I gently squeezed Eryn's hand as she laughed at Knut's latest story, making our walk back to Sentinel Station fly by. After keeping Roq in storage for a bit, my body felt fresh as if I'd spent a full day resting at home. There was also this warm feeling spreading through my chest. Was it satisfaction? It just might be, and not only over the ten mind gems awaiting harvesting, no, it was this feeling of friendship and camaraderie and family. Even after paying Knut what we owed him, we had enough to get me to level nine.

  The thought died in my head as I caught a glimpse of the station's walls through the gaps in the ancient steelhusks. I swallowed hard and felt my heart lurch into my throat.

  Deep gouges covered the reinforced palisade and the walls were painted in gore. Defenders, both soldiers and adventurers, crowded the walls and elevated walkways, their weapons at the ready. Below, monster carcasses carpeted the killing field in grotesque heaps, piled three or four deep against the walls.

  “By the rift,” Eryn whispered beside me. I could feel her tense up, and so did I.

  Knut's gasp for breath sounded sharp and harsh.

  “This... this is bad,” he said, already moving forward. “Must go inside. Now!”

  I yanked Roq from my storage as we broke into a run.

  “Finally! Some action!” Roq's eagerness flooded my mind. “Though I must say, this does look rather... excessive. Even for my tastes.”

  “How many?” I asked as we ran across the open ground. My boots slipped on blood-slick soil. “There must be hundreds of dead monsters out here!”

  “More,” Knut said grimly. “Many more. Look at walls.”

  He was right. Claw marks scored the palisade up to twice my height. Something huge had tried to break through, and only thanks to the people defending Sentinel Station, was it killed. No, not dead. I couldn't see the carcass anywhere.

  One ring of the alarm bell cut through the air, signaling what I guessed was our return, and a rope ladder tumbled down the wall ahead of us.

  “Move!” a guard shouted from above. “More could come any second! Something strange is happening!”

  Surely that means Dawnwatch is safe. If they had broken through, the guard wouldn't still be here, right? There would be gaps in the walls and there wouldn't be any ringing.

  We reached the ladder in what felt like record time. Both Knut and I waited for Eryn to go first.

  “Go!”

  Eryn grabbed the rope and headed up, with me following right behind her. My bag banged awkwardly against my back and I wished I was wearing the battle gear instead. The ladder swayed with Knut's weight below.

  “Faster!” Roq urged. “I do NOT want my first wielder to die hanging from a piece of string! What an undignified addition to my saga that would be!”

  I hauled myself over the top of the wall, and the full scope of the attack hit me like a hammer to the face.

  Wounded defenders lay everywhere. Some propped against the wall, others being carried on stretchers toward the medical tents. Blood splattered the wooden platforms. Dr. Ridley's voice rose above the chaos, barking orders as her team worked frantically.

  Left of the medical tent, eight cloth-covered shapes lay perfectly still. My fingers tightened around Roq's haft, and my stomach clenched. In all our time here, I'd never seen dead defenders at Sentinel Station. The healers were always ready, always prepared. For eight people to die despite that was almost too much.

  “How?” I couldn't even finish the question.

  Knut pulled himself up beside me, his face grim.

  “Bad business,” he rumbled. “Very terrible. Station full of good defenders and best healers. So much dead? Bad.” He shook his head.

  I turned to the guard who'd dropped the ladder. He was already hauling it back up, his movements slow from exhaustion.

  “What happened with the wall? Those claw marks must have been from a much larger monster, no?” I asked.

  The guard's hands shook on the rope. His voice, when it came, was barely above a whisper.

  “They just came. No warning. Scouts didn't make it back.” He swallowed hard. “Don't know how they got past them. More than I've ever seen.” His words failed as he packed the ladder against the wall and picked up his weapon. “There was a new monster with them. A tiger or a wolf? Was yellow, and larger than any warhorse I've seen. Twice its size. It stalked behind the wave, watching and staring at us as we fought.” The guard leaned out and looked down at the deep gouges, before turning to stare out at the forest, his knuckles white on his red-spattered spear. “It walked up and clawed at the wall, but lazily? Like a cat. Sniffed the air, it did, and looked straight up at me from down below. I thought I was dead for sure. There was lightning. A lot of it. Came from the monster.”

