Nova Peak existence

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first the mother and child, then the shadowhunter. back to the densite to clean and to pack more. a patrol, a hasty meal. more gathering. another patrol.

at last he slept.

he was unused to the duties of guarding a mountain kingdom at its forefront, not only on the march.

too many hours had gone by. first skorpa had gained no power, and then suddenly he had much responsibility.

he was waylaid, lashing sinew to hold herbs; a call rose, forcing air from skorpa's nose in a snort of exasperation. tilting his head back, he begged the gods their strength before reluctantly rising to answer once more.

inspection; pale woman of some age, though she was undiminished to both his eye and surely her own. not to be underestimated. and she carried no scent of darukaal.

stars curled in illumination. his perceptive ears gathered the cadence of words familiar, even if he did not quite hear their sound. a cleared throat to announce himself, but otherwise skorpa was silent. waiting.

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