---

Linceleste continued to accompany the group on the subsequent expedition. She used a spider drone to aid the party search when the circus man who had volunteered to go inside vanished. Sadly, they never come across him or any evidence of it. Linceleste is still upset with him and wants to know how he knew her mother. However, he ultimately disappears. There has been no response to her request.

Later, under the present circumstances. As the spider drone continued to operate, she considered her options. To get the attention of the party, she waved her hand.

"I have bombs that can divert the attention of the military troops. I'll mount them on my drone, drop them, and set them off to detonate at a key location, allowing us to pass through while the military perceives it as a siege from the opposite side.

Wat'cha think, Skipper?"Linceleste suggested to the party and looked on Carmen on last.

@A5G@Mas Bagus

---

Once more, Carnatia had to hold back a sigh as some among the group seemed to lean more toward attacking the outpost. Did they not agree to avoid confrontation when possible?

It was not even that Carnatia was a pacifist, it was more that she did not see the merit in doing so. Sure, backtracking would mean they lost on time, but it was not as if they were on a time limit.

"I vote for backtracking and looking for another route," Carnatia said to the group. She then elaborated, "For the sake of argument, let us say that it is guaranteed that we would triumph over them. What merit, exactly do we have in this scenario? Time-wise, we do not even know how much time we could save by doing so, and we're not even on a time limit in the first place. Fighting them also wastes our energy in case we need to actually fight an unavoidable conflict later on. But most of all, the more we make problems for the local authority, the more we'll have trouble moving around because the more they will be on alert for us, which could make us lose more time than backtracking in the long run.

---

Well, Osric could not say he was surprised to see a well established outpost this far into the forest. He was hoping they could reach the next settlement before nightfall, but those ideas were quickly ended. He supposed it was too much to ask for the rest of this leg on their journey to be easy. But to be put into a predicament so soon after learning what happened to Captain Carmen’s colleagues. He was a little surprised Mirielle didn’t immediate suggest they raze the fort to the ground. After all, those soldiers seem aligned with the unceremonious killers from the vision.

“What are the chances those men are not already aware of our party?” said Osric. His gaze went from those soldiers wandering about the blockade and then up to the towers. He believed the party’s place along the tree line still kept most of the party hidden from any watchful eyes in those towers. Osric wanted to see how many men were keeping a lookout. Including both towers and the men along the road, it wasn’t impossible to take them on, but it also wasn’t going to be easy.

“I think I’ll have to agree with Carnatia on this one, with one caveat. We are not the only ones looking for this Thomas person. And I think it would be fair to say these red stripes have had a huge head start. So if we can get past here without being noticed would be best. I’m liking little Lynx’s idea. With her drone, she could remotely set up a distraction to keep their eyes from us as we pass by through the tree line.”

---

“I think I’ll have to agree with Carnatia on this one, with one caveat. We are not the only ones looking for this Thomas person. And I think it would be fair to say these red stripes have had a huge head start. So if we can get past here without being noticed, that would be best. I’m liking little Lynx’s idea. With her drone, she could remotely set up a distraction to keep their eyes from us as we pass by through the tree line.”

"I'm not sure why we are assuming that these red stripes are looking for Paladin Thomas, have I missed something? I thought we agreed that there was not enough evidence from Captain Carmen's lantern to form any conclusion one way or another. As for Linceleste's plan..."

It was, admittedly a reasonable plan. The best case scenario was if they could get past the outpost without being noticed. Still, she had some concerns before agreeing to it.

Turning to Linceleste, she asked, "Some questions, Lady Linceleste. Are those bombs normal bombs you can find everywhere or are they specially crafted bombs? If they are the latter after they explode, would they leave any traces? Such as fragments or such that could allow the soldiers to infer it was not any normal explosives? My concern is if those explosives are not something that are readily available here, wouldn't they suspect our involvement? Given that the captain from earlier has already seen your spider drones. Therefore, if they found exotic explosives that seem to be made using a high level of technology not found here, you, and subsequently us, would be their primary suspect."

