As NSLICE-00P and company restored order in Velusitum and then made their way to the Imperial Court, Dux Augustalis gathered as many of Caelinus’s forces as she could and made her way north. Most weren't willing to follow her after Caelinus's death, but she still had three legions worth. A number of Utrad’s citizens went with them, including the Council of Khalbuldor and their clans. This force commandeered the Northern navy and set sail into the Northern Sea.

And then came a long trip, with nothing to do but sit on their boats, and nothing to distract them from dwelling upon recent events. Dux Augustalis had her hands full breaking up near constant fights and mutinies.

She heaved a sigh as she made her way to the ship’s mess hall, where she heard raised voices. At this point, she wanted to mutiny.

But what greeted her was not another riot.

“And then the Legate tells us he wants a bottle of Celestial Wine by the next morning. We knew he was just trying to harass us and make us run around all night only to fail. I was just going to ignore him and take the hit for disobeying orders, and Augustalis wanted to argue all the ways it went against Legion policy but not Caelinus. Caelinus just said ‘yes, sir’ and winked at us. He was friends with the quartermaster, by the Aesdes, Caelinus was somehow friends with everyone, and wouldn’t you know it, he knew a bottle of Celestial Wine had just arrived. Caelinus requisitioned it and shocked the Legate with the delivery the next morning, ‘as ordered’. I thought that was the end of it but Caelinus had us hide around the corner outside the Legate’s office. Well, it turned out that bottle was a special order by the Dux, but since it arrived ‘unclaimed’ at the Legion stockpile anyone could requisition it if they knew it was there, and since Caelinus had put in an official order the Dux knew exactly who took it. The Legate got sent to the limitanei and was digging ditches for the next year. We happened to walk by him one day and Caelinus just says, ‘How was the wine, sir?’”

Vopicus sat at the center of the mess hall. All around him, legionnaires erupted into laughter. He caught Dux Augustalis's eyes and waved to her.

“And there she is, our fearless leader. Dux Augustalis was there with us too, you know! Come Dux, tell the troops about how Caelinus lead us in victories across Corvanus!”

She just crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. The soldiers quieted down and slowly dispersed. She glared at Vopicus.

“A word?”

Vopicus just smiled.

“Of course.”

Once outside, she turned on him and glared.

“This is beyond words, even for you. Must you slander Caelinus’s name, even in death?”

Vopicus shook his head.

“I have done no such thing, Dux Augustalis.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Then what was that just there?”

Vopicus stood his ground and held her gaze.

“You and the Legion remember Caelinus as the indomitable defender of the North. But he was more than that. He was a person, just like you and I and every one of those troops. He laughed, he played, he got into mischief when he was young. Letting the soldiers know he was someone like them is not slander. You will ensure his legacy as Magister Caelinus endures. I will ensure that Caelinus the man is not forgotten.”

Dux Augustalis opened her mouth, but went silent. Vopicus then winked at her.

“Besides, you and the troops are so droll, I’m about to go mad. What’s a man got to do to get some entertainment around here?”

Dux Augustalis closed her eyes as a vein bulged on her forehead.

“Why are you even here, Vopicus?”

He smirked.

“To make sure you don’t die.”

Dux Augustalis just sighed.

“I mean, I’m serious? Well, mostly serious. Come on, Pollia, you’re great at running the Legion but you are strictly by the book. The book we set on fire because we thought it was written by evil cultists trying to destroy the world. You need some flexibility if you’re going to get anything done on our treasonous quest! And besides, you’re a bit…aggressive when it comes to diplomacy.”

Dux Augustalis was just about to respond when a soldier ran up to the two of them and saluted.

“Dux! We have incoming!”

Dux Augustalis glared at Vopicus one final time before rushing to the deck. One there she walked over to the side of the deck where the troops were gathering.

“What’s the situation?”

A soldier handed Dux Augustalis a Farsight artifact.

“Incoming ships, ma’am! Should we prepare for battle?”

She looked through the artifact, and then took a deep breath.

“No. That…is our welcome party.”

