The next morning, Iris and the others took no time gathering their bearings and heading away from the camp. The horses were beyond well-rested from the time that they were stationed at the camp, so they were able to trot at a faster pace than usual. Iris was a bit surprised at how well Gretchen had adjusted to her surroundings.

This, by far, was the most cooperative that she'd ever seen the mare. In silent approval, Iris stroked the horse's head.

"The fortress is just south of our borders. Should take a while to get there." The general interrupted the silence once the encampment had faded from view, "so we have ample time to prepare. Also, we will be making stops along the way to our destination. There are a few things I need to tend to before we begin."

"Like what kind of stops?" Dregar asked simply.

"Mainly?" the general said it as a question, but then kept talking, "Just a few towns. Some bigger, some smaller. I'd like to speak with some of the people that have been to this place. As far as other business, that will be mine to complete on my own. Also, I figure we will need to rest during our travels. The inns can supply us that. However, there will be some nights that we spend outside."

Dregar seemed satisfied with this answer.

"Will we see any enemies on the way?" came a question from Jerhth, the archer.

General Zayn took a moment to answer. "We can only hope not. Some of the smaller villages we visit are bound to be packed with thieves. We might meet a bandit or two on the road. Shit, with all this Token business about the southern border... I wouldn't be surprised to run into a few of their men along the way. However, as to whether or not we'll actually be attacked, only time will tell."

Iris noticed the general shift in his saddle. She had a couple of questions, but for now, kept quiet.

"What is the likelihood, would you say?" Jerhth asked. There wasn't any hint of nervousness to his voice. Rather, he just sounded inquisitive.

Zayn didn't mind the question. "Likelihood? I believe that we should be able to avoid most of the danger quite well, given we all keep our senses about us. As far as this trip though, there is bound to be bumps in the road. Be prepared at all times... especially on the road."

That ended the conversation between the archer and General Zayn.

Iris wondered simply what he wasn't telling them. After all, he had told Dregar that there was some business he would have to tend to alone. Would he, in time, let them in on the rest when it was necessary? Was it some sort of secret mission? A secret mission within the secret mission. Dear gods, her head hurt now.

Despite her curiosity, she decided it best to keep her mouth shut tight.

The golden eyed archer was seemingly very alert, staring into the depths of the forest. This made Iris look around herself. Kayde was nowhere to be seen. In fact, this made her wonder if he had even noticed that they had left the camp yet. With another thought, she knew that Kayde was too intelligent to simply just miss their departure.

He was here. If she needed help, he would come to her aid. All she had to do... was ask, or find a way to ask. At least, that was what he had told her. She found some comfort remembering those words.

"Will we travel all day today?" The voice that came from behind her was very brusque. She knew that Ra was the one who had spoken the minute the words escaped his lips.

"Yes, we will. Where we stop for the night depends on how fast we go. I imagine the horses will get tired in a while."

As of now, she did not worry about where they would stop. She was more focused on their location now. She recognized this area, as it had been the same sprawling forest that she had traveled within to get to the camp in the first place. Which, in turn, let her know that it wouldn't take long to leave the depths of the forest and enter the seemingly endless clearing she had encountered on her first journey through here. She also knew that there was a town not far from the forest's edge.

That would surely not be the place that they would stop for the night, she figured.

It will only take a few hours to get through the woods, and it is still dawn.

She immediately fretted, wondering whether or not the journey would lead them through Eda. It hadn't dawned on her that it might be a possibility. After all, they were heading south. It would hardly take long to get there. She couldn't be sure, as she had rode as fast as Gretchen could take her to get to the encampment for her training and registration.

What could she do in such a circumstance?

Even with the helmet she now wore, ducking her head wouldn't be enough for her to go unrecognized. Gods, if Lillian saw her... Iris shuddered at the mere thought. It had been a while since she had even thought of the witch. She wondered just what would happen if she came face to face with her old enemy. She barely seemed as one anymore, what with the threat of actual adversaries.

Her enemies now could --and would-- kill her if given the opportunity. She hoped to the gods that they never got that chance. That, she knew, all depended on her skill --this did not scare her. Her luck, the other factor, was something she knew she might run short of. Where her luck might fail her, she could not predict.

It could be something small, or her very undoing. She squirmed a little at the thought of dying, but not for the obvious reason. She did not fear non-existence in this world, but the toll it would have on her family. Along with that, she feared discovery.

If she were to die, it would not take long for them to uncover her secret. It would not take long for her to disgrace her father's name.

She hoped even more now that she would make it out alive.

For the next two hours, the forest travel was uneventful. In fact, anyone with eyes could tell that everyone in the scouting group was getting restless from it. One with eyes could tell that they thought that they would never breach the trees' edge.

Of course, that excluded Iris.

She was seemingly the only one that had come from the south to get to the training grounds, and in turn, was the only one who knew that they would be out soon.

"Blast at the bugs," murmured Shen from behind her.

