We march till the sun comes down, thinking we'll have our castle to fall back on, to prepare for a sudden defense. Imagine our surprise when the rubble that greets us doesn't look especially defensible. It seems the remains of the Thuringian army were looking for revenge, escorting artillerists carrying Icenian colors shelling the castle. That Icenian witch has planned this well, she knew exactly where to strike to cut off our retreat.

But she’s severely underestimated just how many of us would make it out of her trap at Canstatt. There are more than enough Thuringians to overwhelm the garrison we left behind but not nearly enough to even pose a threat to our retreating troops. Some of the Thuringians bravely stand their ground to protect the guns of their Icenian allies. They are torn apart by a deluge of lead and smoke, accomplishing little but wasting our bullets and precious time. Most of their soldiers are much more sensible and flee as far and fast as they can, and I am not inclined to chase them. The few of them that surrender are a lot more awkward to deal with. We don't have the facilities to take prisoners, their Icenian friends made sure of that.

Ultimately, I order them disarmed and set free. Same with the Icenian artillerists. Maybe that’ll come back to haunt us someday, but what am I supposed to do? Have them shot? No, Delphine can simply deal with having her loaned artillerists back, maybe rescuing them will slow her army down. Like rescuing our garrison does, most of whom seem to be mercifully intact, taking cover amongst the ruins of our little home away from the homeland. We end up taking a break here, giving ourselves some time to reload our muskets and count our men.

Xena brings out the water barrels of the castle for the troops to have a drink. Or rather Katarina hauls them out, under Xena’s direction and supervision, the two complement each other well. Everyone feels better after having a drink, a lot better, ready to march again. It’s odd to see the men ready to walk more miles today, but everyone seems energized after our little victory against the Thuringians. Even my long-suffering horse is raring and ready to go after a nice water break. I figure that Pasche should probably take to her actual role as one of my officers and see to Malmo’s cavalry, but I know for a fact she’ll refuse to leave my side. Insubordinate...

But it means I get to share a saddle with a friend, which helps me carry the shame of having fled the field. After all, Pasche is alive because of me. Xena and Katarina are alive because of me. Almost 20,000 troops are now alive because of me. No matter how wrong this is, it has to be worth it. It has to be…

Our next stop is the Helven Oppidum; and seeing how much information Delphine appears to have about our positions I expect to have to fight to defend Xena's home. That’s a fair thing to consider, come to think of it, how did she know we were going to attack Canstatt? We didn't exactly report it back home, it wouldn't have ended up in any newspapers, right? We were waiting in that castle for a while and we never spotted anyone who might've given away our plans or position. So how did she know? ... Who told her?

An exploding mine takes my mind off that train of thought, which I’m honestly grateful for. The battle for the Oppidum has apparently begun, and the Coalition troops have just met our defenses. The mine explosions are soon followed by the muskets of our garrison troops; the mines aren't much use if you give the enemy the chance to look down and find them after all. The garrison is doing its job well, we'd easily be able to reach them in time.

They can't see our banners approach in the dark, but our drums and bugles are enough to imply the sheer weight of the force coming to the defense of the Manor. Which quickly sends the Coalition troops into a panicked retreat, though we do take a volley of fire from our own garrison before we get close enough for them to notice that we’re friends... What useless waste, what a stupid tragedy... What a sad way to go for those men now bleeding their last on the road, crying and clutching their wounds. But apparently these things happen when you try to do things at night…

As the priestesses of Cotton attempt to provide aid to our unfortunately shot comrades Xena and Katarina bring around the water barrels again, and it raises the troops’ spirits almost a little too well. It’s as if no one was shot at all, as if we haven't done over a day's marching already. The soldiers are already eager to move again. It takes a bit of convincing from the officers to have them wait and rest long enough for the wounded to be patched up, and for the dead to be buried. And for Xena to take a few key pieces from her laboratory, given she’s unlikely to be back here for a while.

Seeing her riding on Katarina's back as the mad priestess pushes a wheelbarrow full of science-y gizmos is honestly a little sweet. Almost enough to make me not want to ask Xena some pressing questions I am beginning to have.

The march once again continues at a bizarrely enthusiastic pace. After a nice drink of water even some of the wounded are on their feet, much to the clear confusion and distress of the priestesses who were trying to treat them. Seeing that I point Pasche towards Xena and Katarina, once again needing to ask what Xena is putting inside my subordinates... Once again I need to ask what 'chemical solution' Xena is employing on my subordinates.

Pasche steers the horse so we ride beside Xena, and I realize just how similar a situation the two of us are in, being carried through the hard part of the march... Well, we have hard questions, so I had to believe that justified it. "... Xena, what precisely have you put into my subordinates?"

Pasche giggles as I say exactly the wrong thing, and to add insult to injury Xena whispers something to Katarina that makes her cackle. Katarina's cackling is a rather powerful, booming sound, I have to assume it could be confused for cannon fire. And might be almost as lethal at close range…

I take a deep breath and try again, hopefully this time I get an explanation and not a laugh. "Xena, the troops are marching beyond what's naturally possible. Did you do something to them?"

Xena looks at me curiously, before reaching out and patting my head. "Good, questioning things."

"I'll flick your forehead if you don't answer my question, Xena."

"Haaah... When I saw the castle had fallen I knew we had to put as much distance between the Icenians and us as possible so we could find a better, more defensible location. With that in mind I laced the water barrels with my chemical solution to sleep, so we could march through the night."

"... You drugged my men?"

