For night watch, Saul volunteered for first watch, and Cecil for the second. They laid on their bedrolls while Saul sat at the edge of the firepit and looked out of the copse of trees, his mind on the day tomorrow. They would ask him to summon it, that which haunted his dreams and filled his head. Saul knew it in his bones.

He spent a long time coming to terms with it. Most of the watch passed by in a daze, until Cecil touched his shoulder gingerly, and he started.

"Easy! Just little old me. My turn, old man. Let someone else take care of you, yeah?" Cecil smiled.

Saul gave a weak smile, and stood. "That's all I've ever wanted, really."

Cecil laughed softly and shooed him to bed.

Saul spent the rest of the night in a fitful, half-asleep state, torn between using his memories of sleep, and afraid of the nightmares his sleep would bring. The night was a calm one, luckily for them.

The morning sun rose on our four travelers, all of whom blinked awake at their own time. Cecil was embarrassed for falling asleep on the watch, but Saul and Anna were apologetic. Roland, if anyone, was the most upset, and even then a couple murmured words while packs and bedrolls were sorted set things right between the two cooks.

Their goodbyes were brief, yet tearful. Cecil kept looking at Anna like she wanted her to follow them back to Foulden, but Anna was resolute. Where Saul went, Anna would follow; what's a girl to do in that situation? Cecil settled for attempting to hug Anna, but after she ducked out of her arms, she settled on hugging Saul.

Cecil rubbed his back, murmuring in his ear, "Keep her safe, ok?"

Saul smiled and murmured back, "I'll do my best."

Roland was softer than yesterday, but still quiet, simply giving a wave as they traveled off. Anna waved back.

The number of refugees was less than the day before, but still enough that Anna had to keep her head covered, which she did begrudgingly.

A lucky break happened pretty soon into their walk: a supply cart for the forces near Linwood rolled on by, and offered to carry them to the encampment. They happily accepted, and were soon riding on the end of the last cart, watching the land pass them by.

Saul, for his part, was pleased that his legs got some rest. Still, idleness was not his preference. Soon after they sat down, his mind wandered. He came to himself when Anna bumped his leg.

"What are you thinking about?" Anna asked.

"I'll soon have to do something I'll regret." Saul glanced at Anna. "It'll involve leaving you behind for a bit."

Anna sighed. "I won't like that, but... if you think it's best." She paused, listening to the rattling of the wheels on the road. "Before a long hunt, our ʕarčaban would receive hugs from me and the other young ones, to have warmth on their travels. My old ħadar said that when he was a ʕarčaban, out in the ice-forest, surrounded by darkness, snow, and cold, those memories would keep him going." Anna pulled out the marble and closed her eyes, imprinting a memory- her memory- of when Saul hugged her. Her mana slowly touched the glass orb and flowed into it, then Anna opened her eyes, smiling at Saul.

Saul smiled back. "He sounds like a wise one. Would that I had memories of the one who waits for me." Saul gave her a sideways look and she laughed, pulling him into a one-armed hug.

Anna adjusted her hood after, looking up at him. "That one's for now, and this one is for later." She handed him the marble, and Saul took it.

Anna's face then suddenly brightened, and she reached into her front pocket pulling out something. "While I'm giving gifts," she began, "Here's one I forgot to give you."

Her hands opened to reveal a small carving of a bear, laying down to rest. The craftsmanship was sloppy, but Saul couldn't care less, gingerly picking it up.

"You seemed to like resting so much, I thought it fit." Anna was suddenly shy. "...do you like it?"

Saul looked away, brushing something from his face. "...You've given me some very warm memories, Anna."

They sat in companionable silence as they moved closer to the smoke trails they spotted that morning. The flow of people they passed heading towards Foulden had slowed to a trickle, and they could hear noise from the sea of tents they were headed towards. Saul thanked the man for helping them make it here, then walked with Anna to the coordinator, who was arguing with a different cart driver over his cart position.

"For the last time, the animal feed is to be next to the animals, and no, I don't care that it smells! For Gods' sake!" The soldier was practically irate, and the offending cart driver shrank back and made his escape. The soldier muttered something under his breath before taking notice of the pair.

"State your purpose, or goods carried, and please be concise."

"I'm here to fight. I was told to answer to Ser Crawley." Saul nodded to Anna. "I also need a tent for two."

The soldier raised his eyebrow, taking in his appearance: an older man with a cloak of many pockets. "You're a fighter? You expect me to believe that? Look, if your son is on the front lines, that's one thing, but please don't exaggerate."

Saul nodded and held out a hand, palm up. Without breaking eye contact, he held a memory of winter in his mind, and fixated on it. A pulse of mana called forth a large crack and a shard of ice popped into his open hand, startling people nearby. To the soldier's wide-eyed gaze, Saul simply smiled.

"I know a few things. Please, point me to Ser Crawley and a tent for two?"

The soldier gulped. "... what was your name again?"

Nice try. You never asked. "Saul Tremonti."

The soldier's wide-eyed face turned ashen. He quickly glanced through his notes. "...Follow the wide path to the green flags, and your tent will have open flaps. Ser Crawley asked to see you immediately as you entered. He'll be in the largest tent, at the end of the path."

Saul smiled wider, tossing the ice shard away. "Thank you for your time." He turned and called to Anna, who was helping -unsuccessfully- to calm a nervous horse, and she hurried over.

Anna stepped close to him, leaning in to ask, "What was that?"

"A memory of an ice cave falling... but only a piece of it." Saul could still feel the goosebumps from when he heard it start to shatter, two winters ago.

Anna grabbed his hand, and immediately let go, startled. "Too cold!" She pulled out a popbush berry to hand to him, but he laughed.