Even though he was out of her sight, Iris knew that he was swatting at them because she heard two little smacks emanate from his palms. Strangely enough, she hadn't noticed the pests; although, she was more bound to do so now that they had been mentioned.

"Got that right," mumbled Ra in response.

General Zayn did not seem to pay any mind to their words. In fact, he seemed to not have even heard them speak. That, or he deemed it too insignificant to acknowledge at all. Iris knew that either could be the case. Who paid any mind to bugs when there was an army to fight, even if they were annoying? On that thought, she took a look around to make sure that there was no one there that might cause more trouble than the wretched insects.

She saw no one. Then again, she knew that even though she might not be able to see them, there still could be someone there. In fact, there was... Kayde.

It was mid-afternoon before they finally made it to the clearing. Iris confirmed that this had been the very same that she had already been to by looking around. Sure enough, she saw what she was looking for, the small village quite a ways into the distance. This must have been the very same one that Kayde had positioned Dhangru before meeting her for the first time in the forest they had just exited.

Speaking of Kayde...

They were nearly a quarter of a mile into the clearing when the stomping of another pair of hooves sounded behind them. This in itself made goose bumps rise on Iris's forearms. She had not thought of this.

Of course Kayde could not hide in the forest depths forever.

Simultaneously, everyone --including the rogue-- whipped their heads around to see what was behind them.

Iris saw Kayde, sitting erect on his now walking horse. He had his eyes on the group like a hawk. Donned in pitch-black robes that matched his horse and black hair that fell loosely over his shoulders and down his back, he looked like a threat to them. His green eyes were razor sharp --as if he knew none of them-- as he looked from person to person.

General Zayn was the first one to speak. Iris could tell he was a little shaken at the thought of being followed.

"Halt!" his voice rang with authority, "Who are you?"

Kayde's horse slowed, but it did not stop completely. Even though it would have most likely been in his best interest to follow the orders, Iris knew that Kayde's pride would not allow him to be bossed around by someone he had never met.

"I will tell you my name... if you will tell me yours."

The general put a hand on the sword at his hip, and swiveled his horse completely around to face Kayde head on.

"General Zayn Rothstead."

"I see," Kayde rode his horse within a few feet of the group, but was careful not to get too close.

Iris guessed that even though Kayde knew that he was an extremely seasoned fighter, six against one was complete shite for odds, especially with someone he had trained himself. Having said that, Iris did not want to fight him, but if it came down to it, she would have to... and he knew it. When he was close enough, he pulled Dhangru to a halt.

"The general? I should have assumed as much. As for me, I am Kayde. Kayde Vorantis."

"Kayde," the general tested the name, "You've been following us," came a very direct accusation.

Iris laughed within herself. Zayn was definitely discomfited at Kayde's sudden presence, due to his quick presumption on Kayde's intentions. Then again, she might be a little frightened too had she not known who Kayde was. As previously mentioned, he especially did not look as if he were a very good sort.

"Following you? I beg your pardon," a cool smirk registered on Kayde's face, "Quite a weighty assumption, is it not?"

"Considering I did not see you traveling behind us, I'd say it was a good one. If you didn't care for us to see you on the way, then we would have. After all, there is no other pass through these woods than through the brush itself. By the burrs stuck to your horse, I'd say you were purposefully staying out of sight." The general narrowed his eyes. "You're following us and trying not to get caught. Why?"

"Except you forgot one thing... if I were truly following you, why did I ride up behind you? That seems like it would ruin the secret, doesn't it?" Kayde raised a brow. "I avoided you for a time because the country's at war. Easily the last thing I need is running into a stray group of armed men, and I'm sure you would agree," Kayde's voice glossed smoothly. "Still, I have to head south."

The general seemed to relax, if only a little. "South. Where are you going?"

Kayde frowned. "I'm headed to Wallfront, the southernmost metropolis of the country. I hear that down in that region, the people are facing some trying times. I'm going to help."

It was probably true, Iris decided, because most of the fighting was happening along the borders.

"I see," said the general. "We'll pass through there at some point, I'm sure."

"Oh?" Kayde raised his eyebrows and his mouth curved up a corner, "Then I imagine this won't be the last time we speak."

General Zayn sharpened his eyes, suspicious once more, and replied with a sort of bitterness Iris had not heard in his voice yet.

"I don't know about that. I hardly know you or trust you."

Kayde coughed down a laugh. "Well, suit yourself, then. Judging by the draft, you seemed like you use all the hands you could get, but I suppose that's hardly my business, isn't it?" He patted his stallion before raising a brow. "See you on the road, general. Should you have need of an extra sword..." he let the sentence hang in the air and spurred his horse.

The group watched as Dhangru galloped past them and on for a hundred yards or so before they began their journey themselves. Iris knew that Kayde would never stray too far from the group, but she also knew that that in itself might cause problems in the future.

She surely hoped that they would never have a reason to fight each other. As the horses trotted along, the general turned to Iris and the rest of the group, and mouthed two words at all of them. "Watch him."