Eryn and I walked across the courtyard to the medical station, positioned close to the rift for rapid response. The tan canvas stretched across a temporary structure, and stood out against the steelhusk-clad purplish palisades. It wasn't the only one of its kind, either, as several more were positioned next to one another. Support staff scuttled about, carrying various supplies and even helping the wounded about.

  Dr. Katherine Ridley met us at the entrance to one of the oversized tents, her silver hair pulled back in a tight military bun. Her sharp green eyes swept over us, lingering on the tears and bloodstains in my clothes before meeting my gaze.

  I tried not to look at the old burn scars on her hands as she gestured us inside.

  “Your friend is stable,” the woman said matter-of-factly. Her voice was crisp and militant. “The leg is saved, and he should make a full recovery within the week. He's asked to speak with you before we transfer him through the rift for recovery.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Ridley.” I shifted under her professional scrutiny. “We got lucky out there.”

  She raised an eyebrow at my damaged clothes yet apparent health.

  “Lucky, huh? Doesn't look like it to me, scavenger, but whatever you say.”

  I let out a weak chuckle.

  “Knut saved our lives a dozen times over. It is thanks to him that we made it out in one piece. Truly. Thank you for taking care of him.”

  She nodded, and before she could dig any further, a nurse called her away to another patient. Eryn and I exchanged nervous glances before hurrying to Knut's bedside.

  The big guy sat up as we approached, his usual booming voice subdued.

  “There is debt now. I owe you.”

  “No,” I cut in. “We owe you. If you hadn't fought those Scuttlers all by yourself, we would have been dead. Understood?”

  His eyes narrowed and he scanned the other patients within earshot. He touched a finger to the side of his nose and nodded slowly.

  “Your words trigger correct memories.”

  I swiped out seven Scuttler carcasses while Eryn produced three more.

  “Payment for services rendered and lives saved,” Eryn said. “Thank you, Knut. Thank you for keeping us all safe and for saving this guy here. He means the world to me.”

  Knut examined the carcasses before swiping five into his storage from where he lay

  “You take others,” he insisted with a wink in my direction. “I kill, but you carry me. Payment for big muscles. Also, buy pretty flowers for lady. Or maybe food. Young smoochey-smoochey warms northern heart.”

  Eryn and I shared a smile before nodding our thanks. Before, I'd probably have turned beet-red and sputtered one thing or another, but now I just accepted it. It felt as if Eryn and I belonged to one another, and there was no shame in showing it.

  As I reached for a carcass, Roq's voice cut through my mind.

  “Take that one. And that one there.”

  “Why those specifically?”

  “Not sure. Just... trust me. I want to see what's inside.”

  I swiped up the two Roq indicated plus another, while Eryn took the remaining two, leaving me with five Scuttler carcasses total and Eryn with four, a fair division considering I'd killed them all. That also made me think about something very important: expanding my storage yet again, and expanding Eryn's, too. We'd want to bring back huge amounts of carcasses whenever we went out.

  “You fought well, scavenger,” Knut said. “Hire me any time. Strong man makes good team mate.”

  Before I could answer, Commander Edwin's voice rang out behind me.

  “Ash, Eryn. Come see me by the rift for a moment if you're done here?”

  I nodded to Knut, and suddenly the man stood up as if to join us.

  “Knut Coinshield Steelwall!” Dr. Ridley's voice snapped out, filling the tent. “If you don't sit your ass back down on that cot right now, I'll cut both your portal-pissed legs off and keep them in a pickle jar! Sit! Down!”

  The warrior's eyes went wide and he plopped back down.

  “Fiery woman.” He smiled at Eryn. “I like.” He swung his legs back up on the bed with a grin. “It seems I require additional... healing. Maybe I take her home with me, too.”

  “I heard that!” Dr. Ridley yelled over her shoulder. “I'm not interested in men who get hurt so easily, Mr. Steelwall. Try better next time.”

  Eryn sputtered, and I took her hand and pulled her out.

