The captain led his men while following the man in purple. Rederick, Morsan, and Kruger rode among them. Rederick looked over at the captain. The captain, disciplined as ever, kept looking forwardforcing himself not to look at Rederick.Rederick slowed down, riding beside the captain. ’What is your name, soldier?If we need to fight together, then it would be niceto know each other’s names at least, no?’ Rederick said. The captain kept looking forward. ’Name is Lucas, sire. Lucas Straumr.’he replied in a commanding voice.Wanting to follow his principles as leader of his battalioneven if their guide and commander for nowwas acting casually.

  ’What do you think of the mission, Lucas?’ Rederick asked,giving him a small smileto reassure him that he could speak normally. Or at least be at ease. Lucas didn’t want that to be the case. Always be prepared for a test. For instant action. That was how Lucas thought of his daily life.. ’If the advisor of our protector thinksthis needs to be done, then I have no quarrelwith it, sire.’still refusing to sound any less chivalrous.

  Rederick gave only a smile, riding back to the front beside Albaras.‘What will we have the captain do once we arrive?’

  ’We let our dear captain be the shield, the armor.The one who is going to gain the honor of their defeat, if he survives.’ Albaras said, laughing.Rederick moved back, hating every word Albaras had just said. Each day, it only grew stronger.The hatred for the man who had spared him.A few more days, when the boy is back. That monster doesn’t need to be seen anymore. Rederick tried to rationalize it to himself. Trying his best not to do something stupid. Not to slow down before Kian was back in sight.

  Morsan and Kruger moved closer to each other.Throughout the journey, they stayed close, telling stories to each other. Some were whispered,others spoken loudly.It seemed that they were bonding. Rederick joined in with them here and there. Anything was better than just listening to Albaras telling his grand tales with that glee. Even if all the others saw him as a natural leader.

  Only Kruger threw some shade at him silently. The only thing Rederick and Kruger bonded overwas the time they had at night.At first, Rederick had a hard time opening up to Kruger. Kruger didn’t let that get in the way. Trying to prove how much of a changed man he was. Albaras ignored them all as they traveled, laughing to himself.

  The tower came into sight atop the mountain like a speck of dust in front of the sun. The battalion made camp for the day. Lucas stepped up front. ’Would that be our target, sirs?’ He asked politely, more to brace himself for the coming reconnaissancethan out of insubordination.His hand rested on his sword, the other gripping the straps of the shield he carried on his back. ‘Getting a little nervous?’ Kruger said, a little of his old madness in his voice. Lucas tried his best to look strong. His gaze and posture didn’t betray him.Just that bit of sweat.’No, my lords. Just want to be ready for when our party arrivesat their doorstep with a welcome gift.’ He composed himself like a true gentleman. To say he was afraid was hard to prove.Albaras stepped in. ’Get your men ready. From here on, it will be hunting rabbits, then finally the majestic stag itself.’ Albaras laughed as he spoke. Rederick gave a glance toward Kruger. He gave a nod, as if what Albaras said would be the best thing to do.

  That night, Lucas was talking with a few of his battalion sergeants.Morsan, with his blackened armor, stood in the shadows. Hearing them, he walked towards them. ’Captain, soldiers. Please continue.’ He greeted them and stood with them. Lucas took a moment. ’Gentlemen, you are excused. Go to your units. Enjoy the night. Tomorrow, we will begin.’ The sergeants gave a small bowand went to their units to relay the news. ’Morsan, what honor did I earn that brings you to me?’ Lucas said with a bow,his helmet tucked under one arm. Morsan walked around Lucas, observing him. ’How do you feel about it?’

  Lucas took a deep breath. ’It was quite surprising thatI would have command of the attackwhile you would split off.’ Lucas said, his disciplined voicehiding everything that lay beneath it. ’Even so, I am glad to say that everything is going well.My men are in high spirits.’

  Morsan stopped. ’Good. Let’s hope it stays that waywe’ll need it if the wall needs to stand.’ Morsan walked away leaving Lucas alone. Lucas stood for a moment, waiting to be alone,before walking off and looking at the sky and the darkness it cast.The moon, the only thing that brought light to them, their fire coveredby the tents around it.Lucas first admired the beauty of the moon. Then he tried to calculate the distancebetween the camp and the tower. Rederick came up to him. ’Isn’t it too early to prepare for it?’ Rederick said as he approached Lucas. Lucas turned sharply after hearing his voice with a bow in honor of the hero of Dunten. The hunter that cared they called him. Peter himself held him in high regard, and Bernhard, the protector of the North itself, had said that if they ever needed another hunter, he would choose Rederick.

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  Now free of daily duties and without the others around, Lucas dared to say, ’Rederick, can we talk freely?’

  Rederick leaned back next to him. ’Sure, you could have the entire day.’ Rederick said jokingly.

  Lucas put his hand on the pommel of his sword. He stopped thinking about the attack and tried to make himself look heroic. ’H How did a man like you become a hunter?Wouldn’t you think you’re more worthy of being called a warden?To start a new house, a new beginning.’

