With the [Mansquito] stored in his soul and Garm at his side, Kaden made his way to the Resyr village, only to find it empty. The dead were gone, the groundhouses empty, and even the [Makur] pen held only a single wounded [Makur], limping on three legs.

“Go on, put it out of its misery,” Kaden said.

Garm hungered, his belly not full from ladyfingers or bites of calf muscle, even a forearm wasn’t enough, and the result was savage. [Druids] would no doubt approve. “We need to use [Stealth Aura] and head to the Skan, and from there, the Tun.”

The [Ulf Ravager] gave a growl that set Kaden’s nerves on edge, and a feeling that said why. He’d spotted people on the horizon. Together they dropped and engaged [Stealth Aura], then made their way toward the newcomers, circling wide so tracks in the snow wouldn’t betray them. Stealth was fantastic but not perfect.

Adventurers. A trio of [Assassins], a [Healer], [Shield] and [Spearman], they wore more jewelry and rings than Eve would ever consider. Kaden picked a spot and let Garm slink forward, using his hearing.

Every few steps, the [Shield] and [Spearmen] held up wands. Golden lighting leaped between them, and the two would exchange words. Finally, they were close enough for Kaden to make out words.

“…because if Lissa didn’t check in, we have to assume she failed. It took all of Sammy’s abilities to make those [Spell Vampire] bracelets and if that bitch survived, he needs to know before she shows up with a pet tornado. The real question is, where did the brutes all go?” That was one of the [Assassins.]

Kaden had been considering an ambush. [Assassins] were relatively squishy, relying on stealth, poison, first strikes, and mortal blows to survive. But if none of his party or the Resyr were here, an ambush was a useless risk.

Instead, he lay, dead weight in the snow, listening.

“Gusav was a useless coward, but I believe him when he says they headed east,” a woman answered.

“But the Tooney bastards headed west. The cow-barians went north. And we’re hunting corpses for a bunch of useless bracelets.”

“That’s gear none of us could afford. We either get it back or we go without upgrades. Let the cow-lickers hide in the snow. We’ll force them to submit, given time.”

That was the answer Kaden needed. East and West, North, all of them headed into the Domain. While he’d waited to dispense justice, his party had assisted the beserker tribes in escaping to a place the Adventurers and their second-lifer leader would never consider.

All that waited was for him to follow.

###

Night, and Kaden slipped through the darkness with Garm at his side. He’d ran for the better part of the day, visiting each village in turn. Only one was still occupied, and it was overrun with Adventurers. As much as Kaden wanted to introduce Samuel to the business end of an axe, the second lifer would be surrounded by guards, decked with ridiculous gear that was probably tuned to whatever challenge he’d faced.

Better that Kaden join up with the others.

Better that they plan a war.

That the first strike be the last strike.

Ahead, the dark night lit up blue near and far as the Domain Gates errupted, vast blue doors that swung open on stone pillars. And from them, Domain spawn spilled out in numbers that left Kaden amazed.

The nearest gate let loose a swarm of glowing blue wyverns. Kaden kept moving, passing another where waves of blue water spilled out, along with tentacles that grasped the gate and thrashed the snow.

Garm didn’t like that one, so Kaden headed north. There. The giant golem he’d seen stood guard at a single gate. If the [Reflactory] had taught him anything, it was that against a creature that could adapt to enemies, the key was to move decisvely. Kaden pulled Garm into his soul and sprinted for the gate, activating [Moment of Speed] as the giant moved with startling grace raising its hands for a double-fisted smash—one he met with the [Eldritch Shield]—and no force.

The impact sent him sailing back through the gate. Kaden landed, blinded, brilliant sun shone down, making it impossible to see. As fast as he could, Kaden crawled and then sprinted, summoning Garm again.

The [Ulf Ravager] brimmed with pride as it returned to its home more powerful. Let [Ulf] from other packs choose carefully. If they stalked Kaden, they would discover who was predator and who was prey.

Kaden had emerged in a steep valley with high rock walls and river rapids rushing through it. The Domain Gate had been on a steep bank on the east side. Once he put distance between him and the gate, [Stealth Aura] settled in, and he summoned the [Falcrow].

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It bore gaping wounds for the first time in their relationship, but settled on a snow-laden pine to listen as he sent his first message, then winged away.

Moments later, a raven landed, speaking in Trella’s voice. “No idea where you are, but the clans have claimed the center of the domain. Ashi dug groundhouses with earth mana. We need you here as soon as possible.”

“Wisp 71?” Kaden asked. “You are the best wisp in this entire domain. Can you lead me to Trella?”

He couldn’t help but think about how the [Mansquito] would feast on wisps. How they’d obliterate them as a species. And in this case, perhaps, it was right to make a beast extinct.

The Domain felt more active, brighter, stronger than when he’d last been here. His desire to hunt rose with every monster spawn he passed. Even when a pack of [Ulf] ambushed deer with antlers that blazed lightning, he could barely resist the urge to join the hunt—for both.

“That’s you, isn’t it?” Kaden asked Garm.

The [Ulf Ravager] slurped Kaden’s face, leaving a slimy trail that froze and then broke off. [Beast Soul] let Kaden share emotions, but some beasts could return the favor. Night fell in the Domain, and Kaden burrowed down in the snow as storms whipped the domain, resetting monster spawns.