"I have bombs that can divert the attention of the military troops. I'll mount them on my drone, drop them, and set them off to detonate at a key location, allowing us to pass through while the military perceives it as a siege from the opposite side.

Wat'cha think, Skipper?"Linceleste suggested to the party and looked on Carmen on last.

Carmen did not reply immediately. His eyes were glued on the outpost and the sentries. The question was left hung until Carnathia spoke about the importance of not starting another trouble before asking Lenceleste about the nature of her bomb.

Meanwhile, Osric seemed to agree with Lynx's plan. However, it was his question that made the Capitan twitch.

"This is... honestly maddening," said Carmen. "I don't think they had no inkling about the execution of our brethren, and if they were After Thomas, they should know his whereabouts. I know we had a plan to go straight to Sielse, but I am also afraid that we might miss an important clue if we just leave them be.

"Miss Carnathia, may I implore you to where and what route we must take should we refrain from crossing through their barricades? Assuming we follow your proposal and if our map is to be trusted, do we know the end of every alternative path and road? Is our supply of provisions enough for such a lengthy journey?"

The captain shook his head and looked again at the fortification with a twinkle of fire in his eyes.

"If none of us here know, and the distraction plan is doubting, I will head there and demand to speak with their captain. Some of us may stay here if you want. If all is well and we somehow reached an understanding, we could continue our investigation without being hounded by their faction, or at least we know that they were not the ones responsible. Who shall be my companion in this parlay?"

"I understand your concern, Amaris, but I must try this. I know how their military operates, and as a field commander to another, I am optimistic we might be able to see eye to eye."

To that word, the sarkaz woman shrugged.

"Should we decide to talk to them, we should be ready to at least trying to run away... Maybe a well placed explosion could make it much easier... Regardless, an escape plan is definitely needed." Amaris finished as she looked to the rest of the group.

"That's why I need some of you to stay here, If they don't play nice, we shall unleash hell on them to break free."

When the party was in the process of arranging their plan, a carriage suddenly emerged from the darkness and rode toward the garrison at a rather hasty speed. Carmen paused to spy on the incoming actor, who stopped near the gate for security checks. From this distance, they could hear the sentries gloating loudly.

"You are dead meat, Ealdorman! The captain hates to deal with latecomers! Hahahaha!"

"You are clear, just get in, and don't forget to beg for leniency!"

Now back to the party, Carmen produced two metal compasses from his pocket and handed one to Leinceleste.

"Press this button to speak. This button to listen, I will keep mine ready so everyone can hear what is going on. I will ask you to stay here, Miss Lynx. You are our trump card when everything goes south. We will go with your plan as our countermeasures, you know what to do!"

After saying that, Carmen removed his cloak and wrapped it around the teenager's shoulder. It will keep you warm. This will be a long night.

"Who's going with me?" Carmen asked again.

"Carmen!?" Mirielle exclaimed in disbelief at the insane proposal of going into the heart of hostile territory. No matter how skilled, a blade to the right place will end him all the same. The same applied to most of everyone present, whoever went will risk their life. Even if they razed the entire place after, it'll be little consolation to the ones already slain.

Her thoughts went to the recently disappeared Ludvig. Of all people, he'd be the most suitable for the job... unfortunate that he deserted. Mirielle could scant imagine anyone or anything taking him away against his will without any of the merry little band noticing after all.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself and putting the unstable man out of mind. No use thinking about what could've been. Their cards were dealt, now it's time to make the best use out of it.

"I believe I am most suitable for the escort." She raised, glancing at the rest of the party. "The two of us have fought side by side before, we know best how to cover one another. And I'm quite hard to put into the grave, I stand the best chance of surviving until the rest of the team can intervene should things go south."

Her glances darted from one person to another, though whether she's looking for support or daring them to object was unclear.

---

“Was it agreed? I’m sorry, my lady. I sort of lost track with what you all were saying during your long winded discussion earlier.” said Osric, obviously embarrassed about tuning out the potentially important information Carnatia was speaking among the grave sites. He coughed, eager to move on to the current topic on hand. Right now, there was a fort between here and the settlement it purported to be apart of.

