"So you're going through with this." The grizzled caravan guard stood in the doorway to the inn-room.

"Yes, Captain Wolff," Maxmilián said as he finished packing his bag.

"Doubek, you already sent a message by horse to Erostey. Assuming the messenger makes it alive, you've done enough to warn your family. Just come back with me to--"

"Sir, I'm going with the Caradian Emperor." Max belted on his scimitar at his waist and pulled his bag over his shoulder. Looking at his captain, he continued, "I can't stand by when my family is in danger. If we can learn where those creatures come from, and how to stop their advance, then I'm going to go."

Wolff nodded. "I suppose I can't stop you, then." He stepped out of the way as Max walked out of the room, then stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Here," he said, handing Max a small coin pouch. "A bit of gold for supplies. And you're gonna need a good mace or two." With a sour smirk, Wolff added, "Tell those beasts I said 'hello'."

~~~~~

[i]Just because I need a mace, doesn't mean I know any more than 'swing and hit',[/i] Max thought. In addition to his scimitar and pack, his belt held a quality mace, with leather wrapped around its head. "Farran, what am I getting myself into?" he asked, looking down at the gray tabby cat beside him. Max stood on the corner of two streets in the capital of Caradia, just a few streets away from the castle gates. "Going up against those inky creatures again is, eh, frightening..." Shivering, Max sighed. "Come on, Farran."

Steeling himself, he resumed walking and didn't stop until, at the castle gates, a guard wearing a sergeant's uniform stopped him. "Halt. What's your name and business?"

"I am Maxmilián Doubek," Max answered, noting the old guard's face and one eye. "I am here to join the Emperor in his fight against--"

"--fight against the foul creatures plaguing the land?" the sergeant filled in, followed by a snort. "At least you look more fit than a few others we've seen." He waved for Max to enter and said, "You better hurry, though, they may be rarin' to leave about now, if I heard anything right."

"Thank you." With a nod, Max strode past the guards and found himself on the edge of a castle garden. Ahead of him were a large man in white armor, a woman in a white gown, and another woman in armor. Near them were around seven or so people; from what Max could see of their varying appearances and postures, this wasn't an everyday troop of soldiers.

"...We've a long way to go and it wouldn't do to walk the whole way," the man in white said. Max had seen a few paintings of Emperor Balan, and he'd thought they were exaggerated to some degree. Now...maybe the exaggeration was less than Max had thought.

[i]Here goes nothing.[/i] With Farran at his heels, Max approached the armored man and stopped a few yards away. He bowed at the waist and said, "Sire, may I ask if this is the expedition decreed by the Emperor of Caradia?"