Celina is carried by Godwine her size returned to normal fang gone and the five tails gone as if none of it was ever there. Tasha and Godwine walk in silence as the remaining garrison forces and the leader follow behind them carrying food they scavenged from their enemies. When they reach Cainfield the lord stands outside watching as the garrison forces who stayed behind are receiving training.
The lord turns noticing the mercs and then seeing the remaining garrison troops. "Ah you have all returned," the lord looks at the garrison seeing how injured they are and seeing that less returned. "What happened? It was supposed to merely be a village. How'd we lose anyone?"
As Godwine begins to open his mouth the leader of the garrison steps in front of him. "My lord after the war was declared we simply made due with what we had and attacked a noble's party to take their food and as you can see."
The garrison leader is unable to finish his sentence. "You fool. Folgian nobles are extremely vengeful. Were they able to identify our crest?" the lord quickly walks up to the leader looking for injuries. "I wished to stay to a village as the Folgian's don't care about those and the simple militia would be easy to deal with," the lord looks over and notices that Godwine is holding Celina, and the lord's face darkens. "Not only did you get the small garrison we have weakened but you caused the death of one of the mercs' kin."
Tasha quickly steps forward pushing past Godwine and the garrison leader. "He had no other choice sir! The border was being heavily guarded and she isn't dead! She is still breathing!" Tasha's voice is full of fury as she shouts at the lord. "As long as we are here even if the nobles of Folga retaliate we will defeat them and your people will be fine."
The lord looks at Celina then Godwine then Tasha. "I didn't want to put the lives of my people on the line. Yet now I see that only half the soldiers I sent have returned. This is no victory," the lord stares into Tasha's eyes as Tasha doesn't back down staring right back into his.
Lambin and Roysa both step forward. "My lord, please stop this. They got the food we need and now thanks to those who laid down their lives we can live on. Do you think those who died would want us arguing?" Roysa says, pulling the lord away. The lord stares at Tasha as he is pulled away a bit longer before looking away annoyed. "You heard the message king Mihel is going to need our forces and we can't be arguing when he arrives either."
"Why is the king trying to take me and my people to war? He knows we are not ready for a full fledged war," the lord looks at the bruised and hungry garrison.
"Well he is bound to have food for the army he has raised so we can divide the food they have brought out among the commonfolk and we will get our food when the king arrives," Roysa continues to talk sense into the lord as Lambin seems to be observing Celina closely noting that she seemingly has no injuries while the others including Godwine have all sustained injuries. "Our people will be ecstatic to receive food especially with how much they brought back."
As they talk Lambin inches closer to Celina. "You are right Roysa. This looks like enough food for a month and hopefully when we run out of all this we will have found more."
"My lord, why is it that that one has received no noticeable injuries?" Lambin finally speaks, pointing at Celina. "Everyone else has blood and cuts yet she looks fine yet needs to be carried," Godwine's body tenses as the lord looks at Celina. "It seems very off to me."
"You are right, it does seem weird. Godwine, you said your name is correct?" Godwine nods as his breath grows slightly unsteady. "Well Godwine, why is it that your companion isn't injured at all even after such a bloody battle?"
Godwine stares at the lord for a bit before he speaks. "She simply overexerted herself and passed out after the battle," Godwine speaks with confidence as the lord looks at Lambin.
"Yet she would still be slightly bloodied or at least have some sort of injury," the lord continues to press for an answer. "No one, not even an archer could have gotten out of the battle you guys got into unharmed. I refuse to believe that something is not wrong here."
Godwine and Celina stand in front of a group of people each with anywhere from one to nine tails. The ones with more than four having fangs protruding from their mouth. One five tailed one stands ahead of the others looking down at Celina and Godwine.
"The magic she uses tends to take a good toll on her mind and body so she commonly passes out after or during a battle if she truly goes all out," Godwine continues to speak with confidence not doubting his lie. "Her magic also allows for a strong healing factor so that is why she remains uninjured."