A few minutes later the ships came into view of the regular soldiers. They were a combination of rickety rafts and salvaged Imperial vessels. And a group of their crew leapt off the ships and swam through the waves towards the rebel fleet. They dove down, and then shot out of the water, landing right on the deck of Dux Augustalis’s vessels. She motioned to the legionnaires to stand down.

In front of Dux Augustalis was a towering Dobhar with a massive bone harpoon on his back…and strangely enough metal armor over parts of his body.

The Dobhar looked around and locked eyes on her. One of his eyes glowed in its metallic socket.

“You must be My Queen’s latest subjects. I am Uscfrea Ymmason, Steward of the lands of NSLICE-00P, Queen of the Dobhar.”

Dux Augustalis frowned but saluted. The soldiers around her gaped, but one by one they followed suit.

“I am Dux Augustalis. We have a deal with your better, former king of the Dobhar. We are at your command but do not presume we are your captives. We serve as soldiers, and expect to be treated as such.”

Uscfrea grinned at her.

“So I’ve been told. Come, let us discuss what you can do for My Queen. I have been greatly anticipating this.”

Dux Augustalis frowned, but led Uscfrea and his escorts into the ship.

And so Steward Uscfrea took command of the rebel fleet, and discussed their integration into the realm of NSLICE-00P.

As well as all that they could teach the Dobar of the Empire’s ways.

Dux Augustalis’s forces were not the only rebels to make their way to Turannia. In Turannia's second largest port, Miallói watched as an Imperial naval vessel moved into the dock. It lifted up and a ramp dropped down, then Selkies in Legion gear began to disembark. Miallói marched up to one of them and then clasped hands with the newcomer.

"Welcome home, warrior."

The Selkies in Utrad had an easy answer. Now that the Council of Hunters was an Amiciti Populi Elteni with their own land, the Selkies could simply return home to escape reprisal. A good proportion of their comrades in the Auxiliary Aqua decided to come with them, and so the Selkies' forces grew greatly that day.

For the other legions, countless soldiers also deserted their posts and applied for refuge in the frontier province, hoping that Dux Canus would exchange amnesty for experienced support. And by and large, they were correct. While anyone of sufficiently high rank would have to be turned over, the Empire wouldn’t search that hard for the rank and file. Dux Canus had dealt with rebels over his long career, and knew how to distinguish the true instigators from the regular soldiers who had been pulled along on the ride. He was also very happy to have experienced troops who owed him a debt.

It was a win-win situation. Turannia’s forces got some extra bite, and the soldiers who were simply following orders got to escape execution and gain a fresh start.

But not everything went so smoothly…

Magister Tiberius sighed as he heard shouting down below. He pulled out a flask and took a drink, just before his assistant knocked on the door to retrieve him. He staggered down the stairs to find a bunch of former Turannian Exploratores shouting at the poor receptionist. He heaved another sigh before he made his presence known.

“What seems to be the problem here?”

The Exploratore in front turned to him and glared.

“There you are! Tiberius, what is the meaning of this?”

Tiberius shrugged.

“You’ll have to be more specific, Hostus.”

Hostus lifted a coin pouch. Tiberius lifted an eyebrow.

“That appears to be Idrint, also known as money. You use it to buy stuff, like food and drink. Especially drink. I can understand if you haven’t encountered it before.”

Hostus flushed red as the room laughed.

“Shove off, Tiberius! You know exactly what I mean! Me and my boys brought in a Felix Major! By the Aesdes, why are you shortchanging me?”If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Tiberius scoffed and held a hand out. Hostus lobbed the pouch at him. Tiberius caught it and placed it on the reception desk, then slowly counted the coins in front of everyone. He then shrugged.

“I don’t see what you mean. That is the official Imperial bounty for a Felix Major. Everything appears in order to me.”

Hostus scowled at him.

“That’s barely a pittance compared to what you paid before!”

Tiberius rolled his eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry. But it appears I spent all the budget hiring you all for some secretive mission that occupied you all for the past few months, so I appear to be a bit short on the bonuses. But I believe you all get paid for that, so it shouldn’t be an issue, right? If it is, I could always check the records to determine exactly what that supposed mission was, and where all the funds came from, if you understand my meaning?”

