《The Chronicle of the Wolves [Halted]》 Part One - The Return Kveldulf Einarsen tightly gripped one of the main riggings while listening to the fluttering sound of the sails in the cloudless sky. His shoulder length brown hair flowed in the air, his full beard and moustache held back the sharp cold air from his skin. His muscular build conveyed a sense of great strength and noble bearing, even when dressed in his brigandine armor. Looking out over the oceanic kingdom of Sjorvant with crystal blue eyes, he felt a smile come across his face. The chillness of the water squeezed from the rope fibers slid down his hand and skin as the harbor drew closer. The snow tipped peeks of the Shaladin mountains loomed off in the distance with clouds hovering around the jagged crests as a monarch regal bears a crown. Kveldulf was in awe at the raw earthly beauty of Jorth in her element. The fresh scent of brine and salt took him back to his days as a child. When his parents traveled all along the Shattered Coast, and the Endless Sea selling their services and singing their sword-songs to those willing to pay during the midst of the Wode Wars. He would listen as they regaled him with their daring exploits and adventures. All the while watching them play out in his mind as he dreamt yearning to join in on such thrilling exploits. Earning glory for themselves and their family that no one could rob them. His mother would sing odes and sagas of great seafarers and raiders, one of his favorites coming to mind: Tis woe to the Ancient Marnier, Who sails the glittering seas. Gazing upon near distant shores, Seeking harbors which cannot be. He remembered as his parents¡¯ swords clanged in the air, mixing with the caws of the seagulls hovered above their vessel. The call of one of the sailors brought back to the present, Kveldulf felt a deep emptiness within him. Slowly letting out a painful sigh, Kveldulf thought of how those halcyon days were wrested from him. Leaving him only with a sense of loss returning he hated to keep, but was unable to release. Looking upon the city of Venetia in its full glory before him, he felt his breath whisked away. Tall squared buildings of bright pastel hues of red, white, orange, and pink lined the outer wharf. Entrances of the city canals showing arched bridges and smaller boats floating down into the interior of the city. He felt a sensation of pride he looked at this wonderous city with the samite tipped peaks behind them. His woes melting away, replaced by a sensation of excitement and apprehension. He had returned to the land of his ancestral home. Proud in its ancient finery and resilience from ages of trials and triumphs, holding firm to the tradition of glorious battle, the treasures it brought for this world and the next. The beautiful cultivation of civilization unconquered. As the boat docked, he eagerly waited to disembark. He slid his left arm through one of the straps of his shield and grabbed a long blade, a zweihander, which stretched for much of his height. He pulled part of the weapon out of its sheath to check it before departing. The blade was a simple design, no etching or design along the length of the sword. Above the cross guard of the hilt was dulled ricasso which Kveldulf gripped to check the edge of the sword before sheathing it and slung the weapons over his shoulder. Stepping onto the soaked wooden docks, Kveldulf spotted an official coming up towards him. The man appeared to be in his forties, short sandy blonde hair, with a trimmed beard, around a head shorter than Kveldulf. He had a warm smile and was humming a cheerful tune. The official held a wooden tablet and an inkwell set in a circular holder and a quill resting inside with both attached to the side. He pulled out a handkerchief to dab his head from sweat as the sun hung over the sky. ¡°I hope our trip was well,¡± the official said to Kveldulf civilly. Kveldulf stretched his neck from side to side. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the worst one I¡¯ve experienced. But I¡¯m glad to be on land again.¡± The official chuckled. ¡°I know that feeling. I used to sail the tossing waves in my younger years. The sea was my first love, but did she ever have a temper. Often suffering from her thunderous roar.¡± ¡°You can say that again,¡± said Kveldulf nodding agreeably. ¡°But if this isn¡¯t your first time, then I can assume you know how this works?¡± ¡°I should hope so,¡± replied Kveldulf pleasantly. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Kel Stigsen,¡± he said calmly. Kveldulf had given the name enough times he had begun worrying about telling people this when needing to use his real name. The official jotted the name down quickly. ¡°How long were you out at sea?¡± he asked. Kveldulf pondered the response for a moment. ¡°Not long, maybe one to two months.¡± The official chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d imagine you¡¯re eager to be back onto dry land again.¡± ¡°It is nice when your immediate surroundings don¡¯t have a penchant for trying to drown you.¡± The official laughed harder. ¡°That certainly can be a bit of a problem when you¡¯re out there, yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to think the sea and I should have a strictly professional relationship.¡± The official began wheezing as he finished scribbling on the parchment. Taking a form in hand, he held out a slip of paper in his hand towards Kveldulf. ¡°That should take care of everything here. Do you have any questions before heading out?¡± Kveldulf felt his stomach becoming peckish as he thought of the matter. ¡°Have any recommendations for an inn?¡± he asked the official. The official rolled his eyes slowly in thought. ¡°I know The Bristled Boar is close, and pretty good, especially if mead and swine is to your liking.¡± ¡°Works for me,¡± said Kveldulf. The official lifted his arm towards the end of the peer and bent his hand to their right. ¡°Follow the docks down and make your way up there, you can¡¯t miss it.¡± Kveldulf nodded warmly. ¡°Much obliged,¡± he said to the official as he lugged his affects over his shoulder and took his leave. Moving down the pier, Kveldulf listened to the squawks of seagulls as they soared above him, occasionally swerving to avoid the dock workers moved goods and people on and off the many vessels dotting the port. Looking down he saw the moisture saturating the wood seep out as the grain as he pressed his feet down. A strong whiff of the ocean scent mixed with whatever lived underneath the wharf. As he made his way down the marina, he noticed a tall statue. Hewed from fine marble, it was fashioned into the shape of a woman, clad in armor, a long sword in one hand and a severed head of a demonic entity in the other. Beneath her feet she stood upon the fallen corpse of a man clad in armor, the markings of a white horse on his surcoat. Kveldulf read the plaque underneath, stating: ¡°To the brave and noble Queen Allianna, who rallied the free peoples of the realm against the tyrannical Wraith King, Callanband, and the wicked and cruel traitor, Baeron Grimkellsen.¡± Looking at the statue, he felt both admiration and shame. A deep pain in his soul as his mind tried to put away dark thoughts brimming within. He began wondering if coming here was such a good idea after all. He felt the compulsion to turn away his gaze from the memorial. A thickening sensation in his throat as he tried to clear his thoughts. Looking back up at the woman holding the severed head, his heart beat quickened as his muscles tensed. Taking a deep breath and recited a mantra he used to calm himself. A noble man must be silent, His fire fueled heart tempered. Show not what trivial slights offend, For tis the fool who speaks his woes to all. Kveldulf felt his pulse and breathing slow down, he looked back to the stone effigy of the three. Feeling hollow and wanting distance himself from ill thoughts he moved off the wharf and onto the city street. After walking a short distance, he saw a wooden hanging sign of a boar with its hair standing up on their ends. The smell of roasted meat and mead touched his nose and made his mouth water. Pushing the swinging tavern doors inward Kveldulf¡¯s eyes adjusted to the darkened interior, softly lit by the candles placed on the multiple tables inside. To his right, Kveldulf found a server cleaning a metal flagon with a well-worn rag, stretching her neck from side to side before she placed the piece on a shelf underneath the counter. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He rested his zweihander against the counter railing on his right and his satchel his left. A server came up to him, wiping the sweat from her brow. ¡°What can I get for ya?¡± she asked, letting out a sharp exhale at the end. ¡°Whatever is on the spit is fine and some mead would do wonders,¡± replied Kel. The woman nodded, ¡°I think it¡¯s boar, been roasting for a bit.¡± ¡°I hope he wasn¡¯t bored of waiting,¡± said Kveldulf, letting a short chuckle. The woman paused for a moment to ponder the statement before looking back at Kveldulf, lifting a finger to him, and smiling. ¡°Oh, I see what you did there. Nice, very nice.¡± ¡°Gotta have some fun when you¡¯re new in town.¡± ¡°Better than how some people get their kicks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± As the woman placed the flagon of mead on the counter, and pushed it towards Kel¡¯s direction, a loud crack of wood splitting deafened out all other sounds. A large man screamed as he plummeted onto a table, breaking it into several pieces. Kveldulf and the woman looked up to find someone emerging from the hallway above. Kveldulf saw a woman wearing a gambeson, soft white now long sullied with years of being on the march. A buckler gripped in her right hand, the emblem of frosty mountain, dented and splattered with blood. Black hair tied into a short ponytail, with strands hanging over her brow. Her tanned skin gleaning with sweat, dirt and scratches from the recent fight. A fire burned brightly in her green eyes as she cast her gaze on the audience below as she snarled, shouting, ¡°Who else wants some?¡± ¡°Oh Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf said weakly, running his hand down his face as the server turned to him. ¡°You know her?¡± the server asked him, astounded. Jeanne spotted Kveldulf and as if a spell was lifted, she immediately smiled with complete delight, waving both hands in the air. ¡°Kel!¡± she repeatedly cried out in excitement, hopping as she called out to him. ¡°Can I say no?¡± Kveldulf asked, placing his drink onto the counter before making his way up the steps. Jeanne greeted him at the top landing, almost throwing Kveldulf off balance as she gave him a firm embrace. ¡°How¡¯ve you been, you old sight for sore eyes?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Not bad, arrived off the boat as a matter of fact.¡± ¡°Well, there goes my next question,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°So what brings you to this neck of the woods?¡± Kveldulf pulled his head back and pressed his eyebrows together. ¡°Didn¡¯t Cid tell you?¡± ¡°Aside from not drinking his share of the rum, or stealing his pay, not really.¡± ¡°He sent me a missive about two months back, said he might have some work for us.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± she said eagerly. ¡°He did tell me that.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t remember?¡± Kveldulf said leaning in slightly. ¡°If it isn¡¯t booze or coin, I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°And now I remembered why I like you, Jeanne.¡± ¡°Aw, you know just what to say,¡± she said, tilting her head with a brimming smile. ¡°Where is the old cat, anyway?¡± ¡°Last I saw, he was fighting a few of the big guy¡¯s friends when we got separated,¡± Jeanne said, looking around the inn¡¯s hallway. A door violently swung open, several men, battered and bloodied fell onto the floor. Over the pile stepped a feline figure, covered in white and gray fur, leather armor, along with steel pauldrons, gauntlets and boots, with several orbs clinging tightly to his belt. All now splattered in blood as he stumbled into the hallway. He shook his head to regain his bearings. ¡°That¡¯s going to cost a silver or two,¡± he said to himself as Jeanne and Kveldulf spotted him. ¡°Oh, there he is!¡± said Jeanne, sauntering up to him. ¡°Hey Cid, Look who I found.¡± ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the man himself,¡± said Cid, holding out a hand. Kveldulf gripped his forearm in kind. ¡°I came as soon as I got your message.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± said Cid, ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it.¡± ¡°You kidding? I wouldn¡¯t miss this for the world. So, what was with them?¡± Kveldulf asked, pointing to the pile of men. Cid looked back, pointed to them with a thumb and turned back to Kel. ¡°Oh that? That was the result for an unresolvable disagreement.¡± ¡°Who caused it?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid simply pointed to Jeanne. ¡°Hey!¡± she said indignantly. ¡°Is it false?¡± asked Cid. Jeanne grimaced as she tapped her foot. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask,¡± said Kveldulf, shaking his head. ¡°For the best, old friend,¡± said Cid, patting Kveldulf¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come, we need to find a place to speak away from prying ears.¡± ¡°I should probably get my drink then,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Now that you should mention it, I could use one myself,¡± said Cid. Arriving to Cid¡¯s room at the inn, food and drinks in tow, Kveldulf and Jeanne entered inside first. Kveldulf caught whiff of the cedar wood, making up most of the walls and floors. The opened shutters, letting in the bright sunlight and ambient noise from the wharf outside. There were two beds resting in the room itself, a chair positioned next to the door and a ragged rug resting on the floor before a chest of drawers. As Kveldulf and Jeanne made themselves comfortable, Cid closely behind and shutting the door gingerly. While Kveldulf and Jeanne made themselves comfortable, Cid rested his flagon on a dresser, pulled out a drawer and after a brief moment of searching, removed a collection of parchments. Jeanne and Kveldulf exchanged glances. ¡°I can¡¯t think of a good joke,¡± said Jeanne as she shrugged. ¡°Not every conversation needs a jest, Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf stated. ¡°Well not with that attitude!¡± ¡°And on that note!¡± said Cid decisively, placing the parchments on the table. ¡°As you now know, we were talking about going into business for ourselves, yes?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± said Kel, ¡°Ever since Captain Arn retired from the Cold Company.¡± ¡°His replacement did leave much to be desired,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Well, since this land is ripe with wars, feuds, and back-stabbings galore, I figured now is an excellent time to try our hand at making a name for ourselves,¡± Cid said cavalierly. ¡°I take it the parchments are contracts?¡± asked Kel. ¡°Almost,¡± said Cid, turning them over, revealing faces and various bounty amounts written down, ¡°These are immediate bounties, most that aren¡¯t terribly high, I¡¯ll admit, but a few would set us up for some time.¡± ¡°Any interesting ones?¡± asked Jeanne. ¡°I haven¡¯t checked all of them out. Just got them this morning, if I¡¯ll be honest. I figured we¡¯d go over them together, see which ones we might pursue, to build our coffers.¡± ¡°Get some better armor,¡± said Kel. ¡°And maybe a few more heads to join our ranks,¡± said Cid. ¡°Would be nice in case things get a little dicey,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°And here I thought you thrived in the heat of battle,¡± said Kel. ¡°I do, but I want to enjoy the aftermath best I can!¡± Kel nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°But I was thinking we could do this first one,¡± said Cid, pulling out a single parchment with the image of a human male, pale skin, long scar traveling down their left eye. ¡°Who¡¯s the man?¡± Jeanne asked coldly. ¡°Name¡¯s Connar Grant, sometimes goes by the moniker, Culain. Dusty brown hair, same for the eyes, about Kel¡¯s height, thinner though, and from what I gathered here, smug as hell,¡± said Cid informatively. ¡°How original,¡± Jeanne replied unamused as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Should we ask what earned him ire of the crown?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see here, theft on the king¡¯s highway, murders, kidnappings, plenty of mutilation, horse stealing and, worst of all, gossiping.¡± ¡°A real piece of work,¡± said Jeanne while looking out to the window, snarling out of the corner of her mouth. ¡°What¡¯s the amount?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°After the split, around five hundred gold each,¡± said Cid, ¡°Not a bad start.¡± ¡°Any idea what we¡¯re looking at here in terms of supporters?¡± ¡°That I couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Cid replied, ¡°I was thinking we could travel to the town near to where most of the activities have been happening and see what we can find.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need horses,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Already taken care of,¡± said Cid, ¡°I have three in our names and waiting at the stables.¡± ¡°Never a detail left out of place,¡± said Kveldulf, chuckling. ¡°Not if I can help it.¡± ¡°So, when do we head out?¡± asked Jeanne. ¡°First light, tomorrow,¡± said Cid, ¡°We¡¯ll take the North Road, and see what the fates have for us.¡± ¡°Sounds like a plan to me,¡± said Kveldulf lifting his flagon, the other two lifting theirs in a toast. ¡°Well you know what they say,¡± Cid said, lifting his flagon. ¡°This is the place for a second chance at life and refuge.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that,¡± said Jeanne, lifting hers. Kveldulf smiled as his drank his brew. A second chance, he thought to himself, huh, how ironic. Part Two - Journey to Amlin Kveldulf smoked on a blackwood pipe as he looked up the statue of Allianna, standing victorious over her dreaded foes. He looked around at the now quiet pier with hardly more than a dozen people around him on either side. He wondered if they had a clue who he was? If they knew what brought him to return to this land? Did they judged him already, without a second thought about him as a person, and not an extension of something long since past. He returned his gaze to her, and the old anger began to return. The loud thumping of his heartbeat growing in intensity. His muscles tensing at the sight of the woman who¡¯s been given such privilege and prestige. Ancient words coming to his mind: Hot is the heart! Too fierce find peace; Gone are the days of tranquil songs. Harken to wrath, and war, and woe; And bring forth crimson rivers to bear. He could feel his fists shake with rage as one word crossed his mind: why? Why was he burdened with a centuries old declaration? Why were his kin denied the Golden Halls, after they had earned this rightful glory in sweat and blood and duty-bound service? Now forever cast aside to wonder the mists of oblivion? Why was this their lot in life? ¡°You seem troubled,¡± he heard Cid say to him as he walked up, smoking a long wooden pipe himself. ¡°I¡¯ve had a lot on my mind lately,¡± Kveldulf said averting his gaze from both the statue and Cid. ¡°I can imagine,¡± Cid replied looking up at the statue. ¡°I honestly did not think they would be so flamboyant on this matter.¡± ¡°I know, Cid. It¡¯s not even the statue itself,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°It¡¯s everything it represents.¡± ¡°You mean the decree?