s a towering pile of broken wood, rusted metal

ght. The nearest patrol was

look vanished from his face. His eyes

ped around a thick, hardwood beam buried deep

the beam free. He tossed it aside like it weighed nothing. He select

l knots. He hoisted the entire bundle onto

ted his posture. He bent his knees. He let his shoulders hunch.

and saw Elvin staggering under the load, lookin

elf!" she cried, helping him sh

into a cup, and filled it with water

nt, satisfied smile touched his lips, though

said, pointing at the pile o

flake she had been working

handle down. M

ly. Without thinking, his wrist flicked. The stone spun in

ed a beat. That

elp, loosening his grip. The

weakling, his face contorting i

rously precise. But his immediate clumsiness and the pained expression on his pale face quickly erased the

movements to be clumsy, slow, and shaky. But even with t

ece of mutated beast bone against a

in. Ariel wiped the sweat from her forehead. H

to check the second fis

oming with you." His tone was f

basket. This time, it wasn't just fish. Dozens of giant

e massive. In this camp, they were considered garbage. To

like they were gold coins. She carefully d

er, Ariel showed

off. Pull this black line out." She demon

al instruments. He didn't fumble. He didn't hesitate. He s

ou're a natural," she s

iding the flush of pleasu

ing it with wild herbs. She dumped it all i

they sat side by side on the stone floor. For a moment