Hostus narrowed his eyes.

“What are you implying, Tiberius? Come on, we’re the best bloody hunters you have in this Aesdes forsaken province. You can’t treat us like this!”

The other Exploratores behind Hostus began shouting and jeering as well. Tiberius froze, and then heaved a massive, dramatic sigh. He took out his flask and took a swig.

“Ok, you know what? You’re right. Subtlety is overrated. Let me state it clearly for you.”

Tiberius looked around at everyone in the room.

“Let me state it for everyone. You left this province entirely defenseless to go receive a nice juicy paycheck from a rebel traitor while I fought for my life, alone. And now you come back and beg me to vouch that you were here the entire time? You are lucky I am still paying you at all.”

Hostus crossed his arms.

“I didn’t know Magister Caelinus was going to rebel! And it wasn’t my fault the pay here is crap! Don’t give me that, Tiberius. I could have gone anywhere afterwards, I came back here to do you a solid! Look, you need us, Tiberius, I know that much. Don’t try to bluff me. Now hand over what you owe me.”

Tiberius chuckled.

“I need you, you say? Give you what I owe you, you ask? If you insist.”

Tiberius vanished and appeared in front of Hostus, sinking his fist into the man’s gut. Hostus wheezed as the air was driven out of him and then collapsed to the floor. His teammates cried and moved to respond but Tiberius pulled some powder out of his pocket and tossed it into their eyes, blinding them as he stepped on the man on the ground. The room started to devolve into chaos.

“ENOUGH!”

Everyone stopped moving as Tiberius shouted. He glared at each person in the room.

“Let me make it abundantly clear. I don’t need any of you, not anymore. The Dobhar have taken control of the Eastern shores. The Selkies are responsible for their own land in the west. Dux Canus has the north sealed up tight and the wulver have been keeping to themselves lately. And thanks to a wandering knight doing more work than all of you combined while you were all away, monsters are afraid to even approach Castra Turannia. If that wasn’t enough, there are hundreds of Exploratores and soldiers from Utrad who are happy to work for asylum alone, none of whom have uttered even a single complaint. It was charity that I posted that bounty at all, so you bunch would have something to do.”

He stared down at Hostus on the ground.

“It was because of my previous goodwill towards you all that I took you back, after you left me and everyone else in this province to die. That goodwill is now expended.”

He bent down and looked the man in the eye.

“So why am I still going to put up with you? Why not just hand you over to the Empire for the general bounty offered for rebels? Because it would be annoying if you turned bandit. That’s right, annoying. Not because you could cause any trouble, but because I’d have to walk all the way to the Selkies and ask Miallói to hunt you down and it’s raining outside. At this point, the only thing keeping you out of an Imperial cell is my desire to stay dry. So go ahead. Tell me how I need you again. Call my ‘bluff’, why don’t you?”

Hostus paled at the mention of Miallói. Tiberius scoffed, stepped off the man, and turned back to return to his office. He glanced back at the crowd.

“Anyone who wants me to vouch for them as an Exploratore of Turannia had better bloody act like one. Like all those new Exploratores I recruited that don’t bloody complain when I’m the only thing keeping them alive, and am still paying them because I’m just that generous. And anyone who has any more complaints can go report me to Corvanus, if they feel they’re being treated unfairly.”

With that, the Exploratores fell silent, and quietly began leaving the building. Tiberius shook his head and swore. His assistant came up to him.

“Well, I suppose that’s handled. It was a bit…”

Tiberius scoffed.

“Confrontational? I’d like to say I care but I don’t anymore. By the Aesdes, I miss NSLICE-00P.”

The assistant shrugged and held a scroll out.

“So you've said, at least once everyday. By the way, I know now is not the best time, but you have a priority message from Corvanus.”

Tiberius rolled his eyes.

“Put it in the pile with the rest. I’ll get to it when I get to it.”

The assistant frowned.

“I would, sir, but instead of the usual opening the message starts with: ‘Tiberius, read this and respond or I’ll tell Agedia’s father what you did.’”

Tiberius grabbed the scroll and ran to his office. He frowned as he read the message. It mostly relayed a recent Imperial decree regarding a certain wandering knight.

