Western Barracks of the Cross-Borders Army, Castera, Kingdom of Ilsylvania. Day -21.

  Tyree’s arms ached and her lungs burned with exertion. She was pushing herself too hard and she knew it, but she wanted, no, needed this pain as a distraction from her anger.

  Two days ago, she had seen Aliyah and their daughters off to Pella with their friend, Rhoda. The plan had been for her to finish her final week of guard duty before riding Felt to catch up to them.

  But that plan had been swept out from beneath Tyree when she'd come back on base. A message had been circulated that morning announcing her entire regiment's rotation to three month reserve had been halted pending further orders. And her extended five month leave request had been revoked. Neither had been given an explanation as to why.

  Just thinking of the letter sitting on her desk in her quarters reignited the embers of anger Tyree had tried to stamp out with exercise. Tyree lashed out with a sword spell, her blade a flurry of movement.

  Sudden, sharp pain lanced up Tyree’s arm, bringing her back to reality.

  Captain Tarik Kronos stood with his shield raised in a defensive stance, the telltale mist-like yellow glow of mana from his own spell still lingered on his shield.

  “Easy, Lieutenant. That one felt a little personal.”

  Tyree studied the six deep scratches she'd left in the shield. They weren't deep enough to have cut Kronos underneath, but they were still decent gouges. The former being a feat they both knew Tyree was more than capable of accomplishing, even with the dulled training sword in her hand.

  Tyree lowered her sword, blade tip pointed behind her as Kronos did the same with his broadsword, a signal of the end of their sparring match. They stepped off the platform, turning it over to a pair of privates who had patiently waited their turn.

  Tyree mentally braced herself for the coming conversation as Kronos took her aside.

  “Why did you join the Cross-Borders Army?” Kronos asked as he placed his sword and shield on his armor’s back mounts.

  Tyree started to answer, but Kronos cut her off.

  “And don't rattle off anything about civic duty and patriotism. I know your history. You've advanced quickly through the ranks, due in no small part to having been a life-long adventurer before signing on. That line of work can pay well—did pay well for you. Why give all that up to become a soldier in the guard?”

  “Adventuring only pays well because it's a dangerous profession, but it's getting harder and harder to get the bigger scores. Especially with how they've industrialized the magic dungeons that need a guardian to enter, it takes months of repeated dives to earn what used to take just one. And new, unexplored mundane ruins and dungeons are rarer and rarer. My wife kept telling me I needed less dangerous work after our twins were born,” Tyree answered honestly.

  “And signing up with the army was your answer?” Kronos raised an eyebrow.

  “Aliyah never properly defined ‘less dangerous’ for me.” Tyree forced a dry laugh, which prompted a snort from Kronos.

  “Tyree, I get it, you're pissed. So am I. So is everyone else in our battalion who was looking forward to this rotation for months. But joining the army, and especially becoming an officer, requires you to keep a level head. The people serving under us and those we protect will look to us when things go south. They need to see their leadership has things under control, even if—no, especially if that isn't true. And that includes not using your superior's shield to blow off steam.”

  Tyree took the rebuke with a single, silent nod. He was right, but his words did nothing to cool her boiling anger at the situation.

  “Get yourself cleaned up. You look as rough as the number you did on my shield.”

  That got a genuine smile to creep onto Tyree’s lips. “Will do, Captain.”

  “And check in with Caleb and Shai. The orders should have gone out this morning, but remind them of our meeting tonight. And make sure you get those pins to them beforehand.”

  A box had arrived at Tyree’s quarters with what she had assumed were her new rank insignias and uniforms. Kronos was being promoted to Major over their regiment and Tyree was assuming his position as Captain. She wasn't being assigned to his battalion, but was instead being given her own while someone else was taking Kronos’ spot. Tyree had chosen both Caleb and Shai to lead two of the companies she was being allotted, but all that wasn't supposed to happen until after their return from reserve status.

  That the items had arrived today and, presumably that was what the meeting was about, felt like things were moving too quickly. Tyree voiced that concern.

