I studied Centurion Lun, and I had to admit, he looked more confident than the last time I saw him. I don't know if one of the other centurions took him under their wing, or after he brought what was left of his century back to the 14th legion, he realized what an achievement he had accomplished, giving him a mental boost. It could also be as simple as him growing into the role.

Whatever the case, there was a new air about him. However, it was suddenly undermined as he looked about, his voice dropping from hesitation as he stepped forward to talk to me in a hushed tone. "Umm, Jankens has a point, Green, what are you doing here?" As if suddenly embarrassed by what he was saying, Lun's face twisted as he started stammering, throwing wary looks at Redgenald and those around us. "Not that I mean that there is anything wrong with the area… but word about an elf the Kin won't continue peace talks without has been spreading… Who knows how individuals will react to the news?"

"Ahh, well, I wouldn't worry." I chuckled nervously, suddenly uncomfortable with the genuine concern the other man was showing for me… No, it's not for me. It's because he is concerned for the continued peace with the Kin. Pushing the intrusive thoughts to the side, as I decided to remain positive, I wanted to return the goodwill and warned him. "It turns out that my watcher, Reaper Keeper here, has some business to attend to in the area. I thought it was better that I stick with him rather than be by myself."

"Uhh, okay," Mumbled Lun, taking a half step back and partially turning away in fear when I mentioned who I was standing next to. Stopping mid-action, his back straightened, and he squared his shoulders as he said, "Still, I think that it would be best that we accompany you on your journey. You never know what can happen."

My eyes flicked past Lun to land on Leeroy, milling about with the rest of the legionaries blocking half the street. Feeling my gaze on him, the idiot savant waved at me with a broad smile before returning his attention to kicking at something on the ground.

Honestly… his presence did make me feel safer. No matter how he appeared, someone who could sense danger from miles away, even if that feeling amounted to intuition, was useful to have around. Not that I was going to tell the reaper about it. I wasn't sure what Lun had reported to his superiors about Jankans, if anything, but I wasn't going to be the one to sell him out to an Inquisitor.

Turning to my shadow, I said, "Might as well bring them along for protection. Not like we can make any less of a spectacle with your reputation here."

Reluctantly, Reaper Keeper nodded his head, "Agreed." Apparently thinking there was nothing else to say, the reaper turned and started walking down the street. Glancing to the side at Centurion Lun, I rolled my eyes at the whims of those in power.

Snorting in amusement at my look, Lun turned and motioned to either side of us with a raised hand. "Form up and follow the reaper!" He called out before falling into step next to me.

As we made our way through the surprisingly spacious streets of the tent city, the centurion sidled up to me and finally got around to asking whatever question was burning in his mind, "So, is it true? Are the senators taking the Kin south, and there's going to be a long-term peace treaty?"

Maybe I shouldn't be telling others what I had heard so soon, as it didn't seem like the best idea, but it would become common knowledge without me opening my mouth, so I might as well. "Yep… Well, at least one of the senators is taking a group of Kin south, and I know this faction of the Kin wants peace… So we can hope."

"Or we can hope for the talks to fall through…" Lun muttered, his voice abruptly shifting into a grim tone.

Glancing at him in shock, I couldn't help but ask, "Do you really think that? I mean… as limited as my experience has been, I am not in favor of anything that will bring more war. It already looks like there will be far more than anyone can stomach soon enough."

Sighing, Lun replied, "No… Ahh, I don't know… What I do know is that I saw thousands of burned-out homes on my journey north and then south. In the beginning, I was desperate to survive, driving everything else from my mind. And I never had to consider the implications, as everyone we came across was already dead or beyond our ability to help." He turned to me, his eyes burning with shame and regret, "And now we find out that Basetown and the surrounding area suffered the same fate… Some might be unable to differentiate between the Kin factions… or even care enough to do so. All they know is that all of their families and friends are dead, and somebody has to pay in blood for it."

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"…I can't say I don't understand being willing to go to war for that, and I have no idea how it feels to be in your situation…" I scoffed in disgust at myself before continuing. "I do know a lot about sacrifice. And that is what this situation demands. Have you ever seen an elf not willing to subjugate themselves to others? To always willingly accept, or even insist on taking, the losing side of a situation, even if they weren't the ones at fault and will be the only ones to suffer?"