“Oh, so miss ‘cannot get involved in a third-party conflict’ is going around stopping civil wars now, huh? Come on, NSLICE-00P, don’t play hard to get, you nearly gave me a heart-attack back then! I went and drank the good stuff I was saving because I thought we were all going to die!”

He shook his head and kept reading. The message explained that the Magister Exploratores per Corvanus, aka Tiberius's boss, was personally overseeing an investigation on NSLICE-00P's behalf.

“Ok, the Emperor ordered you on her quest, huh, boss? Well, I guess if it helps NSLICE-00P, then I can tell you a bit about her. I’m still hiding the juicy bits though, you can figure that part out yourself you jerk.”

Tiberius was just taking a swig from his flask when he read a little add on at the end of the message.

“Oh, by the way, NSLICE-00P’s Exploratores companions have been promoted to Patrician and Imperial Inquisitor. Both of them.”

Tiberius spat out his drink.

Back in Castra Turannia, Governor Aemilia heaved a sigh. Dux Canus raised an eyebrow.

“That’s the fifth sigh you’ve heaved since I got here. Did something happen?”

Governor Aemilia frowned.

“Corvanus announced an Imperial Decree to all the governors today.”

Governor Aemilia glanced at one of her assistants, who handed a document to Dux Canus. The Dux began reading over it.

“Ah, the rebellion in Utrad? Explains a lot, actually. About time the Northern Court responded. Oh, NSLICE-00P put a stop to it? Now that’s a bit of a surprise, I thought she didn’t want to get involved in Imperial affairs? But well, anytime we can avoid a civil war is a good thing. The North’s going to be complete mess for a while though.”

Dux Canus then glanced back at Governor Aemilia.

“That should be good for you, shouldn’t it? Lots of refugees from Utrad to fill out your population, plus the Imperial Friend you appointed making a name for herself. I figured you’d be happy at this news.”

Governor Aemilia’s face scrunched up.

“Keep reading.”

Dux Canus raised an eyebrow and turned back to the scroll.

“Hm, her quest is an official Imperial order now…oh, this huh? For locating and forging a bond of friendship with NSLICE-00P, Ateia Niraemia and Taog Sutharlan have been elevated to the Patrician class, and appointed as Imperial Inquisitors. Their mandate is as follows…ah, I think I see the problem now.”

Governor Aemilia grabbed her face and groaned.

“What about me?! I was the one who appointed her an Amiciti Populi Elteni in the first place!”

Dux Canus shrugged.

“Well, those two were the ones who brought her to Castra Turannia…and convinced her to join the battle.”

Governor Aemilia stifled a scream.

“That’s not the point! Yes they deserve a good share of the credit, but so do I! I went and put my name out there on NSLICE-00P’s behalf and took all sorts of scrutiny for ‘a dubious appointment based on unsubstantiated claims’ and now that the Court has finally acknowledged her, they don’t even mention my name! Just…just what do I have to do to get a win?!”

Dux Canus frowned. He stood up, walked over, and patted Governor Aemilia on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry, for what it’s worth. I know it’s frustrating having enemies in the Court.”

Governor Aemilia heaved yet another sigh.

“It’s just…nothing I do seems to matter. I manage to balance Turannia’s finances, mostly with my own money? They complain that Turannia isn’t producing a surplus and raise the tax quota. I somehow survive an incursion with no legions because bloody Caelinus stole our troops for his rebellion? I get blamed for giving up Imperial territory. I go and establish an official, friendly relationship between a hero and the Empire? They don’t even acknowledge I was involved. Just…just what more can I even do at this point?”

Dux Canus rubbed his chin.

“Governor Aemilia, what do your people say about you?”

She paused.

“Huh?”

Dux Canus waved around.

“The people of Turannia, the people in this keep, what do they say about you?”

Governor Aemilia furrowed her brow.

“They say I’m out of place. That I’m some highborn aristocrat not suited for the mud, and that I demand too much.”

“What else? When they aren’t complaining about you?”

Governor Aemilia blinked, and then concentrated.

