Sorry for the delay, I've been having problems with my tablet.

Chapter Five: Part Six

Potsfurt

"Excuse me, Miss Yasmine. This arrived from the capital with urgency."

Yasmine accepted the letter from the messenger at the front door and immediately opened it in front of him. She did not read the letter, but she took the pages out of the envelope and inhaled them. Then she shook out the pages and the envelope. She found no contaminations. "Thank you. I will bring this to the Prince directly."

Yasmine entered the sitting and waved off the maids. Brendan was sitting on the couch reading a book. "This letter arrived for you, Your Highness," Yasmine said, holding it out to him. "For safety reasons I checked it, and it is safe. I haven't read it."

Brendan closed the book and set it on the coffee table. "It wouldn't bother me if you did read it, Yasmine." But he took the letter from her. Yasmine watched him closely as he read it. She noted his pale complexion and sunken eyes. The constant travel between Potsfurt and Blutkrieger was starting to have a visible physical toll on Brendan. At this point Yasmine wondered if the King was trying to deliberately work the Prince to death, which would be a stupid considering they were in the middle of two major conflicts!

Someone already challenged His Majesty to Royal Combat. And the Prince cannot challenge the King for a few more years. Does he really need to treat his eldest son this way? After everything the Prince has done to prove his loyalty?

Brendan suddenly smashed the letter between his hands. The next moment he stood. "We're being called back to the capital. We need to leave—"

"No, we're not," Yasmine interjected. "Sit down, Your Highness. You're going to relax first."

Brendan narrowed his eyes. "I cannot ignore a summons—"

"You're not going to ignore it, but you're not going to respond to it right this minute," Yasmine shot back. "Ever since Prince Vahan betrayed the Crown, His Majesty has had you hopscotching between Potsfurt and Blutkrieger. You are going to collapse if you do not take a moment to breathe! Now sit—down." She enunciated her words with a hard tone.

Brendan held her gaze for a long moment. Then he slowly sat back down on the couch.

"Good," Yasmine said. "I'm going to handle your affairs for the rest of the rest, Your Highness. Relax and don't do anything. Tomorrow we will worry about departing for the capital.

Brendan still said nothing. Yasmine turned to leave. "I will notify the soldiers about—"

"If His Majesty is angry by my delay, he will try to blame you," Brendan spoke up. "He will try to punish you, Yasmine."

A hard knot formed in the pit of Yasmine's stomach. She frowned deeply and clenched her hands into fists at her sides. But when she spoke, it was in a calm tone. "There is nothing worse he can do to me than what he already has, Your Highness."

Brendan let out a shaky breath behind her. Yasmine didn't want to linger because she was afraid she would become emotional. She moved to leave, but Brendan suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. She paused and turned to face him. His head was bent forward; she couldn't see his face.

"…Why haven't you ever blamed me?" Brendan asked finally, his tone quiet.

Yasmine stared at him. She swallowed thickly before she spoke. "Because it wasn't your fault, Your Highness," she responded.

Brendan said nothing more but he let her go. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder. "Take a nap. That's an order from your assist, Your Highness."

She left the sitting room and closed the door behind her. The hallway was empty. Yasmine allowed herself to let her guard down for a moment. She let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes. "I don't blame you, Brendan," she murmured. "So please…stop blaming yourself."

Then she collected herself and hurried towards the front door.

Astraea wasn't so naive to believe that the man who stood before them was just some hapless traveler. Not only was he traveling alone, but he was traveling light. He had the build of a warrior, and despite his slouch his overall demeanor was casual. He was projecting the feeling of fear…but he wasn't afraid.

"My name is Biehn," he said, still approaching slowly with his arms raised. "And I'm lost. I don't know how to find my way out of this forest. Would it be all right if I tag along with your group until we get out of here?"

"Biehn," Viktor said. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Biehn, Biehn, Biehn. Why does that name sound familiar?"

