"So, what brings you two to this side of the country?" Gale asked with wine swirling in his hand.
Allendis was silent. The question was asked to either him or Keg. He didn't like the fact that he felt obliged to tell them but who would believe that he got his arse back up from the dead?
Admittedly, he doesn't know where he actually was. So he doesn't really have an answer to give.
"I'm on my way back to Talinfur, I have something to return to the people there." Keg said, drinking from his mug.
"Forgive me but you're a soldier of Lord Gendrik? If so then were you part of the siege that happened three days ago?"
Keg nodded to his question.
"Was I obvious?"
Gale chuckled as he drank from his mug.
"Lord Gendrik is the only one that sends out war efforts rather than hoard it. Besides, we Zenithians are a peaceful bunch. The only war that exists here is against Devion the Skinless."
"…It didn't go as planned. Me and my boys decided to leave such a fruitless endeavor. Even as a medic, it is far harder to look Death in the eye."
Allendis almost felt pity. Almost. How Keg's eyes dropped at the mention of his 'boys'. There was something strange about it. Something melancholic. Weren't they with him back in his cart?
"I can't imagine how much you have been through, sir Keg."
Donnel said with a somber tone.
"Blood will always spill. Under the whims of power, it always will. All I can do is provide a helping hand."
"That is admirable, Keg." Gale said. "You certainly are a far better man than your liege. I just hope this war will soon come to an end. Life would be so much more honest without it."
Allendis figured that their war affected their entire way of living. Everyone desires an end but once it does, a new one will commence.
Gale mentioned hoard and Zenithians. From what he could remember, the New Zenithia Federation was split into two regions: the capital port of the east ran by the merchants and the western lands ruled by nobility. It was separated by the Woodland Mist, a dense forest that was difficult to navigate if not for the efforts to build a road that connects the two regions.
He never had dealings with western lords. Usually, the route to the port was directly connected to Rathlin, an independent city-state. It was much safer to travel from there.
Honestly, he'd rather eat shit than deal with nobles.
"Even if Lord Gendrik sends us, we simply cannot penetrate Kostan Castle. Not even artillery from overseas could bring down its gates."
Gale laughed. Bitter but surprisingly understanding.
"If men cannot bring the bastard down, perhaps you folks need something stronger."
"Tell that to the Roundtable. I just wish for the day that Devion would just die. I heard stories of him when I was a child and look at me now?"
A chuckle came when Keg gestured at himself. He was a soldier despite his role as a medic, yet the look on his face was a mixture of wrinkles and scars. Allendis couldn't even tell which was which for half of them.
There was something strange about what Keg mentioned about Devion.
Allendis wasn't as familiar with the noble landscape of New Zenithia Federation but he could have sworn that he had never heard of Devion. With such a reputation as Devion the Skinless, he should have heard about him with other mercenaries even at passing.
When it comes to gossip, mercenaries are more notorious than milkmaids.
A loud click of a tongue was heard across him and Keg. It was from Jace who looked pissed at something. Or someone.
"So you decided to run away from the fight instead of ending it?"
Jace said angrily. His young visage contorted into a sharp frown and burrowed brows.
Keg remained silent. The empty bowl was still in his hands as his eyes never left it.
"…I wish I didn't but I cannot bear to look at all the dead. I'm far too old to see young men go before me."
"Coward…"
Jace's voice was seething quietly. His glare never left Keg. Donnel lost his amicable face and instead was ready to give out a stern scolding but Jace continued.
"You sit here with us, eat our food, drink our wine that we got with our own hands while you try to escape. You and your lords are the same…you have no right to take what's ours because of your bloody war!"
Under his cloak, Allendis placed his hand on his gun. Ready to draw and shoot the boy if he gets physical.
Everyone else looked uncomfortable, except for the red haired swordswoman and Gale.
"Jace, that's enough!" Donnel scolded him but Jace paid it no mind.
"Donnel's right, Jace. I know you're upset but they're not bad people. Not like those bannerman. Or did the wine make you forget?"
Gale said with one last chug of his wine before exhaling loudly like Jace didn't have an outburst.
"Drink in moderation, lad. It'll screw over your judgement, especially someone as young as you."
Gale said with a laugh, finding Jace's outburst amusing. Like he already expected it.
Allendis let go of his gun, yet as he did so, he noticed the red haired woman was glancing at him. He couldn't read her but her eyes knew what was going on.
