The Foolhardies 218 Loyal Servants

To those fairies and viseres who'd been up since the previous night, this choice was a welcome boon. We were all tired, and many of us had been injured too. 

Azuma and Luca were both recuperating in the healer's wagon along with two dozen others of our most heavily injured. They were all under the care of Berrian Berrygrove, the elf leader of our small but highly capable healer's squad, and his a.s.sistant, Ernak, the drow apothecary who'd originally been part of Thom's group. 

I bought liquor from Shanks' caravan out of my own pocket to give the men to help boost their morale somewhat. Not that they needed it. Beating back a great general and escaping the clutches of the Scarlet Moon once again had already been enough of a morale booster.

Something interesting happened in this camp as well. Aura had agreed to take Arah on as her third contracted visere, and so a short ceremony was held in the Commander's tent to complete this.

While they were surrounded by my squad leaders and Ty, Arah knelt on the carpet in front of Aura and offered our elven princess a golden ring I recognized as one of her favorite jewelry. It had been given to Arah by her mother in the eighth grade during the one semester where she'd gotten the top grades in our year. Of course, that was the year my dad died which was probably why my grades dipped, but I never gave that excuse out loud. 

"Please take this treasured item as a sign of my fealty and my desire to serve as a visere for House Trickhaven of the Trickster Pavilion," Arah swore. 

I noticed that her oath was an oath of loyalty to Aura's house and not just Aura's. It was a contrast to mine which was an oath of partners.h.i.+p with Aura, and Ty's, which had been a more general oath for the clan. 

No, I wasn't being a.n.a.l about it. These things were important to take note of because the devil was always in the details. 

Aura took the ring from Arah's hand and clipped it onto the necklace I'd given her so that there were now three things hanging from it, my mother's locket, Ty's star charm, and now, Arah's ring. 

I, Aurana Trickhaven, princess of the Trickster Pavilion, recognize your resolve, Arah Lin Tan, and accept you as a visere of the clan," Arah said, smiling warmly at the girl who she'd met only a year ago but had obviously grown very fond of. 

Varda pa.s.sed Aura a steel-grade sword that was the standard weapon we gave to our high-ranking Foolhardies. Nope, I was wrong. After a closer look, it wasn't one of our standard swords at all. It looked pricier than the cheap stuff we gave out. 

It was four feet in length with a leaf-like edge that was common in elven weapon designs. Its hilt was shaped like a smile and it had a finely carved wooden pommel that had silver flower filigree that extended up to its leather scabbard. 

Aura offered this sword with both hands to Arah. 

"This is Thistle, a named blade I once carried when I was training to become a s.h.i.+eldmaiden," Aura explained. "I give it to you as a sign of respect and a symbol of our partners.h.i.+p."

Arah accepted the sword while a tear rolled down her left eye. 

She lowered her head when she spoke next, "I will strive to be worthy of this honor you give me." 

"I know you will," Aura answered. Then she clasped her on her forearm and added, "Welcome to the trickster pavilion."

We all gave Arah a round of applause and each clapped her on the shoulder in a gesture of welcome. 

However, Ty had to ruin the auspicious moment with his comment, "You get a cool looking sword but I only got a tree branch?"

"Well, maybe you should use the staff Zarz made out of that tree branch more often, Ty," Varda countered. 

Everyone laughed.

"I'm just glad someone who's less inclined to reckless plans is joining the team," Ashley added. 

"Yes, it is rather tiring having to fight for our lives in every engagement," Thom agreed.

"Wait… are you guys saying we're free of Dean's foolhardiness?" Qwipps asked in a serious tone. 

Everyone just looked at him like he was being ridiculous. 

Qwipps sighed. "What a fleeting dream this was…"

We all laughed, and that was how our battle in the Westersand ended. 

Coming home to Mudgard was a little strange now that everything I had to look forward to was in the Fayne. My best friends, my brother, and the girl of my dreams… yup, the Fayne had it all. 