"You got pretty deep in the Woodland with no visible injuries from monsters," Sigrun observed, looking Biehn up and down. "What sort of weapon do you wield?"

"A broadsword," Biehn said, tapping the hilt of the sword at his belt. "But I'm still not quite worthy of it."

"'Not worthy of it'?" Ferdinand echoed in confusion.

"Where are you trying to go?" Astraea asked.

"For starters, out of here," Biehn said with a sheepish laugh. "I'll pay you if you help me. So…can I tag along with you?"

The group turned to look at Astraea. They were waiting for her judgment. Astraea looked at Biehn and stepped forward. "Do you know who I am?"

"You're a young woman," Biehn said. "But I think I've seen your face…somewhere?" His brow furrowed. "I'm not from this country, but you do seem familiar."

It was…strange. Even though it appeared Biehn was trying to look as unassuming as possible there was a sincerity in his demeanor. There was something about him that made him feel trustworthy. After thinking about it she nodded. "You can come with us."

"Oh, thank you!" Biehn laughed and bowed. "Thank you so much, Miss!"

"We're going to use an Escape Scroll to get out of here, so come closer or you'll be left behind," Astraea said. Biehn hurried over and the group huddle close. "Are we ready? Let's go!"

The Escape Scroll activate. Astraea expected it to take them back to Hundehöhle, so she was very surprised to find their group in an open field with the Ruhiges Woodland just behind them. Astraea's brow furrowed and she looked around. "Ah…where are we?"

"This must be the south entrance to the Woodland," Ferdinand said.

"I really appreciate this, thank you," Biehn said. "I thought I would never get out of there!"

"Will you be all right from here, sir?" Arin asked him.

"Ah…" Biehn's breathing faltered and he rubbed the back of his head while he ducked his head forward. "Um…if it's not too much trouble, could I tag along with your group? At least until we reach a town?"

Dawa's brow rose. "Why?"

"Well—"

"Wait, WAIT!" Viktor exclaimed, gesturing to Biehn. "Now I remember you! Biehn! Tengaar and Hix—you're their kid!"

Biehn looked at him. "That's right. How did—oh!" Recognition flickered across Biehn's face and he smiled broadly. "Sir Viktor! Wow, it's been a long time!"

"Yeah, it has," Viktor said. "Last time I saw you kid was when I was visiting Flik at the Warrior's Village!"

"That was quite some time ago—oh my GOD!" Biehn suddenly shouted, his eyes widening in horror. "Your arm, Sir Viktor! What happened?!"

"I got attacked by a giant crocodile," Viktor said sheepishly.

"A Sarcosuchus," Astraea gently corrected him.

"Whatever. It was a big and mean and it ate my arm." Viktor shrugged. "I lost my Kouten Sword, which honestly hurt more than losing the arm. That sword was my companion since I was a teenager, even when I was using the Star Dragon Sword."

"I'm so sorry," Biehn said sincerely. He looked at Astraea and the rest of the group. "These are your current companions, Sir Viktor?"

"Oh, right, I should introduce you all." Viktor turned to face Astraea. "Your Majesty, this is Biehn. He's the son of Tengaar, who's the current chief of the Warrior's Village in Toran. He looks a lot like her but he takes after his father Hix in personality."

"From the Warrior's Village?" Arin's eyes widened and he smiled. "Mihr is from the Warrior's Village, too!"

"I remember Mihr vaguely," Biehn said. "Last I heard he's in a relationship with the President of the Republic of Nagarea."

"That I checked he still was!" Arin confirmed brightly.

"I heard of the Warrior's Village," Ferdinand said. "They produce some of the best and most honorable warriors."

Biehn nodded. "We're proud of our beliefs and customs."

"And you needed us to help you?" Sigrun asked.

Biehn flushed and he shifted his feet uncomfortably. "I'm…in the middle of my Journey of Manhood," he said quietly.

