After the destruction of the giant slime things quieted down pretty quick. The men and women at the palisade and out in the woods on picket duty dealt with the few remaining stragglers but that was over and done with before long as well. Even after that though we kept our guard up and even patrolled the camps interior more vigorously to make sure none of the murderous little blobs managed to sneak in. It was a little inconvenient but overall a prudent precaution to make sure no one would suffer a nasty surprise. Most of the army could catch some more sleep like this though.

I on the other hand doubted I would get any more sleep, or at least actually restful sleep, this night. I actually had to wait for the burning glob of slime remains on my shield to burn out before I could pick it up again. Well, actually I had to wait even longer since it had gotten pretty hot. Surprisingly enough the shield was unharmed as far as I could tell. Once I had wiped the charred remains of the slime away with a handful of fresh leaves I couldn't even spot any discolorations.

It had to be the enchantments! We had burned the wyvern's remains after all and we hadn't even used any alchemical oils back then. Their scales supposedly were somewhat fire resistant but not to the degree I experienced with my shield. I'd have to talk with Tero about it once we had some time. For now I was back at the palisade after making my round of the camp to make sure nothing was amiss. I stared out at the spot where the big blob had died, slightly lost in thought. I wasn't alone though. It wasn't just the guards either that stuck around.

Kaele stood nearby, pouting. “You didn't even need my help with that big thing.”

I turned away from the field devastated by fire and acid and pulled her close so I could wrap an arm around her. “I didn't know if I would need your help. I didn't know a whole lot at all about what I was to face. I just knew that your spells had so far proven quite devastating to the smaller slimes so I wanted to have you ready to back me up should it be necessary.” I snorted. “I'm trying to be not any more reckless than strictly necessary here.”

That comment earned me an elbow to the ribs. I grunted although I barely felt it through my armor. “It still was a pretty close call.”

I could only nod. “I had no idea its death throes would be this bad. At least we know how to deal with those things now. Not that I ever want to deal with a giant blob like that one again.” Before I could say anything else the urge to yawn became overpowering. I tried to fight it but it was no use, thus I gave in in the end.

Kaele squeezed me lightly. “Go get some sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough and I doubt we or you especially will catch much of a break.”

I was about to nod when another yawn overcame me. “I'll try. You too.”

With these words I let her, giving her a little push in the direction of our tents for good measure. I headed for mine as well. I was afraid I'd suffer nightmares about slimes but in the end I simply was entirely too tired. I had to sleep no matter what. And of course my sister was right once again. I had to be well rested or my decisions tomorrow might suffer.

I slipped my armor off. Even putting it on its stand properly was a chore that was almost beyond me by this point. I managed though, even if just barely. At long last I wrapped the scarf I used for a mask around my face again, to tightly cover my mouth just in case. The moment I rested my head on my pillow after slipping under my blanket my eyes closed though and it was only moments later when sleep, blissfully dreamless sleep, finally claimed me.

Morning still came entirely too soon though. Although the sun was already up, as were plenty of people all around the camp, judging by the sounds reaching my ears, I had trouble even swinging my feet over the edge of my cot. It took all the effort I could muster. I sat there for a few long moments before finally getting up for good. A quick sponge bath later I was headed for the cooking fire of my banner which had become the regular meeting point for the officers as well.

Today a new face welcomed me there. It was Kah'le, the eldest of the three gorgon sisters which compromised my new aerial cavalry. She was sitting there together with Leumina and Tora'pheer, my other cavalry officers, with a bowl of porridge in her hands. I greeted all three of them with a nod. “All three of the woman I wanted to meet in one place. Marvelous!”

The gorgon woman wanted to stand to greet me but the other two pulled her back down onto the log they were sharing. I grinned and got myself a bowl of porridge as well. It came with some honey on top and the sweet taste finally got me to wake up for good.

We ate in silence for a little while before I spoke up again. “Tora, Leumina, I want you to draft a schedule for scouting the road in the direction of Gothol'uin with your cavalry. Mixed groups of lancers and archers. Scout it about as far as the army can march in a day. We will be stuck here for another day or two but I want to be prepared once we get moving again. Don't fight any battles you don't have to. If you come across any enemy that doesn't flee at the sight of you disengage and return here.”

They both nodded and I turned to Kah'le, the gorgon gryphon rider. “I want you and your sisters to do some scouting as well. Follow the trail that big slime left. I suspect it should be easy enough to follow it from up there. If you can, find out where it came from and if there are any more of these monstrosities out there. Don't range to far though and don't tangle with any dragons or flocks of wyverns either. I want you back safe and sound well before darkness falls.”

As the trio was about to leave and carry out their orders I raised my arm to stop them once more. “Kah'le? Do you think your gryphons could carry a barrel like the ones we used last night to defeat that big blob in addition to you?”

The woman blinked in surprise. Then her gaze turned thoughtful and one of her hair tentacles rubbed the bridge of her nose as she thought hard and probably crunched some numbers. “Probably. I'm not entirely sure though. Those things are big after all. We might have to try.” She fell silent for a moment. “Preferably with some barrels that don't get me, my sisters and our mounts killed by accident.”

I grinned. “We will see about it once you return. Maybe I can get the Wall Breakers to fill some of that nasty stuff in smaller barrels. If it works out though, we might be able to kill any more slimes, if there are any, from a save distance, high up in the sky.”

I didn't say it but everyone must have realized that this idea might come in handy in any other battle as well. Burning a horde of ghouls to cinders like this would certainly beat getting into another chaotic melee with them.

I returned my empty bowl as the trio left and clapped my hands, looking around at the other people around the fire. “Does anyone need anything? Is there any urgent business that needs to be taken care off? If not I'll be off to see the wounded and the healers.” Those were a priority right now. I wanted to get moving as soon as possible again after all. Staying here for too long would only invite our enemy to move against us again and that was something I wanted to avoid. I needed to take the initiative!