Seated on horseback on a rise across the deep river valley from their destination, Gael pauses to take in the view. Fort Helen is well fortified, situated with its back and eastern flank against a steep jut of rock, while its western and southern sides are guarded by a running water moat connected to the river. Two high walls rise around it, the gatehouse connecting the two, the only approach being a stone ramp leading up a good twenty feet above the base of the walls, which turns back on itself twice along the way. As the largest and possibly the best defended fort in the country, Fort Helen is the obvious place for the Commanding General of the southern warfront to make his center of operations.

It's also the obvious place to send a crown prince in need of command training, and thus here Gael is. 

"Enjoying the view, highness?"

He blinks, turning to look at his guard as they come up on his right side, reining in their horse next to his and giving the fort a quick, calculating look. 

"...I am, Professor," he agrees after a moment. "It looks well-fortified, and well-maintained." 

"Your brother runs a tight ship," they murmur.

He tenses, glancing behind them, and then relaxes once he realizes there's no one close enough to have heard their words.

"Yes," he agrees. "Or so it seems from a distance."

"Doubt already?" They snort. "Well, we'll know for sure once we arrive. Time is passing you by, young prince," they turn their horse to give them a better view of the royal guard contingent behind the two of them. "Pick up the pace! The fort's in sight, it'd be a shame if we had to spend the night camping across the valley because you lot can't move more than a few feet a day!" 

There's some grumbling from the guards, but the pace is picked up. In no time at all, they'll find themselves riding up the road to the gatehouse, where the fort's defenders wave them through to dismount and greet those arrayed inside. 

Jaim is among them, and he steps forward at a measured pace once the horses have been retrieved and led away by the fort's hostlers.

He bows, "Your highness," he greets, "Welcome to Fort Helen."

Gael controls a delighted smile into a pleasant one, bowing his head just the slightest amount in return, "General Jaim. The state of your fort does you credit, as does that of your troops." 

Curious, he glances past Jaim to take in the rest of the greeting party.

The rest of the party consists of the command staff and Jaim's Elites, each of the latter wearing their general's insignia on their coat - mantled golden wings on a blue background. Jaim's Elites are the most diverse set in the royal army, most of them hailing from Sanctuary and thus being descended from refugees from all across the two continents. It looks like there's even a pair of islanders, a man and a woman, with their long blonde hair tied up at the crown of their heads to waterfall down their backs in a stream of beaded golden braids. 

Standing a few steps behind Jaim is an Inteli man who wears the marking of his lieutenant. He bows to the prince once he notices his regard, offering him a friendly smile. 

Jaim glances behind him, "Ah," he waves the man forward, "Your highness, this is my lieutenant, Dasil Loen-ya."

"It is an honour to meet you," Dasil offers. 

Gael smiles at him, connecting the man to Jaim's descriptions of his lover. "Likewise," he says, before turning his attention to the rest of the group. 

Jaim proceeds to introduce him to them. Once this is done, and all the niceties have been observed, they begin to disperse, some remaining to join Jaim in leading him and Istaim to a large building across the wide green from the gatehouse, all but two of them splitting from the group once they're inside. 

"We've prepared quarters for you and your guard in the VIP rooms here," he explains as they climb the stairs inside to the second floor. At the top of the staircase, he motions to the correct doors, "I will leave you to freshen up from the journey," he adds, "You will find me in the war room on the first floor once you are ready." 

Gael opens his mouth to ask him to wait, and then stops, noting the two soldiers who had joined them on the second floor. With an internal sigh, he closes his mouth, and nods, "Thank you, general," he says, before retreating into the room and closing the door.