The wooden bridge creaked under our feet as we approached the rift. A group was already waiting to cross the other way with a steelhusk log. The workers below were putting the finishing touches on the defensive ditch. In just the few days we'd spent working the smithy and getting the mind gems in Dawnwatch, they'd made incredible progress. Soon it would be ready for flooding, adding another layer of protection against monster surges. If nothing else, it would at least slow them down a bit.

  “Almost done,” I said, nodding at the earthworks below. “Wonder how much water it'll take to fill?”

  “Enough to drown an army,” Eryn said. “Or in this case, a monster surge. I just hope it works as planned.”

  Workers were sweating as they reinforced the walls with wooden supports, but not a single complaint could be heard. The pioneer spirit ran strong with the engineering company, too, and everyone made sure to show their appreciation for the hard work. Without them, we would be fighting monsters in the open.

  Knut was there, too, by the rift's side in full battle gear, leaning on his shield. As we approached, his brow furrowed.

  “Why crap gear?” He gestured at our simple traveling clothes. “You have strong hammer, no?”

  Eryn and I exchanged a quick glance.

  “It's our disguise,” I whispered as the lumberjacks behind us walked from the 'island' where the rift stood and onto the wooden bridge. “We'll change once we're out.”

  “This is part of the secret,” Eryn said.

  “Ah!” Knut held up a hand, cutting her off. “Is part of secret! Say less. Knut understand. My mouth shut like dead monster's arse.”

  I blinked and Eryn sputtered, but then she shrugged and leaned in.

  “Lead on then, but please, Knut, lower your voice. Everyone can hear you if you whisper so loud.”

  Knut shot her a grin but then his expression shifted, and he nodded seriously.

  “See you Riftside,” he said and strode through the shimmering portal. The familiar disorientation hit as we followed, righting itself as we appeared in Sentinel Station's central clearing. Soldiers were bustling about and so was the support staff.

  Knut made straight for the watch commander's position, his back ramrod straight. The commander looked up from his papers, eyebrows rising as we approached.

  “Well now,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “What can I do for you three this fine morning? You're a bit late if you’re here to help defend against the morning wave. It's already been broken.”

  “Need scout mission,” Knut declared.

  The commander's bemused expression deepened.

  “A scouting mission? For a tank of your caliber?” He shook his head. “Surely there are more... appropriate tasks I can offer you, or is Benedict’s stench so strong?”

  I watched Knut shift uncomfortably, his shoulders tensing at the implied slight. Before he could respond, Eryn stepped in.

  “Actually, sir, Knut has kindly agreed to help teach us proper scouting techniques,” she said. “He's giving back to the community and helping train the next generation.”

  The change in the commander's demeanor was immediate. His face lit up as he straightened.

  “Is that so?” the man asked and put away his papers, stood, and clapped Knut on the shoulder. “My apologies. This is the kind of leadership we need! Tell you what — I've got three missions here. Take your pick, and I'll add twenty percent to the reward if you bring back a solid scouting report.”

  “If?” I asked.

  The commander laughed.

  “When, my boy! When you bring back a solid report. With an adventurer teaching you?” He nodded at Knut. “There's no doubt in my mind you will be back shortly.”

  Knut accepted the middle scroll with a curt nod, and we made our way toward the gates. Two bells rang out clear and sharp, marking our departure as we passed beneath the massive log walls.

  * * *

  As we walked through the forest, I couldn't help but notice how quiet Knut had become. I caught Eryn's eye, wondering if she saw it too. Was he having second thoughts? Feeling like this simple scouting mission was beneath him? Or was it something else entirely?

  “How you do that?” Knut burst out suddenly.

  “Do what?” Eryn asked.

  “That!” he said, waving his arms about, his armor clanking. “With commander! Get good mission, better reward, respect? Didn’t even threaten him! You less powerful, but he treat as equals! How?”

  I shrugged.

  “I just assume people are kind and helpful, so I treat them that way — with respect. Usually, they return it.”

  “That's part of what drew me to Ash in the first place,” Eryn said, smiling. “His kindness.”

  Knut's brow furrowed as he considered this, but shook his head slowly. The man was at odds with himself in a way, and probably overthought the little lie from earlier. It was how people like us got by. A little harmless lie never hurt anyone, or so I hoped, and considering we were more than capable of handling whatever came our way...

