[center][h3]Somewhere along the Ignis/Khomeria border[/h3]
[i]Claw/Aristo collab[/i][/center]

	Dorias, along with his cousin Vermias and the Iron Guard now exited Khomerian territory and entered the territory of the Kingdom of Ignis of House Duvard. Having never seen anything else other than the mountains of Khomeria, he was mesmerized by his surroundings: scores of rolling, emerald hills and isolated woodland, but he couldn’t help already feeling like he has been away from home for years, with that, he just sighed and rode on, admiring the surroundings and sometimes exchanging a few words with his cousin, Vermias.

	“Beautiful lands, right, cousin?” Dorias asked with a wide smile admiring the surroundings.

	“Yes your highness, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, what you consider beautiful here, the Duvard’s could consider it bland having lived in this place for their entire lives.” Vermias commented, never taking his eyes away from his surroundings in case of a attack, no matter how slim the chances may be.

	Hearing his cousin mention the Duvard’s , a hopeful thought came to his mind, while he had maintained contact and friendly relations with them, he had never seen any of the members of the family in person, although he knew the chances to be slim, he was keeping the hope in his heart that he would meet one of the Duvard’s, maybe even the king himself. However that thought left his mind fairly quickly as he continued his conversation with Veimar.

	“Maybe so, but I imagine they would get bored of the bland mountains and the barren plains.” he says, nostalgia coming over him again, he truly wished to return, but it was duty as king to head to head to the capital and vote for a new emperor, in truth, he knew who he supported, despite having never seen any of the candidates, the young prince Ralltene sounded like the best choice for him and he didn’t try to hide it.

	“Not necessarily, my liege, they would probably consider the barren plains a beautiful and expansive sea of grass and the mountains a majestic natural fortress made by The Protector himself!” Vermias answered, still rather tense and still expecting an attack, it was duty to worry so that the king should not, it was duty to protect him as Head of the Iron Guard and his cousin.

	Some time had passed before the Khomerians found themselves dwarfed by an Igensian fort. The land’s black and yellow sunburst flag hung lazily from its spire, in contrast to its men, who scattered around the wall like bees. The gate was peeled open, and a contingent of pikemen filed out, barring the path.

	“Halt!” huffed a captain, waving a hand. He approached the Khomerian entourage, looking up at Dorias.

	“My apologies, Your Highness, but there’s a strict quarantine. We’re under orders to inspect anyone from Khomeria and bar them entry if they’re ill. I’m afraid that goes for royalty as well.” The captain gestured, indicating for the Khomerians to dismount.

	“Ah, but of course, my friend, though ten years have passed since the plague passed away, none of us are infected!” Dorias answered, a large smile forming on his face at the first Ignesian he met. “Get all your men down for the good man to check, Vermias!”

	Vermias looked at the man suspiciously, Dorias had sent letters through the empire assuring that the plague had passed, surely this man had been informed of it and allowed Khomerians through. He was reluctant to get down, but it was an order of the king and he had to obey it and so with a simple hand gesture from Vermias, all the 50 Iron Guards dismounted and awaited.

	“Has the elector of House Duvard passed already?” Dorias asked, still smiling. “It would be an honor for me to meet my closest ally!”

	“Lord Roman is still in Ignis, last I heard. I can pass news of your arrival and ask him to expect you, if that would please Your Highness.”
        
	The Khomerians were brought aside, a couple at a time, where physicians with masks inspected their conditions. The Iron Guard grudgingly complied, though with downturned lips and fidgeting legs. After an hour had passed, the Khomerians were back in formation.

	“My doctors seem satisfied,” the captain remarked, “I sent a messenger ahead of you. Lord Roman will anticipate your arrival at Brionne.” The soldier tipped his morion and bid the Shieldbearers, “Fair travels!”

	“Ah, thank you, my good man!” Dorias said nodding his head at the man. “Cousin, let’s move, I do want to make a good impression to our neighbors.” he says, a child like smile forming on his face. Vermias sighed and signaled for his men to mount their horses, which they did. Vermias knew that thanks to his ignorance, many people would try to fool the young Dorias were he not there, instead, now that he was with him, nobody would be able to trick him.

	“Move out!” Vermias ordered to his men and to a lesser extent to his cousin, Dorias.