“She’s out there again, boss.”

“She isn’t our problem. Tell the Lieutenant.”

Rella’s mercenaries always went to her first. Tullund had accepted that as an inevitability, but it still annoyed him. At the very least, Rella now called him by his rank. Stopping what he was doing, he turned to look at the mercenary leader. “Something wrong?”

“Past week one of the Hatharen ladies has been going over to that rise outside the camp when the sun sets. Stays there for a few hours, comes back late. There’s supposed to be a curfew, but the rules don’t apply to them. The regular are getting cranky about it.” Rella explained.

Tullund shrugged. “Tell them to take it up with the General.”

“You’re spoiled by my people, kid.”

Tullund immediately gave her his full attention. “What do you suggest I do, Rella?”

He did not miss the smile on her face in the flickering torchlight. “The Hatharen are troops under your leadership. Find a way to make them follow the rules. My troops follow my orders, your troops should follow yours.”

“I’ll go talk to her.”

Nenhal was, as reported, on top of a grassy hill a decent walk south of the camp, laying on her back. She sat up as Tullund approached, turning to look at him. “Please cover the light.”

He looked down at the lantern he held, then back at her. “Tell me why you are here, and I might.”

The Hatharen pointed upwards. “The stars.” He looked up, then back at her, waiting for a further explanation. She stared at him for a moment. “I grew up in the forest. I couldn’t see them like this.”

Nodding, Tullund dropped the cover over the lantern, leaving them with only the light of the moon and the stars. “You can’t stay out here as late as you do. All the soldiers are supposed to be back in the camp before midnight.”

“How long until then?”

“Hour and a half, if you want to get back in time.”

She lay back down, staring upwards. “I’ll be there.”

For several moments, he stood completely still, considering. Then he walked over and sat down beside her, looking upwards. “I was born in the north. The stars here look different. I hadn’t noticed before. I stopped really looking at them.”

“You are a strange people.”

“So are you.”

“I didn’t know so many people could even exist. There are less than fifty in the forest. Now even less than that. Most of the sixth circle came with me.”

“What is the sixth circle? If you can tell me.” He understood there was some secret they were keeping. Ferene had been the same, the second time he met her. Something about her people was not discussed with humans.

Nenhal surprised him. “The sixth set of children. The youngest. The elders would not leave. There is safety in our home.”

“Taradira is sending you to war.”

“We will learn how to fight. There is another war we have to win.”

“That’s the one humans can’t know about.” He provided. She didn’t respond. They sat in silence, looking up at the stars.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t come back from spending hours alone with another woman.” Lily said.

“She went out on her own and I had to find her and bring her back. We had a discussion about the reason for her outings and I explained to her that she could not spend entire nights outside the camp. She is one of my subordinates.”

She remained sitting cross-legged on her cot, pouting. “A very tall one. Am I not tall enough for you?”

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“You talk too much for me.” He said, laying down. “Get some sleep, Lily.”

The next morning, he was summoned by the general. She was waiting for him, alone, in the command tent. A massive table sat in front of her, a map of the area between Celngi and Ettsgras spread over it. “Ah, Tullund, good. I have important news. I brought your proposal of using unorthodox tactics to the king.”

He froze, going completely stiff. “How did his Majesty react?”

She didn’t look up, instead studying the map. “I’m stripping you of your rank and discharging you from the army. Remove your jacket and put it on the table.”

He did so, feeling a dryness in his mouth.

“After a small amount of consideration, I decided that it is too much effort to reassign your troops to another lieutenant. The mercenaries are being freed from their contract.”

He nodded. His head was buzzing. “And the Hatharen?”

“They were never a part of the military in any form. Nothing needs to be done about them.”

“I see.”

“As you are no longer part of the Ettsgras army, you are turn in everything we have provided to you, the mercenaries, and the Hatharen. Every tent, every uniform, even your boots. Anything that would identify you as part of the army.”

