Haelith hadn't bothered to ask where exactly they were going yet. She knew it was Edinmire, but for the past four weeks, she was quite happy to just have someone to talk to and walk with. Her skills with medicine were not used often, but they were glad she was there when a Templar tried to kill Sythe. He was drunk, and ran in fear from the Basitins who seemed to materialize from nowhere. The slice from the dagger was long, causing blood loss and high risk of infection. For five days, she watched him, mixing up salves and poultices from a large variety of herbs. The fabric bandages they used were washed and cleaned daily, but she didn't want to take any risks.

"We'll leave it on for a few more days. Thankfully we shouldn't need to change the bandages every day, but I still want to check on it tomorrow morning."

"Thanks. Still hurts, but at least it'll leave a cool scar, right?"

"If anyone can see it under the fur. I'm used to working with Keidrans, but your fur is particularly thick. When is the last time you brushed?" Haelith stood up from where she was on the ground of Sythe's tent, and a pile of loose fur fell off of her gown. "It's normally not a big deal, but next time I'm shaving your arm around the cut. It's been getting in the way."

"Oh come on, it's not that bad. You wouldn't really shave me…" As she left, she turned around and glared at him. "Oh god, you're serious! Alright, I'll brush my fur! Just don't shave me!"

Richard and Maren were standing just outside, trying not to laugh. "If you need help shaving him, I'd be glad to give you assistance." Maren said. "I used to have a dog, so I know how to make them stay still."

"Oh, I wouldn't actually shave him. I just want him to clean up. I feel like I need to wash after just looking at him some days."

"You and me both."

"I've actually been wondering something." Richard said, following Haelith away from the tent and over to the fire, where there was a pot of water boiling. "Where were you going to go if you didn't join us? You had been running away, but where would you have run to?"

Haelith was quiet for a minute, thinking. "I'm not sure. I might have tried to find someone to go to the Basitin Isles, but I doubt there would be anyone who would want me on their ship. Mostly, I've just been going south. It's actually nice to have a destination in mind, though I'd much rather be going just about anywhere else. Edinmire is very close to the war, so there's bound to be a lot of soldiers there. On the other hand, they're probably going to be much more worried about wolves than about me."

"You're probably right." Maddie said, walking over and sitting down next to her. "And even if they do care, what are they going to do? Right now, you're acting as a medic. There are international laws and regulations for combat, and while the Templars have decided to ignore some of them, they at least know that medical personnel are supposed to be spared whenever possible."

"Really? I've never heard of any laws of combat. I always thought people just fought. Mindless violence and all that." Richard said, frowning.

"Of all the people here, I thought you would have learned about them, but I guess not. The 'Sapient Accords' were written up some 300 years ago, after a major conflict between the Tiger and Wolf clans. During the fighting, the tigers raided what they thought was a military outpost, but it turned out to be a medical center. After that, the war quickly came to an end, and to prevent anything like that from happening again, the accords were written up to add rules to combat. Things like medical workers being kept safe, minimizing civilian casualties, listing ways of killing that are too brutal, illegal torture tactics, things like that."

"Yeesh, didn't realize those all needed to exist." Raine said, packing up Richard's tent. "Seems to imply that someone had to do those things before people realized it wasn't right."

"It's sad, but the world is better for it. Imagine if we didn't have rules of engagement: armies just killing whoever they pleased, civilians being put in the line of fire for just existing, it would be horrible!"

"If only they worked." Lynn said somberly. "Our current greatest enemy has forgone several of these rules in the past months. I'm afraid the death toll is rising daily, and it's not slowing down. The Templars are on a war path. Nothing has slowed them."

"We'll figure something out." Richard said, standing up. "We just have to get there first."

"Indeed." Lynn said. "We have burned enough daylight already. Let's depart before we waste too much more."

…

The Westward Gate was quiet that day. Aidu missed her help, but things had started to calm down. The holidays were over, the days were slowly getting warmer, and the Templars seemed to want nothing to do with her. That's when she noticed them. Soldiers in full plate armor, escorting two people down the street. They stopped in front of her tavern, and she could see them talking. The door opened, and in walked eight people. Six were dressed in Templar armor, wielding swords and shields. The next was a human, wearing lighter armor: chain mail. There was not a hair on his head, and he was a short, stocky man, but that made him all the more intimidating, as his deep voice carried. "I fail to see how one person can be so important to you. She doesn't represent your failure, she represents his."

"Like I've told you before, she had access to much information that would be unfortunate to fall into the wrong hands. If our former Master has indeed turned his back on us, then we must find her." The last man said. His voice was a solid tenor, smooth and articulate, with power behind each word. Aidu suppressed a gasp as she saw him enter. Standing a full head taller than any of his guards, the general looked over at her. His plate mail clanked and rattled, the halberd in his hand was polished and honed to perfection. But… what caught her off guard were his scales of orange, with hints of yellow at the edges. He looked over to her, and walked past his escort. "What is the matter, my dear? Afraid?"

"N- no. Just- just shocked. I didn't realize the Templars employed lizards."

He was silent for a moment. "You have seen one of my kind before… less than a month ago. I know this… my men saw her… purple and blue scales. You know whom I speak of." His words were smooth, clear, and accusing. "You were a friend of hers… and I want to know where she went."

"I don't know where she went." Aidu stood her ground. He stood, head, shoulders, and chest over her, and she looked almost straight up as he loomed over her.

"You misunderstand, Aidu. You know where she went. You will tell me." Aidu said nothing, unmoving. He put his hand up, and two soldiers walked over. "Very well. You are under arrest."

"For what?"

"Anything I want."

"Erisdar!" The other general shouted. "You may have earned the respect of the Masters, but you will learn your place. Authority is not yours yet. We are leaving, and that's an order!"

Erisdar [Air-iz-dahr] sneered. "I am not a dog or slave. But, as you wish." He looked down at Aidu, and smiled evilly. "I look forward to talking with you again. Very, very soon." And with that, he walked away, but glanced back with a wicked smile as he exited the building. Aidu collapsed, as her heart, her mind, and her breath caught back up to her.