  “Very different for me,” he said finally. “Ninety out of ninety-one people are arseholes. Big arseholes. Yes. And hairy!”

  Eryn and I shared another glance, trying not to laugh at his remark, but I failed hard.

  “Do you always assume people are hairy arseholes?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Knut said firmly.

  “Well,” Eryn chuckled, “Then you're probably right most of the time.”

  Knut fell silent again as we pushed deeper into the forest, leaving the sounds of Sentinel Station behind.

  A short while later, we arrived at our changing spot and we geared up. I stepped out from behind the thick steelhusk trunk where I'd changed. Eryn emerged a moment later, too, with her Viper's Arc in hand.

  Knut's eyes went wide.

  “By rift’s teeth!” His voice boomed through the trees, making birds take flight. He rushed forward, armor clanking. “This proper gear! This how heroes look!”

  He unhooked his mace, and he approached me with an appraising eye. The weapon tapped against my shield, the sound ringing clear and true. He almost flinched, probably not expecting to see such a quality piece worn by a scavenger.

  “Strong!” he said, then bent close, examining the shield boss made from scuttler shell. “See edges wrap? Perfect seal! No weak points!”

  His enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself standing straighter as he moved to inspect my Crabwalk Leggings.

  “Interlocking plates.” He shook his head in wonder. “Like dragon scales! And this—” The mace tapped my Ironclaw Gauntlet. “Beautiful! Strong enough to punch stone, yet fingers free as birds!”

  “Why does the large noisy one not praise ME?” Roq said. “I am clearly the masterpiece here!”

  “Don't be jealous. You know you're special.”

  “Special?” Roq's tone dripped with indignation. “I am MAGNIFICENT! A work of genius! That lumbering mountain should be on his knees and worshipping me instead.”

  “But this cloak?” Knut shook his head. “Ugly. Very ugly. It must give you something good for you to wear it, no?”

  I bit back a laugh as Knut moved to examine Eryn's gear, excited at the stitching of her leather armor and the draw weight of her bow.

  “You're also supposed to be a secret. Can't exactly have him praising what he doesn't know exists.”

  “Hmph. That is just unfair. People should worship me like a deity, yet I have to go along with... whatever this is.”

  We set off deeper into the forest, Knut still occasionally muttering about weapons and armor maintenance, which only reinforced my belief that he appreciated a good piece of gear as much as... a woman. Maybe even more.

  “There is one more thing we should tell you,” I said carefully as we walked. “Another secret.”

  Knut waved a dismissive hand.

  “Say no more! Knut's lips sealed tight as monster's—”

  “Yes, yes, we know.” Eryn cut him off with a laugh. “But this is important.”

  I took a deep breath.

  “My hammer... it's not ordinary. It's rare,” I said, lying. “Far better than what someone my level should have.”

  “Better than ANY level should have,” Roq said proudly. “And if this oaf tries to take me, I shall show him exactly how special I am!”

  Knut just nodded, completely unperturbed.

  “Of course good! Have seen Steel & Scale work before.” He gestured expansively. “Would be insult if Thomas let son hunt with normal weapon! Man take more pride in work than northern smith with first sword!”

  I blinked, surprised by his statement.

  “You don't seem shocked.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Should I?” Knut raised an eyebrow. “Heard Thomas in tavern often, after few drinks. Way he talk of you.” He shook his head. “Would bet entire payment he gave best weapon.”

  “No, you don't understand,” I insisted. “This hammer has abilities of its own. It's... special.”

  Knut shrugged his massive shoulders, obviously still not understanding what I was getting at.

  “Have seen many weapons with abilities. Some shoot lightning, some freeze enemies, some make user strong like bull.” He grinned. “Just happy you have proper gear. No longer suicide mission!”

  “Wait,” Eryn said. “You thought this was a suicide mission?”

  “Of course. Your secret gear? Is shit.”

  “Then why did you agree to come?”

  Knut's expression grew serious.

  “You saved my life.” He held up a hand as both Eryn and I started to protest. “Leaving me would be smart thing. Most people I know would have. You didn't,” he said and glanced down at his leg where his life blood had flowed freely from that nasty scuttler wound.

