Dustin went about the next two days with renewed vigor. Not only would his dreadful separation from his sword soon be over, but also, he would shortly be granted the honor of being trained by none other than Nathan Korynn, one of the most esteemed swordsmen to have fought in the Second War of Reformation. Sir Korynn had been at Manfred's side through some of the most grueling campaigns of the war, and shown himself to be an exemplary friend as well as a trustworthy comrade. Dustin looked forward to being able to hear the stories of the war firsthand from Nathan's point of view.

Jude had readily agreed to accompany Dustin on his quest for instruction, so the two of them worked side by side to prepare for the journey. By Dustin's estimation, it would be five days of riding—one day to reach Monterayne's mountain border, one to traverse the rocky pass, one and a half to travel across the Arorian countryside, half to pass through a sliver of Innutukian territory, and finally, a day to reach their destination in the wildlands itself. If he were correct, then the escorts would travel four days with Dustin and Jude, then turn back on the dawn of the fifth.

Speaking of the escorts, King Manfred handpicked them for the task, two knights of contrasting appearances and character who Dustin jokingly called "Chin" and "Cheeks" respectively to Jude upon sighting them. The former sported a long, angular face tapering down to a sharp chin with a mess of facial hair protruding from the tip, while the latter's broad face shape resembled that of a pear. Chin contradicted his overwhelmingly gloomy demeanor with his habit of whistling as he went about his duties, while Cheeks presented a cheerful facade over a pessimistic spirit.

At once all too soon and not soon enough, the morning came to depart from Monterayne. Normally, any member of the royal family making an expedition anywhere outside the kingdom would have warranted a farewell party from those living around the castle and in the capital, but Manfred had succeeded in keeping Dustin's departure a private matter. In reality, nobody outside the castle walls and the knights' hall had been made privy to even the slightest knowledge of his adventure.

At any rate, Dustin brushed his hand over the mane of a fiery stallion hitched to the carriage he and Jude would ride in with a contented smile on his face. Unlike his father, Dustin very much enjoyed a good ride through the countryside on a well-trained horse, and he knew nothing more exhilarating than the wind rushing through his brown locks at a full gallop. This particular stallion's name was Consequence, a name Dustin found most peculiar.

Dustin strode away from Consequence to give one last farewell to his family before entering the carriage. His mother, father, and two sisters stood outside the stable to see him off, as did Jude's mother, Alice. So with a sigh, he stepped up to his father first and folded his hands behind his back.

"Well, goodbye for now, Father." Dustin said slowly, "Thanks again for indulging me."

Manfred smiled slightly and slid Dustin's sword into its scabbard on his hip before pulling his son into his arms. "Learn well, and come back a better man."

"I shall." Dustin replied, squeezing back. He shortly let go and stepped over to his mother, staring down into her lovely green eyes he had inherited himself. "Farewell, Mother. I hope you don't miss me too much."

Kate laughed lightly. "You and I both know I will, so please strive to make it worth my pain."

"I'll do my best." Dustin embraced Kate and kissed her cheek before continuing down the line to his younger sister Cassandra.

A mischievous smirk tugged at Cassandra's lips as she brushed a tress of her lighter brown hair behind her ear—hair she'd inherited from Manfred. She'd also been gifted his dark eyes, but their mother's energetic nature was the spirit to be found behind him. And also, like their mother, she opted in most circumstances to shorten her name, Cassie rather than Cassandra.

"You'll be glad to be rid of me for a while, no doubt." Dustin remarked with a chuckle, "Just don't steal the throne in my absence."

"I'll consider it." Cassie said before her arms encircled Dustin's torso. She laid her head against his chest. "Learn well, and I'll be hoping for a safe return."

Dustin acknowledged her with a nod before moving onto his youngest sister, Alexandra, who preferred Sandra to her full name. Her complexion, eyes and hair all strongly resembled Kate's, but her face was distinctly Manfred's, as was her more serious demeanor. She mustered a subtle smile and hugged Dustin.

"I will miss you." Sandra said as she held on tight, "I do hope you intend to return for my birthday?"

Dustin smiled and patted her back. "Of course, I couldn't miss my favorite sister's birthday." he remarked with a pointed glance back at Cassie, who rolled her eyes. "You'll have to be more careful without your favorite brother around to protect you."

"You are my only brother." Sandra said as she pulled away, but midway through speaking, she appeared to realize Dustin had been joking, and then she narrowed her eyes slightly. "Safe travels."