¡± ¡°Yeah ¡­ the decree. Forced to hide my own name, just so people don¡¯t accuse me of crimes innumerable before they get to know me. So parents don¡¯t whisk their children away, thinking I¡¯ll perform an ungodly act of violence on them. So, people don¡¯t think I¡¯m a monster, because he was,¡± as he finished, Kveldulf looked at the stone effigy of Baeron. ¡°Perhaps we can sow the seeds to bring about such change,¡± Cid said, taking a long inhale from his pipe. Kveldulf lowered his gaze, a saddened frown came over him. ¡°Maybe,¡± he said weakly. ¡°Come, we should get some sleep before we ride out,¡± Cid said to him. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kveldulf said looking up at the effigy of the dreaded traitor before turning to follow Cid. *** The light of the sun struggled to breach the forest canopy above them. Diminutive pillars of illumination lighting the path ahead. Kveldulf closed his eyes while, taking in the sounds of the forest. The rustling of leaves, twigs and pine needles being crushed underneath the hooves of their horses, the creaks and groans of trees swaying back and forth to the wind. Creating a calming melody to them. Kveldulf smiled as his muscles relaxed. Memories of him riding along with his parents on similar roads, enjoying the symphony of nature around to him. Listening to his parents whispering to themselves as they tried not to wake him, feeling the wind softly touch his face, and the gentle jostling of the cart lulling him to sleep. He jolted himself upright, shaking away the thoughts suddenly as he returned to the present. ¡°You all right?¡± Jeanne asked him. He nodded. ¡°Was just in my head.¡± ¡°Ah, those can be nice.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± asked Cid. ¡°I was talking to Kel,¡± Jeanne answered. ¡°Ah, nothing bad I hope.¡± ¡°No no,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°Just enjoying the small moments.¡± ¡°I see,¡± said Cid ¡°Well don¡¯t get so invested you fall off your horse.¡± Kveldulf looked down at the ground his eyebrows drawn together. ¡°That would be bad.¡± ¡°How much farther do you think we have left, Cid?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°We¡¯ve been going for three days, so I think we should be there before the day¡¯s done,¡± Cid looked around, biting the corner of his lower lip. ¡°I hope so, at least.¡± Arriving to the edge of the forest, the trees moved behind them, the three came upon a vast meadow covered in dark crimson grass. The long blades stretched to the bottom of their feet as the sunlight struck the glistening in a morning dew. The wind gently rustled the grass as they passed by the fields. Kveldulf felt his skin crawl while they moved through the field. Slowly moving his tightened fists closer to him. He saw Cid looking around the area with a keen interest. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Kel asked him. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised there¡¯s no birds singing,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°You don¡¯t see any animals, either,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Hasn¡¯t been any of that since the reign of Callanband,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Legend goes when he made a pact with a demon lord, he sacrificed hundreds as a sign of his loyalty. Stainging the ground red in blood. Animals won¡¯t dare to linger here, birds refuse to sing their songs.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not stay longer than needed,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°This place gives me an ill feeling.¡± As the sun rose to its height peak, the three finally left the Crimson Fields. Traveling down the road through the wooded road before Kveldulf spotted a clearing with a farm resting along the edge. The main home was positioned the closet to the forest, a one story home, walls made of dark stone with a chimney letting out a thin pillar of smoke from the top. Kveldulf could imagine the aroma of food cooking in the kitchen as they neared the building. There was a red barn and tool shed were a short distance away. Jeanne spotted a farmer pushing a plough, with a team of two oxen at the head. She turned to the others, ¡°So who wants to be the intelligence one this time?¡± Kel lifted his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Jeanne relieved, ¡°I hate talking to people.¡± ¡°Add that to the list,¡± said Cid cheekily. ¡°Be enough to fill a coliseum,¡± followed Kel. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a little rude,¡± said Jeanne retorted. ¡°Is it false?¡± asked Kel. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was a lie, just rude.¡± Kel chuckled as he nudged his horse over by the fence, waving towards the farmer. ¡°Hello there,¡± he said to the man. The farmer stopped to turned to Kel, before setting his plough into the dirt and making his way over. ¡°Afternoon,¡± said the farmer, ¡°What can I do ya for?¡± ¡°Me and my friends were coming through here and were hoping to see if there was any place where we could lay our heads down.¡± ¡°Aye, I can imagine how welcomed a nice warm pillow would be after a while,¡± the farmer said leaning against the fence. ¡°Being out in nature is fun and all, but a satchel doesn¡¯t really cut it after a while.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the truth. Not something I miss from my days in the army.¡± ¡°What, no fluffed pillows and warm sheets?¡± The farmer let out a loud laugh. ¡°Only for the noblemen. Hell, they weren¡¯t even in tent, compared to what we had.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Obviously one cannot command armies if they¡¯re inconvenienced by the smallest of nuisances,¡± Kel said in an overly haughty tone. ¡°I see you were well versed in such matters?¡± ¡°Something I learned early on in my youth.¡± ¡°Born into the army then?¡± ¡°Almost, my parents were mercenaries.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± said the farmer, nodding his head, ¡°That was something I thought of trying my hand at when the Rebel Kings were brought down a few years back. But honestly, I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t take that road. No offense meant.¡± ¡°None taken,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°This life isn¡¯t easy, even when you¡¯re used to it.¡± ¡°Well, to answer your question, I know of an inn once you get to town, called The Lucky Lorna. That should tend to your lodgings. For work, I¡¯d probably find our reeve. I know he¡¯s been having some difficulties with brigands as of late.¡± ¡°Brigands you say,¡± Kveldulf said leaning with rapt attention, ¡°Thank you kindly for the information, and the recommendation.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± said the farmer, ¡°Hopefully the inn¡¯s to your liking.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll have to work hard at getting on my bad side,¡± said Kveldulf, bowing his head forward slightly before returning to the others. Cid and Jeanne both began riding forward as Kveldulf caught up with them. ¡°So, what¡¯s the story?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°I think I found us a place to stay for the night, and possibly our first lead for this bounty.¡± ¡°Thank the spirit of order,¡± said Cid, ¡°I¡¯m tired to using rocks for pillows.¡± ¡°You say that every time we¡¯ve been on the march,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I say it, because it¡¯s true,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Excuse me,¡± called out a young woman, quickly making her way to the fence line. The three turned to her, stopping their horses as she neared. ¡°Yes,¡± said Cid cordially, leaning his head forward to her, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± The young woman looked down for a moment at her feet, clutching her field dress in her hands. Jeanne dismounted from her horse and approached the young woman. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Cid and Kveldulf dismounted their steeds and walked up to the fence while the young woman continued speaking with hesitation. ¡°Well ¡­ it¡¯s my sister you see. She¡¯s been missing for over a month. My parents have tried to find out what¡¯s happened, but they don¡¯t have enough money to ¨C¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take it,¡± Jeanne said to the girl, her voice deepening. Kveldulf saw her jaw clenched shut, lips pressed together and her fists clenched and shaking. ¡°But I can¡¯t promise my parents can pay you much,¡± the young woman asserted. ¡°We can figure all that out when we find your sister,¡± Cid said consolingly. ¡°Do you know anything that could help us?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°She¡¯s younger than me by a few years, and we share the same chestnut hair and green eyes. She does have a birth mark on her right shoulder that she was always embarrassed about. And our mother gave her a broach made out of blue stone last summer.¡± ¡°Any reason why she would leave in the first place?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well, she was spending time with this man who arrived here not too long ago.¡± ¡°A traveler?¡± asked Jeanne, leaning over the fence, her brows pressed tightly together. The young woman stepped away from the fence as Kveldulf put his hand on Jeanne¡¯s shoulder, Jeanne turned giving him a burning gaze. ¡°Yes, he arrived to town a few weeks back,¡± the young woman replied. ¡°He was staying at the inn with a few others, doing some odd jobs and the like?¡± ¡°Was he here for any reason?¡± asked Cid. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± the young woman said, ¡°I rarely spoke to the man.¡± ¡°Really?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°I just had an odd feeling about. More so than with most strangers.¡± ¡°But your sister didn¡¯t?¡± Cid asked. The young woman shook her head. ¡°She was smitten with him. You know how some girls are when their hearts begin courting thoughts of love.¡± ¡°Do you think she might¡¯ve gone off with him?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s my best guess, and I don¡¯t know if ¡­,¡± the young woman paused again, Jeanne putting her hand on the woman¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll find her,¡± Jeanne told her. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t an easy thing to ask but ¨C¡± ¡°We will find her,¡± Jeanne repeated, slower and softer this time. The young woman nodded. ¡°Thank you, I need to get back, I appreciate you taking time to talk with me,¡± she said before making her way back to the farmhouse. The three made their way back to the horses, saying nothing as the moved further down the road. Jeanne urged her horse forward to where it outpaced Kel and Cid. Kveldulf, seeing Jeanne¡¯s face unchanged since the conversation, broke the silence. ¡°Jeanne?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± she said turned to him with a glare that made him recoil. ¡°Just making sure you¡¯re all right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, through gritted teeth. Kveldulf turned to Cid who was shaking his head and waved his Kel to come closer. As he neared Cid, he saw his friend use their old signal language back with The Cold Company. Give her some space, I think this is hitting closer to home than I anticipated, Cid gestured. Kveldulf nodded as Cid turned to Jeanne. ¡°Jeanne, you want us to see about the bandit contract while you take care of the missing person?¡± Cid asked. Jeanne slowed her horse down, letting Kveldulf and Cid catch up, turning to Cid. ¡°You¡¯d be all right with that?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Cid, ¡°We know how important these situations are to you.¡± Jeanne took a deep breath with a pained expression coming over her face as she rubbed her eyes. She said nothing, her gaze moving down to the road in front of her. Cid and Kveldulf exchanged glances before looking back to Jeanne. ¡°Jeanne?¡± Cid said to her. ¡°Let¡¯s ¡­ let¡¯s get a lay of the land and take it from there,¡± she said with unease. Reaching the outskirts of the village, the three stopped in front of an open-air smithy. A man, draped in a stained black leather apron, and rapping away with a hammer against a piece of metal. Dirt, sweat, and grime smears marked all over his skin and face. He spotted the trio, lifting a hand to them before setting his tools down and making his way up. ¡°Oi, welcome to Amlin, our little spot of earth. Anything I can help ye with?¡± he asked them. ¡°We were looking to find the town reeve,¡± said Cid, ¡°Thought there might be some work focus.¡± ¡°Aye, aye,¡± said the smith, scratching one side of his head. ¡°I can¡¯t say I know of any thing in particular the reeve might need. But then again, we¡¯re not exactly joined at the hip, are we? Normally he¡¯d be located at the Reeve-House, not too far from the center of town, near The Lucky Lorna.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Cid, rubbing his chin. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find then.¡± ¡°I¡¯d hope not, he still owes me from our last drinking match.¡± ¡°Is that a regular occurrence?¡± asked Kveldulf lightly grimacing. ¡°We like to enjoy our drinks around these parts,¡± said the smithy. ¡°Plus, not much else going on round here.¡± ¡°We did hear of a brigand problem,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°from one of the local farmers.¡± The smithy waved his hand back and forth while shaking his head. ¡°That blowhard is making a lot of smoke and noise cause one of his daughters went off with this bloke not too long ago.¡± ¡°Really?¡± asked Jeanne staring at him coldly. The smithy looked sideways while leaning away from her. ¡°Yeah, he said something about being a part of a free-lance company. You know how it is. Probably boasting to get himself a lass before she learns he¡¯s just a leech like the rest of his ilk are.¡± As Cid asked some more questions, Kveldulf turned to see Jeanne closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths. He lightly tapped her on the shoulder. Jeanne, he gestured, you doing all right? Jeanne turned around away from the smithy, wrapping her arms around her torso. Would you believe me if I said yes? I¡¯m not trying to pry, Jeanne. But getting a little worried. Jeanne took a deep breath. ¡°Just ¡­ give me a moment and I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Kveldulf placed his hand on her shoulder, both of them turning back to Cid and the smithy. ¡°Did you see any of these others he was with?¡± Cid asked the man. The smithy shook his head. ¡°No, I can say I did. He was supposed to be a guide to another. I did catch a bit of smoke out a distance south of town. But I couldn¡¯t tell ya if they was a part of that or not.¡± Cid leaned back to Kveldulf and Jeanne. ¡°We¡¯ll check that out when we¡¯re done with the reeve,¡± he whispered to them. Both Kel and Jeanne nodding in response. ¡°Well, I should get back to work, don¡¯t want the fire to get too cold,¡± the smithy said as he returned to his work. ¡°Of course, thank you for your time,¡± said Cid, he gestured Kel and Jeanne to follow him back to their horses. ¡°What do you make of that?¡± he asked them. ¡°Nothing struck to me like he was trying to hide something,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Same,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°It¡¯s a little odd that the person in charge here is so close to the local inn.¡± ¡°Probably owns it,¡± Cid said, ¡°or has close ties to it.¡± ¡°Or they just love a good drink,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t Jeanne and I pay the reeve a visit, Kel, see what you can find out about the brigands, over by the tavern.¡± ¡°You want me to get a us a room, too?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how things go before we cough up the coins.¡± Part Three - Enemy of My Enemy Kveldulf nodded and made his way over to the tavern. Dismounting his horse, he hitched it to a post before moving inside. It was empty, save for the innkeeper at the counter and a group of four huddled by a table near a back corner. Walking towards the bar, Kveldulf took note of the group at the table. The first one Kveldulf noticed was a man with sand colored skin, possibly mid-twenties and towering over the other three even when sitting. His black hair was pulled back into a straight ponytail with facial hair encircling his mouth with a patch underneath the bottom lip, all neatly trimmed. His right arm rested over his chair adding to his relaxed demeanor, sporting a tranquil smile on his face. The man was dressed in a cuirass made of short horizontal lames of steel, the top level overlapping the lower to cover his well-built frame. The armor was black as night and marked with scratches and other marks of war beyond counting. His shoulders covered in laminar style pauldrons, with plates covering much of his arms before ducking under his steeled gauntlets. Leaning against the serving counter he lifted two fingers up to catch the person¡¯s attention. Resting on his left shoulder was a long-curved blade. An odachi? Not from around these parts then, Kveldulf thought, interesting. Next to him was an elven woman. She had curly shoulder length dark red hair, displaying her pointed ears, amber skin with freckles around her face and bright violet eyes surrounded by a red hue where it would normally be white. She carried a long bow with her, a quiver full of arrows leaning against her chair with a long knife resting on her hip. As the others talked amongst themselves, she was the only one with her eyes on Kveldulf. Not in a sense that conveyed a threat to him, simply aware of his arrival. She her petite figure was dressed in a brown gambeson, wearing a glove on her right hand with her ring and pinky fingers exposed, and her other hand wearing a full glove. She had a fabric resting around her neck, though the dim light made it hard for Kveldulf to see what exactly it was. Possibly to cover her face, he thought to himself. Wonder if she¡¯s done something to win a guard¡¯s attention? Next to the elf was another woman, blonde hair braided and draping over her left shoulder. She wasn¡¯t wearing as much armor on her lean athletic figure as the other two, though she did have a leather vest resting on the back of her chair. She wore a light tanned blouse which overlapped with long leather patches covering the lengths of her arms, breaking at her elbows and shoulders. Next to her were two sabers, thin, curved and with a good reach to them. They reminded him of his mother¡¯s blades. Hmm, wonder if she¡¯s a sword singer, proper. Mother would¡¯ve loved to see this. Kveldulf smiling at the thought. Kveldulf couldn¡¯t see the fourth member of the group clearly as he made his way over to the counter. Arriving to the bar, the innkeeper saw him, wiping his hands on their apron. ¡°Afternoon, can¡¯t say I¡¯ve seen you round these parts.¡± Kveldulf shook his head. ¡°Just came in from the port of Tonaslyon recently.¡± ¡°Oh, been able to shake off those sea legs?¡± ¡°Only until I need them again,¡± said Kveldulf, pointing to a small barrel of mead behind the server. ¡°A flagon of mead with some mutton and bread, please.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± said the server, filling a flagon with mead, handing it to Kveldulf before turning to grabbing to plate for some food. ¡°I can assume you¡¯re a free-lancer, then?¡± Kel nodded. ¡°I am. My other companions are conversing with your reeve now to see about some work.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard enough about the brigands to wore your ear off.¡± ¡°Enough to catch our attention. But not much else,¡± Kveldulf said, taking a sip from his flagon. ¡°Well,¡± said the server, leaning in closely. ¡°Be mindful of that lot over there,¡± he said, gesturing his head at a table behind Kel. ¡°That group back there?¡± Kel asked softly. ¡°Aye,¡± said the server. ¡°They came in here a few days ago. Along with this man who left with a girl from around here.¡± ¡°A girl?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Aye. And on top of that, there¡¯s been a series of thefts from around here, too. Livestock mostly. A few others found personal trinkets missing.¡± ¡°What do you mean, trinkets?¡± ¡°Oh, you know, jewels, silver pieces, heirlooms families have had for a generations.