Lucas steps into our camp just after dusk. He scans the group. "Do you need support yet, Vincent?"
"Can I ask for a relief for each of us at some point tonight?" Vincent asks looking into the distance. "I'll rest here even during such, but I think several are interested in a bath."
"Brutal day?" Lucas scans us.
Lyrie cries, "I landed in mud!" The mud has dried on her uniform.
Lucas eyes her shocked. "You did?"
"Ryia was involved. She would've never landed there if Ryia didn't call out at such a moment." Vincent waves it off. "I think the ladies were having a pissing contest."
"We were not." Lyrie pouts. "I would just let Ryia get whatever she wants. I don't stand a chance next to her."
"I don't think so, Lyrie." Lucas offers her a kiss to her hand. I blink over the swooning Lyrie offers Lucas. "I'll make sure to have someone offer relief. You'll have eight hours off to do with as you wish."
"Just eight?" Vincent focuses on Lucas. "How did that happen? It should be twelve and twelve."
"Limited options." Lucas shrugs. "If someone needs more time, they can request it. I know you won't mind, Vincent."
"I won't. I may not even stick to the eight hours, but that's a rough request, Lord."
Lucas waves it off. "If you try making comment, Raida will be out here. Is that what you really want?" Vincent hisses. "Exactly. She's new to Lady. She thinks her place is out there. If she tries anything, make sure to send her back to the estate."
"I have a few comments I can make." Vincent sits down watching the woods again. "Take your team back. They... Were more helpful than you gave them credit for."
We were? I stare at him. I mean... Daniel and William made Cleaver create distance. And William did teleport them as needed. Ryan offered a little knowledge. And I only used that ritual that drew in Cleaver. Maybe that was better in the end. Instead of being on high guard for the monster, we handled it early on. It won't return until earlier tomorrow during the day.
"They can do more than they did." Lucas motions me on path. We're heading back. "Thank you, Knight."
"As always, Lord." Vincent offers Lucas a bow before we leave. He doesn't wave. We're not getting friendly treatment he gave the others of his team. But we weren't treated negatively. Maybe I should've tried harder.
"Vincent is a skilled knight. He took a long time to reach it." Lucas eyes me a second. "General Yin is going to retire shortly, right?"
"He is?" I had no idea.
"This is what I mean." Lucas shakes me. "You really can offer more than you do."
"Why would we know what's happening in the castle? We keep distance from it." Daniel tsks at Lucas.
"He is." William answers though. "Within the year so he can help raise his grandson. After his daughter in law died, he has been weighing things. We're going to give him a big retirement party."
"You were invited?" Lucas asks William.
He nods. "I was being given lots of details of the military. His Majesty wants me capable of bringing as many of our army where ever he feels like." The mage sighs. "Hurts my heart to think of the level of death I'm going to be connected to."
"Yet you didn't refrain in the battles so far." Lucas smirks. "Feeling the blood lust?"
"It's closer to guilt?" William hisses. "But I know the requirements of my titles and position in the country. I'll do my part. If I don't I leave my best friend handling too much."
All eyes come to me. I duck my head. I whisper, "Thank you." William pats my shoulder. I trust William. He has my back. I'll be safe as long as he's with me.
"Eyes open. We're passing the next camp." Lucas has us going on a long way back to the mansion. "We would have a white unit stationed between each of these camps. The higher groups still covered it. The white camps were just to catch goblins."
"Aren't afraid they'll back out?" Daniel asks.
"We'll know tonight. There was no way they would attack today. With Cleaver active and the peace talks tonight? Tomorrow we may add in the white teams. You'll have a place."
If I fail with my talks, we'll end up joining as a normal white team. Maybe Butch can join us as our lead then. He should be fine leading that. Just to keep goblins at bay.
But my goal is to give them access to citizenship. Have goblins not be seen as monsters but as similar to humans. Elves can gain access to citizenship, so this isn't an outlandish request.
Could it maybe end up coming back to bite us? I can't say. The future is unwritten, but I want to try.
"See? Vincent has the hardest position. He has the most experience. But all the leads are three blue or better. Everyone out this far have been on this mission multiple times before. The new members stay closer to base."
"Hey, Lucas. Leading the whites?" That's Fallous. He's a five blue like Raida was. I've worked in the same area as him before, but never with him. "Oh... Crown prince." He offers a bow.
"Yup. Dragging the fools with me. Maybe if they see enough, they'll stay at the castle."
"Don't talk like that. We want our future king to have blood on his hands."
I look at my hands and make a fist.
"It's better they don't know, Thomas," William places a hand on mine. "Better they see you with as much innocence as possible."
I sigh. I have no memories of innocence. I was always running away. Who was there to trust? "Thanks."
Lucas speaks to each camp as we pass it. Fallous's view is more common than I realize. I'm seen as someone who was given allowances because I am crown prince. They don't know what I faced to reach here. They don't know how much I trained or how much I studied or why I actually deserve youngest knight title.
It's better this way. There's no truth that sounds truthful. There's no benefit in them knowing all the details.
Daniel moves to Lucas's side after we get inside the gates. We're safe. "How do they not know about the murder of Telligence?"
"The story did go around, but they rather believe it was actually the king who did it. But since the king shouldn't do it, it was blamed as the innocent prince. Who will get away with such things." Lucas grins.
"Who started that rumor?" Daniel balks.
"Me." Lord Michael Swifting?
"Brother...?" Daniel stares at him.
Michael offers a bow to me. "It was proof I had more control of the dark side than many believe. I have a few more requirements before I can take over as lord."
"Like getting married." William grins at him. "So glad we can offer such a connection with your house."
"You are far more dangerous than I ever thought, William." Micheal eyes my tracer. "But yes. Marriage is required since my father is alive and well. Priscilla was very open to everything."
"Visit us in Pennington soon." William wraps an arm around Michael's shoulder before taking him into the house.
"He's even taking my brother away!" Daniel's jaw drops. "Who is he?"
"The best friend of the crown prince." Lucas isn't rushing inside. We're joining the meeting. But first we need to change for the meal. I'm going to need William's help for that. "William uses his position wisely. You have no idea who you're dealing with. But believe in his treatment for Thomas. No one cares about the prince more than William. When you exclude his family." Lucas looks about the space. "Alright. We have a meeting soon. Don't make me chase you down."
"Yes, Lucas." Daniel salutes.
Ryan steps to my side as Lucas walks in. "William is not the easy going person I thought he was."
"He is not." I smile. "He was the first person ever to offer to help me escape the castle. And we would've succeeded. That's why he was removed from my side. Glad it was that and not something else. I thought I lost him as a friend. But it became he had to keep distance until he would bow to the whims of the country."
"Set you up for king not help you flee the title." Ryan nods. "But care alone won't mean he isn't a trick. Best be watchful."
"I trust him." That group is limited. "But I am aware he'd never agree to helping me escape unless there was a reason the country would back it." We're not kids anymore. William is a future head. He is going to make sure I am secure as heir. Even if I wish to escape, it would be losing him as my friend to do so. Makes the question harder.
Add on I'd probably have to lose the rest of those I trust to do the same...
I am not the kid who first thought of escape. It felt like it was my only path to a normal life.
It seems my version of normal life can only be had if I keep walking as I am.
"I need to look like the crown prince for this meeting. Father gave me full rights."
"Don't be late. You heard Lucas." Daniel nods me inside. We're not going to the same areas. I have space to ready. And I know William will be by. For now I can focus on what I can do without him.