Claude felt something touch his face. In his waking haze, he reached out and felt a smooth palm. He wondered who had desturbed his sleep. After much effort, he opened his eyes a slit and saw a beauty sitting by his bed, looking at him with tear-filled eyes.

What was going on? Was he not home? Who was the gorgeous woman? She look familiar A long moment of intense confusion passed, and he suddenly remembered he had gone to sleep in the nude. Baring ones body to a stranger, especially one of the opposite sex, was exceedingly rude. He let go of the wrist and grasped at his sheets.

The beauty leapt into his bed the moment he let go, however, and was under the sheets before he could grab them, hugging him tightly.

Ive missed you, Claude! she sobbed, The wargod has blessed you! You returned home unharmed!

Ah, Kefnie, the thought came as his mind started working again. He relaxed and returned the hug.

I told you Id be back. Stop crying. Why are you here so early? I was planning to visit later today.

The girl looked at him, tears still staining her cheeks.

Jerad told Sis last night that One-eyed Lambaks bands was taken out by three soldiers returning from the war. I just knew it had to be you. If I had heard earlier, I wouldve been here yesterday.

What time is it?

Its not early. I fed my little niece before I came. The suns already already halfway up into the sky. Auntie said you were still sleeping and she didnt want to wake you so I came up to wake you ummhhf!

Claude planted a kiss on her still-moving lips and shot his tongue into her. It tangled with hers, bending it to his will as he tasted her, deeply, deeper than he had ever before. He shivered as she sighed a moan into his mouth and slumped against him, surrendering to his lust, letting him have his way with her, his hands beginning their ravenous, arousing exploration of the young body hed not violated in five years.

The end of the 6th months weather was stuffy. Claude slept naked, covered only by a sparse selection of sheets. Kefnie wore nothing but a loose dress, slight underwear hiding beneath. Her clothes were a mess before his hands had gotten to work, now they were in shambles. His little friend was on morning parade, brought to even stiffer attention by the two bodies that rubbed against it on both sides. The thought of ravaging the girl beyond recognition right then and there flitted across his mind, which had already relinquished more than half its ration of blood and oxygen to his little friend, but the door knocked.

It sent Kefnie flying off the bed, her hands instinctively patting down her ruined dress. She didnt even notice the mixture of their saliva running down her chin and clinging to the bottom of her jaw. It dried quickly on her hot, flushed skin, however.

Claude sighed in frustration. What damn fool was being so bloody inconsiderate? And hed just found the edge of her dress and was ready to start pulling it out of the way!

Come in, he said, not trying to keep the irritation from his voice.

I hope you two werent in the middle of something. I would hate to have interrupted you, Angelinas voice came ahead of her as she opened the door and poked her head through the gap, Mom said its time you got out of bed. You have to visit the mayor and Uncle Thomas. It wont be polite to go any later. I have your uniform. Hey Kefnie. I hope my brother wasnt doing anything indecent Whys your face so red?

Claude sighed unhappily. Hed forgotten he had an appointment with the two men today. Whilst theyd not arranged a specific time, such meetings were always done early in the morning if there was a choice, and hed appear tardy if he went too late. He desperately wanted to shoo his nosy little sister away and get back to a mans business with his woman, but he owed the mayor a timely visit. The man was responsible for his entry into the army in the timely fashion and to the fortunate unit he had.

Enough. Give it to me. Its just hot in here, thats all, he rattled off the phrases without looking at his sister, trying to keep his own face from turning tomato as well.

Angelina rolled her eyes, but handed over his uniform without protest.

Dont think I dont know what you were up to! she chided.

Claude ignored her, putting on his white shirt carelessly. He straightened it once it was on his body, then stepped into his black pants. It slid up his muscular legs without issue and he fastened it over the shirt with a strip of leather with a simple but immaculately polished silver buckle. He slipped his feet, which had finally begun looking like feet again, rather than the mass of blisters theyd been for years while out on campaign, into grey socks and then into black boots, both polished to a sheen equal to his buckle. He swung a hard, heavy coat over his shoulders, fixed his shirts collar, slapped at his sleeves to make sure no dust was on them, and finally plopped his cap on his head unceremoniously before tidying it into its proper place.

He stood then, a dashing, handsome if somewhat weary-eyed soldier, in front of the two girls.

You dont clean up too badly, Angelina said with equal measures of tease and pride.

Kefnie stared at him, her jaw thoroughly embedded in the floor. She couldnt hide the want rampaging in her eyes, her recovering face crimson again, and her chest oh that sumptuous chest rising and falling lustily beneath her light, thin dress.

He slipped past the two vultures and splashed his face thoroughly, rinsing his mouth twice, before going downstairs.

Myjack, bring me two bottles of the finest wine we have.

Myjack knew exactly which two Claude meant. They were a part of his share of spoils from their last battle. Theyd been earmarked as gifts for the mayor and Thomas from the moment theyd fallen into his superiors hands.

Shall we go with you, Sir? he asked.

Alright. Prepare the carriage. Youre driving.

What about me? Gum asked.

You have study work. You have to know at least three new words when I come back. I wont let you make me a laughingstock at the college because you cant read.

