When I woke, the light of the sun was warming the side of my face, and it took me a moment to realize what was wrong with that.

Libidi!

I shot upright, looking around with gritty eyes.

Libidi stood a few feet away, juggling the daggers while looking at the sunrise.

"Finally awake?"

I grunted and got up. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"I tried. Twice. But you were so deeply asleep that all I got were some muttered words. I decided to let you have your rest. You can pay me back tonight by practicing."

I barked a laugh, not looking forward to practicing my mindscape one bit but deciding I was willing to pay that price for a good night's rest. I really needed it. Besides, I definitely needed to practice my mindscape again. The rewards were too good, and the pain was just low enough for me to manage it with her around.

"Who is Eliandra?" Libidi asked casually.

Surprised at the tone, I looked at her. She was twirling the daggers around, not seeming to pay much attention.

"My girlfriend," I said with a raised eyebrow.

Libidi nodded and didn't say anything more.

Unsure what to make of it, I prepared some food, which consisted of slicing some of the salmon-flavored demon flesh.

After we ate and gathered the dried meat, we continued our journey.

Most of the day passed in silence, which suited me fine. When I wasn't practicing gestures for Controlled Conflagration, I was breaking my head about what we should do when we reached Tenziran. From all the Leralion demons we'd come across, I knew it wouldn't be as simple as just a single demon infected follower as Rathica had implied. Instead, it looked more like a full-on invasion. And even if that weren't the case, there would likely be something nasty waiting for us at Tenziran.

My mind continued coming up with horrible ideas or situations, and at some point, I wondered if the Leralion demons were somehow working together with Nimron. I shuddered at the thought. That would mean we might eventually be up against two deity-level villains, one more evil than the other.

After a small stop late afternoon to eat some of the sun-dried meat, we reached a hill that gave a good view of the road that led off into the distance. We had been walking parallel to it to make sure nobody would be able to sneak upon us.

The road was empty, the swaying of the sickly yellow-brown helms of grass the only movement. After a quick discussion, we decided to just continue parallel to the road. A few hours later, we camped out on another hilltop.

I lay on my back, with a throbbing headache from practicing my mindscape, staring at the stars.

I really need to make a new body for Casiron, I thought with a sad sigh.

--

My gaze flitted across the massive encampment of brown tents as I tried to take in its scope. Gleaming poles with black banners sporting odd symbols stood between tents that seemed made of leather. They, too, had characters and numbers painted on them, some matching those on the banners. Most were small, two or three-person tents, but in the center, there was a small clearing with a dozen massive tents that seemed suited for a king. At the back, closest to Tenziran stood six massive constructions that looked meant to bring people across the wall.

I looked around the edges of the camp that stretched across the full breadth of the pass. To the right was a massive cliff that seemed unclimbable and felt abrupt after the flowing hills we had passed. Beyond the cliff was what looked like the sharpest and most jagged mountain range I'd ever seen. Even from this far, I saw the dangerous and deadly drops and insane overhangs. No army could cross those, perhaps not even most able mountaineers. A burst of lightning, red and blinding, came from the dark clouds that hung around the highest peaks.

Demon rains? I thought as I tried to discern if the gleaming on the distant peaks was water or blood. I decided it barely mattered. Cinderage himself would have to be after me before I went in there. Turning my attention to the other side, I wanted to shake my head in disgust.

The narrow stretch of muddy land dropped away as abruptly as the mountains started, and a few hundred feet from the edge, a ravine stretched for as far as I could see. Occasional ridges jabbed out like the remains of some giant stone maze. It almost looked like acid had rushed along this area, dissolving the mountains that might have been there, leaving only a few chaotic bits standing.

"This is trouble," I whispered. "How the hell are we getting to Tenziran?"

Libidi didn't respond, and after a moment, I turned my attention to her to find she was staring at the sky high above the encampment. Surprised, I looked up and saw a small cloud of what seemed like insects.

"What are those?" I muttered.

"A Go'in'la swarm," Libidi whispered. "Tenziran must have some incredible defenses."

She didn't elaborate what she meant by that, but I had a good idea. Besides, this was Fastris' border city. It was meant to guard this whole area and function like a gate into the kingdom. So it only made sense that it had some impressive defenses. I turned my attention to the massive, walled castle beyond the encampment.

Tall, grey walls, tapered at the top to prevent scaling, and had battlements every few feet. Tall towers behind it were connected by bridges, and in between sat small open areas that resembled drone landing places.

I wonder what they have that needs to land in those? I thought with a frown before shaking my head and turning to Libidi.

"This is one of the most easily defendable positions I've seen," I said as I recalled the few strategic war sims I'd tried.

"Yes," Libidi stated. "Now, we need to find a way to sneak you inside."

