I do not see why not,” he finally said.

On another day, Rosslyn might have dared him to try and eat a chunk of what appeared to be barley growing in the field. It would have been sheer mockery, since she had no expectation that he would actually risk his own health to stand by what he casually said.

Today, she simply smiled and sank back into her plush seat. The soft carriage cushions felt more plush today. Or perhaps she was simply in a mood to enjoy herself a bit more.

“It is a gorgeous day, is it not?” Rosslyn said.

Lord Baranack looked at her strangely, with a suspiciously raised eyebrow, but Carolien smiled back at her.

“It is,” Carolien said. “A perfect day to be tourists.”

“Well, urm, if you really enjoy the experience of the nature around here, I suppose you will enjoy the border forest even more. I have heard that unique species have developed there that cannot be seen anywhere else.”

I heard the same, except that the “unique species” were simply twisted versions of preexisting plants, exposed to the Empire’s vile experiments with Mana.

The trio and their entourage toured the countryside for roughly an hour before they came to the unnamed fortified camp that was the last Claustrian settlement in this region. It was a few miles from the Deformed Forest, Rosslyn gauged, but just far enough that the twisted trees would block much from view for the defenders looking out for possible aggression from the Empire.

At least the fortress seems well defended. In the event that something comes through those woods, they should be able to hold out for a bit longer than some village…

Hopefully for long enough to get a message to the nearest noble house. That would bring a near avalanche of military and logistical support from the King and the nobility. No one wanted to lose the rest of this land to the Empire. Many of the border nobles were particularly hardened warriors.

As the carriages approached the front gate, Rosslyn examined the structure. The outer walls were arrayed in a ring with the gate at their center. Watchtowers were spaced out in the second ring of walls, which were positioned at a higher elevation. The fortress was built around another, smaller hill than the one that the party had used for navigation.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Rosslyn was dimly aware there had been plans a generation ago to build a larger fortification here, but the budget had been cut due to a famine at the time, and the plans were never revisited.

Still, she thought the fortress would hold out well. The strong young men who opened the gate for them moved briskly, so that the swing of the gate was quicker than she would have expected. The men on the walls looked alert and ready for battle, and their armor appeared well used.

These were no idle nobles. These soldiers knew that they were the first line of defense against the Demon Empire, and they lived in such close proximity that they had no opportunity to forget it.

Rosslyn had worked with soldiers like this before. She looked forward to seeing their like again.

As the gate opened, a dozen knights rode forth to meet the carriages.

“Please halt!” called a loud voice from the lead knight. “We must inspect your vehicles.”

Why does that voice sound familiar? Rosslyn wondered.

And then she knew.

The curtain was pulled further to the side brusquely, and on the other side of it, looking in at her beneath his raised visor, she saw Captain Leonardo of Garen. He was an older gentleman of common birth who had spent his life in brave service to the Kingdom. The skin of his face was craggy and leathery with age. His thick gray mustache was slowly turning to pure white.

When Rosslyn served in the military, she had served alongside the Captain. He was a model of leadership in her eyes. A man who would never send his men to perform a task that he would not do himself, who would push back on orders that did not make sense—and the soldiers loved him for those qualities.

After her service ended, she had quietly and gently encouraged his promotion from Lieutenant. Now he apparently had a whole fortress under his command.

Captain Leonardo’s eyes widened with surprise as he recognized her, and his hand automatically rose in a salute.

“Greetings, Yer H—”

Rosslyn gave a sharp shake of her head that stopped him.

He swallowed. “Um, what brings yer party to this humble fortress, noble guests?” he rephrased.

She spoke in a low voice. “My fellow bodyguard, Lady Carol, and I are here escorting Lord Baranack, our new ambassador, to his diplomatic mission in the Demon Empire, Captain.”

If he had looked surprised before, Captain Leonardo now appeared to have been struck by lightning.

“You are escorting the lord into the Empire, um, ma’am?” he asked. He almost choked on the words.

She could nearly read his thoughts, she felt, at this moment. What kind of crazy plan is taking you into the arms of the Demon Empire? Are you sure you and your father know what you are doing, Your Highness?

But he verbalized none of it. Simply looked uncomfortable for a moment, then bowed his head and pulled back lightly on the reins of his horse.

“We do not need to further inspect this group,” the Captain said loudly. “I know the individuals in this carriage. Our new ambassador to the Demon Empire is in this one. This is his escort party.”

Lord Baranack poked his head out of the carriage. “We would stay for a half an hour or so, Captain, if it is of little inconvenience to you, and inspect the troops.”

Captain Leonardo looked past Lord Baranack, met Rosslyn’s eyes, and curled his lips into a small smile.

“Ah, I see. It would be our pleasure, my lord, to demonstrate for you and your party the discipline and order of Fort Alistair’s troops. Then you can tell the Empire’s diplomats with confidence that this fortification will not easily fall.”

There was an obvious pride in the man’s voice, but Rosslyn was focused on the name.

He christened the fortress after father, she thought, smiling. Very occasionally, she wondered what the common people thought of their noble and royal rulers. It was rare, because the common people were rarely a major factor in the politics of the country. But where their influence mattered was in the military most of all.

It was gratifying to see that what she had thought was an unnamed fortress had been informally called after the King. A good sign.

For the next hour, hundreds of men in armor paraded up and down the gently sloping ground the fortress was built on, past the carriage and around it, in a rhythmic step coordinated by the Captain via a soldier who stood beside him beating a drum. No one fell out of formation. No one uttered a word outside of the carriages. And the soldiers acted like the high value guests did not even exist. There was only the land, their fellow soldiers, and the distant beat of the drum. They ignored the rays of the sun until the Captain ordered a stop to the march.

Then they stood in formation for several minutes, armor gleaming, for Lord Baranack’s inspection. He briefly walked up and down, making admiring noises.

And Rosslyn’s eyes followed everything from where she remained within the carriage, hidden from view from anyone who did not have the Captain’s sharp eyes.

These men are ready for battle, she thought. I hope the spy brings news that they will not need to be. These plain and simple soldiers were her idea of what the flower of Claustrian youth should be.

Finally, the soldiers marched back into the fortress, and the knights came back out and showed the speed and ferocity of horse and rider with a mock cavalry charge. Here, the slight incline of the area of land around the fortress revealed its potential for deadly effect against would-be invaders. The violence and power of the charge would scatter any undisciplined block of infantry that happened to be faced with it, in Rosslyn’s judgment.

Then the knights also withdrew, leaving only Captain Leonardo and the carriages.

“You will not stay any longer, then, my lord?” he asked, eyes focused on Lord Baranack.

But Lord Baranack’s eyes darted toward Rosslyn. She gave a gentle head shake.

“I am certain that we are all thankful for the display of valorous arms by our brave men of the fortress,” Rosslyn said. “Perhaps in a month or so, it might be permissible to tell them who they presented themselves to.”

Captain Leonardo smiled and saluted once more. Then the party was on their way again.

“With soldiers such as them defending our border, we have little to worry about, eh?” Carolien said as the fortress faded into the background.

And for once, Rosslyn had nothing to say. She simply nodded and smiled. Hopefully the defense of the border would not come to arms, but in the eventuality that it did, she knew that those men would do their duty.

As the carriages moved toward the dark and crooked plant life of the Deformed Forest, she held the images of those soldiers marching and standing in their armor foremost in her mind. It was for their safety that this mission must succeed.