¡± Kveldulf jutted his jaw to the side as he cocked an eyebrow up. ¡°Interesting,¡± he said slowly. ¡°And you think they might be responsible?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t see why not. Nothing like that happened until they arrived. They even have a Woodland Elf in their company. Nasty thieves all of them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let our Felidan friend hear you say that,¡± said Jeanne, taking a seat next to Kveldulf, ¡°That was a similar sentiment said about his people for centuries, and one not taken kindly to by his kin regardless of context.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said the server, now leaning back from Jeanne¡¯s comments. ¡°I that¡¯s what I heard anyways.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Jeanne, putting on a factitious smile, placing a few coppers on the counter and pointing to Kel¡¯s flagon. ¡°What he¡¯s having.¡± ¡°So ¡­,¡± Kveldulf said to Jeanne, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Oh, they needed to discuss business alone.¡± Kveldulf rolled his eyes backs as he shook his head. ¡°Oh gods, not that crap again.¡± ¡°You know how officials are. If they can make themselves feel bigger than they are, they¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Well at least that means we¡¯ll get some work.¡± The server placed some mead and food in front of Jeanne before grabbing the coppers. ¡°Seems so,¡± said Jeanee, ¡°What did you manage to get?¡± ¡°Did you see the group in the corner when you came in?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she said, taking a sip of mead. ¡°They¡¯re allegedly with the man that the farm girl told us about, and might be responsible for potential thefts around the area.¡± She stopped her mid-sip and looked over to the group. Kveldulf noticed they had ceased their conversation and were looking over at Kel and Jeanne. Jeanne turned back, returning to her mead. Taking a bite of food, she looked to Kveldulf. ¡°There¡¯s two I would caution against a full on fight. One looks like an archer ¡­¡± ¡°The elf?¡± Kveldulf asked, shoving some of his own food into his mouth. ¡°The elf. The other two I¡¯m not so sure. One is definitely an acade¡ª¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± they heard someone ask. Kveldulf and Jeanne turned to find the academic standing next to them. Strands of his blonde hair draped over his forehead, some softly veiling his ice blue eyes. He had a light stubble on his face covering up some of his warm smile flanked with dimples. He was dressed in a dark green vest, a light blue doublet on his compact figure and a rapier attached to his sword belt and a jacket thrown over one arm. All of which was stained in dirt and grime. Kveldulf and Jeanne looked at him, food still in their mouths. ¡°Yes ¡­?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Well, my name is Augustus Lucius Silvius,¡± said the man, giving a short bow, ¡°I don¡¯t normally do this, but my friends and I are in a rather precarious situation. We couldn¡¯t help but noticed you two walk into here and you both seem like capable individuals.¡± ¡°Uh huh,¡± said Jeanne as she narrowed her gaze. ¡°Well, you see we¡¯re here trying to explore some ancient ruins and our guide might have ¡­ well ¡­ swindled us.¡± ¡°Uh huh,¡± said Kveldulf with a blank expression. ¡°So, my friends and I thought that you two might be able to¡ª¡± ¡°We literally haven¡¯t been here for more than five minutes,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°And I just want to eat in peace.¡± ¡°Oh of course, of course, but perhaps we could help each other out.¡± ¡°The hell are you talking about?¡± asked Kveldulf, food splatter leave his mouth. Jeanne wiped the back of her head, and turned to Kel with a furious look, Kveldulf recoiled slightly. ¡°I am so sorry.¡± ¡°In any case, me and my compatriots were wondering if we could pull our resources together. You help us with the ruins, we help you with your brigands.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know you, I¡¯m starting to not like you, I don¡¯t like how you know why we¡¯re here, and I¡¯m about ready to introduce you to your own duodenum if you don¡¯t back off!¡± As Jeanne was leaving her seat, Kveldulf grabbed her shoulder to pull her back. The man with the curved sword calmly rose from his seat and walked up the three. Reaching the counter, he patted his companion on the shoulder. ¡°Silvius, hate to interrupt, but Maeryn and Hypatia needed your help on something.¡± he said to Silvius. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Silvius looked to Kveldulf and Jeanne, then back to his friend and said, ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°Not at all, could do some good to stretch my legs and get another drink.¡± Silvius nodded, walking back to the two women back at the table. The tall warrior watched Silvius head back to the table before turning back to Jeanne and Kel. He lifted his lifted his hand to the seat. ¡°May I?¡± Jeanne glared at the man, all the while saying nothing. Kveldulf, seeing her expression, said, ¡°I think you¡¯re fine, but she¡¯s about to hit her limit.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± said the man as he took a seat at the bar. ¡°That was subtle what you did there, with your friend,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Oh, Silvius?¡± said the man, ¡°He¡¯s about as brilliant as they come, though he¡¯s still learning to work with people outside of libraries and those little meeting things they have ¡­ oh what is that word?¡± ¡°Symposiums?¡± Silvius chimed in from the table. ¡°Aye!¡± said the man. ¡°That¡¯s the one. Symposiums.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°Your friends can hear us?¡± ¡°Not all of them, just Maeryn, our elven friend.¡± ¡°Oh yeah ¡­ forgot about her,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Well, as my friend mentioned, our guide literally left us in this town with no money and now with rumors of us stealing things.¡± ¡°And this guide of yours?¡± Jeanne insisted. ¡°He called himself Culain, whatever that means, but he¡¯s the one who left with a farm girl.¡± ¡°So, it is the same guy,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Sadly, aye,¡± said the man. Patches of Jeanne¡¯s skin manifested into a rock covering as an eye began twitching. ¡°Is ¡­ is she all right?¡± the man asked. ¡°I¡¯d probably get to the point before she gets miffy,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Right, well we¡¯d like to find the man and, you know, get our money back, and perhaps repair our reputation¡± said the man as he leaned in, ¡°And while my friends would prefer he be turned into the proper authorities, as for myself, I wouldn¡¯t mind if he was hanged, drawn, and quartered.¡± Immediately, Jeanne¡¯s rock patches dissipated into mist, revealing her skin underneath completely untouched by the transformation. She turned to the man, a smile on her face and a hand extended. ¡°Hi there, I¡¯m Jeanne Marais,¡± she said to him. The man returned the gesture, smiling brightly. ¡°Benkin, though most just call me Ben. If you want, we could eat at the table with the others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not against it,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°What about you, Jeanne?¡± Jeanne shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but we¡¯ll need room for Cid.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be an issue,¡± said Benkin, ¡°As they say; the more, the merrier!¡± *** Kveldulf closed his eyes as he listened to the nocturnal symphony of distant howls of wolves, chirping of grasshoppers and the hooting of owls. As he controlled his breathing, he felt his body and his mind enjoy the calmness of the night. He pulled out his pipe and reaching into a pocket, takes out a small linen pouch of leaves. Before putting some leaves into the pipe, he examined the wooden piece and remember his father smoking it when on the road, resting by a fire, or looking up at the stars and admiring the glorious sight above him. Kveldulf remembered watching the smoke floating from the chamber of the pipe. Listening to his father tell him tales of his ancestors, of their line stretching back all the way to the days of the ancient King of Frozen Throne. His favorite was tale was of Arnulf Stormlord, and his brave host arrived to the shores of a small city town of Tonaslyon and fought back the horde of the dreaded Niketas, The Breaker of Kings. How with the halberd forged by dwarven and elven smiths, hewed the warlord into two before his very army, and sent their hearts into panic and save the town from destruction. Kveldulf imaged himself facing the terrible foe, weapon in hand, fighting alongside his famed ancestor. He wondered if his father or mother could see him now? If they knew where he was, what brought him to these lands, if they thought this was an errand spurred on by a fool¡¯s hope? He looked up at the stars longingly and wished to hear their voices again. Tears forming from his eyes as he felt a deepening pain in his heart. The hand holding his pipe squeezing the smoking device tightly in his grip as he wished it belonged to his father once more. This shouldn¡¯t be mine, he thought to himself, this never should¡¯ve been mine. He began to shake and convulse as darkened thought began creeping into every thought. He wrapped his arms around himself as he began to let his sorrow take hold. A shock came to him as he heard Cid call out. ¡°Kel, is everything all right?¡± Kel turned to Cid sharply before wiping the tears from his eyes. ¡°Fine,¡± he said before clearing his throat. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Cid asked. Kveldulf nodded. ¡°Yeah. Just ¡­ had a thought.¡± ¡°Well, do you want to come inside or stay out here for a while?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind staying out here a little bit longer if it¡¯s all the same.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Cid said, taking out his own pipe, and preparing the chamber for smoking. ¡°Beautiful night, tonight.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Kveldulf said, looking up at the stars ¡°It really is.¡± He cleared his throat again as he turned to Cid. ¡°How¡¯d the meeting go?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± said Cid, ¡°We got an official contract for the brigands now. What about you and Jeanne?¡± Kveldulf caught Cid up on their conversation with the four they found at the tavern. ¡°Huh,¡± Cid said, rubbing his chin. ¡°Do you think we can trust them?¡± ¡°Right now, I can¡¯t say,¡± said Kveldulf, letting out a puff of smoke away from Cid. ¡°Well, probably shouldn¡¯t keep them waiting.¡± ¡°I mean, I still have a few buffs left in here if you wanted to chew the proverbial fat.¡± Cid shook his head, ¡°I swear Kel, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do with you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t either, but that¡¯s half the fun isn¡¯t it?¡± Once inside, Kveldulf brought Cid over to where the others were sitting. Jeanne, herself placed between Benkin and the elven Maeryn. Kveldulf lifted a hand towards Cid as he spoke to the others. ¡°I have the distinct pleasure to introduce to you all, the Great Rodrigo Diaz de la Vivar de la Cideador.¡± Cid turned to Kveldulf tapping his foot and glared at him with murderous intent. ¡°You just had to use my full name, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, you have to have a little flourish when it comes to these things.¡± Cid looked up to the heavens. ¡°I should¡¯ve never have told you any of that.¡± ¡°So should we address you as ¡®My Lord¡¯?¡± Hypatia, already pulling out a quill, inkwell and parchments. ¡°Please do not,¡± Cid insisted. ¡°I prefer being called Cid, it¡¯s far more to the point.¡± ¡°Though tis about time you made it back, m¡¯lord.¡± Jeanne said to him, bowing her head in an overly exaggerated fashion. ¡°Don¡¯t you start,¡± Cid threatened, pointing towards Jeanne as he took his seat. ¡°And for the record, tours of historical knick knacks can be ¡­ time consuming.¡± ¡°I¡¯d think counting the hairs on your hand would be a better use of one¡¯s time,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°It was for items thirty through fifty-nine. The rest were dark times, such dark and terrible times.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± said Silvius, ¡°Most of those artifacts weren¡¯t authentic.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Cid blurted. ¡°Most of them are replicas,¡± said Silvius. ¡°A few of them hardly looked like what they were trying to imitate.¡± ¡°How ¡­ how did you?¡± Cid said, confused. ¡°Like I said,¡± Benkin said, ¡°This man knows his stuff.¡± ¡°Did the reeve show you that emblem of the Elden King?¡± Maeryn asked Cid. ¡°Yes, and for a moment I though he was going to lick it,¡± Cid replied. ¡°He does get that look often, didn¡¯t he?¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°So, Kel here caught me up with most of what¡¯s gone on,¡± said Cid, adjusting in his seat, ¡°But I do have a few questions. Firstly, what are these ruins you were trying to find?¡± Silvius leaned forward, both his hands clasped together resting in front of his face. ¡°Well, these aren¡¯t just your normal run of the mill ruins. There is supposedly a whole cave complex a few miles from here rumored to have been one the residences of the Wraith King, himself.¡± ¡°Callanband?¡± Cid said in a hushed whisper. Kveldulf clenched his fist underneath the table, keeping it the other¡¯s view. ¡°How certain are you this place exists?¡± ¡°I cross referenced some of the few remaining maps from that era, along with a recent tome I found within the library¡¯s archives back at the university, which stated this fortress was founded around this area.¡± ¡°And what do you expect to find there?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Honestly, I can¡¯t say,¡± Silvius replied, shrugging. ¡°It could be bereft of everything aside from a stone corpse long since picked clean.¡± ¡°Even then, finding this place would give some insight into how the Wraith King kept hold of these lands for centuries,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Especially since his lapdog, Baeron, supposedly used the fortress as a base for his vicious doings.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could find some artifacts to sell to a buyer,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea,¡± said Jeanne, take a drink from her flagon. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Cid, ¡°Though I think we should attend to the matter of this Culain fellow and where his friends are first.¡± The elven Maeryn turned away, a pained expression on her face. Kel, Cid and Jeanne all noticed, looking at each other quickly before turning back to her. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Cid asked her. Maeryn would not speak, Hypatia putting her hand on the elf¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Our guide and Maeryn became ¡­ close shortly after we arrived here. Then on the night he left, he whisked with something of personal value to her.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It was a necklace from my mother,¡± Maeryn told them. ¡°It¡¯s the last thing I have of hers and he just took it like it was a simple trinket.¡± ¡°Could there be anything about it that could make it something to pinch?¡± Kveldulf asked her. Maeryn shook her head. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything magical about the piece. It¡¯s just been in the family for generations and is priceless to me.¡± Kveldulf let out a long exhale, nodding his head slowly. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, ¡°I think we¡¯re in agreement with how we want to approach this matter. If you four don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to discuss a few things over with my companions.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Silvius, ¡°We understand, we have the rooms across from each other at the far end of the hallway upstairs if you need us.¡± ¡°Much obliged,¡± Cid replied, as he, Jeanne and Kel watched the others take their leave. Once they were out of earshot, Cid turned back to the two. ¡°All right, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get any sense they were lying,¡± said Kel, ¡°But, and I hate to sound like I¡¯m on the fence, that could mean they¡¯re good at speaking falsehoods.¡± ¡°Good thing I¡¯m here, then,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯m a trained spell-sword, Kel. You¡¯re smart enough to put it together.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kel said slowly. ¡°You don¡¯t expect us to be working with complete strangers and not use a truth spell.¡± ¡°When did you cast it?¡± Cid asked, ¡°You have to speak the words to cast the spell.¡± Jeanne lifted her flagon to her lips. ¡°One does not need to see cast to be in its influence,¡± she said through the dram. ¡°I did it after Kel and I took our seats at the table as I had a sip of my drink. And even if I didn¡¯t, from what they said, they seem all right with me.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°Something I learned from Caleb when we were stationed at Ostenband. Worked a lot when we needed to interrogate someone who would resist the spell otherwise.¡± ¡°Very nice,¡± said Cid nodding before taking a sip of his mead. ¡°So, we¡¯re going to do business with them then?¡± Jeanne asked Cid. ¡°I¡¯ve got a good feeling from them and you two seem to be fine with the idea,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Should we go tell them then?¡± Kel asked. ¡°In a little bit,¡± said Cid, ¡°I want something to eat first, I¡¯m famished.¡± Part Four - The Skirmish Cid and Jeanne had gone up to their quarters as Kveldulf stayed in the dining area, putting another bite of bread into his mouth before washing it down with a mouthful of ale. The place was quite, with everyone now back at their homes and lodgings. The faint smell from the spit behind the counter and from patrons¡¯ burnt pipe weed still lingered in the air. As his finished sipping his drink, he spotted Silvius coming down the stairs, still wearing his trousers and undershirt. ¡°Still up?¡± Kveldulf asked Silvius as he arrived downstairs. Silvius nodded. ¡°Sadly. One of those wonderful evenings when alacrity gets the better of you.¡± Kveldulf lifted his head up for a moment. ¡°Alacrity?¡± Silvius let out a soft groan. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°when you have to work with those who feel their flatulence smells divine, you get into the habit of using fancy words to make them feel special.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Kveldulf said, nodding. ¡°I¡¯ve met those type before. That¡¯s why I prefer letting Cid handle such things.¡± ¡°Have you known the Felidan for long?¡± ¡°About ten years,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Same with Jeanne. We were all in the same squad when she and I joined The Cold Company.¡± ¡°Cold Company?¡± Silvius said, with some surprise. ¡°I heard a few stories about them.¡± Kveldulf chuckled at the comment. ¡°I can only imagine. I¡¯ve heard a few of the colorful ones. And some of the not-so-colorful ones.¡± ¡°Most of what I heard came from my uncle, he was serving with Lord Oddone during The Siege of Sanio.¡± Kveldulf grimaced. ¡°I heard about that engagement, nasty affair. I barely missed that one by a few months.¡± ¡°My uncle said your people put more than five thousand civilians to the sword. Even the moat of the city was filled with the bodies of those who tried to escape the slaughter.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t deny this profession comes with some uglier elements to it. And I heard from the survivors of that campaign the taking of the city was worse than many had experienced in their entire careers. Though it isn¡¯t something they put in the songs when they recount such things to those unfamiliar with such matters.