Asher puffed out his chest and hooked his thumbs into his belt. “I’m still a ranger,” he replied adamantly.
The son of Dorain gripped his pipe between his teeth. “A ranger with a dragon? Ye’ll be puttin’ the rest o’ us out o’ business then.”
Asher couldn’t see many more days ahead of Doran as a ranger, but he kept that opinion to himself. “The battle was unforgiving,” he said, instead.
“The battle was hell,” Doran corrected. “But aren’ they all?” he muttered with a heavy heart.
Asher took a breath, his eyes still roaming the darkness. “He’s out there somewhere.”
The dwarf removed the pipe from his mouth and sighed. “Aye,” he drawled.
Asher finally looked down at his old friend. The weight of the world was upon him. The ranger placed a hand on his shoulder, drawing Doran’s eye towards him. “Russell should not be left to torment. Inside the beast he is a prisoner.”
“He charged me with killin’ ’im should it come to this,” Doran blurted, averting his sight. “I know I should already be out there, huntin’ the wolf down. But when I swing me axe that’s it. Russell will be gone… forever.”
“He will rest forever,” Asher said softly. “But only after we have slain the wolf.”
Doran looked at him again. “Ye don’ ’ave to do this, lad. Rus charged me, not ye.”
“I brought him into this world of monsters,” Asher maintained, recalling the moment he had introduced Russell to the life of a ranger. “I will make sure he does not remain as one.”
Doran nodded once. “Ye’d ’ave made a good dwarf, ye know.”
“And had naught but rocks between my ears?” the ranger quipped.
The son of Dorain chuckled half-heartedly. “I can’ argue with that.”
“Come,” Asher bade, turning back to the camp. “Eat, drink, and find some rest. We hunt in the morning.”
Doran frowned. “We should leave now!”
“Trust me,” Asher said. “Hunting Werewolves at night is a mistake; especially when the wolf in question knows our scent. It will likely be sleeping in the day - that’s when we hunt.” The ranger gestured to the camp. “Now rest or you will be useless to me.”
Doran huffed. “Are ye sure ye’re not half dwarf?” he asked, rising begrudgingly from the boulder.
With Avandriell bounding beside them and Pig sniffing every inch of ground behind them, they returned to the camp and found somewhere to rest. Asher was unaccustomed to seeing Doran attended to by others, but his station as War Mason made him important now. They were brought what food could be spared and settled for water instead of ale.
His mind allowed to stray from Russell’s fate for a while, the son of Dorain asked many questions concerning Avandriell and what events had led to their pairing. Asher was more than happy to talk about her, though he struggled to contemplate the future right now. It wasn’t long, however, before the dwarf gave in to his exhaustion and fell asleep. Asher draped a cloak over him and sat back against the wheel of a cart. He raised his arm to let Avandriell nestle in beside him.
The ranger let his thoughts drift rather than dwell on the pain the morrow would bring.
27
First Contact
A new dawn greeted the world from the east, though it failed to bring with it a clarity to match its light. Kassian looked out on the camp feeling just as lost as he had the previous day. They had arrived to a field of bodies and defeat, both of which had stolen the hope from many a heart. Every one of his Keepers had come to him at some point with their fears. None could imagine a realm without magic in it.
Nor could Kassian.
After taking Aphira’s advice and speaking to Vighon about the future, Kassian had finally begun to envision his place in a world without Clara. In fact, the world he now dreamt of was so perfect because of Clara.
And now it was in jeopardy, hanging on a knife’s edge. The Keeper was eager to enter the realm of magic and see the damage for himself. With that in mind, he strode across the camp to join Gideon, Vighon, and Adan’Karth by the northern edge. They were easy to find since Sir Borin the Dread was standing beside the king and the Golem could be seen from almost anywhere.
Not far away, nearer to the large dragons, Reyna and Nathaniel were sharing some food and water with Inara. The Guardian of the Realm appeared in better health today, which was more than could be said for everyone else in the camp.
Rounding a pair of Centaurs, Kassian discovered Asher talking to Vighon, the ranger previously hidden by Sir Borin’s frame. Once the Keeper was within a few feet of them, their conversation could be heard over the general hubbub.
“How long will you be gone?” the king was asking, some concern in his voice.
“I cannot say,” Asher replied honestly. “This land is unknown to the wolf. It has likely found refuge nearby and is seeking to carve out territory.”
“I understand what lies ahead of you,” Vighon said, sympathy lacing his tone. “Russell’s fate pains us all. He was a good man. I hope you bring him rest and soon.”
Asher bowed his head. “Your Grace.” The ranger gave Kassian a passing nod as he walked away but the king’s call gave him pause.
“Do not linger in the wilds any longer than you need to,” Vighon pleaded. “The Rebellion needs you in the fight and the dwarves need Doran now more than ever.”
“You have my word,” Asher replied.
Kassian watched the ranger disappear into the camp before returning his attention to the group. “Shall we?” he asked, looking to the dig site beyond. “Time is ever against us.”
They crossed the battlefield on foot, navigating around the heaps of burnt bodies and discarded weapons.
