Night fell fast in the borderlands.
One moment the sky was orange with sunset, the next it was black, studded with more stars than Holden had ever seen in the city. The trees became a thick barrier of darkness, with nothing but the light of their small campfire in the center of the camp to see by.
Emric had placed the temporary wards in a precise hexagonal pattern, maximizing coverage while minimizing energy expenditure. The blue glow of the barriers created a safe zone about thirty feet across. Tents were set up at the corners, leaving the fire in the middle.
Renna was already passed out in her tent, snoring softly. The day's excitement had drained her faster than she'd expected.
Emric followed soon after, carefully folding his uniform before crawling into his sleeping bag with a manual still clutched in his hand.
That left Holden and Lyra by the fire.