“That…I’m strict but fair. That I managed to keep Turannia safe. That the province’s bureaucracy has never run as smooth as this before.”

Dux Canus nodded.

“Recognition is a fleeting thing. You can’t control what the people in Corvanus are going to say about you. But the people here are watching you, and the things you do, rather than listening to what is said about you. I know you didn’t work on their behalf, but nonetheless, your efforts to make something of this province have not gone unnoticed. Keep working on Turannia and invest in its people, and you’ll build yourself a base of power, one that will not be so easily taken away from you. Corvanus is not the only place you can grow.”

Governor Aemilia looked up at him for a moment, before slowly nodding.

“I suppose…I’ve always been a bit hasty. It’s just…so much was expected of me, and yet I have achieved so little. I…I have no one to blame but myself. I can even understand why my father has abandoned me…but I can’t help but feel frustrated at the constant failures…”

Dux Canus shook his head.

“You were thrown into a situation designed to make you fail and you have not. You have navigated some of the worst situations I have seen in my career and kept your province intact. Your achievements are nothing to scoff at.”

She shook her head.

“That was mostly you, and NSLICE-00P…”

Dux Canus shrugged.

“No one can control the circumstances they are dealt, but they can be judged for how they react in those situations. You stayed humble enough to let your subordinates do the jobs they’re best at, and stayed flexible enough to seize the opportunity NSLICE-00P’s arrival offered you. You did not overreach in negotiations with either NSLICE-00P or the Dobhar, and you even accepted an idea that came from two cadets. I’ve served in the Legion for centuries, Governor Aemilia, and worked with countless officials of the Empire. Let me tell you, most of them could not have survived the turn of events you did, and that counts for something. It is an honor to serve you, if an old man’s opinion means anything to you.”

She blinked a few times at him before her face relaxed. She made an almost imperceptible smile, whispering her reply.

“It does. Thank you…”

Dux Canus did not reply, but he smirked and held out the paper.

“Besides, I believe you should keep reading the decree to the end.”

Governor Aemilia tilted her head. She frowned, but she kept reading. Dux Canus smiled as he recited the words at the end of the message.

“In recognition for her role in forging a friendship between NSLICE-00P and the Empire, Governor Aemilia Hiberna will no longer be restricted from contact with her family.”

She heaved yet another sigh at that.

"Well, that's a nice gesture, but my father won't be coming even if he's allowed to. It doesn't change anything..."

Just then, a soldier stepped into the room and saluted.

“Governor Aemilia, someone is requesting access to the Keep. They say they've come from your family and here to see you.”

Governor Aemilia’s eyes widened and her heart pounded. She stood up and ran out of her office. Dux Canus chuckled and followed her.

A few minutes later, Governor Aemilia stood at the gate to Castra Turannia’s keep. Her eyes were as wide as they could go, and started to moisten.

There, in front of the keep, were three women. To the left was a Half-Griffinkin woman in plate armor, to the right was a Diminidum Pendum in a servant’s garb. And in the center was a human woman in stola. She smiled politely.

“Hello My Lady. It is nice to see…”

She was cut off. The moment she heard Maelia’s voice Governor Aemilia leapt forward, grabbing the woman in a tight hug.

“Maelia!”

Maelia’s eyes widened.

“M-My Lady? W-What are you doing?”

Governor Aemilia broke into sobs while Maelia started to panic. The Diminidum Pendum giggled while the Half-Griffinkin smiled wryly, and they both joined in on the hug. Dux Canus smiled and then motioned to the wide-eyed guards.

“Give them a moment. Why don’t you clear the streets ahead instead?”

Maelia and the others, Governor Aemilia’s personal entourage ever since she was young, brought further good news once the Governor had settled down. They had rushed ahead, but they were not the only visitors en-route. Consul Hiberius had been aware the ban would be lifted long before the official announcement was made, and had sent an entire convoy of supplies and manpower, including a squad from the Consul’s personal knight order.

“To ensure she could conduct herself in a manner that would not bring shame on the family” was the Consul’s officially stated intent.

After all she had been through, Governor Aemilia took it in a different way.

She was not abandoned out here, after all.