  “See you in Dawnwatch, Knut. And thank you for your bravery,” I said, waving, barely managing to hold my laughter in.

  “Likewise, adventurer.” He winked at me. “I mean scavenger.”

  As we exited, Dr. Ridley reached out and waved at Eryn.

  “You decided your class yet?”

  “Healer, Dr. Ridley,” Eryn said, her face a toothy grin.

  “Good. When you get your class, come see me. I'll teach you a thing or two. We need more healers who can think straight in a fight, and this is twice in two days I've heard tales of your first aid prowess under pressure.”

  “Oh,” Eryn's face lit up. “Thank you, doctor! I would love to learn anything you can teach me.”

  “Excellent. And call me Katherine. All the healers do.”

  “Yes, Katherine. I hope to see you soon!”

  As we left, Eryn squeezed my hand and leaned over to whisper something as we walked to Edwin.

  “Did you see? She invited me! Me, Ash. Me! To learn from her!”

  Roq scoffed.

  “If she was even half the healer I was, Knut would be up and fighting again already.”

  “We are certainly moving up in the world, aren't we?” I said, squeezing her hand back and ignoring my hammer.

  “And don't think I don't know who I have to thank for it. Hero.”

  A warmth spread from my hand to the rest of my body, and I just hoped I didn't blush too badly.

  “Tell her she's welcome. I will save her again if she can keep your useless ass alive.”

  “She didn't mean you, Roq. By the rift, man. Give us some privacy.”

  “Huh?” Eryn said, looking at my clenching hand. “The hammer?”

  “Yeah. Never mind him.”

  The rift's glow cast Commander Edwin's shadow across Sentinel Station's packed yard as he waited for us near the portal.

  “Commander,” I said as we stopped before him. “What can we—”

  A bell rang out from the watchtower.

  One ring for people returning to station. Two rings for people heading out. Three or more meant monsters were attacking.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Please don't ring two more times. Please don't—

  The bell pealed a second time and I tensed, hoping it wouldn’t strike a third time. I didn't feel like fighting again so quickly. Not at all.

  “One more means feeding time?”

  Eryn's fingers dug into my arm, and I tightened my grip around Roq, giving a subtle nod. Edwin's hand dropped to his sword hilt. We all held our breath, waiting for seconds that almost stretched into eternity.

  No third ring came, and the tension drained from our shoulders, and Edwin released his grip on the sword. Eryn's death grip on my arm relaxed, too, and I let out the long breath I had been holding.

  “What can we do for you, Commander?” I asked, giving him my most neutral smile I could muster.

  Edwin's eyes swept the yard before settling back on us.

  “There's something you should know,” he said, stepping in closer and his voice dropping. “The Adventurers Guild has been receiving gem-grams from other rifts. Many are reporting increased danger levels and more frequent monster waves. Not as strange behavior as what you went through today, but increased monster activity.”

  The rift's backlight deepened the shadows in his scars.

  “A new rift like ours shouldn’t behave this strangely. With what happened in the Twisted Titan, the swarm of Scuttlers you faced today, and the increased frequency of attacks on Sentinel Station, it is not something we can ignore.”

  “More blood for the blood God!” Roq's eager voice rang in my head. “Feed and grow! Progression!”

  I ignored him.

  “Guild Leader Harold did mention to Pa and me the monsters growing stronger and faster. Do you know why?”

  Edwin's jaw clenched.

  “Nobody knows. But it can't be anything good.” He planted his feet wider, commander's cape stirring in the breeze. “I want you both to be extra careful going out. Have a plan. Take a strong group. Don't—” He cut himself off with a curse. “Pioneer's plight, Benedict knew the rift was acting strange. He should have known better than to lead an untested party into danger. I'm just glad you got back safe. But it cost Marcus his life.”

  Eryn and I exchanged glances.

  “We got lucky today,” she said softly.

  Edwin nodded.

  “Keep this information to yourselves. We don't want to spread panic.”

  “Why tell us then?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.

  The commander hesitated, something I'd never seen him do before.

