"I spy with my little eye... a bird!" Maven pointed up to the treeline. Lo and behold, there was a bird up there.

"Maven..." Na-Ya's disappointment was palpable.

"What? I see a bird. I'm doing it!"

Laughing, Tristan said, "Goddess, you're dense." She looked at me. "Care to explain the game to her again?"

"Nope." By the third day, our march had gotten pretty dull, so I decided to teach the group I Spy. Most of them got it. We had fun. But Maven... She just... didn't get it. "At this point, it's more fun this way."

"Ass! And here I've been good about not telling everyone about you and Tris—"

Na-Ya grabbed Maven's arm and practically yanked her away. "Listen, the game goes like this..."

Tristan and I looked at each other and started laughing. Letting Na-Ya work her magic, we slowed down until we fell to the rear of our company. That way, we could play a little grab ass in peace. The instant we hit the rear, Tristan's hand flashed, and she grabbed my entire right ass cheek with the force of a vice, squeezed, then let go just as fast. I shot her a look, but she simply grinned back at me, her eyes sparkling.

"What? Something happen?"

"It must have been a monster."

"Yeah, must have been."

I pretended to see something in the trees behind her. "Oh, would you look at that!"

"Nice try, loser."

"It wasn't my best attempt, was it?"

"Not even a little. Plus, you'd never do such a thing to little old me."

I shrugged. "What can I say. You're making me soft."

She smirked. "I wouldn't say that at all. Quite the opposite, in fact."

That sent electricity through my everything. Suddenly, my pants felt too tight. "Can you blame me? Have you seen you?"

She batted her eyes. "Me?"

"You."

"I could say the same thing. It's hard to walk over here without pouncing on you." Her eyes were practically feral.

I laughed. "I can't wait to get to Galden."

Her smile faded a little. "Me too."

Arden's ring tightened on my finger, but only a little. After some practice with the thing, I knew that meant her words were half-true. Again, I decided not to pry. Most of her worries had seemingly disappeared once we'd hit the road. She'd been in a great mood, and going on another adventure seemed exactly what she needed to lift her spirits. Still, she had anxiety surrounding Galden. Time to redirect: "Then, once we're done, maybe we can continue to Fairview? I heard it's beautiful up there, out on the coast. I'd love to see it with you. Maybe we could stay for a few days?"

Her smile broadened. "That's something I'd love to do. Though I don't think we'd be doing much sightseeing for the first day or three. We should plan to go for at least a week."

More electricity. "At least. Maybe two."

"Possibly three."

"It's a plan?"

"Yeah, but let's make it a full month. That might do it. Maybe." Her eyes hovered on me for a long moment, promising everything, before she looked back up the road.

I swallowed hard. We'd been like this since our trip to Goodfield. I knew we were in our honeymoon period, and there was a ton of buildup since we were pretending to not be a thing at the temple, but damn did it feel good. We were fully vibing in the best way. I never wanted it to change.

***

We walked for around an hour before Tristan nudged me. "Hey, check them out."

Nel and Nivan were giggling a few feet away, holding hands and walking with their hips practically attached. Love certainly was in the air these days.

"Dorks."

She swatted my arm. "It's cute."

The two love birds had been inseparable since we'd left the temple. Their affection was honestly cute, in that icky-sweet, gross teenager kind of way. "They're gross."

She leaned into me. "We are, too, when no one's looking."

I laughed. "You're not wrong."

"Maybe even more gross." She purred.

"Horny jail, I have a new inmate for you."

"I've been so, so bad lately. Tie me up, Mr. Guardsman..."

"Hold!" Ro-Saleh held up his hand. "Something's up ahead."

Our group of over two dozen slowed to a stop.

"What do you see?" Jorn called out from nearby.

"A wagon." Ro put his helmet on. "Gear up. It's probably nothing, but let's be safe."

I put my helmet on, and Tristan pulled up her hood. Everyone else followed suit.

"You all know your teams. Group up. Jorn, your team's with us."

Everyone began finding their teams of five. Since I'd succeeded at a quest and reached level ten, I was now considered a team lead. Tristan and the kids were with me.

"Sir," Nivan said, and Nel nodded at me.

Ennel walked up behind them, looking nervous. "I don't like this. Father said abandoning wagons on the road is a common tactic bandits use to lure out our kind."

I hated how, even when he was right, Ennel couldn't help but pepper his words with his ingrained sense of superiority. "That's why Ro's told us to be careful and group up." In spite of my irritation with the kid, I added, "Good instincts."

The noble nodded and unslung his magical shield. "I was trained by the best."

I looked up to find Maven's team taking the rear. Looking to the others, I said, "Let's form up between the wagon and Maven. Everyone, choose a direction, and speak if you see anything. Oh, and group up with me. We need to be able to coordinate."

A moment later, words appeared in my mind.

Na-Tristan, Groveborn Human Acolyte of the Tower 9 joins your party.

