Aurene awoke at sunrise. Light was streaming through the porthole, right into her face.

She hated the ship, and she knew her sisters did as well. They were not of the water, they belonged with both feet planted solidly on the ground, but Aldric had commanded, and so they had gone.

The trip by sea was to take a week. It was only the second day, but Aurene wished it would be over and done with already. She glanced at Daveth who slept soundlessly beside her. Well, perhaps it wasn’t completely terrible.

She took up one of the blankets that had fallen off the bed, which essentially was a thin mattress in a bunk built into the side of the boat. She carefully covered the porthole with the blanket, and the tiny room immediately darkened. She nodded, and slipped back under the covers with Daveth.

“Good morning, sisters.” Aurene greeted her siblings as they sat on deck, eating a thick creamy soup of clam, carrot, potato, and onion. There were bits of some unidentifiable crunchy green vegetable with a flavor quite unlike any she’d had before.

“I cannot wait until we are on dry land again.” She added. Alysia and Lynnabel nodded. They ate quietly together for a while.

“I have a question, sister.” Alysia spoke to Aurene, who raised an eyebrow in response.

“Go on.” Aurene permitted.

Alysia mentally rolled her eyes at this haughty behavior, but since it was characteristic of the Golds she had long gotten used to it.

“Do you plan on telling him about what we are?” Alysia asked.

Aurene’s eyebrows rose. “What a remarkable coincidence. I told him last night. He did not seem to mind. I am glad I joined this company, sisters. They are both flexible and honorable.” She smiled. “I shall promise not to tease you overmuch for as long as I am here.” She finished, smiling widely.

Alysia and Lynnabel rolled their eyes at this.

“Do you not plan on staying?” Lynnabel queried.

“I will fight as I can.” Aurene replied. “However, while waiting for the ship in that dreadfully rainy town, I heard some rumors of our homeland, and so, depending on what I learn, I may return home.”

“What have you heard?” Lynnabel asked curiously.

“Civil war in Philippa. I am concerned for the Order.” Aurene reported succinctly.

Lynnabel smiled. “The Order will endure. It has before, and will again. If not for those there at the monastery, then in us. I will not return until I am dismissed from service.”

“You dishonor the Order with talk like that.” Aurene warned.

Lynnabel shook her head. “To the contrary, sister. I honor those at home, keeping our lands safe. I have faith that they will endure, persevere, and keep our demesne safe. I have confidence that they do not need us. I am also very much aware of the vows we took when we joined the Seventh Seal, and intend to keep them.”

She handed Alysia her empty bowl and then stood carefully as the boat rocked and surged. After Lynnabel was satisfied that she was sufficiently steady on her feet, she nodded down at Alysia, who handed her both of their bowls. Lynnabel carefully made her way to the large room that functioned as the crew quarters and mess.

As soon as Lynnabel was out of earshot, Alysia focused her attention on Aurene. “I wonder how you address the Lord Commander in private.” Alysia teased.

“I would think you would have more discretion than that, little sister.” Aurene replied with a grin.

“So? Is it by name? Or have you come up with pet names for each other? Honey? Darling?” Alysia mocked lightly.

They both knew what was really bothering them: the long, arduous trip by boat. Their Order had fought in many different theaters of war, including the War of Liberation, but the Order of the Wolf had never taken well to water. They felt insecure, vulnerable, and in turn that made them irritable and made them want to look for ways to relieve stress. The obvious and easiest way to blow off steam was to fight.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Alysia nodded imperceptibly at Aurene, who nodded back.

Aurene uncoiled, launching herself at Alysia, who caught her. They rolled across the deck, screaming and punching each other.

Suddenly, they were both unceremoniously picked up off the deck and then slammed into each other. Aurene’s head briskly collided with Alysia’s, bringing an explosion of brilliant stars and a dull ache behind her eyes. She raised her head to figure out what happened, only for it to happen again. Alysia let out a short yelp at the collision. Aurene struggled to reach behind her at whatever or whoever had picked her up, but suddenly and for a third time, she collided with Alysia. Blood ran from some small cut on Alysia’s forehead. They stared at each other vapidly, dazed, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

They were then dropped on the deck. Aurene leapt to her feet as her vision cleared, and found herself glaring at Daveth.

