with a face like this

[Filter: Private]

Hm ... it's a bit odd ... I mean, I'm sure it's nothing but ...

Well, it wouldn't hurt to ask ...

[Filter: Keller]

You know, I've been meaning to ask you something ...

[Filter: Private]

This is going to be extremely difficult ... nothing seems to stop them from getting to their goal. I'll just need to think everything through and go through all my research again and again ... until I have everything set in stone.

[Filter: Private]

It's really sort of interesting, learning about Keller's past like this ... I mean, I know I should probably tell him that I've been meeting his brother and um ... getting to know his family, but I just don't want Keller to blow up and get mad at Harry, or at me, so ...

Well, it really doesn't hurt. He just wants to know what Keller has been up to, and he wants to get to know me. Right. It's fine.

So tomorrow, I'll go out to town for a bit.

[Filter: Eve]

Hey Eve, I've gotten the next set of information cards all written up for you. They're on your desk so you can just look them over whenever you have time. We'll have the test on Sunday.

[Filter: Keller]

So ...!

Have you um ... check your coat pockets yet?

[Filter: Private]

I just knew that's all it was. He just wanted to get to know me ... well, about me and my family, about what's been going on, about our relationship ... things that any normal family would tell each other.

I can't believe just how far apart their family seems to be. He really doesn't seem like such a bad guy at all. In fact, I think I'd like to get to know him better. Dragons know Keller won't tell me anything about his past. Everytime I ask him, he just gives me one word answers and decides to change the subject ... hm, I think that just about settles it.

I'm going to meet Harry again. He just loved when I told him that Keller met mother, but I didn't even get to tell him about everything else that's happened. Well, if Keller won't talk to his brother, then really ... why not? I don't see any harm in it at all.

[Filter: Private]

Well, that was certainly a surprise ... but if he really wants to meet up with me, I don't see why not.

He's really just trying to get to know his brother again, right? ... and if there's anything I can do to help, I'll certainly do my best.

I just ... I'll have to free up my schedule a bit and make sure Keller doesn't find out ... I'm sure he wouldn't be very happy if he knew I was going to go meet Harry.

[Filter: Private]

I just can't believe how far repairs have come. I thought it would never end, but finally seeing such massive improvements on the walls and other aspects of the castle that we've added to are really looking great.

Everyone's really been very helpful, and that exercise seems to have been a great idea. I can see so much more organization and teamwork on the parts of the soldiers, as well as a vast improvement on their defense and offense. It's all wrapping up just in time, too. Right before the Festival ... hm.

I think I'll make my rounds and see about testing the Pegasus knights ...

But before I do all that.

[Filter: Keller]

Guess what I heard?

[Filter: Private]

I can't believe how long we ended up staying. She always knows how to make me feel just horrible, doesn't she?

... but she really was a lot more sick than I thought she was ... I'm so glad Eve sent a healer with me ... she looks much better, now.

[Filter: Keller]

Well, as much as I hate leaving her alone like this ... especially when she isn't one hundred percent better, we've really been here for far too long, right? Are you almost finished getting ready to leave?

I'll probably have a mountain of paperwork to do when we get back.

Oh, and you know ... thank you for being such a gentleman.

[Filter: Private]

Of course you think so, mother ... and yes, we're serious ... I know he's old, but really. You know you like him, too. He may be a bit stiff around the edges, but he's a good guy.

Really, she's so silly. I can't believe all the questions she asked him ...! And the things she just said right in front of him. Oh, but that's not the reason I opened my journal ...

I haven't even had a chance to get to tell Eve we've arrived. I hope she's handling everything well.

[Filter: Eve]

Hello ...!

So yeah, we got here a few days ago, but my mother's just been running us ragged since the moment we arrived. You'd think she let us rest a bit after all that travelling we did.

I think Keller might explode, though. It's pretty funny, actually.

[Filter: Keller]

Are you ready to go?

