In the end, I had a rather short night, but I did get at least a few hours of rest, the only sleep I’ve had in the last two days. Fortunately, with my Constitution, that leaves me tired but functional. I’ve fought in far worse conditions.

  With dawn not far off, I’m busy organising who’s going with me and who will be continuing onto the city. Immediately, I hit a snag.

  “What do you mean the eggs are imminent?” I demand of River who’s just given me the news, shamefaced. “And why didn’t you tell me before we left?!”

  I’m sorry, she apologises sincerely. I just didn’t want to risk that you wouldn’t let us come. I feel safer with all of us here than I would back in the city on my own.

  “But I can’t take you with me to face a Tier three, not if you could start laying your eggs at any moment!” Silence meets my objection.

  We’ll manage without them, Kalanthia rumbles after a moment. Two of them are not particularly effective fighters, anyway. What they can equip us with will give us more of an advantage than their presence.

  Her words are blunt, but I admit that there’s truth to them. Combined with careful breaths, they calm my anger which, honestly, mostly comes from fear that their attempts to rebuild their population in a new world will be destroyed before they even start. I’m still not certain about the advisability of bringing in a new predatory species into a completely different world, but I’m going to do my best to ensure that the hopes of my dearest companions can come to fruition.

  At least Kalanthia’s already agreed to coming with us – seems rather eager about it, actually. I think she likes the idea of the challenge. Now I almost hope that there’s something worth her time or I’m going to have a sulky Tier three nunda on my hands.

  “How many days?” I ask when I’m calm.

  Four days for me, I think, Happy hesitates to offer. Maybe a little less. Hunter and River chime in with tentative agreement.

  “I see,” I say flatly, my mind going through the options available. Ideally, we will have found the rift and closed it in less than that time, but I can’t be sure. The Dragon team have been searching for over six days already and haven’t yet found it. We’ve identified a couple of likely spots on the map based on the tracks Sulir found, but will my intervention really make that much of a difference?

  Anyway, I’m not taking them with me – I don’t even know how accurate their estimations of time are. None of them have had eggs before as they’re all recently Evolved. For all I know, they might be wildly off and their eggs will come through tonight.

  Worse, in terms of my battle plans, is that Catch and Iandee will want to stay with them – and Pride with Catch. That means I’m six fighters down before we even start. And sure, I can order them to come, but I know that they won’t be fighting at their best if I do.

  “Iandee, Catch, I know that you want to stay with your Pathwalkers, but is one of you willing to come with us? I wouldn’t ask, but we may be facing a beast that’s past its third Evolution, and I really need the fighters since I won’t take any of our unEvolved. Anyway, there are all the guards here too – and the Pathwalkers will obviously not take any part in the beast wave.”

  We can still help! River objects indignantly. My eggs being imminent doesn’t stop me making potions. Hunter and Smith agree firmly with their sister, offering similar points related to enchantments and smithing.

  “Alright, they will be taking part in the beast wave, but not fighting,” I correct myself, then look between the Warriors pleadingly. “Please? I really need you.”

  Iandee hesitates, looking between me and the Pathwalkers with grey misery flickering in his spikes and through the Bond. I feel bad for putting him in such a position but…I really need at least one Warrior.

  Pride and I will come, Catch offers abruptly. Eats-dirt can stay with the Pathwalkers.

  Hope rises rapidly.

  “You will? Are you sure?” I check. I brush the Bond between us lightly, just enough to get a sense of his emotions and motivations. There are different shades of determination and fear intermingled – Catch knows that if I die, the Pathwalkers won’t be safe anyway, and that does play a part, but it’s not the only factor. I feel sudden warmth at the realisation that part of it is also because he wants to make sure I’m safe.

  I am, Catch confirms. You’re right – the Pathwalkers will be well-protected by the guards. Considering everything you have done for us, I cannot leave you to face an Immortal Beast alone.

  “An ‘undying’ beast?” I ask warily. Catch waves his tail in a shrug.

  It is our term for them because they are so hard to kill. Or so the legends say – no one has killed an Immortal Beast in living memory.

  Wonderful.