Golden eyes that seemed dead but vibrant.
"…Whatever."
Jace said as he stood up from his seat and went off towards one of their carts, disappearing from their sights.
"Apologies for that display. Young Jace is an apprentice in the Dustling village, before the war took over even such a remote village. Since then, I've taken him under my wing."
"Ah, it's no problem! He wasn't exactly wrong. I am but a coward."
Keg said with a light tone yet his words remained bitter.
The cold wind grew stronger, enough for even Allendis to feel it underneath his armour and cloak. His bowl and mug were empty and he placed them on the ground.
"Well that's enough about the war, eh? How about you, Allendis? What brought you on the road?"
Gale asked, and instantly, Eunice turned to him who was tense but a moment ago.
"I'd like to know that for myself."
He saw Sofia's eyes rolled from Eunice's words.
Allendis would love to join her but their hospitality cut off any sentiments to do so.
"Ugh, don't mind her, she's always like this." Sofia said with an exasperated look.
Allendis didn't really know what to say. His situation was absurd.
He let his thoughts drift through a suitable answer when he reached an odd conclusion.
Only now he just realized that he was in New Zenithia–thousands of miles away from where he actually died.
How did that even happen? He thought but those were questions he would eventually find out.
He'd deal with these people first.
"Someone tore my gut and now I'm back from the dead."
Only the sounds of the fire rippled through their ears. Not even a breath could be heard despite them breathing.
Even the laid-back Gale, showed a surprised look, no matter how slight.
"…I'm kidding. I was just traveling to find my friend."
Sometimes truth was stranger than fiction. If he gave them something absurd, then they would eat up anything he throws at them.
"You had us there for a second," Eunice laughed. "I thought you wouldn't have a sense of humor."
"If you want to look for someone, perhaps sending a letter to the postal service might help." Donnel suggested with a mellow tone.
"Right! I heard Talinfur has an office set up now. They said that anything that comes out of the post, goes into the press."
Sofia said with excitement. Her enthusiasm for the topic gave Allendis some insight to her and his next plans.
"Have they no shame? You wouldn't see me entrusting such letters even if my tavern goes to rubble!" Eunice said with discontent.
Sofia shrugged at Eunice's words.
"Those are just rumors. I don't think the Consul Meister has any interest in the common folks' news. He set it up for everybody to use."
"Exactly! And whose stamps do they use to send messages? We have business dealings, Sofia. Very private ones that require confidentiality. What if those uncouth boys take a peek at one of our letters? Then we're all doomed!"
Sofia sighed but it sounded like she conceded to Eunice. Or she just grew tired of her. She then turned to him with a serious yet excited gleam.
"Regardless, it won't hurt to try, Allendis. The postal service has a notice board and their couriers post updates to other towns and cities for news to spread. Maybe you could pay for a spot in it and find your friend that way!"
Allendis unconsciously placed his fingers on his chin, cupping it. Sofia's suggestion wasn't half-bad. He had limited experience with any press. The most he got involved was looking for contracts with enough coin for him to eat the next day.
It was worth a shot. While he travels from city to city, he would find new words that could help him find Halbin.
"Thank you for that, Sofia." Allendis said as diplomatically as he could. He even gave her a smile yet when he did, Sofia avoided his gaze.
Is my smile that bad?
"Y-you're welcome. I hope you find your friend."
A melodic hum came from Eunice.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you and your friend get separated? I sense that your tale is far more interesting than the current war, no offense Keg."
Keg merely nodded with a kind smile at Eunice.
"It was nothing too grand as you make it sound. I…I was injured. We were hired to fight against a suspected lord for his crimes."
There was silence when he spoke. Keg too was interested yet he looked to have some sort of sympathy for him. Allendis continued as he let out a chuckle, his eyes mesmerized by the flames of the camp.
"I don't remember much but I woke up at a place called Grassdig. Some grave robbers tried to steal my stuff. Killed one of them too."
Honestly, that was his best attempt to make his story sound believable. They did not need to know that he died or that just after his death, he was at a place called Argontale Chamber.
A place where he still did not make any sense of. He wondered what that place meant. Was it just some fever dream?
Allendis looked up to continue his story but he was met with gazes that were unsure and frightened.
Even the swordswoman was looking at him with curious eyes.
Gale's low voice snapped him out of his lingering gaze on the swordswoman.
"…Boy, what have you done?"