Margrave Reinhardt of House Parbon was diligently reading through all of the reports that hed gotten this morning. Undead attacks had become more prevalent, and so he was much more proactive in looking for anomalies. Abominations from the Order of the Rose were more common everywhere, and the nearby Low Way of the Rose was proving particularly problematic. Indeed, he had a meeting with someone from the Stonepetal Sentinels today.

A knock disturbed him from his reading, and the margrave looked up. His aide entered, and he fixed his ruby eyes on the man.

Eh margrave, theres the man began hesitantly. The king, queen, and princess are here. Their knight-commander Galamon acts as escort.

Margrave Reinhardt leaned back in his chair, flabbergasted. You mean theyre coming here, soon, he sought to confirm.

No, sir. Theyre here, the aide insisted. I have them in a guest room, but

The margrave ran his hand through his rich, red hair, completely caught off balance. Ill he set down his papers. I suppose I have to greet them, then. He shook his head, trying to dispel the daze. Are you certain this is? Never mind, he dismissed before his aide could answer. He rose to his feet, preparing to head out to entertain the royaltys whim.

#####

Argrave looked at all of the members of House Parbon, three of whom sat on a couch while the last stood behind. There was Reinhardthe was brawny, and had red hair and eyes. There was Elias just beside him. The man looked like a younger version of his father, and had two working eyesthat hadnt always been the case. Elias sat with a young woman that had gray hair and dark orange eyes: his wife, Ridia of Parbon, ne Jast.

And standing behind them all was Rose of Parbon. Indeed, standing: her legs had been fully healed.

House Parbon had once been rather earnest in their animosity toward Argrave. Margrave Reinhardt had kidnapped him on sight. But despite a few unwanted borrowings hed helped them at many turns. Hed aided them politically in both Jast and the civil war, and hed supported them physically by curing their ails. Now, their earnest animosity had become earnest devotion.

How long will you be staying, Your Majesty? Margrave Reinhardt asked after theyd exchanged greetings. I can prepare the best room in my castle immediately. And whatever it is you need help with, Im sure that I can provide. You need only ask.

Not sure how long Ill be staying. Ideally it wont be long, but a certain situation has come up, he smiled bitterly. Just need to check things out, do a survey. If Im right, everything will fall into place rather quickly. He looked between them. But enough about me: hows the whole family?

Without your forewarning, we wouldve been hit hard, Your Majesty, Elias nodded his head. The undead attacks have been brutal, but weve had rapid responses ready. Lost a lot of good men, but much less than we would have.

And Your Majesty, I can never thank you enough, Rose of Parbon said, walking out from behind the couch. You you dont know what it means to me. Being able to walk again

Just fixing a problem I caused, Argrave dismissed.

No. It was much more than that, Rose disagreed, smiling widely. She wiped at her eyes as tears came. I feel like I have my life back in my hands. And my family remains whole because of your actions. So thank you, Your Majesty.

Argrave turned his gaze away from Rose, but found Elias. The once-dour man beamed at Argrave and said, She speaks truly. What you did for my sister alone was more than I ever hoped, but even for me, and my eye. He turned his head to the right. And you helped me find love.

Argrave squirmed in his seat a little as Elias and Ridia held hands. The shy girl said nothing, but he could tell she agreed with the sentiment.

Hey, you did all the hard work, Argrave dismissed. But besides all of that anything interesting going on?

Searching for something, Your Majesty? Reinhardt leaned in, concerned.

Argrave shrugged. No, just catching up.

Nothing too urgent, Reinhardt assured. Just remaining vigilant, as you directed. I suppose there is a meeting with one of the Stonepetal Sentinels later today, but

The Stonepetal Sentinels? Argrave repeated. Ah now that does sound interesting. He looked off to the side, then focused back on Reinhardt. ListenIm going to be spending time on the walls, mostly. When this meeting with the sentinel happens please, come get me. He smiled. I think itll be fun, catching up with the Stonepetal Sentinels. And I might have something for them to do. Theyre well accustomed to dank underground caverns, after all

#####

After a quick walk through the familiar layout of the Lionsun Castle, Argrave stood on the walls of the massive fortification, peering out at the endless expanse of black sand in the Burnt Desert. Ever since Anneliese had learned the shamanic spell [Worldstrider], the whole world seemed to have opened up to them. Nothing felt out of reach. Perhaps that was why it earned that name. Though the spell consumed more magic than it did spirits, Anneliese had still expended fifty percent of what shed gained from Chitengs sacrifice. It was a testament to how much that they traveled.

Elenore was looking out across the land just beside Argrave. She said quietly, In times like this, when I see something new and beautiful with my own two eyes, I always think about what you did for me.

Argrave nodded and said, Good. Thats why I did it. I wanted to get you indebted, make you like me.

Elenore laughed at his cocksureness, while Anneliese defended him, explaining, Argrave is merely embarrassed, Elenore. He has a great deal of difficulty accepting it when people say hes a good person too many times, and after the meeting with Parbon, you get statements like that.

Elenore settled down, then squinted her eyes to stare out at the distance. Do you really think hell come?

Without a doubt, Argrave answered without hesitating a beat. Because I already see him.

Elenore blinked in confusion, then stared at the ground with greater intensity. Is he joking again, Anneliese? All I see is black. The three of you really crossed that hellscape? She glanced between Galamon, Anneliese, and him.

