Sebastian<br/><br/>It was fun watching Julienne leave. She definitely had a figure many women wish they could have, but it was not something that came with just living your life. Julienne had gotten there through always working. It was no easy life doing what she did but she seemed to enjoy it. At least it was fun watching her walk away, seeing her dress cling to her back side, showing off her round rear and how it moved when she walked. He definitely would never be able to get enough of her.<br/><br/>With a sigh, he dressed himself only his leggings, heavily pushed himself to his feet and headed back to his own room to follow the queen's order, to get some rest. He sure as hell could use it. He didn't know how Ja's magic was working on him but he was feeling better, though he was sure he was going to be sore for a long time to come still. At least he had some time to recover. Well, that's what he hoped for anyway.<br/><br/>*****************************************************************<br/><br/>With the news of the kingdoms succumbing to Drysal in one way or the other, things had to be done. They could no longer just sit in the Palace, waiting for Drysal to do something while they waited for a chance, they had to create a chance, a way of making sure they finally got to him. So orders were given.<br/><br/>Scouts headed out once more, gathering information. This time only for nearby. Finding out what was happening close by as General Rand's army gathered at the city gates and with orders given from the general, the army was split into four and sent across the Kingdom Julienne controlled.<br/><br/>Each unit had to find the towns and villages, make reports and return back once they had finished searching their quarter of the region. It was slow work and tedious but it was the only way to know exactly what was happening in the kingdom and as long as they remained one of the few that had not bowed to Drysal, it meant they would have to enhance their defenses and prepare for the fact that he might be attacking at any moment, him or an ally.<br/><br/>In the city, things went about as if nothing was happening out in the world, as if everything was not tumbling into chaos, and this was only because the city was kept running. Food was ensured for. Fish, wheat, grain, meat, it all came and ensured the city was fed. Many of the younger boys had signed up for the city guard, though mostly it seemed that there was a rumour going around about Julienne being a lonely queen and will only take a true soldier as her husband. A rumour that made Sebastian chuckle. It would take much more than just a soldier.<br/><br/>At least they joined and kept the city running safe. Everything was moving at a good pace and from the look of things, they might be able to find a way to get to Drysal. Though if Julienne knew of a way, she was not telling. The last idea Sebastian had tried had failed, he was not going to try the same thing again. At least all the rest had managed to get him to heal up to his old self again, though he had not been able to see much of Julienne, as busy as they were.<br/><br/>It had been two months since the dining hall and Sebastian could honestly say, he did miss those fun times, but Julienne seemed more her old self, though she still didn't like being queen, at least she did a good job of being queen for now. Sebastian had thought a few times of just how she was going to replace herself. So far, the people were in love with her, they adored her and even made shrines to her in their homes. He couldn't see how she was possibly going to get someone else to take over without some riot taking place.<br/><br/>That was a worry for another day. For now, she reports were slowly coming in, one by one of the current state of the queen's land. How the towns and villages were fairing. How their security was. Any signs of attacks. Any whispers and rumours coming from across the borders? They would all be delivered to Julienne and for most of the time, Sebastian was there to hear them when he wasn't out in the city. He was still the head of the city guard and still had a duty to do, which kept him busy most days from sun up to sundown.<br/><br/>Today though, he had another long day ahead of him, only it was going to be a lot more exciting then the usual days of just walking the city streets, checking on injured guardsmen, making patrol routes and settling any grievances the people might have with a guard or two.<br/><br/>Today Sebastian rose and followed the usual routine. He washed and dressed, inspected the short sword, which always felt too small in his hand, before he left the Palace, heading out to the barracks. He made sure to peek into the throne room to see if Julienne was up yet, but there was no sign of her yet. She was probably enjoying sleeping in. Things seemed to feel almost normal, as if there was nothing wrong out in the world, as if there wasn't the threat of Drysal hanging over their heads.<br/><br/>Once back at the barracks, Sebastian wanted to work on a few new routes, see which new recruits could be teamed up with veterans so they could learn how to survive and of course, he wouldn't mind a good breakfast. None of which happened when one of his guardsman burst into his office without knocking, breathing hard and ragged, sweating and red in the face from the exertion.<br/><br/>"Sir. Someone's approaching the city, from the north. It looks like an army." The guardsman breathed, hanging on to the wall to not fall over.<br/><br/>Sebastian was on his feet and headed out of the barracks. Moving through the city street at a jog, he came to the look out tower that stood above every other building in the city, built exactly for this one purpose, to be able to be see in any direction at any time. It was a long climb up the hundreds of steps that just kept circling higher and higher until he finally came out at the top, as tired as the man that had burst into his office.<br/><br/>The lookout didn't need to ask why the general was there. He stood aside with the lense already looking in the direction of the approaching group. Sebastian took a moment to collect himself and wipe the sweat from his face before looking. It took a bit of coaxing to get the lense just right so he could see in to the distance.<br/><br/>It was easy to see why someone would mistake this for an army. It was a large crowd, there was no doubt about that, but it was no army or invading force. It was something he had seen before when he was still in employment of the queen, though it didn't happen often, only happened under dire straights, which was why he had only seen it once before. There was a good chance Julienne was not going to like this, but it would make a difference.<br/><br/>The former mercenary headed back down the dreaded tower and its hundreds of steps and headed immediately for the Palace. Sebastian didn't know if they were in luck or if everything had completely gone to shit. They only had so many reports coming in from outside the borders and they couldn't always be believed. Maybe Drysal already had the entire world under his thumb, maybe he had died somehow and things were returning to normal. They couldn't be sure, all they knew was that things were still happening.<br/><br/>Sebastian finally made it back to the Palace, surprised by just how out shape he had gotten over time. He would definitely have to get back into shape if he had any hope of taking on Drysal's armies. For now, he would have to find Julienne and talk with her before the congression arrived, giving her time to prepare.