"'Journey of Manhood'?" Astraea became thoughtful. "I heard of that in school. That's when male warriors from the Warrior's Village have to wander and prove themselves as men worthy of representing their village and worthy of wielding their chosen weapon, correct?"

"That's more or less true," Biehn said. "My Journey requires a lot of me because I'm the son of the Chief, and thus I'm the future leader of the Warrior's Village. So I've made it my mission to travel to the Four Continents to make something of myself before going home."

"And you needed our help to get out of the Woodland," Dawa pointed out.

Biehn laughed awkwardly. "That's why I'm still on my Journey and not home."

"Warriors who complete their Journey name their weapons after their loved ones, right?" Arin asked.

"Yeah," Viktor said.

"Technically it could be after anyone you greatly admire or respect," Biehn said. "But most commonly my people do name their weapons after their most cherished person."

"Who are you going to name your sword after?" Arin asked.

Biehn's face turned darker crimson. "Ah…I don't know."

"So you came to Zelant as part of your Journey?" Viktor asked.

Biehn hesitated for a moment before nodding. "…Yes, Sir Viktor."

Astraea was puzzled by his pause, but then Biehn turned to her. "But Miss—Sir Viktor called you, "Your Majesty". I thought the monarch Zelant was a King."

Astraea briefly wondered if she should tell him the truth or keep silent. After a moment she decided. "I challenged the King to Royal Combat. Those who support me recognize me as Queen."

Biehn's brow lifted. "Ah, Royal Combat! We heard of that in the Warrior's Village, too! I heard King Franz is very strong physically, and that he defeated two of his children already in Royal Combat!"

Sigrun flinched, and Ferdinand visibly bristled. "Say!" Astraea spoke up, stepping forward. "You needed to get to a town, right? We could take you to Hundehöhle—"

"I ask that we not, Your Majesty," Ferdinand quietly interjected.

"H-How about Feldgenz?" Astraea quickly added. "It's a port town most commonly used for travel between Zelant and the Caelum Federation! It's southwest of here!"

"T-That will suit me just fine, Miss," Biehn said. "Thank you for helping me."

"You'll need to be in the support party though, as the active party is full," Dawa said.

"Oh, ah…okay."

"C'mon kid, let's get drunk and exchange stories!" Viktor declared, throwing his arms around Biehn's shoulders. "You're drinking age, right?!"

"W-What's the drinking age in Zelant?"

"Who cares?!"

The group watched him go. Sigrun exhaled softy. "Sorry," she said. "I was afraid of saying something I may regret."

"That was a good idea not asking him to come to the Old Capital, Your Majesty," Dawa said.

"He seems preoccupied," Astraea said. "It didn't feel appropriate to try and recruit him."

"Preoccupied?" Ferdinand echoed, shaking his head. "That's a nice way of saying "airhead", Your Majesty."

It had been a long time since Astraea had been to Felgenz. Since it was the port people who traveled to and from not only the Federation but the mainland of the West Continent, in hindsight it felt like the place she should have gone when they were on the run. Now that she had taken a stand against the King, she knew it was important to go there if for no other reason than to ensure another place she could easily teleport to.

Biehn was a quiet man but he also seemed to be an observant man. He examined their surroundings closely and scribbled notes on a notepad he kept in an inner chest pocket. Astraea often caught him jotting down notes whenever they entered combat. It sort of reminded her of stories she had heard about her half-brother Taiwo Winn.

He seemed like a…strange man to Astraea. It felt like he was hiding something, but at the same time he felt trustworthy. Viktor seemed to like him enough. If he needed a break he swapped positions with Biehn and they were able to see the warrior in action. Biehn held his broadsword in the hassō-gamae position and he swung his sword with confidence despite having an uncertain demeanor.

Well he did survive inside the Ruhiges Woodlands despite getting lost. And he's from the Warrior's Village.