At a glance, it looked like the fates of his recently discovered colleagues still weighed on him as the various plans and concerns being voiced echoed with his thoughts. Yet, even with the uncertainties, he chose a course of action. A risky option all things considered. They were outnumbered and outgunned. If their goal was to take the fort, acting on surprise would be the best option. Then again, with Amaris taking out an entire town by herself, maybe there would be a chance. Still, surrendering himself did not feel like a good idea.

“You’re really going to do this, huh?” said Osric. “Well you’ve heard Amaris and Carnatia. I have to say, I agree with them. This is a dumb idea. Hell, don’t let me stop you then. I’ll stay out here with the girl. If anything goes wrong in there, I will have a better shot at taking out the towers from out here.” Osric removed his rifle off his shoulder giving a quick look through to make sure all cylinders were loaded. Going in was going to be a balancing act. They needed few people to not appear threatening on approach, but enough to better support each other in a fight. Amanita stood out too much, so she should probably stay back as well. Her fungal appearance would work as camouflage at least. Rezello should probably as well on account of his mask. Also wouldn’t hurt to have someone holding a defensive line once shit hit the fan.

“Whoever decides to go with the two holy folks, be careful. We don’t want to lose anyone else.” Said Osric. He rested the rifle against his shoulder, holding it by the stock. He looked towards the woman in the robes of atonement, “That said, Amaris, I think you should go with them. Your reflexes with those chains of yours could be useful in close quarters. And I hate to bring this up, but you are quite capable in a crowd.”

---

"I understand your concern, Amaris, but I must try this. I know how their military operates, and as a field commander to another, I am optimistic we might be able to see eye to eye."

Carnatia bit back a retort. She had already said her piece, to further argue was to eschew the chain of command. Carmen, was after all, in charge of this mission.

Despite her murky history with her family's tradition of producing famous knights for Westernant, she was born to a martial, military-oriented noble family. All three of her father's children had been prepared to take military command. So she understood the necessity of a chain of command.

Therefore, despite her misgiving, she would acquiesce to Carmen on this one.

The discussion then turned into who would go along with Carment to parley. Mirielle then volunteered herself. While Osric suggested Amaris.

...No offence to those two, but Carnatia did not have faith in them for negotiation. Still, she ought to put it tactfully. And so, she spoke, "I think Lady Amaris' assessment is correct. No offence intended, but I suspect your Sarkazian lineage would only arouse suspicion. Especially if they are with the red stripes. I've heard rumours of them holding on to backwater pseudo-arcane belief that magic inherently is evil and warps the mind. Who knows what sort of superstition they have for Sarkaz. I will go with Lady Mirielle and Captain Carmen. I am a noble and as a daughter of a Ducal Household, I am somewhat versed in diplomacy. I am not sure how much I can help, but at the very least, I think I can contribute more than were I to stay here."

"Still, If you really think it would be a good idea... I can still go." Amaris said, acquiescing as she sighed.

"I am sure Osric is more than confident enough on his aim to land a surprise shot in the guards should things start to get ugly. Some explosions to stop, or at least delay reinforcements would be interesting as well, should the situation calls for it. I am sure you will both take care of our backs, right?" Amaris finished, nodding towards Osric as she noticed him checking his gun and Linceleste.

"You will always be needed on whatever front you choose. But the question is do you want to?" Carmen asked teasingly, chuckling. "It is not an order this time, Amaris. You are a free woman and I have promised that I shall not compel you on anything against your will. Far be it from me to force my friends to take a risk they don't want to."

After saying that Carnathia interjected.

"I think Lady Amaris' assessment is correct. No offence intended, but I suspect your Sarkazian lineage would only arouse suspicion. Especially if they are with the red stripes. I've heard rumours of them holding on to backwater pseudo-arcane belief that magic inherently is evil and warps the mind. Who knows what sort of superstition they have for Sarkaz. I will go with Lady Mirielle and Captain Carmen. I am a noble and as a daughter of a Ducal Household, I am somewhat versed in diplomacy. I am not sure how much I can help, but at the very least, I think I can contribute more than were I to stay here."

