People in the train started muttering among themselves, growing louder as they opened up the windows to stick their heads out.

  Len left Rick sleeping with his arms crossed, had lolling from side to side and looked out of the windo.

  Where scattered farms had dotted the landscape, now organized fields stretched in neat rows. Wood posts rose at regular intervals - the heat crystal holders he'd designed. Most still stood empty, waiting for crystals, but some already glowed with a faint orange light.

  He felt the density of mana increase as they got closer to the city that had undergone its own changes.

  The military forts that would be built into the wall, surrounding the city were rising, formed of fused stone.

  Blocks as tall and wide as two men, and four men long were lifted into place.

  "Rick," He called out.

  The man sniffed waking in a second as he looked around, his hands moving over his gear-checking it.

  "Goran," Len opened the window.

  Rick rubbed his eyes and stuffed his head out the window.

  "One way to wake up!" He yelled over the noise of the train and wind. "They've made good progress with the roads."

  Len looked with him, teams of laborers putting down road layers, the last a layer of crushed stone that was fused solid.

  The train continued to slow as they got closer.

  Near the tracks, half-finished warehouses rose on either side. Scaffolding surrounded several buildings where workers installed windows and roofing.

  The city itself seemed to pulse with activity. New buildings climbed skyward within the walls. The wall showed construction at key points, a massive edifice and protection.

  "Been busy," Len said. The city he remembered from their departure was already transforming into something new, something stronger. Each change represented another small step toward survival.

  "Just wait until the growing formations really take hold," Rick said. "Those fields will feed ten times what they used to."

  "I'm looking forward to turning the city into one big mana battery," Len said.

  ***

  The train jerked to a stop at Goran's station. Len gathered his pack, following Rick onto the platform. The familiar face of Oscar waited for them, though something seemed off about his uniform.

  "Corporal Oscar?" Len noted the rank insignia.

  "Lady Carolyn requests your presence," Oscar said, two soldiers flanking him.

  Len exchanged a glance with Rick. They'd planned to check on the warehouses first, make sure everything was running smoothly.

  "Tell her we'll be there shortly," Len said. "Need to drop some things off first."

  Rick nodded toward their packs. "Check on a few people too."

  Oscar gestured to the soldiers beside him. "They can take your gear to the warehouse district."

  "That urgent?" Rick asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "She says she's found you a train - lightly broken, I think she put it?" Oscar shifted his weight.

  Len's interest peaked. A train, even a damaged one, could be invaluable. He carefully handed his pack to one of the soldiers.

  "Do not stop for anything or anyone in getting these to the warehouse district and into whoever is organizing materials coming in. Then go and tell those working on research and development that we dropped off stuff, that should get them interested."

  "Yes sir," The man nodded.

  "What he said," Rick jabbed a thumb in Len's direction.

  The two men set off at a quick pace across the tracks.

  "Lead the way," Len said.

  They fell in behind Oscar. He used his strength his steps launching him down the road, Len and Rick keeping up easily.

  "Not the Blue Manor?" Rick asked.

  "Lady Carolyn has moved her residence to the family compound," Oscar said.

  Rick's hand unconsciously brushed his sword hilt as they approached. The last time they'd been there, Carolyn had killed Tyrus.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The Isendia family compound had transformed since their last visit. Where ornate decorations and displays of wealth once dominated, now efficiency ruled. Guards patrolled the grounds, not the sharp lines, marching and turning of those that paraded everywhere.

  These were the emotionless faces of veterans talking to one another as they scanned the area for threats. Their gear well-maintained, not rubbed out into a polished sheen.

  Always thought that those shiny ass swords was from over-practice.

  They nodded to Oscar in recognition and squinted at Len and Rick. Those from the old guard nodded to them in greeting.

  "Lots of new faces," Rick said.

  "Four of the six companies have returned. Since they came back Carolyn put a priority of going through everyone in the ranks. She made sure that they were loyal, honest and paid. Then she put it up for people to move around units, to go for different training and positions. We had a lot of people retire."

  "That doesn't sound great," Len said.

  "Been away from their families for a long time. Don't want to do that anymore. The one good thing about having the games recently, we have a good number of people that we can hire. Also there's people coming from all over to join Goran. Had a group of farmers from out Nedlin way arrive a couple of days back. They sent someone back this morning. Said that they'll bring more."

  Oscar led them through the main courtyard toward a squat stone building. The architecture was purely functional - thick walls, narrow windows, and multiple defensive positions.

  A far cry from the gaudy manor house that had previously served as the family's administrative center.

