Morning arrived too early. We dressed in silence, the weight of the day pressing down harder than the heavy gray clouds overhead. No one said much over breakfast. There wasn’t much to say. Today, we moved north.

  Seraphina wouldn’t be joining us. Although she’d trained with Allira in the courtyard, she wasn’t ready for what awaited beyond the capital. We all understood that. And she agreed, even if it was hard to accept. She’d stay at the Guild for now.

  At the appointed time, we stood outside the Tower. The air smelled like rain, heavy and metallic, with just the faintest trace of sewage still lingering as a ghost of the demons’ presence that no cleaning could yet erase. The gardens showed signs of recovery, shoots of green pushing through scorched earth, but it would take time before the place looked whole again.

  In the distance, the rhythm of hoofbeats grew clearer, iron striking against stone. A small company of knights, their armor dim in the gray morning light, escorted two carriages through the gates. They rolled to a stop just in front of us, the banners snapping in the damp breeze.

  The door of the lead carriage opened. Prince Kaelen stepped down first, every inch the First Prince, his expression sharp. Duke Alaric followed, clad in full regalia, his presence grave as always.

  I stepped forward and bowed. “Earl Robertson, good morning,” Prince Kaelen said, closing the distance with measured steps.

  “Good morning, Prince Kaelen. Duke Alaric.”

  The Duke wasted no time. “You have news for us?”

  “Yes,” I said. “The disruptor is complete.”

  “Good. Good,” the prince replied, relief threading through his voice.

  I turned slightly. “Allyson, how long until it’s ready for use?”

  “Thirty-six hours, Master,” she answered without hesitation.

  I faced the prince again. “To make this work, I need to be brought as close to the Rift as possible.”

  Kaelen’s brows knit. “That may be difficult.”

  “The demons are pushing harder than ever,” Alaric added grimly. “And if your theory is right… tomorrow will be worse.”

  It was then that I noticed movement just behind the prince. Priestess Anne stood there, her presence calm but watchful, with a young priest at her side. Their expressions carried the weight of something unsaid.

  “Priestess Anne,” I greeted, realizing how long it had been since I’d last seen her. “What can we do for you?”

  She inclined her head politely, then glanced to Kaelen and Alaric as though seeking their leave. “Pardon my intrusion, Your Highness, Duke. I come with a request from Bishop Gawin. He wishes for one or both of us, myself and Priest Bausan, to accompany the Earl to the front.”

  “I see no issue with that request,” Prince Kaelen said.

  I hesitated, then spoke gently. “If I may, Priestess, would you remain here instead? Seraphina is not traveling with us. She will be at the Guild Hall, waiting. She would value your company.”

  Anne’s expression softened, a flicker of warmth brightening her otherwise measured demeanor. “My dear Earl, I would be delighted to hold your wife’s hand while we wait for your success.”

  “Then in turn,” she continued smoothly, “Priest Bausan will travel with you.”

  “There’s room in the second carriage,” Duke Alaric added, his tone brisk.

  “Prince, back to the subject at hand. I’ll need a distraction then and protection while I work. May I bring reinforcements?” I said.

  The Duke raised an eyebrow. “You mean those two?” He gestured toward Alpha and Beta, who stood silently near the tower doors.

  “Sort of,” I said. “Allyson, bring them out, please.”

  “At once, Master.”

  At her command, the tower doors creaked open. Marching in perfect formation, a column of combat golems entered the courtyard. Plate-armored giants, each armed and deadly, appeared one after another in disciplined silence. Not just two. Five hundred.

  The prince, duke, and the two priests stood frozen, eyes wide as the tower disgorged its ancient power.

  “These are yours?” Alaric finally asked.

  “Yes, they’re the Tower’s defensive force,” I corrected. “I just happen to be the one in charge now.”

  Once the last golem stepped out, Vaktar appeared behind them, taking his place beside Seraphina.

  I leaned in and gently kissed Seraphina. “Take Misty, Alpha, and Beta with you to the Guild. Let them watch over you. Oh, also, Priestess Anne would like to wait with you.” I had to lighten the mood, so I gave her a soft boop on the nose.

  “You’re an evil man,” she said softly, rubbing her nose, but I knew she meant it for me, too.

  “I love you too, Seraphina.”

  I wanted to say I’ll be back in my best Arnold voice. Would’ve fallen flat here, but one day, I’d teach them about classic movies.

