Royce was nervous. It was not as if he had not had training, nor was it as if he had not killed someone before, but rushing into a war zone was different. He knew he would have to reign in his two companions as well, to prevent them from trying to fight the entirety of Bardoo’s army.

  They would do it too. Those idiots who fight for honor and justice, who are so damn admirable that it makes my heart burst. Don’t worry, I’ll guide us to the perfect victory.

  He sighed. His feet were sore from traveling game trails, mood was slightly irritable. His frailness would have to be put behind him, this war the Band of the Promised One was waging could afford no weakness.

  Royce had never visited the Kingdom of Bardoo, but so far the land was only slightly different from Welkia. They had yet to see a village or city, so he could only speculate on the state of the citizenry and architecture from information gathered previously.

  A day prior they had traveled over the border without any issue; no patrol met them. That was for the best, as they did not anyone to know what the three of them would be up to.

  After traveling a bit into Bardoo they split with Idwyn, who would lay the groundwork in Tentington to assist them when they arrived. Hopefully, after this was resolved they could swiftly travel to the capital and unite Bardoo with Welkia. Whether it would happen that easily had yet to be determined.

  With Idwyn heading off the trio did an about-face, to head back to the border and scout for bands of soldiers that were raiding their Kingdom. They would not expect hunters from behind, especially because they were only three young warriors. What they could do would be limited, but still, they had to try.

  Emerii raised a hand. “Ahead.” Her deity was paramount to the discovery of their enemy, as well as to prevent a battle from breaking out before the time was ripe.

  They all fell into a crouch and sought cover. “How many?” Artowen asked.

  “Just two, ranging out to secure their camp. We’ll have to risk their deity abilities, but we should be able to move in closer without being discovered.”

  Royce gave a sickly smile. “Then it’ll be time to wait. Have I ever told you how amazing you are Emerii.”

  “Only every day.”

  They began to sneak further forward to find a place to rest and spy on their quarries. This was not an operation that could be carried out immediately, it required patience.

  Poise ourselves in waiting.

  Then strike.

  Night choked Royce, the lack of fire constricting his life as he stared into the night. The location they occupied was perfect for keeping distance, though the fires of the camps were far off. Loneliness constrained him, but he let his mind run free with thoughts on the coming conflict, of how he might assist his friends.

  Arty and Emerii slept fretfully next to him. It had already been a full day and the ache had set in. How much longer would they have to wait? They were given a week, but that was no guarantee that the small bands of soldiers would invade in that time frame. He knew Arty would be determined to wait until they struck.

  If we wait too long Arty will charge them all himself. Even he can’t accomplish that feat.

  A hand found his shoulder in the darkness, and he jumped. “You look tired Royce, you should rest.”

  “I’m fine Arty. We don’t know when our opening will come. I must be ready.”

  Arty grunted. “Are you sure this is how we do it? I’ll not be an assassin.”

  “We are simply taking their leaders unaware in battle. A common and accepted tactic that is hardly honorless. Take out the heads, especially at the proper time, and all else will fall below them.” I know he doesn’t like the idea, but some things must be done.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Pulling out some dried meat Arty handed a piece to Royce and they quietly partook in the plain meal. “I will abide by the plan, but I will not dishonor myself.”

  Royce nodded his head. “That will do Arty. If we’re lucky we’ll be out of here soon. We’ll need to wake Emerii so she can continue to spy.”

  “I hope she does not wear herself too thin.”

  “Everything ahead asks much of us. We will all be drained of all we have to offer. Now is no time to worry.”

  “We must pace ourselves.”

  “Believe what you will Arty. It is not as if I am reprimanding your honesty and kindness, but we are on the brink. We must all come together - give everything, to save Dradris.”

  The lightly snoring Emerii cut the tension and the two men smiled at each other.

  Arty laid a hand once again on Royce’s shoulder. “Get some rest while you can.”

  “It is fine, I have to continue to rack my brain.”

