The north lift lowered them to the desert floor, 12 riders and a wagon of pikes, and Aegis pointed her horse at the Denah wells.
Scarlett had caught up with them at the lift station, fully armored and out of breath, having heard the words "giant scorpion" from three terraces away and treated them like a dinner bell. She rode on Aegis's left. Kanna rode on her right with the black sword across her back. Behind them came Sera's spear line, and Vashla, who had apparently invited herself.
"So let me get this straight," Vashla called over the hoofbeats. "You do the trading and you take part in the monster-hunting?"
"House Starcaller is a full-service operation. What kind of lady would I be if I didn't?"
"What else do you do?"
"Depends who's asking." Aegis looked back over her shoulder and let the grin do the rest of the work. "For you? There's a whole menu."
