Day six began with evidence they were approaching hostile territory.
Adrian spotted it first—subtle signs most travelers would miss but that screamed warning to anyone trained at Northwatch. Trees scored with claw marks too high for any natural animal. Disturbed earth where something heavy had moved through recently. The peculiar smell that lingered after demon presence, like sulfur mixed with rot.
He raised his hand, signaling halt. The group stopped immediately, hands moving to weapons with trained efficiency.
"What is it?" Alice asked quietly, scanning the forest around them.
"Demon activity. Recent." Adrian dismounted, examining the claw marks more closely. "Within the last day, maybe two. Large one, judging by the height and depth of these scores."
Garrick moved to inspect as well, his monster-hunting experience translating to threat assessment. "Territorial marking?"
"Possibly. Or just destroying things because demons enjoy destruction." Adrian traced the gouges with careful fingers. "They mark territory sometimes, yes, but they also damage for the pleasure of it. Hard to distinguish motive from just the marks."
Mira had positioned herself near Alice, orange flame flickering ready. "Should we be worried?"
"We should be alert," Adrian corrected. "This close to the border, demon activity is constant. We're entering their range now—the territory they claim even though Northwatch pushes them back regularly. Seeing evidence of their presence is normal. Expected, even."
"But dangerous," Alice observed.
"Always dangerous." Adrian remounted, studying the road ahead with new intensity. "From here forward, we assume demons could appear at any moment. Stay close, stay ready, don't let your guard down."
They rode more cautiously after that, Adrian taking point with focused attention that spoke to years of border awareness. His entire demeanor had shifted—gone was the uncertain teacher still figuring out how to instruct. This was warrior on home ground, reading territory he'd defended his entire life.
Alice watched him with fascination. This was the Adrian that Northwatch had forged—not cruel like the demon prince he'd been, but absolutely competent, aware of every sound and shadow, processing threats with the efficiency of someone who'd survived because he never stopped being vigilant.
"You're different here," she said quietly, riding beside him.
"Here is where I learned to survive. Where I spent every day from age ten until leaving for the trials." Adrian's eyes never stopped moving, tracking potential threats. "At the capital, I was visitor. Here, I know every tree, every hill, every place demons like to ambush from."
"It's like watching you come home."
"It is home. The only one I've really known."
They crested a rise and Adrian stopped again, this time with visible tension. Below, in a small valley, lay what had once been a settlement. Small—maybe twenty buildings at most, the kind of outpost that served travelers and maintained way stations.
Now it was ruins.
Buildings burned to blackened skeletons. Walls torn down. The ground churned as though something massive had deliberately destroyed everything standing. Smoke still rose from a few spots—recent destruction, perhaps within days.
"Gods," Alice breathed.
"Demon raid," Garrick said grimly, professional assessment confirming what was obvious. "Coordinated attack, not random encounter. They came to destroy, not just hunt."
Adrian's jaw was tight. "This is why Northwatch matters. Why we fight every day, why we can never rest. Because when we fail, when demons get past our defenses—this is what happens."
They descended carefully, weapons ready despite the apparent abandonment. The destruction was thorough—demons hadn't just attacked, they'd systematically demolished everything. Buildings crushed, supplies scattered and ruined, wells contaminated with refuse.
"Are there..." Alice couldn't finish the question.
"Bodies? Probably buried or taken by Northwatch patrols for proper rites." Adrian's voice was matter-of-fact in that cold way that came from seeing too much death too young. "Demons don't leave survivors when they raid settlements. They kill everyone or take them, which is usually worse."
Mira moved through the ruins with guardian awareness, checking for threats, for anyone who might have hidden and survived. She found nothing—just destruction and silence.
"How often does this happen?" Alice asked quietly.
"Too often. Northwatch stops most raids, but some get through. We're spread thin defending long border. Sometimes we're not fast enough, not strong enough, or just unlucky." Adrian looked at the ruins with expression Alice couldn't quite read—grief mixed with anger mixed with grim acceptance. "This is what we live with. This is reality at the border."
"Could we have stopped this?" Alice's voice was small.
"If we'd been here? Maybe. Or maybe we'd have died with them." Adrian turned away from the ruins. "You can't save everyone. Can't prevent every attack. You do what you can, when you can, and accept that failure is inevitable sometimes."
"That's bleak philosophy," Garrick observed.
"It's realistic philosophy. Border life doesn't allow idealism—it gets burned away fast along with everything else demons destroy."
They left the ruins behind, but the atmosphere had changed. What had been journey with growing anticipation became tense transit through hostile territory. Every sound drew attention. Every shadow was potential threat. The casual conversations and easy laughter from previous days disappeared, replaced by hypervigilance.
Adrian led them through terrain with practiced efficiency—avoiding obvious paths, choosing routes with better sightlines and escape options, positioning them to minimize ambush risk. This wasn't teaching moment. This was survival.
"You've done this many times," Mira observed, noting how he naturally fell into patrol patterns.
