The commander of the Winged Blades watched as the princess wept in her maid’s arms. The poor girl. She’s just lost her whole family.

She was still breathing heavily from the previous confrontation and the run to the shore. There was no time to grieve. Liandra looked about for the rest of her men—some were missing. If they weren’t here, she would leave them. Jon trotted out of the forest, along with Yasuri and Arkuval.

“Where are the others?” she asked.

Jon shook his head. “Zandersan and Brendan were both killed, Commander. They… didn’t die well.”

“Damn those two for failing me—especially that pretentious Brendan!”

Jon flinched. “Commander?”

“…always going on about their…. What is it?”

“Commander, those men just died.”

“Yeah? And what of it? I’ll make them apologize to me when I see them in the Evermore. Jon, what did I tell you when I accepted you into my command?”

“You said that I wouldn’t receive special treatment.”

“What else did I say?”

“That if I died it would be my own fault.”

“And whose problem is that?”

“Yours?”

“That’s right.”

He seemed disheartened at her words. Liandra made a sound of disgust, then offered some quick words. "It’s unfortunate. They were good soldiers. Good knights—though I can’t say I’ll miss either of them, the pair of arrogant gits that they were.”

Yasuri snorted. He’d been with the Winged Blades long enough to know how their commander behaved when losing men.

“We’ll burn offerings,” she continued, “to the gods that their souls might find their way to the Evermore Groves. But when we get back. For now—put them from your mind—we have work to do.”

“Yes, Commander,” Jon said with a nod.

She boarded the ship, her men behind her, and stalked up to the heir who finally made her way onto the deck. “Princess.” The girl, still weeping, glanced up at her. “You’re not safe. I offer my protection and the hospitality of the Order of the Purging Flame, should you accept it.”

The girl seemed so timid. She looked to her handmaids. The cat eye gave her a subtle nod. “Very well,” she said through her sniffing and sobbing. “I thank you, Lady Knight.”

She gave the princess a firm nod, then turned to her men. “Get the rest of those people on this ship. She bellowed to the sailors to make ready for open waters. They looked at her, and she could see the insolence in their gazes. They didn’t belong on this ship. Where had they come from? They weren’t Mikuman—not dressed like that.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Nara.” she said, an eyebrow raised. She gestured with her chin to an older man near the foredeck. “Are you a refugee?” The young woman giggled and Liandra’s gaze found her scimitar. “Cause any trouble on this ship, and I will throw you overboard.”

Without waiting for a response, she sauntered away from the little fool. Never mind. Perhaps the captain had found them to help with the voyage. Some of them were inspecting the sails and lines as it was, so Liandra ignored them.

Right now, she had more important things to worry about.