Sorry, Kefnie, he said, turning to the young woman, I have to make a few visits. I probably wont be able to see you today.

Kefnie smiled at him.

Its alright. Ive waited five years. I can wait a day more. Its much more important that you came back safely.

Dont forget to bring up the woodland, Angelina chimed as Claude stepped through the door.

He nodded at her over his shoulder, and walked to the carriage. Myjack was busy fixing the horse. It took him another minute to ready everything, then they were off.

Felidos was waiting in the city halls reception area for Claude when he arrived. Hed been informed of his return, and of his exploits just outside the city on his way in, the day before. Hed not come to his office this early in months, but today he was here, in meticulously starched and straightened dress, too.

Whitestag was under the capitals direct governance, so it had no designated governors residence, and no home office. All his official meetings thus had to happen in city hall. He would not have made so much effort had Claude come back a sergeant-major. Hed have invited him for a visit a week or so after his arrival, and the two would have shared only a short time in his office during which time he would have asked after his exploits only in passing, out of required courtesy more than actual interest.

But the boy, no, the young man, had returned a commissioned officer, a captain, and a knight, a petty noble. It was several fold greater than his achievements at the young mans age. On top of that, whilst a minor achievement at best compared to everything else hed done, but of far more direct interest to Felidos as the citys mayor, hed casually swatted a band of bandits which had been terrorising the city for months on his way into town.

Felidos knew what the young mans rank and knighthood meant. Hed come up through the military himself and had earned his title on the battlefield as well. He had gone through many of the same experiences as the young man himself in his younger days. He may be a bureaucrat now, but his heart still beat to the marching drums of the company drummers. He would still be in the army if not for his blasted injury. It had robbed him of the many more years he could have had in uniform. Hed redirected that obsession onto promising young ones he met in the course of his duties, however. He flung them at his old corps, hoping a couple would stick. A couple had, but hed never dreamt any of his recommendations would turn into a shooting star.

Claude had gone from a green recruit, beneath even the lowest rank, to captain in just five years. On top of that hed snapped a knighthood off the golden tree. His future was beyond bright. The bragging rights this gave him alone were reason enough for the grin that split his face from ear to ear when he saw the young man get off the carriage in front of the city hall.

Every achievement the kid racked up was another feather in Felidos cap. As the kids original sponsor, he shared in his wards glory as much as his ward himself. Then there was the chance to call in his favour when he sent his kids into the army. He could have Claude look after them, or even take them under his wing if he proved capable enough.

Claude saluted the mayor and his entourage of officials as he stepped through the door into the reception area. The mayor returned it, then clapped Claude on the shoulder as he would a comrade. The two had their meeting in his office, the door intentionally left open, and the mayors laughter echoed down the hallways every now and again.

Claude was unaccustomed to such warm treatment, but he kept a friendly face. He thanked the mayor once he got a chance to speak and presented one of his bottles of wine. It was worth three crowns.

Felidos smile broadened even further, if such a thing was possible, and he stowed it carefully in his liquor cabinet, locking three different locks up and down the door before returning his attention to Claude. Conversation quickly turned to the war. He delighted in hearing anothers war stories, and shared several of his own, the memories jogged loose by one of Claudes accounts or another. He was nearly ecstatic when he heard Claude had been nominated to the new war college.

Claude eventually brought up the matter of woodland, and Felidos nearly fell over himself to get the relevant official working on it immediately. Claude got all the woodland for which hed asked, and at half the price just 30 crowns a hectare.

The land was cheap for the same reason the private woodland had been bought for so few crowns. The trees had been felled, and this time theyd not been replanted yet. Lack of manpower and all that.

Thus only the Ferd family and Baroness Normanley were left as private owners of woodland in the citys immediate vicinity. Normanley Wood was 460 hectares, and the Ferd familys 270 in all.

Claude got up to leave once he had the last of the deeds, but Felidos insisted they share lunch. Claude asked they instead meet up for dinner instead, citing more meetings like that one which still had to be made. Reluctantly, the mayor agreed and the two parted.

Next was Thomas. The man had moved during Claudes absence. He now lived in a building more a big house than a manor, in the citys eastern neighbourhoods. It was just down the road from Sir Fuxs old abode.

Thomas welcomed him as warmly as the mayor had, but unlike the mayor, he treated Claude as one did a nephew. He had worked with his father on the trade route, and had known Claude right out of his mothers womb. Hed wished to step in on their behalf during their troubles with Sir Fux, and even more so after Claudes fathers death, but he had been too slow. By the time hed gathered up his resources and prepared himself for the long war against the councillor, the man was dead. Not long after, Claude launched the real estate agency with the baroness and there was no reason to help them anymore.

The townsfolk were almost angry when Felidos had sent their resident genius to the wolves in the army, Thomas especially, since he was being left with the business. The kid had left him some excellent advice, however, and, following it, hed kept things going smoothly, and had even gotten himself elected to the council.

He trusted Claude implicitly, and was overjoyed to hear of his exploits and accolades.

Their talk didnt linger on Claudes battlefield experiences, however. It turned quickly to the business, and Thomas hammered the boy with questions over lunch.