  I squeezed the man's shoulder.

  “Where is the carcass?”

  He shook his head.

  “After hitting us with a lightning storm it turned and walked off into the forest. Never seen a monster act that way. I could have tried to hit it from up here, try to wound it, but I froze. I couldn't even—”

  “You held,” Knut said. “You do good job. Still standing. Still fighting. Save many people.”

  The guard nodded but didn't look away from the trees. He hastily wiped at a tear rolling down his dusty cheek.

  We left him to his vigil and climbed down into the station proper. The usual bustle of the camp had transformed into controlled chaos. Runners darted to and fro the rift, orders were echoing across the clearing, and people moved with purpose despite the aftermath.

  “We should help Dr. Ridley,” Eryn said, already moving toward the medical tent.

  Knut nodded.

  “I carry wounded. You help treat.” He looked at me. “You?”

  I spotted Commander Edwin's distinctive armor through the crowd.

  “I'll report in with Edwin and see you right after.”

  “And hopefully find something that needs smashing!” Roq added. “Though I must say, even I find this level of carnage a bit concerning. I don't think this kind of number is ordinary. Ash?”

  “I don't know, Roq, but I've never seen anything like it. Come on.”

  Eryn squeezed my hand once before hurrying after Knut. I watched them go, then started toward Edwin. The commander stood surrounded by guards and messengers, and he issued rapid-fire orders, sending them away, one by one, his deep voice carrying authority even through exhaustion.

  “...double the watch rotation, I want fresh eyes scanning that treeline at all times,” he told Walt, who nodded and hurried off with a nod to me, his red hair flowing in the wind.

  How bad is it when Walt's been summoned? But at least it means First Steel still stands. Ma and Pa are safe, and that's all that matters for now.

  I let out a sigh of relief.

  Our soldiers had done their job, but some also paid the ultimate price. They had families, wives, and kids who would mourn them…

  “Get those carcasses cleared from the killing field,” Edwin ordered another. “I don't care if you have to burn them, just get them away from our walls before monsters come to feast on them. Get scavengers out there.”

  “Sir!” A messenger ran up to him just then, chest heaving. “The eastern gate, it needs repairs. Isaac says it'll fall under a strong breeze.”

  “Take five of the steelhusk work crews and bring more of the steelhusk back out from Dawnwatch,” Edwin said without hesitation. “Until then, rip armor plates from the dead monsters if you have to. I want that gate reinforced yesterday.”

  I hung back, Roq humming in my mind as Edwin coordinated the station's efforts to get back into some semblance of order. His massive tower shield stood next to him, dug several inches deep into the ground. Its surface was scarred, and fresh blood stained his armor.

  “THIS is a proper warrior!” Roq declared. “Look at the battle damage! The gore... I wonder how his shield would hold up against my might. Hmm, say, do you think he'd let you hit him once? A friendly tap on the shield?”

  “Pray we never need to find out, Roq. He is a friend, and you don't ask friends to 'tap' their shields with a super-destructive and abusive hammer.”

  Though a part of me wondered the same. Not that I wanted to fight Edwin, but I was curious as to just how strong Roq was when pitted against a real tank's gear.

  The last runner departed and Edwin sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his temple. I cleared my throat, and he turned to me.

  “Ash.” He ran a hand over his face. “I am glad to see you safely returned. In some ways, I wish you'd been here. We could have used your odd strength.” His eyes tracked over the carnage spread across the station. “But I'm also glad you didn't have to partake in this. At least not yet.”

