After taking time in the private courtyard to regroup and recover from recent events, our trio met with Captain Sonea.

  Her office wasn’t exceptionally spacious, but it was arranged in a practical manner and radiated a dignified calm. A few plain but well-made wooden chairs were placed about the room, their surfaces polished to an inviting golden glow.

  “We’ll escort you, of course,” the Captain declared from behind her desk before we could even begin to talk about the next steps. “When you’re ready, just say the word.”

  Relias gave me a cautious side glance, clearly trying to gauge my reaction. “It would be prudent to journey to the Tower alongside the Order of White, Chosen One. I would not place too much hope in the idea that the Mistress succeeded in taking the entirety of the General’s army.” He paused, pursing his lips. “Given the aberrant behavior we’ve observed of late, it’s possible some demons even now act without any command.”

  “Not just demons, either,” Nora added. “There could be sorts of nasties out there.”

  “Makes sense,” I murmured, staring at a freshly inked, somewhat detailed map of the wastelands without truly comprehending it. Its lines and letters had a certain familiar elegance to them.

  “You… are in agreement, then?” Relias asked hesitantly.

  No point in arguing about this now. When the time comes, I’ll send them away, somehow.

  “Yeah.”

  “No… objections?” Nora questioned. “Concerns?”

  I looked up from the map for a brief moment. “Not really, no,” I answered even as I turned back to it. A large circle denoted the general location of Otheros’s hidden obsidian spire atop forsaken peaks. “How long do you think it will take to reach him?”

  “Approximately three weeks, barring unforeseen conflict,” Sonea replied. “Aleph and Tetora’s efforts, though rushed, proved most effective. Their terrain assessment was vital in triangulating his location.”

  That explains it. Aleph drew this map.

  Unsurprisingly, I felt a stinging pang behind my eyes. To distract myself, I ran my finger from the circle to the pin that marked our position, noting that the map’s surface was a bit bubbled in areas, as if tiny drops of water had spilled onto it before drying away.

  Tears?

  When this is all over and I make things right, whatever that means… Maybe I can ask them for forgiveness.

  “Hmm. That’s a bit longer than I would have thought.”

  “A measured pace will be necessary.” Captain Sonea explained. “Frequent rests for the mounts, routine scout rotations, and no movement after sundown once the wards are active.”

  “When would we be ready to leave?” I asked.

  “As early as tomorrow.”

  No. I’m gonna have a rough night tonight.

  “Let’s plan for the day after,” I countered. “I realize the more I linger, the more likely someone out there will get upset about it. However, I’d like to spend one more day ensuring everyone’s as prepared as possible.”

  To my relief, they were all in agreement, so long as I delivered a suitably rousing speech to the troops before our departure. As we delved into discussions of logistics, Lieutenant Arlena knocked twice before letting herself into the Captain’s office.

  “My apologies,” she said quickly. “I did not mean to interrupt.”

  “I was just about to send for you,” Captain Sonea said with a grin. “You always manage to arrive before I even voice the need.”

  One of Lieutenant Arlena’s long ears perked up. “Oh?”

  “We’ll need to decide which of us is heading to the Demon King’s Tower,” Sonea said, folding her arms, “and who’s staying behind with the troops.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Arlena’s other ear rose to match the first. “Isn’t it obvious? You’re the one staying here.”

  Captain Sonea’s smile vanished. “I believe that deserves an explanation.”

  Arlena blinked, feigning innocence. “Why, because I’m better equipped than you. You might outmatch me in a sword fight, but I’m a better shot with a crossbow. I’m also less likely to fall to Animus Overload. Hybrid perks.” She scratched behind her ear. “And if something goes wrong out there… well, at least you’re still here, in the lead.”

  “Nothing better happen out there, Lieutenant,” was all the Captain said to her.

  “Naturally,” Arlena replied, her nose giving the faintest twitch. “Now, about my next request.” She straightened slightly, her posture more formal. “I recommend assigning Sir Sorne to the contingent delivering the Ereborite findings to Chairo.”

  Captain Sonea glanced questioningly at Relias, who offered a solemn nod.

  “It would be best to place him in the care of Mother Makis,” he explained. “As Queen Flamina’s former spiritual attendant, she possesses the deepest understanding of such afflictions.” He exhaled slowly. “I had hoped her twilight years would be granted peace… but it seems I must call upon her insight once more.”