It won't be a terribly long trip there ... maybe half a days ride? It'd be shorter if we flew, but well, seeing as how that's not likely to happen.

I'm sorry we won't be in Rayla for the Day of Long Summer ... you were probably looking forward to all the drinking and everything, weren't you? Or um ... you know, we could just leave in a few more days, if you really wanted to stay for it ...

[Filter: Private]

Hm ... she says she's all right, but knowing her, she just doesn't want to worry me. Oh, and it's been so long since I've seen her. What with all of these exercises we've been doing.

I really think I'll have to make a visit ... and I'll bring my staff with me, just in case.

[Filter: Eve]

... so I got a letter from my mother, and it sounds like she's sick. Do you think you'd be able to handle everything on your own for maybe a week or so?

[Filter: Keller]

Hi ...!

My mother wants to meet you.

[Filter: Private]

I'm actually really glad I had everyone write a report on the exercise. There were so many useful little details I never would have found on my own. Just the fact that every single one of these soldiers were in different parts of the castle were good enough to help me strengthen our defense.

I just have a few finishing touches to make on these blueprints and a new list of training exercises to go over, and I'll be done. Finally.

[Filter: Eve]

So I think I might finally be done with everything. Would you like to see the blueprints I've drawn up?

I've actually taken the reports and written up some new training regimes that I thought might be helpful to strengthen all of the soldiers' weak points as well. I thought you'd like to look at those, too, before I distribute the copies to the captains. They're just some tips for them, really. I know how much they'd hate to be told how to teach their recruits.

[Filter: Private]

All right.

Time to get to work. It looks like I'll be here for a while, too ...

[Filter: Private]

There's just so much to do, it's ridiculous ...

[Filter: Those in Rayla]

I know that our guests will be able to see this filter, but I thought I'd just let everyone in on what we'll be doing for the next few weeks.

Again, all of the leaders did a great job. Thank you for all your hard work in going through with this entire exercise.

As I've said before, it isn't mandatory for you to write a report, but it'd be really helpful to me if you did write one. Even if it's a paragraph long, something would be better than nothing. And of course, the soldiers need to write them no matter what, so if you could remind them every once in a while that they need to be on my desk by the 25th, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm going to have a checklist of everyone's names written down so that the soldiers who neglect to turn them in will be in heeps of trouble. We have ... a lot of work to do, to say the least.

[Filter: Keller]

Well, that was fun, wasn't it?

[Filter; Rayla Defense]

We need everyone in position at the front gates.


Now.

[Filter: Private]

Well, this can hardly go on much longer, can it ...?

[Filter: Rayla Defense]

It's not like we aren't, already, but let's be prepared for anything.

[Filter: Eve]

I'm thinking the northern walls might be best. If you just mention that we'll have a good amount of knights stationed there to repair damage ...

[Filter: Those in Rayla]

Well, everyone knows that we've ceased fire for the night, but ...!

We're going to be sending out some moon dumplings. So, everyone can relax and enjoy the goodies, right? We can all sit under the stars ... in the freezing cold (around a bonfire, at the very least!), watch the moons and tell the story.

Yes? No?

If not, we can all just enjoy ourselves on opposite sides of the wall. Whatever works, I suppose.

[Filter: Eve]

You're having way too much fun with this.

[Filter: Private]

Well ... it has been a while. What could it hurt? It'll probably be more fun than anything.

[Filter: Keller]

It's been a while since we've spoken to each other, hasn't it?

[Filter: Private]

Well ... that would certainly explain why they've been quiet for so long.

[Filter: Rayla Defense]

So apparently, out of the kindness of their hearts, they've decided to let a merchant caravan through with provisions for us. They don't know that I've been getting supplies another way, but that's a different story.

Eve, are you busy? If you aren't, can you meet me out by the front gate?

Sir Zacharias, please get the troops ready and prepared for anything that might happen. Dame Harriet, could you dispatch the pegasus knights and send out some scouts? They'll need to be discreet.