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!"