Around dawn, Stephan and Jeremy arrived in the yard in front of the barracks. The torches were still lit from the night, and the doors and windows were just being opened by newly awoken stablehands headed to take care of the army's horses.

When they stopped near the side of the yard to wait, Jeremy pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and looked at it.

"She's very nonspecific with her requests." He commented, reading the parchment before tucking it back away again.

"As always." Stephan said, watching the stablehands begin sweeping and pulling out tack.

"I wonder who else is coming."

"Who knows, we may be alone."

"I doubt that." Jeremy looked up at the sound of footsteps: a young man with a blonde ponytail was walking into the yard, reading a piece of parchment similar to the one Jeremy had in his pocket. He looked up, caught sight of the two of them, and then headed in their direction.

"Greetings," he said, stopping a few feet away. "I didn't expect to see the two of you."

"Hello, Chase." Jeremy nodded to him.

Kassandra read over the parchment once more as she walked, keeping her brisk pace to ensure that she was not late. It had been quite some time since she had been summoned by anyone, and this particular summoning would be a first. She had never met this ruler before, though in truth she had only met two in the past, but the unknown made her curiosity grow.

As she approached the entrance to the yard she noticed a familiar figure headed the same direction. She did not even need to see his face to know it was him, she would recognize that mess of red hair anywhere.

“Maxwell! I guess you received a summoning as well?”

The man in question turned to look back at the mage, a smile breaking across his face when he did. “Kassandra, it’s nice to see you again. Perhaps we will be working together on…whatever this particular summoning entails.”

Maxwell waited for the young woman to reach him, and when she did they continued their walk into the yard. “I wonder if we will be working together al-“His words cut off when he came into view of three other individuals, none of which he recognized.

“It seems not.” Kassandra chuckled, quickening her pace. “Hello!”

"Hello, there!" Jeremy waved.

Stephan nodded to them.

Jeremy looked the newcomers over. "Were you summoned too?"

“Yes actually, we were.” Kassandra replied, stopping just a few feet away from the trio.

Maxwell stopped beside her and crossed his arms. “Anyone have any ideas of what this might be about?” The man glanced around the yard before giving the trio a once over.

"The queen should be arriving shortly to tell us." Chase said.

Maxwell nodded in understanding, though he kept glancing towards the entrance to the yard.

“You really should calm down and be patient. The queen probably has a very busy schedule.” Kassandra said, having noticed his behavior.