"Well, having Amaris with us is still a huge advantage if we approach this parley with low optimism that the other party would acquiesce to our request. So that would depend on her, Amaris has the final say on this."

Carmen gestured toward the Sarkaz woman before bowing at Carnathia. "Thank you for trusting me."

To Osric he added. "The Lord Creator shall protect us, but to be safe I think a briefing would be appropriate, we shall approach their post slowly by horse, at that moment, please cover our approach. You don't have to focus on the sentries by the towers, even if each of them was armed with muskets. Either muskets or bows or crossbows, the limitation of such arms are apparent in the great distance, instead, focus on the guarding soldiers near the blockades."

"Well, friends. If we are done with our small arrangement, let us go."

---

“I didn’t think you would be the one speaking. And if I can be frank here, with your hood up and your lips sealed, they might not notice you’re not what one might traditionally call human. I mean because of your teeth.” said Osric, finding himself trying to explain what he was thinking. He was simple when it came to matters of diplomacy. Amaris being what she was didn’t cross his mind until it was brought up. “I’m going to stop while I’m behind. I guess my thinking was more focused on the worst case scenario.”

Osric coughed and took a couple steps to the side, but still within the circle of discussion. His gaze shifted from the group to the guards meandering about the barricade, leisurely talking about this and that, barely audible that they were even conversing. Occasionally there would be a laugh, a sneeze, or cough. Osric counted how many soldiers stood guard outside the fort walls. His eyes darted between them, his mouth moving slightly with each count.

“Okay. You can trust me to watch your back, captain.” said Osric, “There is a number of them, but from this range, I can cover you no problem should anything happen. If you managed to get inside, that’ll be a different story. You’ll be on your own then. I warn you though. Once you’re up there, don’t underestimate the effective range from any of those sentries in those towers.”

---

Carmen handed the compass to Linceleste, who took it. Her eyes gleamed as she held an intriguing gadget. As Skipper explained the compass to her, she listened with both ears open. She continued to examine the gadget when Skipper suddenly put his robe across her shoulder. She paused for a while and a burst out of steam was released on her head followed by a flushed face. She tried to stay by herself and made an effort to hide the flushed face.

Later, she was regained. The drone's belly was visible below as it lay down. Linceleste was getting ready. With two incendiary types of fire bombs for sabotaging the camp's valuable facilities, as well as explosive fire bombs for breaching the walls. On the bomb bay near the spider drone's belly, the party will witness her rearming her drone with bombs that she made.

Rezello

---

The memory of the lantern's projected visions ran through Rezello's mind as the party left behind the makeshift grave site. The priests deserved better, but it was the best they were able to provide at the time. The silhouettes of the three executioners in particular stuck with him, and the 'experiments' they had been discussing; seeing what their results were, what sort of goal could justify such acts? Nothing but satisfying a sadistic desire for cruelty came to mind. His conclusion was clear: should they encounter those three or others responsible for these experiments, there would be no room for mercy. Death was too good for such people, but leaving them alive would be a greater injustice.

When they stopped in the forest to rest, one of their members - the "self-righteous coward" - vanished. Perhaps what they had witnessed was too much for his pacifism, or the moniker had been more than just a self-deprecating jest. A pity they had already lost one of their numbers, but there was nothing that could be done about it now. After a cursory search of the forest surrounding their temporary stop, they continued on their way, eventually ending up on the outskirts of a simple fortified outpost and an accompanying roadblock, preventing them from continuing undetected.

Thus, the party set to establish a plan. After some debate, it seemed the decided course of action was for Carmen, accompanied by a few of their members, would attempt to talk with the commander of the outpost, while the rest remained behind, ready to come to their aid if diplomatic means failed. "If this is the plan we're going with, I think I'd do best to remain here. After all, I'm no diplomat, and from what we know of these men I don't think my presence is going to do much to help your case otherwise. Should things take a turn for the worst, my sword arm is always ready. Best of luck to you, captain."

The party did not waste any time. After getting on their horses again and making a turn so their approach wouldn't raise suspicion, they slowed down.