The lord looks at Godwine then Celina. "This is a pointless argument if you won't give me the truth," the lord turns walking to the castle. "Have the garrison deliver the food to our storage house and Roysa ensure the mercs get their payment and give them the new contract," as he finishes talking he snaps his fingers twice.
Roysa walks up to the mercs giving Tasha a piece of paper as Lambin begins to guide the garrison glancing at Godwine and Celina. "We wish to hire the three of you to join our contribution to Mihel's army. We are giving him the same soldiers that went with you earlier and we wish to ask if you'd like to join as well."
Celina's eyes slowly open as she stretches some. Godwine speaks to Roysa, not noticing right away. "Wouldn't giving mercs to a king's army be bad for your reputation?" Roysa looks at Celina and Godwine following her eyes notices she has begun to wake up. "Oh well good morning Celina, did you rest well after the battle?"
"You say good morning every time yet almost always it is night or the sun is directly in my eyes dumbass," Celina chuckles as Godwine sets her down. Celina stretches and Godwine hands her her sword. "Thank you for watching after my blade once more."
Roysa watches Celina stretch and after she recuperates she gets Godwine's attention returning to their conversation. "Back to our talk. Yes it will be a bad look but our lord believes that it would be worse for us to give him a small troop who aren't that capable in a fight," Roysa watches as Tasha hands the paper over to Godwine. "We wish to contribute as much as we can as that will give king Mihel a better view of us, we believe."
Godwine reads the contract thoroughly before looking back at Roysa. "The contract only says we need to fight in at least one battle. Why is that?"
"Well our lord knows that mercs like yourselves are likely to stay with this contract as while you're in an army not like you'll get any other offers and you can loot the battles," Roysa says as she points at the contract.
"Yeah they got us there," Celina says snickering. She looks at the contract over Godwine's arm peeking over like a curious fox. "See look, it says that if we participate in more battles we will earn more accordingly so I don't see why this is a bad idea."
Godwine looks over to Tasha. "Do you agree to do this Tasha? You've been quiet since your fight with the lord. I'd like your opinion on this since you are one of us."
Tasha looks at Godwine surprised. "Oh umm well," her voice shaky not knowing what to say. "I believe that it would be a good idea after all we do need the money."
Godwine smiles as he turns to Roysa "Then since we all agree," Godwine hands the paper over to Roysa. "We will join Mihel's army and fight for you all."
Roysa smiles and leads the three of them to a nearby rundown inn that is barely holding on. Godwine and Celina sit at a table talking to one another and drinking some. "You know this is both good and bad you know," Celina says as she sets down her drink. "The garrison knows of my power and if we get in another bad situation I may have to use them again."
Godwine takes a sip from his drink before setting it down. "If it is revealed to the lord and all of Folga and Osmon we will have eyes on us both good and the hunters. But if it comes down to it, do not hesitate to save Tasha even if it means revealing it," Godwine's face is serious no doubt in his words.
As the sun rises a horn can be heard blaring throughout the village. Celina walks around the village as she hears the horn. Tasha and Godwine sit at a table in the inn eating food as the two of them hear the horn looking outside. Godwine finishes his plate of food as Tasha walks over, setting her plate down on the bar. Celina watches as an army enters the village, the leader wearing extremely dignifying clothes and a great sword on his back. He looks around the village observing the villagers and the garrison. "Lord Colinet, I have arrived to receive military support from your village. Please come out and show me your troops that you shall offer me."
Lord Colinet walks out towards the man, a group of the garrison following behind him. "King Mihel I offer the finest of my garrison along with a small mercenary group I've contracted recently. I wish you luck in battle my king," Colinet bows his head as Godwine and Tasha exit the inn standing next to the garrison and Celina follows behind them.
"Interesting. You have given me a weak garrison and contract fighters. Lord Colinet thank you for the assistance but next time you better give a better levy tax," Mihel walks forward walking past the garrison and looking into Godwine's eyes. "You are the leader I presume. I do hope you mercs can keep up with our royal soldiers."
Godwine smiles as he looks at Mihel. "I believe you should be worried about them keeping up with us."