  “Yes, I wanted to tell you personally. After what happened a couple nights ago, some timelines have changed. My promotion to major is effective tomorrow. You will get more information tonight, I promise. Just make sure you three are wearing your new rank insignias at the meeting.”

  Tyree gave a salute and turned to leave. The noon sun was still high overhead and she knew exactly where she'd find Caleb.

  ***

  Ilysylvania and Rielle had both been founded by colonists from the same region in the old world, Aurielle, known as the Triskelion, a collection of three island nations and archipelagos within close proximity to each other. The voyage across the Raiss ocean was long, averaging a hundred days or more, and there were monsters of truly mythical proportions in her seas. It had taken the combined efforts of both Yves and Moirasland, the parent countries of Ilyslvania and Rielle, respectively, to finance and build the fleet that carried the colonists to Navorinelle.

  Though they were technically independent nations today, the two countries were so bound together due to that shared history that Rielle used Ilsylvania’s army for protection by land as much as Ilsylvania used Rielle’s navy, hence the name Cross-Borders Army. And so it wasn’t hard to spot the Riellen native, Caleb Tahn, the moment Tyree entered the mess hall.

  A patch of sandy blond hair in a sea of dark hair gave him away, his back was to Tyree as he sat at a table with seven other soldiers. Each of their jackets bore the red insignia of a hawk holding an arrow in one set of talons and a bow in the other. That was the insignia of the exclusive 17th Ranger Company, known as the Sanguine Hawks.

  The group had been sharing a laugh when Tyree called out Caleb’s name. The young man stood and snapped to attention as the rest of his table set their dining utensils down.

  “Lieutenant Pearce, what can I do for you?” Caleb was shorter than Tyree by about a head and had a boyish face that contrasted with his strong bowman’s physique. Tyree wondered if she had looked so much like a kid when she had first entered her twenties. She probably had.

  “As you were.” Tyree waved a dismissive hand.

  Caleb visibly relaxed and sat back down as the rest of his table went back to their meals.

  Though she was coming up on her sixth year in the army, Tyree still didn’t care for all the pomp and circumstance. Let people eat around their superiors, who does it hurt?

  “I’m only stopping by to remind you of our meeting tonight. You and Shai need to meet outside my quarters thirty minutes before-hand. I have something for the two of you.”

  “I got the orders this morning, though thank you for the reminder. I’ll be there, LT,” Caleb replied. With a little nudging from the woman to his right, he added, “Any idea what our receive halt’s about? I was supposed to go use this time to see my parents.”

  “Think it might have something to do with Diurne lighting up the way it did?” The woman who had nudged Caleb asked. “Did you see it?”

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  Tyree nodded. “I don’t think you’ll find someone who didn’t see it. Had my whole neighborhood outside watching, but—”

  “Rumor has it it’s because all the guardians in the city and outside the walls disappeared. All of them just vanished without a trace since Diurne became a second Solaire!” The woman added.

  The guardians disappeared? That was news to Tyree. Castera typically had a couple hundred guardians milling about at any given time. They kept to themselves, sometimes standing still for hours like bizarre statues made of flesh, but they could be counted on to keep the local monster populations in check. If they really had all disappeared, that would be reason enough for the king to want to shore up Ilsylvania’s defenses. Monster attacks would definitely come on the rise.

  Tyree refused to allow herself to begin speculating on the topic with those under her command. She might not like the army’s formality, but she still had tact.

  “I didn’t get any word from on high and you know I don’t like to gossip. You all really shouldn’t either if you’d like to hold command positions some day.” Tyree kept her stern expression on the group for only a second before laughing good-naturedly with them.

  Tyree turned to Caleb. “I have to track down Shai. See you tonight.”

  “See you tonight, LT.” Caleb gave a crisp salute and returned to his meal as Tyree walked past his table.

