The first thing to do was to hike down closer to the river and see if there was any way across we couldn’t spot from up on the hill. It was unlikely, obviously, but it was just like climbing up the ladder in the tunnel to try the trapdoor again: pointless, but I couldn’t help myself.

  It was also dangerous. We were in monster-infested territory, and while we hadn’t seen anything yet, I kept my head on a swivel looking for any signs of movement. I didn’t really have any idea how numerous they were this close to the river, or how deadly, but I could only guess that they were bad news.

  “So what’s the deal with the tunnel, you think?” I asked Amaia as we walked - mostly to distract my nerves. “I thought it might be a sewer at first, but there was no smell.”

  “Not sure,” she answered, carefully shuffling her way down the hill. “Could have been an aqueduct, once. Or a secret tunnel for criminals.”

  “Do criminals have the resources to build something like that?”

  She shrugged. “Not all criminals are poor. Some get rich through crime, others start rich and do it for fun.”

  “For fun?” I laughed. “Reminds me of someone. ‘Sure, why not, I’ve never done that before.’”

  Amaia chuckled. “You got me. I’m actually a rich heiress. I’m just here for the thrill, waiting for you to ask me to rob people - like you did with Cadoc before I met you, if I remember correctly.”

  “Really?” I asked. Her voice had stayed so flat it sounded like a confession.

  “No,” she said. “Not really.”

  We were coming down to the base of the hill then. The northeast branch of the river spilled out wide in front of us.

  I could see the walls where the garrison stationed themselves, and it was strange to think that Cadoc might be there at that very moment, sparring with the men there, oblivious to our situation.

  Except, I thought, it has been a full day since we left. Or at least that long. Maybe he’s out looking for us.

  I appreciated the thought, but it’d likely be better for everyone if he wasn’t. It was basically impossible that he’d actually find us, and he might just end up lost himself.

  “What’s that?” Amaia asked, pointing.

  I stared. There was some small point, far off, moving across the sparsely-treed plain beyond the garrison walls. Then it was many points, and they must have been moving from the southeast because as they came closer to the garrison moving left to right, they grew in size as well, resolving into figures I could almost make out.

  “Monsters,” I said finally. Another group of them, like Gad had shown us, rushing towards the garrison. I couldn’t exactly make out what they looked like, but they hardly looked human, and what else was out there? “Perfect.”

  “Perfect?” Amaia repeated.

  “Yeah,” I said. “They can’t get to us, but they’ll get the garrison out of their walls. If we’re lucky, one of them will see us. We’re obviously human.”

  Or at least, I look human, I thought.

  Amaia shook her head. “They’ll be facing the wrong way.”

  It was true, since the monsters were coming from the southeast.

  “It’s fine,” I said. “They’ll have to turn back when they’re done, and then we can wave our arms and shout and get their attention.”

  “Works for me, I guess.”

  So we waited, sitting down in the grass beside the Blood, ready to observe the battle like we were having a picnic beside some outdoor performance.

  And I was starving, so we ate as well, more dry food and that red drink. There was something surreal about it. Despite it all, I became quite relaxed, and enjoyed my leisurely meal as we watched the garrison run and fly forth out of the gates, maneuver wildly around their opponents, and face them in life-or-death combat.

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  We didn’t have much food left so we were long past done eating by the time the battle ended. From such a distance it was hard to even tell who won, but it must have been the garrison as the surviving figures walked calmly back to the gates rather than rushing in towards them like a band of bloodthirsty beasts. And at times the sun caught on their polished armor, sending glittering reflections to us which were unmistakable.

  As soon as we could tell they had turned we stood, raised our hands high above our heads, and yelled. “Hey! Over here! We’re human!”

  But even waving our arms back and forth seemed to accomplish nothing. The figures in the distance didn’t waver or change course.

  “Keep waving and shouting,” I said to Amaia. “I’m going to try something else. We’ve got to get their attention.”

  I pulled out my slingshot from where it hung on my belt - where it hung uselessly, since I’d never replenished my ammunition.

  But the shore there beside the northeast branch was rocky, and I was able to quickly gather stones that looked like they would work.

  I covered the stones quickly with liquid nail, loaded one into the slingshot, and fired, sending the stone shooting towards the crowd.

  It didn’t reach them, of course - too far - but I ignited the nail as the stone reached the zenith of it’s flight and hoped the bits of flame appearing suddenly in the sky would draw their attention. I loaded and sent one after another.

  “I think they noticed,” Amaia said.

  She was right. The group had stopped moving.

  “Over here!” I yelled as loudly as I could, knowing my throat would be sore afterwards from the strain. “Help!”

  The group didn’t move for awhile. Finally two of the figures broke from the others and began moving our way while the others continued back towards the gates.

  “Yes!” I said, pumping my fist. “Hell yeah, we did it.”

  “I hope they’ve got a boat or something,” Amaia said.

  We watched as they approached. The sight of them became more and more distinct until finally they were, without a doubt, two tall men in full suits of metallic armor, each holding one of those long-bladed polearms I’d since learned was called a glaive.