  “Well, thank you, I would appreciate your presence,” I agree with relief. Iandee looks relieved too, though he’s sending guilty glances at Catch. He doesn’t speak up to disagree, though. “I guess we need to work out how we’re going to transport the eggs, then – since they’ll definitely be arriving before we get back to the manor.”

  From what I remember, the samuran eggs are soft-shelled when they’re laid, but harden up a bit within a few hours. In the village, they were covered with leaves and the brood mothers took turns lying around them so they would be kept warm.

  I curse myself for not making preparations ahead of time. I should have realised that the time was getting close – they’d said it would be a month when we first arrived and it’s close to that now. And by that, I mean a month in the samuran world which works out as a little over a month and a half in this one. It’s just that the samurans barely show any indication of being pregnant with a load of eggs. Their bellies are perhaps a little rounder and the base of their tails are thicker, but their scales hide most of it. They certainly don’t look anything like a heavily pregnant woman would.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  I consider our options and then almost hit myself at ignoring a very useful resource.

  Nicholas? I ask, reaching out to him tentatively. He’s awake at least. Sorry for disturbing you, but I have a problem.

  What is it? he responds immediately, alert.

  I’m not sure I ever mentioned this to you, but three of my companions are pregnant. Well, if pregnant is the correct term, since it’s eggs, but the issue is that they’re likely to start laying them in the next few days and I need a way to transport them. They need to be kept warm and protected for a few weeks until they hatch.

  Which companions are they? he asks with a touch of surprise.

  The samurans.

  Nicholas is silent for a moment.

  It’s a pity that I did not know – I have a few incubation chests back in the country seat I could have given you. They’re enchanted to monitor the health of those within, ensuring perfect conditions for their breed. There will probably be some available for purchase in Zlona.

  You’re sure? They sound specialised, I worry. Those chests sound ideal.

  They are, Nicholas agrees, but due to the useful beasts that can be found in the hills, Tamers frequently come here to search for new Bonded. And some of those Bonded begin as eggs. I will make inquiries when I reach the city – after I have dealt with the mess that has rendered the city less able to face an unexpected beast wave than it really should be.

  Of course, I agree. Thank you.

  You’re welcome. Now, is that everything?

  Yes, sorry for disturbing you, I apologise again and he pulls away without another word.

  I summarise my conversation with Nicholas and feel the relief from the samurans at the solution. “So, River, Hunter, Smith, and Iandee will definitely be going to Zlona. As will Ivor, Trouble, Blaze, Spot, and Ninja.”

  Ninja sends me fierce objections about that.

  “You must have known you would be going with them!” I exclaim. “We discussed it in the meeting with the scouts – if we face a Tier four, or even a Tier three, you guys are far too vulnerable.” I remember Raven and how with a single well-aimed attack, he killed Marty and Wolverine, both good fighters – both Tier ones without the health pool needed to survive the assault.

  Ninja still sends stubborn determination to join me. I narrow my eyes as she sends a more complex emotion that I can’t quite parse. I look at Bastet for help. The matriarch swings her head towards Ninja and then, after a moment, rubs cheeks with her.

  She feels she is getting closer to Evolution, Bastet translates. She wants a challenge.

  “I understand that,” I tell the young raptorcat gently. “But a Tier four is far too much challenge. Even a Tier three would be pushing it. Stay in Zlona – fight in the battles there. You will have challenge enough without putting yourself in too much danger. I don’t want you dying before your time like–” I bite my tongue before I accidentally say Storm’s name.

  Unfortunately, the Bond between us makes communication far too easy and Ninja hears it nonetheless. She snarls and crouches to the ground, her wings flaring, her eyes glaring at me. Then she pushes off with her front feet, propelling herself backwards instead of leaping at me, quickly disappearing into the dark of pre-dawn.

  Bastet sends me a chiding look, then hurries after her. I swallow, reproaching myself firmly for bringing up that particular painful memory.

  Ivor is the next to make his objections known, ruffling his wings and hissing menacingly as he complains through emotions about being left behind again. He also sends me a picture of Noir with a firm questioning tone.

