[It's not the same. Nothing's the same. And there's the territory to consider. If I stay away too long, I'll lose my turf.]

"But what if bad men make you crazy and you come attacking us again? You swore fealty on the rocks and Mal'thor-dras. What would happen if you broke your vow?"

[Then Mal'thor-dras would strike me.] Spike shuddered. [But you stopped them, didn't you? That's why there's no Beast Wave yesterday.]

"Maybe. But I think there's more of them out there. I don't think the Beast Waves are going to stop for long." Remian said. "Tell you what. We can set up a clan of wolfcats to guard you and a clan of lynxmice to stand watch, but you have to come help fight every Beast Wave."

[But it takes so long to get here and back!] Spike protested.

"Exactly." Remian stretched. "It won't be like that forever, though. Right now, our defense line is moving to KarGoth. One day, maybe a year from now, we'll expand far enough that we'll move the line to Three Forks River and fortify Rocky Ford. Someday, we might even expand it to the Deadly Sands and then fortify the Rocky Ravine. That's just a day's trek from Craggy Falls."

[That's all 'maybe' and 'one day'. I need to go home now.]

An odd thought occurred to Remian then. "Spike, just how large is your territory?"

[Not as big as a Fief. About a tenth as large.] Spike s.h.i.+fted.

That was more land area than the whole town, more than Kara and Goth put together. That was about as much as the farm was currently taking up.

Remian considered for a bit, then said, "What if I had some of my people stay over at your place?"

[What for?] Spike asked, suspiciously.

"We could use a forward base for scouts and prospectors."

[Why would you need that?] Spike grouched. [And why does it have to be at my place?]

"Because whatever we're up against seems to be interested in the Black Ruins." Remian explained. "And there are Black Ruins all over the Wildlands, which means there are many more of them out there. This is a mess that can't be resolved simply by sitting in Shadowflash Fief, we need to find them and find out what they're up to, and then we need to stop them, which means going far, far beyond this Fief. As to why we need your place, it's because the Wildlands are dangerous, and the safest place south of this Fief is with our dear friend Spike… plus we really do want to investigate those ruins."

[Fine! Build your forward base! But after this job, I'm going home.]

***

Meanwhile, Charlie returned to Ashdale, dropping off a report from Marcus on the way, and bringing a very important letter from Mindy to Mandy.

"She wants me to go back." Mandy said, throwing the letter aside after she read it. "She says they've defeated the Beast Waves for good! That they're not coming back! Can you believe it?"

"I believe she said it, but I don't think they're gone." Charlie said slowly. "Still. If you want to go back…"

"I don't!" Mandy barked. "I never want to see that place again!"

"Not even for a visit? You could come with me on the airs.h.i.+p and never set foot on the ground. You could just see your sister, and meet old friends, and then come back with me." Charlie pointed out.

Mandy paused, considered, then shook her head. "No. I'm sorry, but I've decided. I'm putting the past behind me, and I'm going to move forward."

"Forward to where, by the way?" Charlie asked.

"Here." Mandy said, glancing around. "Or somewhere nearby. I can find a place of my own…"

"There's no need. You and the children can stay for good." Beth called from across the living room. "Come live with us."

"But… but we can't impose…" Mandy gasped.

"Nonsense! Just do a baptism and formally join House Meadows!" Beth suggested. "You can even change your name if you like!"

Mandy glanced at Charlie furtively.

"I think it would be good for mother. She could use the company." Charlie nodded. "And she would miss the children. She's also getting old, and it would ease my worries if you were here to take care of her."

"She already has your brother and his family." Mandy pointed out.

"And now she'll have more. Look, my mother's offering you an invite here. Do you want in, or not?"

"Yes!" Mandy exclaimed immediately, grabbing Charlie's hands as if afraid the offer would run away. Then, she stared, as if in shock.

Charlie, likewise, was dumbfounded for a moment, then he hastily pulled back, and freed his hands. "Uh… please don't misunderstand. This is… I mean… you don't have to…"

At that, Mandy's face fell. Without another word, she turned around and ran away.

Charlie stared at her back, scratching his head.

"If you want to chase after her, bring a gift!" Beth advised from all the way across the living room, in a voice loud enough for the entire household to hear.

***

Roughly around that time, a metal gauntlet slammed into a desk hard enough to make it creak.

"What is wrong with that Marcus!" the man who slammed the table roared. "Twenty-five legionnaires have quit the Legion to join a local defense force?! On top of that, they've been spending all their time and resources protecting the town, while the road is completely neglected! Has he forgotten what the Legion does?!"

Armored in silver and red, this was a high-ranking officer in the Iron Legion. His name was Tiberius. He was Centurion of the 1st Century, 12th Cohort. While a Centurion was commander of 100 troops, being 1st Centurion also put him in oversight of the entire Cohort, all ten Centuries of it. This included the small outreach unit sent to the Frontier under Sergeant Marcus.

The man across from him armored in silver and purple cut in smoothly. "On the plus side, he does make a point that since the Beast Waves have stopped, we can safely send in more trainees…"

This cooler-headed fellow was also a high-ranking Centurion, but of an even higher rank than Tiberius; he was the Primus Pilus, the foremost and most senior of the centurions under Legate Aquila and a lot of people relied upon his advice. His name was Gaius.

"To do what? Quit the Legion and join the local militia?!" Tiberius snorted. "I swear, if they don't start building the road by the time I get his next report, I'm going over there and personally show him what-for!"

Tiberius was a great warrior, full of zeal and courage, and he was a wonderful leader who proved himself a fine example in combat for his fellow Legionnaires time and again. Outside of combat however, he was often irritable, itching for action and chafed at bureaucracy and delays. Just looking at his accomplishments, it was a wonder he had not been promoted to higher ranks by now, but alas, his temper and his brash ways kept him from rising higher. Had he been even just a little more level headed, he would be 1st Centurion of the 11th Cohort by now, maybe even the 10th, instead of the 12th.

"Why don't you?" Gaius asked.

"Don't I what?"

"Go over there yourself." He shrugged. "I'll even join you."

Gaius, unlike Tiberius, was much wiser in the ways of people than his hot-blooded friend. Seeing Tiberius riled up like that, he already knew that only hands-on action could relieve Tiberius of the acc.u.mulating stress. For his friend's health and the sake of the sanity of those around him, Gaius figured a little side trip to the Frontier might be in order.

"Fine!" Tiberius roared, and stomped off to summon an entire century of Legionnaires to join him.

***

At the same time, reports and responses were going around Fal'Herim.

There was a furor, and a lot of pale faces, then a bit of shouting, and then a bustle.

The day after Charlie's airs.h.i.+p pa.s.sed through their territory on his return to Ashdale, three Sky Galleon cla.s.s airs.h.i.+ps took off from Fal'Herim airport. Bearing the sand-and-red-flame banners of the Desert King, they headed south.

Fort Spoas Airport (which was still little more than a dock and a tower, at that point) spotted them coming from a day away. They even prepared for a landing, asking the three airs.h.i.+ps to please take turns.

But all their communication signals went unanswered. Flas.h.i.+ng lights and beacons were utterly ignored. In fact, the three airs.h.i.+ps maintained high alt.i.tude and didn't slow down or lower themselves as they arrived in the skies above Frontier Town airport.

Not only did they ignore the airport, they also ignored the town. They flew right over Fort Spoas, then over KarGoth, heading almost due south…