"Since I was old enough to hold a sword. Father started taking me on border patrols at ten—supervised at first, but learning. By twelve, I was doing independent patrols of safe zones. Fifteen, full combat rotations." Adrian checked their backtrail automatically. "You learn fast or you die. Border doesn't give second chances for slow learners."
"That's young," Alice said. "Ten years old facing demons?"
"Everyone at Northwatch starts young. Children of border families know from birth that their lives depend on competence. We grow up fast because we have to."
The sun tracked lower as they traveled, afternoon wearing toward evening. Adrian was clearly calculating—pushing pace to make distance while daylight held, knowing demons preferred darkness for attacks.
"Will we reach Northwatch tonight?" Garrick asked.
"Tomorrow morning if we camp properly. But we need to find defensible position before dark. Being caught in the open at night this close to the border is how people die."
He found it as sunset approached—a rocky outcropping with natural walls on three sides and clear sightlines on the fourth. Not perfect, but better than open ground.
"We'll camp here. No fire."
"No fire?" Alice asked, then understood. "Light draws attention."
"Exactly. We'll eat cold rations, set watch rotation, and hope we're lucky enough that nothing finds us." Adrian was already surveying the position, calculating defense if they were discovered. "Mira, you and I will take first watch—two hours each, rotating. Garrick, you and Alice second rotation. No one sleeps deeply. Keep weapons ready."
They arranged camp with military efficiency—minimal gear, everything positioned for quick movement if necessary. The cold meal was eaten in near silence, everyone processing the reality of where they were.
As darkness fell, Adrian took position at the outcropping's edge with Mira, both watching the forest below with unwavering attention.
Alice sat nearby despite technically being off-watch, unable to sleep with tension running this high. She watched Adrian in the dim moonlight—the absolute focus, the casual competence of someone utterly at home in dangerous circumstances.
This was who he really was, she realized. Not the uncertain teacher learning to instruct. Not the tournament champion displaying unprecedented power. This was Adrian Blackthorn of Northwatch, border warrior who'd spent his entire life holding back darkness.
"You're staring," Adrian said without looking away from his watch.
"I'm learning," Alice corrected. "Watching how you read the terrain, how you position yourself, how you track potential threats."
"Fair enough."
"Can I ask something?"
"Always."
"Does it ever get easier? Living with this constant threat, knowing any moment could bring attack, watching settlements burn?"
Adrian was quiet for moment. "No. You just get better at functioning despite it. The fear doesn't go away—you learn to act through it. The grief doesn't stop—you learn to process it faster. The vigilance becomes habit rather than conscious effort."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It is. But it's also purposeful. Everyone at Northwatch knows exactly why they exist. Knows their sacrifice prevents raids like the one we saw from reaching deeper into the kingdom. There's meaning in that, even when it's hard."
"I want to understand it," Alice said quietly. "Not just intellectually, but actually understand what it means to live like this every day."
"You will. Two and a half months at Northwatch will teach you more than any amount of description could." Adrian finally looked at her, expression serious. "But Alice—it's not too late to turn back. We're close enough now that you're seeing reality. If you want to return to the capital, to safety and comfort, no one would blame you."
"Is that what you want?"
"What I want doesn't matter. What's best for you does."
"Then I'm staying," Alice said firmly. "Because what's best for me is learning to be capable, even if that means facing things that scare me. Even if that means watching settlements burn and understanding what failure costs."
Adrian held her gaze for long moment, then nodded. "Alright. Then tomorrow you'll see Northwatch. Meet my family who doesn't know you're coming. Begin training that will be harder than anything you've experienced."
"I'm ready."
"I know you are."
The night wore on. Watch rotations changed—Adrian and Mira replaced by Garrick and Alice, who maintained vigilant silence through their shift. Nothing attacked. No demons emerged from darkness to test their defenses.
Just quiet tension, hypervigilance, and the constant awareness that tomorrow would bring them to Northwatch.
To the fortress that had been Adrian's entire world until a year ago.
To the family who had no idea their son was bringing a princess, her guardian, and a High Knight home for training.
Tomorrow would be interesting.
Dawn came slowly, grey light filtering through clouds that promised cold weather. They broke camp efficiently, ate quickly, and mounted with silent purpose.
"How far?" Garrick asked.
"Four hours at steady pace. Less if we push, but horses are tired and pushing invites mistakes." Adrian checked their position against landmarks only he could recognize. "We'll see Northwatch's outer watchtowers within two hours. The fortress itself shortly after."
They rode through morning light, terrain becoming more clearly defended. Adrian pointed out features as they appeared—concealed watchtowers, cleared killzones where demons would have no cover, marker stones that indicated patrol routes.
"This close to Northwatch, demons rarely attack in daylight," Adrian explained. "Our patrols are too frequent, our response too fast. They probe at night, test defenses, try to find weaknesses. But during the day, this territory belongs to us."
"That must provide some comfort," Alice observed.
"Some. But demons are patient. They wait for opportunities, for moments when guards are tired or distracted or simply unlucky. We can't afford to relax just because sun is up."
