"Is everyone ready to leave?" Gellor addressed the group.
Each one of them were atop their horses again, packs in the back and they had cleared the hill vicinity from any traces of their presence.
"Yes!" they all chorused.
Gellor turned to Lord Asher and Kiana who were waiting on their own rides. "We are prepared to leave now, Lord Asher."
"Very well, let us all move in haste." Lucius said.
In a moment's time, they started to set their way back to Inanis Territory. There was a wind behind their gates and the sun shone on them.
"Oh man, we're finally getting back home." Albus said.
"What's with that grin on your face? We're still a long way back." Ariana said with a shake of her head, riding beside him.
"We'll be back before we know it though." Barty said.
"See? Even Barty agrees." Albus laughed. "I'm looking forward to getting proper rest when we get back. The nights at the inn in Cutlass are terrible. Earthquakes and everything. Couldn't even get a wink you know?"
"You say that but you've snored a great deal while you were resting in the hills." Finch shook her head. "You could honestly sleep in the stables with horses and you'd turn out just fine, Albus. No bed of roses necessary."
"Hey, that's mean. Not everyone of us has a wonderful mattress they can slip into when they return."
Finch's lips pressed into a thin line.
"We don't necessarily know if that's true. Sir Cambrian's wife… has been quite upset when you guys visited. I'd rather not deal with any of it when I return."
"Then you don't have to. Who says that you have to deal with it?" Ariana said. "Don't listen to Albus and Barty here."
"What did I even say?" Barty muttered.
***
One day after Lucius and his team left for Inanis City, a large group of soldiers arrived at Cutlass City and were accompanied by one man at the forefront.
"Alright, we've finally arrived." The man said with some ease.
He was dressed in an armor that would have been very familiar to Lucius if he had seen him. This man was none other but a member of the Black Rose Knight.
He was one of the knights that actually accompanied Count Gabriel and was made to move for Aisse territory and to meet with Earl Aisse and demand for answers.
The knight and his two other companions dealt with a lot of diplomatic efforts of speaking with Earl Aisse. Even though they were from the king of Grantz personal order, Earl Aisse proved to be still a difficult man to deal with.
"Hah. We could have arrived sooner if they weren't so stubborn. It didn't necessitate for for me to mention that Rancor wanted to go on a rampage for things to be dealt with." The knight muttered as they entered the city, and immediately they noticed that there was a strange atmosphere to the city.
"What has happened here?" one of the soldiers asked.
"Everybody looks spooked out."
"That's not Bergan but from Earl Aisse!" one of the citizens gawked and pointed at them.
"Have they come here to give aid and relief?"
"They're just soldiers. They're not gong to be bringing anything."
"Who is the man in the dark armor? That… that can't be one of the personal vassals of His Majesty, is it?"
"What are they doing?"
The Black Rose Knight ignored the looks thrown in his direction and focused instead on the soldiers that were closest to him and gave them instructions.
"Inform me of what events transpired here in Cutlass City before we've arrived." The knight said.
When the soldiers of Earl Aisse returned minutes later and bore news of what had happened with Bergan's Band, the earthquake and the arrival of an unrecognizable rune beast, it left the Black Rose Knight in a state of stupor.
"What?" he asked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
Even the King of Grantz himself had hesitations on acting against the Bergan's Band due to their combined power and the gift of Bergan, but now they were beset by tragedy.
"Is this… is this somehow a way of the gods to exact divine retribution?" the Black Rose Knight asked himself quietly before sighing softly. "Either way, once Count Gabriel comes to hear of this news, perhaps his anger will be assuaged a little. This is a good thing, but for now, there are still matters to attend to."
***
Lucius did not have a single idea of what had transpired in Cutlass City when he left it. Instead, he and his group merely traveled their way back to Inanis Territory at a pace that beat their last one to journey to Aisse Territory.
"We are going on the official route, no more hidden paths this time." Lucius informed Gellor who accepted the young man's orders at once.
"Of course, Lord Asher. We'll ride at your command. We will not stop at any places at all." Gellor said.
"Huh, does that mean we're not going to Etara's Cross anymore?" Albus whispered to Ariana.
It was Gellor, Lord Asher and Kiana that rode mostly in the front this time while the other mercenaries stayed at the back to serve as guards.
"No. Don't have any hopes for it. Weren't you supposed to be excited at getting back to Inanis?" Ariana said.
"I am. I just thought we'd be stopping there even briefly to get some rest like last time." Albus said as he watched Lord Asher ride ahead of them. "Lord Asher certainly concentrates on getting where he wants without stopping at all, doesn't he?"
"Have you only noticed it now, Albus?" Finch said. "It has been quite obvious for awhile now. Lord Asher is incredible and does not hesitate to move for his goals. We have no reason to stay at Etara's Cross, because most likely there is much to do at Inanis. We're fortunate to have the chance to serve him."
"Indeed."
They continue their way back to Inanis City, and this time, it only takes nine days to return.
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