The forest was alive with the sounds of the late afternoon. Birds called from the canopy above, and the undergrowth rustled with small creatures going about their business. Shai moved through it all with ease, her mind elsewhere.

  The scale of what they'd brought with them kept turning over in her head. The town, or what part of it had appeared here, seemed large to Shai. Her village was much smaller. She could tell with how far one side of the area stretched, from the coast across much of the plain, that the original must have been huge. If this was a small part of the whole town, and that had been on the small to medium size compared to others from their country, then how big were their cities? If there were three thousand people in this part of town alone, then how many people lived there before everything had happened? The thought boggled her mind.

  Then there were the weapons they mentioned. Weapons that could fire from hundreds of miles away with incredible accuracy. Siege engines that could blow holes in thick steel. Things that would make her knowledge and skill of warfare absolutely useless. Lee had tried to explain it to her, and even his simple explanation had made the implications clear. Guns and the rest of their weapons would change this world permanently if they were allowed to exist here.

  She thought next of the men themselves.

  Liam had been the first to speak to her. He seemed to be the one least shaken by what they'd faced. Paul had struggled with the goblin kill more than the others, she'd seen it on his face, the shock of knowing he'd dealt the killing blow. But he'd found his anger later, when she'd mentioned her people being enslaved. It was one of the signs the men and hopefully the rest of the townsfolk were good people. Ste was clearly a thinker. He knew what he wanted to say before he spoke, made sure he was working through everything carefully before opening his mouth. Parmo had a strange name. She wasn't sure if it was a regional name, she'd have to ask next time they met. He'd been quite vocal once she had assured them they hadn't done something terrible in defending themselves and he'd gotten over the shock.

  And Lee. He'd been shy around her, clearly uncomfortable with eye contact, yet he'd spoken at length trying to make sure she understood everything. He'd answered her questions despite his nervousness, wanting to help her see his world the way he saw it. And then he'd given her his watch.

  She looked at it on her wrist now. The metal shone when it caught the light, its construction clean and precise. The glass holding the main time telling piece was clear, like the windows she saw in the town. It must be expensive, even if he'd given it away without hesitation. A gift that might not have meant much when he gave it, but she would make sure to keep it safe. She noticed the way the other men backed off when he gave it to her, smiles on each of their faces. She was unsure of what that meant. A cultural thing perhaps, something about the gift itself? Maybe she would ask one of them next time.

  The village came into view as the trees thinned. Shai picked up her pace, eager to get back and report. The palisade walls rose ahead, and the guard at the gate nodded as she approached. She nodded back, moving past without breaking stride.

  She'd only made it a few steps into the village when something swooped down from above, shouting her name.

  "Shai! Shai, you're back!"

  Rika landed hard a few feet in front of her, large feathered wings still spread wide from the flight. The midnight blue and deep purple feathers caught the afternoon light as she folded them against her back. Her silver-blonde hair, tied up in a tight braid while in flight, fell past her shoulder, streaked through with the same midnight blue and purple that marked her wings, a trait of her kind. Her green eyes were bright with excitement, darting over Shai like she was trying to read everything that had happened in the last few hours. She was still in her training gear, a reinforced leather jerkin with wing slits cut into the back, tight leather pants, and boots. A bow was slung across her body, a quiver of arrows attached to her thigh.

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  "What did you find? Did you see anything weird? Oh gods, did you kill something? You've got that look like you saw something, what was it?" Rika's words tumbled out rapid-fire, barely pausing between questions. She stepped closer, her gaze landing on Shai's wrist. "Wait, what's that on your arm?"

  Shai held up her wrist, letting Rika see the watch.

  Rika's eyes went wide. She reached out but didn't touch it, just stared. "What is that? It's beautiful. The glass is so clear and smooth, and look at how tiny the details are. How did someone even make something like this?" She leaned closer, listening. "Is that a sound? It's ticking. Why is it ticking?"

  "It keeps time," Shai said.

  "Time? How does it keep time? How does glass keep time?" Rika's head snapped up, her whole body vibrating with questions. "Where did you get it? Did you find it somewhere? Did you meet someone? You met someone, didn't you? Oh gods, Shai, tell me everything!"

  Shai started walking toward the training grounds, and Rika flew alongside her, unable to stay still.

  "The watch was a gift," Shai said simply.

  "A gift from who? There's no one out there to give you—" Rika stopped mid-flight, hovering. "You actually met someone. You met someone and they gave you this incredible thing. Oh my gods, what happened?"

  "If you stop for a second and breathe I'll tell you. You'll have to wait for the full story though, I need to report to the elders," said Shai while shaking her head, her ears twitching at the constant pestering from Rika.

  "I can do that. There, I'm breathing, look, see?" replied Rika before she took three quick exaggerated breaths and continued. "So, what happened. Who from around here could afford to give you something like that? Are they rich? Did you finally find a man to sweep you off your feet? Oh, this is so exciting!"

  "Gods Rika. Calm down. No, I was sent to scout for information on a town that appeared a few days ago in the Verdant Reach, by the coast. I met some of the people there. There's a lot going on but I'll fill you in after I've spoken to the elders. One of the people I met gave me this as a gift. I agreed to ask the elders for a meeting with their town leaders. This is to keep track of time and to meet them tomorrow."

  "Well if that's the case I'm coming along. You can't leave me out of something this juicy. Don't try to stop me Shai, I'll just follow you from the air if you try."

  "Fine." Shai's tail drooped slightly as she gave in easily. She knew Rika better than to try and stop what would happen anyway. Once she found out about something that interested her, there was no stopping her.

  As they approached the elder hall, a figure emerged from the training field. Torren was impossible to miss. Standing nearly seven feet tall, his deep green skin and the tusks poking out at the edges of his mouth marked him as unmistakably orc, his facial features carrying the softer lines of his human mother. He wore a steel cuirass across his chest and torso, leaving his arms bare. Over it hung a half-robe in browns and muted greens with touches of yellow, a sash falling loosely beneath and tied at the front. His massive arms were on full display, marked with intricate tattoos and old scars that spoke of his years in the guard. Wide-legged trousers in matching earth tones were gathered at his boots. Beads with small wooden charms wound around his wrists, with other intricate charms scattered across his gear and person. He was bald, his head smooth, but his eyes were gentle, warm brown that seemed at odds with the imposing frame he carried. A metal-headed maul was slung casually over one shoulder.

  He saw them coming and turned to walk alongside them, his face breaking into a genuine smile.

  "Ah, Shai returns! And with our spirited Rika in tow. The day just gets brighter," he said warmly, his booming voice carrying an unexpected gentleness.

  "How did training go?" Shai asked, glancing at Rika, who still hadn't properly answered her question.

  Rika winced slightly. "Sorry, I got distracted by the watch and—"

  "It went wonderfully," Torren said, his gentle voice warm with pride. "The new recruits are coming along splendidly. They're starting to understand that strength is only half of what we need. The other half is patience." He smiled at Rika. "Our young friend here was particularly helpful with the archery drills."

  "That's great news," Shai said. "I'll fill you both in on what I found when I was scouting, but I need to see the elders now. I'll catch up with you both later."

  "Of course, of course. I'm sure the tale is riveting but we can't keep the elders waiting now can we?" Torren said warmly. "Go on, I'll have one of my famous pies waiting for you."

  "Thank you Torren. Try to keep Rika out of trouble in the short time i'm gone. I'll see you both soon." Shai turned and stepped into the elder hall. Behind her, she could hear Rika's voice rising immediately, telling Torren not to listen, how she never gets herself into trouble. Torren's deep chuckle rumbled in response, patient and amused, as their voices faded into the distance.