Chapter 176:

Anton and Kal walked silently through the busy streets of Atros. It was a different experience, one Anton has not had since Kal arrived at Atros. Without anyone else, especially Verona, everything was calm and peaceful. Anton reached over and wrapped his arm around Kal's. She threw him a look before pulling closer, wrapping her fingers through his.

"Feels very strange to walk with you like this." Anton squeezed Kal's hand as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Normally we'd have some little silver-haired munchkin jumping all over us."

"We would." Kal smiled. "But I don't dislike it."

"Me too." Anton kissed her temple, his lips brushed against the fur at the very edge of her ears.

"Don't do that." Kal playfully pushed him away, but never broke their hold. "It feels really weird when you do that."

"Imagine what it feels like when you three touch the base of my tail." Anton began to slow as they approached Jeff and Sam's house. "Especially all three of you."

Kal manoeuvred her tail, currently trailing high through the air behind her, to gently wrap around his neck. The end, with its three fans, with a four-pointed orange star lying at the centre, felt unbelievably soft and relaxing against his skin.

"Do you want me to do that with mine?" Anton teased.

Kal's skin crawled. "No. No, you've done that to me already and it was the most disturbing thing I've ever felt." Kal cutely stuck out her tongue. "Warm scales wrapping around my tail. Yours is a lot more flexible than mine. Especially the ends."

Anton ran his free hand along Kal's tail to the base, gently massaging the area. “It was only once."

Kal spun to face him. "And that was once too many." She kissed him lightly as they stepped onto the porch. "I hope we can get you back to normal one day." Kal's smiled mimicked Verona's. "I want to grab that butt and straddle you from behind without that tail getting in the way."

Before Anton could respond Kal knocked on the door, her devious smile had already evaporated and her usual calm and collected demeanour returned.

"Coming!" A woman yelled from inside.

I'll get you for that later.

The door opened. Sam squinted her eyes.

"Hello!" Sam pushed the door open and brought both into a hug. "How are both of you? Haven't seen either of you in a little while."

"We have been busy." Anton patted her back, Kal smiled weakly and did the same. "But I thought we should stop by now that we've actually got a minute free."

"You do need to slow down sometimes." Sam stepped back, keeping a hand on his shoulder. "Otherwise you’re just going to burn away or just fall apart."

Sam rested her other hand on her hip, accentuating her swollen stomach as she shifted her weight.

"So how is it going?" Kal pointed to her stomach. "Any problems? Not...Not that I know too much of what's happening."

Sam laughed. "You should. You really should. Getting up five times a night isn't great, but I'm sure you'll get used to it."

Kal smiled. "I haven't actually felt any big changes yet. But I'm looking forward to it."

"You won't." Sam chuckled. "But come in, please. Can't have you two standing there all day in the cold. Besides, I'm not just sitting down, waiting for my baby to be born."

"Nothing too strenuous I hope," Anton said as they were led inside. "Nothing that would put a strain on you or the baby."

"Nothing of the sort." Sam led them to the rear of the house, to some kind of workshop. "But you and Verona will have to stop travelling with him soon. Right? Then it'll just be that Cetina woman." Sam smiled as they took a seat near a cluttered table, letting out a great sigh as the weight was lifted from her legs. "From what I heard from Verona that might be an issue."

"Heard? Or forced out?"

Sam nodded to two chairs on the far side. On them lay dozens of old arrows in needing of feathering and rounded stones for their slings, not that Atros used such weapons anymore, not when they had a near limitless supply of arrows and bolts. They were still handy to keep around.

"A bit of both." Sam waited until they were seated next to her. "So this Cetina woman. Has Anton or Verona got their claws into him?"

For the briefest instant, Anton thought she referred to his clawed feet. The next moment he understood, he hoped it hadn't shown through.

"Anton has." Kal smiled, laying her tail on his lap. "But it's all fine, before you worry."

"Right..." Sam shrugged. "You're all adults, and I hope you know what you're doing." Sam held her chin. "Don't know much about the Beast-kin girls, but what about those blonde two that were following you? Speaking of, why isn't Verona here with you?"

"Those were Mezot and Axia. Mezot is the teacher we managed to get, so we can start people learning Principle magic."

Sam chuckled. "All a bit beyond me. I'll admit they were pretty cute, but I'm having enough trouble just with one child." Sam tenderly rubbed her stomach, careful for her fingers to not make a dent on her skin. "I'm so happy to just have mine. Jeff is so happy, every day he gives my stomach a rub before he leaves."

