"Remember, unless it's absolutely unavoidable, don't engage the enemy. The Blackwatch Legion is the Empire's pride and joy! Even elites have to empty chamber pots there. They don't need a handful of small fry like you stepping in. Just getting the supplies to them counts as a success. The Far North is colder than winter on the Northern Frontier. If you aren't careful, you could lose more people to the cold than to combat. Most of the Hellfire Legion is from the Northern Frontier, so you should know. I'll have the Blue Dragon accompany you. With Illymoyas's kin there, once you join up with the Blackwatch Legion, the Ratfolk and Demons won't get what they want. And another thing..."
In front of the secret Portal, Annan gripped Femi and repeated his warnings over and over.
After Femi endured the lecture and walked through the Portal, Annan grabbed Krian and told him to keep an eye on Femi.
Annan retreated from the terrace. Once he had calmed down, he cautiously reclaimed the high ground.
They can't go to war. How am I supposed to make money if they do?
But it was too late to back out. All he could do was give the Hellfire Legion the best possible chance of survival.
Krian knocked on his padded Breastplate and promised, "Don't worry. I'll die before Femi does."
"Die, my—did you understand a word I said!? I told you to come back in one piece!" Annan seized Krian's Breastplate and tried to shake him. Krian, who weighed nearly two hundred pounds, didn't budge. Annan only managed to make himself dizzy.
"Forget it. If there are heavy casualties, don't bother coming back."
"What if I die on the front line too...?" Krian asked tentatively.
Annan was about to threaten his parents, then remembered