Keith focused on keeping Hubert seated on a branch beside Henrietta.

He had finished his office work and then spelled around in his workroom for a few hours until it was time to see Henrietta.

He moved the raven to hop onto her shoulder and gently ran its beak through her hair, reminding her that he was still there if she needed him.

The bird’s eyes were enhanced with magic and he could see the princess as clear as day even in the dark night of the forest. She was deep in thought, but reached up to stroke his construct’s feathers. Keith was pleased that he had used real feathers for the aesthetic.

Keith didn't care about the mercenaries or the eggs, though he supposed returning them would be a great political boon in his relations with the dwarven nation.

He just wanted Henrietta to be safe. Not that he should really be worried.

She came to a conclusion and crouched low to the ground, bursting into a light-footed silent sprint further away from the group.

When they were alone at a distance that no one could overhear, Henrietta stopped and lifted one hand in front of her. Keith flew down, careful not to dig talons into her flesh.

"Keith?"

"Yes Ria?" The raven simply opened its maw and Keith projected his voice using [Ventriloquism].

"These are your lands so I was wondering if you have a preference?" She asked, "Kill? Capture?"

Keith projected, "I don't mind whichever, as long as you return home."

Henrietta leaned forward, resting her head against the raven. "I don't like killing."

"Then don't." Keith replied. He'd asked her to go on this run because… well, he had a list of reasons starting with Rufus suggesting a distraction.

Though the moment she’d left, he’d regretted it and immediately wanted to call her back.

But Rufus was right, and he wasn't really worried about a small mercenary troop fighting against a Sword Master. Honestly, he wasn't even worried about her fighting in the war, just fighting against her people in the war.

Having reached a conclusion, Henrietta stood up and placed his raven gently back on her shoulder.

"Here we go." She whispered, and there was a burst of Sword Aura that emanated out from Ria and wrapped delicately around the encampment, questing for sentries. In a blink, Ria kicked off in a [Quick Step], all but teleporting to the three sentry mercenaries scouting the perimeter.

Each went down with expert strikes to the temple that brought her opponents to their knees. Or would have, if she hadn't scooped the now comatose men into her free hand.

By the time the dust settled from her Perk, Ria was standing back at her starting point. She gently dropped her victims to the dirt and then focused her Aura towards the camp.

Keith used the moment's pause to take flight. His reinforced automaton was perfectly capable of staying with his princess while she battled - but he wanted to enjoy her prowess from the air.

Ria cracked her neck and reached for her sword, but hesitated. After a sigh, she just patted the hilt affectionately and then kicked off again.

…

She was beautiful. She was graceful. She was deadly.

Even if she didn't kill anyone.

Keith admired Ria as she let her Sword Aura wash over the mercenaries. She eliminated the entire camp one person at a time with a simple punch.

“Sorry.”

“Let me just…”

“Pardon me.”

The first few were taken unawares as she executed a perfect surprise round. The boss roared to her feet and barely popped out her therianthrope wolf-ears before she fell flat on her face. Darryl and Warren weren't yet finished with their soup and splattered the broth everywhere as they were taken out.

"Phew." The princess patted her hands together and then placed them in a power pose on her hips. "That was a good warm up."

Henrietta surveyed the bodies that had fallen haphazardly about her with a self-satisfied grin. She took the time to properly remove the bubbling soup from the fire so it wouldn't burn. She sniffed at the soup, and whatever she smelt there she disapproved of.

And then her whole face contorted.

"Achooooo."

The sneeze echoed through the quiet night, and Ria cast an annoyed glare at the horses. One whinnied in upset at the loud sound.

"What now?" Keith alighted Hubert beside her.

She smiled again. "We go treasure hunting!"

The first wagon had room for passengers and a few packs and crates, and a keg. Keith watched the princess easily pop the lid off each box, ferreting out their quarry with brute-force alone. Luckily they only had to search the first wagon, because nestled in a crate of straw were three blue eggs, each the size of a teapot.

"Keith?"

"Yes Ria?"

"Can you reinforce this box?" His princess carefully packed the eggs back into place and nestled them with more hay to keep them from jostling on the journey.

"Yes, but there are limits. I'm currently using up all of the spell slots for Hubert." He explained, "but I could switch out one. I'm using [Construct Flight], [Ventriloquism], [Share Senses], and [Remote Access]."

"I can carry you in the wagon."

"Then allow me."

Keith spent some of his left over mana.

You have attempted to Imbue [Quick Buff] to wooden crate. You have succeeded.]