"Take time to think, but when the time

for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in!"



Even though everyone knew the consequences of breaking the rule that categorically prohibited looting, it happened that someone reached out every now and then, and in that case, Daemon had no mercy in carrying out his threats.

Anyone caught stealing risked flogging at best, and if assault, or worse still murder, were added to theft, the destination was straight to the gallows.

The Civil Court which had replaced the arbitrary judgment of the delegate of justice or of the Lord had a commission charged with prosecuting only the crimes committed by members of the army, and no one, from the wingman to the officer, was immune to its authority.

After all, equality before the law and the State was perhaps the aspect of the Revolution on which Daemon had poured and still poured most of his energies.

From the abolition of privileges to that of noble titles, passing through universal access to careers and military ranks, anyone under his government could aspire to reach the top. Ambition, competence and talent had replaced ties of blood, lineage and nepotism to the delight of all those who until then had had no voice.

Naturally, creating an effective network of collaborators and trusted people to whom political, economic and military matters could be delegated without fear was not something that could be done in the blink of an eye, and this meant that there was still a lot to do; especially for those who already held a position of power.

"Why isn't Daemon coming back?" Scalia asked crossly as she paced the command tent. "As soon as the news arrived that Thecla had been captured he left without saying a word, just when we were about to advance."

Adrian, however, was so busy with his work that he didn't even have time to look up, although he continued to maintain a seraphic demeanor.

"I wouldn't worry about it. Trust me, the guys we contacted to help out are people who know what to do."

"But how can you be so calm? We've been here for weeks now. This waiting is killing me."

"Look who's talking. I remind you that I'm the one who has to take on all of his tasks while he's away. All you do is hang around the camp and empty the kitchens. As if we had the money to satisfy the insatiable hunger of that dragon stomach of yours."

"What a dandy. Anyway, I won't let you talk to me like that. For your information, I still haven't forgotten what you did to me, and if it wasn't for Daemon I swear I would have made you pay already."

"Still harping on about that story? It's all over now, you might as well forgive me."

"I wouldn't do it even with a knife to my throat. And to go back to your point earlier, I'm not that greedy."

"Just yesterday you ate five chickens for lunch and the same number for dinner."

"I have to do something to hang out. Seriously, sometimes I just can't understand Daemon. First it seemed like he couldn't wait to fight, then he orders us to stand still and he disappears."

"Instead it was a wise choice. As Commander Ypsilanti's companions confirmed to us, Eirinn's forces have now already received all the reinforcements they needed and taken up positions in a very well defensible area. There's no point in rushing things, especially since reports say neither the Empire nor the Union are moving to assist Eirinn. Much better at this point to stabilize our supply lines and complete recruit training."

"Maybe, but I don't trust those treacherous horses. If I then think that Daemon started that village of centaurs without telling me anything, it still makes me angry."

"That's exactly why he didn't say anything to you and many others."

"Let me guess. You knew it."

"Who do you think found the place to set up the village and spread the word?"

"Centaurs are traitors par excellence. They turned their backs on their brothers when they needed them most, killed them and chased them away. I've heard that in the north there are even ghettos guarded only by centaurs. As far as I'm concerned they are worse than humans."

Adrian shrugged, realizing there was no point in trying to argue.

"The fact remains that thanks to them we now know our enemy better and we have gained precious time. The ban on looting is a noble thing, but it significantly limits our supply options, not to mention the cost to our finances. This forces us to pay our men on time to discourage raids, but we are also required to compensate everything we confiscate. Mary's going crazy trying to make ends meet."

"Don't talk to me about that four-eyed girl with the little girl's face. She acts so innocent, but deep down she's a fox. You don't deal with Borg on equal terms if you don't have a modicum of personality, and I've never seen that pig so submissive as when he argues with her."

"At least she puts in a serious effort and does her best. Which can't be said about you."

The way Scalia reacted to that statement would have scared anyone.

"What did you say?"

"You're acting like a spoiled child. If you're really that bored, you'll be surprised to know that there's so much to do here, so if you're done wasting my time, you might as well go out there and make yourself useful."

It was never a good thing when flames shot from Scalia's clenched teeth and her blue eyes turned red.

"Try saying that again if you dare."

"The truth hurts, doesn't it? Look around. Oldrick, Jack, Septimus. They are all commanders, just like you, and they don't have a moment's rest. Mary practically never leaves her office at the Castle, Borg travels everywhere in search of supplies. And if that's not enough for you, look at the others. Lady Valera takes care of the wounded and sick, Miss Lory cooks day and night to feed our men, the locals, even the orphans that this war is creating. Even Sapi has been making her paws bleed for days digging on the Gael Pass in search of the bodies of our companions. And you're sitting here complaining that you have nothing to do? Or do you think that making a Revolution and leading a State is just slaughtering enemies in battle? Not to mention that you're not exactly the best at that either."

