Chapter - 81
The soldiers traveling with Jacob were a good lot, or so it seemed after spending nearly six days on the road with them. They were open and engaging, with no airs of superiority despite Jacob's outsider status. Gareth, a middle-aged soldier with streaks of gray in his hair and a perpetually amused expression, was especially talkative. He was the kind of man who could fill silence with his stories, and he had quickly taken a liking to Jacob.
It was Gareth who helped ease Jacob into conversations with the rest of the group. The others, while friendly, had initially been a little wary of him. A monster hunter wasn't a common companion for soldiers, and they clearly didn't know what to make of him. But Gareth's constant chatter and good humor acted as a bridge, and soon Jacob found himself joining in on the banter around the fire.