Ennel d'Ranthil, Istaeran Human Noble of the Crown 4 joins your party.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Nel, Istaeran Human Fighter of the Hammer 5 joins your party.

Nivan, Deneiran Human Fighter of the Sword 6 joins your party.

I'd never had a full party before. Despite the danger, it was kind of exciting. For whatever reason, groups of five were the limit. After that, you had to join groups into raids.

"Group leads, raid up!"

I will my system inferface to do the thing, and more words appeared in my head.

You join the raid led by Ro-Saleh, Sun Elf Champion of the Tower 36.

I could see Maven, Jorn, Silan, and Voss's entries in my mind. The text was green, which I'd learned meant they were healthy. A good start, so far, and exciting. This was all new.

"Alright, guys. Let's do this."

Tristan drew her mace, and the three younger members of our party formed up around me, their shields and swords drawn. We advanced slowly on the road until we came around a slight bend and caught our first glimpse of the wagon. It was a small wooden wagon sitting perpendicular to the road, with two dead horses tied to the front. In the driver's seat, it looked like someone was slumped over the seat, and the wood was stained brown. Ro and Na-Ya's team were getting close.

"Kids, stay sharp. My hackles are up something fierce." Silan said from fifteen feet in front of us.

Maven whistled behind us, and a hawk cried out in response. "Claws doesn't see anything, but that doesn't mean there's nothing out here."

"On it," I called back.

For a while, we scanned the forest, looking for anything out of the ordinary. There wasn't much else we could do.

"Looks like a bandit attack. Two or three days back," Ro called out. "Everyone, close in."

The five groups started walking toward the ruined wagon. As we got closer, the stench washed over us. Tristan gagged beside me, and Nivan doubled over and vomited.

"You need a minute?" I asked the kid.

"Yeah..." Nivan was actually green.

"It's okay..." Nel had covered her face with her cloak and was stroking his back.

Ennel's eyes narrowed. "I don't like this."

"We'll come in a few," I shouted to Ro.

He waved and said, "Don't be long," before continuing to inspect the cart.

Once Nivan finished vomiting up his breakfast, he stood up and wiped his mouth. "Sorry..."

"Don't worry about it." I patted his shoulder. "It's nasty."

Tristan lifted her mace and whispered a soft prayer to the Goddess.

[Bless]

A wave of strength washed over us.

"Better?"

My team nodded.

"Okay. Let's catch up. Shield up. Tristan in the middle."

Before we made it five steps, there was a cold wind, then a dozen popping sounds echoed out of the trees. Claws called overhead, swooped down toward the trees on the west side of the road, then circled and did the same on the east.

Maven screamed, "There're people in the trees!"

Before the other Templars could react, a dozen crossbow strings twanged, and a volley of bolts streaked toward us.

"Behind me!" I stepped in front of my team and raised my shield high.

[Iron Skin]

Two bolts buried themselves into my shield, and another two bounced off my hardened skin before it turned back to normal.

"Wall up!"

Tristan pressed against my back as the others closed their shields with mine. Forming a square, I looked around for the source of the attack, but no one was visible. Then, that same popping sound filled the forest.

Claws cried out overhead again, this time pointing to the east.

"Turn!"

As one, my team and I formed a wall facing where the bird had indicated. As soon as we did, crossbows twanged, and my shield rang out as another bolt buried itself deep inside.

"Shit!" Nivan screamed. Glancing downward, I saw a bolt had buried itself in his thigh.

"I've got you." Tristan reached down, yanked the bolt out of his leg, and cast a spell.

[Healing Light]

His wound healed before our eyes. He wasn't quite good as new, but he'd be able to fight without issue.

From somewhere up front, one of the Templars screamed. I spared a glance and found one of Silan's team staring at her arm. Blood poured from an open wound and stained her armor. Not good.

"Maven!" Ro roared. "Keep it up!"

Looking behind us, I found one of the archers lying prone on the road, a pool of blood forming around her. The ranger was shooting a steady stream of arrows, and by the sounds of the shouts in the forest, most of them were finding their marks.

A bright white glow filled the air around the wagon. In the center of it, Na-Ya's outstretched hands were glowing fiercely as her holy aura spilled over those around her.

[Healing Aura]

As her spell activated, countless bolts pelted the ground, the wagon, and the Templars. One caught Na-Ya in the shoulder, but she barely seemed to notice as she prayed for more power to bless her friends. Rather than cry out, she tore the arrow from her flesh and kept praying.

[Sanctuary]

A globe of light appeared around the others. Bolts and arrows pelted off the magical shield, falling to the ground harmlessly. With a safe zone set up, the Templars began walling up. As they did, shouts sounded from the forest, and a dozen men rushed from the trees and toward them.

An arrow struck my breastplate and bounced off. Now wasn't the time to worry about them. We were out here and very exposed. "Wall up!"