  “What does he mean 'not yet'?” Roq demanded. “We could have gloriously crushed ALL of these pathetic creatures! Just imagine the experience points! I could have leveled up to—no, I would have probably gone all the way to level 10! Yes! The next time we take the wave on just by ourselves and—”

  “Any make it through?” I asked, ignoring the hammer and nodding toward the softly humming rift. “To Dawnwatch I mean.”

  Edwin's gaze shifted to where an Ironroot Golem lay sprawled just feet from the portal, its massive head cleanly severed from its shoulders. Dark sap pooled beneath the carcass.

  “No.” His voice was grim. “Again we held, but this time they managed to climb across and got close. Too damn close.” He shook his head and sighed. “It was a true surge. More in a single wave than in the last few days combined. Almost as if they'd been gathering for a massive push.”

  “Commander,” I said, wondering if anyone had attempted this before. “I might have an idea that could help with such attacks.”

  Edwin's focus turned to me.

  “Expand.”

  “Are you familiar with the glowcaps?” I asked. “The ones who hunt near that massive carcass that looks like a cathedral made from bone?”

  His eyes narrowed.

  “Yeah. I’ve heard they spew spores that'll choke you to death if you're not careful.”

  “Ohh, yes!” Roq's enthusiasm erupted in my mind. “Tell him about the truly marvellous EXPLOSIONS! The MAGNIFICENT DEVASTATION!”

  “They're flammable,” I said.

  Edwin's eyebrow rose.

  “Oh?”

  “Extremely so.”

  “As in—”

  I smiled grimly.

  “They explode when exposed to fire.”

  The commander's fingers drummed on top of his shield and he glanced at his blade.

  “How'd you find out?” he asked, all of his focus pointed at me.

  “Look at Knut's beard and eyebrows next time you see him.”

  Edwin chuckled, a deep rumbling sound that drew curious glances from nearby defenders. The sound seemed to ease some of the tension in the air, and more than one wondering look turned our way.

  “You're underselling it!” Roq complained. “Tell him about the chain reaction! The way they all went up like fireworks! The GLORIOUS destruction!”

  “But, I have an idea,” I continued, “If you don't mind.”

  Edwin's expression grew serious again as he surveyed the blood-stained walls.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Anything, Ash.” His voice dropped. “If we don't come up with something new, the monsters? They’ll get through sooner or later.”

  I took a deep breath and launched into it.

  “Put up a bounty for the glowcaps. Alive.” The words tumbled out faster now. “Have groups go out and carefully capture them. Tie them up and stuff them in sacks, then bring them back here.” I gestured at the killing field. “Chain them to the steelhusk stumps out there. If another wave like this comes, wait until the monsters get close and ignite them with fire arrows.”

  “YES!” Roq cried excitedly. “And then BOOM! Monster parts EVERYWHERE!”

  “Depending on how close you put them,” I added, “You could even cause a chain reaction.”

  Edwin stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then slowly, like dawn breaking from the dark, a smile spread across his face.

  “That's interesting.” He clasped my shoulder. “Thank you. We might just do that. Or something similar at least. We'll have to run some tests for ourselves first.”

  “Might?” Roq scoffed. “MIGHT? This is brilliant! Though perhaps we could volunteer to test the idea? Just a small test. Maybe fifty or sixty Glowcaps? For science?”

  “Not now, Roq.”

  “You never let me have any fun...”

  “Is there anything else I can do to help?” I asked.

  Edwin's laugh held no humor.

  “Become a classed adventurer?” he suggested. “I could really use more men when we go clear the Twisted Titan. More important than ever. We've had gem-grams from all over Noros reporting massive attacks over the last few days.” He licked his lips. “Without that warning, I wouldn't have put extra men on the walls, and who knows what would have happened today.”

  I nodded.

  “I'll get there, sir.”

  “Oh yes we will!” Roq agreed enthusiastically. “And then we shall rain DESTRUCTION upon our enemies! They will TREMBLE before our might!”

  Edwin's half-smile looked painful as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

  “I shouldn't put such pressure on you,” he said. “You're already doing better than anyone could ask for - running scouting missions, scavenging, and growing stronger. Sometimes I forget you're not even classed yet. It should be our duty to do all those things, yet many of us have become complacent and lazy.”