  “Because you’re growing stronger, fast, and that is what we need.” His voice firmed with conviction. “I believe you'll have important roles to play in Dawnwatch and maybe even beyond. We need more fighters. It might sound crazy, but a couple extra classed adventurers, even just level tens, could turn the tide if a monster wave hits.” His eyes flickered to Roq. “Even with Knut handling most of the kills, that hammer and shield of yours seems to have kept you alive against impossible odds. I won't ask for details, but keep doing whatever it is and stay safe.”

  “We're quite far from level ten,” I said, deflecting any attention from Roq. “I'm only halfway to four, and Eryn…”

  I turned to her questioningly.

  “Two more to reach level five,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

  I smiled at her.

  “You must have had enough to buy a mind gem last time with those corpses.”

  “Yes, but I'm not even close to getting a class gem,” Eryn said, tempering the moment with practicality.

  “It might seem far away,” Edwin said, “But I know you two will work hard to get there quickly.” His expression grew even more serious. “It may be more important than ever. And if anyone stands in your way, come see me. I will give you all the support you need. Just make sure not to put Dawnwatch in danger like Benedict did, and I will always have your backs.”

  “We'll work hard,” I said. “That’s a promise.”

  Eryn nodded firmly beside me and even made a small bow to the Commander.

  “Good.” Edwin's stern expression softened slightly. “Keep up the good work, but head back to Noros for now. You've earned a rest.”

  “Will do, Commander. And thanks for the offer. It means a lot to someone like me.”

  “Someone like you? A scavenger to rival lower-level adventurers? You are earning your place, don’t let anyone, even yourself, doubt that.”

  I nodded, and we headed toward the rift, its surface rippling like water in moonlight. I had a hard time hiding my stupid grin, and Eryn wasn't doing much better. Just as we were about to step through, Edwin called out again.

  “Oh, and Ash?” I turned back. “If anyone gives you hassle over carrying those colors,” he nodded to my shield with its adventuring guild paint, “You tell them to take it up with me.”

  I grinned and gave him a quick smile before taking Eryn's hand and stepping towards the rift.

  “More blood AND official permission to crack skulls? This day just keeps getting better! Oh, and do tell him I said hi. That man deserves a raise or something.”

  “That is not what he meant and you know it. Also, I'm not saying hi to him, idiot. He'd probably take you for himself or something. I'm not sure I want to trust any more people with the knowledge of having a soul-forged weapon, I mean partner.”

  Roq's laughter followed us through the portal. That only made everything that happened next even stranger.

  The rift's green surface parted like mercury as we stepped through. One moment we were Riftside, the next Roq’s shriek blasted through my mind with such force that my knees buckled.

  “NOOOO!”

  I stumbled forward, barely catching myself before face-planting.

  “That's the second time today I've stumbled through the damn portal!”

  “I mean... ahem ... that was... a tactical assessment of... oh monster balls.”

  “Ash?” Eryn's grip tightened on my arm. “What's wrong?”

  “It's my... friend,” I whispered, still trying to process Roq's uncharacteristic outburst. “Something’s wrong. Can we walk quietly for a moment?”

  “Of course.” She snaked her arm through mine and helped me stand upright. “I'll lead you past First Steel.”

  “There was... a voice,” Roq said, his usual smugness replaced by uncertainty. “Not yours. Not mine. Another.”

  “What kind of voice?”

  “I don't know... it was... powerful. And it spoke of—”

  “What? What did it say?”

  “It didn't talk so much as imprint its intention on me. I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit!”

  I was quiet for a moment, waiting to hear what else he had to say. My impatience got the better of me, though.

  “So... are you going to share?”

  “I don't think it meant for me to hear, or maybe sense it. It hates us, Ash. I think one reason for the increased attacks on your base... well, that's because of us.”

  I stopped walking and just stood there. Eryn eyed me curiously, but she said nothing.

  “Wait, are you saying the increased attacks on the rifts are because of us?”

  “Don't be absurd,” Roq snapped, but without his usual bite. “Well, not ALL of them. Just... here. Around this rift. The Scuttler attack was aimed at us, of that I am sure as steel.”