  Lieutenant Arlena glanced at me. “He’s also requesting to speak with you, Chosen One. Will you grant him an audience?”

  Time for my mask.

  “Lead the way, Lieutenant.”

  “Forgive me for my hubris!” Sir Sorne wailed when we entered his private infirmary, catching me off guard. “My thoughts, my words, my actions… all misaligned to my Purpose! Had I but followed Euphridia’s path… none of this would have happened to me!”

  It would have happened to someone else. Maybe even me.

  “Sir Sorne, I am sorry all this—”

  “I need you to forgive me! Otherwise, Euphridia will continue to punish me!”

  “I do not believe Euphridia wants you to suffer, Sir Sorne. I believe she wants you to—”

  “Die?” he blurted out, eyes unfocused.

  “No!” I objected. “I believe she wants you to…”

  I wasn’t sure what to say next.

  Learn from your mistakes?

  Make things right?

  Damnit! Enough with the self-reflecting parallels already.

  “Euphridia wants you to forgive yourself, knowing that what happened to you wasn’t what anyone intended. She wants you to remember your self-worth and forge your own path forward. While I can’t tell you where that path will lead, I believe you’ll find out more about it once you arrive in Chairo—”

  “Oh. I should die there. Yes. Away from the eyes of the other soldiers.”

  “Again, no! For rest and recovery.”

  Sir Sorne shook his head. “There is no cure. If they could not help the former Queen of Amantia, how could they help me? My Purpose is gone.”

  I sighed. “You can refuse treatment if you’d like. But I’d ask you to consider it among your other options.”

  “Like what?”

  Where’s Dean the guidance counselor when you need him?

  “You’re a full-fledged knight, right? I saw you riding your horse. I bet you could train others in horsemanship. And your lance looked steady, at least to me.” I patted the back of my head nervously. “I have no idea how to do that myself.”

  Sir Sorne’s wild eyes lit up even further. “A new Purpose. Yes. Assign me one!”

  Didn’t I give enough hints for him to pick one out for himself?

  “Sir Sorne. We are living in unprecedented times, with danger around every corner. For me to speak your new Purpose would potentially disclose it to those who would see us defeated, so uh, therefore…”

  He waited, blinking at me as I held the silence a beat too long.

  “Therefore?” he prompted.

  “Therefore… all I can say is… You must go to Chairo. Once there, your Purpose will be revealed!”

  I could see the faintest bit of disbelief behind his disheveled appearance.

  I need to lay it on a bit thicker.

  “I will entrust you with a confidential document,” I added in a whisper. “No one but Captain Corwin must lay eyes on it. May I use your ink and parchment?”

  Sir Sorne nodded slowly. “Yes, Chosen One, though it is not mine.”

  Helping myself to said materials, I wrote, “Wisdom ensures even the most reckless companions live on. And those companions, in turn, give wisdom a reason to endure.”

  “I… do not understand the message,” Sir Sorne confessed after I handed it to him.

  “It’s encoded. Captain Corwin will understand it, I assure you.”

  I hope he takes the hint. I think they’d make a cute couple.

  Lieutenant Arlena also glanced over the parchment, a knowing smirk crossing her face. “Well now… We’ll have lots to talk about on our ride together, won’t we?”

  “Ah… It would seem so.”

  I hope she doesn’t run back to the Captain on this one.

  Evening came quickly, and after eating enough under Nora’s watchful eye, I successfully pleaded for some alone time in my quarters.

  Although I appreciated the close monitoring, I also found it irritating.

  It’s not like there’s anywhere to run to at this point.

  “And if you would allow me to accompany you, I believe I will prove myself an asset,” said Raelana Demonslayer, Sixth Appointed Hero, advised quietly but steadily in my mind.

  What, so you can get your revenge? You saw how well that worked out for Raeanne, right? And don’t think for a moment I’ll let you possess me.

  “No. So I can make up for the mess I left you.”

  It would have been foolhardy to accept her offer at face value, especially since I couldn't see her face.

  You’re going to have to be a bit more specific.

  “As I tried to say before… The field manual contains neither the beginning nor the end of my story. But I believe once you hear it, you’ll understand this: your judgment, especially your willingness to reexamine it when circumstances demand, is perhaps your greatest strength.”

  She paused as if weighing whether to continue, then added quietly: “I was once offered a deal by Olethros, too.”

  The Last Rae of Hope: Book 1: A Hero Returned is Available on Amazon and Audible!

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