“Mary, what can I do for you?” Bert asked as he washed his hands. It had been nonstop since they first arrived on the battlefield. The cavalry charge had come after hours of fighting, and the armies had barely a half dozen healers between them.

“Thank you for seeing me, Lord Caretaker,” Mary bowed deeply. She had come alone rather than with the escort that the leaders of the various armies had when they came alone.

“No need for the Lord stuff,” Bert smiled. “I’m not a very formal type of person.”

“It is necessary at this time,” Mary remained in a deep bow.

“Go on,” Bert sighed and waited for her to tell him what was going on.

“I would like to speak in private,” She glanced quickly up the drawbridge and into the Waystation.

“Okay,” Bert nodded and led the woman into the Waystation and to a table in the Bear’s Fall.

“Thank you,” She said, sitting stiffly in her chair.

“So, what can we do for you?” Bert asked as Bell fluttered over curiously.

“I am to be executed once the battle concludes,” Mary said flatly. “I have failed to obtain a victory.”

“Battle isn’t over yet?” Bell asked. “Is it?”

“No one is willing to fight around the Waystation,” Mary said. “And frankly, there is little point. That cavalry charge took out too many men. House Jura is done here.”

“And so you will be executed?” Bert clarified. “Forgive me for saying this, but it seems ridiculous to kill your commanders if they fail to win a battle. You’ll run out of commanders, for one thing.”

“House Jura is large,” Mary grimaced, “There are always more waiting for their chance.”

“I assume you want a lift away from the Houses?” Bert asked. “Did you have anywhere in mind?”

“Yes,” Mary said, sitting forward. “I have a friend in house Omis, who recently won my cousin in a duel.” She laughed. “She could exchange the cousin for me, with me becoming her prisoner, but to do that, a senior commander must agree.”

“Okay, so?” Bert asked, and Bell slapped him on the back of the head.

“She means you!” Bell said.

“I’m a commander?” Bert asked.

Bell rolled her eyes as Mary fidgeted.

“You are, in the eyes of the Houses.” She nodded. “I have prepared a message spell for my friend, but if you do not agree, there is no point sending it.”

“Okay, I agree,” Bert said. “Do you want to stay here until they arrive?”

“I do,” Mary nodded. “But I must warn you that my House may attempt to interfere.”

Bell flitted over to Mary and whispered in her ear for a moment. Mary shook her head vigorously and then again.

“Bert, stand up and ask her to leave!” Bell said excitedly.

“But-” Bert started.

“Just do it!” Bell snapped.

Bert stood and asked Mary to leave; she stood and, with apparent reluctance, slapped his face.

“Oh no!” Bell pantomimed shock. “You have struck my lord!” She choked back a giggle. “I place you under arrest!”

Mary looked anxious but relaxed when Bert laughed.

“So we take her prisoner,” Bert said.

“Yup!” Bell stopped for a second. “Just one thing, though” She looked thoughtful. “I’m not sure the slap was hard enough.”

“Bell!” Bert warned.

“Okay,” She sighed. “Big baby.”

Bert turned around and walked for the door.

“Bert?” Bell called.

He looked over his shoulder in time to see Bell in human form, hand flying at him.

He ducked.

“Cheat!” Bell yelled and kicked him in the back of the leg.

Bert chuckled as he walked out of the Bear’s Fall.

Pixie’s gonna Pixie, but he was a fast learner.

============

It wasn’t long until the other Houses’ commanders turned up to demand answers. Magnus seemed to have recovered from this shock the day before. He was stiffly polite but no less demanding of answers.

Bert didn’t have to say much, as the two commanders were headed off by Dee, who directed them to Bell. The pixie told them that Mary had struck Bert in an argument and was being held as a prisoner. Reginald simply rolled his eyes and walked off, while Magnus was more insistent.

Of course, being insistent with a pixie was like trying to breathe water. You just weren’t equipped for the situation. He left after an hour, looking equally perplexed at what had just happened and frustrated enough to bite his sword in half.