Tristan managed to get inside our shields before we enveloped her, then a hail of arrows and bolts struck us. Several slammed into me, and one of them stung before bouncing away, but I gritted my teeth and ignored it.

"Close in!" Ro shouted.

"We're trying!" Step by step, we made our way to the others as a rain of bolts and arrows pelted us. Every time Maven's bow snapped, another invisible attacker went down, and Claws had chased one into the road, his eyes gouged and tongue missing. When we'd made it halfway, however, something changed in the forest. I felt a rush of energy.

"Magic!" Tristan screamed in my ear.

A wave a stone rippled out of the forest and split the road in two, showering us with a hail of stone.

[Barrier]

A small wall of white light appeared in front of us. A rain of stones and dirt struck it before the spell hit its limit and winked back out of existence. When it did, a wall of dust fell on us, choking my lungs and filling my eyes with dirt.

"Ow!" Nel screamed next to me.

Wiping the dirt out of my eyes the best I could, I saw an arrow was buried in her stomach.

"Nel!" Nivan screamed and threw himself in front of her. A half-dozen arrows pelted him. Two of them stuck.

Behind us, there were those popping sounds again. Turning, I lifted my shield just in time to stop Ennel from getting struck in the throat.

[Barrier]

Another wall of Tristan's light appeared behind me, catching several arrows before they found their marks.

"Ennel, protect those two!"

"Sir!" The young nobleman moved forward and placed himself between the attackers and our teammates.

"Alex, we need to move. I can't do this all day! I have three or four spells left."

"I know!"

As if they were answering her, voices shouted from the treeline, and two men exited the trees from the west and charged straight for us.

"Ennel, keep them protected!" I whipped my sword around, placing it against my shield in a defensive pose. An instant later, the men reached me.

One slashed his curved sword at my legs, the other swung a club at my head. I dropped into a low stance and activated my ability.

[Iron Skin]

The club shattered on impact, showering me with toothpicks. The other struck my knee, causing a little pain, but bending the cheap sword in half. With a quick stab, I caught the latter in the throat. Darting forward, I slammed my shield into his chest, throwing him backward, twisted, and slashed through the other man's shoulder. He screamed and reached for his ruined arm, but with the reverse edge, I caught him in the nose and watched as my blade buried two inches into his face.

Wrenching my weapon free, I felt the sting of an arrow biting into my back.

"Alex, get back!"

Raising my shield, I lowered my stance and took several steps backward.

"Bite down hard. It's a broadhead." Tristan grabbed the arrow, sending pain down my arm. With a swift pull, she wrenched the object free.

[Healing Light]

My vision swam from the pain, but I managed to stay standing. "Thanks."

Nel screamed. Looking over my shoulder, I saw she'd been hit with another bolt.

Nivan stood and wrapped himself around her. "I'll protect you!"

There was another popping sound, and the air shimmered next to the treeline. An instant later, a hooded figure was standing ten paces in front of me, hands outstretched, a greenish light swirling around his hands. With a grin, he thrust his hands downward, and the earth split. Then, he stopped backward into a portal, there was a pop, and he was gone.

As the ground began to shake, without thinking, I dropped my sword and shield, grabbed Nel and Nivan by the collars, whirled, and threw them across the road and toward the others. They landed with a thud, rolled, and sprang to their feet. "Run!"

The pair broke into a sprint. An arrow struck Nel in the side, a bolt in Nivan's leg, but Jorn and Silan rushed out to protect them. A moment later, they made it past Na-Ya's shield and into her healing light.

The earth grumbled and began buckling under our feet. Dust and stone filled the air, and the road split. We started moving away from the others as the two sides of the road moved away from one another.

"What do we do?" Ennel asked, pointing at the growing chasm.

Looking down, I saw the road had split a good eight feet. I knew what I had to do. "She's next!"

Tristan nodded. We both knew she couldn't make the jump on her own. Taking several steps backward, she broke into a sprint. I knelt and cupped my hands. She stepped into my palms, and I launched her across the gap. She just barely crossed the gap, but she made it.

[Barrier]

Another barrier appeared next to me, and three bolts struck her magical shield. Across the gap, she stood frozen, staring at me. Her eyes were filled with terror. "Jump!"

I looked at the road. "I'm coming!"

"We're here!" Ro-Saleh and Jorn were rushing up the road, crossing the gap in large, loping strides.

"Let's find a way around!" Ennel was looking at me.

The split in the road was growing wider and wider. I could make it, but Ennel—

Thwack

An arrow struck the nobleman in the side of the helmet. His head jerked to the side, his eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Fuck." I knew what I had to do.

Grabbing him by the ankles, I spun him a couple of times and launched him across the gap, but the northern half of the road started rising into the air. Before he fell into the earth, a hand reached down and snatched him. It was Jorn.

Ro peered over the ledge. "I'm coming!"

"I can make it! Get them both—"

There was a popping sound behind me. Two hands grabbed my shoulders, the world shifted, and I was gone.

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