Kal stood up and knelt before Sam. "I'll give you another healing. Just to make sure."

"Sure." Sam lifted her shirt over her stomach. Sam had a relatively athletic body, but the recent weeks and months of relative idleness had reduced it somewhat. Nevertheless, her baby pushed outwards on her stomach, the faintest hints of stretch marks along the bottom of the large bulge.

"How far along are you?" Anton asked.

"Well, I think I fell pregnant sometime after you first left Atros. I think." Sam frowned lightly as Kal placed her hand room her stomach. "A little hard to say. I don't keep track of every night." She winked at Kal. "I can't count that high."

Kal almost smiled as she chanted the healing prayer. "Everything seems fine. Maybe a few aches and pains from the extra weight will be lessened but apart from that everything's fine."

Sam gently rubbed her stomach. "I really want this baby to be born. My first after so many..."

"Have you thought of a name?" Anton asked as Kal sat next to him.

"Not yet. I have a few idea's floating around. What about you, Kal? Anything that catches your eye?"

"Not yet. I don't know if I want a boy or a girl more." Kal shrugged. "I know it will come to me when the time is right."

A silence descended upon them. Despite his time in Atros the actual time he'd spent talking to Sam was rather limited. It wasn't that he disliked her, only that their experiences were vastly different.

"Do you stay here all day?" Anton asked. "Here. Fixing old arrows?"

Sam shrugged. "It's something to do. Better than just sleeping all day. But I do get out, have a good walk around the city. Keeps my lungs and head clear."

"Seems a bit dusty though." Anton mused.

"It is." Sam slapped her thighs. "Not right to just sit here with these old things when there's still so much light out there. I think I might just sit outside in the sun, what little heat it gives nowadays."

"We can always buy more bolts and arrows," Anton said. "Not that maintaining our weapons isn't important. I hardly want to assign it to pregnant women." Anton shrugged. "But if it keeps you out of trouble then who am I to say that it's wrong and try and stop it? But I don't think we’ll need the stones anymore."

"Probably a good idea to keep them," Kal said softly. "Silent weapons. And it's difficult to run out stones, especially if Atros is under siege."

"Actually Jeff had an idea for them." With a great grunt, Sam lifted herself up, retrieved a sling stone, and sat back down. "He wants to know if you, Kal, can do that thing that you've done with your arrows, but with these."

"I'm sure I could." Kal slowly nodded. "But...No. I'm sure I could do it. I couldn't make that many every day but there's no reason I couldn't."

We could make grenades with the powder too. At the very least big bombs. Those will definitely be a surprise. And so would those stones. Especially if an enemy thought we were so desperate we had resorted to slings.

"Might be a little dangerous to keep them in one place..." Anton held his tongue.

Probably safer than the grenades, actually. But only two people in Atros could make them and very slowly at that. But grenades could be made on an industrial scale.

"We'll see what we can do. But we are making more arrows and bolts. The Dark Elves are very good woodworkers, especially the Green Moon. It's almost like they all know how to craft their own weapons. I suppose, being so poor, they had to become self-sufficient." Anton shrugged. "The Dwarves are busy enough without having to worry about that stuff."

Sam sniggered. "Some of those Dark Elves are very pretty. Even the men. I know a few women who wouldn't mind sharing a bed with one."

"I know they're quite shocked by some of us too." Sam raised a brow to Anton's words. "They're far slimmer than most humans or Beastkin. Especially compared to some that I know, personally. Ceccitol was one of the biggest Dark Elves that I saw."

Sam laughed. "They must be stunned seeing some of the people here. Ah. But, boys will be boys. Always being distracted by some pair of bouncing breasts, leading them astray."

Anton smiled. "A trait that we all share, I'm afraid."

Sam laughed again, slapping one leg and forcing herself up. Anton took her hand as she appeared to begin to sway.

"Thanks. I'm feeling unbalanced from all the extra weight. One of the reasons I like to sit down so much. Didn't you heal me, Kal?"

"I did. But it can't fix those issues. Well, I suppose I could stop you from becoming unbalanced again but I don't know what it could do to your child. It might do nothing..."

"I understand." Sam brushed down her front. "Magic is so convenient." She smiled at Anton. "Is it still strange to you? Magic and, well, all this?"