  “Noir has a Class,” I point out. “And his Skills make it easier for him to escape. You don’t even have any abilities besides the tattoos.” When I feel that that’s just making him more determined to come with us, I change tack. “Anyway, where I actually need you will be supporting the rest of the group. If I take all three of those who are able to fly, that leaves everyone else vulnerable to the air – and we know that the beast wave includes flying creatures. You’ll be far more useful if you go with the group – and your white colour will help there instead of hinder.”

  I feel Ivor hesitate and consider my words. I send him images of what I imagine he might do to help the rest of our companions – and my real need for him to join them. I feel him give in. His wings flatten against his back, and the sound of a kettle boiling ceases.

  “OK, good,” I sigh and then turn to the humans. “Loran, you, Alyna, and Rory will also go to Zlona.” The last two don’t object – if anything, Alyna and Rory look more than a little relieved. Loran appears more conflicted.

  “Are you sure you do not wish me to be present?” he asks me anxiously. “I know I have no Class, but my knives are at your service.” I was unsurprised when Laeman told me he had a talent with them – a knife seems like a typical thief’s weapon.

  “I have a more important task for you,” I tell him earnestly. “Make sure that the companions I send with you have everything they need and are protected or, if they wish to join the battles, are not placed in areas of inappropriate danger. Fight with them, if you wish, but I’m leaving them in your care.” Loran inhales sharply as I make him team-leader over the four raptorcats and Ivor.

  He bows his head deeply.

  “I will ensure they come through this alive,” he vows sincerely.

  “Do your best,” I agree. I glance over at Alyna and Rory. “Alyna, you will be under Hunter’s command. Rory, you will be under River.” The two slaves nod in acknowledgement even as I pass the command over to the samurans in question. Given that Hunter and Alyna are both studying enchanting, it only makes sense to pair them together. As for Rory, I’d rather put him with Maxen, but he’s already got enough Bonds under his management. River can either order him to follow Maxen’s orders if he needs to fight, or can get him to help her in other ways. At least now they can speak for themselves, the Pathwalkers don’t need someone to translate.

  “Finally,” I continue, “Maxen, you’ll take your fighters with you as intended.” Said fighters are not present, but their leader is. The ex-military man nods firmly. “Do your best to keep them alive, and to protect my more vulnerable Bonded, please.”

  “Of course, sir,” he acknowledges. “Perhaps the raptorcats and Ivor could fight alongside our unit.”

  “That would be ideal,” I agree. “Especially as you will be fighting together on the Lost Continent too.”

  “As you say, sir,” Maxen agrees. I turn back to the rest of my companions.

  “As for those who I’ve assigned to go with me, do any of you have any questions, objections, or desire to be reassigned?” I look from one to the other. Kalanthia looks impatient to leave, and Lathani even more so, shifting from foot to foot. Fenrir is far calmer, just looking up at me expectantly. Sirocco gives me a derisive look as I meet her gaze – as if she wouldn’t come with me, her eyes seem to say. Artemis and Orion are both apprehensive and I sense that Orion for one would prefer to stay with Loran, but they don’t raise any objections. Pride doesn’t even look at me. Catch meets my eyes steadily, as does Noir.

  At that moment, Bastet and Ninja return. I raise my eyebrows at them but Bastet just sends me a message of ‘don’t ask’. Ninja approaches me and eyes me cautiously. I drop to one knee.

  “I’m sorry for saying that,” I tell her quietly. “I just want you to be safe. Growing, yes, getting stronger, definitely, but safely.”

  The raptorcat hesitates for another long moment then steps forwards and nuzzles my cheek. She sends me an emotional packet that I interpret as ‘I forgive you and will do my best. But you have to be safe too.’

  “I’ll try,” I murmur. “I have lots of reasons to come out of this alive,” I tell her with a slight smile, lifting my hands to stroke her head and neck. Then, a moment later, I stand, very much aware of time disappearing on us.

  “Are there any other questions, comments, concerns?” I ask the group. No one responds. “Very well. Then, those who will be going to Zlona, good luck. Those who will be going with me…let’s go.”

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