Not even her father had ever spoken to Scalia in this way, and for this very reason the girl soon felt her anger transform into anguish, made even more unbearable by a sort of awareness that prevented her from replying.

"Maybe I was wrong about you after all." Adrian concluded tersely before returning to his work



Overwhelmed by that sense of frustration, Scalia began to wander around the field; as much as she tried to convince herself that Adrian was just an arrogant know-it-all who thought he knew everything about her, a part of her felt enormous shame just reflecting on those words.

She couldn't deny it was true.

Everywhere she turned there was someone busy doing something. It didn't matter whether it was sword practice, bringing food, or even just repairing a torn tent, everyone worked hard, giving their best.

Her wanderings led her to the forest near the village, where she remained sitting with her head bowed on a rock for a long time, not moving even when the sky clouded over and a violent storm broke out.

When she was a slave she worked from day to night until she couldn't stand up due to fatigue, and when she found her freedom it seemed incredible to her that she could finally decide herself what to do and when.

Even once free, she had never considered herself a lazy person, and had tried to make her contribution as far as possible; but perhaps having been accustomed for centuries to only doing what she was ordered to do had ended up preventing her from deciding for herself.

When Daemon had made her commander, she had felt almost relieved to have a purpose, when perhaps she would have only had to look around to find one with her own strength.

Having to admit it made her furious, but maybe Adrian was right; all she knew how to do was fight, and maybe not even that.

Because let's face it, with her superhuman strength and regenerative abilities, did she ever really need to learn how to swing a sword?

Even though she had tried not to think about it since then, she still remembered how it had ended the only time she had been forced to compete with an opponent on equal terms, without being able to count on her skills as a dragon.

A strange sound of footsteps in the thick of the trees attracted her attention, and following it, she soon came to see Athreia who, almost suspiciously, was walking along a path that led away from the camp, constantly looking over her shoulder.

Seeing her, Scalia felt her anger rising again.

Since the day Daemon welcomed her into his circle it was as if everyone had forgotten who she was, or the fact that only a few weeks before they had been enemies.

But if she could still understand the benevolence of humans, she found it disgusting that even other monsters had no problem considering her as their equal.

She was a centaur, for Gaia's sake!

She and her companions probably had more of their people on their conscience than the entire militia of the old province.

Every time she looked at her, she remembered that sadistic torturer who stood guard at the children's enclosure on the reserve where she was born, and who after almost two hundred years still populated her nightmares.

The same one who had left that rod mark on her back, when her powers were not yet developed enough to be able to completely heal such a deep wound.

She didn't trust her. Never, ever would she have done it.

She had heard rumors that she used to disappear for a few hours most days, and that combined with the way she was now prowling around the camp was enough to make Scalia suspect that the mare was up to something.

"You can fool others, certainly not me. Just wait until I find out what you're hiding, and then we'll see if Daemon still trusts you."

So she began to follow her, managing to hide her presence even from the centaur's trained nose, thanks to the rain that was filling the forest with dozens of different smells.

A couple of times Athreia seemed to have the sensation of being followed, but no matter how much she looked back Scalia was careful to stay hidden and managed not to be discovered.

So the centaur continued walking, finally arriving after almost an hour in front of a simple hill of earth surrounded by a circle of stones.

A burial mound.

"Hi, Medea. Sorry I didn't come to see you yesterday, but you have no idea how many things I have to do these days. The noble Daemon has not yet returned, but in the meantime, the others and I are carrying out the task he entrusted to us. Countless centaurs have come here from the village to join the Furies, and more continue to arrive. Even from other nations. Even humans have asked to join our unit. They are not as good and strong as you, but they have a great desire to fight. To lend a hand. Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing by allowing Kassia and the others to stay. But they say they have never seen me so serene as now. The best moment is when I deal with those three pests. Especially with little Annemarie. A strange name, don't you think? She says that Master Daemon gave it to her, and that she had never even had a real name before. She asked me to teach her how to shoot a bow. But not to fight. She wants to become an archer because she says that by hunting she can earn enough money to buy the freedom of her friends who are still slaves in the Union. You know, she reminds me a lot of you when you were her age."

Tears wet her stone face along with the rain, as she tried not to sob at every word.