"Me?" I asked, confused.

"I can get in easily," Libidi declared as she examined the sprawling encampment of tents, wagons, and personnel. "But you move like a Banthark looking to mate."

I had no idea what a Banthark was, but it probably wasn't something known for its grace. I inspected the camp, noting the clusters of soldiers moving around. Most were of the Sandasin race, the most human-looking of all races on Kernstalion, which made sense. From what I'd learned over the last months, most of the population of the empires of Elision and Fastris consisted of Sandasin people.

No easy way to blend in, I thought, as I rubbed my extra arms. There were no Grablon's anywhere that I could see.

"Let's wait for nightfall," I said. "From what I know, the Sandasin can't see in the dark, and that will put us at an advantage."

"Yes," Libidi said, pulling her head back.

She sat down, drew out her new knives, and began balancing them on the tips of her fingers in quick succession while keeping an eye on the hills behind us.

I kept an eye on the camp, trying to find a pattern in the guard duties, who walked where and when, and seeing if I could find the safest path through the camp.

Hours later, when the sun had long since disappeared below the horizon, I grunted in annoyance.

"So many fires," I said. "Why so many fires?"

I knew exactly why, but it was annoying nonetheless. Libidi didn't even bother to answer me, her gaze flicking over the shadowy tents, illuminated by the flickering campfires and torches. With a weary sigh, I took a look at the right side of the camp. It was a few dozen feet from the start of the mountains, and guards stood around the edge and gazed at the distant peaks. The tents behind them were sparse, with few soldiers. I had the feeling there was a way through behind them, where the tents became denser.

"That way?" I asked, pointing at the right sight of the camp.

Libidi looked at me, and although there were no emotions, I had the feeling she disagreed. After a moment, she shook her head and pointed at the center of the camp.

"The best path is through the middle," she said.

I blinked in confusion, then looked at the highly patrolled area, filled with tents with soldiers. Just one of them had to hear us, and we would be dead.

"Trust me," Libidi said. "I've done these things before."

I looked at her, surprised by how certain she seemed.

Well, its not like you have any experience with this, I thought to myself after a second.

"Alright. Let's do it your way," I whispered, grabbing my ax and crawling from behind the cover of the rocks.

I tried my best to be stealthy, keeping an eye on loose stones and rocks so I wouldn't cause a landslide. I managed to make it to the flat area below the final hill without the slightest disturbance. Feeling pretty good, I stepped between two ten-foot boulders without paying attention. The mud below my foot collapsed, and I reached out to stabilize myself. My ax clanked against the side of the boulder, and I froze, holding my breath.

Less than a hundred feet away, a few armored guards moved along the edge of the camp. Swords in one hand, the torches in their other lit up their face masks, and their eyes gleamed as they flicked in my direction. They stopped and looked, then turned and seemed to talk amongst themselves, although I couldn't hear even a whisper. For a moment, I feared they would come to check it out, then one of them nodded, turned, and headed deeper into the camp. After a few more glances in my general direction, the others continued along their previous path.

I sighed and turned around. I hadn't heard Libidi behind me and was glad to see she was half-lowered along the side of the boulder.

"Now what," I whispered. "That guy might be going to get some others to come to check it out."

Libidi was quiet for a moment, then snuck towards me, her movements so supple I again wondered if she had no bones or more joints than I had.

"Wait here," she whispered.

Before I could ask what she would do, she bent low across the ground and shot forward. Even this close, I couldn't hear her footsteps, and she crossed almost a hundred feet in what seemed like a few seconds.

The hell is she doing, I thought as she disappeared between the first tents.

I kept an eye on the patrols, noting the next one coming from the right. There was no sign of Libidi, but also no screams and shouts. Seconds ticked by, then a minute passed, and I was starting to become antsy. I wish I'd had the wood to create a body for Casiron. He could have created a diversion if needed.

Something gleamed between two tents, and I looked up to see Libidi crouching next to them, angling her dagger in the tiny bit of moonlight. Even with my night-vision and the fact she was making sure I could see her, she was just a smudge on the side of the tent, hiding almost like a chameleon. I cocked my head, looking at her inquiringly, but she held up a hand. Then she looked to the right where the guards came and shook her head.

I dropped back into hiding and waited as the group of four guards passed by. They were scanning the area, seemingly no more watchful than those before. At first I didn't notice any change, then I realized they were moving a bit slower, their eyes looking in my general direction more often than anywhere else.

I held my breath and waited until they moved far enough away before stepping forward and looking at Libidi. She was still there, her eyes following the guards. After another few seconds, she beckoned me over. I took a deep breath, held my ax in a backward grip behind my back so it couldn't bang against the ground, then snuck forward, trying to balance speed with quiet.

