The next morning dawned overcast and gray. Despite the weather, an excited Ean packed his bag and prepared a horse for the long ride across the kingdom and into Argonia East. He led the horse to the boundary checkpoint, his pulse quickening at the sight of the same guard who had given him trouble before.

The guard's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Ean's travel pass. As the moment dragged on, Ean feared he would be turned back. But with a curt nod, the guard waved him through. Ean released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

As he rode through the lush countryside, he couldn't help but his chest swelled with pride in his old homeland. A breeze carried the crisp, earthy scents of the soil and the perfume of wildflowers in bloom. He thrilled at the familiar calls and songs of birds missing in Argonia Central. The tranquility of the countryside, free of the hustle and bustle of the cities, was refreshing.

At the fork, he turned left off the main road toward the market and military camp. However, dark clouds rolled in, and he smelled rain on the air. The first drops of rain fell just as he dismounted near the outpost. He hurried to seek out the soldiers he'd befriended, noticing others scrambling for shelter.

"Ho there, Warden. Good to see you, but how many times you going to count the fish?" one soldier called out, his jovial tone at odds with his hurried movements to an open-air tent.

Ean laughed, pulling out his badge of station and the survey forms. "The Minister of Trade has decided in his wisdom that I am being selfish and should share the joys of counting wildlife with others. Would you or your fellow soldiers be willing to conduct surveys on my behalf? I'm offering hunters and fisherman one gold piece per completed form. I know regulations forbid me paying you, but it doesn't say I can't set up a tab in the tavern for thirsty soldiers."

The soldier looked over one of the forms as the rain intensified. "While our duties often leave us ample time for bird and fish watching-" He returned the form to Ean. "Full-time soldiers aren't permitted to have secondary jobs. Sorry."

"I appreciate your willingness to help." Ean nodded at the far riverbank, raising his voice over the increasing patter of rain. "What's the latest on our friends on the other side?"

"They keep cycling reservists through, giving them new gear and training. Most of them are farmers and they're unhappy about missing planting and birthing season."

Ean thanked the soldier again for his time. Disappointed but undeterred in his mission to recruit surveyors, Ean turned back and rode to the market, the rain now coming down in sheets.

He approached several vendors, explained his mission, and offered payment for completing surveys. Unfortunately, most of the vendors declined, stating that their time was worth more than one gold coin. Many were already packing up their stalls, eager to escape the impending downpour.

Shoulders slumped in frustration, Ean turned his horse back towards the main road and urged it into a steady canter, determined to continue his mission despite the setbacks. As he continued riding east, the road narrowed to a single lane cart trail lined with trees and bushes, the mud making progress treacherous.

Ean pulled off the trail and dismounted under a shade tree. He spoke to the horse while feeding it oats. "My mistake was to ask soldiers and vendors. I need to find people who live off the land. People who will understand the importance of my task and be willing to help." The horse whinnied in apparent agreement.

Ean patted the horse's neck as he weighed the consequences of a decision he was contemplating. Why not? I am on official business, and they'll have some suggestions.

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With renewed purpose, he mounted the horse and spurred it on. He rode another half hour, battling slippery roads and poor visibility. At one point, his horse nearly lost its footing, almost throwing him off. Finally, he came across a rustic farmhouse and barn set off on a gently sloped hill. The familiar sights and smells brought back memories of his childhood, eliciting a pang of nostalgia.

Ean's breath caught in his throat as the familiar farmhouse came into view. A figure in the distance, toiling in the fields despite the rain, suddenly straightened and turned towards him. Ean's heart raced as he recognized the broad-shouldered silhouette of his father, who was now breaking into a jog, a wide smile spreading across his weathered face.

"Ean! My boy!" His father exclaimed, embracing him tightly and clapping him on the back. "It's been too long. What brings you all the way out here, and in this weather at that?"

"I know, Father," Ean replied, returning the embrace before tying up the horse. "I'm here on official business."

Ean's father dragged him inside where his mother, a sturdy woman with a kind face, was preparing dinner. "Ma, look who came for dinner."

His mother gave him a big hug and set out a plate and utensils for him.

The comforting smells and tastes of his mother's cooking stirred up a mix of emotions, and a bittersweet realization this was no longer his home. He was not the young man that had left her weeks ago. "Father, Mother," Ean began. "I have some news to share. I've been appointed as a game warden."

His mother looked puzzled. "Game warden? No offense son," she said, "but the man who came to interview you quizzed you extensively on a variety of intellectual matters. We expected they wanted more out of you than a game warden. What happened?"

Ean nodded. "I know, Mother," he explained patiently. "The king and his council need me to be a different type of game warden. Believe me when I say, the work I do is very important. "

"Well, as long as it's not dangerous." She pursed her lips. "Still, I wonder what the point of asking all those questions was if they didn't intend for you to work in the castle?"

Ean weighed the risks of telling his mother about the danger he was in but decided against worrying her needlessly. "I need both of you to promise to tell people I'm an ordinary game warden and nothing more."

His father helped himself to a second serving. "If you say you're a game warden, then you're a game warden. What exactly does the new job entail?"

"I need to recruit local hunters and fishermen to help me survey the natural resources so we can manage them better," Ean replied. "And in return, they will receive compensation from the kingdom. I was thinking you or Uncle Jim might be interested in participating or help spread the word for me."

"Planting's all done so I can help. If you need someone to talk up the work, but not actually do the work, you can count on your Uncle Jim."

Ean's mother sighed in contentment as she gazed at her son. "It warms my heart to see you, dear. Tell me, what news is there from the capital? How do you find living in the city?"

Ean swallowed a mouthful of stew before responding. "The city has been an adjustment," he admitted. "It's noisier and busier than what I'm used to. But I've been learning so much. I've been very fortunate to find a good mentor after my master died."

His mother gasped.

"So much has gone on and so much to tell, I forgot to mention that. He was a good man and it's a tragic loss to the kingdom."

"You seem to have done well for yourself in spite of the circumstances," his father said.

His mother gave him a knowing smile. "And have you met anyone special in the capital, Ean? A nice girl, perhaps?"

Ean's pulse quickened, and he stammered, "Well, there is, maybe, someone. She's an herbalist, and likes me too, I think." He hesitated briefly before continuing. "In fact, she gave me a list of plants that she needs. I was hoping for your help while I'm here."

Reaching into his pack, Ean produced the list from Aria. His mother took it eagerly. "Let me have a look, then I'm sure your father and I can show you where to harvest a few of these."

The three of them cleaned the table and then, despite the persistent drizzle, ventured out to hunt for Aria's plants. For the final plant on the list, Ean had to brave a thorny thicket. The rain-soaked ground was unstable, and he slipped multiple times. His clothes were torn by brambles, and he was covered in mud by the time he retrieved the plant.

As they returned to the house, soaked and muddy, Ean's father chuckled. "You've certainly gone to great lengths for this herbalist, son. She must be quite special."

Ean felt his cheeks flush. "She's... unique," he admitted, thinking of Aria's sharp wit and mysterious demeanor. They spent the rest of the evening reminiscing. The stress of the day and the flickering candlelight had him struggling to remain awake. He gave up and crawled into his old bed.