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?"

it was his

Why would you

young woman gave him a dubious look and

a little

Sunny grinned.

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

away with a sigh and mumbled under her

how is this

on top of the Rhino,

cold. His passive resistance

stability, summoned the Memory of Ice, and wrapped the

comfortable. Sunny still sensed a slight chill, but it was in no

Huh.

on the roof

get

hard and dangerous, but with Naeve assisting Sunny in defending

the military vehicles. Sunny was stationed

threat demanded both of them

'Ah. Finally, a professional...'

harpoon and a net woven out of unnaturally durable threads

be under severe restriction, though, so the scion of the House of Night mostly supported Sunny and made it

more

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

Sunny, and made him think about things

Field survivors joining it. By then, Sunny was secretly starting to thank the gods that Naeve's ship had suffered catastrophic damage. Without the additional supplies looted from its holds, he would have to deal with

everyone and arm those who could and knew how to fight, for

subtle change, but in the end, the only other person other than Beth