With a full stomach and my pack on my back, I found myself heading in the direction of Notredram the morning after I had returned home. Cassie, Ezekiel, and Kaelyn had insisted that I eat breakfast and then go. Much as I would have preferred to stay a day or two at the house, I could not really argue with them. Ezekiel, maybe, but Cassie never let me get away with anything, not since the day she had met me and become like a mother to me.

So now at her insistence I was going to Notredram. Each step reminded me how little I had spent at home the last two years, and how much of the children's lives I had missed. When this was all over I was going to do a brisk few trading expeditions in the Spring and Fall. Kaelyn needed to see what home life on the frontier was like as well. Not everything was constant travel and trade. I had full confidence that she would adapt to life on the frontier as she had with nearly everything else so far.

First I just had to convince Shaw to rally an army to retake Columbia. Kaelyn would help with that, though I did not know how other members of Notredram would react to seeing her as an Outsider now. Either way I knew that Kaelyn was not afraid of how her former neighbors would treat her. Gone was the scared lost woman I had met in the woods. Even though she only carried a knife and the slingshot, I knew she was capable of taking care of herself now. Still there was always more to learn and improve upon.

None of this mattered though if I could not raise the army needed. I knew that the Appalachia Rangers would fight, but there were maybe fifty of them. All of them had experience fighting bandits and raiding parties, but the last real battle had occurred when my grandfather was a boy. No one really knew how to fight on such a large scale, and there were few weapons of old that could help. I did not even know if there were any that still worked. Most ships carried cannons that fired four or six pound balls of iron. Columbia had a few along the walls, but those would be used against us. Sheer force would have to be adequate to retake the city.

Despite the differences that the Outlanders and those of The Walled Cities, I had a feeling both would fight. Columbia was vital to everyone, whether they would admit it or not. All we needed was to get enough people to realize that they needed Columbia to be a free city, and we would have a chance at retaking it. Weapons would be interesting as most farmers and Outlanders only had one or two guns. There was not enough time to go south and negotiate with the smiths that produced arms and guns. We would have to simply use whatever we could get our hands on.

Having become lost in my thoughts, I did not notice the noise and columns of smoke coming from ahead. Just as the woodsmoke entered my senses, a voice shouted, "Stop!"

Confused as we were still a day from Notredram, I hesitantly fingered the handle of my knife. Bandits were a rarity in this area,  but with the troubles in Columbia it was possible that a group had sprung up.

Unsure, I waited as a pair of figures appeared from a stand of trees to my right. My hand relaxed its grip on the knife as I recognized the uniform of the guards from Notredram. Confused as to why they were so far from home I waited patiently, noticing that Kaelyn moved to my side as she watched the man and woman come to us. She undoubtedly knew them by name.

Stopping a few feet away from us, the guards looked us over. At the sight of my rifle they demanded, "Hand it over nice and easy. We do not want any trouble, but we cannot have you armed."

Since we were not at Notredram I had every right to keep my rifle, which despite them being from Notredram, I had no reason to comply. Kaelyn seemed to have followed my line of thinking as she somewhat angrily demanded, "What right do you have to ask for such. This is not Notredram, so you two have no authority here. Don't but me Rachel, you and Tom are in another world now. His world, not yours. I am sure if Z is given an explanation as to why he should give up rifle, he will comply."

After a moment of awkward silence as the guards stared at Kaelyn, the woman who I assumed was Rachel stammered, "Kaelyn, Kaelyn Wheelright!"

"Yes, close your mouth. Its unsuitable of a female, especially a guard of Notredram. I am sorry I did not tell you I was leaving but you would have been forced to stop me. As you can see I am doing well and am no worse for wear since I left."

"It is good to see you Kaelyn, but due to his crimes against the City, we have to arrest your companion. We would prefer that you both come quietly, but we are required to use force if not. And do not suggest that we can just let you go. There are a two of the Appalachia Rangers watching us right now. No we do not know where they are, but they know who Z is and that the council wants him alive," Tom added to the conversation.