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not certain how well I¡¯d be in such a profession.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for the faint of heart. And it helps if you can stand the long marches.¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer searching within the confines of a library if it¡¯s all the same,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°What brought you out here then?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t seem to be the type that wants to go out and seek adventures. No offence.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not that off, if we¡¯re being honest here. And Hypatia was always the one looking for a reason to dive into caves and or exploring some place that looked somewhat dangerous. I always preferred somewhere away from those places, usually with a reduced chance of someone or something try to kill and possible eat me.¡± ¡°Then why are you here then, if this isn¡¯t something you want to do?¡± Silvius hemmed and hawed a moment, pondering the thought before he seemed comfortable to speak. ¡°Because no one else is.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been researching the history of the wars between the Allianna¡¯s coalition during her wars against Callanband. And for the most part no one has been interested in this effort at all.¡± ¡°How come? I¡¯d think this was a subject everyone and their mother would be on board for.¡± ¡°You would think that. But most tend to stay with the stories. What their parents told them, as they were told by their parents, and so on and so forth.¡± ¡°So wouldn¡¯t that mean people still talk about and remember it?¡± ¡°They remember the story told to them. Not the truth of what happened. Stories change from telling to telling. Sometimes it¡¯s a word or a name or a whole event. The story changes, the tale is no longer what it was as a history but something closer to a fable a parent tells a child before going to bed. Whatever lesson we can learn from the past is lost and has to be relearned again. Usually with as much if not more pain than before.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Kveldulf hummed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think of it that way.¡± ¡°Well, most people don¡¯t need to worry about that. Farmers don¡¯t need to remember the complicated web of history when sowing and harvesting. Neither do tailors, cobblers, blacksmiths, weavers, or the rest.¡± ¡°So who is this for then?¡± ¡°The people who need to remember. Those who decide whether or not fathers, mothers brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, cousins and all the rest go off and risk their lives for the glory of their culture. Or to regain common rights lost to them from simple ignorance.¡± ¡°Have you been working on this for long?¡± ¡°About two years on my own, and Hypatia has been helping me out for two more. And she¡¯s been a gift from the gods since then.¡± ¡°Was that how you two met?¡± ¡°Oh no, we were in the same class at the university in Tonaslyon. Then she went off to finish her archivist training, we went are separate ways for a while until we ran into each other again on this project. Was surprised to learn she had taken up sword fighting during that time.¡± ¡°And what about you and your blade?¡± ¡°Oh, this, it was a gift of my father after getting accepted at the university. He thought it would be good to have something to defend myself, lest I get on the bad side of some pertinacious individual who wishes to draw blades.¡± ¡°The hell is pertinacious?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Damn it, did it again,¡± Silivus said, smacking his forehead. ¡°This is going to be a lot harder than I anticipated. It means someone particularly stubborn.¡± ¡°Ah, that makes sense. Did you learn how to use it?¡± ¡°I mean, I wouldn¡¯t call myself a master of the blade. And I¡¯d prefer talking myself out of a situation. But I¡¯d like to think I can hold my own in a scrape.¡± ¡°Have you been in a fight before?¡± ¡°Nothing outside of sparring duels.¡± ¡°So ¡­ you¡¯ve never had to kill.¡± Silvius shook his head. ¡°No, not really. I¡¯m not terribly certain if I can.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised what you¡¯ll do when you¡¯re faced with certain death. Especially when things are crazy and someone is coming towards you with an axe, or sword, or some other implement of pain.¡± ¡°Still, I¡¯ve considered myself lucky I haven¡¯t had to end a life.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, that trend will hold true,¡± Kveldulf said as he finished his drink and calmly rose from his seat. ¡°But I think it¡¯s time for me to turn in for the night. You have a good one, Silvius.¡± ¡°You do the same, Kel,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Kel?¡± Silvius called out with some hesitation. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°When ¡­ when you took your first life, did it affect you?¡± Kveldulf took a deep breath. ¡°At the moment itself, no. But I felt a sick sensation in my stomach when we were back at camp, and I had time to think about it.¡± ¡°Do you think about them? The people you¡¯ve killed?¡± ¡°Sometimes,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Though more of the ones in the beginning, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± Silvius nodded, turning to his clasped hands. Kveldulf walked over and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Like I said, things go well, no one will need to getting anything a mother¡¯s kiss can¡¯t heal.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope tomorrow is uneventful,¡± Silvius said giving Kveldulf a weak smile before the warrior went up the stairs to his lodgings for the night. *** The sun rose filling Kveldulf¡¯s room with a warm ambient light. Waking him slowly, he stretched his arms and neck as he rose from his bed. While throwing on his clothes he could hear the muffled chatter of the others down below. A smile grew on his face as he negotiated his way down stairs. Cid and Silvius were sharing fried bacon, bread, and butter together as Benkin sat nearby enjoying a cup of brewed coffee. Hypatia, Maeryn and Jeanne were seated together chatting amongst themselves amicably. Kveldulf grabbed a plate of scrambled eggs and a wooden cup of coffee before making his way back to the others. Benkin spotted him, tilting his head up quickly. ¡°Morning,¡± he said to Kel. ¡°Morning,¡± Kveldulf replied, ¡°How was your night?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± said Benkin. ¡°First decent night¡¯s sleep I¡¯ve had in a long while.¡± Kveldulf swallowed a bite of eggs before sipping his coffee. ¡°That¡¯s always good to hear.¡± ¡°Aye, it¡¯s nice not to have someone look at you like you have a deadly plague or some curse or possession upon you, like those poor bastards of the White Horse.¡± Kveldulf nodded, fighting the urge to grimace at hearing that house name. He was still not used to hearing it and found difficulty getting used to such things. ¡°I know someone who can handle both!¡± said Jeanne, reaching into a pocket before pulling out a golden rock and it in the air. ¡°What?¡± Benkin asked, thoroughly confused. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her,¡± said Kveldulf, waving the comment off. ¡°She¡¯s being silly.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m wrong!¡± Jeanne replied. Kel shook his head and let out a incensed groan. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t friends with her.¡± ¡°I know that feeling well,¡± said Benkin chuckling. ¡°How long have you known this group?¡± ¡°For about four months, I think.¡± ¡°Did you know them from the university?¡± ¡°Sort of. It¡¯s a tale I wish held more exciting twists and turns and a few side roads along the way. But mostly I ran into Hypatia when she was learning how to use her swords. Gave her a few pointers, sparred a lot to get her where she wanted to be, then one day she told me about Silvius¡¯s venture and asked if I wanted to join them to help provide some protection. I didn¡¯t have anything major on my plate, and I knew his family was good for the coin, so I joined up.¡± ¡°Wait, what about his family?¡± ¡°Oh his family comes from old, old money and they¡¯re pretty much funding this entire thing on their own.¡± ¡°The university isn¡¯t helping out?¡± ¡°Not really, it¡¯s one of things where they won¡¯t contribute to the success, but claim it all as theirs if things go well.¡± ¡°So, business as usual?¡± ¡°More or less, yeah.¡± ¡°How did the elf get involved?¡± ¡°Oh Maeryn, she and I used to be bodyguard for this rich noble a few years back. When Silvius and Hypatia were asking for me to tag along, I vouched for her and they gladly brought her in.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°What happened to the noble? Were they upset when you two left?¡± ¡°If he was, it wasn¡¯t for long. He perturbed his king and then lost his head.¡± ¡°And you two didn¡¯t have problems with that?¡± ¡°No, he stopped paying our fee, so we left him behind well before that went down.¡± ¡°Fair enough. So what role does she play for the group?¡± ¡°Oh, she¡¯s our hunter and scout, mostly.¡± ¡°I guess the bow was a bit of a giveaway.¡± ¡°You know not all elves are skilled archers and hunters,¡± they heard Maeryn say from the other table. ¡°I keep forgetting about the hearing,¡± Kveldulf said aloud. ¡°I could write that down,¡± said Hypatia, reaching into her satchel. ¡°No,¡± Kveldulf insisted, ¡°That¡¯s not needed.¡± ¡°I am also good at throwing knives, for what it¡¯s worth¡± Maeryn said proudly. ¡°Really?¡± Kel asked. Maeryn nodded while twirling a small knife around her fingers. Kveldulf looked around the dining area. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Something for her to throw that knife¡ª¡± as the knife landed on the table, impaling a fly onto the point. Kel¡¯s eyes widened as the blade hard on struck the wood. ¡°Never mind.¡± ¡°I told you,¡± said Benkin leaning back, his arm crossed behind his head. ¡°Yes ¡­ yes you did,¡± said Kveldulf as he pulled the knife out after some effort. As Kel returned to knife to Maeryn at the other table he noted two curved sword leaning next to Hypatia. Hypatia noticed him studying the blades, ¡°You like them?¡± ¡°The sheaths look amazing, alone.¡± She picked one up and handed it to Kveldulf. ¡°Here, take a look.¡± Kveldulf took the sword and unsheathed it with great care. The etchings along the length of the blade softly shone in the golden ambient light of the tavern. Gripping the handle tightly, Kveldulf felt an instinctual sensation in moving the blade. Performing some of the practice exercises his parents taught his when he was younger, he could hear the blade produce several notes. They mixed well together with a few rougher spots in the melody. He thought of how his mother would have swung an entire epic poem without trying. A smile coming to him at the thought. ¡°A sword-singer?¡± Kveldulf asked, handing the blade back to Hypatia. ¡°My mother used to be one herself.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Hypatia asked surprised. Kveldulf nodded. ¡°She knew more than a few odes in her time.¡± ¡°I might know a few tunes myself if you¡¯d like to hear one,¡± Hypatia said, taking the blade as she left her seat. ¡°By all means,¡± Kveldulf replied, taking his seat at back the table. Stepping in to the open space of the tavern, she unsheathed both blades. The swords sweetly hummed as she held them firmly in her grip. Hitting a stance, the swords began a harmonizing before she moved her body to create a calming adagio from the movement. Kveldulf could spot her creating passata sottos, ripostes, remise, parries and flunges, as the blades slashed and discerning musical notations with each movement. As she moved with increased speed, the notes began taking a quickened, graceful grace. The music now carrying a majestic sound of instruments touching everyone¡¯s ears. Everyone around her began stomping their feet and clapping their hands in time with the music. A heroic gusto and passion took them as Hypatia moved with such speed, the blades now blurs to one¡¯s eye. The tune reached fiery zeal as it came to a vigorous climax. As Hypatia finished her dance, the music ended with a flourish and everyone impulsively her applauded for the performance. ¡°Thank you, thank you,¡± said Hypatia, taking a bow. ¡°Make sure try the veal.¡± The innkeeper chimed in. ¡°We don¡¯t have any veal here.¡± Everyone turned to innkeeper who looked back at them all for a moment. ¡°Oh ¡­ oh! I got it, now. My mistake,¡± the innkeeper said before returning to their errands. Kveldulf turned back to Hypatia. ¡°I¡¯m almost eager to hear what songs you¡¯ll make when in the midst battle,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Be forewarned those performances will cost you,¡± said Hypatia, giving him a playful wink. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, raising to feet, ¡°I¡¯m feeling ready to take on the whole world, and I think a few bandits are a good place to start, don¡¯t you agree.¡± ¡°Lead on!¡± said Benkin, raising his dram as the others raised theirs in agreement. *** Kveldulf adjusted his knee to a drier patch of the forest floor. The damp leaves and moss soaking the knee pressed against the earth. He could barely hear the rustling of leaves above them, as if the trees were trying to stay silent while he and others lingered. There was also an odd smell in the air which he couldn¡¯t put his finger on, though he swore he had smelled it somewhere. He looked out to the encampment out in a small clearing. Seeing several logs placed around the camp to form a loose circle. From what he could tell they had fallen from old age, than to an axe¡¯s blade. The camp itself was uncomfortably quiet. Tents huddled tightly in a circle bedrolls ruffled with flaps thrown open as people had crawled out of them. All of this around a campfire with only a tepid pillar of smoke coming from smoldering of dying embers. Cid and Maeryn were at the front, Kveldulf, Benkin, and Jeanne positioned shortly behind, and Hypatia and Silvius at the rear, all of them using the brush to hide themselves. Kveldulf turned his gaze up, surveying the tall trees around them. He tapped Benkin on the shoulder who leaned towards Kel. ¡°What is it?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°You notice how quiet it is?¡± Benkin looked around. ¡°Aye, tis that.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jeanne whispered. Kel touched his finger to his ear and then made a circular motion next to his head. Jeanne looked around lifted an eyebrow up. ¡°Ah crap.¡± Kveldulf slowly moved to Cid and Maeryn. Both turning their heads to him, but keeping their gaze on the camp. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Cid asked him. ¡°I think we¡¯re walking into a trap,¡± Kveldulf whispered. ¡°We are,¡± said Maeryn, carefully releasing tension on her bow string to point off towards the camp. ¡°Three bandits out directly across from us, two more waiting directly to our right. And maybe another three or four to our left.¡± ¡°Is there anyone behind us?¡± Cid asked. Maeryn lifted her ear up. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, no.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± growled Cid. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid squinted as he took a deep breath. He fitted onto his left hand a large buckler with a gauntlet fixed to the interior, a short spike protruding from the middle of the shield itself and a rectangular compartment situated just below Cid¡¯s hand. ¡°Stay here and wait for my signal.¡± Cid then began moving towards the camp. Maeryn looked at Kveldulf stunned, ¡°What is he doing?¡± ¡°Something risky and about two long steps into the kingdom of stupid,¡± he whispered as he turned back to Jeanne a gave a series of hand signals. She rolled her eyes and turned to the others further back and gave them their orders. He turned back to Maeryn. ¡°When I give you the signal, shoot whoever is the nearest threat to Cid.¡± ¡°All right?¡± she said confused. ¡°Trust me, they stand out.¡± As Cid reached the center of the encampment, several individuals emerged from the woods. Kveldulf and Maeryn instinctively ducked down behind the brush, Kveldulf having some difficulty seeing past the foliage. ¡°Maeryn,¡± Kveldulf said in barely a whisper, ¡°what do your elf eyes see?¡± Maeryn glared at Kveldulf. ¡°A dead man,¡± she hissed. ¡°Can I ask what you¡¯re actually hearing?¡± Maeryn turned back to Cid, who was now speaking to an elven man standing half a head higher than the Felidan, said, ¡°It¡¯s a back and forth between them. Trading insults mostly, it¡¯s a mess.¡± ¡°Sounds about right,¡± said Kveldulf, putting his hand on the hilt of his blade. Cid seemed to be chatting amicably with the bandit as he lifted his left arm and in a swift motion, a blade from the compartment emerged and impaled itself deep into the elven man¡¯s neck. Cid pulled back to catch a strike from a bandit rushing to strike as an arrow landed deep within their skull. As other outlaws emerged from the woods towards him, Kveldulf gave Maeryn, now notching another arrow, an approving nod before unsheathing his sword and charging into the fray. He landed the edge of his blade deep into the torse of bandit as Jeanne, with a twirl of her wrist, launched a fireball, landing between two brigands, immolating them immediately. Covering her body in rock scales she lunged to a foe, knocking them down and pummeling them mercilessly as Hypatia engaged in a duel song with two enemies, a confident smile on her face as she performed a symphony with her foes. She jumped to dodge a below and began twirling her blades rapidly. Listening to the music, Kveldulf felt a rejuvenation of his whole body. The fury of war filling his heart and the urge to leap into the thick of battle became his only lust in life. The bandits shirked away from Kveldulf and the others, the look of fear on their faces. Swinging their weapons wildly to try and swat their foes away, losing all form of martial prowess. Kveldulf beheaded a man when he spotted Benkin and Silvius engaged several bandits, felling them swiftly. Benkin turned to Silvius, ¡°How are we doing, professor?¡± Silvius parried a blow and plunged his blade into the foe¡¯s heart. He wiped the sweat from his brow and catching his breath as he replied, ¡°Having a capital time. You?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad start,¡± Benkin said as he cleaved through a brigand¡¯s torso, ¡°but they¡¯re not providing the best sport.¡± ¡°Perhaps you could register a complaint with their recruiter,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°Not the worst idea,¡± Benkin followed as he severed another bandit¡¯s arm. As the last bandit fell, the group looked around, catching their breaths as they looked around the camp site. Hypatia knelt near a chest as she called over to Maeryn, ¡°Hey, did you bring those lockpicks with you?¡± Maeryn checked a couple of her pockets. ¡°I think so,¡± she said before moving next to her. Pulling out two little think elongated pieces of metal and began moving them inside the opening of the lock. After a short period there was a sharp snap from the inside and removing one of the pieces saw it broken half way up. ¡°Well shit,¡± Maeryn said shaking her head. Jeanne walked up, with a thin piece in her hand. ¡°Here,¡± she said to Maeryn, ¡°I had this made for some of the tougher bastards.¡± Maeryn took the piece, with an expression of appreciation on her face. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, still in a daze. ¡°Not at all,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Got to look out for each other.¡± Kveldulf saw Cid going over some papers, examining them quickly as he¡¯s picking them up. ¡°Seeing anything good?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Nothing aside from miscellaneous missives.¡± ¡°Well maybe we¡¯ll find something.¡± ¡°Let order make it so,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Why don¡¯t you check on the professor and Master Benkin to see how they¡¯re doing.