  “I appreciate being treated as an equal,” I said. “And I can take it.” My eyes swept over the blood-stained ground, the exhausted defenders, the shrouded bodies. “I'm nearly there.” Edwin's eyebrows rose.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I'll be level nine by tomorrow.”

  “Thanks to MY incredible power!” Roq added. “Though I suppose your swing isn't completely terrible.”

  Edwin stared at me.

  “You were level five less than a week ago.”

  I couldn't help smiling.

  “That's not even all.”

  “What do you mean?” Edwin's eyes narrowed.

  I straightened, lowering my voice.

  “Don't tell anyone, but we have a warrior's class gem waiting. As soon as I hit level ten, and I'm just eleven mind gems short, I'll be joining you as an adventurer.”

  Edwin's scarred face split in a genuine grin.

  “By the rift-breeched monster’s piss! That's the first good news I've heard all week.” Then his expression suddenly grew serious, and he glanced around. “Who else knows?”

  “My family, Eryn, and Knut.”

  “Good. Keep it that way. Don't mention it to anyone else, not even Harold, until after you've consumed the gem. And Knut? He's an odd one, but definitely the good sort, if I'm not mistaken. You were lucky to befriend a tank like that.”

  “Ooh, more SECRETS!” Roq said. “I do so love a good conspiracy! Though I prefer the kind that ends in an explosion…or spikes. Yes, a lot of spikes!”

  “Why shouldn’t I tell—” I began, but a guard ran up, breathing hard.

  “Sir! We've found the eastern scouts, or umm...what remains of them.”

  Edwin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he squeezed my shoulder.

  “Send someone to find me when you're ready for your ritual,” he said. “I'd like to be there. Help guide you through it personally.”

  I opened my mouth to reply, but Edwin turned to the scout who launched into his report. Taking my cue, I stepped back, giving the two some privacy, my emotions swirling like a rift in my chest. The warmth of pride at Edwin's promise to oversee my transformation to a classed adventurer warred with an icy dread in my stomach at the news of the dead scouts.

  “Did you see how close that golem came to the rift? Three more steps and it would have reached Dawnwatch and possibly transformed.”

  “BAH!” Roq said. “We would have crushed it! Though I must admit that,” His tone grew thoughtful after a moment, tThe sheer number of monster carcasses is unpleasant. There is a theoretical limit to how many skulls I can crack at once.”

  “Really? You can hit more of them than one at a time?”

  I headed over towards the healers' tent, meeting up with Knut who carried a wounded guard. The man's leg ended in a bloody mess just below the knee, and his face was grey with shock. Knut's massive tower shield was strapped across his back, leaving both arms free to cradle the injured man.

  “...not so bad,” Knut said as I approached. “If find your leg, can put back on.” He frowned. “Many legs out there. But!” His face brightened. “Can get monster leg! Very fashionable. Ladies love scars, missing parts. Shows you survivor.”

  The wounded man stared at him in horror.

  “My wife,” he whispered. “She's expecting.”

  “Perfect!” Knut boomed. “Baby never know difference! Think all fathers have hoofed leg. Very convenient for playing horsey!”

  I winced as the man fainted at that, and I fell in beside Knut.

  “Was that really necessary?” I asked as the northerner carefully laid the man on an empty cot inside the tent, produced the other part of the leg from his spatial storage, and placed it next to the man, then backed out, nearly bumping into me. We moved away from the entrance as more wounded were carried past.

  “Joke lightens mood,” Knut said. “Leg lay next to him. But he sleep good now. When wake, leg back on and he alive.”

  “How are our girls doing?” I asked, shaking my head.

  Knut's laugh was surprisingly gentle.

  “'Our girls?'“ He glanced back to where the doctor walked among the injured. “Katherine not fit such familiar term. Though,” he smiled and looked thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe some day? And Eryn blooms like winter rose. Natural healer. Good hands. Steady heart. Happy to fix instead of break.”