  Allira, Marlena, Allyson, Priest Bausan, and I boarded the second carriage. The golems trailed behind the knights, their heavy footsteps pounding the stone like war drums. Citizens stepped aside to watch, some in awe, others in fear. The army of steel and magic moved like a tide behind us.

  As we drove off, Allyson spoke softly next to me. “Lady Seraphina has arrived at the Guild, Master.”

  “Thank you.” That was all I could manage.

  This would be the first time I was truly away from her since I came into this world. While Allira and Marlena were with me, it was Seraphina who kept me grounded. Now, I had to leave that anchor behind. I didn’t want her to see me become that man again.

  We grouped up with the main army at nightfall. Campfires flickered across the valley, casting long shadows over rows of tents and wagons. The scent of smoke and tired soldiers hung in the air. Men sat hunched, sharpening blades, sharing rations, or simply staring into the flames, waiting for tomorrow.

  We paused just outside the camp’s central ring, where a group of knights hurried to raise a few makeshift tents for our party. It wasn’t much, but it would do for the night.

  “Allyson,” I said as I stepped out of the tent flap, watching the darkness swallow the surrounding hills. “Tomorrow, we’ll be at the front lines. I want to establish some command structure now.”

  “Yes, Master,” she replied, calm and measured as always.

  I reached for Allira’s hand and pulled her forward. The combat golems stood in the clearing, their huge frames still, their eyes faintly glowing in the moonlight. They didn’t move, fidget, or even breathe. They simply watched and waited.

  “Allyson,” I said, “inform all units: this is Lady Allira. She is my general and will be in command of all combat units present. You are to follow her orders without hesitation.”

  Allyson’s eyes flickered faintly as she relayed the command. In eerie unison, the golems turned and dipped their helmed heads toward Allira. The motion was perfectly synchronized, without hesitation, without sound.

  Priest Bausan flinched. He had been lingering at the edge of the gathering, but now his hands clenched white around the haft of his staff. His lips moved in a half-formed prayer, though no sound escaped. He stared at the constructs as though expecting them to lunge forward and crush him where he stood. Their silence pressed against him heavier than any roar.

  “Order acknowledged,” Allyson said. “However, our primary protocol still prioritizes your protection and that of your wives above all else. That remains their directive.”

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  “I understand,” I replied, glancing toward the looming shadows of the forest ahead. “And thank you, Allyson.”

  The night grew colder. The golems stood in their unwavering line, a wall of steel and shadow, unbreathing and unblinking. Behind us, Bausan’s trembling silhouette betrayed his thoughts. To him, they were not soldiers. They were something older, something outside the gods’ design. And yet, they bowed to me and to Allira.

  It didn’t matter. At dawn, we would march into danger. But for now, in these few hours, we had a moment to breathe, to plan, and to prepare ourselves for whatever lay ahead.

  The next day, we went further north. The roads were empty. The villages we passed had long been abandoned, with homes splintered, carts overturned, and bloodstains faded by wind and rain. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that wasn’t peace, just absence.

  Around noon, we saw the wall.

  It was a rough barrier of earth and stone, reinforced with timbers and protected by magic glyphs that still faintly shimmered. Makeshift, but it had held at least for now. Just in front of it, spread across the field, was a circle of tents. At the center stood a massive pavilion, larger than the others, decorated with gold, red, and silver pennants.

  “That’s the command post?” I muttered.

  The carriages came to a stop. I stepped out and stretched, my back cracking like dry twigs. I turned around and helped my two wives down from the step. Priest Bausan scrambled out after us, but he stumbled on the landing. I reached out and caught his arm before he could fall.

  “You okay?” I asked, steadying him.

  “Sorry, Earl Robertson. Clumsy of me,” he muttered, cheeks flushed.

  “Not a problem. That step’s a killer,” I said with a faint smile before turning back to Seraphina and Allira.

  The air outside carried a sharp weight. Soldiers shifted restlessly, mages spoke in hushed tones, and even the wind seemed to push uneasily at the tents. From the great pavilion ahead, several officers stepped out, their expressions as rigid as the wall behind them.

  Allira leaned in close, her voice low. “The man in front is General Hakenton. I used to report to him.”

  I followed her gaze. The man stood tall, his stance unmistakable even before she spoke. Weathered face, sharp eyes that saw everything, a presence that seemed to steady the ground beneath him. A soldier’s soldier.

