The end of winter was always wet. There wasn't any snow, but the ground was almost always covered in frost and dew, and their feet and legs would grow sore from trekking through mud for hours on end. The roads were always the worst part of the day. While they still were to Edinmire, soldiers moved in large groups, and made crossing them difficult. They couldn't really hide either, as much of the area was open and flat, broken by the occasional tree or farmhouse. For two weeks they had been traveling, and Barret had learned much about them, and they learned much about him.

He learned all about Haelith's history with Trace, her past, her love of medicine, and her appreciation of good food. She was truly an outcast to the world, having grown up with a found family, knowing what love felt like, never needing to learn how to survive the cruel wilds. He learned about Raine, her shapeshifting, her wild and uncontrolled magic, her devotion to Haelith, and even her relationship with Richard, which she regretted leaving.

About him, they learned of his skills in the wilds, his tracking, his love of good cooking, his own messed up history, and drive to protect those he loves. Raine strangely noticed that he and Haelith were perhaps the most opposite people ever, as she grew up with a roof and family, while he had neither. He knew about the wilds and survival, but she knew nothing of that. He had used magic before, and feared it, while Haelith had never used it before, and was earnest to learn. And yet, for as opposite as they were, they had a shared drive behind them. Both were eager to protect others, however they could.

They were at the edge of a cluster of hills when they stopped for the night. The sky was cold and gray, and a blanket of clouds slowly spread from the east. Barret built the fire, and helped set up Raine and Haelith's tents, before setting off to go catch dinner. He returned a short time later with a pair of trout from a nearby stream. They ate in relative quiet, and dispersed to go to sleep. Raine went to her tent, and Barret pulled out a sleeping bag, throwing it on the ground near the fire. Haelith went over to her tent, but looked back. "Hey Barret?"

He sat up and looked over. "Yeah?"

Haelith's heart pounded, and her face grew red. "Would you like to share my tent tonight? It looks like it's going to rain tonight, you shouldn't stay out there."

In the light of the fire, she could tell that he turned just about as red as she did, and for a few seconds he was silent, thinking. His eyes fell on her, and then he turned to the sky. "I… If you really don't mind."

"N- not at all. I have enough space, and I don't want you getting sick." Barret smiled, picked up his bag, and walked over to the small tent, but stopped at the entrance.

"Are you really sure? There's hardly enough space for you." He was already red in the face, shuffling his feet nervously.

"We can make it work." Haelith mumbled. Barret ducked down and crawled into the tent next to her. He slowly laid down on the far side of the tent, trying not to let his gaze rest on her for too long, and she did the same. Finally, after several minutes of silence, she sighed. "Thank you."

"For…?"

"Letting me come with you. I've met other Ishtaer, and they all treated me with disdain. I've told you that I've always been an outcast, no matter where I go. You haven't treated me like that."

"Why would I? Jealousy? Nah, I've accepted my Fate. Who am I to wish someone else suffers as I have? Besides, it's not our past that defines us, it's what we do with it that does."

"Wise." Silence fell as they smiled, staring at the top of the tent. Slow, heavy rain drops began to fall. "Glad you came in when you did."

"Same. Thank you. I… hope this isn't too weird."

"Oh, it's weird." Haelith said with a chuckle. "And I'm all for it." Barret smiled, and looked over to her. Maybe things would work out after all.

…

The Basitins were settling in shockingly well. Since they landed eight days ago, they had gotten straight to work reinforcing the walls. Fifteen of the seventy three troops had gotten right to work, chopping down trees from the nearby forest, carving up the logs, and placing spikes across the field that rested right outside the wall. The soldiers were busy testing the militia and guards, pushing them to their limits with wooden quarterstaves and sparring swords. Not a single person was able to contend with the Basitins, save one: Keiren. He managed to hold his own against the little rabbits, even managing to knock one of them down. But then Telk stepped into the ring. Within just under a minute, Kei was on the ground, bruised in a dozen places, and had the full weight of Telk resting on his chest. "You're quicker than most. You actually challenged me." he said.

"Urgh. Great…" Kei moaned. "I'm glad you're having fun wearing down my people, but would you please stop?" Kei reached up and pushed Telk off of him. "We need to actually be ready to defend ourselves if we get attacked."

"Keeping your men sharp is all we're doing."

"Keeping them sharp is one thing, beating them into the ground is another." Kei was going to say more, but one of the human guards was running over from the north side of town, waving his arms. "Danvers, what's going on?"