  “What can we do?”

  “Carry more wounded,” Knut said promptly but his face fell. “Doctor say be gentle. As if I some clumsy ox who only knows breaking.” He held up his hands and wiggled his barely visible eyebrows. “I be very gentle when want to, if you know my meaning!”

  “Store me,” Roq said. “You'll need both hands to carry the wounded. And I absolutely do NOT want to hear about why Knut would ever want to be gentle. There are some things even a mighty weapon of ultimate destruction should not have to endure. Like smoochy time and…some other stuff.”

  I swiped Roq into my spatial storage. This reminded me all too much of the day Samuel had died, and once again I wished there was more I could do than carry the wounded. I should have been there to protect the people, and instead I was out farming gems.

  My nails dug into my palms as I stared past the walls towards the forest.

  * * *

  I stifled a yawn as we trudged up to Steel & Scale, the sun nearly set.

  Home.

  Finally.

  The door burst open as we entered the front yard.

  “Ash!” Ma flew out, her face pale. “Eryn! Knut!” She grabbed my shoulders, eyes searching my face. “By the rift-cursed monsters, where have you been? We heard there was an attack!” Her voice broke for a second and she gulped. “They wouldn't let anyone near the walls, said it wasn't safe, that we had to stay back and—”

  I pulled her into a hug, feeling her trembling.

  “We're fine, Ma. We arrived just after the attack.” I breathed in her familiar scent of herbs and smoke. “Stayed afterwards to help, with Eryn working with the healers.”

  Ma's arms tightened around me.

  “I was so afraid.” Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “When the bells started ringing and the guards rushed to the rift...” She pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “They wouldn't tell us anything. Just kept saying to stay away from the First Steel in case monsters crossed over.”

  “Your mother seems quite emotional,” Roq said, hanging on my belt. “Though I suppose that's understandable. She has yet to see in person how magnificently we destroy our enemies!”

  I glanced past Ma into the shop. Pa sat behind the counter, relief evident in his eyes. Untouched cups of tea and chocolate-chip cookies rested before him. He'd probably been sitting there since the bells rang thrice, waiting for us to return.

  “We're here now,” I said, squeezing Ma's shoulder. “All in one piece.”

  Ma sniffled, then straightened her spine.

  “Well, don't just stand there in the street!” She gestured us inside. “Come in, come in!”

  “Ma, I was thinking it would be good for Eryn and Knut to stay the night?” I asked as we headed in.

  Ma's laugh was watery but genuine.

  “Good idea. I'll make up cots upstairs.”

  “No need for me,” Knut rumbled. “I take first watch.” He shifted his weight, adjusting his shield. “Done many times before. Rest by forge fire later.” A massive yawn split his face, undermining his point.

  We all chuckled.

  “Getting it out of way early!” Knut laughed. “Actually,” I said, “I could eat a mind gem and keep guard, but I figured after today we all need a proper rest, so I arranged for a friend to stand watch tonight.”

  “When?” Knut asked.

  “While you were carrying wounded and flirting with the doctor.”

  Knut's eyes narrowed.

  “Who?”

  “Enar. He's a guard I know. Relaxed sort, but takes his job seriously.”

  “You trust this guard?” Knut's voice was careful. “With family?”

  I nodded.

  “I do.”

  “Hmph.” Knut stroked his recently-trimmed beard. “Nobles love buying people.”

  “True,” I said. “Which is why I made sure to offer something they never would.”

  Knut's expression cleared and he nodded slowly.

  “Good.”

  “That's quite enough chit-chat!” Ma cut in, hands on her hips. “All of you—go wash up! Get that monster blood off before it sets! And put your gear out for repair. But do so upstairs, in case of a monster breach. Don't want to be caught without your weapons.” Then she shooed us toward the door. “Supper will be ready when you're done. Then straight to bed!”

  “Yes, Ma,” we chorused, even Knut.