Putting a hand on Kaelyn's shoulder before she tried to start an argument, I used the other to slip the rifle off my shoulder and passed it to Tom. Removing my hand from Kaelyn's shoulder I held it and my other hand out in front of me. They did not want to do this to me and I did not want to make it any more difficult.

Using a length of cord Tom lashed my hands together while apologizing, "Sorry. I know how much you have done for Notredram when no one else would. Maybe you can appeal whatever your sentence is. I know that our people's have their differences, but you will always be welcome to my home if you are ever in Notredram again."

Surprised at the kindness from this stranger, I asked, "Do you have a specific reason to be so kind to me?"

Gesturing foe me to walk, the guard explained, "You brought us the cure we needed when the Red Fever came two years ago. My wife and daughter were both sick. I was watching them slowly fade until you came with the cure. Without you they and many others would have died. None of us knew where to find the cure, but you did, and you took nothing in return. Few men would have acted in such a way. You owed us nothing, yet you helped us anyway."

Thinking about how to respond, I stared at the sight in front of me. Hundreds of tents and makeshift shelters filled the clearing. I had never seen such a sight in my entire life. Sure there were the gatherings every summer for trading and festivals, but never such an encampment like this. Hammers rang out as smiths and farriers worked, a group of men marched by, armed with a mismatch of guns and bows. This was no summer festival, this was a camp of war.

The guards brought me to a tent that had no tents around it. Two guards from Notredram stood out front. With a word we slipped past them and into the tent. My eyes went wide as I recognized Benji and Shaw, along with the commander of the rangers. Shaw dismissed the guards with a glance, leaving just the five of us. Before they left Tom unbound my hands and handed Shaw my rifle. Both were unexpected, though I had a feeling Shaw was the reason for everything I had seen today.

Kaelyn surprised everyone by running over to Shaw and wrapping her arms around him. While we watched and waited , she babbled, "I am sorry I left like that. You and mother must have been so hurt by my disappearance. I never meant to hurt anyone, I just could not marry him father... I.. I.."

Having a feeling that the two needed a moment, I walked over and greeted Benji along with the ranger. Keeping my voice down I asked after Benji's health, as last I has seen him, he had been injured and I after patching him up had sent him off to Notredram. After discussing his healing and taking my list of herbs that would help him, Benji explained all that had gone on while I had been busy trying to keep myself and Kaelyn alive over the winter. He had spent much of it traveling with the rangers as they checked on various communities and helped them prepare for the possibility of raids from the War Wolves that had taken over Columbia. All the the communities had agreed to throw up a wall around their villages to protect themselves, along with building a single bonfire that would be lit if they came under attack. None of the village or the rangers were confident that the walls and fires would be enough but, it was all they had time to do.

While Benji and the ranger who introduced himself as Sam explained what they had been doing, I kept one ear listening to the murmurs that Shaw and Kaelyn were exchanging. Shaw might be a good friend, but Kaelyn was my business partner. They seemed to be getting to a point where I could bring the group together to discuss what was going on.

Curling my fingers into a fist and raising it to my mouth, I coughed loudly into it. Four sets of eyes stared at me as I began, "So, first things first, what is all this. And do not say some type of expedition."

Exchanging looks with Benji and Sam, Shaw cleared his throat and with a troubled look explained, "Once reports began to filter in to Notredram talking about the siege at Columbia, I began to worry. I knew that if the port fell, all of the communities within a hundred miles would suffer. Some of my colleagues in the other Walled Cities agreed after they were no longer receiving shipments of various goods that they commonly sold and relied upon to earn a living. With their help along with the rangers, and many Outlanders who spoke with Benji, I tried to convince the various councils to hold a high council meeting. Unfortunately for all our efforts they would not listen, so we merchants took matters into our own hands. What you see here is the results of our efforts."