The first watchtower appeared—solid stone construction with clear sightlines, the kind of military architecture built for function over beauty. As they approached, a horn sounded—three short blasts that Adrian recognized immediately.
"Unknown travelers approaching, hostile territory. Standard protocol."
Within moments, a patrol emerged from the tree line—six border guards moving with disciplined efficiency, weapons ready but not drawn. They positioned themselves to block the road, clearly prepared for threat assessment.
The patrol leader—a scarred veteran Adrian recognized—raised his hand in halt signal. "State your business and present identification. You're in Northwatch territory, five miles from the fortress."
Adrian reached for his travel pack, retrieving a small token—a green crest bearing a golden thorn, the unmistakable symbol of House Blackthorn. He held it up, letting morning light catch the gold.
The patrol leader's eyes widened. "Lord Adrian? Young lord, is that you?"
"It's me, Sergeant Garrett. Returning home."
"Seven hells, lad—you've grown!" Garrett's stern expression broke into genuine delight. "Been a year since you left for the trials. Your father will be pleased you've returned. We heard news about the tournament—champion, they said. Crimson flame. Made us all proud at the border."
"Thank you, Sergeant." Adrian gestured to his companions. "I'm traveling with others. They'll need to present identification as well."
Garrett's attention shifted to the group, professional assessment noting quality of their arms and bearing. "Of course. Standard protocol—everyone identifies, especially this close to fortress."
Alice reached into her saddlebag, retrieving a small pendant—gold with unmistakable Valebright sunburst, the royal crest that everyone in Arathor would recognize. She held it forward without speaking.
The effect was immediate. Every guard straightened, several hands moving to weapons in unconscious protective gesture. Garrett's face went pale.
"That's... Your Highness?" His voice cracked slightly. "Princess Alice Valebright?"
"I am," Alice confirmed simply.
Mira produced her own identification—silver crest bearing the Elbrecht shield, equally recognizable to anyone who knew kingdom history. Garrett's eyes somehow widened further.
"House Elbrecht. Sworn shields." He looked between Alice and Mira, then at Adrian with open shock. "Lord Adrian, you're traveling with the princess and her Elbrecht guardian?"
Garrick pulled forth a medallion—the High Knight's seal, marking him as one of the kingdom's most elite warriors. The guards actually stepped back at that revelation.
"High Knight Garrick of the royal guard," he said formally. "Accompanying Princess Alice to Northwatch for training purposes."
Garrett looked like someone had struck him over the head. "The princess. House Elbrecht. A High Knight. And Lord Adrian." He shook himself, trying to recover professional composure. "This is... Your father doesn't know, does he?"
"He doesn't," Adrian confirmed. "Which brings me to a request, Sergeant. Could you and your men keep this quiet? Don't send word ahead, don't mention who I'm traveling with. I'd like to... surprise my family with the news."
A slow grin spread across Garrett's scarred face. "You want Baron Blackthorn to discover his son brought home the princess without warning? Lord Adrian, that's going to be spectacular."
"That's the plan."
"Your funeral, lad." Garrett looked at his men, who were all grinning with anticipation. "You heard Lord Adrian. Not a word to anyone. We confirm their identities here, let them pass, and keep our mouths shut about the distinguished company heading to the fortress. Understood?"
The guards nodded eagerly, clearly delighted at the prospect of watching their baron's reaction.
"Though I should warn you," Garrett added, "the watchtower already sent standard signal—'Blackthorn heir returning.' Your father knows you're coming, just not who you're bringing. He'll be at the gates."
"Perfect," Adrian said. "That's exactly what I want."
"You're braver than I thought," Garrett laughed. "Baron Blackthorn's going to have words about royal visitors showing up unannounced. Probably several words."
"I'll handle it."
"If you say so." Garrett waved them forward. "You're cleared to proceed. Welcome home, Lord Adrian. And Your Highness—" he bowed respectfully to Alice "—welcome to Northwatch. Hope you're prepared for what you'll find here."
"I am," Alice said with more confidence than she probably felt.
They rode past the patrol, leaving behind guards who were clearly struggling not to laugh at the chaos about to unfold.
"That was interesting," Alice observed once they were out of earshot. "They seemed very... entertained by the prospect of your father's reaction."
"Border guards appreciate good entertainment," Adrian replied. "And watching their baron discover his son brought home royalty without warning definitely qualifies."
"You're setting yourself up for quite the lecture," Garrick noted with amusement.
"Probably. But it'll be worth it to see his face."
They continued forward into Northwatch territory, the road now clearly maintained and patrolled. More guards appeared at intervals—all clearly having received word to let them pass, all visibly struggling with curiosity about why Lord Adrian was traveling with such obviously important companions.
The whispers and speculations would be spreading fast through Northwatch's network of watchtowers and patrol stations. By the time they reached the fortress, every guard in the territory would know that the young lord had returned with mysterious companions of obvious importance.
But no one broke protocol. No one sent word ahead with details. The secret held.
Adrian smiled slightly, anticipating tomorrow's arrival.
This was going to be memorable.