As they flew, Evelyn further explained the plan to Adam. “It will take about a day for word to get to the army about us joining them. We are going to land nearby and wait so that they know we are coming beforehand.”

Adam nodded in understanding: “We don't want them attacking us, after all. The army is near the border, which is very far from Heider city. Did they say how they were going to pass word on so fast?”

Evelyn nodded. “They have birds trained to send messages fast. While we are with the army, the most important thing to remember is that you and I are not to Dragon-form unless we feel it absolutely necessary. The less others know about our secrets, the better.”

Off in the distance, the three could already see the large army camped in a part of the forest they had cleared. Adam pointed down into a spot in the forest. “Let's wait there. I imagine they would receive word of us by tomorrow evening, so let's wait until then.”

Heinrich headed down in the direction Adam pointed out. There they stayed until the next evening. Before the sun had set, Heinrich once again took off with Adam and Evelyn and flew directly above the army. Looking down they could see soldiers looking up while exclaiming and shouting! Luckily, they didn't seem to be preparing to attack them. Not that they could do much to Heinrich while he was in the air, but it at least seemed that word had indeed reached the army of their arrival.

Looking for a spot to land, Heinrich saw a small clearing. There, someone was waiving up at them with a big red flag, as though he was trying to tell them to land there! Heinrich veered in and landed.

When they landed, the young man who had been waiving the flag hesitantly approached. “We have been expecting your arrival. The generals should be on their way over as we speak.”

Evelyn and Adam disembarked from Heinrich. Adam looked at the young man and said: “Thank you.”

The young man was too dazed to respond. The attire and appearance of both Adam and Evelyn were just as surprising as Heinrich's form as a dragon to the young man!

A group of military personnel that were finely dressed quickly approached from some lavish looking tents. An older man looking to be in his fifties led the front. He said with a wide grin: “Welcome! We have been expecting your arrival!”

Evelyn tried to be formal and polite: “We have come to assist your army in its defense against enemy dragons and the threat from the northern kingdoms.”

The man introduced himself: “I am General Winters. I am the head commander of this army! Behind me are my lower Generals and advisers. We all thank you for coming to aide us. I believe your name was Evelyn and you call your dragon Heinrich?”

Evelyn nodded: “Yes.”

General Winters then turned his attention to Adam. “May I ask who you might be?”

“My name is Adam. I am a travel companion to Evelyn. I too will assist if the northern army proves to have any dragons, but I will not personally assist in any of your war efforts.”

General Winters was a little put off from Adam's introduction. It was great to get more assistance, but Adam was not actually offering assistance for the war. Still, with Adam being a companion to Evelyn, General Winters did not dare to be dismissive of him. “Well, thank you for coming as well.”

Changing the subject, Winters took in Heinrich's form with his eyes twinkling with wonder. Under his breath, but just loud enough to be heard, he said: “If only you could teach our spiritualists how to tame a dragon such as this. Our kingdoms would never have to worry again!”

Evelyn shook her head: “It is impossible to teach others how to tame a dragon. One can only know how to do it if they were destined to...”

A flash of disappointment appeared on General Winters face before quickly disappearing. He then beckoned with his arm out to a large tent nearby. “We have prepared some accommodations for you. This clearing was also prepared specially for Heinrich. Whatever other requests you have about your lodging or food, we will do our best answer.”

Evelyn could only find the words “Thank you.” to respond.

Adam spoke up: “It can be just a normal soldier's tent, but can I get a separate one set up nearby?”

General Winters looked at Adam. “Hm? Oh, of course!”

The army recruited both male and female volunteers, but they were never put in the same tent together for some obvious reasons. General Winters had only assumed Evelyn was coming and had only prepared the one tent for her. It would be entirely inappropriate and give the wrong impression if Adam just stayed in the same tent as Evelyn!

General Winters ordered a man to go retrieve a good tent to be brought over for Adam. He then turned back to them: “Supper will be ready soon and will be brought over here for you. As for Heinrich, we could roast up some extra meat we had hunted if that suits him?”

At this point Heinrich leaned his head in and gave an enthusiastic nod! This horribly frightened General Winters! He had been speaking to Evelyn at the time, but it appeared that Heinrich had actually understood him and even responded! Wiping a small bead of sweat off his forehead from the surprise, he said: “I hadn't realize that you could understand us. It will take a little while, but we will prepare some good roast for you!”

After another enthusiastic nod from Heinrich, General Winters turned back to Evelyn. "Tomorrow we can go over the specifics of how you might possibly help us and our plans for if dragons appear from the northern army.”

Evelyn nodded: “I will see you tomorrow then.”

General Winters and the others departed, leaving Adam and Evelyn with Heinrich. Evelyn breathed out a long breath. Adam said: “You don't have to be so nervous. It is the general that should be nervous of you! You are stronger than any one of the spiritualists he has in the army and you can leave any time you please! You are not apart of his army, you are just helping.”

Evelyn shook her head: “I don't like thinking like that. If I am here to help, I should genuinely try to help and follow his orders! Only...”

Heinrich also spoke up: “I will do all the heavy lifting. You don't have to do anything in the war. If you do not want to fight, don't!”

Evelyn sighed: “I still feel like I want to do something though. I don't want to just sit around. Maybe I can help nurse the wounded!”

Adam shook his head: “I don't want to disillusion you, but the soldiers will get more than just some nicks and cuts. They will have deep gashes, severed limbs, even wounds where their organs are falling out! Are you prepared to deal with any of that?”