A mage of house Jura was the next to arrive. It was apparent that he was the next in the chain of command and enjoying the experience. He made polite inquiries, passed on the request for Mary’s release, and then left.

Libby asked Bert and Wendy to take an extra healing shift as apparently Anton and Maggie were mana tapped for some reason no one could figure out.

Not many serious injuries were left to deal with as there had been no further fighting. Wendy and Bert spent most of the time just relaxing and chatting. It was the first time they had been able to spend this long just chatting since they towed Trailer One out of the grasslands.

The trouble started a few hours later when the bombastic Winifred arrived on the field.

“Bert!” Winifred boomed. “It seems we are destined to meet almost every day!” She laughed heartily. He noticed she had the Jura man following her around again. Probably the same one she had ‘won.’

“Winifred,” Bert couldn’t help but smile at the energetic amazon of a woman. She seemed to radiate energy. “Good to see you again.”

“I brought my pet!” She laughed and clapped the Jura man on the back. He almost went sprawling, glowering at her in silent hatred.

“Shall we get a drink and talk?” Bert asked.

“That’s what I like about you, Bert.” Winifred laughed. “Never too serious to share a mug of ale with a friend!”

Bert just laughed and waved for her to follow him, but it was that one sentence that caused all the problems.

When they got into the Bear’s Fall, Bell was already there with Dee politely holding Mary by a length of chain that bound her hands.

Winifred looked at the Jura woman momentarily and then seemed to dismiss her.

“So, I see you spoiled everyone’s fun!” She laughed. “Even got yourself a pet of your own,” Winifred pointed to a chair, and the Jura man sat silently, fuming. “Jura make the best pets, so well-behaved.”

“Never been much of a one for pets myself,” Bell said airily. “I honestly don’t even want this one, but I have no choice.

“And why is that?” Winifred asked in a bored tone.

“I can’t allow a person to strike my Lord Hudson, now can I?” Bell said.

Bert almost choked on his beer when she called him Lord Hudson.

Bell gave him a look and went on, “But it seems such a small issue to hold such a high-level Jura over.”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“Well, you have done well for all the people of these lands,” Winifred said seriously. “Let me take the burden of her, and you may have this one as a substitute.” She jerked a thumb at the man.

The Jura prisoner looked up, hope sparking in his eyes.

“Well…” Bell looked hesitant, “I guess that would be okay.” She waved to Dee, who passed the chain to Winifred. “Your prisoner, Winifred.”

“And he is yours,” Winifred sighed.

“I have done nothing to you and demand you let me go!” The Jura man exploded, his voice breaking.

“Yes, fuck it.” Bert shrugged. “Off you go, mate.”

The Jura man bowed and walked stiffly from the Bear’s Fall.

The room fell silent as he left.

“Got to say I don’t hate the sight of you in chains, Mary,” Winifred laughed.

“Well, I am at your mercy, fair night!” Mary said, smiling.

The two looked at each other for a second before both cracked up.

“Bert, Bell, may I introduce you to my sister Mary,” Winifred said with a huge smile. “Lost to my family through a failed attempt to bind the houses in marriage.”

“Sisters?” Bert asked. The two women may have been similar in height, but everything else about them was opposites. Mary was tall, willowy, and dark compared to the blond Amazon warrior look of Winifred.

“Our Lord Father has a habit of picking up new wives as often as others change their shirts,” Mary said sourly.

“Not anymore,” Winifred said brightly, “My mother decided it was time to end that little habit.”

“How?” Mary laughed.

“She said she would geld him the morning after his next marriage.” Winifred grinned.

“The morning after?” Bert asked.

“Well, she is not heartless,” Winifred beamed.

The group chatted and drank while outside; rumor did its insidious work.

==============

“You should not have done this!” Anton snapped at Maggie, who ignored him. She fawned over the new Jura commander as they examined the rune together.

“And what have you tried so far?” The man’s short dark hair complimented his grey eyes well. He preened under Maggie’s attention.

“Everything we could think of,” Maggie sighed. “We have examined it, copied it, and tried combinations of magic and intent.”