  It was older, solidly built.

  "The old keep, thought that Tyrus would demolish it," Rick said.

  "I think he planned on doing that, though it was also the most defensible place in all of Goran," Oscar said.

  "Bolt hole if he needed it," Rick said.

  They walked through open double doors under the watch of more guards.

  Inside, the halls buzzed with activity. Clerks hurried past carrying stacks of papers while runners darted between offices delivering messages. The sound of typewriters clicked from several rooms they passed.

  Len noted the organization - different sections clearly marked for various city functions: Infrastructure, Defense, Commerce, and more. Everything needed to run both Goran and the mercenary companies efficiently gathered in one secure location.

  They climbed to the second floor where the noise level dropped considerably. Oscar stopped at a heavy wooden door marked simply "Lady Carolyn Isendia." he knocked on the door.

  "Come in," Carolyn called out.

  Oscar pushed the door open for them.

  Rick went through first, Len moving through afterwards, memorizing and taking in the space as one.

  The office was spartanly furnished - just a large desk covered in papers, several filing cabinets, and a few chairs. Maps lined the walls, many marked with pins and notes. A single window looked out over the compound and the city beyond.

  Crystal lights hung in the corners and over the desk, keeping the room completely lit.

  Carolyn sat behind the desk, her silver hair pulled back severely.

  "Sorry one second," She grabbed a pen, marked something and jotted down quick short notes. "Oscar could you be a dear and shut the door?"

  He did so, leaving the room.

  Carolyn put her pen away and raised her head.

  "Well boys, you've certainly been busy," She smiled. "Lydia, Gibson, then Hayes, Jorge and Mackie updated me on things through sound transmission device."

  "I have good news and bad news for you," Carolyn began.

  "Okay," Rick replied, "What's the good news?"

  "There's a train that you can use right away. The bad news is it blew its boiler and has been pushed off the tracks up north. It's located just outside of Vordun, nearly directly north of us."

  Len and Rick exchanged glances. "That might actually work in our favor," Len mused.

  "How so?" Carolyn asked.

  "Well, that's actually along the path that we want to take to get through the Stained Mountain Range and on the other side. Now we have our first train engine, or what's left of it. We're going to need some tools, supplies, and people. Most of my work can be continued by someone else at this point," Len explained.

  "Perfect," Rick interjected, "because I have no work to do here at all. Let's get going. The third company will be going with you," he added, turning to Carolyn.

  "No, they will not," Rick retorted lazily. "We will, however, be taking any of the mercenaries that have a building skill."

  "A third company has people with a building skill," Carolyn pointed out.

  "Why do you want us to take the third company?" Rick asked.

  "Ever since you sparred with Irene, she's been off-task, unfocused, and not at all like her normal self."

  "And what's that got to do with me?" Rick shrugged.

  "She is a company commander, currently trying to run two companies. I need her at her best performance."

  "That is not really my problem," Rick said dismissively.

  "Why don't you want to deal with her?" Carolyn asked.

  "Because when I was a child, she beat me continuously. Why should I care about a woman like that?"

  "She was trying to teach you how to fight."

  "Is that what she said?" Rick scoffed.

  "No, that's what I asked her to do," Carolyn admitted.

  Rick stared at his grandma. "Why did you want her to beat me?"

  "I didn't want her to beat you, I wanted her to teach you how to fight with a sword. I could see that things were already going badly. I was losing my strength and position and power. You needed to have the skills necessary to forge your own future. The skills that Isendia has honed to have Goran. I told her to teach you how to fight."

  Conflicting emotions ran across Rick's face. "Well, she took that as 'beat me as much as possible and call it damn training.' So I'm sorry, I couldn't care less if she was trying to teach me how to fight. I care that she was trying to beat the hell out of a child. She is your company commander, and I'll have her listen to my orders. But I don't want a damn thing to do with her."

  "She did it because she cares about you. Your mother was a sister to her. You are her godson."

  "I don't care," Rick said flatly.

  Carolyn saw something in Rick's eyes as her posture caved, making her look older than her years. "But she did it for you."

  Rick just shrugged. "I don't know what to do with myself anymore. I don't know what to do with my life anymore. Can you do it for me? We will take the builders from the Isendia mercenaries and we will go north. You do with Irene what you want to do with her. If it was my decision, I'd keep her as far away from anyone that needs guidance. Just make sure she doesn't cross my path."

  Rick turned and walked past Len, pushing open the door out of Carolyn's office. Carolyn looked at Len with a pleading expression. He could only shake his head. Some bridges couldn't be rebuilt.