"To save their lives, yes. They'll need a long rest once we get wherever we end up, but they'll wake up after. Which may not have been possible if we were still at the ruined castle, trying to nurse our poor, hurt feet."

I sigh, I know she’s right but this still feels wrong... "Just, don't make a habit of it. Or at least ask permission first next time."

"Ask your permission or ask the troops?"

"Yes."

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"... That sounds infeasible, but I'll try my best if you're sure."

"I'm sure."

"I'll try my best."

I feel myself starting to wane. I hadn't taken a second drink, and despite riding on a horse it has still been a rough night. I hold onto Pasche tighter, maybe at least someone in the army should get some sleep tonight. And it seems like it must be me…

I wake up as the horse suddenly halts, which fills me with panic and has me reaching for my sword before I realize there probably aren't any nearby Icenian and Teutonic armies. The sun is up and is nice and warm, a little like Pasche but further away. Groggily I take in my surroundings and find that the army has stopped at a large town... A slightly familiar-looking town. We passed this town on our march to Alemannia, didn't we? We’re in Avernia. We’re home.

The villagers look at our haggard soldiers with concern, some having come out with food or water, others talking amongst one another. I should probably take charge of the situation; I should probably get off this horse…

I fall off the horse, but manage to get myself to my rather shaky legs, leaving me wondering if I maybe should have drunk more of the water. At least then I’d be somewhat upright. Still, while this problem might have a chemical solution, I’m more comfortable being my own imperfect solution for now. It’s that or risk becoming dependent on whatever Xena is on all the time, which as a prospect terrifies me on a primal level…

The arrival of a rather well-dressed man breaks my concentration and instead provokes my ire. The man is clearly a priest of Wool, one who is examining Katarina with obvious shock and concern. Still, as reticent as I am to speak with one of my least favorite god’s biggest fans, I reckon talking with him is probably the best place to start asserting my authority and control over the situation.

"Hello monsieur. I am General Serena Pollineux of the Avernian Army. We are-"

"Okay but who is that and what is she doing here?"

"... She's an ally-"

"Why is she not wearing any clothing? Make her wear clothing."

"She is wearing clothing; she's wearing a bear."

"That doesn't count!"

"Look..." I pinch the bridge of my nose; priests of Wool are almost as insufferable as their monsters. "She's a priestess of Leather, what she wears is a religious sacrament... Probably. Either way, she is very large and you are unlikely to convince her of anything."

"It's obscene."

"Welcome to the army."

"And what exactly is the army doing here, moving the wrong way down the road?" Finally, he’s on the right topic.

Even if he could certainly be less of a jerk about it. "We encountered overwhelming force, and thus for the purposes of ensuring that there was still an army between the Coalition and the citizens of Avernia we employed a strategic withdrawal-"

"You ran?!" He speaks loud enough that other townsfolk can hear, which does nothing to make them any more confident about the army that just limped their way to their doorstep.

"... We did what was necessary to continue protecting Avernia."

"Yeah well, I certainly feel protected seeing our battered army wandering into town-"

"Would you feel safer if it were an Icenian army, monsieur?" That mercifully shuts him up, even if his words do make me realize something. "... The troops are going to need a place to rest, they've had a very long march to get here, and they are going to have to fortify this town before the Coalition arrives."

"... Come again-"

"If the Coalition is still pursuing us then they are going to arrive here, no matter what we do." At this point I’m mumbling, plotting to myself out loud. "If we lived to protect Avernia then we have to protect all of Avernia, and that includes this place. I need to find places for cannons, I need to set up firing positions, I need to-"

"Ugh, typical army types... Fine, we'll get to it." The priest's voice manages to snap me out of my stupor.

And leaves me very confused. "You'll get to what exactly?"

"We know this place better than you lot, and we're good honest folk here. When King and Country's under threat, we get ready to protect it. So we'll dig you your trenches, we'll find good ground for your cannons, so you and your ilk can have a nice long sleep while we put in the work, yeah?"

"... I'm sorry, you'll... This is a job for the army, surely!"

"A job for you lot, yes. For us, it's just life. Wool would ask no less of us."

"But... But I can't just put civilians into harm's way!"

"You'd have me accept that... Woman's attire for religious reasons, you best be okay with me and mine working for you for the same reason."

"Those aren't nearly the same thing!"

"It is to us. Alright, I'll get the lads together, let them know we're doing the army's job for it while it gets its beauty sleep. Wool knows you all need it."

I rub my eyes, admittedly I probably look terrible after sleeping in the saddle during a two-day march that had been condensed into a single night... "Okay... You grab whatever volunteers you can, I'll... I'll make sure the men take residence in town peacefully."

"Heh, 'what volunteers I can', I'm not the mayor of Alsace for nothing you know."

"Wait what-"

The priest... The mayor-priest leaves without answering my admittedly dumb question, ready to form a labor battalion or two for us. Shame will build upon shame it seems. First I had to flee a battlefield, now I have to rely on civilians to do the work of soldiers?! ... Am I being punished for something? I was awfully proud when I was behind the walls of a newly taken castle, when I was getting reinforcements, when things seemed to be going well... Did anything like this ever happen to my brother?

... Whatever this is, this is what is happening to me now. To Serena Pollineux, not my brother. And I will see us through it. I make my way back to the troops, organizing all these men into somewhere they can sleep is going to be a pain, but it’s part of the process.

Let those citizens laugh at our slapdash army for now, we'll protect them regardless. No matter what indignities I have to endure.