While most of the road from Tosa to the Halffle Inn had been scenic countryside with rolling hills, great lakes, and heavily wooded areas, Trevor started seeing less and less of that the further they got. That wasn’t to say the scenery wasn’t great. It was, there was just more signs of civilization.

At first, the villages and hamlets they passed through were dozens of miles apart. They were exactly what Trevor thought a medieval fantasy settlement would look like, minus a few buildings here and there that were obviously influenced by Summoned people.

As the day dragged on and Adabelle’s etiquette lesson only lasted an hour or two, which was not what he mentally prepared himself for, the villages started to be divided by only four or five miles. Most were surrounded by fields, while some that were larger had inns, blacksmiths, and other necessities. The playing children often waved as the wagon rolled by, the adults seemed to take it as yet another pair of tourists heading for the festival.

They traveled from sun up to nearly sun down by the time they got their first glimpse of their destination.

The castle was the first part of the city that Trevor could see from the distance, and it was like something out of a fairy tale. White stone walls sparkled in the sunset, though not to a degree that it was blinding. Black roofing made for an interesting contrast. The main structure was tall with five towers, one on each corner and the tallest in the center. Several turrets rested on these towers along with hazardous looking walkways between them.

Around the castle, just above where the towers began, was the halo from Jackson’s painting. It glowed bright yellow and looked like a slim disc from here to the point where Trevor wouldn’t have known that it was a magic circle if he hadn’t been told beforehand.

Adabelle smiled at his reaction and took the reins so that he could gawk all he wanted, and although he was willing to keep driving he really didn’t want to miss out.

It turned out to be for the best, anyway, because once they were closer to the city she turned off the main road onto one that was less traveled. It didn’t look like it was in good condition, but the ride was smooth despite appearances. Trevor didn’t mind this view as he could see the walls in all their splendor. They were made of the same white stone as the castle, and were covered in crenellations all the way around.

The path they had taken led to a single gate far from the main road. It was set into the wall, which was taller here than in other places he had seen, and thus hard to notice from most angles. Two men emerged from a guardhouse that had been built into the stone, a human and an orc that each wore armor with a sword at their hip. As Adabelle stopped the wracors in front of them, they bowed.

“Lady Adabelle,” the older of the two men greeted. The human’s hair was snow white, though his mustache was still salt and pepper. When he smiled, his face lit up despite his wrinkles. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Sir Aelius, the pleasure is mine,” Adabelle greeted in return before bowing to the younger man. “And squire Jarric, if I remember correctly?”

“Yes, my lady,” the younger man said. He seemed more interested in making sure his armor was perfectly presented than greeting a noble, but he was still polite.

“I travel with Trevor Anderson, recently summoned to this world, and we are to see the king at his earliest convenience with news and a gift,” she continued. Sir Aelius was about to open his mouth to say something when she produced a rolled up scroll. “Yes, it is short notice, and it is just before the festival, but I believe he will be interested.”

The man set his jaw and took the scroll, unrolling it and reading it to himself. Jarric nonchalantly attempted to look over the man's shoulder, but his mentor simply turned so that he couldn’t.

“Mayor Jackson, huh?” Aelius eventually said. Sighing, he rolled up the scroll and handed it back to Adabelle before motioning towards the gate. Jarric ran back into the guard house. “Very well. Lady Adabelle, Mister Trevor, you may pass through. Give this to Lady Lailah when you see her and she’ll take care of everything.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Sir Aelius,” Lady Adabelle said as the gate started to open.

“You are welcome, my dear, and I hope you both enjoy the festival,” he returned.

With a few more words of niceties as the gate opened, Adabelle set the wracors in motion once they had the room. To Trevor’s surprise, it didn’t lead directly into the walls but to an incline. They started going under the city through a magically lit tunnel.

“So, this is some kind of secret entrance?”

Adabelle nodded. “This leads directly under the castle, and is used by nobles and foreign dignitaries who don’t want to take the streets. Trust me, they are packed this time of year.”

“I believe you. And, do you come around Eskretet often?” Trevor asked. “Sir Aelius knew you on sight.”