"I miss you, little sister. Sometimes I think you should have been there instead of me. You were the one who always dreamed of a better future. I know that Master Daemon probably hasn't told me everything, and that perhaps his plans go beyond what we can see. But I believe it. I want to believe in the value of what I have seen, and in the ideal that he wants to bring to this world. For this reason, I decided to follow him and trust him. I still don't know where this road will lead me, but I know that wherever I go your spirit will always be with me."

Then, after crouching down, she collected a handful of earth from the mound, placing it inside a small wooden idol that she put around her neck.

"We'll be moving soon. I don't know if I'll have any other opportunities to visit you. But I will carry this earth with me always, so that you too can see what we will build. And if ever one day I should hesitate or lose my way, I know that you will be there to advise me."

At that point, having made a final bow and placed some flowers, Athreia left, while someone else spent the next few hours perched on the branch of a nearby tree, trying to put her torn soul back together.

A few hours later, while he was busy taking stock of the latest supplies arriving from the Castle, Borg received the most incredible request.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, not knowing whether to laugh or be stunned

"No discussion, can you get it for me or not?"

Scalia used to say that she would have had her horns and tail cut off rather than ask that pig for a favor, and that only made it even more shocking.

"We are talking about very rare and very expensive goods. But maybe we can come to an agreement."

"Don't try to fool me. I will pay you out of my salary. Don't hope to use me to take care of any unfinished business with your creditors one way or another."

"Someone is in a bad mood today. All right, as you wish. To me you're throwing your money away, but after all it's not my money."

"And how much will it cost me?"

"Let's see... the order, the shipment, in this time of war..."

"Cut it short."

"Two thousand goldies."

"If you weren't one of Daemon's most precious elements, I would turn you into a roast pig, you kind of loan shark. But okay, I'm in. When can I have it?"

"In a week."

"I want it in three days."

"And where are you going now?"

"To do something even more unbearable than having to do business with you."



A week later Daemon finally reappeared in the middle of a meeting of the generals, reassuring them that the mission had been successful and that Thecla had already returned to work.

"I see you've been busy." commented the young man, noting the extremely efficient state of the camp.

"Who do you think I am? I may not be as good as you, but I can handle myself too."

"What is the state of our forces?"

"All divisions have been reconstituted and reinforced." Septimus answered. "The training of new recruits is also going well."

"I'm glad to see that you've recovered too, but try not to overdo it. Next time you might not be so lucky."

"Don't worry, I've learned my lesson. From now on I will no longer act on my own."

"Knowing you, I doubt it, but I want to trust." Jack joked "After all, that's also why the soldiers respect you so much."

"I agree, a little healthy madness never hurts on the battlefield." said Richard. "Maybe we should learn from him."

"Please don't encourage him. And above all, don't get any strange ideas. A crazy head is enough."

Seeing Daemon so relaxed and apparently serene, even prone to jokes, everyone felt relieved; perhaps after all the events of Grote Muren were really behind their backs.

"We also received some interesting news." Jack intervened "It appears that looting is taking place in the territories controlled by the Grand Duke."

"It must be mercenaries' work. He will surely have promised them both moons, and in the meantime, he has drained the state coffers to hire them. It was natural that he would not be able to keep them in check for long."

"Given the situation they might even defect." Natuli said. "Some people are only loyal to their coffers."

"Maybe. But even if they stayed it wouldn't be a big problem." said Oldrick "It takes little for a demotivated soldier to decide to retreat."

A soldier came to bring Daemon his coffee, which the young man drank with pleasure, refreshing himself after the long ride.

"Where is Scalia?"

"She has things to do." Adrian answered almost smiling. "If you're looking for her, she's at the training ground."

"Scalia is training!? Now I understand why it doesn't stop raining."

"And wait until you know who she asked to be her teacher."

Intrigued, Daemon went to the training ground, finding himself faced with a scene that left even him speechless: Scalia in the center of the square, soaked, covered in mud and wearing armor, intent on being beaten up by none other than Isabela.

"That's enough." said the Temple Guard after landing her for the hundredth time "We've trained enough for today."

"I... I'm not done yet."

"I don't want to know where you got that sacred armor, but you are perfectly aware of what is capable of. And you could get really hurt if you push yourself too hard. I repect your spirit, but you need to know when to stop."

Isabela had already turned to leave when, struggling with the pain that tormented every part of her body, Scalia stubbornly managed to get up.

"I'm the one who asked you to teach me how to fight, so I decide when it ends." she said through clenched teeth. "But if you withdraw, I have to assume that you don't think you're capable of keeping up with my pace."

If it hadn't been for the tail, the horns and everything else, Daemon would have thought he was looking at another person.

"As you wish. I admit I like your new spirit, but don't say I didn't warn you."

And so the training resumed.

"Okay." Daemon smiled. "What exactly happened?"