"It is." Anton entwined his fingers with Kal, and a warm smile curled up her lips. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

---[]---

Anton meandered through the Atros streets with Kal by his side once more. Her free Beast-kin hand was entwined with his along with her arm while her tail trailed behind like a snake swimming through the air. He wanted to play with it but Kal had already admonished him for trying in public. It was something for them in private.

“What…” Kal ran her free hand over his chest, pushing relatively hard with her claw so he felt it through his armour. “What do people normally do for dates on Earth?” Kal smiled. “I’m sure I’ve asked before but I want to hear what you’d do to impress a lady.”

“If it was someone like you I’d certainly fumble.” Anton kissed her temple. “Too nervous.”

Kal scoffed and playfully punched his side. “I’m being serious.”

Anton held her other hand. “Well, normally it’d be drinks or something to eat. Maybe a movie-”

“Pictures that move?” Kal leant forward and smiled. “Right?”

“Yep. That or, maybe just hang out somewhere. Sometimes you don’t need to go on expensive trips or splurge out on food or fancy jewellery. The person you are with is more important than some uppity restaurant.”

“And that’s why you waved cooked food in front of Verona?” Kal smirked. “Seemed to work.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Actually it was a kind of an issue.” Anton pulled Kal close. “There isn’t like that in Atros. We don’t have the time or resources for luxuries. I suppose most people bond while they’re working. I mean…Most of the time we’re working or-”

“Having sex.” Kal’s ears twitched.

“Guess that’s one form of recreation.” Anton smiled. “And why there are so many children on the way.”

“I-”

“Hello!”

A voice called out from behind. It wasn’t Verona, so he was safe from behind crashed into, nor was it anyone he’d left behind in the care of Mezot. The voice belonged to Eider, their resident Cobra. She ran towards them, a great smile on her face, a human face covered in small dark blue and purple snake scales. She wore extremely thick padded clothes, probably the most layers in all of Atros, and even with a thick woollen hood pulled tight against her own she still appeared to be cold.

“Thanks for getting me these clothes.” Eider showed her thick tail, wrapped tightly with cloth and wool. “I’d be stuck inside without them. Do you know where Ulyaa is? It’s lunch and I haven’t seen her. Irso’s…Having time off.”

Eider stuck out her long tongue and inadvertently caught a tiny snowflake. Anton laughed as she pulled a face, but he stopped when he noticed something different. Normally Eider had a special line of bright blue scales, running from her nose to the tip of her tail. Now they were a bright red.

“Your scales.” Anton tapped his nose. “They’ve changed colours. Does that mean you’re…Getting ready?”

Eider sighed. She patted the side of her head with her thick gloves. “Yeah. Some people have teased me about it. Humans don’t have this to worry about. It’s a lot more subtle, at least that’s what I’m told.”

“Tell us if you need help with anything,” Anton said. Eider nodded but didn’t ask for anything. “Ulyaa’s currently learning how to read. Alongside a number of other people.”

“Verona?”

Kal smirked. “She wasn’t very happy about it.”

“Ha! I’d like to have seen that.”

“So what can we help you with?” Anton asked. “Unless you just wanted to chat, which is perfectly fine.”

Eider kicked at the stone road. Normally, like many of the Beast-kin, Eider went barefoot. Today, given the decreasing temperature, she wore thick boots, though they reminded Anton of Kal’s cloth wrappings.

“I’ve been thinking about combat.” Eider straightened her back. “I was a little bit scared by the first fight.” Eider chuckled nervously as she scratched the edge of her hood. “Probably a bit early for me to try and fight straight away...But now I feel a lot more confident. I’m not worried about thinking I’m back in Seocuria. Well, not so much.”

“It is something that will never leave us,” Kal said. Eider silently agreed, however, something prevented her from speaking her mind.

“Shall we continue walking while we speak?” Anton offered. “I’ve found that it can help sometimes. Especially if I’m having trouble putting the right words together.”

“That’s a great idea.” As Eider smiled Anton received a good look at her thin teeth, the larger incisors that functioned as her fangs. It was not something that he would find normal for some time.

After but a few steps Eider had regained her confidence and continued to speak.

“I want to try fighting again.” Eider hesitated. “I know it sounds like I’m not taking it seriously. One moment I never want to do it again, the next I’m super eager-”

Anton reflexively wanted to speak but clamped his mouth shut. Eider wanted to express herself, even if it was not completely direct, and not one word should pass his lips until she was done.

