In the morning, Ethenn and Ilain departed alongside the western ministers, Vayden, and Obel, taking the Fire, Night, Wind, and Time Relics with them. It felt strange to watch them leave, and Deckard sensed immediate sorrow radiating from Evylin. Just the night before, she had confided in him that she didn’t want them to go. They had become family to her, especially after discovering that Ethenn was her true cousin. She couldn’t bear to part with them, fearing they might not meet again for a long time.
Deckard felt similarly. After leaving his family nearly thirteen years ago to travel with the Ephrian Army, he was accustomed to saying goodbye. This felt different, like a piece of who they were was going away with the Loxleys.
Deckard perceived another unspoken inner turmoil within Evylin. Since Blount’s death and the true beginning of their Alliance work, she exhibited signs of a deepening depression. Initially, he attributed it to the aftermath of months of battles and loss. However, he saw how she watched Thom, Ethenn, and Brea interacting with each other and the soldiers over the weeks. She wasn’t disappointed or dejected; she felt confined.
At that moment, Deckard asked to meet with Archminister Essen and pushed for a return to their home. Having spent considerable time in the palace, he recognized that escaping the Alliance’s unrelenting scrutiny would allow Evylin to feel liberated once more.
Essen disapproved of removing the Day, Water, Terrae, and Space Relics from the palace but consented upon Deckard’s prolonged insistence. As the palace was set to become the Order of the Heavens, he proposed repurposing it now. She agreed and began clearing unnecessary people from the halls withCarlile’s help to develop Allund and the Order. This led to Thom returning home as well and Brea relocating to the barracks.
During the subsequent month, Allund gradually evolved into a stable yet deliberate government. Understandably, individuals in both the East and West expressed their dissent. The nobility in the West voiced their grievances due to the loss of their privileges. Conversely, the Alliance garnered widespread support among the general populace, who embraced the alteration in government. Consequently, the Western faction redirected its efforts toward identifying collaborators and potential replacements while striving to avert further conflict.
The situation in the East presented a stark contrast. A greater number of nobles were informed about the Alliance than the general populace, attributable to Carlile’s initiatives among the upper echelons of society. This approach effectively facilitated the establishment of new governmental policies and procedures; however, it inadvertently resulted in a pervasive sense of discontent among the commonwealth. This unrest was particularly exacerbated by the increasing prevalence of negative suggestions regarding the influence of Mages and the practice of magic governing their territory.
Recognizing the growing struggle, the Alliance decided to address the issue through the cultivation of personal relationships. They dispatched Deckard and Evylin as ambassadors, accompanied by Thom and a few others. First, they traveled to Norhels and met with various magistrates en route.
During their first day within the port city, Deckard led Evylin through the streets with purpose. “Where are we going?” she asked curiously.
“I have something to pick up,” he said.
He brought her to a small stable, where a young man was in the process of reshoeing a horse. He looked up on their arrival,asking them to wait a moment before finishing his task and stepping forward.
“What can I do for you?” the man asked, wiping his hands on his apron.
“Good afternoon,” Deckard said, holding out a folded receipt. “I’m Colonel Deckard, and I boarded my horse here a while back on the provision that she might be rented out for labor. I’d like to reclaim her.”
At his side, Evylin smirked but remained silent as the young man reviewed the receipt. “I’m just the hand,” he said once he’d inspected the note, “but I’ll get my boss to confirm, and we’ll get your horse back to you in a jiffy.”
Once all was in order, the farrier brought the sleek black mare to his side. Despite the months apart, she readily recognized him, whinnying gently as he stroked her neck. “It’s good to see you again, girl,” he whispered fondly.
As they left the farrier, Evylin crossed her arms, eyeing her husband with amusement. “Are you finally going to tell me her real name?” she teased.
Deckard grinned. “I told you before: The hostler named her Calyn.”
Evylin rolled her eyes. “The moment we get back to Loclight...”
“I’ll lead you to him myself,” he promised.
While establishing the Order of the Day in Norhels, they assured the public that Mages weren’t evil, power-hungry villains, and Warriors were more than mere legends. After several days of working with the Alliance in the city, they returned to Olbury to complete the same task. At each of their stops, they encountered a predictable mixture of goodwill and skepticism. Some individuals were more quickly persuaded, while others remained entirely resistant. Nevertheless, they collectively regarded the experience as a success.
Evylin quite enjoyed the return to travel. Though she regularly lamented the loss of Ethenn and Ilain, Deckard could sense her renewed joy as they journeyed through the country again, particularly when they passed through Whickam Village on their way to Virwoud.
The Glaas family was shocked to learn of Evylin and Deckard’s magical abilities. Lawton seemed skeptical at first but readily accepted the new course of things.
“Are you to be our new king and queen, then?” the magistrate asked with ready pride in his gaze as though it washiswill that brought Deckard and Evylin together in the first place.
“No,” Deckard said immediately. “We are soldiers, facilitating the government’s establishment only.”
“Besides,” Evylin added in a lighthearted tone, “there won’t be any kings or queens in Allund.”
“What else could there be?” Calyn asked, her dark eyes curious as she listened.
“Allund is an oligarchal democracy,” Deckard explained. “We will be called a republic. During our conversations, the ministers informed us that there are to be eight provinces governed by chancellors and commanders—one Mage and one Warrior per province. It will work almost like a fief where the governors will supervise the land and its people, but they will work for the people rather than for the government.”
Calyn blinked, then turned to Thom beside her. “Do you understand that?” she asked.
Thom shook his head, an amused grin on his lips. “Not really,” he admitted.
They stayed an extra three days in Whickam Village. It was a welcome reprieve, though Deckard had to admit he grew bored with the humdrum life rather more quickly than he expected. Evylin couldn’t sit still either, adding to his anticipation of their departure. They were intending to travel to Virwoud next onthe same mission, facilitating the reconstruction of the Order of the Sea. However, they received a summons from the Alliance, calling them back to Loclight early.