¡± Kveldulf nodded and went over to the two men. Benkin was looking Silvius over before pulling out a roll of bandage wrappings. ¡°Well, professor, I think this might leave a bit of a mark.¡± Silvius let out a snort before he chuckled. ¡°My mother is going to give me a talking to when she discovers this.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find something nice to give her to assuage her parental instincts.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°How are you two holding up?¡± Kveldulf asked them. ¡°Not bad,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°A little scratch, but nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± Kveldulf said he turned back and felt a sudden vibration race through his feet. He turned to view deep into the woods and saw a large figure cloaked in shadow. It moved up and down, he wasn¡¯t certain if this was a group of branches moving to the wind. He heard Silvius ask, ¡°Did anyone else feel that?¡± Before he could answer he turned to another tree and saw the branches move back and forth. A gasp left his lips as a chill ran up his spine when he realized they were moving a different direction to what was in the shadows. Kveldulf turned to Cid and said, ¡°We have company!¡± he as readied his blade to the figure. This was followed by a guttural roar as the ground shook as a figure emerged from the woods. An ogre towering over the group, covered in broken pieces of metal, wood and giant bones over his body. In its hand was a large club lined with teeth from various animals. The ogre¡¯s eyes were golden and red with a smile revealing his black teeth. ¡°Oh my,¡± said Silvius dimly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not good,¡± said Benkin, shaking his head. ¡°Well,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°He¡¯s a catch.¡± ¡°Flirt later, take the bastard down!¡± Cid ordered. Maeryn loosed two arrows towards the ogre, one landing under its neck and the other ricocheting off the armor. Jeanne unleashed a barrage of fireballs towards the fiend. The creature waved away the flames, lifted a large wooden box with one hand and flung it towards Jeanne. Before she could leap out of the way, it struck her and sent her flying into the air before landing hard to the ground. Kveldulf rushed over, helping her sit up as she weaved heavily before her wind returned to her. ¡°You all right?¡± he asked. ¡°Fresh as a god damn daisy,¡± she groaned, grabbing her side. Cid rushed over. ¡°Jeanne!¡± he said worried. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she asserted. ¡°You have any ideas?¡± ¡°I think if we take it¡¯s legs out, that¡¯ll at least keep it from moving,¡± Cid said to them. Kveldulf wrapped Jeanne¡¯s arm over his shoulders lifting her up. She winced in pain once back on her feet. ¡°I want this shit¡¯s head for this.¡± ¡°Get in line,¡± said Kveldulf, watching both Benkin and Silvius both sent flying with one swing of the ogre¡¯s club. Maeryn kept firing arrows as Hypatia cut deep into its legs with her blades. Hypatia tried to swing another song as the ogre lifted his foot and slammed his foot next to her, sending her flying away. The creature swung its club down, Hypatia barely missing the blow as she jumped to the side. Some of the teeth now flying as they were dislodged from the strike. Cid, helping Benkin and Silvius to their feet, beckoned Kel and Jeanne over. ¡°Jeanne, you go to Maeryn and keep it busy, the rest of us take its legs out,¡± he said to them. ¡°And after that?¡± Benkin asked, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. ¡°Stab the son of a bitch until he stops screaming,¡± Cid replied, ¡°Now go!¡± Jeanne raced to Maeryn, and soon they fired a barrage towards the ogre, who tried swatting the projectiles away with one hand. Kveldulf and Benkin reached the legs first, slashing the creature¡¯s calcaneal tendon. It screamed in terrible pain as it feel to the earth, all of them now racing and plunging their blades between its armor as fast as they could until their muscles were burning in pain. As the creature laid there motionless, they looked to find no one else to threaten them. They began wheezing, gripping their sides and leaning against whatever was left to lean on. ¡°That ¡­¡± Silvius said bowled over, ¡°was most unpleasant.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Benkin, ripping fabric from a nearby tent and making a sling out of it for his left arm. ¡°Is anyone seriously hurt?¡± Cid asked, stretching his neck out. ¡°I think I have a stich in my side and I lost my freshness,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°But I¡¯m all right.¡± ¡°I could use a fucking drink,¡± said Jeanne, sitting on an unbroken wooden crate and holding her left side tightly as her face contorted in pain. ¡°Same,¡± said Kveldulf, rotating his shoulder as he looked around the area. ¡°Is it too late to become a miller?¡± Maeryn, grabbing her waterskin and taking a sip. ¡°I think that ship came and ¡­¡± as he spoke Kveldulf spotted two darkened figures within the woods from where they came, aiming something towards Maeryn. He raced towards her as fast as he could move, slamming into her hard as he felt two painful hits in his torso. Part Five - The Doctor The sun had reached its peak as Leonidas rode towards the Collen farm. His horse cantered down the road, one hand resting on the pommel of his saddle as the other hung on his side. An off-white tunic covered his athletic frame as a dark brown leather vest fitted over his chest. A wide satchel hung over his left side, holding his packed medical supplies. He spotted the two-story farmhouse, the second level jutting out slightly over the first. The barn was a short walk away with a chicken coop by the door and a small post and rail fence placed to keep the animals from wandering. A well was located in between the two main buildings, with a bucket resting on the stone mouth. It was idyllic at first sight, as if it came out of the storybooks he read as a child. Spotting the farmstead he thought, a little early, hope Moire doesn¡¯t mind. He saw a woman standing by the door way, wringing her hands and looking back at the room behind her constantly. Dismounting his horse and tying the reins to a fence rail, he approached the farmhouse. He waved and gave her a smile, saying, ¡°Afternoon, Moire. Hope I¡¯m not too early.¡± She shook her head, waving the comment off. ¡°Absolutely not, please come inside.¡± The soft scent of smoke, roasted meat and herbs touched his nose. ¡°Whatever is on the stove smells amazing.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Moire replied, chuckling nervously, ¡°Little Siomon is upstairs.¡± The two made their way to the upper level of the farmhouse. The wood creaking as their weight shifted the flooring beneath them. The ambient light filled the hallway in a warm glow, reminding Leonidas of when his years in the Outlands. He smiled at the memory before Moire opened the door and led him inside. Peering inside, Leonidas saw a chair and simple desk situated near the window, a chest resting next to the bed and small boy resting on top of a wool sheet placed over the mattress. ¡°Little pup?¡± Moire said to a young boy resting in a bed but up against a wall. ¡°The doctor is here to see you.¡± The boy sat himself up, using his right leg to move his body while his left laid flat on the bed. Leonidas grabbed a chair nearby in the room and pulled it over next to the boy. ¡°Hey there, Master Siomon, I heard we had a bit of a tumble fighting squirrels, eh?¡± Siomon shook his head, ¡°I think I got on their bad side.¡± Leonidas chuckled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry, they aren¡¯t the type to hold grudges.¡± As he positioned himself to examined the leg he looked back to Siomon. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to need to use my fingers to possibly see what¡¯s happening inside your foot, is that all right?¡± The boy nodded quickly gulping deep. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be too bad, though if you breath out, I will need to take the foot,¡± said Leonidas, as he moved Siomon left leg to a bent position. Siomon¡¯s eye widened as Leonidas laughed. ¡°Just a little doctor humor,¡± he said to Siomon patting the boy¡¯s shoulder. Leonidas closed his eyes and began moving his fingers around just above the base of the ankle. Moving along the front of the ankle joint Leonidas thought, All right, the anterior talofibular feels normal, no laxity or anything else. He moved to behind the joint. Oh, there we are, always with the calcaneofibular, you little rascal. Leonidas placed the leg down, nodding. ¡°I think I found the issue. He¡¯s got a bit of swelling on the outer ankle. Nothing to lose sleep over, but you will need to bury him in the backyard up to his neck next to the horses.¡± ¡°What?¡± Siomon said, his head shooting up. ¡°And I just put my shovel away,¡± Moire said in mocking disbelief. ¡°But, in all seriousness, Siomon, give the foot a day or two to rest and you should be back on your feet,¡± said Leonidas, ruffling the boy¡¯s hair. As he and Moire made their way to the front of the farmhouse she said, ¡°I can¡¯t thank you enough for getting here so quick.¡± Leonidas smiled, lifting the palm of his hand towards her. ¡°Wasn¡¯t an issue at all. I¡¯m just glad it wasn¡¯t anything dire.¡± ¡°Would you like to stay and have something to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to, but I should probably get back to the clinic before I¡¯m missed.¡± ¡°We have a chicken roasting on the spit.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Leonidas said, rubbing his chin, ¡°And you make outstanding rotisserie chicken.¡± He felt a vibration in his satchel. Opening the flap up he saw a golden glow emanate and immediately threw his head back. ¡°Oh no.¡± ¡°Is that bad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not great, but I do need to take this one,¡± he said apologetically. He stepped away from the house, pulling a golden stone out of the satchel and holding it close to his ear. ¡°What is it?¡± he said sternly, immediately his demeanor changed as the other person spoke, ¡°Wait wait wait, what? Slow down, what happened ¡­ Oh Ellia¡¯s mercy, is anyone else hurt? ¡­ He has what, shit that¡¯s not good. Well, where are you at? ¡­ Thank the gods for small favors, I¡¯m not that far away. Just, just keep everyone where they¡¯re at and I¡¯ll be there as soon as I can.¡± He turned to Moire, tapping his foot hard and clearing his throat. ¡°I do apologize, but I need to go.¡± ¡°Oh no, is everything all right?¡± ¡°An acquaintance got herself into something, and they need a doctor quick,¡± he said mounting his horse. ¡°I¡¯ll try to be back for that meal, but I can¡¯t make any promises.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have a plate ready for you whenever you do get back,¡± said Moire. ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± said Leonidas before he ran to his horse, leapt onto the saddle, and had it go into a full gallop. Once away from the farm his face turned from smiles to concern. He urged his steed to ride as fast as it could. Time was not on his side and ominous thoughts filled his mind on what he¡¯d find. Trees whooshed by his ears and sounds of the forest melded together into one menagerie of noise. He felt the specter of death chasing him, trying to over take him and arrive there first. Sweat poured down his face, his breathing quickened, matching the pace of his horse. Deeper into the forest, man and horse charged on without hesitation. Leonidas looked over his shoulder, feeling his opponent barely behind him. He pressed his heels into the horse¡¯s side, urging the animal forward. Around one bend he saw the faint glow of light. Thank the gods, the forest¡¯s edge, he thought to himself. Emerging out of the tree line and into the light he saw the small pillars of smoke from chimneys and other miniscule buildings dotting the town. Leonidas slowly allowed himself the luxury of hope as reached the outskirts of the town. Moments later he saw a woman leaning against a pillar before the town¡¯s inn. Pain written all over her face as she gripped her slightly bent torso. Leonidas stopped his horse in front of the building, quickly tied the horse to a hitching post, grabbing his satchel and ran to the woman. ¡°Hey Doc,¡± she said to him, a feeble smile on her face. ¡°Jeanne!¡± he called out, ¡°What the hell happened, you look like shit?¡± ¡°I feel worse,¡± she said, waving him to follow, ¡°Come on, the rest are in here.¡± Moving off the column Jeanne winced in pain. Leonidas came over, ¡°Let me help.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Jeanne insisted. ¡°You¡¯re about to fall over, let me help.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she said through gritted teeth, as he wrapped her arm around his shoulders and helped her through the eating area, up the stairs and towards the back room down the upper hall. Turning in to the farthest room on their left, Leonidas saw several people laying on the floor, all looking worse for wear, and a man lying on a bed with two arrows sticking out of him. He saw a female elven archer sobbing as a female sword singer tried to comfort her. A large warrior sat against a wall, his arm in a sling, his long-curved sword resting next to him. Another man, dressed in academic clothing all bloodied and torn in numerous spots resting on his back, his hand over his eyes and breathing heavy. Standing next to him by the door way was a Felidan, fur matted in blood and mud. ¡°I take it you¡¯re the ¡®Doc¡¯?¡± he asked Leonidas. ¡°That¡¯s what they call me, yeah.¡± ¡°Thank the gods,¡± the Felidan said with effort, ¡°We could use a good doctor right now.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Leonidas softly. ¡°Now I hate to be rude, but I¡¯ll postpone introductions for now. Is this the only room you have, Jeanne?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°We have a couple more across the hall.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°Have those who can move help those who can¡¯t get into one room have and the rest stay put in the third.¡± Pointing to the man with the arrows, ¡°I¡¯ll look at him now.¡± ¡°Cid and I would like to stay with him,¡± Jeanne replied, nudging her head to the Felidan. ¡°It might be a little bloody,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°We¡¯ve traveled this road before many times,¡± Cid said. ¡°Of course, but let¡¯s get started, shall we?¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯m surprised he hasn¡¯t asked what happened,¡± said the large warrior of their group, pressing a wet towel on his forehead with his free hand. ¡°When you¡¯ve been doing this long enough, you know can tell this wasn¡¯t a tea party, wild as they can be,¡± said Leonidas, standing next to the man on the bed. ¡°But if you don¡¯t mind, I think some privacy would be best.¡± Leonidas tossed back the over flap of his satchel, reaching in and pulling out a palm sized rock emitting a red glow from within. ¡°Hello there,¡± he said standing next to the wounded man, ¡°My name is Leonidas, I¡¯m going to be taking a look at you today. What¡¯s your name?¡± The man weakly waved and said, ¡°Kveldulf.¡± ¡°Hey Kveldulf,¡± said Leonidas as he made a circular gesture with his hand, the rock facing Kvedulf. ¡°I see we were having a pretty fun time.¡± ¡°Tons.¡± After several quick rotations, Leonidas released the rock, which continued its movement on its own over Kveldulf¡¯s torso. Leonidas used his hands to widen the circle, then held his left hand over the disc and with subtle movements of his fingers he could see past the armor and skin, viewing the internal organs with clarity. Moving the disc around for a better viewing, Leonidas saw the two arrowheads within Kveldulf¡¯s torso. He nodded thoughtfully before turning to Jeanne and Cid. ¡°I¡¯ve got some good news and some bad news.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± Cid asked him. ¡°Both arrows didn¡¯t hit anything vital. I can definitely push one through without issue.¡± ¡°And the bad news?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The other is firmly lodged in a rib bone. It is possible to remove, but it will require surgery.¡± ¡°Surgery?¡± Cid asked, his eyes widening. Leonidas nodded. ¡°Obviously there¡¯s always a risk of this turning ill, but I think he should pull through if I can remove the bolt.¡± Cid and Jeanne looked at each other, Cid pressed his lips together, his nose wrinkled briefly before taking a short breath and said, ¡°Do it.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll need some time to prep, and maybe a couple of people to hold him, but I can get started shortly.¡± He began pulling out items from his satchel before he stopped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I will need a plate and bowl from the kitchen down stairs, please.¡± Cid and Jeanne left the room as Leonidas began grabbing a mortar and pestle from his satchel, placing it on the night stand next to Kveldulf¡¯s bed. ¡°So, quick question,¡± he asked Kveldulf, ¡°You¡¯re not a lycan, by any chance, are you?¡± ¡°No?¡± Kveldulf responded, confused. ¡°Good. I¡¯m only asking because I have a concoction that helps with the pain, but if you¡¯re a lycan, it will kill you.¡± ¡°Oh, no no,¡± Kveldulf replied, shaking his head. ¡°Good,¡± said Leonidas, placing ingredients into the mortar. ¡°Because you are going to need it for this one.¡± Cid, Jeanne and the large warrior returned as Leonidas gave Kveldulf the concoction. Cid had with him a plate and bowl, while Jeanne was carrying two large plates covered in honey with bandages soaking. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Is that the dog killer?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°It is, indeed,¡± Leonidas replied. He jerked his head back with an incredulous look as he saw the plates. ¡°You remembered,¡± he said softly. ¡°You hammered it in enough times,¡± she replied with a satisfactory smile. ¡°True enough,¡± he said chuckling, before returning to a serious demeanor. ¡°First, I¡¯m going to remove the access shafts, then we¡¯ll remove his armor whatever is underneath. After that, I¡¯ll need his legs and arms held down.¡± Kveldulf looked up at him concerned. ¡°You want me moving around in your guts without some stability?¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°How are you going to get the shafts out?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Thankfully most arrowheads aren¡¯t attached with an adhesive. Usually a fletcher will use a tang, a hafting or a compression socket to fit the heads on. And bodkins are usually compressions. Which means they can pop out easily if they¡¯ve been soaking long enough.¡± Leonidas stopped and turned to Kveldulf. ¡°Sorry, that was a little insensitive.¡± Kveldulf waved the comment off. ¡°I¡¯ve heard worse.¡± ¡°In any case, if we¡¯re lucky this should be an easy pop and we can move to the next stage.¡± Leonidas gripped the shafts to near the surface of Kveldulf¡¯s armor and slowly twisted them out. As the others removed Kvedulf¡¯s armor, Leonidas pulled out his medicus screw, a device made of metal. Two threaded tongs placed side by side a long, petite threaded shaft. ¡°All right, everyone, let¡¯s do this.¡± ¡°That looks like a torture device,¡± said the large warrior leaning back and sinking his head into his neck. ¡°Depending on your point of view, it is,¡± said Leonidas, placing the tool on the bed stand before grabbing three saws, each a different size. He looked at the first arrow, not lodged in the bone through the disc. ¡°All right,¡± he said looking back up at the large warrior, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t get your name?¡± ¡°Oh it¡¯s, Benkin.¡± ¡°Benkin, good to meet you. If you could keep our friend steady on your side, I¡¯m going to try to pull this out, instead of pushing it through.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be a bad thing?