  ***

  Shai was an earth mage who dabbled in healing. The half-Serethi woman could typically be found in Castera’s new free to anyone healing clinic run by the army. Spearheaded by House Ilvari, one of the six governing Great Houses under King Hael, it was just one of several new social programs established since King Hael’s ascendance to the crown. It saw hundreds of patients a day and was one of the most advanced medical facilities of its kind.

  In Tyree’s opinion, gathering all the healers in one spot where they had access to the resources they needed to care for the people had been a real boon for Castera. Her own family had benefited multiple times from the service. Aliyah might be a strong alchemist and a competent healer with some spells of her own, but twins hellbent on imitating the stories of adventure Aliyah and Tyree told them had stressed her wife’s skills to her limits. Smiling as she thought of her family, Tyree stepped into the clinic.

  A hive of activity; there was an uphill battle raging between the staff and sick. Apparently the clinic had run out of rooms and beds as the lobby had people lying in blankets on the floor, medics running between them.

  A short man in army colors shuffled past Tyree and she called out. “Excuse me! Excuse me, sir!”

  He stopped and turned to face Tyree. He had a ragged, haggard look with eyes so bloodshot, Tyree wondered if he was one of the staff or a patient.

  “I’m very busy, what do you need?” He punctuated the sentence with a barely stifled yawn.

  Tyree glanced around quickly. He wasn’t the only one who looked like they’d fall asleep on their feet.

  “Official army business. I’m looking for a woman named Shai, she’s a healer here.”

  “The blind elf? Down that hall, last door on the left.”

  Tyree bristled. He’d said the word “elf” with derision, intending it as an insult in reference to the pointed ears all Serethi had. Not wanting this battle, Tyree instead followed his pointing hand. She looked back and the man was already a dozen paces away.

  Just inside the last door on the left, a large wolfhound lay on the ground tucked in one of the corners. The dog’s head perked up as Tyree entered.

  “Hello, Koda.” Tyree bent down and scratched the service dog behind her ears.

  Koda rumbled a yawn of deep content.

  Further in the room, Shai and her aide stood at the sound of Tyree’s voice. “Good afternoon, Lieutenant.”

  “Take your breather. I just came from out there, I can see you’re swamped,” Tyree replied.

  Shai raised a shaking hand to the girl, who set down her notebook and pulled two small sacks from a larger bag tucked under her seat. She set one in Shai’s lap and took the other for herself.

  Shai opened the sack, revealing something that smelled savory. “This is the first break my scribe and I have had since coming in this morning. The illness in the farming communities has finally made its way into the city and the sick are piling up. We’re having to send away any who were able to walk here. Myself and a few others have been busy taking care of those not sick with this illness.”

  “It’s even worse up north. A friend of ours came down from Pella asking Aliyah for help.”

  Shai took a bite of her meal, which looked like breaded meat dipped in some sort of brown sauce. “Ah, that’s right, your wife’s a mage and a healer. We could have really used her here. This disease is proving resistant to most broad healing spells and the best we’re managing is treating symptoms while their bodies fight off the infection themselves.”

  “The Serethi have been hit hardest. That’s why Aliyah’s so adamant on going. And you know her views about the army,” Tyree added. It was more accurate to say Aliyah suffered Tyree’s employment rather than encouraged it.

  “I was told full-blooded Serethi were most susceptible. I’m only half, but I still worry. I hope your wife and kids remain healthy.”

  A loud crash in the hallway made everyone in the room jump. Everyone except Koda, who merely raised her head in disinterest before laying back down.

  “I believe that is our cue to wrap up our break. I will see you and Caleb tonight,” Shai said.

  “Good luck out here.” Tyree turned and gave Koda another pat on the back before leaving.

  Out in the hall, a cart lay on its side with medical supplies and shattered potion bottles around it. The contents of the bottles created a mixture that steamed and bubbled. An older man with a fluffy white beard stood sheepishly while two medics worked to clean up the mess. Tyree stepped cautiously by them and headed out the door, making for her quarters.

