The familiar green shimmer of the Branchway Rift spat us back onto the packed earth of the central rift platform, and I drew a deep breath of Noros air. It was always a special occasion when we all returned home safe and well. Safety in a monster-filled world was never a given.

  “Home,” I said, smiling, and we set off along the eastern bridge crossing the moat towards First Steel. We were all tired, but we’d managed to do it. A whirlwind hunt, hitting every mark Pa needed for his commissions, plus a decent haul of additional carcasses for him to work on. And with these being familiar to him, it would mean faster processing.

  “Good hunt,” Knut grunted, adjusting the pack laden with glow roots. “Golems, Scuttlers, and Glowcaps. Always good for crafting and forging.”

  “Plus Crystal Strikers, Vanguards, and Weavers,” Nabeeh said and yawned deep, her mouth opening so wide for a moment I thought she might swallow us whole. “My feet feel like anvils. It’s so not fair that a pretty girl like me has to run so far in a single day.”

  “Stop acting all lazy, Nabeeh. You can outrun us all,” I said and shot her a grin.

  “Oh, my, Eryn, is he flirting with me?” Nabeeh joked, and my girlfriend poked her with a finger.

  “No, he’s not, you little witch.”

  The two hugged and walked arm in arm.

  “How’d your first official run as an adventurer feel?” I asked Eryn.

  “Fantastic,” she said, holding up her bow. “Everything feels sharper and faster. It’s like the world has slowed down.”

  “You are strong now,” Knut said, nodding. “Powerful. Don’t let go to head.”

  “I definitely won’t. Arclight helped me focus,” Eryn said. “When fully drawn it was like every distraction disappeared and all that was left was…”

  “Pouncing on the unsuspecting prey," Arclight purred.

  “…the kill,” Eryn finished, and sighed.

  I guessed she had some work to do in figuring out who she was after binding with a soul weapon, just as I had. And while Arclight was less bombastic than Roq, it was no less bloodthirsty in its own way. But then again, they were the souls of monsters, so what else could we expect?

  “You are learning,” the bow said.

  "Stick-thrower got lucky," Roq said. "Smashing is still better. More satisfying. Get in close and smack!"

  We passed through the gatehouse into Dawnwatch proper. With so few parties out hunting and so much work being done on repairing and reinforcing Sentinel Station, nobody manned the booths. There was no one to offload our carcasses quickly but for pure gold.

  “Let’s stop by the Guild first,” I suggested. “We’ve got five Glowcaps Pa won’t need for commissions, and let’s be honest, he won’t want to try forging with them anyway. Might as well see if Petra’ll take them off our hands.”

  “Good idea,” Nabeeh said. “Every coin counts.”

  The Guild Hall was nearly empty, and Harold’s door was closed shut. Madeleine waved at us from where she worked on a stack of papers, and fortunately Petra was behind the counter at the Guild shop.

  The kind-faced woman with white hair looked up as we approached, her usual welcoming smile seeming a bit strained.

  “Hello, adventurers. And you must be Eryn,” she winked. “I’ll allow it today as I am led to believe you have completed your breakthrough and are about to join us, yes?”

  Eryn beamed at her.

  “Yes, ma’am. You heard correctly!”

  “Congratulations, love,” Petra said. “I will do my best to join your celebration. Now, what can I do for you fine people?”

  “We had a successful hunt,” I said, “Which includes picking up five Glowcaps. You interested?”

  “Absolutely!” Petra said. “Harold has given me a long list of things needed for our defenses Riftside, and Glowcaps is near the top of the list. The guild is offering five gold each.”

  “We’ll take it,” I said. “Where do you want them?”

  “Drop them in the storage out back, if you please. I trust you.” She reached under the counter, but instead of a hefty coin pouch, she pulled out a smaller one and carefully counted out the coins. “There you go.”

  “Thanks, Petra,” I said, pocketing the gold. It felt depressingly light considering the amount we actually needed. “Any chance you’re buying mind gems today? We might have some coming in once Pa dissects our haul.”

  Petra sighed, leaning on the counter, her expression turning weary.