"Let me be your outrider and observe. If they show any sign of hostility after seeing us, we retreat. Do not wait for me, yeah?"

Spacing himself some 4 meters away from his companion, Carmen squinted his eyes to do his part: keeping an eye on the patrolling soldiers. They had now seen him, and his heart skipped a beat when they announced their presence to their friends. Red stripes, it had been five years since his latest encounter with them at the border. The memory was unpleasant at best but, somehow it played in his head like some sort of survival reminder.


"Peace!" he shouted, raising his hand as he steered his horse in a slow and careful approach toward the right side of the road. The soldiers did not react as drastic as he expected, and glancing to the left side of the road, it seemed the sentries on the towers hadn't readied their weapons yet.

"Stop!" said the patroller, diverting Carmen's attention back to the red stripes blocking the road. Only one of them was armed with a musket; the other had a crossbow and was seen reloading it as they approached their sergeant. "The road is closed." Said their sergeant, unsheathing his sword. What he said surprised Carmen for a bit, even if this sergeant was a different specimen from one they encountered this morning, his lack of alertness was concerning. The accident this morning should have made the entire base aware of their presence.

"You look suspicious! Where are you from and what business do you have riding in the night like some sort of fairytale?"

The sergeant walked closer as Carmen dismounted from his horse, placing his hand on his chest as he introduced himself.
"My name is Carmen Andario Friston, son of Duque Galvez Andario Friston, these are my companions, Miss Amaris, Baron Carnathia De Valmont, and last but not least, Inquisitor Mirielle."

The sergeant spat before smiling at the ladies, showing his partially yellowed teeth in his rather unsettling attempt to show courtesy.

"That's a pretty serious name you brought in this 'umble land. Prince Friston." said the sergeant sarcastically. "And your business here?"

"That would be to parlay with your Garrison commander."

The sergeant paused, tilted his head sideways, and looked at them up and down as if examining an antique. Meanwhile, it seemed his friends had already surrounded them as the talk took place, watching them carefully from a respectable distance.

"Wait, this rings a bell!" exclaimed the sergeant. "You are not the scoundrels who beat Yarkut and his ilks this morning, are you? Oh yes, it has to be you, alright! Aint no peasant here rides horses, and rebels and traitors don't dress as fancy!"

The moment he said that the entire group seemed more alert, but only the arbalest and musketeers aimed their weapons, the rest remained at their place, watching in anticipation.

"I assure you we come in peace." Said Carmen, glancing wildly at the sergeant. "We approached you with cordial intent, you said know who we are and the crest of my clan is pinned on my hat. All we wish is to talk with your captain, harm any us, and you shall instigate war with Westernant, are you ready to bear that burden?!"

The sergeant winced and grunted. "Ah, true what you say, Prince. But we can't overlook what you did back then. Nobody here likes Yarkut and his squad, a bunch of snobs they are, but still, order is order."

"We are not here to get arrested." Carmen's hand crept closer to the pommel of his sabre.

"Not like that. Now you are here, the Commander will decide what to do with you, saving me from the trouble that way. We will grant you a pass, but only you and Miss Baron. Had you come here with only yours truly and that lady with carrot hair, we shall have no problem. But your other aides? One looked like she could eat me like a striga and the other? I could see it from here Gal is itching to bust some head open. You can get in, but they will stay here!"

"I will not go in there unless all of my friends go with me," said Carmen resolutely. "It is a perilous journey from Dragon's Maw to Sielse one should be pardoned if he brought with him a few stern friends. Besides, that's very ungentlemanly of you to insult them when they have done no offense."

"Don't be too hesitant, Prince! The accident this morning happened." the sergeant snorted. "But, that's true what you said. What message to the commander you wish to relay?"

"That is confidential."

"Gotta do better than that."

"The situation in the border."

Pausing again, the sergeant turned to his deputies, talking to one who shook his head in doubt. "Easy, there are only four of them and dozens of us inside. Even if they are lying bastards, what chance do they have?"

Returning back to Carmen, the sergeant chuckled dryly. "Sorry for that, old hate toward the old royals, you see. Fine, you can go in, but your horses stay outside. Kolya! Take this prince and princess to Commander Melnik!"

