They rushed through a ruined city. Stella's rampage did a huge number on his town.
Even a week later, with the corpses and the thick layer of ice gone, scars remained everywhere.
"Remember, you're the lord of Halaima in name only," the captain panted, as if he heard him calling this place his own. He gave Konrad his first reality check. "They can still take it back."
"I'm well aware," he groaned, but that was a fat lie. "Your point is?"
And no, he wasn't trying to belittle the man. Vargas was a practiced schemer, after all. But he also loved his riddles, and long sentences that went nowhere. There was no time for that.
If there was any advice to give, he wanted it and fast.
"Be humble, kid," the captain scoffed, driving him until they both ran out of breath.
He couldn't tell if it was a personal warning or a part of his advice. He couldn't ask Eyna either, lagging behind them by a couple of yards. His only comfort was almost out of reach.
"Do I strike you as an egoist?" Konrad rolled his eyes.
"Not what I meant," Vargas said, finally slowing. "Kasserlane has many unlanded nobles to offer, or factions vying for power. The king does not care. He wants order, no matter who brings it."
"Order and taxes, got it," he nodded along, his anxiety flaring even hotter.
They ran the math only minutes ago, and he could pay—but then he would've nothing left.
"Taxes are important, too," the captain claimed. "But they want someone loyal. Easy to control. Not problematic. The capital is far, and this is an important border region."
"So you want me to lick their boots?" he asked, looking beyond a crumbling corner building.
A lone carriage waited on the square by the church and its ominous black-stone annex. Stella damaged them both, but Konrad didn't feel the need to restore or demolish them yet.
They were the symbols of the Inquisitor's power, and now became a memento of his downfall.
Not that he caused it.
The most he could do was damage control after Stella took matters into her own crazed hands.
"Only if you have to," Vargas smirked. "If it means you can keep all this."
"All what? The rubble? The pain in the butt? Or you mean your retirement plan?"
The captain stopped, pointing at that carriage.
"The rank that they will decide on," he said. "Earn your standing, and the rest will come in time."
Konrad let out a deep sigh, taking another glance at the newcomers.
Their vehicle looked functional, but a lot less fancy than what Aset's duke let them borrow. He couldn't miss the king's insignia, though, and the two armed knights protecting it.
"The longer I'm doing this, the less sure I am if I want to," he noted, earning the captain's glare.
"Don't let it show when you talk to them," he warned, right as Eyna caught up.
The carriage's door opened, and a third knight climbed out of it.
The only difference between that one and the other two was that this was a girl.
It was hard to tell at first; she wore the same plain armor. Only her wavy brunette hair was in a high ponytail, and her weapons seemed lighter, too. She prioritized speed over brute force.
And from the obvious wear and tear, she used that speed often as well.
"Are you Konrad von Halstadt?" she asked a simple question, but he already struggled to answer.
"Ostfeld, ma'am, but the king recognized me as the heir of the Halstadts," he said, glancing at Vargas. Was that humble enough? "I'm the acting mayor of Halaima at the moment."
She gave him a curt nod, then continued.
"Helena of the royal house of Kasserlane, the steward appointed to aid you by the king."
Konrad expected her to turn and another woman to emerge from the carriage, but none of that happened. The captain kicked his ankle and cleared his throat, reacting faster than he did.
"It is a great honor that the Second Princess herself took on this long journey for our sake."
The old fox could be flattering when he wanted to, but Konrad was still slow on the uptake.
Wasn't she announcing a princess?
She couldn't be one. He had to double-take, looking over her again.
The insignia on her breastplate and the head of her warhammer were the same as on the carriage. No fluff, though. Even Gabrielle wore fancier garbs in her laziest days.
But her face felt familiar.
He saw the king once via a holographic illusion, and now he could see the similarities.
Late twenties, or mid-thirties. She had a prominent nose with a few freckles dotted around.
Her skin had wrinkles burned into it from her tan. An outdoorsy type, for sure, but a royal one?
"I, um—Your Highness, forgive my insolence," he yelled to save the situation. "I grew up in a little village, and this whole noble business is new to me. I'm more of a numbers person."
He almost threw himself on the ground, too, but went for a deep bow instead.
Now it was the captain's time for a dramatic sigh and eye rolling.
Helena didn't laugh, but didn't seem angry, either.
"Save the formalities," she offered, her voice low. "I didn't come as a princess, but as a steward. The roads are dangerous, and your face says my disguise worked as intended."
Was she embarrassed? This was no disguise, that much he could tell.
But he was smarter than pointing it out.
"Yes, well—I'm honored to serve." Konrad bowed again, now also feeling naked without his own set of armor. "The Church left us a huge mess to deal with, though, so please forgive the ruins."
"Who represents them now?" Another question that sounded simple, but he had no idea.
Was there anyone? They showed up with a few carriages days ago—red and ominous ones, not like this plane vehicle. They took Otto without a fanfare, asked about the others, and left.
It took no more than a few words, ten minutes, and a huge boulder was off his chest.
He suspected Gabrielle's meddling, but she wasn't there now.
"The only people affiliated with the Church would be Father Alastair," he said after a while. "He used to be my foster father in Haiten," he added after some pondering. "Does that count?"
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"They walked out without leaving officials or soldiers behind?" she asked.
That was at least easy to answer.
"Yes, and after confirming the Inquisitor's heresy, they took him into custody."
Nobody actually uttered the word heresy, but Otto loved to throw it around.
Well, that was before the archangel did something to his mind, in case Stella hadn't broken it already. But now that he thought about it, they left their ruined church building as it was, too.
Didn't even bother taking inventory. He was too busy to notice it then, but now—
"My brother was a bit too optimistic when they involved the Church in his last clause." Helena sighed, leaving it at that for now. "I'll have to warn you, Konrad, I'm nowhere near as lenient."
"That, um—yes, understood, Your Highness."
Was that a promise, or a threat? He met this woman two minutes ago, and even though nothing had happened yet, he was already terrified.
"Where should we start then?"