  “I wish I could, Ash. Truly. But…” She lowered her voice. “The bank. They’re claiming some sort of… delay… in transferring Guild funds from the central treasury. Can you believe it? As if we aren’t good for gold? They offered me an IOU!” She scoffed, shaking her head. “An IOU from the Royal Bank! Told her to stuff it. Well, not really. Someone has to keep good relations, but still, something smells like monster guts if you ask me. As if someone’s deliberately putting a squeeze on the gold flow in Dawnwatch.”

  My stomach tightened. Riftrot.

  “Monsters indeed,” I muttered.

  "Smash the gates!” Roq hissed in my mind. “Let’s break into the bank, find the fat coin-hoarders and introduce them to my face! Negotiation through percussion!"

  “Thanks for the gold, Petra,” Nabeeh said. “Let us know if the situation changes.”

  “Will do,” Petra promised, though she didn’t look hopeful.

  We walked out of the Guild Hall and looked across the road at the Royal Bank’s facade.

  “It’s closed,” Eryn said.

  She was right. The heavy wooden shutters were drawn tight across the windows, and the main door was barred.

  “We’re not back that late, are we?” I said, frowning.

  “Bank’s open long. Usually,” Knut said.

  What in the rift rotten monster balls is going on?

  “How can the royal bank risk offending the Adventurers Guild?” Nabeeh wondered aloud. “Refusing to transfer funds, closing early… Are we sure this is just about the smithy?”

  “What else could it be?” Eryn asked.

  “A power play for Dawnwatch itself?” Nabeeh said. “Or something else. This just feels off.” She chuckled. “Call it my nobility senses tingling. Politics are definitely afoot, and if we’re to be honest, no one does this much just to get control over a single smithy, be it a legendary crafter or not. This is so much more.”

  “We should hear what Harold knows,” I said. “Or Commander Edwin. Maybe we can fill in some of the blanks then.”

  “Maybe I can ask some questions during my orientation,” Eryn said.

  “Waste of time,” Knut rumbled, shifting his pack impatiently. “Talking won’t pay debt. Need Pa. Need gems. Now. We all need chip in. Work hard next days.”

  I exchanged a glance with Eryn and we both shrugged.

  He was right.

  Speculation wouldn’t help. We needed gold, and that meant getting our haul processed. After I dropped off the five Glowcaps in the guild’s storage, we headed towards home.

  Twenty-five gold pieces down, four hundred and fifty something left, with only four days to get them.

  As we closed on home, the sight that greeted us brought me up short.

  A crowd huddled near our front door.

  Not an angry mob, but a tired, travel-worn group. A man, a woman, five children ranging from toddler to teen, and three adventurers standing guard nearby.

  One of the adventurers turned as we made our way over.

  “Wade?” I said.

  Beside me, Knut stood frozen. Recognition dawning in his eyes.

  "Torsten?" he breathed. Then, like sunrise over a frozen peak, a wide grin split his face. His usual stoicism shattered. “Torsten!”

  He dropped his pack with a thud and charged, covering the distance in pounding strides. The man spun around, startled. He was shorter than Knut, stockier, and had a handlebar moustache wide enough to hang all of Nabeeh’s jewellery on.

  But instead of heading straight for the man, Knut veered towards the woman and the five children huddled beside her. The man smiled as Knut hugged the woman tightly, speaking rapidly in the northern tongue something neither of us understood, but the emotion in his voice was clear. Then he went down the line, embracing each child, ruffling hair, murmuring words that made the smaller ones giggle despite their exhaustion. The oldest girl, maybe fourteen, stood stiffly at first, then melted into his hug. The woman watched with a weary smile, her hand resting protectively on the shoulder of the smallest boy, who clung to her leg.

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  “Many small mouths to feed,” Roq said.

  “Must we hunt for them all?” Arclight asked.

  “Not directly. But if we fail in our hunts and in keeping the forge, it may jeopardise their lives.”

  The weight of our debt suddenly pressed down even harder. There was so much more at stake than just our smithy, and we all knew it.

  “Keep me away from them,” Arclight said. “Their little hearts might not survive my self defensive shocks, and it would be a shame to prune the pack of the young so early.”