As they neared Felgenz however, it became fairly obvious that they were being…followed. The group was only briefly alarmed, but with how blatant and sloppy the people were who were following them it was decided to humor them and keep going. Whoever it was didn't even bother attacking them when they made camp.

They traveled for a day before they saw Felgenz on the horizon line. "There it is," Astraea said. "We'll get you to the gates and then be on our way."

"Thank you so much for helping me, Miss," Biehn said.

"Will you be going to the mainland?" Viktor asked.

"Ah—"

"NOW!"

Shrieks of battlecries filled the air and the group was suddenly surrounded on all sides. Astraea saw the disheveled men and women who surrounded them and she suddenly felt a headache. They were all yelling and trying to look intimidating, but it was impossible to take them seriously when every single one of them was sporting an injury.

"Thieves," Ferdinand observed. "And it looks like they were soundly trounced by the last people they tried to rob."

"We've got you now!"

The group parted and a familiar face stepped forward smirking. Astraea recognized him as Rowd, leader of the Unicorn Blades. But despite his smug smirk and his triumphant expression, his face was a kaleidoscope of varying colors of bruises and his left arm was in a sling. But he still had the nerve to look like he had won a victory as he raised his sword. "If you want to live, hand over all—"

"Oh good!" Viktor suddenly laughed, the sounding shrieking in the air. "I've been looking for you, you bastard! Thank you for coming to me—now I can kill you!" He promptly unsheathed his sword.

Rowd faltered, and confusion flooded his face. "W…What? No!" he snapped. "We're robbing you! We're threatening you! You don't get to threaten me!"

Viktor grinned sinisterly and pointed his blade towards Rowd. "I promised myself that if I ever met you again I would kill you. My final gift to Lord Riku for everything you did to him. I've been looking forward to this!"

"Lord Riou?!" Recognition flooded his face. He looked perplexed, then shocked, and then terrified. "Wait…are you—!"

"Viktor," Viktor supplied for him. "Vagabond Viktor, as many know me by. I spared you once when I saved Lord Riou from you. I'm not making that mistake again!"

The thieves shifted with alarm. It was clear that many of them knew the name Vagabond Viktor, and they were terrified. Rowd himself looked fearful but he tried cover it up with a laugh. "A-Am I supposed to be scared of a gimp like you?! Don't be ridiculous!"

A dark cloud fell over Viktor's face, and he lunged forward towards Rowd. Road shout with alarm and tried to parlay Viktor's swing, but Viktor easily knocked the sword out of Rowd's hand. Viktor thrusted his sword towards Rowd, but Rowd grabbed the nearest thief and pulled him in front of himself as an obvious human shield. Viktor retracted his attack, but not before his blade stabbed into the man's side.

"GOOSE!" another thief shrieked as the first fell. He collapsed by his friend's side.

"COWARDLY BASTARD!" Viktor roared. "YOU NEVER CHANGE!"

"What are you doing, KILL THEM!" Rowd shrieked to his band before he took off running.

The Unicorn Blades floundered, not appearing to know what to do. Some took off running after Rowd while others did lunge at the group.

Astraea felt a surge of anger and raised her hand. "The Shredding!"

Rowd was out of range of the spell, but it struck the thieves and took them down. They didn't die but they were now more seriously injured than before.

"HELP HIM! PLEASE HELP HIM!" the thief next to Goose shouted to them. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. "Please, he's losing blood!"

"You attacked us," Arin pointed out.

"I know, I'm sorry but PLEASE help!" He looked at Astraea and sniffled loudly. "Princess, please help us!"

Everyone quickly looked at Astraea. Astraea looked at the injured thieves lying on the ground around them. She knew they could leave them to die or give them help. They didn't owe them help, but her heart ached with compassion. She looked to her comrades and nodded. "Everyone, please help them."

There were six thieves injured, but they moved to give them Medicines. Astraea rushed to Goose, and Viktor was kneeling beside the fallen man. "Stupid bastard," he grunted. "How does he continue to have allies?!"

