By the time the tents started appearing over the horizon the sun had set and the air was starting to take on a chill. Griffon separated from Gabriel on the outskirts of the guard tents and made his way toward the dinner tent, where with any luck he'd find Aegan.

Around him, guards played with decks of cards or played board games. They laughed at each other's jokes and drank each other's ale. In a few days he and Gabriel would be among them. The desert swallowed up and soon forgot those who couldn't withstand it. It made him sick. Griffon hated long stops. Merrymaking, hunting, the like...they all took place now, when they had entire days to look for animal carcasses or clues to where they might scrounge the next meal, or if they were lucky, something to sell so they could buy some liquor.

Griffon ducked his head as he entered through the back compartment of the meal tent. Aegan sat at a table inside, sipping at a bowl of stew. He looked up at Griffon and waved him in. His steely eyes glinted in the glow of the lanterns, in strong contrast to the soft white wings on his back.

"Nice of you to announce yourself. How did the scouting mission go?"

Griffon's shoulders dropped and he shook his head. "We lost Caleb. A digger got his leg and he died before we got back." He turned away from Aegan, braced for a raised voice.

"Shame, I liked him. I guess it's one less mouth to feed," Aegan replied. He lifted a wooden tumbler and took a long drag. Griffon's shoulders relaxed. He rested his forehead in his hand, took another deep breath, and let it out slowly.

"I apologize," he said.

“Why? We can always find more marked ones for the guard. These things happen. Sit. Are you hungry?"

Griffon pulled out a stool and eased himself into it. Caleb's voice begging him over and over not to let him die echoed in his ears. Aegan pushed a bowl toward him. Griffon picked it up and took a sip. The warmth made him feel a little better, but not much.

"He was afraid."

Aegan pushed his spoon around his bowl a few times. He took another bite and looked back at Griffon.

"Well, you can't make it in this line of work if you can't stand to see a few bodies..." Aegan frowned deeply and let the spoon go in the bowl. He interlaced his fingers. "Is this about Armand?"

Griffon sighed and stared down into his meal.

"If it were up to me, we would kick him out and be done with it. Don't you think it's time you let him into the world on his own? He doesn't belong in the guard. You know it and I know it. I only keep him in because I can't afford to lose you as an employee." He paused for a second and let out a protracted sigh. "I always saw something special in you, Griffon. Even when you were little and hurt. There's a reason I took you in and fought so hard to save you. Don't forget that you owe me."

"I know. And you can trust me. Just...don’t let him do anything stupid."

"It doesn't matter to me," Aegan said. "You know how I feel already. Why don't you take the bowl and go?"

Griffon recognized the order for what it was. He picked up the bowl of stew and made his way out of the tent. He wouldn't let Armand leave when diggers roamed the open desert and worse dwelled in the city. But how long could he hold him off until he wanted better? He sighed and shook his head. Crows knew how long he'd be in for this, either, if it wasn't his only option.