  “How about you just don’t shock them if they grab you?”

  Roq laughed.

  “Eryn just said the same. But with more curse words. Her thoughts are more filthy than—”

  I looked at her as he went quiet and found her glaring at my hammer. She pointed two fingers at her eyes, then stabbed them at Roq.

  “Never mind,” Roq said. “What Arclight said. The young must be cared for but also taught the realities of the world. Play fighting is important. Just make sure they pick the fights they can take.”

  “If I find either of you have hurt them. I’ll re-forge you into a bedpan, gift you to Knut, and feed him potatoes for a week.”

  “Hey! No need for threats. Both of you! Just don’t leave us lying around, alright? We don’t exactly have legs to move by ourselves!”

  After greeting the woman and children, Knut turned to the man, who had watched the scene with a mixture of amusement and impatience.

  “Brother,” Knut said.

  “Brother,” Torsten replied, smiling.

  “By roaring firepit! You made it!" Knut bellowed, engulfing the man in a hug and lifting him clear off the ground.

  "Put me down, you great oaf!" the man choked out, laughing even as he struggled for air. "Trying to break my ribs before we’ve even shared a drink?"

  Knut set him down and clapped him hard on the shoulder. He turned to us, then back to his family, gesturing broadly.

  “Ash, Eryn, Nabeeh,” Knut announced, his voice booming with pride. “My brother, Torsten!”

  Torsten nodded at us and smiled.

  “And his wife, Freja,” Knut continued.

  The woman offered a tired but warm smile. She had kind eyes and hair the color of wheat woven in a tight braid.

  “And these are my nieces and nephews.” Knut pointed to each child in turn. “Eirik,” he indicated the oldest boy, about twelve, who stood straight and serious, trying to mimic what he likely thought was an adult’s serious expression. “Mia,” the oldest girl, tall for her age with Knut’s piercing blue eyes, watched everything intently. “Fredrik,” a sturdy boy around eight with a smudge of dirt on his cheek and restless energy. “Dudo,” a girl maybe six years old, clutching a worn wooden doll, peering shyly from behind her mother. “And…who?” Knut asked, looking at the toddler clinging to Freja’s leg, thumb firmly in his mouth, regarding us with solemn, round eyes.

  “This is our youngest son, Herman,” Torsten said. “I’m happy for you to finally meet him!”

  Knut then turned back to his family.

  "This," he said, sweeping his arm towards us, "Is my family here. My shield-brothers and sisters." He gestured to me first. "Ash Aldrich, party leader and Hammerlord." My hand met Torsten’s in a firm grip. Then he moved down the line. "Eryn Whitcroft, Storm Warden and strongest archer in Dawnwatch." Torsten gave Eryn a respectful nod. Finally, he settled on Nabeeh. "Nabeeh Sayannhi, pyromancer burning hotter than forge fire."

  “Sayani,” Nabeeh corrected, offering a smile and a slight bow.

  "Welcome to Dawnwatch," I said. "Glad you made it safely."

  "Thank you for having us," Freja said, her voice carrying the same Northern cadence as Knut's, but softer, and no clipped words. “It was a difficult road.”

  “Tough?" Knut asked his brother.

  "Three weeks of dust and sore butts,” Torsten said, straightening his dusty tunic. While he had Knut’s broad shoulders, he stood far shorter, but his face was far more mobile, quick both to smile or frown. "Felt like three years by the end. Thought we’d never get here."

  He glanced around, taking in the street, the other houses, then looked pointedly at our front door.

  “But when we did get to town, we asked the first guard we saw where Knut Coinshield Steelwall lived. Figured I’d find you under a tree, in a barracks, or at best, the very best, an inn.” Torsten licked his lips and turned to look at our house.

  "Guard points us here. A house? An actual house, with walls and a roof? Knut Coinshield Steelwall, living indoors? I never thought I’d see the day!"

  He sounded genuinely shocked. Knut grunted, a flush rising under his beard, but pride shone in his eyes.

  I headed over to Wade, who stood slightly apart with the two other adventurers, to give the Steelwalls a moment to catch up quickly.

  “Hey,” I said and shook his hand. "You took the escort duty?"