The hundred feet distance seemed to take me forever, and each slight sound startled me, making me freeze and look around. When, after half a minute, I finally reached the edge, I knew I needed to get Libidi to teach me how to move like she did, or at least more effectively. This was just nerve-wracking. I snuck towards the tent, keeping my head on a swivel until I crouched beside her.

"You are slow," Libidi hissed, and all I could do was shrug.

"Follow me."

I crept after her, and my hand accidentally slid along the side of a tent with a soft swoosh. Libidi swirled around and glared at me over her shoulder before continuing.

Rathica be damned, but I hate sneaking around, I thought as I gritted my teeth. Then I followed her, stepping across ropes that were holding the tents in place.

Soft snoring and whispers, mixed with the soft cold wind, created a deceptively calm atmosphere, but my heart was pounding harder than during a battle. I was glad that Libidi seemed to know exactly where she was going and that her hearing was better than mine. Each time she stopped, it took a few seconds before I would hear the feet of guards and soldiers.

It felt like we were sneaking forever, but it was only ten minutes after we entered the camp that we reached the area with the large tents. Wondering why we were here, I followed Libidi towards the side of one of the massive tents in the center.

What is she doing? I thought as I saw her close in on the back with a dagger at the ready.

My eyes widened as she sliced the leather at the bottom, creating a three-foot slit. My hands clenched around my ax as I expected a scream of rage, but nothing happened. Libidi beckoned me before sneaking inside.

Insane bloody assassins, I thought angrily.

I crawled through the narrow opening, ax first. Metallic boxes and crates were stacked up, twelve feet and higher, and a strong, pungent smell permeated the place. Libidi stood beside a crate, rummaging in it. I saw a few more were open along the way, the lids ajar.

"What are we doing here?" I hissed as I snuck up next to her.

Libidi ignored me as she continued to look in the crate, nodding happily before putting the grey metal lid to the side. Annoyed and curious, I moved beside her. Stacks of neatly arranged leathery tunics and belts lay in the crate, and I saw boots poke out below.

This is their storage area, I thought, and all of a sudden, my panicked mind calmed down. As soon as it did, my normal calm returned, and I realized why we were here. Besides the fact that we desperately needed a new set of armor, this armor would help us blend in!

Without waiting, I reached in and began taking out things and handing them to Libidi. Below the belts and tunics were gray pants made from an unfamiliar but soft and warm material. Overjoyed at the prospect of something whole and warm to wear, I dug deeper, removing multiple sets of boots and other things. When I had taken out enough for a dozen soldiers, and hopefully enough in the right sizes, I stopped and turned to Libidi.

My eyes widened at the smooth, slightly muscular back turned my way and the fact that Libidi was in the process of removing the rags she was wearing. My mouth dried at the curves at display, and I quickly turned and looked at a stack of armor beside me.

Either this is a hint, or these Isirow are insane, I thought.

I put my ax against the crate and began removing my armor, ripping half of it to pieces as I did. When I got to the mostly intact breastplate, I noticed that there was only some damage on it from the purple blood.

How useful is it to even wear this armor? I thought as I imagined fighting more of the demons. Then I remembered the many normal fights I'd had and the arrows and shrugged. It would work or not.

With half an eye on the slit a few feet away, and my ears perked for any footsteps, I quickly put on complete pants. Finding boots that fit took a bit longer, but eventually, I found some. I ignored the belts and put the crafter's belt I'd found in the previous town back on. When I picked up the jerkin, one of the largest I had found, I stopped.

Right… fucking two armed crap, I growled as I gazed at the leather jerkin.

Two drab white sleeves extended from below the leather shoulder pads, and I examined them for a moment. Then I grunted and grabbed my carving knife. I removed the sleeves with a few slices and created another set of ragged holes. The jerkin didn't feel as solid after, but I didn't care. Anything beat the rags on the ground.

A short while later, I was wearing my breastplate, now attached to a new leather harness. It might draw attention, but my four tanned arms would do that anyway. Finally finished, I took a careful look across my shoulder.

Libidi was standing behind me, fully clothed in tightfitting dark leather armor and the same pants I was wearing. A crooked smile on her face disappeared as soon as I looked at her.

"Let's find new backpacks and rations," I whispered while shoving our destroyed clothes back in a crate and closing it.

I had plenty of time to think just now. If we couldn't find a way into the city, we would have to continue towards the coast, which meant new supplies. Libidi nodded, and as careful and quiet as possible, we began scouring the tent.

A few minutes later, as I was opening a crate that smelled of food, I heard a soft scraping from the spot we had opened the tent. I froze and held my breath. A whisper and footsteps followed, causing my hair to stand on end.

Shit, we overstayed our welcome!