  I gave her a short nod, filing the name away. My first time seeing the man who commanded armies.

  “Allyson,” I said, “have our units form ranks in the clearing, away from the tents.”

  “Yes, master.” She pivoted on her heel, and moments later, the steady stomp of armored feet echoed as our golems took their positions.

  I approached the Duke and Prince, who stood beside General Hakenton and several other senior officers. Allira, Marlena, and Allyson flanked me.

  As we approached, the general stepped forward. “We welcome Earl Robertson,” he said formally. Behind him, the other officers bowed their heads in respect.

  “Thank you, General,” I replied, returning a polite nod.

  “Let’s move inside,” Prince Kaelen suggested. “We’ve much to prepare.”

  We entered the tent. Inside, maps and reports cluttered a large war table, and several aides were already busy updating positions. The air still carried the faint stench of rot and sewage, the demon’s signature clinging to me even here. Inside the pavilion, the sharper scents of ink and leather pressed in, dulling but never erasing what lingered outside.

  As we passed, I heard General Hakenton murmur to Allira, “You look well, General Allira.”

  She met his gaze firmly. “Thank you, General. I’ve learned a great deal from the Earl.”

  “I can see that,” the older man said, eyes drifting toward the line of gleaming golems standing like statues in the clearing.

  Inside the command tent, the air felt thick with anticipation. A large oak table dominated the center, with a detailed map of the region spread across it and held down at the corners by stones and empty mugs. Inked lines, colored markers, and hand-drawn symbols covered every inch—each one representing a squad, a spell circle, or a recent skirmish. At the heart of the map, a bold red “X” marked the rift’s estimated location.

  “General,” Duke Alaric said, his voice calm but expectant, “What do you have for us?”

  General Hakenton nodded to a colonel standing at his side.

  The man stepped forward, cleared his throat, and pointed to the map with a brass pointer. “My lords, for reference, we are currently here just south of the fortified wall.” He tapped the area marked with a black triangle. “The rift is estimated to be here, half a mile beyond the pass.” Another tap at the red X.

  “The enemy has been pouring out from the rift and pushing south. But in the last hour, they’ve changed their behavior. They’ve stopped advancing and are massing just beyond our line of engagement. It’s the first time they’ve shown anything resembling coordination.”

  Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

  I looked at Allyson. “How much time until I can use the disruptor?”

  She didn’t miss a beat. “Two hours, Master.”

  I turned back to the table. “Your Royal Highness,” I said to Prince Kaelen, “we have two hours until something happens, maybe a surge, maybe worse. That’s all the time I have to reach the rift and shut it down.”

  The general’s brow furrowed. “Two hours is not much time.”

  “Not at all,” the duke added.

  “What do you propose?” the prince asked, eyes narrowing.

  Before I could reply, a voice pierced the tent. Arrogant, nasal, and utterly out of place.

  “You’re seriously going to take the word of this man?” the mage sneered, stepping forward from a group of officers.

  I turned to Marlena. “Who is this dick?”

  She leaned in and whispered, “That’s Halden Sinthurk.”

  Ah. The groom-to-be. I smirked. Should I ruin him here? Maybe later.

  The prince raised his hand to silence the room, then nodded toward me. “Continue, Earl.”

  I pointed at the map. “I will take my troops and form up on the other side of the gate and push north, cutting through this path here.” I traced a narrow route around the main pass. “This way, my team will be positioned directly at the rift’s edge at the moment of the surge. My golems will form a perimeter around us, and I’ll activate my disruptor. Marlena will cover me, and General Allira will command the defense.”

  General Hakenton stroked his beard. “And how long will you need?”

  “Minutes, once we get to the rift. We will be exposed for the entire duration, but I believe that we could pull it off,” I said.

  He raised a brow. “That’s bold.”

  “Everything about this plan is,” I replied. “But I’d rather risk bold than wait for whatever’s brewing to erupt.”

  The general nodded. “I can provide archers and mage batteries for long-range support. You’ll have to cover about half the way there. We can’t assist you beyond that from the wall. Can you manage the rest?”

  I first met Allira’s steady gaze, calm, resolute, her hand resting lightly on her sword’s hilt. Then Marlena, who gave the slightest nod, her eyes fierce with belief. In that moment, I didn’t need words from either of them. Their trust was absolute. I turned back to the General and said, “Yes.”

