Chapter 24. A New Alliance

A slow sharp grinding dances in the air as Enshin sits on a bench, sharpening his axe with a whetstone. With each stroke he watches the light reflect off the blade, imagining it sinking into flesh. “You’ve been up a while.” Enshin looks up to see Kiran ask, “You going to sleep soon?”

“Preparing for night patrol,” and he slides the whetstone again. “I’ve been out a few days, so I wanna get my shift in.”

“We’re not that short of people. You go out there and get yourself killed because you were too slow from being exhausted, then we got a problem.”

“I can do it,” Enshin feels his ribs stab at him as he says that, staring hard at the older Hunter. “I’m not weak.”

“I’m not saying you are. But you are pretty stupid. Now go find a bed and lie in it.”

Enshin’s bandaged hands stop, then he asks, “Actually, I need to talk to you about something Hunt-related,” and he looks up to the streaked Hunter.

Kiran folds his arms across his chest and gives a nod.