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°With most arrowheads yes,¡± Leonidas replied, gripping the arrow and carefully pulling it out. ¡°But the nice thing about these bodkin heads, is they don¡¯t flange out terribly, so they won¡¯t take flesh and other bits with it on the way out. Only nudge it out of the way for a brief moment. Which means less of our friend¡¯s body will need to be damaged in the process.¡± As he finished, Leonidas removed the arrow, head and all, from Kveldulf. Leonidas gave a relieved smiled as he placed the arrow on the plate. Leonidas pulled out one of the honeyed bandages, wrapping it gingerly into the wound. Covering the bottom all the way to the top and sealed the gap with a poultice. ¡°All right,¡± he said the them, wiping the sweat from his brow, ¡°That was the easy one.¡± ¡°Easy!¡± Cid exclaimed. ¡°Yes sir, now we have the fun one.¡± Leonidas moved the disc over for a better view of the second arrow. He gripped the shaft of the second arrow and after cracking his neck, began twisting slowly. In a few twists, the shaft popped out and after viewing the end, and seeing it was smooth and undamaged, Leonidas let out a sigh. ¡°That part¡¯s done.¡± ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Jeanne asked. Leonidas, wiping his hands on the bed sheet, grabbed a glowing green rock. Repeated the process to make it create a view disc and took the red stone and spun it with his fingers. ¡°Now, we have deal with the difficult one.¡± The red stone generated a red beam of light and as Leonidas directed it above the open wound, Kvedulf¡¯s blood began lifting into the air, held in suspension a short height above. Everyone, save for Leonidas looked at the sight wide eyed, with Leonidas saying, ¡°Eye on the prize, questions later.¡± Once the blood stopped trickling upwards, Leonidas grabbed his medicus screw and slowly inserted it into the wound. Using the emerald view disc to see inside Kveldulf, Leonidas used one hand the press the screw against the arrowhead, while the other twisted the top and expanded the tongs inside. Gaining a firm purchase inside the recess of the arrowhead, Leonidas began lifting the tool and felt a sharp release of resistance. His hair stood on the back of his neck and he felt his heart beginning to pound heavily as he looked down. He felt his body go limp for a brief moment as he saw the arrowhead dislodged from the bone. Extracting the arrowhead and placing it next to the other arrow, Leonidas bandaged up the wound with the remaining honeyed bandages, seal the opening and said with a tired smile. ¡°We¡¯re good.¡± Leonidas saw the others let out a sigh of relief and after congratulating Kveldulf, left the room for the patient to rest. His hands began to tremble and his legs become wobbly with his knees buckling. He sat in the chair nearby and gave himself the moment to breath in and let himself decompress. He had performed many similar procedures before, yet each felt like it was his first when it was done. He told himself this was a good thing, kept him from getting cocky, not taking the needed precautions before a surgery, making mistakes which could get a person killed. It made him remembered the ¡®healers¡¯ back in The Outlands, a whole continent decreed back in the early years of the Rubicon Empire to be where criminals were sent to find their ¡®salvation¡¯. How these soothsayers used magics they had little understanding in as one and done methods of healing. Not knowing the full scope of the forces they considered themselves masters in. He didn¡¯t want to think of all the people who¡¯s lives might¡¯ve been lost because someone with an unhealthy overevaluation of their skills wound up putting someone in an early grave. He felt some relief this was no longer the ongoing battle he had to wage whenever there was a deluge of wounded when wars and skirmishes would break out. A dual conflict between the conflict waging outside and the one fought to keep people alive. When others tried to use their skills as a means to conjure a sense of being greater than those around them, he simply focused on arresting the hand of death from taking them. He felt a pain in his heart as he thought of how those how dedicated themselves with healing felt this was merely an afterthought. There was a sadness in how in a land where survival depended on the cooperation of everyone, hardly anyone was willing to see past themselves to ensure such things. A pained expression came over him as the memories of those he tried to invest his trust hopes of finding a community and acceptance in were taken away, many in battle, some at the hands of those they trusted, and some he blamed himself for. The only way he could keep the agony from such loss was to keep those at a distance. So when they were taken from his life, the pain was not so harsh, the burden not so heavy. It didn¡¯t afford him many friends, but it meant there were less friends to mourn when taken away. As the dark thoughts slowly left him, he felt his muscles regain their strength. He rose from the chair and made his way out into the hall. Once in the hall, Leonidas turned to Cid and said, ¡°All right, then. Let¡¯s see to the rest of your people.¡± *** Leonidas finished examining Maeryn. ¡°All right. Looks like there isn¡¯t anything major to worry about. Just some rest, a little food, and you¡¯ll be knocking down curs in no time.¡± She smiled, nodding quickly before making her out of the room. He walked out, seeing Jeanne leaning against the door frame opposite where Kveldulf was resting. She was hunched over, her arm once again wrapped around her waist and he could see her jaw was clenched tightly. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Leonidas called out. She turned, ¡°Hmm, what?¡± ¡°You¡¯re turn,¡± he said gesturing her into the room. ¡°Come on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Jeanne,¡± he replied pointing towards the room sternly. She grumbled as she made her way into the room. She slowly maneuvered herself to the bed. While climbing is she winced in pain as Leonidas put his hand under her back to help her lie down. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said through gritted teeth, trying to control her breathing. ¡°No worries,¡± he said, conjuring up a visual disc with the red stone. ¡°I think you¡¯re doing this just to use that damn thing.¡± ¡°No. And you¡¯re telling me you wouldn¡¯t?¡± She laughed before letting out a painful groan. ¡°Damn, this hurt.¡± ¡°No wonder,¡± he said as he viewed through the disc, ¡°you have two broken ribs.¡± ¡°Oh, fucking wonderful.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky, they¡¯re already set in place.¡± ¡°They are?¡± she asked with her eyebrows squished together and blinking quickly. ¡°Yeah, ribs are usually pretty good about that. So, no hooks for you.¡± ¡°Oh, Shepherd¡¯s kindness, not the fucking hooks.¡± ¡°Still better than what you friend will be feeling for the next few days.¡± ¡°When do you think he¡¯ll be on his feet again?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s no major infection and he doesn¡¯t do something completely stupid. I¡¯d say about two weeks.¡± ¡°Two weeks?¡± Jeanne said, her eyes widening and raising an eyebrow. ¡°He had two arrows lodged in his guts, and one almost took a rib out of him. I¡¯m honestly surprised he¡¯s not crying in pain right now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad if I don¡¯t move much,¡± Kveldulf said from the other room. ¡°I like him, he¡¯s not completely stupid.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Go to sleep!¡± Leonidas shouted before turning to Jeanne. ¡°I blame you.¡± ¡°Of course, you do,¡± she said rolling her eyes. ¡°What exactly we you all doing when this went south?¡± ¡°Cid, Kel and I were investigating a bounty and the rest were wanting to check out a ruin or something,¡± she breathed in deep, causing her to wince sharply again. ¡°But I don¡¯t know the details on that one.¡± ¡°You three are hunting bounties?¡± Leonidas asked as he grabbed his satchel and pulled a chair up to Jeanne¡¯s bedside. ¡°We just started a mercenary company and figured getting a couple of quick bounties under our belts would help build a reputation before we took on bigger jobs.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°not a bad idea.¡± ¡°Yeah, look how good it went.¡± ¡°Well, you all made it out in one piece.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas, tilting her head and narrowing her gaze. ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°I was expecting you to read me the riot act or something of that sort.¡± Leonidas blinked his eyes rapidly and touching the base of his base. ¡°I mean did any of you rush into a fight because you wanted a certain kill?¡± ¡°Doc, we¡¯re soldiers for hire, not someone severely lacking in self-confidence and intelligence.¡± ¡°All right, then. Did anyone decide to give away their cover to make a grand entrance and undermine the element of surprise?¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t know the context of that question, I¡¯d be insulted.¡± ¡°And did anyone race out into a dangerous situation because ¡®everyone else was doing it¡¯?¡± Jeanne¡¯s mouth dropped while she blinked slowly. ¡°How did any of you survive out there?¡± ¡°I have been trying to figure that out myself for a long time. But, I don¡¯t have to worry about any of that now. So ¡­ Kveldulf and Cid were the two you mentioned before?¡± Leonidas asked as he grounded thin pieces of willow bark. Jeanne nodded. ¡°How long have you known them?¡± ¡°Over a decade at this point.¡± ¡°Damn, and they put up with you willingly?¡± ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± Leonidas mixed the bark powder with flour and honey. Placing the bowl on the table next to the bed, pointing to her tunic. ¡°May I?¡± She let out a snort. ¡°You know you don¡¯t have to ask, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I do,¡± he replied, a soft smile from the corner of his mouth. Lifting her tunic carefully, he found several large bruises on her skin on the left side of her torso. Both of their eyes widened at the sight. ¡°So that¡¯s a thing,¡± she said, moving her hand over to the bruise. Leonidas swatted at her hand. ¡°No!¡± he said sternly, ¡°don¡¯t be childish.¡± ¡°My broken ribs, my choice,¡± she replied adamantly. ¡°And you can deal with the pain then,¡± Leonidas said as he began putting his stuff away. ¡°You¡¯re no fun,¡± she said, rolling her eyes. ¡°You can do whatever the hell you want when you¡¯re not injured.¡± He lightly placed the poultice on bruise. She breathed in sharp at the touch, tightening up as the pain hit again. ¡°How come I don¡¯t get the painkiller tonic?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Because last time I gave it to you, you ran around on two broken legs. Fought a orken mercenary and proclaimed yourself Jeanne, first of her name, High Imperial Queen of the Squirrels.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ oh,¡± she said slowly. ¡°Might¡¯ve forgotten about that.¡± ¡°In any case, this should start to kick in before too long.¡± ¡°It¡¯s starting feel a little better already.¡± Leonidas applied the poultice to her skin. Feeling her breath in and out slowly, trying to control the pain best she could. He paused, seeing her there resting on the bed, watching some of her cares from earlier in the day beginning to wash away and allowing herself to relax and regain her strength. Since their last time together he forgot how stunning she could be. The confident smile, the boisterous laugh, the devil-may-care attitude, he forgot how much he enjoyed being around it. Even when she would drive him crazy with antics and pranks, there was something her he found comforting. Something he wished he could possibly see if there was maybe a connection he could find a semblance of companionship. But the thought of reaching out and seeing what was there caused him to think of all which might go wrong. Memories of those closest to him being wrested away before he knew it had happened. One in particular causing him to wince at it¡¯s mere recollection. Leonidas looked back at Jeanne and the thought of such a fate befalling her made him certain anything beyond flights of fancy should never stray too far away. He cleared his throat as he returned his thoughts to the task at hand. ¡°That should help. Try to get some rest and let the bones heal up. But knowing you ¡­ well.¡± ¡°Why Doc, you sound like I¡¯m some form of trouble-maker.¡± ¡°You, my dear, are the Queen of that realm.¡± ¡°You could join us, you know. Might enjoy an exciting battle or two.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not, thank you. I¡¯m not exactly the type to run into a fight.¡± ¡°Sure, but in all seriousness, Doc. Thank you for coming here when you did.¡± Leonidas was taken aback by her change in attitude. ¡°Of course. Wasn¡¯t anything, at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just ¡­ I know I can leave the wrong impression with people. And I know you¡¯re never thrilled when our paths cross ¡­¡± He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. ¡°Jeanne, I don¡¯t hate you. You just annoy the piss out of me sometimes.¡± ¡°What about that time I broke into your clinic and brought that wolf inside?¡± Leonidas narrowed his eyes. ¡°Jeanne, I¡¯m trying to be nice. Could you not remind of that?¡± ¡°Then there was that time I tried to see which ingredients could get me drunk ¡­ or high.¡± ¡°Gods that was an expensive night,¡± Leonidas said with a heavy sigh. ¡°And then ¨C¡± ¡°I get your point, Jeanne!¡± said Leonidas before letting out a long breath. ¡°Still, I do not see you as bad company. There are others far more worthy of that distinction.¡± ¡°Oh, oh!¡± she said. ¡°I forgot about them. Have you ever heard from those people since you left?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Leonidas, helping her sit up to wrap bandages around the poultice. ¡°And I¡¯ll be a very lucky man if I never hear from them again.¡± ¡°Well, thanks again,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°This means a lot.¡± ¡°Remember that when I send you my bill of service,¡± Leonidas said, helping her lay back down as he finished wrapping her bandages. ¡°But right now, get some rest and I¡¯ll check on you later, all right?¡± ¡°You better tuck me in, and right this time, or I¡¯ll knock your teeth out.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ll be just fine,¡± he said chuckling under his breath before making his way to the stairs and dining area below. Part Six - Consequences Leonidas began feeling the day¡¯s events hit him when he reached the bottom of the stairs. He gripped the stair rail to steady himself as he went down the last few steps and his legs and arms felt heavier than they had been in a long time. The others were sitting at a large round table, casually chattering amongst themselves. While they were still well worn from the day¡¯s events, their spirits seemed to have improved greatly since Leonidas first met them. As the others spotted the doctor, Benkin called out, ¡°There¡¯s the man of the hour!¡± Benkin lifted his flagon, the others following suit. Leonidas lifted his hand to the others. ¡°I¡¯ll be over there in a moment,¡± he said before moving to the counter. ¡°What can I get for ya?¡± the innkeeper asked. Leonidas pulled out a coin purse and started placing out the gold coins individually on the counter. ¡°This is for a new set of bedsheets. This is for a room. And this is for whatever food and drink you use for one of those days.¡± The innkeeper nodded calmly at first, half listening to the requests, before jerking their head up near the end. ¡°Wait, why do I need new bedsheets? Is someone dead?¡± ¡°No, just performed some surgery.¡± ¡°On a dead person?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s an autopsy. Surgeries are for living people.¡± The innkeeper nodded suspiciously as they picked up the gold and walked to fetch some food and drinks. Leonidas went over to the table with the others. Leonidas felt himself having issue stepping towards them. He saw other tables, empty of plates and people which he would¡¯ve rather prefer to sit and be alone with his thoughts. His fingers rapped against the plate nervously as he tried to figure what the best move was. ¡°Just a professional courtesy,¡± he told himself, ¡°don¡¯t make this more than you are.¡± ¡°How¡¯s Kveldulf doing?¡± Maeryn asked with a low voice as she leaned towards the doctor. ¡°A lot better,¡± Leonidas assured her, ¡°He¡¯s just sleeping right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± said Cid. ¡°And Jeanne?¡± ¡°A couple broken ribs, but nothing to worry about,¡± Leonidas replied, feeling his muslces beginning to burn and rubbing the bridge of his nose. ¡°She should be back on her feet and driving you all nuts in no time.¡± ¡°Well, I owe you five silver,¡± Benkin said to Silvius. ¡°You can pay me when we¡¯re done with the ruins.¡± ¡°Oh gods, the ruins!¡± Hypatia said, her head shooting up sharply. ¡°The ruins?¡± Leonidas asked, suddenly remembering what Jeanne had told him earlier. ¡°We originally came to explore some nearby ruins. Reputed to being a place of rest and worship for the Wraith King,¡± Hypatia replied. Leonidas¡¯s gaze turned towards Hypatia almost completely still. His legs began curling closer to him as shook his head and recollected his thoughts. ¡°The Wraith King Callanband?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Silvius confirmed. ¡°You all are diving into a place where the Wraith King used to call home?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Silvius insisted, ¡°we¡¯ve done our fair share of research beforehand. And this isn¡¯t our first time delving into ruins like this. So we know to mind precautions to avoid setting off traps and letting loose some ungodly creature of wanton destruction.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good start,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°and what is it you expected to find anyways?¡± ¡°To be honest, I can¡¯t say. But whatever might be there, I¡¯d rather it be in the hands of someone who understands its importance than some brigand.¡± Leonidas closed his eyes tightly, lowering his head and letting out a low moan. ¡°Everything well, doctor?¡± Cid asked. Leonidas nodded with his head still on the table. ¡°It is just now I¡¯m now remembering why I normally try to avoid Jeanne¡¯s beckons and calls.¡± ¡°Has she done this to you before?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Every ¡­ god damn ¡­ time!¡± Leonidas replied, not bothering to lift his head. ¡°She does have a penchant for that,¡± Cid said, taking a sip from his flagon. ¡°At least you get to have an interesting tale to tell people,¡± Hypatia said to Leonidas, patting his back. Leonidas lifted his head slightly, looking at Hypatia out of the corner of his eye. ¡°You¡¯re a glass half full person, aren¡¯t ya?¡± ¡°I do try to see the positive side of things.¡± Leonidas put his head back on the table. Hypatia still patting his back with a concerned expression on her face. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, ¡°Since Kel and Jeanne are both seem on the mend, I think it might be time to consider our next move in the meantime.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still the ruins that we need to explore,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Have we taken out all the bandits?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that the leader we fought last time?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t assume that until we know otherwise,¡± said Cid, ¡°The ogre was more than likely just muscle, especially since many of those inclined to leadership left these lands after pledging their service to the Lord Rexum Carnifex during The Great Treason. Of course, having the creature out of the way certainly makes our job easier, but not complete.¡± ¡°We could scout the ruins first, see if the bandits are using the place as a base to work from,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Not a bad idea,¡± said Cid, ¡°Do a little scouting before until Kel and Jeanne are back on their feet.