  “Means I owe you life. No matter how dangerous mission, I always come.” His grin returned. “Long as payment good!”

  We all laughed at that.

  “Even I must admit he has... honor,” Roq grumbled. “Though his accent is atrocious. I could very well live out my life without ever hearing him speak again.”

  Knut's expression sobered.

  “I also admit something,” he said. “While I can teach adventuring, much I can learn from you too.” He straightened his shield strap. “Am happy to be here, friends.”

  “We're happy to have you, Knut. Wouldn't have anyone here rather than you, honestly. You were there when we needed you, and you were ready to sacrifice it all. That means something to us, too. Not just you, okay?” Eryn said softly.

  “Good!” Knut declared. “Now, too much sappy talk! Time to hunt, fill spatial storages, and return as heroes! Then drink and eat!”

  “Finally!” Roq exclaimed. “Someone speaking sense! Tell him I agree completely! Why aren't you telling him? Tell him!”

  “Because we're trusting him with most of the truth,” I thought back, “But not the part about you being a sentient soul weapon. So behave for now. Once we are sure he won't try to take you for himself, I will let you have a chat with him. Deal?”

  “A genius, kept from his audience,” Roq said. “The tragedy of it all... but yes, I agree. It will be glorious to speak to such a warmonger as himself!”

  “I thought you couldn't stand his voice?”

  “Details! Bla, bla, bla!”

  I couldn't help but chuckle at that, earning a curious look from Knut.

  “Oh, don't mind him,” Eryn said, waving a hand. “Ash has quite the active imagination. Sometimes it's like he's having entire conversations with himself, but really he's just staring into the distance.” She smiled. “I don't mind, though. He's handsome when he does that. I could just sit there and watch him all day.”

  Knut roared with laughter, slapping me on the back hard enough to make my armor rattle.

  “Must be luckiest man I ever meet!”

  “He has no idea how right he is,” Roq commented. “Though if he hits us like that again, I may need to reconsider my position on revealing myself.”

  * * *

  A bone-white structure arched far overhead. The skeleton of a massive monster, long dead? Our boots sank into the soft mulch beneath, making less noise than my own heartbeat. Eryn walked a step behind me, an arrow already nocked. Knut somehow managed to move his armor and considerable bulk quietly.

  “Look at it!”

  Roq's metallic voice rang in my mind. “Imagine the succulent blood of such a beast, Ash! The power we'd gain from slaying it!”

  “Its ribcage has a hundred ribs, Roq, each one five times my height. If whatever this once was had noticed us at all, it could have killed us with a sneeze. Be glad it's dead and let's focus on killing something a little closer to our own power.”

  “Coward.”

  “Idiot.”

  “Snore.”

  “Suicidal maniac.”

  I kept my eyes on our surroundings, searching for movement as Roq and I traded insults.

  We'd come searching for two types of monsters: Ironroot Golems and Glowcap Stalkers, but had yet to find either of them.

  “Still,” Roq said after a while, “There is a grandeur here, you must admit.”

  Knut raised his shield slightly as a branch snapped somewhere ahead, yet I couldn't see any movement. “A cathedral of bone,” Roq whispered, affected by the ambiance. “An arena worthy of battle.”

  Scraping from above made us all look up.

  Five pale and slim humanoid monsters, Glowcap Stalkers, slid down, a glowing mushroom cap where their heads should be, their long claws leaving thin furrows in the ancient bone.

  “MONSTERS!” Roq said. “Introduce me. Now! To their HEADS!”

  “Form up!” Knut said as he raised his shield. “Eryn back! Ash, left flank!”

  I moved into position as the Glowcaps landed softly, their weird heads swaying. Three dropped on my side, the left side, while the other pair attacked Knut.

  Eryn loosed an arrow on the rightmost Glowcap about to attack me. It hardly flinched as the arrow went straight through its shoulder, the wound barely bleeding.

  “Lead with shield!” Knut said, blocking a slash from the lead Glowcap. “Don't let them split you!”

  The Glowcap facing me moved as if to vomit, and its cap blazed bright blue.

  “Down!” Roq said and I repeated it to Eryn. Since she was behind me, if I just ducked she'd get hit instead.