“Well, I’m not exactly someone who can keep a low profile,” she responded. “After all, how many other noble born women with a split horn have you seen?

“Oh, I’m sure they’re all over the place,” he said sarcastically. “They’ve just been hiding them from me. One per Summoned, I’ve heard.”

“Trevor, are you implying that I’m yours?”

“No, no,” he stuttered quickly. “I’m just- I mean- What I meant was-“

Adabelle started laughing and looked back to see the shock on his face. “I know you’re just joking, calm down,” she said lightly before returning her eyes forward. “I trained some of the guards here a few years back, and trained with some of the knights. Because of my storied history in my original world, they thought I would make a good teacher. Got a few quests out of it, too.”

“You’re that good with a sword?” he asked. “Not doubting you or anything. I just haven’t had to see you use it, thankfully.”

“Feel free to doubt, but you’ll see it soon enough,” she claimed, excitement welling up in her voice. “I have a good feeling about this year.”

“Like, dueling-wise or?”

“Yes, as in dueling,” Adabelle confirmed. “The last two years I had people request duels, but there hadn’t been any challenges. Some glory-seekers, but no one who really wowed me. You know? Something’s different this year, I can feel it in the air.”This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Well, whatever it is, I hope it focuses squarely on you and doesn’t decide to challenge me to a duel,” Trevor chuckled nervously. “I will be cheering for you on the sidelines. Except that I’ll really just be watching passively and congratulating you when you’re done.”

“I do appreciate your candor, Mister Trevor,” Adabelle said.

“Ugh, is that going to stick?” he grumbled. “Please tell me we’re not about to go into a place where everyone’s going to refer to me that way.”

“Not everyone, no,” she said, laughing.

The tunnel widened into a large underground cavern. Several wagons had already been parked here, and Trevor could pick out signs of wracor activity. The dark stone surrounding them ended with a transition to white, and stairs leading up to a fancy looking building at the far end. Men started coming out to take care of their transportation, and Adabelle stepped down once they did.

Trevor grabbed their packs and followed her as she headed towards the building. He trusted that she knew where to go and that the men would know what to do with the wagons. They entered to see an elven woman sitting behind a desk and an elevator directly behind her. Adabelle spoke first.

“Lady Lailah,” she greeted, bowing. “It’s a pleasure to see you, as always.”

The woman looked up from the desk, her icy blue eyes locking onto the newcomers. Her face was stern, and her chestnut brown hair was tied up in a tight bun. Even Trevor, one who did not pay much attention to fashion, could see that the clothes she wore were top of the line.

A smile broke what he thought was an intense demeanor, and she stood up to walk around her desk. Trevor noticed the sword she wore now that she was standing, and the woman immediately embraced Adabelle.

“It’s good to see you, sister of mine,” she said, and the young man recognized her thick accent as Scottish. Adabelle whispered something, and the elf nodded.

But that’s not what he focused on. “Sister?” Trevor couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Sword sister. We used to adventure before Lailah decided to settle down,” Adabelle explained as she pulled away.

Lailah let go of Adabelle and rounded on Trevor. He flinched back as her face was inches away from his, and she took on that same stern look. He became aware of that familiar dangerous aura he had only felt from Summoned before, and he steeled himself.

“Hmm, I see,” the elf said, narrowing her eyes.

Trevor looked over at Adabelle, but she was staring at the elevator. He couldn’t help but notice her ears twitching, and he looked back at Lailah. This had been the first time he had seen someone greet his horned friend with more than a bow, not counting Wayne and Rashie, and figured she must be someone important. So he stood up straight before bowing.

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” he said, trying to keep his voice from wilting in her icy stare. “My name is Trevor Anderson. I’m-“

“American?” Lailah interrupted.

“Uh, yes, ma’am. I’m-”

“Just like that no good cowboy, Wayne.”

“I wouldn’t say-“ He had to stop himself from letting out an involuntary laugh as the elven woman poked him in the stomach. Trevor wasn’t wearing armor like Adabelle, and Lailah would have felt the resistance of muscles from his enhanced Strength. Not sure what to do, he stood up straight and waited.

