Chapter 16

The sight of Ironhaven was a sight Marion welcomed after traveling through the wilderness for several weeks. The sturdy rooftops, the distant clanging from the forge, and the rhythmic creaking of windmills turning in the mountain breeze grounded her in something real—something safe. Her steps quickened.

As she drew closer, she noticed a gathering just outside the village perimeter. A cluster of people—some human, some Beastkin—stood in a rough circle, deep in discussion. Among them she recognized Kaela, arms crossed, her usual stoic expression tinged with faint curiosity. At the center of the circle stood Balthazar, a tall, silver-furred fox Beastkin with age-lined eyes and a walking stick carved with old tribal symbols. Despite the flecks of white in his fur and the growing limp in his gait, his presence still commanded respect.

Marion slung her pack down with a grunt. “What’s going on, guys?”

Kaela turned first. A flicker of a smile tugged at her lips. “Ah. You’re back. Good timing.”

Balthazar nodded once, but his expression was grim. “We’re talking defenses. Again. The west side’s still too open, and the eastern ridge isn’t much better.”

“Still no wall?” Marion asked, raising an eyebrow.

“We’ve patched together barricades with scrap wood and old carts,” Kaela said. “It’s not enough. Two nights ago, a dire boar wandered too close. Spooked the cattle and tore through part of the fence.”

“We were lucky,” added a lanky scout with hawk-like features. “Could’ve been one of the kids.”

“And yesterday,” Balthazar added, “the night watch reported something circling in the dark. Could’ve been wolves. Or worse.”

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Marion frowned. “We’re too exposed. What about spike barriers?”

“We ran out of decent timber,” a gruff Beastkin with badger markings grunted. “And what we’ve got left isn’t going to last, the Brimlings are already whining about us cutting. Says we’re making the spirits restless.”

Balthazar tapped his staff against the packed earth. “We either risk angering the forest, or we risk watching the town burn.”

Marion raised a hand, stopping the spiraling frustration. “Actually, I might have a third option. I found a quarry site to the northeast on my way back. About a day’s hike past the Windcleft stream. The stone is good—dense, clean breaks, stable ground. No Brimling markers or spirit totems nearby. It looks untouched.”

Kaela’s eyes lit with interest. “A quarry?”

Balthazar leaned forward slightly. “You’re sure it’s safe?”

“As safe as anything gets out here,” Marion said. “We’ll still want guards. There were claw marks near a tree line—nothing fresh, but big enough to worry me.”

Kaela crossed her arms. “Could be a drake. Or one of the stray bonecats we’ve heard about from the east.”

“If it’s a drake, we need to get that stone here faster,” said the hawk-featured scout. “A real wall might be the only thing that keeps it out.”

Marion nodded. “I’ll lead a team out there. We’ll need reinforced wagons, three haulers, a mason to assess the site, and a couple guards. Maybe more, depending on how long we plan to stay.”

Balthazar stroked his chin. “I’ll authorize the good wagons. Take what you need. If we can establish a working quarry, we might be able to build the wall ourselves without relying on the Dwarves. Which can be a source of trade in the future.”

“I’ll have Harrek reforge the axles and reinforce the wheels,” Kaela said. “And I’ll send word to the hunters—just in case something does circle too close.”

A silence fell for a moment. Not one of hesitation, but one born of recognition—of how fragile their peace still was.

Balthazar broke the stillness. “Ironhaven’s grown fast. That paints a target on us. We can’t afford to act like we’re safe just because things have been quiet a few days.”

“They're never quiet for long,” Marion said softly, her hand brushing against the hilt of her kusarigama. “Let’s make sure the next thing that comes too close finds more than a fence waiting.”

Kaela smirked. “You’re starting to sound like me.”

Marion shrugged “Maybe I’m ready to build something that will last and a place I can settle down.”