  A cloud of spores erupted from its head and I crouched low behind my shield and pulled back toward her.

  My eyes watered from the few particles that reached me, my vision blurring and head immediately throbbing.

  “I'm fine!” I said, twisting away from a claw and swiping Roq up into the Glowcap's midsection, but the fungal-covered hide and soft belly absorbed most of the blow. It felt like hammering moss.

  “Harder!” Roq demanded. “They're trying to kill us!”

  The Glowcap lunged again, and I leaned into the blow with my full strength, hitting its chest with a wet crunch. This time its chest caved in and it stumbled back, giving me space to retreat further from the spore cloud.

  “BLOOD! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!”

  An arrow shot past my ear, hitting the second monster straight in its glowing cap, and this time sticking. But if it cared about the arrow to the head, it didn't show, as it attacked me together with the other remaining monster. My shield barely kept up with their strikes and the hammer didn't do much, either. They were the perfect kind of counter to Roq.

  Knut's battle cry shook the air as his shield bashed one monster and he crushed the cap on another with his mace, his high strength more than enough to kill it.

  “Keep moving, Ash! Don't let spores settle! They paralyze and sting hard pain,” Knut said.

  My legs burned as I kept myself between them and Eryn, while making sure they didn't surround or cover me in their toxic clouds. My throat felt raw, each breath bringing a slight wheeze.

  “You're slowing,” Roq observed. “The poison affects you. Use my strength!”

  But to use his ability I'd need a carcass to draw power from.

  I barrelled between the two, a slash barely missing my back, rushing to where the first monster lay clutching its chest and I struck its throat, killing it.

  I swiped the corpse into my storage and blocked an attack with my shield.

  Eryn loosed a broad-headed arrow at one of the two Glowcaps hammering down on me, hitting its leg, and sent it stumbling to the ground, one limb useless.

  Eryn's arrow had bought me an opening.

  “Armor break!”

  Roq's head glowed red and I struck the last standing Glowcap in its chest, and this time my hammer went straight through, sending chunks of fungal flesh splashing all around me with a big cloud of spores.

  “Ash, take a potion,” Eryn said as I stumbled over, finally making it into fresh air where I could acknowledge my throat.

  While doubled over and coughing, I swiped out the big bottle of antidote I'd bought from Victor. After uncorking it with my teeth, I held my breath and took a generous sip. The liquid burned as it slid down my throat, and I made a face that had Eryn chuckling, but it provided instant relief.

  “Good kills,” Knut said, but his voice was strained too, goo covering the bottom of his tower shield, and I saw him fumbling with his own potion.

  “Drink, you oaf!” Eryn commanded as she aimed an arrow at the remaining monster. Her eyes flickered to mine.

  “Mine, Ash! Get it, quick! Before the brute or your girlfriend steals our kill!”

  I started towards it, but was suddenly unsure. What we needed was gems. Not to level Roq up. At least not yet.

  “I won’t forgive you if you starve me! It’s right there! Let. ME. FEAST!”

  But after having consumed every gem we'd bought, I had hit level seven, a full level higher than Roq. It would have to be enough of a gap.

  I shook my head at Eryn and she lowered the bow.

  “VINDICATION!”

  With my breath held, I walked over, closed my eyes and bashed the monster's brains out, before jogging out of its spore cloud.

  “Everyone alright?” I asked, fanning the air in front of us using my shield.

  “Not a scratch,” Eryn said. “Though I'd expected more damage from my arrows.”

  “Leg shot good. Keep testing. Keep learning,” Knut said. “Soon know best way to kill.”

  She nodded.

  “You breathed in more spores than even I did,” I said.

  “Could be better,” Knut admitted, wiping the gooey stuff from his mace onto the soft ground. “But no real danger. You need practice with shield. I give you many monsters.”

  “I saw how you knocked them around,” I said. “By putting more weight behind my shield, I can set them up for hammer strikes.”

  “Yes. And you must trade better. Accept small strike to make big. And not always hit to kill. Disable. Control space.”

  I smiled at Knut.

  “That's a lot to learn on my first outing.”

  “You are scavengers hunting like classed adventurers,” Knut said. “Want to keep life?”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “Learn faster.”

  “Or we could just hit them harder,” Roq suggested. “Much harder. Until they stop moving.”

