"I have to say that while she attends some meetings that I am forced to attend, I doubt that I have ever heard her speak so much."

Muk let the statement linger in the air. Freya's paws clasped and unclasped. Perhaps he should offer encouragement, but he stayed himself. Whatever Freya was going through, she could ask for his counsel. Counsel given unasked… well Muk had seen that not work out so well for the counselor.

Instead, they sat, again in silence but for the munching of rolls and fruits.

When he could bear it no longer, Muk raised a goblet to her. Freya poured both of them a bit and they drank in companionable silence. The hum of the crowd started to turn into a roar as it was apparent that the claw had landed a punchline.

It always seemed so odd that the Claw, a mostly serious bird, had a repertoire of bland inoffensive jokes. Muk had always figured that the claw just had hatchlings he wanted to make laugh. He had never asked, and the bird had never volunteered anything. He was quite deadly with his sword, something that Muk had appreciated more and more in the senior officer.

"I don’t know if I want to do it," Freya said.

She set down her goblet and kept her eyes downwards.

"This Luncheon? Or the apprenticeship?" Muk asked.

Or it could be associating with him, but he didn't want to think about the implications.

"My mother, well she…"

Muk nodded gravely. Although Min Hee Uki had left the gentry and ran off with Freya’s father, he had guessed that she wanted a return to form for the family. Freya could spend two years with the druids and have nothing to show for it. And where would that leave whatever they had together? Something that hadn’t even had the chance to blossom? Would she instead turn to his rival? Perhaps he would follow her and become her ranger. Muk doubted it.

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

"You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Your mother will understand. But consider what a great service you could do for the coalition. ..for Yellowrock and other nations," Muk said, "You have already done so much. When I…"

He trailed off. He now had her full attention. Icy blue eyes met his.

Gulping, he began again.

"When I chose to purchase my commission, I wasn't thinking about profits. I was thinking about how my father served as the quartermaster for years before passing it on. I thought about how I could do more supplying our warriors than just selling boots and wheels."

Freya nodded. She sat a bit straighter. The light in her eyes made him melt a bit. This could become a problem for him.

"When your father signed up, he didn't know where in the regiment they would send him, but he wanted to make a difference. And he has. Even now, he makes a great difference for us, without holding a sword," Muk said.

"You can make your own path…" she said, "and I can make mine."

Muk smiled back, smoothing his whiskers. And I can hope that these paths intersect many times if they do not completely overlap.

"And there may be a way that we can forge the same path together, should you wish, Miss Uki."

"Perhaps, Lieutenant, but I daresay that there seem to be a lot of bumps on this path."

Freya's positioning changed as she looked to see a large rabbit moving to intercept the Claw. His fatigues made him seem both in and not in the right place, at the same time. The damn marshall had arrived and once again he was going straight to the Claw, instead of taking his time with the veterans. The damn brown rabbit had no tact and Muk resolved to speak to him directly after the luncheon.

One had to have manners, especially on social events like today.

In the center of a clutch of veterans, Captain Bell tapped on the shoulder of the claw. With the Marshall next to him, Muk suddenly began to sweat. Those three together inside of the war council was a force to be reckoned with, but seeing all three speaking? And now? The seriousness on the Marshalls face was matched by Captain Bells ears, folded down and away. He was afraid? He was delivering bad news?

Muk stood to see the claw turn and his happy expression turn dark, as Bell said something inaudible. The Marshall stood next to him, paws on his waist.

The Claw split, moving in a direction familiar to Muk as the rabbit scanned the crowd. As the claw flapped his wings and started flying off, Captain Bell made a beeline towards Muk.

"There are a lot of bumps, indeed." These bumps would cause heartbreak, most likely.

Freya sighed at the thought of having to explain another encounter with Holly's intended to the rabbit herself.

"I'd better eat something more, as Bell seems to have murder on his visage. Have I cause for alarm?" Muk said.

"Not on my behalf. If he asked you to duel however, please say no. I can't bear to lose either of you to senseless violence "

Freya stood to greet the flustered rabbit. He bowed to her, then shared a salute with Muk.

"Miss Uki, I must apologize but the claw has called a meeting of the war council. I require Lieutenant Chin-Hwa," Captain Bell said.

Muk reached out for Freya. They held paws as he looked into her eyes. Freya’s whiskers twitched.

"I..I'll write to you. I hope that this doesn’t change anything between us," he said.

"Just don't make it a habit," Freya said, dropping her voice an octave, "Save the world, quartermaster."

Muk walked away, a blush on his face, his whiskers floating up.

He would save the world, if he only knew how.