  “Your mother is quite commanding,” Roq observed. “I approve! Though she could work on her battle cry. What a fearsome woman she would be.”

  I gave Ma another quick hug, feeling warmth settling in my chest. It felt good to be home and see them safe.

  “Come on,” I said to Eryn and Knut. “Babe, you wash first. We'll wait until you're done.”

  “Such gentlemen,” she said with a tired smile as we headed out and towards the back.

  I caught her hand and squeezed it.

  “Always.”

  “Oh please,” Roq groaned. “Must we endure more of this tenderness? Where is the bloodshed? The glory? The satisfying crunch of breaking bones?”

  “Quiet, you. Or I'll tell Ma you've been misbehaving.”

  I couldn't help grinning as I took up position on the corner with Knut, making sure no one would disturb Eryn as she washed up.

  “You wouldn't dare!” Roq's mental voice held genuine alarm. “She might, I don't know what she might do, but I am sure she could find a way to make my life mildly unpleasant somehow, and I really do not want that.”

  “Then you better behave.”

  * * *

  After a restless sleep, I sat sipping warm milk sweetened with honey, my fingers intertwined with Eryn's, both of us watching Knut go through his morning exercises in the smithy.

  The big man's joints popped and cracked as he stretched.

  “Youth,” he grumbled at Pa, reaching for his toes. “Wasted on the young.” His back made an alarming sound. “How you not sore? We fight all yesterday, and you sit like spring morning!”

  I hid my smile in another sip of milk.

  “Are we going to tell the large one about me now?” Roq asked. “I do so enjoy dramatic reveals! Perhaps with some lightning? Or at least a small explosion? And why are you drinking milk? That is so not manly.”

  “Not yet. And thanks for the overnight healing. Also, cookies taste best with milk, Roq. But you wouldn’t know anything about that since you can’t drink.”

  “BAH! As if I would let my wielder suffer such mundane discomfort! Though... maybe you could bathe me in milk sometimes?” Roq's mental voice grew thoughtful. “Perhaps I should have left you a LITTLE sore. Might have made the deception more convincing.”

  “Some of us just recover faster,” I said to Knut with a shrug.

  “Lies!” Knut declared, switching to arm circles. “Is magic! Or something else.” His eyes narrowed. “Special medicine from pretty healer girlfriend? Yes, must be. When no one looking.” He wiggled his eyebrows for effect.

  Eryn's laughter filled the smithy.

  “If I had medicine that good, don't you think I'd share it with our best friend?”

  A shadow darkened the doorway and Enar's familiar form appeared, still in his uniform.

  “Morning all!” he called. “Just wanted to let you know I'm heading home. Quiet night, aside from, you know.”

  We nodded. One of the killed guards had lived nearby, and the family was mourning.

  “Thanks for standing watch,” I said and made my way over to him. “Let me know when you get your first mind gem? Once I'm classed, you'll have that spot on my scavenging team.”

  Enar smiled.

  “Thank you, Ash.” He shook my hand. “That's exactly the kind of opportunity I came to the frontier for!” Before leaving, he snapped to attention, offering a crisp salute. “Thank you, sir!”

  I waved away the formality.

  “Get some sleep, Enar. You've earned it. And hey, thanks again.”

  “More trust,” Knut muttered, staring after Enar as he departed. “More promises. More—”

  “Ready to go through yesterday's haul?” Pa interrupted from where he'd been stoking the forge.

  Knut's complaints transformed into booming laughter.

  “Ah, yes!” He pointed at me. “Boy claims ability to feel bodies have gems or no! As if possible!” He slapped his knee. “What stories youth tell!”

  Pa's eyebrows rose as he glanced my way, likely wondering if we'd told Knut about Roq.

  “Actually,” Eryn cut in smoothly, “Ash does have an unusually sensitive touch when it comes to mind gems. We've seen it ourselves, haven't we, Mr. Tharen?”

  Pa nodded slowly.

