Shadow Slave

Eventually, Sunny climbed out of the sleeping niche and went about the business of managing the caravan. They had made it far into the mountains and were already moving north, toward their true goal.

The blizzard was still raging, reducing visibility to almost zero. The landscape was as grim and foreboding as ever.

Surrounding areas needed to be scouted, maps needed to be updated, reports needed to be received, and a hundred other things demanded his attention.

Before getting down to it, Sunny spared a few moments to stare at the grey fabric and lusterless black leather of the Puppeteer's Shroud.

Who could have thought that he would be reduced to seriously using it again, after all that time?

'It sure is much more comfortable than walking around in a full plate of steel armor. Ah, the old me had it good...'

Actually, not really.

Sunny was ready to climb to the roof of the Rhino when he noticed Beth staring at him with a strange expression. He lingered for a moment.

"What?"

She blinked a couple of times, then pulled her gaze away.

"No, no... nothing..."

Sunny frowned.

"Just say it, will you?"

Beth remained silent for a second, then asked hesitantly:

"Are you... uh... are you wearing makeup?"

time, it was his turn to

No! Why would

young woman gave him a

just look a little different,

Sunny grinned.

have the complexion of a marble statue, no makeup involved. Didn't

a sigh and mumbled under

how is this

top of the Rhino, sighing

was not that cold. His passive resistance to the elements

heavier for better stability, summoned the Memory of Ice, and wrapped the shadow he kept with himself around his body, simultaneously circulating essence to double the enhancement granted

sensed a slight chill, but it was in no way bothersome. Additionally, the winds were powerless against him. It

Huh.

down on the roof and closed

can get used to

still hard and dangerous, but with Naeve assisting Sunny in defending the caravan, things became a little bit

was stationed at the head of the column, while Naeve stayed in

demanded both of them to

'Ah. Finally, a professional...'

a long bone harpoon and a net woven out of unnaturally durable threads to herd and

comfortable fighting on land, and his Aspect powers seemed to be under severe restriction, though, so the scion of the House of Night mostly supported Sunny and made it easier for him to kill

was more

Masters tended to be. Not overly so, but enough for Sunny to notice the difference between the two of them. It was understandable... after all, the Nightwalker had

Sunny, and made him think about things that

to thank the gods that Naeve's ship had suffered catastrophic damage. Without the additional supplies looted from its holds,

to feed everyone and arm

subtle change, but in the end, the only other person other than Beth who showed any reaction was Kim. At some point, she gave him a very