"Templars! Hundreds of them! The came using the northern road! They demand to speak with you!" Kei's eyes went wide, and he sprinted off to the other end of town. Telk followed only a few steps behind, and as they ran, Keith and Natani joined them. As they reached the gate, there were in fact, over seven hundred Templar soldiers standing just outside the wall.

Five of them stood apart from the ranks, and stepped forward. Two were high ranking guards, wielding pikes and wearing full plate armor, and stood at the edge of the group. The left side was a woman, wearing half plate, and her hair was pulled back into a bun. A sword and shield hung by her side, and her face was covered in scars. On the right, a tall and lanky man who wore no armor, and carried naught but a dagger on his belt, but he carried maps and scrolls, taking notes. It reminded Kei of Lynn, who was nowhere to be seen.

And last, but not least was a bulky, absolute unit of a man, wearing lighter armor: chain mail. There was not a hair on his head, but he wore a bushy moustache. It made him all the more intimidating, as his deep voice carried. "Why are these beasts here? And that wolf?" he shouted as the four exited the gate. "They have no jurisdiction in this area!"

"And who are you to say they do not?" Kei answered him just as loudly.

"Morvian, commander of the Twelfth Legion. Now why are these abominations here?"

"I requested their aid in defending the city!" Kei was fuming. "You have no jurisdiction here, now take your men and leave!"

"I beg. To. Differ." He reached for his sword, and behind him, hundreds of soldiers drew their weapons, from swords and spears, to axes and crossbows.

"Attack us, and you will declare war on the Basidian Empire." Keith said, stepping forward. Behind him, Natani snarled, and reached for a dagger. "Keith Keiser, Ambassador General of the Basidian Empire. We received a letter from Keiren requesting aid, as you had not provided it. Our soldiers are here to defend the city as a foreign garrison." Morvian's eyebrows twitched as Keith spoke.

"The city was only attacked fifteen days ago! How do you have soldiers here already?" his voice quivered as he spoke, the power and authority seemingly left behind.

"Ah, so the Templars did know the city was attacked, and yet you chose to do nothing about it." Telk said calmly. "It seems that our aid was indeed required, and it is lucky we arrived when we did. I received reports last night that wolf scouts were spotted just inside the forest. It seems they had been planning an attack."

"You are no longer required. Leave the city and-"

"No." Kei interrupted him, stepping closer. "I invited them here, and as the acting Duke of Edinmire, I will not turn them away. Attack me, my soldiers, my militia, my people, or any of the Basitins here, and we will consider it an act of war against both Edinmire and the Basidian Empire. I sent a request for aid the day we were attacked, and never received a response. Yet, when I sent another letter to the Basitins, they responded two days later, and within four days, they were assisting us with reinforcing the city. You will not enter the city. Take your men. Leave now." In response to this, a dozen Basitins appeared on the walls, holding crossbows, and another dozen came filing out of the gate with swords and shields.

"Sir, I estimate we would suffer significant casualties if we attempted an assault without support." the lanky man said, scribbling everything that had been said down. "Recommended course of action would be to give in and retreat."

"Shut up!" Morvian shouted. He turned back to Keiren, Keith, Telk, and Natani. "Acting Duke of Edinmire… I warn you, these beasts will not hesitate to turn against you. When they do, you will come crawling back, begging for our help!" He turned, and raised his arm, shouting "About face! We make for the forward command center! March!" With that, the soldiers turned and began marching away from the city. No one moved for almost an hour as they watched the procession fade from view.

Keiren turned and leaned over suddenly. "Oh gods, I think I'm gonna puke." On shaky legs, he walked back into the city, leaning on the gate as he did.

"He lies. We have no intention of turning against you." Telk assured him.

"I know that. But he could have wiped us off the map with ease. There were so many of them! At least the Wolves don't fight in organized ranks, they come in waves, but break apart very easily! We couldn't have held the city!"

"We would have held it." Telk said confidently. "We may not have magic, but they would break ranks when we leapt from the walls. Break their will to fight, destroy their resolve, and they scatter like leaves in the wind."

"How are you so calm after that?"

"I've faced overwhelming foes before. I will face many more. This was just a test of will, not a test of strength. You showed both today. You have earned my respect, which is not something I give easily."

Kei smiled briefly, but his stomach had other ideas, as it churned inside him. "Urgh, thanks. If you will excuse me…"