“I think it would also help me convince the new Beast-kin to listen to me more easily.” Eider tugged on her shirt. “This looks better than what they have but it’s no different to what everyone else wears. Especially after we freed them from the plantation. I looked like I was still a slave and not free. The Beast-kin looked more to you, since you had Cetina and Rasha guarding you when they got here." Eider shrugged. “I don't know. Maybe they thought I was your slave. To trick them.”

“Someone that looks and dresses similar to them but doesn’t have any actual authority?” Anton offered. “Some sort of dancing puppet.”

Eider glumly nodded. “I sort of had that feeling.”

“We can change your attire,” Anton said. “Without you needing to go to war. You don’t need to hold a spear and spill blood for something like that…”

A thought flashed through Anton’s head.

“What?” Kal leant closer, scratching his neck with the claw on her index finger. “What were you just imagining?”

“Are you filling in for Verona now that she’s not here?” Anton teased.

Eider, walking on his other side, said nothing and raised a hairless brow.

“I just had an image of Eider standing at the head of an army, wearing our best armour and a cloak of Chirok and Rainbow Bird feathers. Quite...Quite an imposing figure.”

“Really?” Eider held a thick glove to her lips. “I don’t see it. But if Anton,” Eider waved to the nearby buildings. “Who thinks this will be the greatest city in the world says it, I’ll believe it.”

“You doubt Atros will work?”

“Never.” Eider’s smile faded. Her brows furrowed. “I-I don’t actually know what I just said. It will work. Atros will become a great city, I’m certain of it. Where humans and Beast-kin will live in peace...At the very least Beast-kin can live without fear of the whip.”

“That might be after our lifetimes,” Anton said softly. “There will be humans that dislike the idea of Beast-kin ruling over them and the reverse for a very long time. Multiple generations unless something truly dramatic occurs. Segregation is not the answer...But we’ll do our best.”

“Maybe..." Eider smiled nervously. "Maybe I should be somewhere at the rear of the battle. My eyesight is very good, so...”

“How strong are you?” Anton held her arm, Kal pulled close as Eider’s eyes widened. “Do you think you’re strong enough to draw a bow or load a crossbow?”

“Umm. With one of those latchy things.” Eider tried her best to mimic the action of reloading a crossbow. “I think I’ll be fine. Irso was talking about how Jonathan’s planning to make a whole bunch more of them. The Dwarves want them, for their newer warriors, and we’ll be able to have them as well.”

“That’s a good idea.” Anton nodded. “How about…” He snapped his fingers. “Can I trust you, Eider?”

“Umm…” Eider’s eyes flicked to Kal. Anton found it interesting that their iris’s were opposites. “Yes? I don’t have any reason to do something like betrayal.” Her hood grew larger, like she was an actual cobra trying to intimidate a foe. “Those things, informants, in Seocuria were the source of so much pain. Always having to look over your back because you could never trust anyone…”

Eider shook her head. “You can trust me, Anton.”

“What are you planning?” Kal asked softly.

A strong gust of icy wind blew through the streets of Atros, funnelled by the buildings. The people walking the streets shuddered and pulled their cloaks tighter. The Beast-kin with furs barely noticed, despite formerly living in a land that never saw a single snowflake, while those with reptilian features struggled and moved very slowly. Eider was no different. Anton offered his cloak and brought Eider underneath. She, again, threw Kal a look but Kal simply shrugged and pulled closer herself. Eider offered a gentle thanks as she moved underneath. Though she was wearing thick clothes Anton could tell that she was freezing. He placed his hand on the top of Eider’s head, she was freezing cold, far more so than just her being cold-blooded.

“Bloody hell.” Anton shook his head. “I’m surprised that you’re still moving.”

Kal dropped back and around, approaching Eider from her other side. She grumbled and threw her an angry look the moment her hands made contact with Eider’s skin.

“It’s not that bad.” Eider smiled. “Honest! I just slow down. My head does too...But my body first. There aren’t that many fires in Atros or places to keep warm for someone like me. And the smithy is far too loud. Not to mention Irso wouldn’t like me interfering with her business.”

“She’s an apprentice,” Anton said. “Is she just worried that you being there will distract her? Or do you plan on arguing with her?”