  I started walking again as a group of adventurers almost bumped into us.

  “That's... come on, Roq. I know you have a high opinion of yourself, but we're not that important.”

  “You think I don't know that?” The hammer's voice held an edge of frustration. “I'm not saying we're causing all the problems in your precious Noros. But something out there noticed us. Something from Outside.”

  “Outside?”

  “Inside. Riftside. Beyond the station.” Roq's mental voice grew quieter. “I couldn't pinpoint where exactly. But it was... weird and powerful.”

  The hammer fell silent for so long I thought he was done, but then he continued, and this time his words were tinged with genuine fear.

  “I think it hates us, Ash. The Scuttlers today, they were sent to kill us. Specifically you and me. That's why they kept going for us instead of the others.”

  “That's crazy.”

  “What's he saying?” Eryn asked.

  “Don't tell her!”

  “Don’t you think she's earned the right, Roq? She fought alongside us. Besides, I'm going to need help if I am to keep feeding you. And get stronger at a fast enough pace to keep up with, well, what they're expecting of us.”

  “Fine. But, can you leave out the manly roar I expelled?”

  I didn't respond to his plea, but decided not to antagonize him without cause.

  “Something or someone spoke in his head and it wants to kill us. Him and me to be precise.”

  “He heard the monsters?” Eryn asked.

  I nodded.

  “Seems so. Or at least, that's what he thinks happened. And the voice, it was supposedly very powerful.”

  “That's... fantastic!”

  “What?”

  “What?”

  “After all these years, we barely know anything about them. If your hammer can give us even the tiniest insight into how they think and work, it could be the breakthrough of the decade!”

  I glanced around, careful of who was within earshot as we passed through the gate in First Steel, the wall tall above us. Ahead, Harold and Isabel sat at their tables, negotiating with adventurers. I pulled Eryn to a halt in the shadows.

  “Please, keep this quiet. We can't afford to let anyone know. At least not yet,” I said.

  “But—”

  “No buts. I'm not risking my family, and you, on people not gossiping. You saw what Edwin just did. The commander spilling adventure guild secrets to a couple of scavengers? It's great for us, but it proves exactly how dangerous it is to trust anyone with this. Besides, we'd be dead before nightfall and you know that.”

  She licked her lips and looked away, then sighed.

  “Fine...I mean...ugh. You know what I meant. I'd never say anything that would cause you any harm, silly. It's just...well, I was excited to maybe learn something new about the monsters. Is all.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “Shame. I thought we might have to kill her after all.”

  “Don't even start, warmonger.”

  “But what do we do about the voice? What did it say?”

  “Well, it hates us.”

  “We kind of already established that,” Eryn said.

  “Established? How?”

  “Why else would the monsters be invading Noros? I don't think it's because they want to join us for tea. They want our world for themselves.”

  “Just how bad of a communicator are you? If I wasn't so disgusted by the thought of someone else touching me, I'd consider having her grip me by the shaft so I could explain it all myself.”

  “No, not humanity,” I said. “Us.”

  “You and me?”

  She wrinkled her nose.

  “No. My hammer. Roq and I.”

  “Oh. That is weird,” Eryn said.

  “Yeah. It's kind of freaky.

  “Then what do we do?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If we can't tell anyone about it, we'll have to sort this out ourselves, won't we?”

  “Might be pretty dangerous,” I said, though a big smile crept onto my face. I was grateful Eryn had immediately decided to help in our new mission, despite the obvious danger. And to get there, I would have to start trusting people. Or at least her.

  “Excellent. Tell her of my goal to drink her bodyweight in blood a thousand times over!”

  “We better gear up and get some levels then, don't we?” Eryn said and shot me a wink.

  I glanced over at the guild leader and the royal bank manager, aware we'd be attracting attention soon, so I hung my shield off Roq and put my other arm around her.

  “Have I ever told you I like the way you think,” I said.

  “No, but please do continue,” she said, leaning into me as we walked on. “I'm all ears.”