Yeah, we did, Argrave answered her, then turned his head to watch her struggle to spot Durran. Let me help you see. he said in annoyance, then placed his hand atop her head and attempted to orient her vision. She tensed up at first, but gradually surrendered. He placed her head so that it was looking out across the sky.

This is astronomically unhelp Elenore began, though trailed off after a few seconds.

Far above the miles and miles of black sand dunes, numerous figures flew. With nothing to give them scale, one might think they were small. As they grew closer, however, it became abundantly clear that they were rather the opposite. They were wyverns. Adult wyverns, all of them.

In time, all of House Parbons guardsmen on the castle wall came to attention. A loud horn was blown, and knights swarmed up to the gates. It seemed a confrontation was inevitable, but the relentless push forward by the wyverns stopped at a distance close enough to cause concern, but too far for arrows or magic to reach effectively. Something seemed off about the flying packArgrave couldnt count them for some reason, no matter how hard he tried. They seemed to be one thousand or ten.

Margrave Parbon stepped up to the castle walls, looking out with caution. Hed already put on his armor, and seemed prepared for battle. Your Majesty, did you predict?

No. Well, yes and no, Argrave shook his head. I think theyre going to call for a parley.

Parley? Reinhardt looked at him funnily. In all my days fighting these barbarians, Ive never

As they watched, one of the riders waved a giant white flag. Muttering spread among the guardsmen present. Just as the margrave had never seen this happen, neither had they.

Your banner is white, Argrave told him. Might as well wave that back.

Do you really intend to meet them, Your Majesty? Reinhardt looked up at Argrave with concern.

One of them, Anneliese answered on his behalf.

Though the margrave hesitated for a brief moment, he eventually gave the command to signal them in turn. With parley promised, a lone rider broke off from the flying horde of wyverns. The rest of them took to the ground, that they might ease tensions and rest their beasts while the parley happened. The messenger, a huge gray wyvern, came closer second by second. Its flight path seemed wrong, warped.

Make room, Argrave called out, and this order was echoed by the margrave. In time, a space was cleared. It was fortunate that it had been, too, as the great winged reptile landed as the last of the men came away from the wall. Argrave realized why hed been struggling to make out the countthis wyvern wore armor etched with the illusory enchantments of the southron elves.

People seemed hesitant to leave their weapons in their scabbards, but Argrave was sure the rider wouldnt mind either which way. The man atop the wyverns neck wore gray wyvern scale armor, and hefted a glaive as he dismounted nimbly. As Argrave studied the mans magic, he was surprised to see the sheer depth of his magic. He had more magic than Anneliese, even. He might even be at S-rank. Argrave questioned briefly if his judgment about this persons identity had been wrong.

But the way he walked, his height, and even the glaive in his hand Argrave scrutinized the man as he came closer. He couldnt see any features beyond the helmet, but he was quite familiar.

Is this a hospitable parley the man began. Or do you view me as an enemy before I say a word?

Id like it to be hospitable, Argrave answered back. But this isnt my house.

The wyvern rider and Argrave both looked to Reinhardt, who eventually gave a nod. Ill prepare a meal.

#####

Argrave sat at a table, staring at the wyvern rider intently. Slowly food was placed out, and everyone took their seats. The man raised his hand up, taking his helm off

And Durran was there, smiling. He was a man with tan skin, golden eyes, and tattoos of the same color all about his body, most of which remained hidden. A few scars were visible on his face, and he seemed to have gained more in the time theyd been apart.

Hahah! Argrave pointed at him. Had me going there for a bit, I wont lie to you, damned prick.

Oh! Durran spread his arms wide, dropping the helmet on the floor. Who do you think youre talking to? Im the King of the Scorched Sands! Show some respect!

They exchanged greetings for a bit. His friendship with Durran was much different than with Galamon. He appreciated both of them, but after everyone was taking their time telling him how cool he was, how he saved their lives, et cetera it was nice to have the cynical bastard back, he had to admit. Anneliese and Elenore watched their exchange quietly.

Now Argrave sat back in the chair, looking at Durran hard. What in the hell have you done? Who is this man Im looking at, and why did he bring wyverns with armor made by southron elves?

Durran planted a fork into a roasted chicken, chuckling lightly. Well those are my men. Weve become some like nomads, you see. Just so happens Im their leader. Weve got about thirty villages under our protection, and were looking to expand that number. Deserts not like Vasquerits been taking some time.

Nomads? Argrave repeated. So, what, you wander around doing?

More things that I can tell you, Durran shook his head. Fact is, though, weve been improving the Burnt Desert more than I thought possible. Ive been finishing what Titus startedkilling Vessels of Fellhorn, restoring water to the region. Were getting ready for Gerechtigkeit, friend, and you better believe that.

I believe you should tell me more, Elenore looked at Durran intently.

Oh, Im hoping for a long conversation, Durran looked at her and smiled. A lot has changed, Elenore.

And your magicwhat happened there?" Anneliese inquired curiously as Elenore put some food in her mouth, growing a little red.

Some of Durrans cheer waned. Well it might be that I made a large bet with someone. He scratched his cheek quietly. And that someone might be a certain Alchemist.

The Alchemist? Argraves face grew somber. Durran you didnt?

But, uh, we can get to that later, Durran waved his hands away. Lets talk, lets catch up! How has everyone been?