For three days, the Kurogane Fortress was at peace.
Well, as peaceful as a giant iron castle full of heavily armed warriors and a grumpy twelve-year-old cat spirit could be.
The battle with the bone giant had completely wrecked the front gates and turned the frozen moat into a giant puddle of lukewarm, ashy slush. The entire vanguard had been working around the clock to rebuild the barricades before the deep winter freeze set in.
And naturally, I was managing the supply lines.
"Three more wagons of ironwood for the western wall!" I yelled over the noise of the courtyard, checking a long parchment scroll. I pointed my ink brush at a group of northern guards. "And keep the resin barrels away from the blacksmith's forge! Do you guys want to blow up the courtyard?!"
The guards laughed, offering me cheerful bows as they hauled the massive logs away.
"You are a terrifying woman when you hold a ledger," a deep, amused voice rumbled right behind my ear.