  Wade shrugged.

  "Saw the quest posting with Knut's name," he said. "Figured it beat chasing Water Tigers in the Star Plains. Familiar faces are always better."

  “As if,” I teased. “Got too hot for you wherever you were hiding out, didn’t it?"

  He failed to hide a smile.

  “You never know where the wind’ll blow the bolt. Best to keep moving, yeah?”

  "How was the trip?" I asked, looking at Knut’s nieces and nephews, looking for any visible injuries.

  "Smooth enough, all things considered," Wade reported. "Rough on the little ones to sleep so rough, but the Steelwalls are a tough bunch. And Freja is like a sheep dog for the children.”

  “No trouble?” Eryn asked, after joining us and greeting Wade.

  “Had potential for some, twice. A group on horses was coming up fast, but an enchanted bolt whistling over their heads made’em rethink their life's choices.”

  “Don’t forget about the bandits on the ridge,” one of the other adventurers said. “Just in case there’s any extra pay for keeping these folks extra safe.”

  He gave Eryn a wink.

  Wade just waved a hand at him.

  “Wasn’t no problem. One look at my big crossbow, you remember it, right?”

  “Yup,” I said, thinking back to our Twisted Titan dungeon run and the massive weapon Knut nearly tore a muscle reloading.

  “Anyways, they took one look at that and decided the odds weren’t in their favor,” Wade said with a grin. “Shame, really. Haven’t heard its beautiful twang in a while now.”

  "Thank you," Knut said, joining us and patting Wade on the shoulder, his voice thick with gratitude. “For keep family safe."

  Wade clapped Knut’s arm.

  "Happy to help, big guy. And if you don’t mind, I’ll take a completion form for the quest now and head to the Guild and get the payment sorted."

  He produced a rolled parchment that Knut quickly signed.

  “Two things before you go,” I said. “You got any gold on you?”

  “A few silvers. Why?” Wade asked.

  “Try and get your payment in gold from the Guild instead of the mind gems we deposited and then we’ll sell you mind gems at nine gold per gem,” I said. “It’ll increase the reward by nearly ten percent.”

  “I’m not usually one to look a gift monster carcass in the mouth, but what’s in it for you?”

  “Which brings me to the next thing. Benedict’s back,” I said, giving him a weighted stare.

  “Ahh,” Wade said, tensing.

  “Yeah. And he’s working with House Domitius. You know, the blue blooded bastards who tried to burn down Pa’s smithy? They’re back and stirring up trouble. Big trouble. I know you’ve worked with him in the past, but this time, just keep your distance. It won't end well for anyone dragged in with them.”

  “House Domitius, eh?” He chewed his lip for a second, processing my words. "Heard some whispers about nobles causing friction. Don’t know no details though." He met my eyes. "Appreciate the heads-up, Ash. And I’ll do as you ask and try to get gold. Then we’ll come find you and buy mind gems for eight a piece, just like you asked.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him for a moment and then just chuckled.

  “Fine, you highway robber.”

  He threw me a wink and departed with the other two in tow, heading for the Guild, Dudo happily waving after them.

  "Right," Eryn said, clapping her hands together. "Let's get everyone inside and out of the dust."

  Our common room, usually spacious enough for the four of us, suddenly felt packed. Eleven people, travel bags, and the lingering tension of the road filled the space. The air smelled of dust, sweat, and tired children. Eirik, the oldest boy, eyed Roq hanging from my belt with cautious curiosity.

  Ambitious one. Recognises quality at a glance.

  Little Herman immediately tried to climb Knut’s leg like a tree.

  Cracked walls, it's crowded.

  "So," Torsten said, sinking into a chair with a grateful sigh, pulling Dudo onto his lap. “Tell me everything! How did my stoic lump of a brother end up an adventurer with a house in one of the most dangerous settlements in Tharungia?"

  Knut grunted.

  "Met Ash. Needed work. Fought monsters. Got house."

  Torsten roared with laughter.

  “By the Rift, what a story teller you are, my brother! Come on, there must be more to it than that!"