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"It's only a memory of cold, Anna," he said consolingly, "my body will remember what's real soon."

And sure enough, the next time Anna placed her hand in his, it was warm as usual.

The encampment was separated into tight rows of pairs of tents, each facing outward (think of a line of hallways, with the walls being tents). Where the "wall" of tents met the path, there was a torch with a small flag bearing a color. The green color was closest to the middle of the camp, so they simply walked up the path until they found the tent with open flaps.

Saul noted with surprise that his tent was closer to the middle of the camp than he remembered, but he supposed, looking at it again, he shouldn't be so surprised. Shamans like him are valuable in battle, after all.

Anna and him took a quick look inside, and weren't disappointed with what they found. Although the space left something to be desired, there were two cots with a chest, and the flaps could be closed for privacy, which Anna was overjoyed for. "Finally! Some space! I've smelled enough ʕamkʼʲ for three of me!" She said with a sigh of relief, laying down on one of the cots, as Saul dropped the pack to the floor.

Saul turned to her for a moment. "I'll be out for a bit, I have to speak with this Ser Crawley. After, we'll see about supper."

"Who is this Ser, anyways?" Anna asked.

"I'll be able to tell you later. I knew of a Ser Crowley, but he might not be related." Saul shook himself. "Anyways, I'll be back. Stay safe, ok?"

"Always, ħadar." Anna smiled, before rolling over for a nap.

Saul closed the flap after himself, heading toward the largest tent in the encampment. As he walked, he pulled out a silver button, and swirled a trace of mana through it, trying to imbue himself with some of a dead man's presence. As he walked up to the entrance, and the guards looked at him, he seemed to loom with a look that was more steel than flesh.

The braver guard tried to stop him as he walked up to the flaps, but he gave the man a glance, and he shrank back, letting him blow into the middle of a tactics discussion.

Every man and woman started as front flap flew open and Saul entered, eyes searching for the man in charge. He found only one person in a knight's uniform, and it was a woman, with silvered hair and eyes of ice, which at the moment were boring into him.

Saul stood as tall as possible. "Ser Crowley," he greeted the knight with a short bow, "Viscount Langley sent me to aid you."

"Then identify yourself! And be quick."

"Saul Tremonti, shaman."

She scoffed. "The Viscount warned you'd be old, and he wasn't wrong." She shook her head, turning back to the battle plans. "Gods, but we're hanging by a thread. I've lost a tenth of my men to night raids, and will likely lose more tonight. We can't pin them down in the field, and we lose our biggest advantage -our horses- in the forest behind them. We need an edge in the next battle. Can you be that edge?"

Saul bowed slightly deeper. "I will do my best. The demons will be forced back, that much I can promise."

Ser Crawley nodded. "Then that will be enough. If we can manage to rout them on the field, we can use our horses to cut off their retreat to the forest." She punched into her hand. "That'll shock them good. If you play your cards right, shaman, you'll undo all they've taken."

Saul smiled, but it was cold. "Then I will play my cards, Ser."

"Good. What do you require of my men?"

Saul thought a moment. "All they need to do is stay out of the way of the flames."

"...flames? Is this to be a wildfire?"

Saul nodded, impressed. "You've fought with a shaman before? Not an imbued fire, no. I'll pull from memory. They will be hurt and demoralized, but not killed. At worst, it will force them unconscious."

"I've fought with a Vincent Germain. You've probably heard of him- but, more importantly, you have a memory that can put an entire company of demons to rest?" It was Ser Crowley's turn to be impressed. "Would that you were here sooner, this campaign would be finished already."

Saul laughed softly. "That remains to be seen. Have they shown any magic?"

Ser Crowley looked at one of her advisors, who glanced at their notes before replying, "Not a single instance of magic in any battle, except for lights and small fires during night raids."

Saul sighed in relief. "That's great news. If we can maintain arms superiority in magic, that will be key. If you can, have your best snipers with pointsticks-"

Ser Crowley cut him off with a laugh. "Pointsticks? You mean the mage-slayers? I'll set three of my best men on it, with eyes out for their magic. You will be safe, that I can promise."

Ser Crowley then paused and met eyes with each of her advisors at the table. "You heard the man. This fight looks a lot more beatable with a shaman on our side." She nodded at Saul. "We'll iron out our formations and battle plans. Rest, please; you must be tired from your travel. We will update you tomorrow at mid-dawn."

Saul nodded and let out a tired smile. "Thank you, Ser Crowley, and best of luck." As swiftly as he entered, he left, stepping out to an afternoon sky. With a deep breath, he ended his channel, and the dead man's resolve left him, leaving him with a heavy, halting footstep back to his tent. Saul's walk back to his tent was a little harrowing -every tent looked identical, save the color markers telling him he was on the right track- but he recognized Anna almost immediately, as she peeked out from a tent and spotted him. She quickly approached him giving him a relieved look.

"Do all ħadarár love to talk, or is it only when I am hungry?"

Saul chuckled. "It is only for you, Anna. How else can I get you to wait for me?"

Anna laughed. "But I'm a growing girl, ħadar. My stomach is ʡa'ref."

"You didn't try the jerky?" Saul gave her a sly look as they walked toward the kitchen tent.

Anna shoved him lightly. "I know that rabbit had a long winter, I felt it in my teeth! ʡüj, but that jerky was tough!"

Saul sat with a warm heart over a bowl of soup, listening to Anna ask about the words people said- like why was there only one Ser?- and knowing this would be a night to bring him back, if he went over the edge tomorrow.

Saul didn't speak much that night, but that's okay, Anna thought. Soup always made Saul nostalgic, after all.