“If we send a request to Osiriya, they might send us a hierarch capable of healing magic.”
“Ha! Do you not know how finicky those fools are when it comes to sending their clerics? It would take them at least a couple of months to send one.”
“Since the central church will also be sending reinforcements, we could travel with them….”
“If we did that, we’d be going the long way around for three weeks even if the Temple Knights were to meet us halfway! Goddammit! Stop talking nonsense! It doesn’t matter if we don’t have a mage. We’ve fought in situations more dangerous than this! Isn’t that right, Commander?”
Maxi stood petrified. Her chest tightened with fear thatRiftan might agree with Hebaron.
The terrifying descriptions she had read in the illustrated book on monsters flashed through her mind. Creatures with venom powerful enough to melt bones in an instant, Ayin monsters that were said to possess the strength of six humans, the dragon subspecies that could wield powerful magic…
No matter how strong the Remdragon Knights were, it would be impossible for them to remain unscathed on this long journey. Maxi held her breath as she waited for Riftan’s answer. The silence stretched on for a while before his deep voice rang out.
“It would be impossible for us to depart tomorrow. Give me some time. I’ll find a mage in four…no, three days.”
“It will be a waste of time! You’ve already tried searching everywhere for a mage, and the one you finally managed to get was an eighty-year-old! So how are you going to find one in just three—”
Hebaron’s outburst ceased abruptly. Maxi wondered if she should continue listening or try to slip away unnoticed, but she reflexively leaned in when the knight’s voice died down. At precisely that moment, the door swung open, and Hebaron’s hulking form marched out.
“Who the hell is out he—”
The knight grew wide-eyed when he saw Maxi lurking outside.
“My lady? What brings you here at such an hour?”
“I…” Maxi staggered back as the other knights peered past Hebaron’s shoulder. Embarrassed that she had been caught eavesdropping, her face flushed pink. “I apologize for d-disturbing you. I m-merely wanted to know…what youwere all p-planning to do….”
As she weakly mumbled her excuses, Riftan stepped out of the council room and shoved Hebaron aside. His expression was grave. Was he angry because she had left her chambers to roam the castle this late at night?
After staring down at her with a thunderous look, Riftan grunted a command over his shoulder. “Gabel, escort my wife back to her chambers.”
It was an obvious dismissal.
Maxi wet her lips. “R-Riftan…I did not mean to interrupt. I was just…w-worried for those who joined the campaign…and I wanted to know what the Remdragon Knights intended to do….”
“And why would that concern you?” Riftan shot back.
Hurt, Maxi glanced up at him before saying hesitantly, “There c-could be something I could do to help—”
“Gabel!” Riftan bellowed over his shoulder. “Did you not hear me? Why are you not escorting her ladyship back to the great hall?”
Maxi’s lips twisted into a frown. She could feel the knights behind him regarding them warily. Gabel, who had been hesitating in the back, walked out of the council room and stood next to her.
Grabbing the door handle, Riftan said in a gruff voice, “Don’t wait up for me.”
With that, he closed the door, putting an end to any further discussion. Maxi reluctantly turned away, and Gabel gently took the lamp from her.
“The commander is out of sorts at the moment because of the bad news. Please do not take offense at his harshwords. Everyone is on edge right now….”
Maxi tried to look agreeable for the knight who was clearly concerned for her, but even she could tell that her smile was stiff.
“I am all right. M-More importantly, I apologize…for troubling you like this. I found it impossible to wait.”
Gabel raised the lamp higher and said, “You are also close with Ruth, so it is understandable that you would be worried, my lady.”
They ascended the stairs in silence. So many thoughts were running through Maxi’s head: Riftan’s surly reaction, the travel woes and other details she had overheard. It was only when they reached the middle of the garden that Maxi cautiously opened her mouth to speak.
“Is a mage absolutely n-necessary…in a campaign? If I recall…you did not bring Ruth with you when you went to the capital in the past.”
