The Guards remain vigilant after the incident at the Creek, watching for any further signs of trouble as they continue through the forest. Kara remains silent, eyes locked forward, while Marcus keeps a sharp eye out ready to react to anything that may come. He notices Kara's expression hasn't changed, but he sees all he needs to see in her eyes.

We've known each other a long time, and what she did, what she ordered us to do is not like her. Even though she didn't have to be the one to carry it out she still has to shoulder that weight of taking a life. Whether she's the one who wielded the blade or not.

Despite being sympathetic to the potential burden she now carries he can't overlook the fact that if she hadn't gone off on her own the situation could have been prevented.

"Kara, you can't go off like that again. What if we hadn't heard the fighting? You could have been killed, or worse!" he says with an aggravated tone, while the guards remain silent as the atmosphere becomes awkwardly tense.

The guards know the two of them have grown up together most of their lives so they aren't all that taken aback by it but it's still surprising to them to hear such a tone spoken to a Noblewomen. She listens as he scolds her for being reckless, remaining silent.

"I know, and it won't happen again." She says nothing else at first, eyes with the same expression.

It won't happen again alright: I won't hesitate to cut down the next person who approaches me where they stand. I won't allow myself to be seen as weak again.

"As much as I appreciate your concern as my friend, I am still your Lady, and you are my Bannerman. And what I don't appreciate is being spoken to like a child in front of my men. Do I make myself clear?" Marc says nothing in return, knowing that to a point she's right.

He knows there is a difference between Kara as his friend, and her as the Lady. He knows growing up she was very independent, didn't want to rely on anyone for anything. There were times he remembers growing up she would go into town without her House Guards, and how furious her mother would be when she returned later that night.

"Yes, Mi'lady. I meant no disrespect by it. I just care about your safety." He replies with a low tone, Kara's stare drifts to him and she sees the worry in his eyes. She sighs feeling as if she overreacted.

He's always been too good to me. Putting up with my attitude and temper at times... and being the one who got me out of trouble even if I got myself into it...

The rest of the journey to the Royal Army Supply Camp outside the Fortified City New Gailèan, The Banners flapping in the wind as they near the Camp. Soldiers are marching around, while others who handle logistics load crates, and sacks onto wagons headed for the frontlines.

As they near the entrance Kara hears something that catches her attention: The sound of a voice calling out to draw attention to a nicely put together wooden stand with a bright red and gold cover over top of it posted into the ground. A tan skinned man with a foreign accent is running it. Kara approaches seeing all kinds of trinkets, clothes, even some foods.

She stops her horse in front of the stand, and dismounts followed by Marcus while she looks at the fruits that aren't native to the country: things like grapes, and others that are harder to come across since the Civil War started such as apples, Oranges and various others.

The Merchant having bent over to grab a small sack to deposit some gold coins into after a buyer purchased some goods comes back up, and sees Kara's Icy Blue eyes,

"Oh- you startled me! Please! Please, have a look!" The man gestures with enthusiasm, and speaks with an energetic tone.

After a moment of pitching his goods to her he notices the Banners flying behind her, and his face drops as he realizes he is in the presence of a Lady. He starts stammering,

"My-My- My Lady Where are my manners!" He trips over a crate as he rushes around his stand, to bow in front of her.

"Please, there's no need. " She smiles while insisting the Merchant to rise, asking him where he's from since his accent isn't from this country, or its neighbours.

He stands with a pleasant smile, and friendly eyes, Orion Andino of Asenia, at your service My Lady. She recognizes the name Asenia: the Kingdom of Asenia is a realm across the Western Sea that has been a major trade partner of the Realm for as long as she can remember, she just not familiar with their accent. Suddenly her tone changes: she lets some excitement come through since she has never been outside of the Realm, and loved to hear about foreign lands as a child, and still does now.

"I've heard Asenia is beautiful. I've always wanted to visit there." She lets a smile slip through, but Orion doesn't even hide his.

"Yes! Yes, it's very beautiful this time of year. Especially in the countryside with all the vineyards! If you ever visit My Lady, I can give you a tour! It would be my honour!" His energy rises the more he speaks, making it hard for Kara to hide her smile.

Marcus watches as her expression changes from the serious, emotionless eyes, to being enthralled by what Orion is telling her about his homeland and her eyes brightened hearing about the beauty of the Asenian Kingdom.

That necklace, I gave one to a Lord who came through with the Army and wanted to purchase that." He saws immediately recognizing it: The necklace is a Silver Humming Bird with a thin Silver Chain attached to the wings.