“No fighting.” He stated flatly in a voice that brooked no argument, and walked away. She envied his sure footing and felt a surge of guilt that she crushed ruthlessly. He didn’t understand the complex rules of honor and station, and he definitely didn’t understand the need for challenges.

The week-long trip was uneventful. Long days moving across the sea, several massive ships hauling the mercenary army, supplies, gear, and support trains to the desert lands of Bel-Arib; long nights sharing a bed with Daveth.

Still, with little to alleviate her growing stress and irritability with being confined to the boat, and her normal outlet of brawling with her sisters forbidden, she was having a hard time of it all. Lately, even that elf girl was looking at her with a challenging glint in her eye, too. It was very vexing.

The night air was cool on her skin and the wretched shifting and heaving of the ship’s deck seemed a bit more tolerable. She approached the railing, and immediately regretted it. The horizon appeared to be heaving up and down. It was nauseating and debilitating to her. She desperately wanted to be on solid ground again.

She felt she had acquitted herself well during the week-long trip. She had never lost her composure, she did not vomit. She would have relieved her stress with her sisters in the way they knew best, but Daveth had forbidden that. The thoroughly undignified way he had picked them up and knocked their heads together grated on her as well. Still, she had endured, and endured well. She was happy when Daveth told her the trip was at an end.

She sat down with her back against the railing. Daveth was impressive. He seemed to weather everything that came at him stoically. He was not a rock upon which everything broke upon, no. He was like... an old and powerful oak, with deep roots. Strong, yes, but flexible.

She took a deep breath and let it out. Tomorrow she would be free of this boat. All she had to do was wait until then. Suddenly she brightened. Once they were off the boat, there would be nothing barring her from venting her stresses on her little sisters. She grinned maliciously. She would find a nice, quiet, out of the way place, and they would go at it until everyone was happy.

When she awoke, Daveth was already awake.

“Good morning, Daveth.” She whispered.

“Good morning.” He replied, lazily stroking her arm.

“We’re going to be busy today.” He remarked quietly.

“Oh?” She asked, anticipating her match with her sisters. She imagined that they were suffering as she suffered, and would look forward to it.

“Of course. We need to coordinate the offloading and resupply of our Tross, the disposition and quartering of our files, find stables for all of our horses, and once all that is done we’ll need to attend a meeting with Aldric and learn about our assignment.” He explained. Her face fell. “That ... could take all day.” She replied. He pulled away from her and nodded. “Actually, it’ll take several days. We’re going to be very busy from the moment we dock.”

Her face fell at this. All of her anticipation went swirling down the drain.

“You’re disappointed?” he asked. She nodded. “I was... hoping for some free time.” He shook his head. “The only free time we’ll have today is the time between now and when we dock.”

True to his word, the moment the ship bumped against the dock, he was out of bed and into his clothes. He strapped on a brigandine vest, a pouch at his waist, and then a long coat draped across his shoulders like a cloak. She herself stepped into cotton leggings that clung to her skin, followed by tight leather breeches. Over that she stepped into her boots and thigh greaves. She wound a cloth tightly around her chest to keep her breasts in place, laced up a sleeveless leather jerkin, and then began the process of latching and connecting her breastplate, faults, tassets, pauldrons, vambraces, bracers, and gauntlets.

They left their shared bunk and began the process of organizing the disembarkation of the troops, the support squads, the animals, wagons, and cargo. There was an initial confusion, as everyone assumed the quartering of the troops in the small dockside port city of Azsig-Noth, but eventually it was discovered that they would be setting up camp outside of the city proper, so they had to go and round up everyone that had already moved into the city.

Once the confusion had cleared, the camp set itself up with remarkable efficiency. Aurene was exhausted. Her body also seemed to have betrayed her; she felt as if the ground was swaying beneath her feet. Daveth had laughed, clapped her on the back so hard she’d nearly fallen over, and told her that she was close to getting her ‘sea legs’, whatever that meant.