The next three weeks passed in a rare, welcome peace.
As Revan requested, a rope-pulley system was constructed along the riverbank. Two wide-bottomed barges were anchored on opposite shores, and a team of horses was hitched to the camp side. When the horses walked the length of the river path, both barges glided across the current, passing one another in the center before reaching the far banks. Turning the team around brought the barges home again. Crude, but effective—and already proving invaluable.
Sentry training moved steadily forward. When Dem wasn't teaching or reviewing formations with the sub-chiefs, he hunted with Telo, Ai, and Tam—learning woodlore, reading trails, and checking snares. Every evening, he brought Noko and the shaman to the secluded glade so they could revel in their beastkin forms. The routine had transformed Noko—her fear had softened into curiosity, and her smile came more easily.
Tam began working with Noko on the bow, sometimes joined by Reyka. The Frostridge archer's apology had been unexpected and—judging by Ai's and Tam's eventual acceptance—genuine. The three practiced well together.
Dem stood with Teya Bearclaw one morning while she pulled guard duty on the far side of the river crossing. The breeze carried the scent of pine and wet earth, and Teya leaned on her spear with casual confidence.
"I think you're getting taller, Commander," she said with a grin. The top of his head still barely reached her chin, but she wasn't wrong—he'd grown.
Dem raised an eyebrow. He appreciated that she kept rank during duty, even though off duty, she had a dry wit he'd come to enjoy. "If you say so."
His head snapped up a heartbeat later, gaze turning across the river. A presence brushed his senses like the shift of wind before a storm.
"Mamar," he murmured. "I'm going to cross and see what she wants."
Teya straightened. "Maybe we'll be heading out soon? Want me to fetch Telo?"
"Not yet," Dem said, already stepping onto the barge. "I'll see what this is first."
The river pulled around the hull as he began his slow glide toward the opposite bank—toward whatever news Mamar carried.
Mamar stood on the far bank, her brightly colored skirt snapping in the cool wind, hair unbothered, expression calm. She didn't ask him into her wagon, didn't bother with ceremony.
"Danger approaches the Frostridge mines," she said simply.
Dem let out a slow breath. "All right. Anything else?"
Mamar shook her head. "Nothing I can see. But the feeling was sharp. Time is short."
That was enough.
Dem crossed back, stopped briefly at the Clan Chief's tent, and explained the situation. Swiftwind would need to resume full perimeter and river-crossing duties until Sentry returned.
He found Telo near the horse lines. "We're heading north to Frostridge. Saddled and riding in an hour."
Telo nodded once, jogging off. "Understood!"
Dem made for his family tent. Ai met him first, her nose wrinkling with worry before she threw her arms around him.
"My birth celebration is in a few days. You're going to miss it," she complained, squeezing him tight.
Dem smiled. Ai had been reminding him daily—seventeen was an important age. "I suppose I'll have to give you your present now."
Her face lit up instantly. "Did you make me something? A carving? Or—or anything, really."
"Is loot okay?" Dem asked, already pulling out the small storage ring he'd found on the slaver commander. A lower-tier ring, but still rare among common folk.
"Yes! Your dosu will absolutely accept loot." Ai waggled her eyebrows, then froze as he placed the ring into her palm. "Dem… storage ring?"
"Just one of the simple ones," he admitted. "It'll only hold a few items, a bow, some traps, maybe spare clothes."
Her bow vanished into it with a flicker of thought. Ai gasped, then launched herself at him, hugging him fiercely. "Oh saints—this is amazing!"
Dem chuckled and hugged the rest of his family in turn—Gram, Yada, Noko, each one offering their own small worry.
"It's a few days' hard ride," he told them softly. "We'll likely be gone two or three weeks. Don't worry too much. I'll be back."
And with that, he stepped away from the warmth of the hearth and toward the waiting horses—toward the Frostridge mines, and whatever danger waited there.
When Dem returned to the Sentry force a short while later, they were mounted and ready to ride. Telo sat in front, waiting for him.
Dem glanced at the formation. "Everyone here, Chief?"
"Yes, Sark and his Odun have already left, scouting ahead."
Dem slid easily into the saddle. "Let's go then."
They rode hard for the next six hours, breaking for a few minutes for cold fare, hard biscuits, and fruit washed down with water.
Sark and two of his scouts returned while the Sentry force was resting.
"Nothing ahead except for some wild game. We managed two deer, left them gutted and hanging near the trail." Sark reported.
"I'll pick them up when we pass by, continue scouting ahead, but also send a pair to check our backtrail, make sure no one is following us." Dem vaulted into the saddle. "Since we're fresh, we're going to push hard until late."
The forest gradually thinned, turned into brush, and rolling hills. Dem spotted the two deer left by the scouts and paused long enough to put them both into his storage ring before pushing forward.
At midnight, Dem pulled up. "Have everyone bed down, two roving guards in one-hour shifts. Cold camp, no fires."
"Understood," Telo dismounted, leading his horse toward the sub-chiefs.
After resting for a few hours, the Sentry force was back in the saddle by dawn, riding hard toward the Frostridge lands.
It was late in the day when the mountain range came into view. Dem spotted Sark approaching and reined in his horse.
"Telo, we're stopping for a few hours. Get the campfires started, hot fare, and a short rest, but then we're pushing again."
Dem took out his flask and took a long drink. "Any news?"
Sark nodded. "It's clear ahead, but we did pick up a tail for a few miles. Some arrows convinced them we weren't worth the effort. Petty thieves, probably, less than a half dozen."
"Have your people come in for some hot fare and a short rest." Dem's dark eyes scanned the perimeter for a moment before dismounting.
A short while later, Telo pushed a bowl of stew into Dem's hands.
"Thanks," Dem wolfed down the stew. It wasn't bad, but it lacked seasoning.
Sark squatted on his heels nearby, enjoying the hot meal. "If we push all night, we can arrive by dawn."
Dem nodded. "But we'll be exhausted and in no shape for a drawn-out fight."
"Plan on fighting?" Sark asked.
"Always plan on one," Dem countered. "We'll stop at midnight, get some sleep, and arrive late morning."
The Sentry force resumed its journey, pushing forward while the scouts ranged far ahead. At midnight, they set a cold camp with a roving guard.
When Dem saddled up at dawn, he could feel and see the fatigue of his force. Thanks to the hard work they'd been putting in, no one was exhausted.
Reyka rode beside Dem the last few miles, anxious to see her home and family again, while hoping everyone was safe.
The Frostridge Clan was the only one among the tribals that didn't migrate, having stayed in the same mountain range for generations. They had a main compound, bunkhouses, and smaller homes for family quarters. Most of the meals were eaten together in the Main Lodge.
Reyka's blue eyes showed her confusion. "We should have run into a guard or wandering clansmen. Where is everyone?"