Kara puts her hand over it as her heart beats as she remembers when she received the letter and necklace as a gift.

Aidan sent this to me, he had already been away almost three months then. He wrote in part of his letter that the "the gracefulness of the Hummingbird reminds me of you during our first dance. Seeing this necklace reminded me of you, and reminded me of home." He wanted to show me that he missed me.

She explains to him that it was a gift from her husband before he died as the emotion built in her eyes, Orion's cheerful expression and smile fade as he realizes now who the necklace was for. He offers her his deepest condolences.

"You know why I gave it to your husband for nothing, My Lady? I too am away from the one I love. I left my lovely wife, and two beautiful children behind in Asenia to come here to a strange land to make a good life for them back home. Your husband left to fight for his lands, and for you." He explains with a somber tone, Kara's head lowers slightly.

Though they come from different lands, and very different circumstances Kara understood the one thing Orion and Aidan have in common: They both left home for the ones they love. She thanks him for his generosity.

"It's my pleasure, My Lady." His smile returning, and the mood lightening up again with Kara smiling slightly in return.

Marcus leans in, and whispers to her, Not to be rude Mi'lady, but we still have to meet with the Camp Commander.

She extends her hand to Orion's to thank him for thanking him, and expresses the pleasure of meeting him.

"The Honour was mine, My Lady. Please, be safe on your travels." He says taking her hand while putting his other over hers as well.

Kara, and Marcus mount their horses and begin looking for the Commander. Soldiers wearing mainly dark leather armour are shouting orders while loading crates, while others with brighter coloured armour practice their fighting skills with spears and swords clearly waiting to be sent to the frontlines, smiths working metal for weapons. The Commander is standing outside his tent wearing leather armour but more decorated for an Officer, talking to another soldier when he sees Kara and others approaching, He, and the soldier bow as they stop in front of them.

The Commander introduces himself, and presents Kara with the parchment scroll containing a full list of all the supplies. Kara doesn't read it, but hands it off to Marcus knowing from the few wagons present there is a problem.

"Sire Hayes, my Army is over two-thousand alone, and this would barely feed them. Do you think this will feed the entirety of His Majesty's Army?" She asks slightly concerned, Marcus shares her concern reading the scroll.

Our Army alone needs at least two pounds for each soldier to get a full day's meal, the amounts on this list we'll be lucky to get more than a half pound each if we are feeding our forces solely!

"What is the meaning of this Hayes? How do you expect us to properly feed the Army with this?" He bursts outs, clearly not happy.

Kara's eyes snap to Marcus, surprised by the outburst from him. He's not usually the type to snap like this which is what catches her off guard the most.

"My apologies, this is all I can send for the time being. We've been struggling with shortages for the last few weeks. Scraping together every grain we can but the farms just aren't producing enough." Hayes explains with a low tone,

Marcus remains silent while Kara sighs deeply understanding the situation they are in but still disappointed with it all the same. Not wanting to waste anymore time she orders Hayes to ready the wagons while Marcus takes her to see the reinforcements that will be accompanying them: fifty additional soldiers lined in rows of five.

These "men" are barely boys, and they are meant to serve me? I doubt they have even been to bed with a woman yet! What good will they be on the battlefield?

Marcus can see Kara's clear discontent for the troops, and shares the feeling just in a different way. Kara orders Marcus to ready the troops to leave with the wagons. He shouts out commands ordering the soldiers to be ready to march. The formation rotates to the right keeping the five man rows as Maruc, Kara, and the Guards take place ahead of them with the Banners of Kara's House flapping in the wind. Marcus yells out for the March to begin when a rider approaches informing them the wagons are ready to go. The sounds of horse hooves, and marching footsteps quickly catches the attention of others in the camp as they march through, and out of it.

"I know these men aren't what you expected, Mi'lady. I was no older than them when I swore my oath. The sad fact is: wars are fought by young boys, for old men. A fact you'll have to accept now taking Command." He tries to be as sympathetic as he can knowing this is hard to accept.

"So long as they do their duty, Marcus, it matters not their age. They took an oath to me, as did you. I will expect them to honour it, same as you." She says with a stern expression and tone of voice, eyes locked forward not even giving Marcus a glance. He's slightly taken aback by her sudden change in attitude and tone, he's never seen her like this before.

Everything about her changed: posture, voice, her eyes are fiery. This isn't the same woman I knew before. Aidan's death could be having a deeper effect on her than I thought... I hope it doesn't cloud her judgements on the battlefield.