Saul woke before the sun, sitting up and listening to the sound of Anna's breathing. The cot was rather uncomfortable, but he didn't mind a little discomfort; it grounded him. He got up quietly and knelt beside their beds, closing his eyes and attempting to relax his anxious mind.

  His mind that, even now, was looking toward the future and wringing its hands. This day was the most important day of the whole campaign where the demons were concerned, and Langley's yay or nay would determine the fate of every demon in that encampment.

  Most of all, he was worried that Langley would arrive with soldiers. As a man that acted so decisively in the past, it would be a clear sign of his intentions, and Saul would respond in kind. Saul glanced over at Anna, who looked so peaceful in rest, and his hands tightened. He would not lose another to the whims of the court.

  Satisfied with his resolve, he let his thoughts bounce around as he prepared for kindling. He thought of Hiday?t picking up the role of ?adar, and proving his worth; he thought of the b?wán looking on with suspicion at first, then cautious acceptance, as he taught and entertained the children of the ?ar. Then he thought of the guards at the gate -even the soldiers that manned the fort- treating him like both a vengeful god and a mad dog, as he walked around with a clear reminder of his questionable allegiance. There was some reluctance to accept the fact that he was a pariah of his own species, but he recognized it. He needed to understand that his way through would not be convincing his comrades to disobey the man who bought their services and kept their families fed; it was through convincing Langley that the demons were a necessary evil.

  His thoughts finally turned to better things, and Saul worked his magic, taking the marble in his hand and thinking of Anna, and of his desire to safeguard her growth. He used his memories of her and her friends to start a weave that would encapsulate his inner self. Such a working would last for a day, but it would be sufficient for anything he needed to channel.

  He wouldn't need that, but he had other tools at his disposal. His hand drifted to a pocket in his cloak that held a handful of fur from a direwolf pup; the memory of winter in the mountains would be dangerous, but it was a tool he'd be prepared to use, if he had to.

  He shook himself and focused on finishing his kindling, getting all his thoughts in order. With how focused he was on his task, the rest of the time before dawn flew by, and the sun greeted him before he was aware of it.

  Again, Anna woke to the feeling of warmth and happiness. She was getting used to the sensation of Saul's kindling, which felt like a campfire for her spirit. She sat up and yawned, smiling sleepily. "Your morning is good again, I see."

  Saul didn't move from his position, but he relaxed. "It is, and it's getting better by the moment. How is yours, Anna?"

  "Hmm... my morning is warm, and the sky is wet, that is good; but my ?adar seems to be nervous." She wrinkled her nose. "What worries you?"

  "I have a feeling today will be rather difficult."

  "Difficult? For you? I don't know what could worry you so much."

  Saul paused. "There will be some difficult conversations today... and I might have to do something I regret."

  Anna frowned. "Does this have to do with that Langley person? The Vie-count?"

  "Yes, actually. You remembered?"

  Anna smiled. "Where you go, I follow, and for all my silence, I am no ?a?bab. The Ser said he comes today, right?"

  "That's right. I think it's best if you're far away when it happens."

  "Ah, maybe you're a ?a?bab, because I said where you go, I follow."

  "Anna..." Saul felt old, in that moment.

  "You say my name in protest, and nothing else. That's because you know I'll be safe. Tell me, will they run at me with those metal sticks they carry? Will they cover my wrists with iron? Will they shoot their bows at me out of fear for their lives, because I stand here, at your side?"

  "...They might. They might even do all that because you are the way you are."

  Anna knelt on her bed and bonked heads with Saul. It stung a bit. She murmured quietly in his ear. "Better to be fighting at your side than worrying by myself. You'd leave me alone, and for what? Your selfish desires?"

  "You have your friends and your people; you aren't alone." He knew as he said it that she wouldn't be convinced; she already was shaking her head, her horns bumping him softly.

  "My friends are few and far away; you are here, and speaking for me- for all of us. I want to be here. I want to help, even in this small way."

  "Anna..."

  "Saul." The lisp was there, the soft rasping on the s. "Please."

  Saul paused, sighing after a moment. "You're too good for me."

  "You're too good to me." Anna leaned back and smiled. "Now, let's get ready for a day of memories, yeah?"

  It took some shuffling, but they managed to take turns getting dressed. Saul managed to convince Anna to wear her dress over her pants, which she did with reluctance.

  "I don't see the point; I can't run!"

  "But you look like a child. Trust me, your youth is better than any armor out there."

  "?adar knows best..."

  That pulled a wry smile from him. "If only you could say that with less doubt."

  Saul glanced at her shoes and Anna practically hissed.

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  One shoe-less Anna followed in Saul's wake as they walked to the mess hall. The soldiers they passed by gave the pair some space, but surprisingly less than he expected. A few even smiled at Anna, who didn't know how to react and just nodded back nervously.