The soldier Kolya nodded, and with a deadpan expression gestured the party to follow him. "Open the gate! Envoy's coming!"

---

As the parlay party approached the entryway. Linceleste, along with the rest of the party, remained within the tree line. She kept a low profile, blending into the darkness of the treeline, her robe disguising her glowing appearances, and sat with a cross-legged position on her ice-made chair facing opposite of the camp, listening to the compass that Carmen had given her. Her spider drone was on standby, idling beside her, waiting for her command. Listening to the situation of Carmen’s voices from his compass.

The spider drone started to move on as the entrance guards have their attention to the Carmen’s parley team. It crossed on the different side of the road with ease and was unnoticeable due to its crystallized structure camouflaging the area heading through, kept crawling under the lower part of the wall for a blind spot. Once it arrived on the first target spot. It dropped the bomb like it was laying an egg, sticking on the wooden wall. Same thing on the second target spot. The explosive bomb was placed into two sides of the northern wall. Both sides, on between the edge and the center of the northern wall. Simulating both side breaching spots. The spider drone stood by at the center of northern wall. The spider drone was waiting for the signal. Once it gets breached by the two bombs, it will go to two valuable facilities to sabotage with incendiary bombs. Bombs are still inactive and will be active once Linceleste cast an activation on it, for now it still those are still in standby.

The spider drone started to move on as the entrance guards have their attention to the Carmen’s parley team. It crossed on the different side of the road with ease and was unnoticeable due to its crystallized structure camouflaging the area heading through, kept crawling under the lower part of the wall for a blind spot. Once it arrived on the first target spot. It dropped the bomb like it was laying an egg, sticking on the wooden wall. Same thing on the second target spot. The explosive bomb was placed into two sides of the northern wall. Both sides, on between the edge and the center of the northern wall. Simulating both side breaching spots. The spider drone stood by at the center of northern wall. The spider drone was waiting for the signal. Once it gets breached by the two bombs, it will go to two valuable facilities to sabotage with incendiary bombs. Bombs are still inactive and will be active once Linceleste cast an activation on it, for now it still those are still in standby.

The mechanical spider managed to slip past the distracted soldiers unnoticed and planted the grenade with no difficulties. However, returning back seemed to be a tall order. As the Captain's group entered the premises, the patrolling soldiers immediately resumed their duty.

_________

Meanwhile, Carmen desperately fought a sense of uneasiness when the gate was closed behind him, trying to dismiss it as the usual conduct every military in the world accustomed to. How long has be been? He wondered. They said once you were already part of the hierarchy, you could never get out, apparently his faithful allegiance to the order proved it otherwise.

By the grace of Kolya the soldier, the party was led toward the eastern part of the camp, there parked the two enclosed carriages they saw earlier. Next to that carriage, stood two men; One officer wearing a worn-out breastplate painted red, and the other was a monocled officer that seemed to be their quartermaster.

In front of those officers, a man dressed only slightly better than common peasantries could be seen prostrating. Even from this distance, it was clear that the two officers didn't seem very happy.

"You take me for a blind or a fool?! Half of this week's shipment is ROTTEN!"

The officer's outburst made even the deadpanned Kolya stop dead in his tracks, gesturing the party to halt and wait as well.

"No one's interrupting Commander Melnik if they know better," he said.

It was hard to tell what the other, especially the peasant said in defense, but the keywords were 'mercy' 'thievery' and the rebels pillaging their crops. It seemed Menik wasn't convinced and he dismissed it as the fault of the peasantry, all wrapped in lousy lies.

"Carve this in your filthy head. We are here to bestow you yokels security and order, and I and my men are already doing our part, ain't that fair of you to do yours too by obeying the acquisition order? Damn it! Do you want to play that way?! Fine! Soldiers! Give this man twenty-five lashes! A punishment for sabotage by delivering defective goods. Your food will be halved this week. Make sure you say your thanks to our dear Ealdorman. Do it now!"

