106. The Choice to Go First

Carlos spent the rest of the morning thinking about the blue line in the cucumber leaf. He did not touch it, and neither did anybody else.

Tarin and Sela worked around the four rows carefully, making sure every vine stayed on its own frame. Blue kept the other Slimes away from the bed. The Living Scarecrow stood near the path with its head turned toward the marked vine like it understood that one was different too.

Carlos did not know if it actually understood anything. He was not about to ask it.

He had already told Cedric to bring Rowan through the portal when he could. Until then, the crop would stay exactly as it was.

By midday, Carlos stood near the western Gatehouse with Kaia. The two new Shield Militia were drilling in front of them. One held his shield too high and exposed his legs. The other kept moving backward every time the first pushed forward.

Kaia stopped them with one raised hand.