As Luther’s horse came closer, his fist began to emit fire. It was a pure fire Jon had never seen before. It was as if his name was written on it, and it had a personal grudge to make due on. He gulped.

The horse slowed down as it got to the wagon.

“I can explain-” Hector said calmly.

“What in the blazes-”

“I can explain!” Hector said, louder this time. “Calm down!”

A gush of fire hit Hector in the chest and knocked him into the back part of the wagon at everyone’s feet.

Luther’s fist lit up the area around him as he gave them all a look.

“Why you look like you been in a war?” He asked. He looked at Amalia.

“Look at your face!” He said. “You didn’t go on a mission, did you?”

“No!” Hector said, standing back up.

“Please,” Mercy said, “Mr. Luther-”

“It’s not your turn to speak!” He yelled.

Mercy’s face turned into a glare. “I-”

Hector put his hand on Mercy’s shoulder as he stood up, stopping her.

“We weren’t on a mission,” Hector said. “Jon and Tallow went on a mission. We met up with them. You can ask my sister.”

“I’m not asking Lana anything!” Luther said.

Jon was impressed that Luther knew what sister he was talking about. Then again, they were his daughters.

“You don’t know how much she covers for you.” He continued.

“She doesn’t cover for me!” Hector lost his calm tone. This had become personal. Jon could tell.

“I-”

Luther pointed his fist at Hector. “Don’t say anymore, boy!”

“Come on, Daddy!” Macy said, standing up. “It’s fine.”

“And why shouldn’t I beat any of ya’ll into a pulp?” Luther asked. “You realize how stupid this is?”

“So, you think you can take us all on?” Macy asked.

This received her several shocked looks from the rest of the wagon.

“No way!” Mercy said. “We’re not asking for a fight!”

“Mr. Luther, I can explain,” Amalia said. “We went out for a bit of sparring.”

“...Sparring?”

“Yeah. Sparring. I wanted to do some sparring before we got back to the castle. You know how much Daddy doesn’t like me doing stuff.”

“...Of course,” Luther said. “But sneaking off?”

“I didn’t sneak off,” Amalia said. “I just left. Daddy wasn’t aware.”

“...But, what about the castle guard?” Luther said. “Shouldn’t they have been told?”

“Just ask Avery,” Hector suddenly said. “He’ll vouch.”

“...So you all went out and sparred?” Luther asked.

“What do you expect us to do?” Tallow asked. “Go out and skip rocks or something?”

He gave a glare to Tallow, but she didn’t seem phased.

“Yeah, Daddy. Look at who you raised,” Macy said. “It’s not like you taught us to be game masters or anything.”

Luther looked like he was going to explode. Jon could’ve thought he saw steam coming out of his ears. Or was it from his fist? It was hard to tell in the dark.

“Besides,” Tallow added. “We could train in the barracks, but it’s loud and stuffy as hell.”

“You didn’t have to leave the wall!” Luther said.

“We could have," Amalia said, "but then I would have had to deal with Daddy!”

Luther then looked at Jon.

“You haven’t said anything!” he said. Jon shook at the yelling. He was too taken aback to immediately respond.

“That’s Jon, Dad.” Hector said. “He doesn’t say much of anything. Unless, you know, you speak to him like an actual person.”

Macy chuckled.

Luther still looked mad, but he seemed to have lost a lot of his steam. He pointed to all of them.

“I’m not letting any of you out of my sight!” he yelled. “No matter how much you talk.”

“It’s not like you weren’t doing that anyway,” Hector said. “It’s not my fault you’re blind-”

He received another fire blow to the face, this time knocking him all the way off of the wagon.

“Watch your damn mouth!” he said. “Be more like your friend here, and don’t speak!”

Jon didn’t know if he should take that as a compliment.

Macy and Amalia both went down to help Hector up, but he pushed them both away as he stood.

“It’s fine,” he said. He looked up at Mercy.

She tilted her head towards him.

He climbed up to the back of the wagon, and together, they went to the front.

She took her side next to him as he grabbed the reins.

“I guess they really do match each other,” Macy said.

“Yeah…” Amalia said, with a dour look on her face.

Luther escorted the wagon to the wall, and through the castle.

“Hey!!!” Avery galloped to the oncoming wagon on his horse. “How’s it-”

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“You’re fired!” Luther said, pointing angrily at him before passing through.

