As morning progressed toward noon and the sun climbed to its height in the sky, Dustin and his fellows slowed their pace and kept eyes out for a sheltered spot to rest for a while. They had traveled in the coolness of the nocturnal desert all through the night and continued through the early morning, but now that the sun's rays made its presence more readily known, Kyle recommended they sleep in the heat of the day, if they could manage it. After all, they could only push themselves and the animals for so long, especially Dustin and Jude's horses.

It wasn't too much longer before the group found a cluster of sharp boulders standing tall and providing decent cover from the sun. With sighs of relief, they set up a modest camp of sorts and stretched their tired legs. Before anyone got too comfortable, however, Dustin brought up the point that the wildlands were full of dangers that could alight upon them at any moment, so he advised against all sleeping at the same time.

The others heartily agreed, and after some discussion, they came to the conclusion Kyle and Jude would first sleep for two or three hours, and then Dustin and Michelle would get their turn. The party would start again as the sun began setting and hopefully arrive at a Forbachean border town by dinnertime.

Before long, the unnerving quietude of the wildlands was broken up only by Kyle and Jude's snores. Dustin and Michelle found themselves seats in the shade somewhat on the outskirts of the improvised camp, just far enough apart to prohibit physical contact, but easily in earshot of one another.

Dustin cleared his throat and resolved to pass the time in some conversation. "So, Michelle...I have a question to ask of you."

Michelle glanced over and dipped her head. "I listen."

"Clearly, the liberation of your people is very important to you; anyone who speaks with you for more than a moment could surmise as much. But what I'd like to know is what would you do in a free Forbache? What are your hopes and dreams for your future?"

"I am a simple woman, your highness. I plan no lofty journey for my tomorrows, to be frank. So if I earn myself a modest income and enjoy the life I am blessed with, I am content. Perhaps I open a blacksmithing shop of my own and support myself in that way."

"Somehow, I doubt that." Dustin said with a slight narrowing of his eyes.

"Why is that?"

"Well...I consider myself rather similar to you in many ways. Chiefly, you have a fighter's spirit, and in my experience, the fire of a warrior's passion tends not to die off even when the war is over."

Michelle shrugged and brushed a tress of her dark, curly hair behind her ear. In that moment, as he gazed upon her, Dustin could only characterize her as carelessly beautiful. He felt his face flush, and for once, the desert sun couldn't be blamed for the additional heat.

"If that is so," Michelle replied carefully, "Then why is Sir Korynn so easily able to hang up his sword and shield? He leaves war behind entirely—never looks back."

"Fair...maybe not all warriors fall under my generalizations, but nonetheless, how could you live a life using weapons, only to resign yourself in later years to merely forging them?"

"That, your highness, is where you and I differ."

Dustin sat up straighter. "Whatever could you mean by that?"

"You fight because you enjoy fighting. I fight because I must."

"Now, now, that seems a little unreasonable to me; I have a cause which I fight for as well. The liberation of the nations under Innutuk's fist is hardly—"

"It is hardly a goal one realistically achieves in their lifetime." Michelle interrupted, "I mean no offense, but you merely broaden your mission so wide it conceals the true motives you have deep down."

"Which are...?"

"Presently, you desire the thrill of combat, the exhilaration of conflict. I venture a guess that's when you feel most alive, and most focused."

"Perhaps so." Dustin conceded, "But I insist it would be reductive to summarize my motives so simply."

"Is that so? Then I extend the same question to you. What do you do in a world without an Empire? What are your hopes and dreams for the future?"

"I suppose...after destroying the Empire, I'd strive to rebuild in the east. Alconte would be restored to its former glory, and Shafaria's many factions—"

"Leave the political realm behind for a moment." Michelle said, "What do you want, your highness?"

"Well...strip me of my eventual kinghood, and you render me similar to you indeed. In that arena, I wish for nothing more than most men desire. I wish to marry a worthy woman and raise a family with her...simply enjoy the life I've been blessed with all the while."

"We are at once frighteningly similar and distinctly dissimilar."

