A soldier cried from the forest’s edge. “General! I have a message! General! Gener-”

What is it?

He stiffened. “W-w-what was that? Show yourself!”

Did no one tell you? Really?

The soldier aimed his crossbow between the trees. “Foul creature! I am not afraid of your tricks!”

Just relax, will you? I’ll be there in a minute, along with-

“Coming to kill me, are you? Well, you won’t find me to be an easy morsel!”

The young soldier heard something stomping through the brush. Pointing his weapon in the direction of the sound, the man saw something glinting from the underbrush. With a shout, he pulled the trigger, letting the bolt fly. The next moment, he recognised the figure the armoured figure – it was the General’s brother, John.

“Watch out!” He screamed, knowing it was too late.

He saw the projectile plunge into the knight’s chest, and the soldier slumped to the ground. “What have I done?”

He heard someone clear their throat and the soldier looked up to see John, still standing, with a wry smile on his face. “Wha? How?”

The knight shrugged. “It’s because I can make it so that the things that touch me don’t actually touch me. So don’t worry, man! All is well!”

The soldier whipped his head around as he heard another voice come from above him.

“John, what have I said about explaining things? Look at the poor thing, he looks so confused he doesn’t know up from down!” The General dropped from the sky, landing in front of him. She paused, looking thoughtful. “James, right?”

The soldier was too dumbfounded to do anything but nod.

With a smile, Jane continued. “Sorry about my brother, he is just so, so ridiculously bad at explaining things. He’s fine, but are you alright? You just dropped to the ground…”

“He’s just a little scared.” Someone whispered, from right behind him. James whipped his head around, letting out a small shriek of surprise.

Patrick grinned mischievously. “See?”

The soldier’s arm started itching like crazy, just as he heard yet another person.

“You’re the ones scaring him half to death! He doesn’t know what’s going on!”

James felt someone pull him to his feet. Angus clapped him on the back, giving him a charming smile.

The soldier stuttered. “Th-thank you. What… what are you? How is he still walking? I shot him with a crossbow! And where’d the General come from? How did she fall from the sky?”

Angus shook his head. “Don’t worry about that, James! Just relax. Tea?”

The man held out a delicate teacup, the tea inside steaming as if it was freshly made.

James shivered. “What’s happening? Have I gone insane? Has the-”

“James, you’re a soldier! Act like one! Now, tell me what you came here to tell me.”

The familiarity of the General’s orders managed to remind the soldier of his purpose, and he managed to resist scratching his arm.. “It’s the noble families, Ma’am. They… they’re fighting for the throne!”