“With a Drakeling?” Eider scoffed, though she did not try and remove their warm hands. “You must be mad. No, I don’t want to interfere with her love life. When she found out we knew she almost ripped our heads off. She probably would have fought Rasha if she bullied her about it...I’m glad that she’s calmed down. Don’t want the ‘slab of meat’ trying to throw me through a wall or something.”

“Irso’s found someone to love?” Kal looked utterly shocked. “Not someone just to assault?”

“Drakelings do that?”

“No…” Eider’s eyes darted back and forth. “Not normally. They’re prideful Beast-kin but...If they take a liking to someone then they’re pretty aggressive about it. I don't think they understand what no means.”

“Thank the gods she didn’t sink her hooks into Anton.” Kal leant over Eider and grabbed Anton’s ear.

“Irso’s not a sharing woman.” Eider continued. “Definitely not. I’ve never known a Drakeling to share.”

“It’s not Jonathan, is it?” Anton’s heart dropped slightly at the thought. “He’s already got Lerato. And she doesn’t look like a woman to cross.”

“She’s the Seocurian woman with huge…” Eider held her chest. “Must be nice, for all of you. But it’s not him.” Eider smiled devilishly. “No, it’s Zac. That big bear man. He’s off humping Irso right now. Or…” Eider laughed. “Maybe it’s the other way around.”

“Wow.” Anton whistled. “That’s something I didn’t see coming. They seemed so hostile, well, not really hostile but they didn’t seem to get along when I last saw them.”

Eider shrugged. “Seems to be working for them. They aren’t hurting anyone or each other, so Marion says to let them be.”

“Marion knows?” Kal asked. Eider nodded happily. “Huh. I don’t remember her being that nosy.”

“Kind of my fault we even know.” Eider shrugged. “Jonathan wanted to know where she was going and was afraid of asking her...What were we talking about before? We just started talking about Irso and Zac having sex.”

“Cetina is the captain of my bodyguards.” Anton continued. “Rasha is also my bodyguard. But that’s it.”

“If you can convince Mezot to journey with you then you’ll have a powerful Principle Mage as well.” Kal jabbed his side. “And you’re forgetting myself and Verona. We aren’t weak. Far from it. And I know how to fight without magic.”

“Verona.” Eider mused. “Is...Is she normal?”

Anton laughed. “Absolutely not. But, that’s it. Jeff is handling the normal soldiers, but I’d like to have a personal force, a retinue, that is outside the control of the normal army.”

Kal and Eider shared a worried glance.

“Not that I distrust Jeff or any of his commanders, but I want a smaller force that I know will be loyal and obey my orders.” Anton smiled. “So I can act without disrupting our forces organization. And be equipped with the best weapons and armour that Atros can provide. Even some weapons that don’t exist in this world.”

Kal made a knowing smile. Eider was simply confused, she had no idea about the weapons Anton had the Dwarves tinkering on, nor of the weapons and designs that not even they had seen yet.

“Surely there’s someone better?” Eider tilted her head. “I’m just a simple Cobra. I don’t know if I could be a leader, or organise things. Like weapons and armour, tactics and strategy. I can’t even read?”

“Might want to send you to Mezot’s lessons then.” Anton mused. “But we can teach you all those things. We could hire someone from Bebbezzar to educate you, we’ll need to find someone that’ll work with us, maybe Cetina knows someone famous or that guild...But first I need someone with integrity and loyalty. Everything else can be worked on.”

“Well…”

Anton leant close. “And I’ll make sure you get your own heater during the winter.” Eider jumped, her lips curled up in delight. “Enough so that you could be warm while just wearing a simple-”

“I’ll do it.” Eider smiled.

“Was that honestly enough?” Kal chuckled.

Eider shrugged. “Maybe. But I do want to do something more than just helping with the harvest and taking the bark off of logs.” Eider looked to her gloved hands. “If it weren’t for my scales I’d just be harvesting food from the fields...Just like Seocuria.”

“Without the whips.” Kal mused.

“I’ll need you to explain it to me more.” Eider stopped and looked towards the centre of Atros. “They...They’re moving again.”

Eider pointed to the highest point of Atros, a small lookout built onto the rear of the Main Hall. From underneath the small roof Lightning Crows flew out. Their small dark forms glided silently through the air towards the south.

“More Goblins?” Anton mused. “They’re getting very close for winter.”

“They shouldn’t be moving.” Kal frowned lightly, holding her chin. “We destroyed their camp and they should have fled. And yet they’re even closer than before. It’s like…”

“Something’s driving them north.”