  Rederick gave a dead-looking smile. ’Me, worth that? Nah, my life will lead me down one path,and only to the end that path has to offer.’ The pain in that sentiment was clearly visibleon his face.In the words he spoke, yet he still offered his smile. Somehow it made Lucas respect him more. ’Then why choose only that one path?’ He knew the chance of getting an answer was slim but he needed to try and understand.

  Rederick grabbed his shoulder for a moment. ’Because a certain person made surethat I can only move one way.’ His eyes changed, telling him to be silent and rest.He still offered a smile to let Lucas know he meant nothing ill by it.

  Lucas’s eyes dodged Rederick’s, glancing to the side for a second. Trying to change the subject. ’What do you think lies up there?’’ He wondered if that would be better. Talking about the present rather than the past. Rederick gave a clear answer before walking off. ‘The end of my path.’

  Lucas thought about it as Rederick left. Would this be the beginning for others?He could only wonder.

  Kruger stood for what would be, for many, too close to the fire.Hypnotized by it, as if he wanted the feeling of his skin hardening from the heat. Almost ready to give it a hug. He only took a step back as someone called his name. Turning around, seeing Morsan standing in the shadows.’It is still unbelievable that a Totenj?ger is in another county,fighting a battle that is not his,yet still willing and knowing he may die for it.’ Kruger said, pulling himself away from the fire as if departing from a lover.

  ’I… I need to hope that Albaras is right in this case.We all know he’s a little gone up top.Yet in the end, he is always right. No reason to doubt his words nor the actions he takes.’ Morsan took a step closer. ’We can all sense how Rederick feels about him. I know how you feel too. Yet even he, and you still follow him. Because deep down, both of you knowhe is right and necessary for what is happening everywhere.’ Morsan let his words dawn upon Kruger. As if eagerly waiting for a response. He got none.Kruger walked away from the fire, out of the camp,from where Morsan had just entered.As Kruger past him, he whispered something. ’How necessary does becoming evil getfor the sake of good before the sword turns aroundto claim the remaining piece of rope?What will Albaras do then, when the Emperium doesn’t need hunters anymore? I know one thing for sure. They want their land.’

  Morsan looked on as Kruger left. Orders and hunters. One bends the knee for their lord, the other lives freely. Maybe they will, if that moment arrives, be treated the same way the Emperium the clans and tribes of the county. One could only wait for it.

  Kruger bumped into Rederick. They looked at each other. After the entire journey,after all that talk, they still felt uneasy standing beside each other. ’How a man will rise from ashes. How a monster falls from fire. Would thy rebirth hold true if thy roles where exchanged.’ Kruger said to Rederick. Rederick instinctively tightened his grip on his sword, holding his breath. One of his eyes twitched, thinking of something. Kruger just looked on, waiting for a response.

  Rederick exhaled. ’Roles don’t matter. Fire makes ash. Ash recreates what has already been before.’ Kruger smiled at the response, made a small bow, and continued his way out of camp.Rederick went on toward his tent.

  As Kruger stood outside,he noticed, a bit in the distance, the captain, sitting on a rock. Kruger went up to him. ’Not like you, sitting in the darkness.’

  ’What does a man need to do to think a bit clearly? Just wanted a bit of peace before the red days.After this, there will only be marching and fighting.My men still don’t think much of it. Not knowing how to read, not having learned their first fatigue of war. I have. Other commanders have. Some are properly happy with it. Rising in fame and power. Guess it is bad luck living under House Pineburry. The forgotten protector. The one that prepares. Or at least as long as he is still alive.

  Kruger just listened to him talk. He had seen it before. A man being burdened with the truth,a truth that could make you insane. At least this one was for preparation, not devastation. ’At least you get to be prepared.How many lords, or even captains like you,will go in blindly, expecting their technology to win for them against the hordes of the Beastkin?’ Lucas lifted his gaze from the ground toward Kruger. ’You are right. I know that. Everyone who knows this truth knows it.It is just hard to processtoalready knowing the upcoming losses. The grief what they will have after the war, I will have that before it. Before hard decisions are made. And actions are undertaken.The number of sacrifices before the victory.’ Lucas sighed. ’I just want to safe as many as I can. Even when that is impossible.’

  ’Then be happy to fight for a righteous cause.Be glad that it is not pride you serve. But that it is compassion.’ With that, Kruger left again, letting the captain sit and think. Hoping that his words would ring true.

  Throughout the night, the fire went out. Everyone lay in their tents except for Albaras, forever watching into the dark. He looked at the tower, even in the darkness, pointing at it with an open hand, so that the tower seemed to rest upon it. ’Three days until the massacre arrivesthat you have dealt to everyone else. Three days before looking death in the eyes.Three days before the wrath of innocencedescends upon you.’ Albaras closed his hand into a fistas if to crush the tower. ’Oh, weep, my fellow men.Green will be turned red. Blue will turn grey,and for those opposing me,colors will turn into darkness.’