Golden Axe did not enter the Dread Fort again until Matthew believed they could reach Kildra with energy left to spare.
For three weeks, the party practiced pieces of the attempt.
They fought the throne-room encounter in the arena until each member understood what the others would do when Kildra's fire moved. They rented a stone yard near the Undercity and built a wooden frame matching the inner portcullis measurements. They carried their full supplies through the Sanctuary hills to discover which bags slowed them and which tools could be reached while someone was shooting at them.
Most importantly, they stopped treating the journey to Kildra as a collection of fights.
It was a problem of time and strength.
Kesh spread his map across a private room in the tavern. Tessa stood beside him while Min placed a second sheet over the section showing the underground gatehouse.
