“Are you sure you want to travel by land?” Their Highness Rowen stood in the doorway to the patio, looking out over the Coral Palace below.

  The castle was always a sight to behold, towering teal and pink spires with a glass-like sheen, and floating crystal bridges connecting everything in the sky. One of Rowen’s greatest works, if they did say so themselves. Often.

  Lysander had always been hopeless with artistry, and so the elf had turned to his best friend for help. Of course, what started as an engagement present for Callisto quickly became a safe haven in the war, and a replacement for the old duke's estate when the old imperial army burned it down. This place wasn't a castle built to defend, but Callisto's enchantments and barriers protected everyone through the chaos.

  This place was meant as a gift… and now it was just another reminder that the Grand Duke was gone.

  The soft rustle of fabric told the fox that Bastian bowed politely behind them. “With Pirate Abra targeting the Sumbrian coast? Yes... though I was hoping to arrive in Sumbria before the crown prince. With your permission, we would teleport to the Servalt capital and travel south from there.”

  How rare, that the boy was asking for something. Changing Rowen's schedule could affect international relations - but that only made the fox smile.

  Might as well cancel all travel plans and explore instead. Without Bastian around, Rowen could finally slip away for some real fun. They wondered how their daughter in Nilheim was fairing… maybe they should check in on the child.

  “If you’re going to the Capital… isn’t it better to travel south by sea?” Rowen mused.

  “Pirate Abra is still at large,” Bastian countered, “And a couple of enchanted horses will do just as well. Besides, I’m planning to catch one of our new sailing ships back home and I’m not sure how Countess Peregrine fares on a ship. Especially after a teleport. Two ocean voyages in a row might be two too many.”

  Such consideration for a mate; the drakin had it bad. And while Rowen hadn’t known this would happen, the fox was certainly going to hold it over the commander for the rest of his days.

  Fate was a kind goddess, even if she wasn’t Rowen's own.

  “Alright.” Rowen nodded. “You have my leave. Jasper?”

  The mostly blind mage spoke, “I can be ready on the hour.”

  “Go on then.” Rowen waved a hand, dismissing them.

  Bastian hesitated, “Carsen will take over as head guard, Your Highness…”

  The part begging Rowen to behave was left unspoken, and unheard. Where was the fun in that? Still, it wouldn’t do to scare the commander into cancelling his trip. Rowen turned to face the drakin and rested one hand on the man’s shoulder, reassuring. “I’m sure he’ll manage.”

  After one last pause, Bastian bid his farewell and turned to leave with Jasper. Unfortunately, Sir Rebecca was returning from her lunch and met them in the doorway.

  Rowen cursed, they had so been looking forward to jumping off the balcony the second Bastian was out of sight.

  “What’s wrong?” Rebecca reverted straight to work mode. “Why’s Jasper leaving his post?”

  It looked like the fox would have to wait a little longer to slip away.

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  …

  Lishinia could forgive the commander general for not being an elf. She could forgive him the land of his birth and the fact that he still lived and worked in that faraway place.

  She could even forgive him for arranging that godsforsaken teleport experience that still churned her stomach.

  But Lish could never forgive the drakin for his lecherous hands.

  Just look at him! Lacing his fingers with her mistress’s in broad daylight! When forced to let go, he would slide one arm around Peregrine’s waist, or shoulders, or arm.

  Every moment, the man was manhandling her charge, and Lish was one breath away from putting laxative in his tea.

  The audacity!

  Her lady was a saint, putting up with the advances in her usual calm manner.

  Thankfully, Bastian had had to give her some space while horseback riding. They couldn’t share a saddle and ride like the wind.

  The goal was to reach Cutter’s End by nightfall, the last town before entering the great canyon between Servalt and Sumbria. That was proving difficult with the inclement weather.

  “Was it this wet coming through last time?” The commander asked the second time they had to stop for a disaster. The first time was when a section of road had flooded. This part was completely washed out from a mudslide. Trees, rocks and more covered about twenty feet of the pass - not a lot, but enough to halt their trip.

  Bastian dismounted and walked up to the debris, immediately grabbing a fallen tree and pulling it, roots and all, out of the mud. He casually tossed it to the side of the road.

  Peregrine replied from her horse, “Yes. It rained the entire time we passed through.”

  “If it’s been like this since before the ball, I can’t imagine it’s going to get any easier.” Bastian grabbed a rock and threw it towards the tree. He wasn’t wearing a hood, and his short hair dripped rivulets of water down his face. “It’ll take me a few hours to clear this, why don’t you both find shelter?”

  Lishinia wasn’t in the mood to assist the big oaf, but this wasn’t a job for him. “Mistress, may I?”

  Peregrine pushed back the hood of her cape and nodded, “Just don't burn out, I only have the one potion.”

  Lish handed her reins over and jumped down. Then she cracked her fingers. “If you would, Commander. Please move aside.”

  The drakin raised an eyebrow, but politely stepped back.

  Lish didn’t have anything as fancy as a spatial ring, but she didn’t need one. Her Skill came with it’s own magical equipment.

  “The Night Scatters all to Dust, But There is No Fear When I Wield What is Proper [Cleaning Arsenal].”

  A dark glimmer appeared in Lishinia’s hand, forming into a large shovel as big as she was with a blade as wide as her shoulders.

  “Consumed in Shadow, Let Dirt Fade From Sight, [Deep Clean]”

  With an enhanced cleaning tool, and a bonus Perk that converted a percentage of dust into shadow, she made quick work hauling the dirt and mud and grime to the side. Bastian stepped in to carry away four more fallen trees, but otherwise let Lish do her work.

  “It looks like the maid is as powerful as her mistress.” The drakin commented, watching Lish shovel a rock that weighed twice as much as he did.

  “She’s a very skilled [Maid].” Peregrine replied; a mark of pride for Lish, who redoubled her efforts. “And good at what she does.”

  Fifty-two minutes later, a path was passable, and Lish was getting a warning notification about her mana. Nothing rest wouldn’t cure… eventually.

  “I don’t think we’ll make it to Cutter’s Edge by sunset.” Peregrine announced, saying what they were all thinking. Lish would’ve recommended finding a spot not near a mudslide area and setting up camp, when Peregrine added, “But it’s not like we had any sun to begin with - I think we should push through.”

  The skies might have been grey and dreary, but it was still bright enough to see… where after sunset the moonless wet dark awaited. Lish knew her mistress wanted to rush home, but they shouldn’t risk danger - she turned to the commander and hoped he’d have some sense to argue.

  Of course, she shouldn’t have counted on the drakin.

  “As long as you’re sure?” There was even obvious hesitation in the man’s tone, but he was useless.

  Her mistress flicked her reins, urging her horse forward.

  “Oh, I’m sure.”

  patreon on monday? Yes. Did I? No.

  By Patreon vote, it looks like Bastian and Peregrine might be detouring through the dark enchanted forest instead of catching that planned boat ride to Peldeep... what's a six chapter side quest in what was supposed to be my 'short story'? this is fine! > . <