Avery put his arms down in defeat. “Oh…”

“Sorry, Ave,” Hector said. “I didn’t know he would-”

“It’s fine,” Avery said. “Luther’s notorious for being a hardass. I know he rejects the offer of being the head guard of the Resden army, but really, I think he’s in the job and he doesn’t know it. That’s why we’ve never gotten anyone new.”

“You’re awfully chipper,” Tallow said. “For someone who just lost his post.”

“It’s just a demotion,” Avery said. “Luther’s in charge of security for this whole schadingamajig. That’s probably gonna happen to a lot of people. I’ll probably get my post back when this is over.”

He put his hand over his mouth as if he was sharing a secret. “Also, I got off easy. I know someone who made a patrol route wrong, and he got his legs broken in.”

“That’s awfully harsh, isn’t it?” Tallow asked.

“Yeah, well, it saved him from having to remember anymore patrols,” Avery said cheerily.

Jon made a mental note to not get his legs broken by Hector’s father.

“By scadingamajig, you mean the Period of Power?” Mercy asked.

“Yep!” Avery nodded. “That thing. All the important people will be here to watch you take on your challengers. No pressure, though. I’m sures\ Hector thought this through when he chose a powerful bride like you.”

“...Right…” Mercy said, giving a glare to Hector.

“Besides,” Avery continued. “All this marriage stuff, it’s all formal. I’m pretty sure you and Hector are gonna take care of business anyway. Happens all the time.”

“What?” Mercy asked, visibly disturbed. She turned around fully to look at Avery.

“I mean, just 'cause you’re not married, doesn’t mean, you know. Kings like to have fun here and there. Some Queens too, in fact. Open secret, really.”

“Avery, shut up,” Hector said.

“...Alright bro. Just trying to get you ready for the next week.”

The next week… Would Jon be prepared for the next week himself? With the heightened security and Hector’s father being around, it was making Jon even more nervous than when they were on Ray’s land. Here, he felt so… powerless and small. It might have been even worse than on the farm.

They made it to the front of the castle. Harris was waiting.

“My daughter!” Harris said, waving his arms. “Oh, how I miss-”

“Not in the mood!” Amalia put her hand in front of his face as she walked past him into the castle.

“...I’m gonna go think about my future prospects in the meantime,” Avery said. “Probably settle down. Get a wife.”

He looked at Macy with his flashing eyebrows.

“Go die in a ditch,” Macy said.

“Music to my ears.” Avery trotted away with his horse.

Harris gave a quick glance at the wagon before running after Amalia.

“I’m taking this thing!” Luther said, knocking on the wagon. “I’m keeping it in.”

“It’s not yours,” Hector said. “It’s Jon’s.”

“Well, I’m taking the horses,” Luther said. “They’re not yours.”

“They’re King’s Guard,” Hector said. “You’re not King’s Guard.”

“Who do you think put the boots in the ground to start that nonsense!” Luther asked angrily.

“You’re not King’s Gaurd!” Hector said. He got off the wagon. The others followed.

Macy took her side next to her father.

“We need to talk!” Luther said.

“I’m tired!” Hector said, leading the wagon away by hand.

“We need to talk!”

“I’m- tired!” Hector yelled again, getting even farther away from Luther. “Beat me up in the morning!”

“You think you can act tough in front of your friends?” Luther asked. "Then guess what, it’s gonna end badly for all of you. And it’ll be your fault.”

“Go die in a ditch…” Hector muttered.

Jon felt bad as he and the others followed Hector away. However, he turned and looked back at the scene.

Luther just watched them walk away. His hands weren’t on fire, so Jon was glad about that.

He looked at Macy, who waved and blew him a kiss.

He grimaced.

As they went to the back of the castle, Mallory ran around to meet them.

“Hector!” Mallory said. “We-”

“Inside.” Hector kept moving past Mallory.

“No, wait, Hector,” Mallory ran back up to him. “We have to talk.”

“About what?” Hector asked.

“We all have rooms now,” Mallory said.

“...I already know that,” Hector said. “That was part of the agreement.”

“No, I mean, everybody,” Mallory said. “You, Mercy-”

He stopped talking and turned his attention to Tallow and Jon.

“Hey, guys!” He said. “I almost forgot. How was the near-death experience?”

"Brilliant, as always,” Tallow said.

“How was your first mission, Jon?”

“Good,” Jon said. He nodded with a large grin.

“Mallory, focus!” Hector said. “What are you saying?”