"B-Boss gave us shelter," Goose groaned, pressing his hands to his bleeding side. "A-And food. Froth, w-where's the boss?"

"He ran away," Froth sniffled, wiping his face with both hands.

"Kindness Drops," Astraea said, raising her left hand.

The Water Rune's spell washed over Froth and Goose. The visible existing injuries healed and the color returned to Goose's face. Astraea knelt down as Goose slowly sat up. "Are you all right?"

Goose looked at her in shocked. "Y…You saved me, Princess," he whispered.

"We're sorry," Froth told her. He was still trying, but they were tears of joy. "W-We didn't mean it, Princess! We swear it!"

"Let this be a lesson to you," Dawa said darkly, glowering down at them from behind Astraea. "Stop being thieves and get into a legitimate trade. Next time you won't face someone as compassionate as Her Majesty."

"Thank you, Princess," Froth said, kowtowing to her. "Thank you so much!"

"W-What are we gonna do?" Goose asked forlornly. He looked in the direction Rowd ran. "Boss, he…he tried to kill me again."

"Again?" Viktor asked flatly.

"We can't go back," Froth said, shaking his head. "Not to him. I-I won't follow him ever again."

"B-But what are will gonna do?" a female thief exclaimed. "I have a criminal record! How am I supposed to get a job?!"

Astraea looked around at them all. After a moment she slowly stood up. "Join me," she said. "Fight in the Reformation Army against King Franz."

The thieves stared at her in shock. "When I win, I will grant you all pardons on the condition that you never commit a crime again," she continued. "But I'll need you to fight with me. I'll need you to help me win. Will you join me?"

The response was immediate. The thieves prostrated themselves before Astraea, begging for mercy and pledging themselves to her cause. Froth and Goose both rose to their feet and saluted. "You saved me, Your Majesty," Goose said. "So I will serve you."

"You're very kind and sweet," Froth said. "Already better than our old boss. I'll gladly fight for you."

Astraea nodded and offered a handshake to them. "Welcome to the Reformation Army."

The thieves cheered and cried in relief. "Well," Viktor said, looking in the direction Rowd had run. "Looks like I'll have to kill him another day."

"Since you're joining us, perhaps they should hand over all stolen wares, Astraea?" Sigrun suggested.

"That's a good idea," Astraea said, looking to the thieves. "If you have anything that you've stolen recently, please place it here." She motioned to the grass in front of her.

The thieves immediately emptied their pockets and tossed trinkets, ornaments, pots, paintings, and weapons onto the ground before her. Even bags of Potch. "Is there any way to return this to the people these were taken from?" she wondered aloud.

"I-I-I-I don't know what belongs to who," Goose said sheepishly.

Froth tossed a weapon onto the pile, but when Astraea looked down a jolt of shock shook her body. "That—!"

She lunged down and grabbed the weapon in her hands. It was in good condition. She raised it up and examined it closely. It was her first time touching such a weapon, but she knew what it was.

A halberd.

Biehn watched the group in silence. He pulled out his notepad and scribbled a new note onto a clean page.

'Spared thieves who attacked her. Mindful and compassionate.'

Dios let out the breath he was holding. "That was it." He looked to his left. "Bishop…That was the True Wind Rune."

Sasarai's expression was grim. "…Yes. He wasn't alive after all. But that girl…she has his rune."

"Those thieves struck again," Pilika said. Her complexion was pale and she swallowed hard. "Should we approach?"

Sasarai was silent for a long moment. "Not right now," he said. "There's more I want to observe." Then he turned to walk away.

Dios followed after him. Pilika lingered, her gaze on the one face she recognized. "Viktor," she said quietly. "Oh Viktor…what happened to your arm?"

"Pilika?" Dios called to her. She turned and hurried after them.

Recruits: Froth (34), Goose (35)