  ***

  The rank of Lieutenant afforded Tyree with many perks, chief among them was her own private quarters on base. She rarely used the unit as it was unsuited to the task of housing a family, but she often spent her patrol days here. She’d spent the last couple nights here to get away from her empty house as well.

  Tyree pulled a small white stone from her bag and muttered an incantation. Several larger white stones around the room flared to life, filling the dark, windowless apartment with just enough light to see by.

  Tyree sat down at her kitchen table and let out a long sigh. She wondered the same things she always wondered when her work life cut into the time she was supposed to be spending with her family: was it all worth it?

  She had tried shortly after Alyx and Lynn were born to settle down into a more peaceful retirement. They certainly didn’t need the money adventuring had brought in; the earnings from their last dungeon dive twelve years ago had given them enough that Aliyah and their daughters would live modestly for a long time after Aliyah was gone.

  But Tyree had been driven stir crazy. She had been a student of the sword since a young age and an adventurer since she could stand on her own two legs. The drive to be active, to explore, and to use her sword skills was baked into her very core.

  That was why she had joined the army and ensured she was always on the exterior patrols when she was on the city guard rotation. It wasn’t glamorous, but the patrols netted her some excitement from time to time as she fought goblins and other monsters that slipped by the guardians.

  They had initially wanted to settle down near Pella with their friends, but had chosen Castera because of the access to schools and mage training for their daughters, in addition to Tyree being able to advance her career within the army.

  But perhaps it was time to re-examine. Tyree was under no obligation to renew her service with the army. Perhaps Pella could become a permanent place for them to settle down. She could always join the local guard to get her fix, but more importantly, she would have more time with her family and friends.

  Tyree stood, resolving herself to bring up this conversation with Aliyah when she returned to Pella. Right now, however, she desperately needed a shower and a meal.

  ***

  Two knocks at the door told Tyree her meal, the last of her reheated beef and lamb stew, was over. She looked into the bowl and saw she had barely even nibbled at it. She placed the leftovers back into her icebox.

  Tyree walked over to the door and picked up three small boxes from the stack that had been left from her. They were distinguished from the others in that these three already had the names of their owners engraved on them.

  “Thanks for getting here early. I have something I’m supposed to give to you.” Tyree handed Caleb and Shai the boxes containing their new rank insignias.

  Caleb held the box to his ear and shook it. “What are these?”

  “This was supposed to wait until after we returned from reserve, but you’ve both been promoted. Congratulations,” Tyree answered.

  Shai opened her box and rubbed her hands along the wooden tablet that had been carved for her to read. “I’m being made Lieutenant over the Sabertooth Company.”

  Composed mostly of healers and medics, Sabertooth Company was the one principally running the new healing clinic. Her position would largely be administrative, but Tyree knew Shai saw the clinic as her baby.

  Caleb held up his Lieutenant’s badge, then frowned as he looked back inside the box. “I know this pin. The 9th? We’re being placed in the 9th Battalion? Why them? Why not the 7th or the 8th?”

  Tyree opened her own box and looked inside, pulling out the pin which represented the 9th, a red and gold 9 stylized in the same manner as that of the Guardian guild chiefly responsible for slaying Azeban, North Remembers.

  The 9th Forward Strike Battalion had been an all-volunteer battalion assembled to clear the way into Hell’s Mouth alongside the Guardians of North Remembers nearly a hundred years ago. They had fought bravely, but the entire battalion had been slaughtered to the last man. Ilsylvania’s king at the time had the battalion decommissioned to honor them. Why was she being made Captain over that battalion?

  “You’d think it’d be bad luck to bring back that battalion of all battalions,” Caleb continued.

  Shai pulled out her own 9th Battalion pin and placed it on her uniform. “I think King Hael intends it as a statement. Given the 9th’s strong ties to the Guardians, he could be saying that Ilsylvania means to stand by them no matter what has happened to them. And who better to lead the 9th than an Adventurer who spent her whole life among Guardians? I think it’s a poetic gesture.”

  Caleb shook his head. “Poetry won’t save us from another Azeban.”