Surprised at how far Shaw and the other merchants had gone, but skeptical at hoe much it really was I inquired, "How many men do you have? The War Wolves number near two thousand strong. They took the city with weapons that made whole buildings explode without even having to see them. Though I did notice that they were poor shots, and used sheer numbers to win."

Shaw nodding slightly at the ranger, listened as Sam asked, "How many so you think survived? My men and I have established refugee camps that total eight thousand souls. The city had ten thousand or so before it fell, with another two hundred to a thousand sailors at any one time, along with a few hundred traders and nearby farmers during harvest season. I estimate maybe fifteen hundred of the mix died, or were forced into slavery. Yet the War Wolves had to take losses as well."

Thinking back on my various trips to the city and my roaming among it, I explained, "As you know the city had a handful of cannons to defend it. There were maybe three hundred guards and twenty or so ships with at least three cannons each when I left. I am no military man but I would guess that they killed a few hundred. How many of them survived I do not know. But I want to know what my involvement with this is? I just got here and have things to do besides debate the condition of Notredram and the Northmen who occupy it."

With a look of anxiety, something I had never seen before from Shaw, he pit his hands out as he started, "You have been charged with breaking the laws of the Walled Cities. I was able to keep you from being tossed into a cell, but only with the promise that you would agree to the council's deal."

No liking how this was sounding I tried to ask for an explanation, but Kaelyn cut me off with a look as she offered, "If Z fights and leads men and women in the coming fight, he will be cleared of all charges, and shall be allowed to continue to trade with Notredram and the other Walled Cities."

"Wait a minute! I...."

"Yes, the council will find those terms acceptable. Should the port city of Columbia be retaken, Z will be a free man to trade with the Walled Cities. If he leads the group of Outlanders that have joined to take back the city," Shaw explained, a hint of regret creeping into his voice.

Understand that this was my only choice and that Shaw had worked hard to get this for me, I nodded my head before turning to Benji, "You are officially my second. Make sure everyone who is coming with us are equipped for the march we have in front of us. I want a lost of what we have available to us for weapons and if anyone has any skills like blacksmithing or carpentry. Give me a report over dinner."

At that Benji and Sam left the three of us alone to talk. Alone with just Shaw and Kaelyn I offered, "Thank you. I cannot imagine that it was easy negotiating with the council on my behalf. Those shots were a mistake I will never forget, but I would still make them if someone ever attacked me again."

Sighing Shaw replied, "I know. What he did was wrong, and he was punished accordingly. My son in law to be will not be doing that anymore, though I guess he is no longer going to be my son in law..." Trailing off into his own thoughts Shaw seemed to lose focus until he asked, "So you two, I see you each met your opposite. Z, I hope she has not driven you too crazy. Though her skills as a merchant and needlework is exceptional... I take it you learned this and more in the months you two have been traveling together."

"Father!" Blushing Kaelyn looked at me for a moment before looking at her father. That look was not lost on Shaw who slyly asked, "Do you have something you want to tell me, or will time show me the fruit of your actions?"

Mentally putting together his words with how Kaelyn"s look could have been interpreted, I hastily stammered, "No, of course not, sir." As I said this I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment, as though I had feelings for her, I would never have thought that I would have been thought of as a father with her.

Flushed red in embarrassment Kaelyn screeched, "Father!"

Throwing his hands up and stumbling backwards, Shaw with a hint of embarrassment and regret, replied, "Sorry. I had to ask. You left and then I heard you were with Z, no offense my boy. I did not know what you were thinking Kaelyn, and to be fair Z is a good man and just the sort I would have wanted you to marry. Your ex fiancé was a poor choice on my part and I could not just back out of it. I would have to objections if you two decided to start a family or your own one day."

Seeing Kaelyn"s face grow redder, I interjected, "Thank you Shaw. If that ever crosses our mind we will tell you... for now she is my business partner and a quick learner who I value immensely. I was wondering if you had time to discuss trade?"

Father and daughter stared at each other before looking me in the eyes and replying, "Not now Z," hints of annoyance added on to their words.