  “We should also work on identifying which ones are about to release spores,” Eryn said. “There were signs, like the way their caps glowed.”

  “True!” Knut roared, clapping Eryn on the shoulder. “Now you think like adventurer! Always learn from fight, even in victory! Not only pretty but smart, too.”

  Eryn blushed instantly, and I chuckled.

  The massive northerner grinned and spread his hands.

  “How we loot?”

  Back at the Timberline, Eryn and I had negotiated a fair trade with Knut. We would pay him one mind gem for each mission he undertook with us. In exchange, he would keep our secrets, fight without re-negotiating mid-mission, and five of his ten spatial storage slots would be used to carry monsters for us. It was a deal he agreed to immediately.

  If not for Roq's ability of knowing which carcasses had mind gems, it might not be worth it for the risk we were taking, but considering we had someone who could tell what carcasses had mind gems, we were getting a fantastic deal.

  “Roq?”

  “None.”

  I didn't mind. We'd just gotten started, and if I knew Pa and Ma right, they'd find some way of turning these spongy monsters into cold, hard gold. Worst case, we'd sell them to the alchemist or the guild and recoup some of our losses.

  “Take two, Knut,” I said, “And we'll let you upgrade once we find something better.”

  “Gratitude,” the man said and bent low as he swiped two, Eryn one, and I got the last, adding to the one Roq had already partially consumed to use Armor Break.

  We moved on, carefully watching the bones above us, not eager to have another surprise dropping in from above.

  * * *

  “Look there,” Eryn whispered, pointing with her bow.

  What I'd thought were rotting steelhusk trees turned out to be two humanoid figures. I touched the sigil next to my eye, activating the tattoo, and an orange glow sprang up around them.

  “Now THIS is more like it!” Roq said. “Look at the size of them! So exciting!”

  The monsters stood motionless, each one at least ten feet tall, with thick limbs that looked more like tree trunks than arms and legs. Their ‘bark’ was actually layered like armor plates, and what I had first taken for branches were spear-like growths of twisted wood sprouting from their bodies.

  “Two orange threats,” I said. “Ironroot Golems.”

  The monsters we were there to hunt.

  “Who cares about colors?” Roq said. “Look at them! Think of the experience we can gain!”

  “Think about survival first, experience second. Or do you want to get stuck with a golem wielding you?”

  “This good spot,” Knut said calmly. “Pull there,” he pointed to where the ancient ribs pierced the ground. “Good cover against slow monsters.”

  He gestured at the two golems.

  “They not move before provoked. Gives time to plan. To position.” He nodded. “To choose battlefield. Very important.”

  I studied the terrain.

  “If you and I fight them around the bones, Eryn should have free aim and their movements will be limited.”

  “Good.” Knut said. “Fast thinking. But, they strong like Northern whisky. One good hit and,” he said, drawing a finger across his throat.

  “What about the root spears the reports mentioned?” Eryn asked.

  “Thirty yard range,” Knut said, shrugging. “Accuracy good. Keep moving or,” he added another throat-cutting gesture. “Real danger is stomp.”

  “Stomp?”

  Knut nodded grimly.

  “Slam foot down. Ground shake. Lose balance. Then…” He mimed being crushed by a massive fist.

  “Enough talk!” Roq complained. “Let's kill them! I want to have a taste!”

  “Patience. A dead hammer can't taste anything.”

  “Remember timing,” Knut said, his voice hushed. “Key to fight golems. Watch for tells. For root spears, they pull back. For stomp, they shift weight. Learn sign to survive. Monster fighting 101. Learn before you fight.”

  Eryn and I shared a knowing look, and I thought back to the crystalkin exploding in my face. We definitely had not been learning enough about our targets before we went out hunting.

  My grip tightened on Roq's handle.

  “Crack bark, hit glowing veins inside,” Knut added. “But careful — kill one makes other angry. More aggressive. Faster. They pair like old husband and wife, yes?” He touched his chest. “Lost good friend to golems. Broke one, thought fight easier. Was trap.”

  I looked at Eryn and she gave me a nod.

  “Ready,” I said. “And thanks for giving us the basics, Knut.”

  His grin turned predatory.

  “We are friends, yes? Let's wake tree up and smash.”