  When they finally reached the other side of the river, they were still at such a distance that I was sure they could only hear us if we shouted. I could see their helmets turn as the two seemed to be talking to each other, but I heard not a word.

  “Hey!” I yelled. “Thanks for coming! We’re a bit stuck out here!”

  “Think they can leap over here with their magic?” Amaia asked.

  “Maybe. But then what? I’m not sure they could carry us back. Hey!” I yelled again. “Can you hear me?”

  It wasn’t clear that they did, but they did turn towards each other again. I thought that maybe they were discussing how best to help us across.

  “Do you guys have a boat?” I asked. “Just yell something back at me so I know you can hear me!”

  They did no such thing. They continued their silent conversation, and I was beginning to get frustrated at their refusal to answer.

  “Fuckers,” I said. “Give me an answer, at least. I get that you’re planning to help us, but I’d feel a lot better if you fucking said something!”

  “Maybe they can’t hear,” Amaia offered.

  “Maybe,” I said. “But I don’t think so. They started talking again after I started shouting, so I’m sure they were discussing what I said. Probably wondering how the fuck we got over here.”

  “I guess.”

  “Hey!” I yelled. “We’re from Coernet! We took a boat over, but we lost it! Long story!”

  No answer. I could see that the conversation they were having, whatever it was, was growing animated. One of the men started to step backwards from the riverside, but the other guard put a hand on his armored shoulder.

  “Hey!” I yelled again, “Where the fuck are you going?!” They’d begun to walk away.

  “Maybe they’re getting the boat.”

  “Fuck,” I said. “Maybe they’re leaving us behind, the assholes. Hey! Fucking say something! Are you coming back?”

  No answer. They had turned their backs on us and didn’t hesitate in their steps, slowly walking away.

  I grabbed my slingshot again. “No fucking way,” I muttered to myself. “Not happening.”

  I sent a flurry of rocks at the retreating men, igniting them as they flew. Tiny fireballs rained down around them, some clanging off their armor with a noise like a gong which I could hear even from where I stood.

  That got their attention. They turned back towards us.

  “Sorry!” I yelled. There was something about the way they walked that told me they were pissed. One of them, at least. “But you’ve got to answer me! I can’t just wait out here, not knowing if you’re coming back or not!”

  They reached the riverside again. I expected them to finally shout back at me - instead, they leaped.

  Their magic must have been pretty strong to propel a man in a full suit of armor, let alone doing so across that great distance of the river. But they did, soaring towards us like they were shot from cannons.

  They landed just a little ways upriver from us, near the fork, but within a few yards. I was dimly happy that they hadn’t misjudged and landed right on top of us.

  “Wow,” I said. “Well hey, I appreciate it, guys. Sorry for the fireballs. What’s the plan? Can you guys help us get back to town?”

  But still they didn’t answer. They only walked towards us.

  It may have been naive, but part of me wondered if they were sick, throats sore, and were unable to yell or even speak loudly. Amaia guessed at the truth quicker than I did.

  “I don’t think they want to help,” Amaia muttered.

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “I don’t think they came over here for the view.”

  But the guards had both hands on their weapons now, and it was clear by their posture that Amaia was right.

  “Get ready to fight,” Amaia said, drawing her golden sword. “Or run, if you prefer.”

  “What the hell, guys?” I said. “What the fuck did we ever do to you? I said I’m sorry about the fireballs. But there’s no way they even-”

  I was interrupted by a silent swing of a glaive. The man had approached slowly, then all at once, and I wondered later if his magic had allowed his to burst forward like that. The blade didn’t quite reach me, but I could tell he’d meant to take my head off. I dropped my slingshot as I drew my drows, not having enough time to attach it back to my belt.

  “Shit,” I heard the one who’d attacked me mutter to himself. He readied for another swing. The weapon allowed him an advantage over most in range, but a wide swing like that was slow to recover from.

  Amaia stepped between us. The other man had swiped at her, but his weapon went wide.

  “Stay behind me,” Amaia said. “And we might be OK.”

  The one who’d attacked me now swung towards Amaia, but again he missed - though this time I doubted it was just bad aim.

  “I can’t hit them, Arlotto!” the man yelled. His voice was high and shaky. “I told you we should have left them.”

  “I told you not to talk!” Arlotto shouted back, swinging again at Amaia. “Just help me slay them and we’ll be done.”

  There was no mistaking things now. They wanted to kill us.

  Good luck.

  I started throwing liquid nails, careful to stay behind Amaia and yet off to one side enough to not hit her.

  My nails landed on the men’s armor more often than not, but it wasn’t obvious it was having any effect. No exposed skin, at least that was easy to get to.

  “We don’t have to do this!” I yelled. “We’re from Coernet! We just want to get back! We’re friends with Cadoc. You know him, right? You must have met him just the other day.”

  I saw hesitation in the man with the shaky voice. “Did you hear that, Arlotto? How would it know about-“

  But his friend didn’t stop, screaming over the voice of his partner as he lunged at Amaia.

  I lunged as well. I had to take whatever chance I could. As the one man hesitated, questioning his friend, I dashed forward, bringing my drows down, aiming for his armored head. Another sound like a gong ran out as the two metals clashed.