“Then what am I supposed to do!? Just sit!?”

Adam shrugged. “I noticed that there was a town to the north. If the army is going to be fighting anywhere around here, that town might get caught in the crossfire! I plan to go there an ensure that it isn't pillaged during the fighting. You can help me with that, if you want.”

Evelyn was shocked. “Would the soldiers really do that!?”

Adam nodded: “Some would, if given the chance. I had once believed in the goodness of my own kingdom to only see the soldiers of that kingdom pillage and rape a city that they had recently taken over!”

Evelyn's face paled with fright and her eyes dotted out to the army encampment surrounding them. Adam said: “Don't put too much worry in your heart. Most of the soldiers here are good people. The war just changes them in the heat of the moment. They aren't ravening wolves looking to strike at you the moment you show a weakness.”

Evelyn could only shake her head. After hearing Adam talk, she liked war and fighting even less than she had before. She didn't even know that was possible, until now!

A nice tent was brought over for Adam. It was nicer than a common soldier's tent, but not nearly as lavish as Evelyn's. Adam didn't mind at all and was pleased with it. Not long after a couple simple soldiers helped erect the tent, a few more brought their dinner over. The meal wasn't anything luxurious, but it was a step up from what Adam was expecting. Most soldiers got very simple rations while out in the field, though officers tended to get more lavish meals. It seemed they were getting quite the officer treatment.

The next morning, breakfast was delivered in much the same fashion. After they were done eating, Adam and Evelyn headed over to General Winter's tent. While Adam was not going to directly help the army, he still needed to know their plans for if enemy dragons attacked. He was also interested in their battle plans and if that town up north was going to be caught in the battlefield.

Heinrich was a little miffed to be left behind, but he was far too big to fit over where General Winters' tent was.,

There were two soldiers standing just outside the tent, as Adam and Evelyn approached. Adam spoke to them: “We would like to meet with General Winters and go over some battle plans.”

General Winters heard them from inside and shouted out: “Let them in!”

The soldiers stood aside as Adam and Evelyn walked in. Inside the tent, General Winters sat a desk in a corner. He was going over a few documents. In the center of the tent, a large war table was placed that had a map of the area and various figures placed on it.

Winters stood up from his desk and said: “Welcome. You are ready to go over the details of our plans?”

Evelyn nodded and said: “Yes.”

With a gesture, Winters invited them over to the war table. “First, let me clarify the situation here. These figures here are our army. These figures further north, are the northern army. Tensions between us are reaching a head and I am expecting the order to initiate our first offensive soon! The place of the battlefield could be anywhere in between our two armies. I have many plans set up for different areas.”

Adam pointed down at a location on the map. “This town here, is it going to be caught in the crossfire between the armies?”

Winters sighed. “Yes. That is the town of Vielen. It has sat along the border between Heider and Luxom for many years. Ownership of the town has also constantly switched between them. As it stands, it is definitely possible that the town will get swept up in this battle, but there is nothing to do about it!”

“Why not?” Adam asked.

“With the town being on the border, its residents are an intermingling of the two different kingdoms. Most of them have ancestry to both kingdoms now! If either one tries to evacuate the town, it will be seen as taking citizens from the other kingdom! Not only that, if the town tried to evacuate on their own they will be seen as defectors by the other kingdom! It is also too likely that there are spies hidden among the residents. Even if they did try to evacuate on their own, neither side would accept them for fear of allowing spies past!”

Adam shook his head and muttered “Ridiculous.”

General Winters did not refute the statement. He then started to go over some general details of his plans. The way the army would retreat if dragons appeared and how Evelyn and Heinrich might best assist them.

Winters continued: “We actually have around one hundred spiritualists stationed in this army! Evelyn, I would recommend meeting some of them and discuss attack patterns to see how you could best fit in!”

Evelyn suddenly looked a little downcast. Timidly she said: “I am sorry General, but I will not be personally joining your war efforts.”

Shock was displayed on Winters' face. He quickly calmed down and asked. “Ah, my report had said you and Heinrich were going to assist us... I am sorry if I have spoken out of line.”

Evelyn shook her head: “I believe Heinrich will help you. He is the one who wanted to join the war, more than just help you defend against other dragons.”

Winters only went: “Ah, hmm... Sergeant! Get a table set up over by the dragon Heinrich! I need to brief him on some of my plans!”

A table was set up next to Heinrich and only a simple map was brought forth for Winters to explain his plan. Evelyn stood by Heinrich's side to act as an intermediary so that he could deliberate with Winters. Winters was continually impressed with Heinrich's intelligence. He had previously only thought of dragons as beasts, with lower intelligence to match! Heinrich, however, almost seemed human!

Adam stayed off to the side, not paying too much attention to their discussion. He looked out over the army. In truth, it was the first time he had seen an encampment such as this. Back when he had temporarily joined the Heider army, he had only seen a small portion of it through his elemental sight. Now he could see the army for as far as his eyes could see. It was a veritable sea of men and equipment positioned for the sole purpose of war!

Adam thought to himself: “I wonder how big this war is going to be. How many of the people here will actually make it back home...”

Two days passed in the camp. Tension rose in the camp as they all felt as though the war would surely start the next day. If it did not start, it put even more expectation that it would start the day after that. Everyone was expecting it, many were even hoping for it! This war that would only serve to slaughter the lives of the various kingdoms' men.

Late into the evening of the second day, Adam awoke in his tent. Adam had an immediate sensation: “Something is wrong!”