"Let me get cleaned up and some basic supplies. Then I will be ready," Jiehong told Whiskey. He didn't like going on an Order mission with the previous day and mission's grim still sticky to his flesh.

  Jiehong and Whiskey cleaned themselves up from the day's activities and changed into their combat gear. Restocked on grenades, Jiehong informed Whiskey on how grenades functioned. She learned it all quickly, saying, "I get it. Pull pin, throw, don't throw yourself upon it unless you want to be a bubble which bursts."

  First, the two of them hit the many people thronged into the command center's defensive perimeter. Jiehong did not want to go straight to Thundervale without first talking to the people they had spent their life with and among.

  Skipping the young people, his friends who were not Zan, and those too old to make sense, Jiehong talked to the older crowd and encouraged Whiskey to do the same. "Anyone our age isn't going to be useful," he said.

  A couple of hours passed. Although no shortage of people wanted to talk with them, no one seemed to have anything noteworthy to say.

  An elderly fellow who Jiehong thought had fought alongside Zan when their village first came under attack came to speak to him. "Sorry sir, I think I am packing it in for the night."

  "Oh, you sure? You lads are always so quick to pack it in. One more talky?" the man said.

  Stifling his moans, Jiehong waved the man to sit.

  "I am going to read you several descriptions. If any of the descriptions match locations you have visited, let us know. Okay, I will begin:" Jiehong said, then going into a protracted speaking role made much shorter than when he began the interviews through sheer force of repetition.

  "Hmmmm..." the old man said. "Honestly, the descriptions are so generic. I don't see how any of them could be helpful."

  "What do you mean generic? I thought there was a lot of detail. Too much, maybe," Jiehong said.

  "That's only because you haven't been properly educated. Those descriptions lack vibrancy. I mean, what does a 'cool glade above a sheet of water' even mean? A puddle, pond, lake? Or maybe an ocean? And 'dodgy crags'? That could be anything with more than five rocks... hmmm," the man said.

  Not knowing what to say, Jiehong replied with a generic cover. "How about you think it over and let us know if you think of anything?"

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  The man took to the idea with splendor. "Lovely. I will do so. Read me the descriptions one more time."

  Doing as requested, Jiehong re-read the descriptions one more time. Then he sent the man on his way.

  Re-uniting with Whiskey, Jiehong could tell how defeated he sounded when he said, "I really thought at least one person would have a lead for us."

  Whiskey did not stutter. "It is only a mild setback," she said. "Come on. Let's continue on to Thundervale. Ask around the taverns. Lots of refugees are about. One of them could have the information we seek."

  Whiskey and Jiehong departed for Thundervale.

  Before departure, Jiehong asked Sigma-Prime for Whiskey's Power Bike, so she might have it on her in case of separation from her horse. Whiskey thanked the Wardens for entrusting her with such technology. "I appreciate it. I will be using my horse as my primary means of transportation. This bike will be a reliable backup, I can tell. Thank you." Whiskey then took a half-bow.

  The Wardens sent them on their way with pep in their step. "Think nothing of it," Sigma-Prime said. "We give these tools and resources freely to everyone who upholds the Order and is a front-line fighter."

  The duo made it to Thundervale without an issue. Making as good time as they did, they still only arrived at the town at sunset.

  "Ready to spend all night talking to people and pretending like we enjoy listening to their drunken sputtering?" Jiehong asked.

  "I have a large family. I am used to drunk butts and jerks. Let's get it over with," Whiskey said.

  Jiehong playfully said, "I bet you weren't expecting a pub crawl as your first Order mission."

  Whiskey rolled her eyes, though, and entered the nearest tavern without saying a word to Jiehong. Jiehong could tell she liked his gentle joking.

  Hours more passed. The two young Martial Students conversed with many meanies, rude fellows, loud and confused hotheads, and even several sad sacks. None of impressive array of personalities had anything of value to tell them, unfortunately.

  "Okay. Let's call it here. Get a room or camp outside?" Jiehong said.

  "How about we join the rebel encampment outside?" Whiskey asked.

  "Rebel encampment? I didn't see any," Jiehong said.

  "There is a small one. On the other end of the town. I am not sure who their leader is but they must've sprung up recently. Making ourselves known to them would at least give us an idea of who they are and what their goals are," Whiskey argued.

  "I don't like this idea, Whiskey. When Zan and I first found our way to Thundervale, they were suspicious enough of us to arrest us. Since then, we've earned some respect among the guards and soldiers there because of our valiantly fighting alongside Colonel Winters. Being seen with these rebels could endanger that respect..."

  "I understand your point. Out of respect for my newness in your organization, I won't fight you on this. I will be coming back here tomorrow, though. I need to satiate my own curiosity if nothing else."

  Thinking, Jiehong imagined Whiskey coming back here alone and covertly handling pro-rebel issues. He didn't want that; or thought he should at least be there for the initial contact so as to judge Whiskey's genuine response, her real first impression of these new rebels, not some half-baked face she put on to lie about her involvement.

  "Compromise?" Jiehong said. "We visit the new rebels, see what they are all about, and then find an inn?"

  "Deal."