¡± ¡°Maeryn and I can take care of that,¡± said Silvius. ¡°And I¡¯ll go get our equipment some badly needed care,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Excellent idea,¡± said Cid. ¡°Doctor, what were you planning to do?¡± ¡°I was going to stay here until tomorrow, keep an eye on Kel and Jeanne. And then check back with a family I was tending to this morning.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t Hypatia and I accompany you?¡± Silvius suggested. ¡°You think that¡¯s needed?¡± ¡°Never hurts to have someone watching your back,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°We could all go together?¡± Benkin asked, ¡°Take tomorrow to recover and head out the day after.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be a terrible idea,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I know my nerves are still a little unsettled,¡± followed Sianna. ¡°Then I think it¡¯s settled,¡± said Cid. ¡°Tomorrow, we rest, take care of errands, and afterwards, we go for a little adventure, eh?¡± *** Leonidas frowned slightly, his eyes darting back and forth, and his fingers fidgeting as he noted his undershirt beginning to stick to his skin as he and the others made their way through the wooded path back to Moire¡¯s farmstead. He stopped, feeling his eyes began straining when he tried to open. He saw Cid riding at the front of their group, the Felidan¡¯s ears perked up and looking around the area with careful intent. When he first rode through the forest, Leonidas didn¡¯t have the time to think of any threats lurking in the shadows of the forest. But now, it was all he could think of as they moved down the road. The doctor admired the coolness of Cid¡¯s demeanor. Maintaining an alert gaze as they moved down the road, making slow and precise movements with his head, and keeping his breathing calm and controlled. Even with everything that occurred Cid seemed to take in all in stride. Leonidas thought back to The Outlands. Back to where warriors cared for glory over victory. Boasting over survival. Posturing themselves as people worthy of praise and admiration than showing they were worthy of such things. The boastful nature left an ill taste in the doctor¡¯s mouth. Especially when considering how many of his friends were hurt from the foolish escapades, or the sad few who paid a blood price to appease the fragile arrogance of those skills never matched their vaunts. It helped to calm Leonidas¡¯s nerves to see a group who practiced prudence over fleeting splendor. He felt the faintest sensation to lower his guard with them around. To not feel the need to expect them to rush out and compromise all their safety simply win vain glory. Entertaining the hope he would not need to recall minute details to avoid taking the blame for someone¡¯s failure placed on him. The worry causing his chest to tighten at the mere thought. But he held himself back. These weren¡¯t the first people he invested such trust with. Those who he felt safe to disclose the fuller extent of his knowledge and capabilities with and not fear violent recourse. Not having to hide himself from the world and being more than a fa?ade for protection. Only to find himself without friend or shelter once he began to feel some modicum of ease. His muscles tensed as he tried to keep his thoughts from turning to complete doubt. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He looked at the others and wondered if this was going to be any different. If the fates would allow him the chance to find some who he could call friend and not fear there is some obscene condition needed for it exist. He pushed the thought from his mind as he focused attention back to the task at hand. Still, seeing how their leader conducted themselves gave him some confidence this was not the usual fair of sell-swords he¡¯d met in the past. It helped calm Leonidas¡¯s nerves about the immediate situation at least. He noticed Benkin checking the path behind them regularly. ¡°Expecting anyone behind us?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Hopefully not. But first thing I learned was to keep my head on a swivel when on the move,¡± Benkin replied. Leonidas nodded, turning to spot Maeryn to his left, deep in thought as they rode forward. ¡°Everything well?¡± he asked her. She was silent, her grip tightening and loosening on the reins rhythmically. ¡°Maeryn?¡± Leonidas said to her. She shook her head quickly before turning back to him. ¡°Hmm?¡± she said, still in a stupor. ¡°Is everything all right? You seem troubled,¡± the doctor asked her. Maeryn nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, trying to assure him, ¡°Just thinking to myself.¡± ¡°Are you still troubled about what happened to Kveldulf?¡± Hypatia asked Maeryn. ¡°No one blames you for any of that,¡± said Silvius, trying to console her. ¡°Couldn¡¯t have guess it from Jeanne¡¯s demeanor,¡± Maeryn said sullenly. ¡°I should¡¯ve heard them coming behind us.¡± Cid, pulled back on the reins, letting the others catch up. ¡°Jeanne and Kveldulf are close, almost closer than some people hold for their own kin. Between the situation and her own wounds, I would place good money she didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡± Maeryn looked at Cid with a narrow gaze and a set jaw. Leonidas noted a lack of warmth in her bearing. A cold look in her eyes. He felt his skin crawl as it brought him back to his time to The Outlands. On a day bright and hot, without a cloud to blemish the sun¡¯s rays. How he looked back at the same type of cold eyes staring down at him. Seeing his blood dripping from beaten fists and the look of bloodlust in the fiend¡¯s eyes. Leonidas felt a shiver rush up his spine as the memory came back. He rubbed the back of his neck to steady his nerves. Reminding himself the moment was in the past, far behind him and where he was. He forced himself to steady his breathing, so his anxiety did not reach a level beyond his control. He had to keep himself from the darkness, push away from thoughts he knew would begin to take him if he wasn¡¯t careful. The doctor turned his attention back to Cid, still trying to comfort Maeryn. The coldness had now left her eyes, though with her slumped shoulders and lowered gaze, there seemed little of a fighting spirit in her at the moment. ¡°Maeryn,¡± Cid said to her in a comforting tone, ¡°We were in the middle of a fight with bandits and an ogre. Things were loud, chaotic. There was no way you could¡¯ve heard everything around us.¡± Maeryn looked down. Her clenched fist tapping the horn on her saddle. ¡°You did everything you could, have done you even made sure the two who got Kel didn¡¯t fire a second volley. You performed well.¡± She turned her gaze to the side, not making eye contact. ¡°I know, I¡¯d be doing the same too. But he¡¯s alive, he¡¯ll be back on his feet soon, we¡¯ll all have a story to tell.¡± Maeryn looked up at him, her lips tucked in as she frowned. ¡°There was a thing my father used to say, when I would hard on myself when I couldn¡¯t live up to what I thought was my potential. And it¡¯s helped me out on many occasions. Failure is complete only when you refuse rise back up. We are all bound to slip up, its what makes us humble in whatever we do. It¡¯s what we do afterwards which decides what the ending to our stories.¡± ¡°Thanks, Cid,¡± said Maeryn, taking a deep breath to clear her throat. ¡°That helps a lot.¡± Leonidas opened his mouth to inquire more, but decided against the idea. His stomach beginning to turn as he fathomed the ways such questions would turn against him. He looked over to Hypatia on his right, leaning forward with her head high up and fiddling with her reins scenery around them. ¡°You look like you¡¯re having a good time,¡± he said to her. She nodded at him with gleaming eyes and moving around in her saddle, rapidly nodding, ¡°I¡¯ve always loved the forests and the wilds of the world. And living in the city as a child I never had the chance to explore such places until I began working at the university.¡± ¡°Oh, is that how you met, Silvius?¡± She nodded. ¡°Back when we were first started at the university.¡± ¡°The one at Orumus?¡± Hypatia nodded. ¡°My parents made sure I went to the best. Nothing less for their darling angel. Course I don¡¯t know how thrilled they¡¯d be about all this. But I¡¯m not telling them after all of this is all done.¡± ¡°And was this part of your original research?¡± ¡°Yes and no,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°We were on another expedition where Silvius found a tablet which when he translated to reveal the location to these ruins. But when he presented it to the committees, they mostly ignored him.¡± ¡°So, is this an official expedition?¡± ¡°If we find something worth their while,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°We are, as the university is concerned, an independent research group exploring these ruins under our own volition. So we don¡¯t have to adhere to any academic guidelines when getting anything interesting here. But it also means they get everything we find.¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°Ah, one of those situations. I¡¯m not unfamiliar with that wonderful side of academic research.¡± ¡°Separates those who long to find for knowledge from those willing to find it.¡± ¡°Gods forbid you find more within that middle range.¡± ¡°True. But then they¡¯re be less need of those who are willing to jump into that greater world.¡± ¡°Also true. Though it would be nice to seem the ones around to get their due respect.¡± ¡°Hopefully we¡¯ll be one of the lucky ones to enjoy such things in our time,¡± Hypatia said, giving him a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my fingers crossed,¡± Leonidas said, smiling back. We were sent here as a team to explore and archive our findings. Course, things have taken an intriguing turn, as you might say.¡± ¡°That¡¯s putting it one way,¡± he said. Cid pulled on the reins, halting his horse as his head and ears perked up while sniffing the air. ¡°I think I smell smoke,¡± Cid said, turning back to the others. Leonidas nudged his horse to catch up to Cid¡¯s and spotted a large plume smoke rising into the air. His skin became cold and shivered while his mind went hazy for a long moment. Whispering, ¡°Gods no,¡± he urged his horse into a full gallop with the others racing behind him. The scent of smoke and ash now touched his nose. Once the farmhouse was in view he could see smoke coming from the windows and doorway. The uneasy now turned to panic, plaguing every thought, with unyielding fury. Silently pleading with merciful Ellien until he saw the door battered down and splintered and mangled throughout. Dismounting his horse, Leonidas stumbled over his feet before he bolted towards the doorway, still clinging to the hinges. Reaching the entrance Leonidas move an overturned table out of the way. Coughing as the thick smoke began making it hard to breathe. ¡°Moire! Siomon!¡± he called out, but only silence answered his cries. He moved further, negotiating around some of the broken furniture pieces, before reaching the stairway. Benkin and Cid arrived to the front door. ¡°Doc!¡± Benkin shouted, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Look down here and see if you can find a mother and child,¡± Leonidas shouted back before bolting up the stairs. Reaching the top of, he saw more doors broken off from their hinges. At the doorway to Siomon¡¯s room, he could see blood splattered on the walls. He felt his muscles tense up to where he could barely move them. His arm flinching up as if to his him from the horrors waiting for him on the other side of the threshold. He tried to step forward, but found his legs almost giving in under his own weight. Only with some effort did he move forward towards the room and he could feel his heartbeat pounding in his chest. He raced to the room. The smell of blood arrested his approach and the sensation from the day before began overcoming every thought. He stopped moving, remembering his breathing exercises, Death is the path we all must walk, Death is the end of the beginning to the unseen path, Death is resolution of all things, Death is the one who guides us to the next journey. His breathing returned to a slower pace, and the dark sensations finally ebbed away. Opening his eyes, he moved into the room and found blood covered walls, torn bedsheets, broken furniture and two corpses. A mother and child. Leonidas took a heavy breath before looking up at the heavens. He could think of neither prayer or curse to utter as came upon the terrible sight. He stood there looking the wretched scene, saying nothing, unable to move before calling out to the others. His heart deep in pain as his whole body went numb. Hearing the others calling out to him, he could barely summon the strength to say the words, ¡°I ¡­ I found them,¡± before finally said as he made his way out the room. The others dared not to ask, seeing Leonidas¡¯s sullen face was enough for them to know what had happened. As the doctor left the home he leaned against a railing and stared out into a field of rye. Slumping forward, his head hung low as he tried to hold back tears beading in the corners of his eyes. Looking up, he saw a woman, elven, fair skin, tall and lithe figure. She was clad fine rich turquoise robes, adorned in jewels and wearing a golden shawl around her shoulder and arms. She bore the stance of one born into royalty, just as he remembered her when they first met. She stretched her hand towards him, beckoning him towards her. ¡°S-Selreen?¡± Leonidas said, beginning to stretching his hand out before he pulled it back. Memories of their parting coming back to him. The emptiness and shame making him long to run off in to the darkness, never be seen by the light anymore. But he knew this wasn¡¯t his fate. He knew he would linger on this world, watching those he felt kinship fade away into the oblivion. Leaving him to remain, to linger, to watch the world change and move past all he knew, with only bittersweet memories to stay with him until even they would abandon him. He looked back up at the field, the figure now gone. He heard the rest leave the farmhouse, and after a moment to regain his composure, he made his way back to them. Silvius walked down to the other side of the path and vomited on the ground. Benkin closed his eyes and looked up, taking several deep breaths to steady himself. Hypatia lost most of the color in her face, with tears flowing down her cheeks. Maeryn leaned her head against the outer wall of the door, a clenched fist shaking as she uttered a prayer under her breath. Cid bowed his head and took a moment to collect himself before taking a deep breath and turning to the others. ¡°All right, we need to get back to the inn and figure our next move out.¡± ¡°What about the ruins?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°We can handle that later,¡± Cid replied. ¡°This just became our priority.¡± ¡°Why would they attack here?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°If they saw Doc racing back from here,¡± said Cid, ¡°Then they could¡¯ve thought this was his home or something along those lines?¡± ¡°I think some of us should get back to Kel and Jeanne,¡± said Silvius weakly. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Cid, ¡°We¡¯re all coming back together. No sense giving them the chance to pick us off one by one.¡± ¡°Come on, Doc,¡± said Benkin, waving him over to the horses. Leonidas, said nothing, only nodding and following them back to their horses. His chest felt sharp pain in his chest as a lump seemed to form in his throat with it becoming difficult to pull himself up on his horse and nudge it forward. He kept his gaze for much of the ride back to town, barely looking up long enough to get his bearing. No one spoke as they galloped back to town. Leonidas was in a limpness state barely keeping his mind on maneuvering his horse. Reaching the inn, they hitched their animals, slowly entered inside as the innkeeper called out to them. ¡°You¡¯re lady friend was chatting with a man not too long ago.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°This man came off the road, was having a drink when he spotted your friend and they got to chatting. Wasn¡¯t that long before they went up¡ª¡± Before the innkeeper could finish, all of them hastened up the stairs to hallway. Their weapons unsheathed as they reached the opened doorway to Jeanne¡¯s room. Inside they found Jeanne, skin covered in stone and sitting a battered and bloodied man underneath her, her arm wrapped around her waist. ¡°So ¡­ guess what happened to me today?¡± she said cheerfully. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Cid asked, sheathing his blade. ¡°I think I aggravated the ribs a bit, I might¡¯ve let loose some scentful winds a little while waiting for everyone, but otherwise I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. ¡°This dunce however,¡± she continued while lifting herself up an inch and then landing on his back hard , ¡°not so much.¡± ¡°Well, looks like we got ourselves a little bird,¡± said Cid, ¡°Let¡¯s how well he can sing.¡± Part Seven - Dark Hearts Leonidas sat on a bench, staring out to the stables a distance from inn after Cid and Ben moved the man Jeanne apprehended there for interrogations. The doors were closed and little noise came from there. The shock had finally left him as the sun set into the horizon. The horror of the moment at the farmhouse ebbed away leaving bringing an old familiar, dark presence from a corner he wished he could hide away forevermore. One he had tried to bury this back in the Outlands, and leave far behind when he returned back from his exile. The trials of that land untouched by laws and civilization; tilled with blades, sowed with bones and watered in blood. Tribes, villages, small towns barely scraping existence from the earth on one day. Only to be wiped from existence with no warning on the next. Sometimes by beasts born by waking nightmares, sometimes wrought by forces of magic and the divine wielded by few who barely understood such things, yet many felt were masters in the craft. Sometimes by those fighting each other for reasons which boggled the dullest sensations of logic and reasoning. It was a hard land, and every day it tested him to his limit. Goading him to be the very thing he stood against this darkness within him with every fiber of strength he could conjure to stay its hand. And what was his reward? Graveyards filled with friends and comrades. Branded a knave, criminal and hunted by those whose lives he saved for false accusations born from inflated egos. The burning anger began filling his mind with dark thoughts. Even the slightest memories caused him feel the compulsion to indulge in ill deeds, growing stronger by the second. So deep in these thoughts he jumped when he noticed Jeanne taking a seat next to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to startle you,¡± she said, handing him a flagon before sitting down next to him. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said weakly before taking a short sip of the mead inside. ¡°I heard what happened at the farm. I¡¯m ¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask how you¡¯re holding up.¡± ¡°I appreciate that.¡± ¡°How well did you know them?¡± ¡°Moire was a good friend. I knew her husband before I was sent to The Outlands. They were the first to give me work when I got back. Helped me get back on my feet. When Siomon was born I helped her deliver him. When her husband died I did what I could to make his passing easier. Tried to be something of a father figure to Siomon as I watched him grow from babe to being on the cusp of manhood. And she treated me with a kindness I could never begin to repay. In some ways I saw them as kin. And now they¡¯re gone, just like with so many others I came to find some comfort and solace.