But, as I walked over to my bedroom door and opened it, I caught the scent of bacon wafting up from the kitchen and had to re-evaluate my earlier thought. And as aunt Lena called me down for breakfast, I realized there were some things to look forward to in Mudgard after all. 

"I'm coming!" I yelled. "Can you make me an omelet too?" 

---

On our return to the Fayne the following night, my friends and I were greeted to a surprise. 

Al Sheridan and his Millenium Hawks had arrived during the day to come to our aid. Late as they were, I appreciated the gesture nonetheless. 

What's more, Al came with the news that I was desperate to hear. 

"Redbull came to me last night and told me to take my unit and escape from the battlefield," Al revealed to us. 

We were sitting in my command tent while the rest of the camp was in the midst of packing our gear and readying the unit for the march back to Hoodwink. 

Along with me and Al, Aura, Edo, Varda, Ashley, and Arah — who the team agreed would take the role of our new tactician — were seated around the table. His adjutant, Riardon, and another one of his squad leaders, a redcap named Callistan, were also present for this meeting.

"When I asked him why he was sending us away he told me that the battle was no longer about the war… and loyalists to the patriarch had to escape now before it was too late," Al continued. 

He took a sip of the drink we'd offered him. His eyes widened as his tongue tasted the refres.h.i.+ngly sweet carbonated liquid. 

"I-is this… cola?" he asked in surprise.

"The Fayne's version at least. Made by our unit's chef, Alfie," Ashley explained. "A little too sweet for me though." 

"Let's stay on topic, guys," I sighed. Then I leaned forward and added, "So… Redbull knew what was happening but he wasn't completely on board with it…" 

Al nodded. "He didn't tell me much though. I would only learn about your battle to escape Garm after Verania sent me a message earlier in the day… It's why we rushed over to help you guys."

"How would she have known, though?" I asked. 

���Before she became a military officer, Verania served her aunt as one of her top spies," Aura explained. "She excels at playing the great game." 

The idea that Verania had a leg up on me was disconcerting, and I resolved to find my own spymaster for the Foolhardies. Thom would be an excellent candidate if he wasn't so d.a.m.n conceited. 

"I take it Verania and Dain managed to flee as well?" I asked. 

"They'd joined up with Darah's army before the night was over," Al explained just before taking another sip of cola. "Man, I miss this taste…" 

"Still, learning that Great General Darah was so close… we could have gone to her instead of relying on the Pilgrimage for our escape," Edo said as he leaned back on the central pole of the command tent. Then he glanced over at Arah and smirked. "I guess it all worked out in the end."

"I can't wait to hear you tell Darah that you teamed up with the Pilgrimage," Al laughed. "She hates those guys… best be prepared, Dean." 

"Sh-shut up!" I said quickly. "And don't tell her anything… I'll manage… I think." 

As we marched back to Hoodwink Tower, I received word from Fila, who'd just returned from delivering his message to Darah, that the plan to capture Garm had failed. 

Apparently, the Scarlet Moon had held her up long enough for Garm to escape with nearly twenty thousand of his most loyal soldiers. 

Even worse, the rest of the army he left behind had been forced to retreat from the remainder of the Dominion army, resulting in the Trickster Pavilion's defeat in the Westersand, which meant we'd just ceded back to them all the territory we'd gained over the last few months. 

It was incredibly frustrating as we had the advantage in that war. At least until Garm decided to turn traitor. 

So instead of pursuing Garm north, Darah had to march her army west and rally what remained of the troops to stop Lord Rah from taking more of our territory in the Westmarch. But, luckily, her timely arrival caused Lord Rah to take pause.

An armistice was agreed upon by the two leaders, and a demilitarized zone was put up at the eastern entrance to the Westersand Desert. This meant a new defensive line was also being set up, and wouldn't you know it, the Foolhardies had been called in to be part of it. 

But, that was for my guys to handle for now. I, unfortunately, had been summoned back to Shärleden by the council along with the other officers who'd remained loyal to the clan during Garm's betrayal.