.

Right. So. Back to where we were before. 

"There's a war coming. The advisors are finally making their moves." Eris said, fiddling with the sodden edge of his hat. After a few minutes of stunned silence, Jylan leaned forwards, eyebrows furrowed into one serious line. 

"But I have a dukedom. Even if they have all the kingdoms on their side, a dukedom isn't a joke. They'd likely take more casualties than me if they did that - after all, dukedoms are more military-oriented, so I would win in a war." Jylan mused. Eris stared at him. "But you're missing something, Sir. They have much more manpower than you do."

Jylan's brows now crunched further together, if that was even possible. "How?" Eris stared at the floor, hat suddenly forgotten, smile also forgotten, and water still running onto the floor into a puddle. Sebastian's eyes widened. No way- 

they're using us as a military to fill the gaps. There's easily enough to crush the dukedom." Eris sighed. Sebastian paled. Jylan, meanwhile, had an unreadable face. Then he smirked and rested his chin on his hands. 

"Of course not. Not if we pay you all to fight on the dukedom's side when the time comes."

Sebastian's head snapped up. Eris looked up as well, surprise washing over his face, and the kid next to him (the third arm) cheered. Jylan stood up to get them both towels. 

"Thanks for informing us. I'll give you coins before you leave too. We have things to do now, so I'm afraid you might have to skedaddle."