  Saul was baffled at the change in reception; just yesterday most of them kept him at arm's length. What happened yesterday?

  The strangeness continued into the mess hall, but thankfully, the soldiers didn't try to do much more than nod and smile. The line cook that was serving gave them an extra portion, with a wink. "That's for the help, Tremonti, courtesy of your friends."

  Anna giggled at Saul's expression as they walked to an empty table. "You would think he spit in your soup, to see your expression."

  "I'm not sure whether to be pleased and confused, or just confused." Saul tasted his soup, and blinked. That was wapiti; the flavor was identical.

  Hiday?t! Of course he'd donate their extras... but that's not enough to cover half rations, is it?

  Fiadh came into the mess hall when they were halfway through their soup and sat beside them. "Good morning, you two."

  Saul gave Anna a knowing look before turning to Fiadh and responding, "how do you know my morning is good? I'll decide whether it is good for myself."

  Fiadh laughed and caught Anna's wink. "Sure, I'll play along. How is your morning, shaman?"

  Saul glanced around and nodded twice, mock-serious. "Hmm... Yes, it is a good morning. The day is warm, the soldiers are smiling, and our bellies are full. I assume my 'friends,' as our cook hinted, had something to do with it?"

  Fiadh smiled. "I will say they can be mighty industrious. The one who leads your demons came to our gates in the afternoon with a wapiti and some fowls, and said he could get enough to fill our stores, as a tribute for forgiveness."

  Clever one, that. "He's quite the accomplished hunter. I wouldn't be surprised to hear him and his comrades can gather that much, at his strength."

  "He also mentioned to the guards that he hunted a wapiti with you; they're calling you the 'demon-whisperer' now."

  Saul laughed and even Anna snickered. "That's definitely one of the better nicknames I've been given."

  It certainly took a lot off of Saul's mind, hearing that he had people in his camp now. He needed to remember to thank Hiday?t next time he saw him.

  Fiadh leaned in slightly. "Langley's coming around noon, if the previous supply wave is anything to judge by. Do you have anything that might help our case?"

  Saul leaned in too. "We could bring up the ?a?s?as-?u?s?, or we could speak to the fact that this is the first group of demons that, despite their actions when they were desperate, have been on diplomatic terms with us- actually, Hiday?t's English-speaking ability has me curious if that's the case for other domains around us. Do you have any clue?"

  Fiadh shook her head. "I hail from Carlisle to the south, which has had very few -if any- interactions with demons. I've heard tales that there are demons in human shape near Woerden, north-west of here, but it's probably not them."

  Saul looked apologetic. "I've lived in the forest for 10 years, so any stories I've heard were from my childhood, or from working as a shaman in late Viscount Langley's army. Besides, I haven't seen any demons in Chaidon forest."

  A frown appeared on Fiadh's face. "So no avenues there. What's his history with demons?"

  "Besides his father using me to defend Linwood from a northern raid?"

  The frown deepened. "You're not helping."

  "Come on, let's face it: other than their recent acts of generosity, we have a bloody history with demons. We need a better angle."

  Anna chipped in. "Could you show him your memories of my ?ar?"

  Fiadh looked to Saul, and he shook his head. "I wish. We need to make a rational appeal to sway the Viscount; unless if the Earl of Carlisle himself is swayed by my memories, and comes to usurp Langley's authority, we're better off appealing to a sense of urgency, rather than a sense of duty. Your ?ar isn't technically part of his people. Not yet."

  Fiadh grimaced. "So all we have to lean on is a warning of some vile enemy on the horizon?"

  "Unless if you can think of a better option?"

  "They are rather proficient at hunting and trapping..."

  "But they are normally nomadic herders; they lack that basic good."

  "On this side of the mountains, yeah."

  "...You're suggesting we send them back to the place they fled from."

  "I'm suggesting that we send an expeditionary force to ascertain if this ?a?s?as-?u?s? is anywhere near or around the mountain pass. If that expeditionary force happens to discover an entire demon tribe- or even just a few hunters, then we'll know how bad it is, and can prepare. If it is as bad as we fear, and this ?a?s?as-?u?s? just decimated a peaceful nomadic tribe on their way to our side of the mountains, then we need all hands on deck."

  Saul nodded. "That's probably our best option. Here's to hoping that Langley sees that too."

  Fiadh sighed and shook her head, standing up. "I need to gather up our support staff and check our preparations for the incoming supply train; I imagine we'll also have a talk about how to justify keeping a proper company here... Gods, I hate meetings."

  "Yet here you are, scheduling them."

  Fiadh gave him a smirk and a warning look before heading out, leaving Saul and Anna to their morning soup.