  “That he does,” Pa said and studied Knut for a reaction. “He must trust you a great deal to share such information.”

  Knut's laughter faded.

  “Trust.” Knut twisted his massive torso left and right. “Dangerous thing, trust. But,” he said, sweeping his eyes over us. “Maybe worth risk sometimes.”

  Pa grabbed a dissecting knife from the workbench.

  “Based on your experience,” he asked Knut, “With this many carcasses, how many gems should we expect?”

  “Twenty-three monsters,” Knut said. “One gem guaranteed. Hope for two.” He shrugged. “Three would be blessing from rift itself.”

  “How many did you bring back?” Pa asked, catching our look.

  “Wouldn't want to steal your joy of discovery,” I said innocently.

  Pa's laugh echoed off the smithy walls as he selected the first carcass.

  “Still miss my good knife,” he grumbled, positioning the blade. “But this will have to do until my son gets me a better one.”

  “Oh, this is going to be FANTASTIC!” Roq exclaimed. “I can't wait to see their faces!” His mental voice grew thoughtful. “Perhaps we should have arranged some dramatic lighting? Maybe find a Glowcap to throw in the forge as punctuation to our surprise?”

  “And blow the forge up? The cloak made enough of a mess last time, Roq. Do you want him to skin me? Or make a trophy out of you?”

  I settled back beside Eryn to watch Pa work, looking forward to the moment he’d realize just how successful our hunt had been. Knut resumed his stretching, muttering under his breath about youth and their wild stories.

  The dissecting knife sliced cleanly through the stone-like hide, and Pa began his careful exploration of the shardfang's innards.

  * * *

  It took him a while, but Pa couldn't hide his smile as he stood with his hand in the final Shardfang's chest, Knut crowding in behind him, trying to peek into the cavity.

  Pa pointedly cleared his throat and Knut reluctantly stepped back.

  With an uncharacteristic theatrical flair, Pa pulled his hand out, a perfect mind gem held between index and thumb.

  “Another one,” Pa said casually.

  “Ten?” Knut's voice cracked. “Ten?” He stumbled backwards, his hands gesturing wildly. “Impossible! Never seen such haul! Not from twenty-three shardfangs!” His eyes were wide as mind gems. “Two gems? Maybe. Three? Blessing from rift! But ten? Cheating!”

  “His reaction is quite entertaining!” Roq noted gleefully. “Though I must say, he seems far more surprised than the situation warrants. After all, with MY incredible power, how could we NOT find such treasures?”

  “Ten mind gems.” Knut paced, tugging at his beard. “Ten! Unheard!” He spun towards me. “How?”

  Before I could answer, Knut charged forward like an enraged bull.

  “Come here!” he bellowed.

  I tried to dodge but Knut was remarkably quick for such a big man. His arms wrapped around me in a crushing bear hug that lifted me clean off the ground.

  “Knut!” Eryn's voice held equal parts alarm and amusement. “What are you doing?”

  “Gaining luck!” Knut declared, squeezing harder. “Boy has gift! Must rub off on me!”

  “Can't... breathe,” I wheezed.

  “This is HILARIOUS!”

  “Knut!” Eryn grabbed his arm, trying to pry me free. “Put him down! You can't crush our golden goose!”

  Knut dropped me so fast I stumbled.

  “Eryn right!” His eyes were wide with horror. “Must protect lucky charm! With such power,” he whispered and grabbed my shoulders, staring intently into my eyes. “You become strongest warrior in all Noros! Find all the gems! And with proper tank at side, nothing to stop us!”

  I caught Pa's eye over Knut's shoulder, then glanced at Eryn. We shared knowing smiles as Knut continued to ramble about our inevitable rise to glory.

  “Well,” Roq mused, “He's not entirely wrong about the 'strongest warrior' part. Though I notice he failed to mention the MOST important contributor to our success.”

  “Don't worry, Roq. Your time will come soon enough.”

  “It better! And when it does, I expect FIREWORKS!”