Chapter 55: A Place of Our Own

"We’re going to build our new base here."

Shaul said it so casually that Eldrin almost thought he’d misunderstood him.

They had stopped on a narrow rise overlooking a valley hidden deep within the wilderness. Mountains enclosed the area on nearly every side, their slopes covered in thick forests that stretched far beyond what Eldrin could see. The trees were dense enough in some places that the ground beneath them had disappeared into an endless green canopy, while mist drifted lazily between the higher peaks.

A river cut through the valley below.

It was far wider than Eldrin had expected, its current moving quickly over the rocks. The sound of rushing water carried surprisingly well through the otherwise quiet wilderness, giving the place a sense of life despite how isolated it was.

Eldrin looked around again.

"You picked this?"

"I did."

"For a base?"

Shaul smiled. "You don’t like it?"

Eldrin gave him a doubtful look but continued studying the valley. It was difficult to deny that the place had advantages. There were no villages nearby, no roads cutting through the forest, and no obvious signs that anyone had settled here before. Anyone trying to reach them would have to deliberately come looking.

"What kingdom are we in?" Eldrin asked.

"Arendelle."

Eldrin glanced at him.

"Arendelle?"

"Yes. Small kingdom, not particularly powerful, and not important enough for most people to pay much attention to. It sits beside Eldia."

That caught Eldrin’s attention.

"Eldia?"

Shaul nodded.

"The border is close. That’s one of the reasons I chose this place."

Eldrin looked back toward the mountains.

"So you bought land here?"

Shaul laughed.

"I wish it were that simple. The king granted us permission to settle this area."

"We’re allowed to just build a base in the wilderness?"

"Provided we pay him enough."

Eldrin turned toward him.

"How much?"

"1500 thousand gold." Shaul answered.

Eldrin blinked.

"That’s it?, It’s ridiculously cheap."

"Exactly."

Eldrin folded his arms, still trying to process the number.

Shaul gestured toward the valley.

"It’s wilderness, it’s difficult to reach, there isn’t a major road nearby, and the land isn’t particularly valuable to the kingdom. The king needed money, so when the offer came up, he accepted."

Shaul started walking down the slope, and Eldrin followed.

"The permission isn’t completely unconditional. We still fall under the kingdom’s authority. The king has made it clear that if Arendelle goes to war, we’re expected to support him."

"With soldiers?"

"Whatever we’re capable of providing."

Eldrin considered that.

"So if his kingdom gets itself into a war, we’re dragged into it."

"Not exactly dragged. More like... reminded very firmly that we’re residents of his kingdom."

"That’s a nicer way of saying it." Shaul replied.

Eldrin snorted.

"You’ve been spending too much time pretending to be other people." Eldrin said.

"Occupational hazard."

They continued through the trees until the slope opened slightly, giving Eldrin another view of the valley. From here, the river was clearer. It ran directly through the center of the basin, with enough open land along its banks to support buildings, storage and perhaps fields later if they needed them.

Despite himself, Eldrin was beginning to see it.

A real settlement.

Shaul seemed to notice the change in his expression.

"There is another reason I chose this region."

Eldrin glanced sideways at him.

"I was wondering when you were going to tell me."

Shaul smiled.

"The border with Eldia isn’t far from here. On the other side of that region lies the Dax estate, and beyond it is Novaryn."

Eldrin slowed slightly.

They reached the riverbank, and Shaul stopped beside a cluster of stones where the current rushed past.

"We need supplies before we start building," he explained. "Tools, wood, stone, food, equipment, storage containers, things for the underground facilities... there is a lot to arrange. We can’t get everything from Arendelle, and I don’t want our movements here attracting unnecessary attention."

He knew better than to underestimate the amount of material required to build an entire base.

"How are we transporting all of it?"

Shaul glanced at him.

"You’ve already started worrying about that?"

Shaul laughed.

Eldrin gave him a look.

"We’re going to need a ridiculous amount of material." He said further.

"I know."

"And you’re going to have to transport all of it through the wilderness."

"I know."

"And somehow you’ve already arranged this?"

"I have." Shaul replied.

Eldrin stared at him for a moment.

The two of them eventually turned away from the river and headed back toward the others.

The journey toward Novaryn began shortly afterward....

......

Ennessa had been back at Korrandis for less than an hour when she realized something was wrong.

The first thing she noticed was the number of guards.

There were twice as many men stationed around the main buildings as there had been before she left for the academy, and several of them were equipped for combat rather than ordinary household security.

She stopped near the entrance and looked toward the southern side of the estate.

She couldn’t see the military district from there, but the damage was impossible to miss. Dark smoke still hung faintly above the distant buildings, and part of the skyline had been broken apart where the explosions had torn through the district.

"What happened?"

The servant beside her hesitated.

"You weren’t told, Lady Ennessa?"

"I’ve been at the academy."

The girl lowered her voice. "There was an attack three days ago."

Ennessa’s expression changed.

"An attack?"

"Something happened in the southern military district. Several buildings were damaged. They’re saying there were intruders."

"Do they know who?" Ennessa asked.

"No."

Ennessa waited for more.

The servant glanced around before continuing. "Some guards said three people were involved."

"Three?"

"Two men and someone younger. That’s all I’ve heard."

Ennessa’s attention sharpened.

She dismissed the servant a moment later, but the information stayed with her as she walked toward the main house.

She hadn’t been particularly interested in the military district before leaving for the academy. It had always been something distant, controlled by people much more important than her. Whatever had happened there probably had nothing to do with her.

Then she reached the library.

Rowan was standing behind his desk, sorting through a stack of books.

He looked up and smiled when he saw her.

"Back already?"

"Don’t sound so happy about it." Ennessa said.

"I didn’t say anything."

"You didn’t have to."

Rowan chuckled and returned to his work.

Under normal circumstances, Ennessa would probably have stayed for a few minutes and complained about the academy while Rowan pretended to listen. Instead, she walked directly to the desk.

"Where’s Caiden?"