The other man blinked in thought at the question, his mind moving back in time. "No, I don't believe I have." He finally stated, a note of thought in his voice.

"Have you ever asked yourself why?" I tentatively probed, my focus entirely on the other man as I watched him closely. "Why is it that elves are always the ones to back down and submit?"

"What? That's a stu… pid. You know, that is wei…" The centurion's eyes suddenly went dull, and his step stuttered, and he stumbled. Arm snapping out as I expected the reaction, I steadied the other man. "Ahh, what were you saying?" He asked after a moment, his voice filled with bewilderment.

"I was saying," I sighed, suddenly tired, "that if we mindlessly attack everyone who ever wronged us, there will never be an end to the bloodshed. Someone has to take the loss to put an end to it, because continuing will lead to far more. Not to mention that I think that Olimpia should consider having a neighbor with whom we don't end up in a continual war… I think it would show we have grown as a country."

"Really," Lun snorted, "that's your reason that we shouldn't go to war? That it shows growth?" He said, ignoring my point that someone would have to back down.

Going along with the lighter topic, I started ticking off my fingers, "First were the beastkins, then were the Imperials, and I think I can say with certainty that the dark elves and goblins were always going to be our enemies, but they still count. We're not off to a great start. Add to the equation that we have to slaughter a faction within the Kin, but making peace with the surviving half seems like a good first half-step to changing our interaction with external groups to me."

"You know, when you lay it all out… It really does seem like we have issues making peace. But from what I know about history and recent events, all of that is external forces seeking out conflict with us."

Shaking my head in mock disappointment, I clapped Lun on the shoulder and said in a dry tone, "Yeah, just like it's not your fault you knocked a girl up, and her family comes knocking on your door demanding you get married or become a eunuch. Any interaction takes two."

At my comment, the legionaries around us started snickering, and someone called out, "You hear that, Harold! You might want to learn to pull out or control your desires if you don't want the jewels chopped off."

"Hey, if you think I'm stupid enough to sleep with my girl without being willing to marry her, we might as well castrate you now to save the Republic some trouble in the future. If anyone has something to worry about, it's you, Bayrant, spending all that time with the cheep whores. It's bad enough to risk a disease your wife will have to put up with, but you could end up leaving a child without a father. Don't you have any pride as a man?"

"Hey!" barked back the first man who spoke, "You think I don't have any pride!? I have pride! The moment one of the girls comes to me with proof she's carrying my kid is the moment she can quit!"

"Boo~!" Jeered the legionaries, some going so far as to pick up clods of dirt to throw at the man who continued to bask in the attention his lack of moral character created. While there was judgment and condemnation for the man's actions, no one pushed the topic into outright hostility. Legion brats were a long-established fact of the world, and having more hands to work could only be a good thing with how the future looked.

After that, the mood lightened, and the troop walked down the street, receiving nods of respect from those we passed as they moved out of our way. The fourteenth might not have been in the Triad during the last two battles, but the word of their travels had gotten around.

They had more than proven their right to be stationed along the northern line. Rather than the scorn of months ago, people were looking upon us with… well, admiration and hope. It was quite a nice shift after years of obscurity and shame every legionary on the line had suffered through. A shift that everyone was feeling as they marched with straight backs and heads held high.

Coming out of my thoughts, I blinked in surprise as I looked at the actual building we were approaching. You would think that I would have noticed it sooner, you know, with it being at least ten feet tall and forty wide. I couldn't see its length from where I was, but that would be meaningless to me, as I was missing the wall.

I could say that the tents were tall enough to block it from my view… and it was. That bottom three feet of its base was essential to keep the building standing, but not so much that it would save me from walking into a wall when I spaced out.

Without hesitation, Redgenald walked up to the door and moved to open it, only to smack his face into its wooden planks when it refused to budge. Banging on the door hard enough to shake it in its frame, the man shouted while rubbing his face, "What the hell is going on!? Why is this blasted door locked!?"

The distant sound of voices and furniture being thrown around came from behind the door for most of a minute. Eventually, the door slammed open, and Kathren stumbled out, a mug in hand. She raised her arm while swaying unsteadily on her feet as she shouted in outrage, "Wha' ya doing here? T'is my bar now!"

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