Dustin bowed his head, and after saying goodbye to Alice, he tossed an "I love you all" back at his family before heading into the carriage. He gave Jude an excited smile as Chin and Cheeks set them into motion, urging the four horses to pull. The carriage only needed two, but the escorts would need mounts to travel back, after all. Dustin waved at his family out the carriage window until he could no longer, and then with a contented sigh, he settled in for the five days' journey ahead.

****

By far the most enjoyable aspect of Forbache up to this point was its fresh air, sweetened by the smell of sap and kept cool by the perfect shade of the forest's many trees. Paulo also reveled in glimpses of a host of fascinating creatures scampering through the brush, none of which could have found in the Innutukian motherland. And high up in the treetops, a symphony of bird calls made sure nobody walking along the forest floor could ever feel completely lonely.

Paulo reached toward the pack horse walking between himself and Tanuk along the dirt road beneath their feet. He slipped his hand into a pocket on the saddle and fished out his canteen of water. After taking a swig and returning the container to its place, he glanced over at Tanuk and earned a nod of acknowledgement.

"How long until we arrive?" Paulo asked.

"An hour or so more, at this pace." Tanuk replied simply, "Possibly less."

"I see. What do you think...will the Overseer be man enough to attempt defending his position?"

"Likely not. He may bark like one of those little lapdogs the ladies warm their hands with, but beyond that, he will provide little in the way of a challenge."

Paulo let out a harsh laugh. "Agreed. He will be nothing but a mere annoyance."

The two fell silent for the remainder of their walk up to the capital of the Forbachean province, Chenten Yorr. When they reached the place, Paulo took notice of the majestic gateway welcoming travelers into the colorful city, with wide open doors inlaid with details of pure gold. There was a reason, after all, that the entire empire had rejoiced upon conquering Forbache some years back; Forbache was by far the richest and most civilized nation west of the wildlands.

The dirt path gave way to cobblestone lane as Paulo and Tanuk stepped through the gateway. On either side of the road stood polished stone buildings with sloped wooden roofs to add some aesthetic flair to the design. In contrast to Innutukian architecture, where multi-story structures typically descended into the depths of the earth, these buildings climbed toward the sky, sometimes even attaining to three or four stories before finally peaking. Indeed, Forbache was an impressive nation.

After they had advanced a few paces beyond the gate, Paulo and Tanuk passed a quartet of Innutukian soldiers, two on either side of the cobblestone lane. They stood at attention, decked out in plates of shiny, strategically placed armor that offered the perfect blend of protection and breathability, a hybrid of old Alcontean metalwork and Innutukian plate design. The acquisition of the former Alcontean Republic had been the only one whose celebration in the Empire exceeded that of Forbache.

At any rate, as Paulo and Tanuk advanced further into the city, the younger swordsman marveled at the sight of the people around him. Despite the colorful clothing they wore, the articles as vibrant as they were elegant, the dark-skinned Forbacheans mostly went about their business with forlorn faces. Many clearly dreaded having their wagon of wares stopped long before an Innutukian soldier strode over and did just that. The bearded conquerers kept a close eye on the native populace in a perfect display of imperial law and order.

Before he knew it, Paulo had arrived at the Overseer's administrative center. He watched as Tanuk stopped in the doorway and placed a special necklace around his neck, a strange translucent green stone in a silvery clasp Paulo knew well to have been some sort of magical artifact Tanuk drew power from for some type of ancient sorcery. The fact he had decided to wear the necklace excited Paulo, for he was sure to unleash his power in some way.

They squeezed past the guards at the entryway and immediately ascended a flight of steps on the right side of the chilly waiting chamber. Upon reaching the top, they entered the first door on the left, and with that, they had already arrived at the Overseer's office.

The space was brightly lit, with a large opening in the stone wall to allow the sun's beams through. It cast a glow over the Overseer's black desk, positively littered with parchment, quills, and containers for ink. In each of the room's four corners stood an armed guard, and Paulo noted that the faces inside each helmet bore dark skin and Forbachean features. The obligatory incense table for the Innutukian gods in the back of the room wore a coat of dust on its flat top, clearly having gone unused for quite some time.

The Overseer himself was a slight man, with an unassuming face and soft eyes that spoke of a weak spirit within. In stiff contradiction, the man sitting across from his desk took up much space with his muscular form, broad face, and bushy beard. Both men glanced back at the sound of Tanuk and Paulo's footsteps, allowing Paulo to see the second man sported an eye-patch on the right side of his face.

Tanuk let out a hearty chuckle upon establishing eye contact with the Overseer. "I could not have found you in a more compromising position. In a dialogue with the enemy now, are we?"

