Windy says "So, other than taking care of Lizzy, what are my duties?"

"Other than taking care of Lizzy, for now, all you have to do is help with Ekard."

Windy says "That's it? Really?"

"Yeah, why? What were you expecting?"

Windy says "I don't know."

"Don't underestimate how much work taking care of Ekard can be. Especially when he gets hyper."

Windy says "I don't mind that, he's adorable!

"Later, I will teach you how to fight so you can protect yourself. For now, that is all you need to worry about."

Windy says "Okay! Just one last question."

"Sure, ask away."

Windy says "Do you always eat like this? I've never tasted anything this good in my life!"

Lizzy says "Haha! Yes, we always eat like this."

Ekard says "Good food!"

For the rest of the day we make our way south following the border. When we stop for the night I am glad to see that Windy starts taking care of Lizzy on her own. A full day of riding has left her extremely tired, but she doesn't let that stop her from doing her job.

Surprisingly, there hasn't been a single complaint from Windy, not what I expected. Since she is a princess I expected a lot more whining, or at least a refusal to do menial labor. Who would have thought that she would turn out to be a hard worker who doesn't complain at all?

It may have been a whim to bring her along, but it seems like I won't end up regretting it after all. When we go to sleep, she cuddles up with Ekard and Lizzy with no sign of fear at all. It makes me happy, since Lizzy will be properly taken care of even when I am busy or not around.

In the morning, after breakfast, we resume our journey and it doesn't take us long to find the army. The border with the empire does not have a wall, just markers showing where the border is. The only exception to that is on the road that goes into the empire, it has a border fort on either side.

Mercy's army is camped not too far from that border fort on either side of the road. Or at least the human elements are, I can't actually see any of the beastmen at the moment. When the soldiers spot me they welcome me warmly and direct me to Mercy without me asking.

When I arrive outside the tent it causes enough commotion for the occupants to hear it and come outside. Along with Mercy and Mericel, there is Zamart, Alexa, Alannis, and Leonarr. At first they have happy expressions on their faces, but they turn to shock when I help Windy down.

Mericel yells "So cute!!!"

Zamart chuckles and says "Collected another one?"

Leonarr says "She isn't a beastman, she is a mana beast!"

Mercy says "What?!"

Windy says "That's right, I am a mana beast. Hello, my name is Windy."

"Windy, this is Queen Mercy, Princess Mericel, Royal Mage Zamart, Alexa is the commander of the army, that is her sister Alannis, and this is Leonarr captain of my beastmen."

Zamart says "Ash, where did you find an intelligent mana beast?"

"Oh, I had an errand to run in the north. I found her and her clan there, they were in a bit of trouble."

Mercy says "In the north, as in beyond the wall?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Alexa says "There are clans of intelligent mana beasts beyond the wall?!"

"It would seem so."

Mercy says "How many?"

"I only know of two. Windy?"

Windy says "As far as I know there are over a dozen. At least that is what one of the human merchants told me."

Zamart says "There are human merchants that visit you?"

Windy says "Yes, quite a few of them in fact. Their caravans would come by once or twice a year."

Alexa says "No merchant has passed the wall. They must be from the empire."

Windy says "No, some are from the kingdom."

Alannis says "They probably bribed their way past the wall."

Mercy says "Alexa?"

Alexa says "I will look into it after we are done with the empire."

"Are you worried about a security risk, or missed taxes?"

Mercy says "Taxes." Alexa says "Security!" and Zamart says "Both!"

The three different simultaneous responses make me bust up laughing. They each look at each other for a minute before they join in the laughter. At the same time I notice that Mericel has snuck over and is whispering with Windy.

"Mericel, why don't you help Windy with Lizzy while we talk strategy?"

Mericel jumps then says "Okay, sure!"

Mercy smiles and then leads everyone else back inside the tent with me following. Upon entering the tent I am drawn to the map which shows the troop positions and numbers. My beastmen are camped further away from the border, probably to keep them hidden.

On the empire's side, they are also camped back away from the border. However, from the markers I can tell they outnumber Mercy's forces about two to one. While the empire is much bigger than the kingdom, it is still only one duke facing us, not the whole empire.

"How come Duke Sevaris has so many troops?"

Alexa says "Only about a quarter of them are his actual troops. The rest are hired or conscripted."

"That must have taken a massive amount of wealth."

Zamart says "Yes it did. Which is why he is so unwilling to back down."

Mercy says "He is determined to fight, we are in trouble."

"Relax, I have a plan!"

Mercy says "Oh, no!"

Zamart says "Ash, we are trying to figure a way out of this situation, not make it worse."

Alexa says "If it comes to it, we can win. The problem is the state we would be in after it was finished."

"You won't even have to fight. Sevaris will go running home to try and protect his lands."

Mercy says "Protect his lands from what?"

Since that is the question I was waiting for I give Mercy a smile before activating my shapeshift. They all look confused as I am shrouded by light, but it quickly turns to looks of shock. As I stand there looking like a young drake not a single one of them can manage to say a word.

"This should be a pretty good disguise, right?"

Leonarr says "Your Majesty!" and kneels before me with a look of awe on his face.

Zamart actually clutches his chest and staggers into a chair, he doesn't look so good. While the others are still frozen in shock I move over and touch Zamart with a claw. Instead of just using a healing spell I use my sacred power to scan his body.

As I scan him I fix all sorts of things that I find, including a weak valve in his heart. By the time I run out of power I have restored most of his organs and cells. Even though he is over a hundred, his internals now resemble those of someone in their forties.

Zamart says "What? Why do I suddenly feel so amazing? Ash, what did you just do?"