It was after four soldiers dragged the Ealdorman away, and his cry for mercy resounded in that camp, Kolya then allowed the party to move forward.

"Evening, Sir. You've got some guests. They are nobles from Westernant."

Melnik squinted, while the appearance of the strangers did not betray the image of the so-called 'nobles', Westernant and the red stripes were hardly allies, and it was the fact that both field commanders knew all too well.

Breaking an awkward silence, Melnik glared at his subordinate to continue. "Well, and their names?"

"Carmen Andario Friston, son of Duque Galvez Andario Friston, these are my companions, Miss Amaris, Baron Carnathia De Valmont, and Inquisitor Mirielle. We come to you to parley."

"They were the assailants... sir. Sergeant Tarin let them in, and said they might have information that might interest you."

The commander sighed in disbelief. Both amused and cautious. "I will be damned! You are dismissed soldier, and Sir Quartermaster, gather some conscripts to unload those grains. I want everything inventoried!"

Then he turned again to Carmen. "Long way from Castediar, Captain Friston. Or should say the Prince in shining armor? You've caused us a great deal of confusion this morning, and now you approached my camp as if nothing happened! What a noble attitude, and we received you with open arms and friendly greetings! I don't remember Westernant Border Guards acting that amicably to those poor refugees seven years ago."

"I don't think that was our purpose of this parley." It was Carmen's turn to observe the commander; he seemed like a man in his late fifty, with a tall and stocky figure, common characteristics of Native Tretagorian. His nails were clean, and his face was cleanly shaved with hair trimmed neatly. He looked like someone who hailed from an educated background, and somehow, his face wasn't all too unfamiliar.

"Westernant shot those poor hicks without a second thought!"" Rasped Melnik glancing cautiously at Carmen and his companions with an intimidating gaze. The next words came out of him in a bitter scowl "That's something to ponder, ain't that true, Captain Frston? And there is more; today you and your groupies had cost me two men. How could I act like nothing has ever happened? How could WE approach this parley with cordial intent?"

---

Carnatia accompanied Carmen and the rest into the outpost. There was a bit of argument at the gates, but eventually, Carmen managed to convince the soldiers to allow them in. Carnatia did take notice that they referred to Carmen as a 'Prince'. More likely than not, it was sarcasm than anything else, but it was something she would keep in the back of her mind just in case.

The soldiers then took the group to meet the commander, where they witnessed soldiers harshly rebuking a peasant over a rotten shipment. The sight confirmed Carnatia's previous suspicion that the soldiers they encountered on the road earlier were probably enacting a 'justice' derived from dubious legal procedure.

It was true that requisitioning peasants for supplies such as grains, especially in a time of crisis was a thing that could be done, even by Westernant's laws. But enforcing it to such a degree, from a pragmatic standpoint was unwise. Peasant rebellion may be put down easily enough, but it still took resources and had long-term unpleasant consequences. But even that aside, there was a gulf between the peasants unable to fulfil the requisition due to things legally called Force Majeure and willfully engaging in sabotage by delivering defective goods, such as what the peasant was being punished for.

Soldiers playing fast and loose with laws and punishment was a mark of a bankrupt judicial system, an indication of a larger rot in the region. What she had seen so far more and more made her think that Sielse being absorbed into Westernant was for the best for its people after all.

Finally, the commander in charge met with the group. The commander immediately brought up the incident at the border to question their intent of parley.

Carnatia replied, "Let us not forget, Commander, that when Westernant opened its border to accept refugees of your Civil War despite our status as enemies, Tretagor repaid that gesture by sending in spies along with the refugees. But, just as I am sure you are about to say that you had nothing to do with that, so do we have little to do with that debacle. So why not we put the past behind us? As for our intent, I would like to point out that we did attempt to de-escalate, only for your men to shoot at us. But even disregarding that, we do not cause any further harm than necessary, one of our own even helped heal their wounds. We could also continue to avoid law enforcement, but here we are to clear the misunderstanding. I'd like to think that proves we are coming in good faith. That said, it was undeniable that our side started the conflict, it was a rash decision by some among our numbers. For that, we do apologize."