“I see,” Lailah repeated as she started walking around the young man. He swallowed, desperately trying to catch Adabelle’s eye, but the other woman now seemed fixated on the desk. The elf poked and prodded him a few more times in the arm, leg, and back of the head.

“I’m sorry, but is there a purpose to this?” Trevor eventually asked.

“You’re a poor adventurer,” Lailah stated. “Your body may be honed, but you are not well trained.”

“That’s because I’m not an adventurer, I’m a courier,” Trevor scoffed, causing the woman to freeze. “I take things from one place to another.”

“I know what a courier is.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

“Do you have any ambitions to becoming one?”

“I’m already a courier, so, my ambitions have already been met.”

Lailah frowned. “Do you have any ambitions to becoming an adventurer.”

“No, ma’am. I’m just a courier,” he reiterated, glancing back at Adabelle ignoring them.

“Just a courier?” she asked, her eyes somehow becoming even more narrow.

“Just a courier.”

“So you only level up doing courier quests?” Lailah asked. “Not fighting, or saving people, or defending a lady’s honor?”

“Of course, ma’am. Though I’m not sure what that last one has to do with the first two,” he said. “Everyone has a right to their honor. I don’t see why you would need a quest in order to defend someone, as that’s just the right thing to do.”

“I see.”

“I’m glad, ma’am.”

Silence stretched out before Lailah started laughing. She turned on her heel, grabbed Adabelle’s hand, and started pulling the other woman towards the elevator. “Come on, you two,” she said jovially. “Let’s get Trevor up to his room.”

Confused, Trevor slowly followed, watching the two women step onto the wooden platform. Adabelle looked back and beckoned him towards them, and he hurried a little faster.

“We’re here to see the king,” Adabelle said, seemingly intent on ignoring whatever that had been. She retrieved the scroll and gave it to the elf.

“And the festival, I know,” Lailah said before taking the scroll. She placed her other hand on a lever and pushed it downwards. “Something from Jackson, I imagine?”

“Check it out.”

Lailah did, unfurling it as the elevator began to rise. She read through it quickly, her eyes widening with every line, before she pulled Adabelle in for a half-hug. “Mayor!” the elf exclaimed loudly. “Congrats, sister. That’s huge news!”

“Thank you, Lailah,” the demonkin replied before gently extricating herself. “I know you’ve got enough pull for us to see his majesty tomorrow, though I’m sure just throwing Jackson’s name around would have done it as well.”

Raising her hand, Lailah nodded. “Consider it done.”

Trevor watched the exchange, noting how different Adabelle was around the people she knew and trusted than she was the regular folk. It was good to see her let her hair down, so to speak, and he found himself smiling at their backs. This was the kind of camaraderie he had expected between those who fought side by side.

The elevator was going through a round vertical tunnel with doorways on almost every side as they rode upwards. Each door was closed, but they were clearly labeled with what floor it was on and where it led to.

They traveled upwards to the fourth floor before Lailah stopped the elevator and opened the door labeled “Ambassador Wing.” On the other side was a young woman in a bright dress, who turned to look inside the shaft.

“Take Trevor here to the Jackson Suite,” the elf ordered. “Make sure his every need is taken care of.”

“Right away, Lady Lailah,” the woman said, bowing. “Sir Trevor, if you’ll follow me.”

“Oh, just Trevor is fine,” he said, stepping out. “And they have a whole suite named after Jackson? That’s neat.” When he noticed that neither of the women were following him, he turned around.

“Make yourself comfortable, Trevor,” Adabelle said with a smile.

“Yeah, we’re going drinking and talk about you behind your back,” the elf said, grinning before holding up two fingers. “Peace, messenger boy!”

Trevor watched as Lailah shut the door and the sound of the elevator leaving slowly diminished. “Okay, what?” he asked, not expecting an answer.

“Are you coming, sir?” the young woman asked, a little further down the hall.

“Yeah, sorry, I guess I am,” Trevor replied before he began following her to where he was staying.