  The general rubbed his chin, eyes flicking back to the map. “How many troops did you bring with you, Earl?”

  “Five hundred,” I replied. “Combat golems. Fully operational. They follow orders from General Allira or Mage Valen if I’m not available.”

  He grunted, impressed despite himself. “Five hundred. That’s a solid wall of iron between you and the rift. Yes, this could work. If you can close the rift.” Then, as expected, the mage had to speak again.

  “Why not take a better mage with you, Earl?” Halden Sinthurk’s voice oozed disdain. “Surely someone like me could protect you far more effectively than Valen.”

  Marlena tensed beside me. I didn’t look at her, didn’t need to. I knew she was ready to lash out.

  “Possible,” I said calmly. “But I trust Mage Valen. My troops only take orders from my wife and Mage Valen while I’m setting up the disrupter. To be clear, for the past week, they’ve been training with the golems. Anyone else at this point will be a liability.”

  Halden’s face twisted, caught somewhere between outrage and humiliation.

  The prince allowed the silence to linger for a moment before speaking. “I agree with Earl Robertson. How soon will you be ready?”

  I didn’t hesitate. “Now, Sire. I want to be in position before the chaos starts.”

  “That then is the plan. Then may the gods be with you,” Prince Kaelen said. “You are all dismissed.”

  Back outside, the wind had picked up. Storm clouds loomed overhead, heavy with the promise of rain. I turned toward the fortified wall, and the makeshift gate loomed ahead like the mouth of a sleeping giant.

  “Allyson,” I said. “Please bring them here.”

  “Yes, Master,” she replied. “Deploying the formation now.”

  The rhythmic thump of steel feet started in the distance. The sound grew louder and more synchronized, echoing through the camp like a war drum. My five hundred marched forward with precision, flanking in organized columns and spreading out along the northern approach.

  I turned to the two women beside me, my general and my mage.

  “This is not the kind of honeymoon I envisioned bringing the four of us to…” I said, trying to smile.

  Allira raised an eyebrow. “Another one of your strange traditions?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Back home, when people get married, they go on a vacation. Somewhere warm. Romantic. Lots of drinks with tiny umbrellas. Not a demon-infested mountain pass.”

  Allira glanced beyond me at the snow-covered peaks on the horizon. “Well, at least we have the mountains.”

  Marlena moved up next to me. “We did have a wonderful bath,” she said, deadpan.

  That did it. I laughed, a deep, honest laugh that broke some of the tension in my chest. I looked at both of them and shook my head.

  “You two are the best.” Thunder rolled in the distance.

  As we approached the gate, I glanced sideways at Marlena, keeping my voice quiet. “You were supposed to marry that dick?”

  She choked, somewhere between a cough and a laugh. “It wasn’t my decision,” she said, wiping her nose. “Arranged, remember?”

  “Still,” I muttered, shaking my head. “That guy? Gods.” Marlena shrugged in agreement.

  The last few steps took us to the shadow of the gate, an imposing barrier of wood, metal, and desperation. Behind me, five hundred golems stood silently and prepared. The air was thick with tension, as if the world was holding its breath.

  I slid the backpack off my shoulders and turned to Allyson.

  “I want four on you and another four on Marlena,” I said.

  Allira stepped in, brow furrowing. “What about you?”

  I smirked. “I’ve got all of you protecting me.”

  Allyson tilted her head. “Master, I don’t need protection. I am designed to…”

  “You’re part of this team,” I said, firm. “And no one here is expendable. Not you, not anyone.”

  Without waiting for another word, I stepped behind her and slipped the backpack onto her shoulders, adjusting the fit. As I reached around to secure the front straps, her synthetic voice broke the tension:

  “Master, I am flattered that you touched my breasts.”

  Allyson smiled. Marlena lost it. Her laugh rang out, bright and uncontrolled. Allira doubled over, wheezing.

  I sighed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Right then, General Hakenton stepped forward. The rugged veteran offered his hand. “Good luck, Earl. May the gods watch over you.”

  I took his hand and gave it a firm shake. “Thank you, General. If we move quickly, we’ll have this wrapped up before lunch.”

  The General said, “I’ll buy the first round when this is all done,” as he shook my hand, wishing us good luck.

  I turned toward the gate, exhaled slowly, and moved forward. Behind me, my women and five hundred silent soldiers followed. The world was about to change once more.