The Overseer shot to his feet. "This is not what it appears to be, I assure you. We were...discussing the terms of his surrender."

"A likely story." Tanuk muttered, glancing down at Paulo, "You see the man with the eyepatch? He is the leader of the largest rebel cell in the province. He has thousands at his command, and yet no word has been sent to the motherland upon the event of his capture?"

"I just arrived." the man retorted, "I turned myself in not an hour ago."

"A lesser man would believe your lies. But I am no lesser man." Tanuk strode over to a corner of the room and grasped the chin of one of the guards. "Tell me, are these two speaking in deceit?"

The guard vigorously shook his head in the negative. "It is as they say."

"It is as I've told you, Paulo. The people of this land still withhold their loyalties from the Empire."

Paulo shook his head and let out a woeful sigh. "If only they knew the error of their ways."

"You shall know shortly." Tanuk said, stepping uncomfortably close to the Overseer now, "I have been sent to remove you from office for refusing to exert necessary force to crush the rebellions under your watch. This province is now under my authority."

"But..." The Overseer's eyes filled with panic as he motioned to the rebel commander on the other side of the desk. "Is it not clear that I'm accomplishing something at this very moment?"

"It's not clear at all. To me, it appears you're conspiring with the enemy. Need I remind you on what happened with Rostacia's Overseer was found in bed with the leader of the Insurgent Alliance of—"

"Off with his head! That's what happened to him! That's all you Innutukians know how to do, anyway. Hack, slash, behead...you have no heart about you."

"We don't coddle our subjects like infants; this is true. We aren't women."

Paulo's gaze snapped to the rebel commander when he suddenly shot to his feet. He made a jerky hand gesture to the four guards, and they promptly began closing in on Tanuk and Paulo. Both men swiftly unsheathed their swords. Paulo's blood surged with excitement as two guards crept in on him, and he anticipated his first taste of real combat.

He lunged forward with a stabbing attack the two guards batted away together before moving in with strikes of their own. Paulo only evaded by stepping back. Meanwhile, in his peripheral, he spotted the Overseer and the rebel commander dashing out the door together while the guards prevented Tanuk and Paulo from making pursuit.

He returned his attention to the two armored swordsmen before him. Ducking to evade a second round of attacks aimed at his head, he stepped forward again and successfully plunged the tip of his blade into an exposed leg. The guard hollered and stumbled back, leaving Paulo with only one opponent to deal with, for the time being.

At first, the Forbachean fighter overwhelmed Paulo with heavy-handed attacks he was ill-equipped to block, but he soon detected a rhythm and parried in the space between sword strokes. He only made a shallow cut along the man's dark forehead, but it bled profusely and dribbled down into his eyes, effectively blinding him.

The first guard Paulo had wounded still struggled to regain his balance, so he glanced back a moment to check on Tanuk's progress. He currently battled one guard, while his cloak, which he had animated with sorcery, strangled the other. The artifact around Tanuk's neck contained the power of Xinibra, the Alcontean god of fatherhood and authority, and from Paulo's understanding, Tanuk's possession of the stone meant he could "beget" any object of his own manufacturing and give it life. Since he had sown his cloak himself, he could animate it and order it to perform simple tasks.

Paulo snapped back into the present and met his returning opponent's incoming attack with his own blade. He used the connection between their swords to shove his foe back, and then he lunged forward with a stab to the neck. A little gurgling and much bleeding later, the guard collapsed. When Paulo glanced back at Tanuk again, he saw his teacher had also dispatched his two opponents. Tanuk's burgundy cloak leapt off the body of the suffocated guard and slung itself around his shoulders again. With a nod, Paulo and Tanuk dashed out the door to find the escaped Overseer and his rebel comrade.

**** 

A/N: Well, things are really rolling now! Dustin, Jude, and co. on their way to an instructional getaway, and then Tanuk and Paulo cracking down on the Forbachean insurrectionists. I sense the status quo shifting a bit. 

(Speaking of cracking down on things, you'd better vote and comment before I crack down on you. 😂) 

At any rate, though they only showed up briefly, any thoughts on Dustin's sisters? Did either of them leave an impression? 

And is anybody intrigued to learn more of what Tanuk's got up his sleeve as far as sorcery? 

I'll tell ya, last week was rough, with me having watched my little nephews for a couple days, only to immediately get rekt by a devastating stomach flu afterward. But I'm back stronger than ever, and today, I finished a chapter already, so a good start to the week. Wish me luck moving forward, and I'll see you in the next update!