Dustin chuckled. "You make a good point. However, I do take notice you mentioned nothing of raising a family yourself."

"I waste little time fretting over that. If the Lord wills for me to bring children into this world, then who am I to refuse Him? But as of yet, I meet no suitable man to be my partner in that endeavor."

"Surely, in your time fighting with Forbache's liberation forces, you must have met some good men."

Michelle quirked her scarred eyebrow. "Waging war and initiating courtship are not good companions of one another, your highness."

"My mother and father did just that." Dustin remarked with a smirk. "Perhaps you need only entertain the idea a little."

"I am glad your parents successfully courted amongst turmoil, but I am more cautious. I will not raise a child who may end out fatherless."

"That's wise. I must say, though you and I share our similarities, you are clearly the more thoughtful one between us."

Michelle laughed. "Jude thinks for you both."

"Essentially so. I would be a very different man if not for him."

"You're a very unbalanced man without him, too."

Dustin locked eyes with Michelle and let out a hearty laugh. "I am like an over-eager horse, and he is my bridle."

"There's hope for you yet, with such self awareness."

"I suppose so." Dustin said, still amused.

In similar fashion, the two continued to pass the time until Jude and Kyle awoke. All the while, Dustin came to admire Michelle more and more for her perspectives on various matters, simple and unadorned, but practical and sound regardless. And every glance he cast her way, she only appeared more lovely. Though he kept the thought locked in the recesses of his mind, Dustin couldn't help but wonder if he were now eyeing Monterayne's future queen.

****

When the sun began to make its retreat in the desert sky, Dustin and his fellow travelers covered their faces again and set out west in the waning heat. A vast stretch of scorched sand sprawled out before them, devoid of rock formations or even valleys. As even the evening sun beat down on their backs harshly, Dustin found himself keenly thankful they had waited out the heat of the day.

As Kyle had predicted, the quartet reached Forbache by nightfall. A great wall of jagged rock served as the border, the only stone formation of its sort they had seen for hours. Dustin and his companions squeezed through a painfully narrow passageway to obtain entry into Forbache, and once they did emerge, the environment they found on the other side could only be described as a completely new world.

Right at the border, the pack animals waded through a sea of dryish shrubs that rasped against their legs as they passed, but a few stone throws further into the country, Dustin made out the silhouettes of a majestic congregation of trees, a mighty fortress unlike any he had ever seen. Even in the darkness of night, the sight induced wonder in the Monteraynian prince's heart.

As he undid the face covering that had once protected his nose and mouth from the desert sand that floated in the wildlands' scorching winds, he sucked in a deep breath of fresh air accented with sweet notes of sap. The rejuvenating scent of recent rainfall also enhanced the aroma.

Dustin cast a glance back at Jude and smirked. "I say all the hardships of those wildlands were more than worth it, that we may enjoy this. Don't you agree?"

Jude pleasantly nodded. "Very much so. A place like this inspires awe."

"Indeed." Dustin said, now turning to Kyle, "How far to the nearest town?"

Kyle shook his head. "The man I spoke to didn't remember exactly how they got to the border town after exiting the wildlands. They basically wandered about until they found it."

"These forests are dangerous at night if one is unaware of how to handle themselves." Michelle asserted, "We're safest if we camp here in the clearing and search for the town in the morning light."

Nobody objected to this, so Dustin volunteered to take the first of four night watches while the other three slept. With only the chirps of crickets breaking up the stillness of the night, and no perceptible movement around them, his watch was uneventful. Still, he contented himself with enjoying the cool, fresh air until the hourglass beside him emptied into the bottom chamber for the second time. Then Dustin trudged over to Jude, shook him awake, and settled into slumber himself for the night.

**** 

A/N: At long last, out of the wildlands and into Forbache! I count this as a win myself, and I'm sure neither you nor any of these characters would disagree with me. 😂

(If you don't leave a vote and comment, I dare say you'll find me most disagreeable, so maybe don't tempt fate 😝)

Well at any rate, any thoughts on the story so far? I'd love to hear 'em. 

Hope you have a great week, and I'll see you in next Tuesday's update!