“Yes General.”

“Then I want you all to leave.”

Mentally, it felt like she had just slapped him. Back to his senses. He opened his eyes, looking at the map, where she was looking. “Of course, General. Do you have any suggestions as to where we should go?”

“Your suggestion was so insulting to proper military sensibilities, I was told to draw up papers branding you a criminal. You should leave the country. You could go north, but it would be very easy to go east.”

Towards Celngi. “Of course. Since my troops are no longer under my command, I’m sure they will spread out into several small groups.”

“That’s none of my business.” Taradira said, still not looking at him, but he could almost hear a smile in her voice.

“If there is nothing else, I will inform them of the bad news, then.” He said.

“Good luck, Tullund.”

“Thank you, General.”

Back at section Two Three Six, Tullund called everyone together. All of Rella’s mercenaries, the handful of Hatharen, and Lily. They all pulled together, as tight as they could, shoulder to shoulder to listen to him.

“All of this, we’re giving it back. You will be refunded. If they object, tell them it’s on the General’s orders.”

Rella crossed her arms, frowning as she regarded him. “Why are we moving out without any tents?”

“Because we won’t be needing them. All of us are out of a job. Taradira has discharged me and freed you all from your contract.”

The mercenaries reacted in a number of different ways. Shock, laughter, or just confusion. “Is that supposed to be a good thing, Tullund?”

He smiled. “Of course. It means we no longer need to follow their rules. We are going east, to Celngi. We’re going to find a number of places to make camps, and split into three groups. We’ll launch raids on the supply lines of the Celngi forces.”

“I thought you said we weren’t out of a job.” One of the mercenaries said.

“Shut up and listen to him.” Rella snapped.

“As a group of ill-tempered, poorly organized but heavily armed and well trained brigands, we’ll steal all sorts of supplies. This might weaken their defensive positions ahead of an attack by Ettsgras, but that’s a completely unintended side effect. We’re just looking to line our own pockets. They also might send some of their troops after us, which is why we’ll have set up multiple different camps to use. Common criminals like us wouldn’t want to be caught.”

Slowly, the mercenaries were nodding or smiling. Tullund couldn’t help but do the same.

“We are going to be fighting a war?” Nenhal asked. The Hatharen didn’t seem to grasp it the same way that everyone else did.

“You’ll see. In the meantime, start getting prepared. Some people should go into the city and find travel supplies with foreign designs, imported stuff, to replace any gear you’ll need. Again, no tents. We’ll make do with improvised camps.”

“You’re sending me away?”

“I’m putting you in the third group. With Frederick.”

Lily continued her pacing. “Why? Why can’t I stay with you?”

“I told you already. Rella is in charge of one group, Frederick is in charge of a second, and I’m in charge of the last. I’ll have the Hatharen with me, and whatever mercenaries are left over. I need you with Frederick because I don’t know him as well as I know Rella.”

She turned again, pacing back the other direction. “What if I run away? If I don’t serve out my punishment? What’ll you do then?”

“Lily. I’m trusting you with something. Drop the act.”

She let out a deep breath, and stopped. “You said you couldn’t trust me. You’re putting me in the hands of someone else. I wanted you to protect me. You are taking me into enemy territory and then going off on your own. I’m the only one who doesn’t know how to fight! You might as well be killing me yourself.”

Standing up, he stared down at her. “Two people who couldn’t fight were murdered by a trained soldier. Two of my friends. Do you know why they were murdered by a soldier?”

She looked away from him. “Because of the person I was helping. Because I didn’t turn him in. Because I was a coward. You hate me.”

“You only wanted to live.” He said, and she looked up at him in confusion. “I said I couldn’t trust you before, but I am giving you a chance. You’ve helped me here. You are part of this…team.” He had to think of a better description for the combination of Hatharen and unemployed mercenaries. “I don’t hate you, despite how annoying you are. Do your best out there.”

She nodded. “I will. Thank you.”