“They don’t want us in the same rooms anymore,” Mallory said. “Tallow and Mercy are getting their own rooms. I was able to negotiate the three of us guys getting a room closer to the center of the castle, but I'm gonna be too busy anyways. The girls will be placed on the outside.”

“What do they think we’re gonna do?” Tallow asked. “Have an-”

“It’s not that simple,” Mallory said, cutting her off. He pointed to Tallow and Mercy. “You two are here as foreign dignitaries.”

“...Aw shit.” Tallow put her hands on her hips. “You told them?”

“You go around wearing that, and you don’t have to say anything,” Mallory said. "Besides, you know how strongly people feel about the Vindahzi in some areas."

“True,” Tallow responded. “But what about Jon?”

“...Resden doesn’t recognize Jon’s farm as a singular entity,” Mallory said. “It’s a miracle someone like Jon has even traveled so far, let alone get involved with so many dignitaries.”

“I’m not a…” Hector sighed. “Forget it.”

Mallory was right. All of his friends either seemed important or had important jobs. Jon didn’t do anything important before helping to save the farm. Outside of that, he was a little useless.

“I’m gonna be busy most of the time we’re here,” Mallory continued, “now that I’m officially head of diplomatic affairs.”

“You got a promotion,” Mercy said.

“To be her,” Tallow added, pointing to Mercy with her thumb.

“Congratulations,” Mercy added with a grimace.

“It’s not much,” Mallory said. “Mostly, it’s being a glorified party planner, while making sure none of the guests either kill each other or start a war while they're getting loaded.”

“Well, you seem like the perfect person for that,” Hector said. “You stop me from getting into fights all the time.”

“Well, believe it or not, Hector,” Mallory said, “you’re easy. There’s a rationale for your actions. I know you.”

“You know most of these guys too,” Hector said.

“I wish I didn’t,” Mallory added.

“Oh.” Hector seemed mildly surprised.

“I guess we should turn in, then,” Tallow said. “I’m pretty tired.”

“You napped on the way here,” Mercy said.

“And?” Tallow shrugged. “Still tired.”

“I guess so…” Mercy looked down in sadness. “We should go.”

Hector brought the wagon to the barracks and went inside. He then came back out with two other soldiers taking the wagon away.

“It’ll be safe,” Hector said. “They’ll take care of it.”

Jon watched the two horses walk away. He would miss them.

They all went back to the front of the castle, entering it.

They turned down some corridors before stopping at a room.

“Here we go,” Mallory said. “This is you, Tallow.”

“Right… alright ya’ll…” Tallow went to the room and opened the door. “I suppose it’s good night.”

“Shouldn’t we have a plan for tomorrow-”

Tallow shut the door on Hector’s inquiry.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Mallory said.

“...I know my way,” Hector said. “Jon, you’re coming?”

“Actually, can Jon come with me?” Mercy asked. “Just for tonight.”

“...No funny stuff,” Hector said. “Last thing we need is-”

“Last thing I need is you being your father and telling me what to do,” Mercy responded.

“...Right." Hector became tight-lipped. "I’ll leave it to you.”

“Wait, Hector, I didn’t mean-”

Hector had already walked away down the large corridor.

“...Why would I say that?” Mercy kicked at the floor. “That’s a horrible thing to say.”

“It’s fine,” Mallory commented. “He’s been taking things a bit hard recently.”

“He has,” Mercy said. “He doesn’t respond like he usually does. He’s been more patient. He’s taking other’s advice. It’s like he’s being…”

“Less Hector?” Mallory asked.

“...Something like that…”

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go.” Mallory walked away.

Mercy gave Jon a sad look before following after.

So, it wasn’t just Jon. Hector was acting differently. It was hard for Jon to tell. Probably because Hector was doing less and not more. Or at least he thought so.

They went into a stairway and went up the spiral staircase. It reminded Jon of the way to Amalia’s room.

They exited, and there was a wall of doors.

“Those two are yours,” Mallory said, pointing to some nearby doors. Two guards were posted out front.

“I get two rooms?” Mercy asked.

“Two doors,” Mallory explained. “Now, I’ll leave you two alone. And I’ll come back and get him when it’s time?”

“...Thanks, Mallory,” Mercy said. “You’re a good friend… to Hector and to me.”

“Hey, don’t compliment me yet,” Mallory said. “I’m sure I’ve done way better friend stuff. See you soon.”

He went off back down the staircase.

“Ready?” Mercy asked.

Jon nodded.