Shadow Slave

There were food rations in one of the carts, but Lady Tamar had also slain an Awakened Monster in the morning. There had been enough time for Rain to harvest a slab of meat before the survey team continued on Its Journey, so now, she was ready to cook a delicious supper.

Although the team wasn't big, there was a clear separation between people. The Awakened mostly kept to themselves, the survey specialists did the same, and the porters generally stuck together.

Right now, they were gathered around a fire, watching Rain roast meat with gleaming eyes.

«Wait, wait, everyone… it will be done soon! We're having a feast tonight!»

She grinned and turned the juicy strips of meat, making the melted fat sizzle. A delicious aroma permeated the air.

One of the laborers laughed.

«Rani, kid… if I was thirty years younger, I would have married you right here and now. No questions asked.»

One of the tough women from the road crew gave him a disdainful look.

«Old goat, what makes you think that you would have been worthy of marrying our Rani? Dream on!»

She put her hand around Rain's shoulder protectively.

«On that note, though… I know for a fact that you have a bottle of arak hidden in your pack. Come one, bring it out…»

The mood was light and warm. Rain was the youngest of the laborers, so they treated her with a bit of affection. The women especially tried to take care of her like concerned aunts.

So, feeding them today was her way of returning the favor.

While the man went to take out the bottle of moonshine from his pack, the woman let go of Rain and looked at the sizzling meat hungrily.

Then, she said in a tone of confusion:

«I must say, though… that's a peculiar pan you have there, Rani.»

Rain grinned.

You think

true. After all, she was using the blade

too heavy to use in battle and too precious to discard. However, it was just large enough to place over a fire… the

Rain clicked her tongue.

weapon. A handy thing to have — doesn't rust, easy to wash, and I can split firewood with it at

The laborers laughed.

first portion of the meat was ready, even the survey specialists were looking at them with envy. Rain

warm fire. The three moons shone beautifully in the night sky, and the mundane humans huddled together in the circle of light, trying to distract themselves from the fear of the wilderness

Ravenheart two days before we departed the

man with harsh eyes

well… I was an air filtration tech back in Antarctica. No need to filter air in the Dream Realm, though, so I just worked construction here

hesitated for a moment, then added with a sheepish

and I wanted to save some coin, then move south and open a shop in one of the smaller cities, before they really developed. How great would it be, to have a

The others laughed.

a

small luxury

I was a floor cleaner in an underground facility in the outskirts

«What about you, Rani?»

eyes wide and fluttered her

Oh… I went to

stared at her for a few

«Gods, she's a baby…»

did such a precious girl

mean, our Rani is tough as nails… tougher than

laughter died down, the woman who had hugged her before looked at the newcomer, Pill, and asked

latest news in Ravenheart, by the

were no communicators in the Dream Realm, so the common folk had no way of receiving information quickly, There was little entertainment, as well, and everyone

the capital of the Song Domain recently, Pill was understandably the