Work Placement Program

Artorias wished he didn't have to do this. He wished he could have given Ezra the option, the choice on whether he wanted to participate in something like this of his own free will. Being away from your lover sucked; Art knew this well from all his time away from Briar, so he could empathize with Ezra's predicament. But perhaps if they were lucky, Ezra would be afforded some time off to go visit his girlfriend, or perhaps she could meet him somewhere for a conjugal visit. The young Aegis really didn't want Syanna going to Fenmyre to see Ezra, lest Chimera take a liking to her as well. He was trying to build an alliance here, not tempt the fates by dangling fresh meat in front of a hungry shark's nose.

Ezra accepted the situation as it was. Dutiful, loyal Ezra... Artorias would need to do something incredibly special for his best friend upon his return. "Thank you, Ezra," he murmured in response, his eyes still fixated on Fenmyre. He met Ezra's grin with a smirk of his own, giving a knowing chuckle. He knew exactly what was in the young brute's mind, since it had been on his the last week he'd spent in the Armada, when all he'd wanted to do was get his paws all over Briar as often as he could. "Don't worry about Ulric, I'll talk to him for you. He will probably want to see you off though. Spend the next few days gathering anything you want to take and enjoying your time with Syanna. I'll reassign your duties so you can have the time you need. Chimera is expecting you in three days." There, it was done. Ezra had been given his assignment and he would be the Hallows liaison to Fenmyre until the winter.

Oh, but there was one last important detail Artorias wanted to hammer home as they began turning back towards the west. "One last thing, Ezra. I want you to remember, even though you'll be under Chimera's command and protecting Fenmyre, you are still a Hallowed wolf. If he asks you to do anything beyond what you're comfortable doing, you can deny him. If you get into a fight, I don't want you risking your life. You will not die for another pack. Understood?" Artorias fixed Ezra with a deathly serious look. He knew his best friend had a tendency to go all-in on the things he was involved in, and while he admired that tenacity, he refused to let Ezra get killed for someone else. If push came to shove, he'd rather Ezra abandon the island and return home than have to bury his best friend. He was not willing to lose another loved one so soon.

"Artorias Carpathius"