On the way back to Lion's Den, the party was far more impressive than when they had set out.
The group had grown to more than twice its original size: Hek's men, Bryn and his warriors.
The bandits who had surrendered along the way would later be divided evenly among the various Military Towns, where they would receive land to farm.
When the party reached the entrance to the valley, all the newcomers stopped in their tracks.
Hek's mouth fell open. He couldn't believe his eyes. Bryn stood frozen, too, staring at the scene before him, too stunned for words.
Even Suleiman was taken aback. This was no longer a simple Abyss Valley. During his absence,
Evelyn and the people of the town had worked another miracle.
Countless dark openings had been carved into the steep cliff faces of Abyss Valley, like the cells of a beehive.
The openings weren't scattered haphazardly. They were arranged at different heights, forming overlapping fields of fire.
One could imagine that any enemy who entered the valley would face a rain of arrows and projectiles from every direction, with nowhere to hide.
"By the Seven!" Hek exclaimed in shock, muttering to himself. "Are we...
going to live in the mountains inside the cliffs?"
"This was Lord Suleiman's brilliant idea." Lushen gazed at the arrow slits, his eyes shining. He raised his head proudly. "This will be a fortress that can never be breached."
Suleiman walked at the head of the group. When he saw Evelyn there to welcome him, a faint smile crossed his face. This woman was worth every bit of it.
Evelyn stood at the entrance to the valley to greet him. Her golden hair fluttered in the mountain breeze, and her blue eyes reflected the victorious procession.
"You've done very