“Yeah.” Kal’s face darkened. “Surdon. You told me there were tens of thousands of Goblins there when you first arrived-”

“Arrived?” Eider asked softly.

“-But who knows how many there are now. That’s where the wooden wielding Goblins came from.”

“I’ll take the Chiroks and scout them with my magic. See what they’ve been up to.”

“Those big dogs?” Eider smiled. “They’re great to play with. Especially the little pups. They’re really cute.”

“They did see Luna as food.” Kal sighed. “I hope she’s doing alright.”

They quickly moved through the snow littered streets, following the faintly glowing Lightning Crows flying through the sky. The few guards standing watch on the inner walls barely noticed their passing, young recruits and older guards more content with napping or idly chatting. If an enemy reached this far in there was probably little they could do to stop them. The faint echoes of lightning bolts echoed over the walls as they neared the most southern completed wall. They ran up the steps and the guards stepped out of their way. Anton saw that several metal braziers had been installed which the guards congregated around, the only places without any snow nearby. Though the guards were still covered in snow their weapons were held tight, their crossbows rested against the wall with bolts ready to be loaded, resting in position.

“Where are they coming from?” Anton asked.

A soldier pointed to the south. Lightning continued to rain down upon a large horde of Green and Yellow Goblins trudging through the snow. Those working in the fields and small plantations moved to the safety of the walls with all the concern of a stubborn mule being herded to greener pastures. Most were chatting and laughing, barely a glance back to the Goblins behind them.

“Those crows are fighting at their maximum range but everyone’s just so calm about it.” Kal sighed. “How quickly they’ve forgotten how terrible those creatures are.”

“Goblins weren’t an issue in Seocuria,” Eider grumbled. She moved close to the brazier, gently pushing the guards to one side. “Probably the only good thing about that place.”

The Goblins screeched and raged against the Lightning Crows. They tried to fight back, throwing wooden javelins, arrows and even stones, but they could not reach the creatures flying so high above them.

“So where did they come from?” Anton asked aloud, looking to the soldiers. “Anyone know anything?”

“Dana and her riders should be returning soon.” A soldier pointed towards the Accursed Forest. “Ah, there they are.”

Near the forest a hundred horses rode at great speed, skirting around the scampering Goblin horde. The Goblins noticed and tried to attack but the Lightning Crows focused on the closest, pushing them back and giving the riders room.

“I never gave them that sort of order.” Anton mused. “Do they have the capacity to learn? I should ask Mezot if they can evolve and grow.”

The riders approached the city and pushed through the gates. Dana did not wait, dismounting her horse as it continued to move and ran up the stone stairs.

“Anton!” Dana was all but out of breath as she reached the top. “The Goblins are becoming more aggressive.” Dana looked to Kal. “Even though it is winter.”

“Something is driving them north.” Kal mused. “They’re wearing nothing. No one would move through the snow wearing so little.”

“We found a Lumber Mill beyond the camp you razed the other day.” Dana smiled as the Goblin began to scatter, still pummelled by the lightning bolts. “That’s where these Goblins are coming from. A pretty big place too.”

“They’re still acting very odd.” Kal mused. “Very odd.”

“I think it’s time for another assault.” Anton brushed the snow from the stone wall. “The Dwarves have already had their fun, so maybe it’s time for the Humans and Beast-kin to find out what combat’s really like. And this will be the perfect time. And it’ll be a good chance for Mezot to show off as well. We don’t know just how destructive her Ice and Water magic is.”

“You want our help?” Dana asked. “We’ve just finished our patrol, not that we can do much against these bigger groups.”

“I have a few ideas to fix that. Once the Dwarves get our weapons on the go.”

“Repeating crossbows?” Dana raised a brow. “I’ve been talking to some of the Dark Elves. Someone called Xiam makes them.”

“Far better.” Anton smiled. “Infinitely stronger. Eider? How do you feel about coming with us? At the rear of the force, of course.”

Eider slowly nodded. “I’ll do it. I might need some armour and something warm. I’ll show you how the...Um...Cobra retinue will fight!”

Eider seemed very excited, the other soldiers and guards were a little dubious and more than confused. Anton was curious about how the others would fare. There was no way to tell how one would fare against an actual foe, with smell and sight of blood and the terrible screams and wails ringing in your ears. Time would tell.