“I see,” The man said, once more casting the spell form to copy the rune. It fizzled again. “It would seem this may be a true rune.”

“There are no true runes!” Anton said haughtily.

“You are not a scholar,” The Jura man said dismissively. “The true runes were real.”

“You’ve lost me,” Maggie admitted.

“There are three kinds of runes,” Anton said. “According to the books, anyway.”

“Indeed,” The Jura said, cutting Anton off as he spoke to Maggie. “The natural runes are ones that occur naturally, an accidental creation. They can not be copied because the very environment would have to be recreated exactly to allow it to work again.”

“Like the Valley of the Mists?” Maggie asked, referring to a legendary area closer to the coast where the mists never let up.

“Exactly,” The Jura mage nodded, “The second is the craft rune. They are created by master craftsmen and can be copied and reused. They are closely guarded secrets of the most ancient nations, and no new runes have been made in over a hundred years.”

“Wow, are they true runes?” Maggie asked.

“No, of course not!” Anton snapped.

Maggie shot him a look, and he huffed.

“The last type of rune,” The Jura mage went on, “Is the True Rune. They are runes that are part of a class or profession.” The mage shook his head. “None of those classes were thought to exist anymore.”

“Well, if this is one, then at least one does,” Maggie said, frowning. “So, how do we copy it?”

“You can’t,” The mage said simply. “It is a class ability. The rune you see is merely the tip of the spell. The part that locates the ability in the world, but the actual spell? That is done by the caster themselves.”

“There is no evidence they ever existed!” Anton said, pushing into the conversation again.

“Yes, there is.” The Jura mage said. “You just will never see it.” He stood up, brushing off his robes. “I’m leaving. There is nothing here for me.”

“But!” Maggie flushed and stood in his way, “What about the money you promised?”

“What money?” Anton frowned.

“Oh, that!” The Jura mage laughed. “It is yours.” He tossed a money pouch to Maggie. “And a piece of advice?”

“What?” Anton snapped.

“Ditch the monk,” The Jura mage smiled, “He is never going to catch up to you.”

With that, he left.

“What money?” Anton asked Maggie.

“My money,” Maggie sighed. “That is all you need to know.” She went around the tent and collected her things while Anton hovered.

“What are you doing?” Anton yelled. “Are we leaving?”

“I am leaving you, Anton,” Maggie said simply.

“Because of that mage?” Anton blustered.

“Because I’m tired of you and your idiot rules!” She snapped. Anton yelped and jumped back.

“I am a monk!” Anton protested. “Rules are important!”

“Well, good luck to you!” Maggie snarled. “I’m going to find someone who actually wants to admit we fuck!”

“Maggie!” Anton drew himself up. “I demand you stop this foolishness immediately!”

“Shut! Up!” Maggie shouted and grabbed her bags.

“If you leave, I’ll kill myself!” Anton wailed.

“If you’re as incompetent in that as you are in everything else, you’ll be fine!” Maggie called over her shoulder as the tent flaps fell closed behind her.

She strode purposely across the camp and towards Libby’s tent. The woman would let her bunk there, she was sure.

She stopped halfway there, feeling an angry energy in the air. Was that coming from her?

She looked around, seeing the angry eyes watching the Waystation and the gathering of Jura and Magnus soldiers. The Houses never mixed.

She dropped her bags and began to run, sprinting across the ground toward the Healer’s Tents.

Only one was staffed at the moment, Seb and Felix playing cards as they had nothing better to do.

“Get in the Waystation! Now!” She yelled a second before the first burning arrow fell on the tent.

===========

Bert and Bell both felt the first tent start to burn, Way Way pinging both of their minds simultaneously.

“Fuck!” Bert snarled, getting to his feet as the Express let out two sharp warning blasts of the air horn.

“I’ll sort the camp!” Bell shouted, “Go see what’s going on.”

Bert summoned his armor and trotted down the drawbridge. He had expected chaos and instead was met with a wall of pikes.

