"You can't be serious about this, Dustin!" Jude cried, having dashed out of the watering hole moments prior to follow Dustin. "What could you expect to accomplish if you go now?"

Dustin clenched his teeth and glanced back at Jude with annoyance. "You heard what Michelle said. A sudden attack on a border town from the east would hardly be expected, and can affect much good for the rebels."

"You and what army?"

"Army or not, Innutuk has created a debt of blood for itself, and I intend to make it pay! Would you stand in my way, son of Holt?"

Jude set his jaw and grasped Dustin's shoulder to stop him from walking. Dustin immediately spun to face his fair-haired friend, and the two exchanged a long stare that grew more intense with each passing second.

"I do stand in your way, your highness, because like it or not, you represent the crown of Monterayne in some measure." Jude said, "If you involve yourself in the conflict between Innutuk and Forbache's rebellion, you entangle Monterayne as well, in all likelihood. Though I understand your fury, even share it, I must implore you to consider the consequences."

"If bringing vengeance down on Innutukian heads forces my father to finally take action against the Empire, then so be it!" Dustin snapped, "I consider that to be very much for the better."

"Dustin, don't be a fool! Can Monterayne stand against the entire Empire? Were troops to pour in from all directions at once in an endless onslaught, would she stand? I think not!"

"We withstood one invasion, Jude. I have no doubt we can do it again."

Jude frowned. "Back then, the Alcontean motherland was free. We never had to worry about fighting enemies from west and east alike. Now, we have no allies close at hand, and surely it would be foolhardy to expect Alconte's new empire to come to our defense any more than the republic preceding it."

"All this talk is pointless. Justice doesn't delay her visits for the sake of convenience. And her visitation of Innutuk is long overdue."

"You've always been brash, but in this, I must be frank. You're being a fool."

Dustin's dark brows drew together as he glared at Jude. Nonetheless, Jude stood his ground and stared back with a measure of calmness. Both men glanced aside at the crunch of sand under foot. Kyle and Michelle had finally emerged from the watering hole, both well covered in cloth that reminded Dustin neither he nor Jude had remembered to protect themselves. He eagerly accepted a length of cloth to cover himself with, as did Jude.

"This disgusts me." Dustin finally muttered in reply to Jude, turning to continue walking to the Korynn homestead, "You're quicker to call me a fool than to call the Empire abominable as it is."

"I wholeheartedly agree that—"

"Speak to me no longer, son of Holt!" Dustin shouted as he hurried his pace, "Since you have made up your mind to worry only of Monterayne and care not for Forbache, go back home! Warn my father of what is to come, for I will not relent."

"I hope your sister proves to be a better queen than you were a prince."

Dustin came to a screeching halt and spun to face Jude again. "What was that?"

"When you inevitably die in Forbache for being a brash fool without skill to back up your ambition, I hope Cassandra carries on the Rickland succession with grace and distinction."

"I told you to speak to me no longer."

Jude shrugged. "So be it."

Dustin huffed and resumed his sprint to the Korynn homestead. A quick glance back revealed that Jude and the others did follow, but only very slowly, so as not to catch up with him. The fire in Dustin's breast continued to burn hotter than the wildlands' sun, giving him greater strength to press on and prepare himself for an errand of retribution.

****

Dustin managed to let himself in without disturbing Kelly in the study or encountering Nathan at all. He headed straight for his living quarters and set his mind to mulling over the things he would need to make the trip west, not to mention maximizing Innutukian casualties once there.

What he hadn't accounted for was Nathan entering the room without warning about an hour later as he worked on packing a bag. Dustin glanced up guiltily and offered a quick smile in an attempt to pretend nothing was amiss.

"I thought you were too hot, your highness." Nathan remarked with a flippant air as he took a seat on Dustin's cot. "But seeing as you're on your feet again, would you like to resume our lesson?"

Dustin shrugged. "I don't feel quite right."

"Ah, that's understandable. You wouldn't want to tire yourself out before your desert journey, of course."

"I'm not...returning to Monterayne. I'm not sure—"

"We both know that's not what I meant." Nathan said, his smile not having faded for a moment, "You're going west, young man. Did you pack justice in the bag yet?"

Dustin resolved to continue pretending to be confused. "What are you talking about?"

Nathan stood up and peered into the bag. "No justice in there yet, just a lot of rage and folly. Not to mention a death wish."

"I...Sir Korynn—"

"Enough of the pretense, Dustin; Jude told me everything. You heard what happened in the Forbachean capital. Absolutely horrendous. It should never have happened, and it's both sickening and enraging to hear."

"So you understand why I must—"

"I don't." Nathan said coldly, "You'd take out maybe...three soldiers before one with greater skill runs you through. Then Monterayne loses her heir, and I'm to blame."

"You underestimate—"

"I underestimate nothing. I'm not letting you go out there and get yourself killed just to satisfy some youthful fanaticism. If you want something done against the Empire, you can go back home and talk to your father. I'm not going anywhere, and we can resume your training afterward."

Dustin shook his head vigorously. "My father would do nothing but attempt to negotiate the evil out of them. Mere talk won't bring back the dead."

"And neither will the Innutukian slaughter you imagine. If you were even capable of performing it, that is."

"They slaughtered children, Sir Korynn! In front of their parents! How does this not concern you? Why aren't you packing up to do something about this, with your talents?"

"I've fought my fight." Nathan said, eyes growing distant, "Seen some terrible things...I've held men's hands as they died. Oh, I've attended children's funerals in my time. Listen, Dustin, my wife can't walk properly to this day because of Innutuk, so if anyone hates the Empire, it's me."

"Then why...why would you arbitrarily retire as you have? You were a young man when you left; why have you chosen to waste the rest of your life instead of do something?"

"I haven't wasted anything. I'm the blacksmith for my tribe, I spend every moment I can to make my wife comfortable and happy, and I do what I can to make my son the best man he can be. The only reason you say I'm 'wasting away' is because I chose to hang up my sword and leave violence and bloodshed behind me."

"As a knight, you took vows to—"

"I know what I did." Nathan interrupted, "You have no place to reprimand me for my choices, when you haven't lived through what I did. You haven't watched men soak in their own blood because no healer was there to help them. You haven't consoled weeping widows who never got to introduce their infants to their fathers. And you haven't had to slay scores of men for your country and live with the realization that man you killed was someone's son. Someone's father, maybe. Someone's brother...someone's closest friend."

"Maybe not, but I know what I have to do. Even if you've given up, I haven't."

"You're not going. You don't have the skills you need. I would be a fool to let the son of my closest friend perish merely because his passion exceeded his expertise."

Dustin hung his head and let out a deep sigh. "So be it. The Innutukian lions may have their prey."

"For now. When you have greater skill, and when you wield more authority, there'll be no one stoppin' you. But for now, you have to relent."

"I suppose so. In the meantime, what say you, that we resume my studies?"

Nathan smirked. "Well, now that you've cooled down, I see no reason why not."

Dustin returned the smile and followed Nathan out of the room. If only he knew... Dustin thought to himself, this is pausing, not relenting.

After all, the blood of hundreds of Forbachean children still cried out, and Dustin's ears tingled. He would simply bide his time.

****

A/N: Well...tensions were high this chapter, I'm sure we can all agree on that. A true fire's been ignited in Dustin, and one that can't easily be extinguished, by the looks of it. 😂

(You know what else won't be easily extinguished? My wrath if you don't vote and comment, of course. Duh. 😂)

But yeah, any thoughts on the perspectives Dustin, Nathan, and/or Jude brought to the table here? 

That'll be my cue to skedaddle, busy day ahead. Have a good one, and I'll see you in the next update!