  “Tiredness and carelessness are twin killers on the battlefield.”

  Royce yawned. “Perhaps in a moment.” He did not want to let this moment slip. When loneliness and fear of the future were banished by the golden grizzly.

  They continued to sit in companionable silence, occasionally broken by quiet conversation. Years of friendship to reminisce on, years of separation that required discussion. Some had been covered on their way to Bardoo, but the two childhood friends had not been together long.

  This was not the time to let loose, nor any time on this journey of dire preparation, but Royce still felt some peace return to himself.

  Royce had spent his entire life waiting. Waiting for his mother. Waiting for kindness from his father. Waiting for talent to support the few things he had found worth protecting in his small world bound in the walls of Liofeld.

  Despite having what he would call inhuman levels of patience, that ability faltered when there was nothing to distract him. Then he felt a gnawing despair within. There were no books to ferry his mind away. Brief conversations with his chosen friends to retain strength and concentration on the task at hand. Dark winter clouds blended night and day, and the amount of time spent in their perch was either a single moment or an eternity.

  Unable to do anything, wasting time, wore Royce’s legendary patience. Without a new task to occupy him his scars reopened as his mind lingered.

  Perhaps I am human, unlike Mother. Hopefully, the maids take proper care of her vessel while I am away. I know we give them enough gold and food.

  He could no longer concentrate on the task at hand, the boredom turning into anxiety over the coming conflict. Eyes closed but sleep would not come. So he tried to focus on the presence of those next to him.

  Arty was breathing sound asleep. The exhaustion must have taken him at some point. He could also hear the steady cadence of Emerii, the one who would be most tired from this endeavor. While Royce and Arty could watch for signs of movement and to make sure they were not discovered, Emerii was the spy who supported the dream of stopping the raiders. Feeding information to the group and allowing them to wait knowing they will find the perfect time to strike.

  Of course, this much deity usage came with risks to her health, but she had a strong constitution and paced herself appropriately. Hopefully. She was truly the linchpin of the operation, unlike Royce himself.

  The number of enemies appeared to be between fifty and one hundred. Enough to thoroughly harry the villages, but a small enough force to move swiftly and for Bardoo to deny the idea that they wanted to start a war with Welkia. Raiding between Kingdoms was a common pasttime after all, though it was meant to occur less in winter and the harvest.

  From what Riken said they did not bring too many soldiers in, as they could not increase tensions. The times they fortified villages the raiders simply changed targets. Apparently, their leaders were competent.

  Emerii informed them that there were three key leaders, much like the Band of the Promised One themselves.

  Royce tried to shake the bad feeling he had.

  A slight gasp came from ahead of him. Emerii moved over and shook Arty awake, then moved over to Royce who she assumed had also been sleeping soundly.

  “The time has come, they are on the move,” She said.

  The night was blinding. Trees threaded a web of darkness that made the landscape treacherous. The trio kept on the trail of the raiders, making sure to follow the group that contained the three leaders as their group began splitting into smaller strike teams.

  Royce was still far back when night became like day. Smoke trailed into the sky, only visible by the fires started by the raiders. On their heels, now was the time to chase their prey.

  The land was still obscured in night despite the fires and at one point Royce almost fell into a frozen pond that was covered in a thin sheet of ice.

  Seeing the red glow, Royce’s anxiety was sent to a crescendo as he watched Emerii’s back worriedly. She led them to a proper vantage point. When they peeked their heads out of the forest his worries had been shown true.

  The random villages in this wooded and hilly part of Welkia were in the process of turning to ashes.

  “Emerii,” Arty said quietly, and then the crackling of flames and pillaging stole his voice.

  As he tried to speak up again Royce placed a hand on him and shook his head.

  She turned and smiled at them.

  No words would help her. Royce only hoped that their presence would take her mind from untoward thoughts.

  People were fighting for their lives in the village. Royce’s time of waiting was finally completed. It was the opportunity they were searching for. They would complete their goal.