The soldiers held their pikes out and pointed at the Waystation but not attacking or even approaching the grounds. According to Way Way, the soldiers were lined up on three sides of the Waystation. Only the Omis side was clear.

The Omis found their forces facing the pikes on either side as well.

And in front of each pikeman was a house Magnus shield. The Magnus knights were in full armor, their backs to House Jura.

“What the fuck is all this?” Bert barked.

Magnus and the new Jura commander stepped from the lines and approached.

“You have declared your allegiance to House Omis; what did you expect us to do?” Magnus hissed.

“I’ve done what?” Bert asked.

“Don’t pretend innocence,” Magnus said, purple-faced. “You declared Winifred your friend!”

“And?” Bert asked.

The Jura commander tutted.

“How is Winifred your friend if you are not their ally?” Magnus crowed. “Next, I suppose you will claim to have friends in the other Houses?”

“Well, yes,” Bert said. “I’d call Rikard a friend as well.”

“And that is?” Magnus scoffed.

“Captain Rikard, House Magnus.” A strident voice called. The lines of warriors rustled as a line of mounted knights rode through.

“Hey, Rikard.” Bert said, “Good timing.”

“I knew Winifred would start something,” Rikard laughed. “She always does.”

“They have united against House Magnus!” Magnus insisted.

The Jura commander looked at the situation and made a choice.

“I am Albrecht Jura,” He said smartly, “And I would like to call you a friend.”

“Okay,” Bert shrugged. “Nice to meet you.” He reached out a hand and shook with Alrecht. “Do we need to keep this going, or shall we get a beer and relax?”

Albrecht let out a series of whistles, and the Jura forces turned and marched away as one.

And so began a very long night that became known as the Brewer’s Treaty. More officials came and went as the night wore on. It was not the rulers of the Houses but their commanders, captains, and squad leaders that talked.

The people that died to win the war had a drink and a chat instead.

There were several fistfights, two stabbings, lots of swearing, and lots and lots of beer.

When the sun rose, the final details were hammered out over eggs and bison steaks. And also, more beer.

Rikard, Albrecht, and Winifred shook hands after breakfast, and the word went out. The Civil War was over.

In the weeks that followed, word would spread slowly across the land. There were, of course, those who refused to give in. The status quo does not give in that easily. But the leaders of the Houses all had the same problem. Their commanders had signed, agreed, and declared the three houses dissolved.

The Houses may have disagreed but had no forces to fight with.

Their men had left them, forming a new united force. The Tripartite Alliance was in control now. They had the army, the people, and all the resources.

And to be fair, many of the Houses found they had little support even in their own houses. Jura had been sacrificing family for failure for so long that most of them simply jumped ship immediately.

Omis had a tradition of fighting for honor and saw the opportunities on offer. They embraced the Alliance without a backward glance.

House Magnus, well, they pulled back to lands they could hold from within and tried to go back to normal.

And they could, as long as they didn’t cause trouble.

The Alliance was watching.

The Healers parted ways with the Waystation later that day. Libby seemed strangely put out, and Bert was wondering what he had done until Maggie came over and pronounced she would be staying on with the Waystation.

“Why?” Bert asked immediately. She had barely spoken to anyone on the Waystation the entire time they had been traveling with them.

Dee made sense to him; she could live better on the Blood Berries and had since bonded with Bell and Scruff.

Maggie had not.

“I think I can be useful here,” She said airily. “I can offer healing to your guests.”

“Nope,” Bell said as she flew past, “I don’t like you.”

Maggie stared in shock as Bert simply shrugged and turned away.

Libby was grinning the next time he saw her, and Seb and Felix came by to say goodbye before the Waystationers watched them all trail away, following the army.

Their final favor for the people of the Three Houses was a promise to take some supplies to a border village.

“If we have to flatten the village, I want to do it!” Wendy chased after Bell.

“We are not flattening the village!” Bert called.

“But if we do, I get to drive over it in the Express?” Wendy asked.

“Promise!” Bell said.

“Fuck sake, Bell!” Bert growled.