The Highroad

Shiro watches as the rest of the party go about business in Father Goodwell's hidden chamber as if this were a daily occurrence for them. The Commander and Leopold went with the Father to a table in the center of the room covered in maps and parchment while Harold and Francis went to separate walls opening cabinets to select concealable weapons to fit their respective fighting styles. 

None of this seemed right to Shiro, it was understandable that the Holy Kingdom viewed the other nations as enemies but  having a spy contact sequestered in a church felt......wrong. Not knowing what else to do Shiro went over to the table.

"And as you can see all reports indicate that any soldier that can be spared is being rerouted to cordon off Dawnwall in case we should make a push after that victory. Leaving this route here' Father Goodwell breaks off his speech to trace a curving route from the north of  Abigar to another mark on the map 'It will take you through the deep woods but, well, since the temple is the heart of the deep woods there is no helping it." "Deep Woods?" Shiro asks hesitantly, the others nod and Leopold fills him in "around each seal location is a particularly nasty section of terrain. In this case the Deep Woods known for uncommonly aggressive fauna." 

The priest takes up the explanation "The official teaching about these areas from the Saintly texts say it is a warping of nature as the evil of the demonesses seeps out of the seals. The Elves posit that the effect is from the seal itself disrupting the local flow of mana and magic." 

"Regardless' The Commander interjects 'it creates a hazard for us and the elves. The Elves have solved it by creating a network of bridges that go from tree to tree, and we need to decide if we want to risk capture by the elves on their canopy roads or tangling with the wildlife on on the forest floor." 

Everyone turns towards Shiro at this last comment. The expectant looks remind Shiro of how many family arguments back home had turned into not just a test of problem solving but also family politics with the wrong choice meaning grudges and hurt feelings for weeks.

Though this time, Shiro supposed, it could be the choice between life and death. After a long moment of consideration Shiro spoke "Which would you recommend Commander? I am leaning towards the Elven roads due to all this talk about their forces being elsewhere but I have only been in this world for not long so I find myself at the mercy of others more versed in these things." Was  that a flicker of annoyance behind the Commander's eyes? Hard to tell with that mask, but Shiro had made his choice and hoped it was the right one.

 Commander Wildingmonte nodded then replied "the Elven roads it is,' turning to Father Goodwell 'you understand the paperwork we need then?" The priest nodded and went to a desk and pulled out several packets of paper work, "Looks like I should have enough documents for all of you to pass as traders from the East, taking the overland route through the Holy Kingdom and out into the far lands." he hand s a portion of the packet to each of the men in the room before turning to a wardrobe and retrieving garments in a different cut and style than anything Shiro had seen so far. 

A thought crosses Shiro's mind "What about Lily? Does she need some documents as well?" The Priest looks at him as if he was spouting some childish question the looks at the Commander "He cannot mean that you are taking that Defiler wench with you to save the world?" Shiro bites the words he wants to say  about the priest's mother down and instead says "She is a capable healer and what better penance can a defiler achieve than helping the Summoned Hero save the world?" the priest sighs and pulls a tattered garment from the closet, then trades it for Shiro's documents "Go ahead and take that to her while I add a slave to your travel documents, I would also not expect to much more from her healing abilities if I were you." Goodwell makes a shooing motion, forestalling any more words from Shiro.

Another half an hour of outfitting and document changes had the party leaving the church. The new cut of clothes were generally possessed more flow than kingdom garments, with the exception of Lily's new outfit which was little more than a repurposed sack. 

The Commander, who had a million and one mannerisms to make him look like the career officer he was even out of armor and uniform, started walking the group to the edge of town. "Excuse me Commander,' Shiro piped up, this time Wildingmonte did not bother to hide his annoyance at the hero, taking a timid approach Shiro asked 'Shouldn't we wait a while to leave? If we are indeed trying to not draw attention leaving now seems counter to that goal." The Commander gives Shiro a 'you have got to be kidding me look' before saying "We do not know how long we have before they decide to restore normal patrols and checkpoints, therefore, speed is just as needful as stealth and we have wasted enough time in this town as is." With a crisp heel turn he walks off.

Lily had watched the exchange and as the walk leans over to whisper in Shiro's ear "You are tired already?" She asks in the tone of voice used by mothers who know the answer. Shiro nods sheepishly, the walking to get to Abigar had taken more out of his barely restored body than he wanted to admit. "It will be fine though,' He says 'if I read the maps right we should be able to make one or two more towns before night fall." 
Lily hoped Shiro had read the maps right.

The next night
Shiro sat on the bar stool of the inn the were sheltering at for the night. Even after he had worked up the nerve to let the Commander know that the pace was punishing Commander Wildingmonte slowed it down to a merely brutal march. At least the elves had good public planning and these rest stations were reasonably spaced.
Unfortunately the fatigue made his mind wander to the past:

Family and friends mill about the rented space supposedly to celebrate Shiro's test scores granting a full ride to the top pick university, in actuality it was a chance for everyone's parent's try one upping each other with their offspring's achievements. As always she was crammed into uncomfortably tailored trousers and suit jacket.

Shiro jerked awake as the Commander sat next to him, 'Damn' Shiro thought, 'gonna have to ask Lily top take a look at me in case I am getting feverish.' In the mean time he looked long and hard at the Commander. There had been an argument between Father Goodwell and the Commander about face coverings that had ended with the Commander losing and having to take off his signature mask. Underneath the features were chiseled and fierce, with no marks of mirth or joy to be seen anywhere. His body was well muscled and, if Shiro had been into it, would have been very conventionally attractive.

Taking a gamble Shiro opened his mouth "Do you not like me Com-' A sharp look from him reminds Shiro that they are supposed to avoid things that could mark them as military 'Charlie' he corrects himself 'it would be understandable after all, an untried, untested newcomer being showered in all the accolades that should be given to those who have actually put in the work. Not sure what I could do to change it except desert, and I get the sense that if I am right on why you hate me, you would make it a personal quest to haul me back for execution." 

Charlie leans in close to Shiro's ear and whispers "I dislike you because you are a security to everything the Holy Kingdom is and will be. You put your neck out time and again for that trollop, every battle you are in puts not just the reputation of the kingdom at risk but the lives of better men than you. And you are right, if you disappear on your I will hunt you down to prevent our enemies from using you against us. The only thing keeping me from knifing you in your sleep is my honor and the fact that it would be the overall result would be the same as if you had deserted. So I am going to enjoy my drink now and try to tolerate your ugly face before turning in." 

He turns away and Shiro sits there stunned at the venom Comm- Charlie had spoken with. 

Unfortunately from behind Shiro came a voice riddled with alcohol "Well look here boys, a lovely pair of round ears. Guess we gonna have to teach them that Dawnwall was a fluke!"