406 Arrival

Though the soldiers were eager to celebrate Arran's victory, Kaleesh made it clear in short order that there would be no celebrations until they reached Sacrifice.

"Get ready to move!" he shouted even as he and Arran rejoined the soldiers' ranks. "We depart at once!"

Some dissatisfied mutters sounded among the troops, but there were no real complaints. With the excitement of the duel beginning to fade, the soldiers quickly realized that Garvan's challenge meant there might be other enemies out there yet. And although Garvan had been a fool, the next attacker might prove a more serious threat.

"Should I scout ahead like before?" Arran asked, casting a wary glance toward the lumbering mass of Sacrifice in the distance. The closer they came, the larger the mountain seemed — more like a vast wall that stretched across the horizon than a single mountain.