  While Nabeeh poured water and Eryn helped Freja settle the children, I quickly explained our situation. How the three of us had formed a party, the early hunts, getting to join the Twisted Titan dungeon run and how Nabeeh had joined us afterwards, and finally, the current situation with House Domitius over the smithy.

  Torsten had a cheerful expression throughout the tale, and the kids hung on my words, except Herman, who sat in Knut’s lap and pulled on his beard. But when I mentioned the name Domitius and the five-day deadline, Torsten’s face hardened.

  "Domitius," he said, as if the name tasted like dirt. “They bought out Master Halden's smithy in Kingsworth. I was set to take it over when he retired in a few years. Would have taken well care of him. But they just came in, offered him a lump sum of gold, for the smithy and him. Dumb bastard took it. Now he’s stuck hammering iron for the next twenty years. And me?”

  He paused, taking a breath, forcing a smile.

  “Once they heard my name they told me I wasn’t wanted. And not a single smithy in the entire city would even talk to me.”

  Knut and I exchanged a grim look. The anger simmering in my gut flared hotter.

  “The prey disrespects our territory,” Arclight said. “We must thin their herd.”

  “No thinning,” Roq said. “Extermination. Like vermin.”

  “Like you do with pies?”

  “Do not invoke pie in vain, you bent piece of wood, you!”

  Our weapons weren’t wrong. Not hiring Torsten didn’t sound like a business decision. That was personal. They were showing they could hit our loved ones no matter where they were.

  Are mother and father safe? I should send a gem-gram.

  "They're trying the same thing here," I said, forcing myself to focus on the conversation. "Using a loan Pa took out, and have been keeping up the payments on, as leverage."

  “Time to process carcasses," Knut stated, his voice flat but determined. "Now."

  "Right," I agreed. “Torsten. You’ll come with us to the smithy. Eryn, Nabeeh, would you two stay here with Freja and the kids?”

  "Of course," Eryn said from where she stood in the kitchen making a pitcher of lemonade.

  "Consider it done," Nabeeh added.

  "We'll send Ma over," I continued. "She’s been talking with the widow Gordon about their house, right across from the smithy. It's empty. Simple, but it should work for your family."

  Freja looked overwhelmed.

  "A house? Already? We couldn't possibly impose…"

  “No crap talk," Knut interrupted gruffly. "Family helps family. Heads need roof."

  “I’ll get to working and pay for it as soon as possible," Torsten said.

  “Oh, you’ll work alright,” I said, chuckling. “Pa’s been looking forward to an extra pair of helping hands. That’s been me for the longest time, but I’m too busy hunting monsters now. He’s falling desperately behind, even though we do take all-nighters in the smithy.”

  “Good,” the man said, and he closed his eyes, taking a slow breath, hugging his youngest daughter close. “I’ve missed the sound of hammer on steel and the feel of forging for my family.”

  Eryn leaned down to pour me a glass of lemonade.

  “We’ll handle things here,” she whispered. Then she turned my head with a finger on my chin and pressed a quick, firm kiss to my lips before pulling back and looking at the five children spread around the room. “This is… a lot of children," she whispered, a smile playing on her lips.

  "It is," I agreed, my own lips curving. “Might as well start practicing.”

  "Do you think…" she hesitated, her eyes meeting mine, warm and searching. "Would you really want that many someday?"

  I froze like a deer in front of a horse and cart. The thought, amidst the chaos and danger, felt both terrifying and incredibly grounding.

  “Of course once things settle down and all the thugs in the world are gone.”

  “At least it’s not a no,” she said with a wink.

  "Definitely not a no," I echoed, the word a promise against the uncertain future. I gave her hand a squeeze, then turned to the brothers. "Let's go."

  Before we left, Eryn and Nabeeh joined us outside to transfer the carcasses to Knut, Torsten, and I. The kids joined, wanting to see the dead monsters.

  ‘Ohs’ and ‘Ahs’ greeted the crystalkins, but when Eryn swiped out the first Steel Scuttler, all the kids ran screaming inside, except for Eirik, who forced himself to stay, though it looked like an errant fart would send him running too.

  “You killed that?” he asked.

  “Your uncle did,” I said, and I could have sworn Knut swelled with pride.