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After gathering 23 men, our company stood at 26 strong, including Mannes, Silvana, Cassius, and me. Originally, I had planned to recruit only enough to round out our numbers to 25, but the evening before, Mannes approached me with an unexpected addition—his old friend from his time in Tadeos’ army. Cassius.

Cassius was a sight to behold, a hulking man with a bulky frame and a face marked by scars, one of which ran across his left eye. Despite his intimidating appearance, there was something soft about him. During our conversations, I couldn’t help but notice how he always seemed to avoid looking me directly in the eyes. It was almost comical, this huge man with the face of a battle-hardened warrior, acting timid around a stranger. But I could tell, through his rough exterior, that he was loyal to Mannes, and that was enough for me. A man like that doesn’t follow just anyone into battle, and if Mannes trusted him, so would I.

The preparations for the mission went smoothly enough. The men were equipped, the supplies checked, and everyone seemed ready for what lay ahead. Once everything was in order, the four of us—Mannes, Silvana, Cassius, and I—made our way to the governor’s palace. Nadea had given us an appointment for this morning, and we waited inside the grand halls, anticipating the briefing. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and unease. Escort missions weren’t usually this formal, and I had a gut feeling there was more to this one.

The governor’s palace was an imposing structure, filled with marble columns, intricate tapestries, and the subtle scent of incense. It was a far cry from the mud-caked roads and dusty barracks we were used to. The waiting room itself was enough to remind us of the gulf between mercenaries like us and nobles like Nadea. Silvana leaned casually against one of the walls, clearly less fazed by the opulence than I was, while Cassius stood by, silent as ever, his eyes scanning the room as if expecting an ambush.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, one of Nadea’s servants beckoned us inside. The governor’s chambers were grand, and Nadea herself stood at the centre, a map of the western regions of the Empire laid out on a large oak table. Her eyes flicked toward us as we entered, and I could tell she was assessing each of us.

“You brought the whole party,” she said, a slight edge to her tone, her eyes narrowing at Mannes. “I typically expect only the leaders of groups to attend important meetings like this, Mannes. But I see you brought them all.”

There was a pause as she let the words hang in the air. Mannes shifted slightly, though he didn’t say anything. I could feel the tension building in the room.

“I know you trust them, but you’re naive, Mannes,” Nadea continued, her voice sharp. “You spent a long time in Tadeos’ service. Surely you understand by now that the world is cruel. Trusting too many people can get you killed.”

Her words cut through the air, and for a brief moment, I felt as though we were being chastised like children. But then, just as quickly, her expression softened.

“But,” she added, her voice gentler now, “if you were like any other man, I would never have trusted this assignment to you. You’ve earned your place. If you trust them, then I trust them as well.”

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and I found myself standing a little taller. Nadea wasn’t one to give compliments lightly, and it was clear that her respect for Mannes ran deep.

“Now,” she said, gesturing to the map spread out before her, “let’s talk about the assignment.”

We all moved closer to the table, our eyes scanning the routes marked out in red ink. Nadea began explaining the details, her tone becoming more formal and precise.

“This is an escort mission, but it has two parts,” she explained, her finger tracing a line from the city of Rhotae to Lageta. “The first part is straightforward: escort Tadeos to the Valandian city of Charas. He’s been assigned as an emissary to negotiate funding for our war effort against the Battanians.”

I felt a slight shift in the air at the mention of Tadeos. The name still carried a certain weight, though not in a good way. He may have been stripped of power, but his presence still loomed large over us.

Nadea continued, “Once you reach Charas, you’ll be tasked with receiving a package from the local lord there. That package must be delivered to the lords in Lageta, without fail. These two parts are interconnected, and failure in either will be unacceptable.”

The room was silent as she spoke, her words carrying an undeniable gravity. This wasn’t a simple escort mission—it was critical to the empire’s strategy.

“There’s more,” Nadea said, leaning over the map and pointing to the marked route. “You’ll follow a path from Rhotae to Lageta, then to Charas. This route is designed to avoid camping overnight in open areas, which would leave you vulnerable to attacks. We’ve received reports of increased bandit activity in the region, as well as potential movements from the Battanians. You are to avoid unnecessary risks. Stick to the path, and do not deviate.”

I nodded, already considering the logistics in my mind. The path was straightforward, but it left little room for error.

“And before you ask,” Nadea added, as if reading my thoughts, “you won’t be alone on this mission. I’m sending twenty equites with you. These cavalrymen are part of my bodyguard unit, and they will assist in ensuring Tadeos’ safety, as well as protecting the package.”

A murmur went through our group. Twenty equites? That was no small force. Cavalrymen were some of the best-trained soldiers in the empire. Their presence gave us some sense of security, but it also raised a troubling question: why was such a large force necessary?

I glanced at Mannes, who seemed deep in thought, and then back at Nadea. Gathering my courage, I spoke up, my voice steady.

“So, what exactly are we expecting on our way to Charas?”

Nadea’s eyes flicked toward me, and for a moment, I thought I saw something like hesitation. But it passed quickly, and her expression remained composed.

“There are multiple factors at play,” she said. “As I mentioned, bandit activity has increased in the area, likely due to the chaos caused by the ongoing wars. You’ll need to be vigilant. But the real threat may come from the Battanians. They’ve been pushing southward, and while I don’t expect a full-scale invasion, they may have sent scouts or raiding parties.”

She paused, her gaze settling on each of us in turn. “This mission is important to the stability of the empire, and there are those who would want to see it fail. You need to be prepared for anything.”

Her words sent a chill down my spine. This wasn’t just a simple escort job. We were walking into a potential war zone, and if the Battanians had any interest in disrupting our efforts, they wouldn’t hesitate to strike.

Nadea straightened, her eyes hardening once again. “You’ve been given all the information you need. I trust you will not disappoint.”

With that, the meeting was concluded. We exchanged a few more formalities, and then the four of us left the governor’s palace, our minds heavy with the weight of the mission ahead.

As we stepped outside, the midday sun hit us, and I felt the tension ease slightly. Mannes glanced at me, his brow furrowed. “What do you think?”

I shrugged. “I think we’re walking into something bigger than we realize. But we’ve got the men, we’ve got the supplies, and now we’ve got twenty cavalrymen at our backs. We’ll make it through.”

Mannes nodded, though I could see the concern still etched on his face. This mission was a test, not just of our abilities, but of our loyalty to the empire—and to Nadea.

I caught a glance at Silvana. Her usual sharp, confident demeanour vanished, replaced by an almost distant look in her eyes. She walked beside us, but it was as if she was somewhere else entirely. I had seen her like this before, back when we first rode into Jalmyrys and she laid eyes on Nadea for the first time. But now, after being in the same room as the woman she so clearly admired, she was completely lost in thought. Silvana had always been tough, fierce, and unshakable, but something about Nadea seemed to have shaken her in a way I didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t fear—more like awe, or maybe something deeper. I wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but I knew better. She would talk when she was ready, and until then, I’d let her process whatever it was that had her so entranced by Nadea.

With twenty equites riding alongside us, we would soon find out just how deep that trust ran.