The Ice Dragon’s presence never came, and when dawn rose, Kaden set off again, following 71 to leave the river behind and cross low rolling hills. The smell of wood smoke gave Kaden his first clue he wasn’t alone.

The second clue was the grazing calls of [Makur].

Past the last hill, a wide, flat valley had been taken over, fortified, and tamed by the clans. Everywhere, low groundhouses opened, and everywhere, the beserkers moved, smoking meat and tanning hides—hides the likes of which Kaden had never seen.

“Boo!” Trella shouted from just behind him. She wore white ulf stalker gear, and her short black hair pulled back tight. “Our lookouts said you were coming this way.”

Kaden crushed her close. “How did you do all this? It was one day.”

“First off, Ashi came back loaded with geo mana. Second, we’ve been here nearly a week,” Trella answered. “I need to get back to my lab. Frost is always a threat.”

“I don’t have any essence,” Kaden said.

“In five minutes, another [Ulf] pack will try to kill some [Makur] and guess who will get it?” Trella led them back toward the village, speaking in code. *The tribes do better when they’re spread out. They don’t like each other, but right now, they don’t like Samuel and his hired army even more.*

Kaden didn’t answer aloud about that. “What about the Ice Dragon?”

“He passess over every couple of days, but as long as the groundhouses are closed, he keeps moving. There’ve been two attacks I suspect were the dragon in different forms, but I’ll leave that to Sara to explain.” Trella stopped and pointed. “Almost all of this plain is underground housing, since we any structure we build the Ice Dragon will destroy. Ashi has a plan for that. Sara and Eve are meeting with both accords.” She shifted to mind speech, a skill she still struggled with. *Those bracers will probably decide who leads.*

That was unexpected.

And not at all what Kaden wanted.

Trella kicked the door to a groundhouse, which sat near flat to the soil, and it swung open. “He’s here.”

As he descended into the darkness, Kaden marveled at the arched ceilings and near perfect vents for fresh air. If Ashi had been responsible for this alone, she must be exhausted. With Garm beside, him, [Beserkers] parted ways to let him approach the round table in the center. Twelve Clan members sat, along with Eve and Sara.

The murmurs rose as Kaden circled to stand at Sara’s side. The [Ulf Ravager] stood shoulder height to most of the clan members, and lay down behind Eve, who nodded to Kaden. “Now that we’re all here, and all the dead who can be are resurrected, now you must decide. Two accords are none versus the power of a second-lifer and his army.”

“And he makes a difference?” Kai Fen asked. “Why? He’s not a beserker. None of us call him brother. None of our women even have children by him. Tell me why he’s any better than any other southerner?”

Eve caught Kaden’s eye, trying to communicate something.

The slightest nod—he’d follow her lead.

“Kaden holds the [Xorn Bracers]. He—and all of us—will be helping you free yourself from Samuel and send a message that will be remembered for ages,” Eve answered. “Kai, Drokor, you’re closer than you think to agreeing—”

“No!” Drokor said. “To surrender our accord is to have him turn on us. It has always been this way. One accord turns on the tribe that led the previous.”

“And so we should. The Fen are not footsoldiers to die for others to profit. Coins are worth the same as snow here,” Kai Fen said. “It is time for power to rule, and with it freedom. Ask the others who bled in wars far away. If the price of an accord is your blood, you should offer it willingly.”

“He’s right,” Kaden said.

The room fell silent as shock spread across the Resyr, Skan, and others. Sara’s mouth had fallen open, Eve looked terrified of what he might say next, but with Trella beside him, Kaden forged on. “Balance comes in cycles. One wave of violence sets the standard for the next.”

It was time to pick a leader, and he knew his answer. “Basu Fen?”

She sat behind Kai in the darkness, but stepped forward.

Kaden drew the bracers. “You have a child by Kai Fen, don’t you?”

“I do, but she has not seen eight winters.” Basa didn’t look away. “Leave her out of your plans and your plots.”

“My quest was to return these to the descendants. Your child is a descendant. It’s time for the clans to decide their own future.” He handed them to Basu and ignored the slew of system notifications. “The decision of who will lead isn’t one I should make. I only ask that you make the future better for all of them.” Kaden put his hand on Garm. “Eve will remain here to take the oaths of whoever is leader. Garm will remain to eat anyone who threatens Eve. The rest of us will be waiting to help.”

“Kaden?” Eve asked.

The question was implicit. He summoned Vip and let her bound to Eve’s lap. If a large dog could guard her back, a small dog would guard her heart.

Kaden left with Trella and Sara at his side. “Where are Ashi and Sevin?”

“Ashi is probably still asleep. She was exhausted after so much spellwork. Sevin has been trying to discover the secrets of [Skeledeer] and so far has only discovered how wretched they smell. We have food, beds, and more.” Sara chose a groundhouse door at random and opened it. Unlike most, it led to a spiral staircase that led down, down, and down, past small bedrooms that were more vast bubbles in the rock than proper rooms. The bottoom flared out into a circle room with an actual fire blazing over a crystal.

Ashi slept soundly, hovering two feet off the floor, and as the others entered, she rolled over and began to snore.

Kaden seated himself near the flame and took out the [Spell Vampire] bracelets, passing them around. He scanned the notifications that had spewed when he handed over the bracers. And began to laugh.