¡± Leonidas looked up, seeking succor for this terrible pain in heart and found none. ¡°I used to think I had a blessed life. For all the times I stared death in the face and yet was graced to see the light of the dawn one more time. Now I wonder if this was nothing more than a mere trick to keep me from a bitter truth.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That I¡¯m truly cursed,¡± he said with his voice breaking. Jeanne placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I won¡¯t act as if I can speak on their behalf. It¡¯s not my place, and frankly I¡¯m certain a few wouldn¡¯t even give me a moment of their time at this point. And I doubt I¡¯d give them the same courtesy if they sent me something. But ¡­ I do not think you¡¯re cursed, Doc. I think you just have a caring heart.¡± Leonidas looked down, taking in the words. ¡°That means a lot, Jeanne. Thanks.¡± ¡°Hold off until you know how much you owe,¡± she said, giving him a cheeky smile. ¡°Prick,¡± he said, chuckling. His demeanor became less serious as the laughter ebbed away, ¡°I can assume you and your friends are going after these outlaws?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan, yeah. Hunt them down until they¡¯re all put to the sword.¡± ¡°Count me in.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas, taken aback. ¡°You sure? This ¡­ this may get ugly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with ugly before,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°It¡¯s a road I¡¯m more than familiar with.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, wrap her arm around his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯ll be nice to have someone who can actually do some healing. As well as a few of those odd bits you know,¡± she said, taking a sip of ale. ¡°I can¡¯t just rely on my devilish good looks all the time,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m letting you have that one,¡± Jeanne said, shaking her head and nudging his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll thank you for your magnanimous boon.¡± ¡°You very good welcome, good sir,¡± Jeanne said, bowing her head towards him. Cid and Ben emerged from the stable. Shaking the fingers loose and rotating their shoulders and looking worn as they neared the inn. ¡°You two don¡¯t look thrilled,¡± Jeanne said to them. ¡°It wasn¡¯t as productive as I had hoped,¡± said Cid they reached the other two. ¡°Did you get anything out of him?¡± Jeanne asked them. Benkin shook his head. ¡°Not much, mostly insults and a few slurs to us and our kin. So, you know, the usual.¡± ¡°Same thing when you brought up the farmhouse?¡± Leonidas asked. Cid shook his head. ¡°He showed little remorse about that.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know of any pressure points that might help them?¡± Leonidas took a deep breath, rose to his feet, turned to Ben, ¡°I might, mind if I borrow that knife?¡± Ben, lifting an eyebrow up at the request, cautiously handed Leonidas his knife. ¡°Don¡¯t dull it.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t be an issue,¡± Leonidas replied as he began calmly walking towards the stables. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Jeanne asked, concerned, slowly rising to her feet. Leonidas turned to her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll just be a little chat,¡± he replied coldly. Inside the stables, Leonidas found the bandit tied to a chair. Bruised and bloodied all over his face, his shirt torn in many places, and his breathing was heavy as he looked up at the doctor. ¡°The fuck do you want?¡± the man asked. Leonidas turned to the door and ran his fingers over the stable doors. He watched as the wood tightened shut, causing some of the dust to fly off. ¡°Just want to play a game. I ask, you answer. You give me something within your current antagonizing manner and ¡­ you know what, why spoil the surprise?¡± The man spat at Leonidas. ¡°Fuck you and your mother.¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°This is going to be far easier than I thought.¡± He moved around behind the man, asking, ¡°Which is your dominate hand?¡± ¡°The fuck would I tell you for?¡± ¡°And there you go just keep digging that hole,¡± said Leonidas as he used the knife to lacerate the man¡¯s left hand. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The man growled in pain before turning back to Leonidas. ¡°You think a little cut like that is going to make me talk?¡± Leonidas grabbed a large iron bucket resting next to a wall and moved it underneath the man¡¯s cut hand. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m not going to make you talk. Though I do know how, even if your mouth was gagged, waxed and sealed, with runes and incantations. But I¡¯m not here to make you talk,¡± the doctor said with a hint of menace. As he spoke, Leonidas¡¯s hands began to glow red, the bones now visible from the inner light through the skin. Veins along his skin turned black as his eyes disappeared, leaving only dark abysses where they once were, he held up his left fist and the man found to his horror his mouth was forced shut, ¡°I¡¯m going to make you sing.¡± *** Leonidas struggled to open the stable doors, wiping a layer of sweat from his brow, breathing heavy and his skin colorless. He leaned up against the outer walls of the building as the three came up to him. ¡°What happened in there?¡± Cid asked flinching his head back. ¡°He should be in a better mood to talk,¡± Leonidas replied, trying to catch his breath while running his right hand up and down his left arm. Benkin opened the door, taking a step back and his mouth falling open for a moment before he regained his composure. ¡°Those are some pressure points, Doc.¡± ¡°Like I said, I know a few tricks,¡± said Leonidas, handing Benkin back his knife before he began stumbling towards the inn, ¡°If you all don¡¯t mind I think I¡¯m going to call it a night.¡± ¡°You need help getting back to your room?¡± Benkin asked. Leonidas waved it off. Not looking at the warrior as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just need some night air and I¡¯ll be all right.¡± Barely hearing the startled conversation behind him, Leonidas made his way to the inn. The labored breaths growing worse as each step demanded more of an effort for him to keep his balance. His muscles screamed in pain with each movement, the world spun randomly as he moved, his eyes opening and closing rapidly to try and reorientate himself. The scent of food and ale made his stomach turn. Reaching the base of the stairs, he rested much of his weight on the railing to help negotiate his way up the steps. Once at the landing he leaned against the wall, unable to regain his balance without some aid. Arriving to his room, he grabbed the door handle and with what strength was left in him, he pulled the handle down. Opening the door, he collapsed onto the floor with a hard thud. He tried to force himself to crawl further, desperately searching to find the chamber pot under his bed. As his hands shook terribly, he lifted his torso high enough for his head to hover over the pot and vomited a black bile into the recess. Once he finished, his strength left him and rolled onto his back. His began slowing down as the room began spinning, voices of those long dead speaking to him in words he could not make out. His eyelids twitched violently as his skin shivered as the world became black. Leonidas awoke to a mind splitting headache as the rest of his body ached to find himself on his bed. It took him some effort to sit up in his bed. As his vision came back, he found Jeanne and Cid sitting next to his bed. ¡°Huh,¡± Leonidas said in a gravelly voice, ¡°that answers my first question.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Cid, in a calm but stern voice, training his gaze on the doctor. His legs cross and hands clasped over one knee with a straight back. ¡°Especially since I have been enjoying a rather interesting conversation with Jeanne.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Leonidas replied, his head falling back onto his pillow and placing a hand over his eyes. ¡°Are you really that surprised?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Not entirely, though this was something I would prefer handling. How much did you tell him, Jeanne?¡± ¡°Everything, Doc.¡± ¡°Figured as much. I¡¯m assuming you have questions, Cid.¡± ¡°Many, as well as some reconsiderations, but Jeanne is vouching for you, even after seeing what you did to that man,¡± Cid shook his head, clearing his throat. ¡°Are you really that upset?¡± Leonidas challenged. ¡°You honestly are telling me you wouldn¡¯t have the same to the man to get whatever information he had?¡± ¡°You crushed his arm enough his bones and flesh poured out of that cut on his hand,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Then there were all the ribs you broke,¡± Cid followed. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t want to do the same,¡± Leonidas replied, sitting up in bed. ¡°That man is part of the group who will two innocent people. One of them a child! They damn neared killed your friend who¡¯s still bedridden. Are you telling me with all honesty that you both didn¡¯t want to get a little payback?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± said Cid. ¡°Then I would love to be enlightened to this one,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Doc,¡± said Jeanne, moving to sit next to on the edge of his bed, in a more relaxed tone. ¡°First, I think this goes against the whole ¡®do no harm¡¯ part.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more of a guideline than a rule,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°As I was saying,¡± Jeanne interjected, a harsh looking in her eyes, ¡°even if it is a guideline, I think crushing a man¡¯s arm to where it¡¯s a bloody bag of skin might be taking it a bit too far.¡± Cid puffed his cheeks out, wrapping his arms around his stomach. ¡°Jeanne I was just to not be nauseous from that.¡± ¡°Sorry Cid,¡± Jeanne said to the Felidan before turning back to Leonidas. ¡°On that brings me to my second point. How many times would you lecture someone who used magic they had no business using? How many times did you tell me stories of what happened when rituals, despite them doing everything right and by the book, had something horrible occur? Then you do this? Doc, I¡¯m not mad, I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Leonidas said weakly. ¡°Just ¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jeanne turned to Cid. ¡°Can we have some privacy, please?¡± Cid nodded. ¡°Of course. Let me know if there¡¯s anything you need. And I expect of you present for the morning meeting.¡± As he closed the door, Leonidas turned to Jeanne. ¡°Is that a thing with you all?¡± She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been a thing of his since our days back with the Cold Company.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± ¡°But what happened back there? It was as if you snapped and became a different person?¡± Leonidas took a deep breath, looking away. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened either. Used to be before this was far easier for me to handle. Probably because it was towards me and I just told myself to toughen up and take it all with some form of grace. I don¡¯t know. But ¡­ when it¡¯s someone else, it¡¯s hard. Really hard. ¡°Especially when the person responsible gets off without a slap on the wrist or even an ill word said their way. And after Moire and Siomon I just ¡­¡± he paused, rubbing the back of his neck and rubbing his eyes, ¡°¡­ it brought back a lot of emotions that I wished would just let me live in peace. And for once, I just gave in. I saw a chance to return back all those wants and desires to unleash a turbulent storm of hate and pain and retribution. ¡°I saw a chance to finally see someone get what they deserved. To see the horror they inflicted come back and there was nothing they could do to avoid it. To rob them as they¡¯ve robbed others and there was nothing they could do to slip away into the night and avoid repaying their debt. And before you say it, I know it wasn¡¯t my place, but ¡­¡± Jeanne put her hand on Leonidas¡¯s knee. ¡°I get it, Doc. I do,¡± she said in a soft tone, ¡°We both know I¡¯m not well traveled on the high road. But you are. That¡¯s what I respect about you. If half of what you¡¯ve told me about your life is true, I would¡¯ve lost my mind and told everyone to sod off. But you¡¯re still in it. You help people because that¡¯s just who you are. It¡¯s admirable. Noble even. And there¡¯s not a lot of people in this world anymore who are like that.¡± ¡°Keep saying stuff like that, and I might start to get this ego I keep hearing about,¡± Leonidas replied. Jeanne slapped his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret trying to be nice.¡± ¡°So ¡­ what are you guys going to do with our guest?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I have no clue. Probably hand him over the authorities.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t ask about his current state?¡± ¡°Doc, seriously, how long have you been away from civilization?¡± ¡°Long enough it seems.¡± She patted Leonidas¡¯s shoulder as she rose up and made her way out of the room. ¡°Get some sleep, Doc. I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± He rested his head, trying to let his thoughts calm themselves down. A click of the knob and opened his eyes to see Jeanne reentering the room. ¡°Sorry, but there was one more thing I wanted to ¡­ talk about.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± Leonidas said, slamming his head back against the pillow. ¡°Is this another one of your ¡®ideas¡¯?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°not this time.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Do ¡­ do you remember our last conversation? The one before I brought into all this?¡± Leonidas lifted his head slowly, his eyes beginning to squint and his brow furrowing. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, before taking a deep breath. ¡°I wanted to apologize. I didn¡¯t mean to reopen a wound like that and ¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Leonidas told her. ¡°Really, it was just matter of bad timing.¡± ¡°Just, I know what it¡¯s like to lose someone close. And I know she was close to you.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah she was,¡± Leonidas paused to take a breath to compose himself, ¡°though you didn¡¯t know the whole story. And are still a few things I still prefer not to disclose.¡± ¡°No, but I still wanted to sat that.¡± ¡°I appreciate that, Jeanne. I really do,¡± Leonidas. Leonidas noted a soft smile on her face before she rose from the bed. ¡°Well I¡¯ll let you get some rest and I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let the bed bugs bite.¡± ¡°Not without a meal and dancing first,¡± she said, closing his door. Part Eight - Cross Stitching Kveldulf woke himself up with a quick snort, feeling his muscles tense and ease as he moved them. He tried to move himself up clenching his teeth and gripped a handful of his bedsheets as the pain overcame every thought in his mind. He laid back in bed and looked around the room. Finding a figure, sitting in a chair with something resting on their legs and their hands fiddling about with something, all cloaked in darkness, save for a sliver of ambient light coming from the hallway outside. He moved his hand slowly over to a small eating knife on his night stand. ¡°You should be asleep,¡± the figure said, their voice was familiar, but he wasn¡¯t able to pinpoint the person. ¡°That so friend?¡± ¡°Doc would be a little upset if you were moving around before everything healed up.¡± Kveldulf took a moment as he began to recognize the voice. ¡°Maeryn?¡± ¡°Present.¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Cid thought after our recent guest we should have someone on watch here until you¡¯re back on your feet.¡± ¡°Oh, how long have you been here?¡± ¡°About an hour or two mostly.¡± ¡°Right. And ¡­ I know it¡¯s not knitting, but I want to call it that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cross-stitching,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Right, that, I knew that. I just didn¡¯t think that¡¯d be a hobby of yours.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only just met, there¡¯s still much we haven¡¯t learned of each other,¡± she said, still moving the needle and thread through the fabric with swift movements. ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t mean to be rude.¡± Maeryn put the piece down, groaning as she pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°No, I ¡­ I. Damn I did it again.¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not exactly what many would call personable. Shocking as that is.¡± Kveldulf said nothing, unsure of what to say. ¡°So much for that attempt at humor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little hard to read you right now, honestly. Especially here in the dark.¡± ¡°Oh, right, forgot about that. Sorry,¡± Maeryn said as she rose from her seat, placed her affects on the chair and went over to his bedstand and lit a small laylight. As the light touched her face, Kveldulf could see her eyes were red, energy seemingly gone from her face and with the light so dim and eyes still adjusting, he wasn¡¯t certain if her chin was trembling. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± he asked her. She turned to him, answering with a faint smile. ¡°Just tired. It¡¯s been a long few days.¡± He lifted his hand up towards her, putting his hand over hers. ¡°I think we both know that isn¡¯t the case.¡± ¡°You should save your strength,¡± Maeryn said to him. ¡°You need to rest more than me.¡± ¡°Maeryn,¡± Kveldulf said concerningly. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really,¡± she replied. ¡°I think things will be better once we get these ruins and Cullen off our plate.¡± ¡°Just promise me you¡¯ll get some rest when the next person is up here.¡± She squirmed a little. ¡°I¡¯ve been having problems sleeping.¡± ¡°Would it help if I told you I¡¯d do what I did again without hesitation?¡± Maeryn turned to him, a sharp gaze meeting his. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have had to have done it in the first place,¡± she said. ¡°Maeryn ¨C¡± Kveldulf said before she cut him off. ¡°No!¡± Maeryn said, slamming her fist against the bedstand, causing the laylight to jump up a short height. ¡°It was my job to make sure we¡¯re not caught off guard. If there¡¯s something creeping up, I sense them before they do anything. And I failed. There¡¯s no other way to explain it, I failed. You not only got hurt, you were hurt because I was careless enough to be in their line of sight.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. She sat down on the side of Kveldulf¡¯s bed. Her head hanging low as she closed her eyes tightly. ¡°I was pride myself on not getting caught off guard. By spotting threats before they can even thinking of how to hurt one of us before even acting on it. And ¡­ I didn¡¯t stop it. I should¡¯ve been more alert, I should¡¯ve taken care I should¡¯ve ¡­¡± Maeryn couldn¡¯t finish before she began shaking, fighting the urge to lose what composure she had left. Kveldulf took several deep breaths before moving his arms underneath his torso and lifting himself up. Pressing his lips tightly together as his muffled screams caught Maeryn¡¯s attention. ¡°Kel!¡± she called out. ¡°I¡¯m already half way up,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°No need to stop now.¡± As he sat himself up, he realized the thick layer of sweat covering his skin before he wiped it off. ¡°By Thekkin¡¯s beard ¡­ that, that was painful.¡± He held his hand out to Maeryn, ¡°Just, just give me a second,¡± he said in a strained voice before he breathing began to steady. ¡°All right, I¡¯m better. Maeryn, I won¡¯t tell you not to feel what you¡¯re feeling, because I¡¯d be feeling the same way too if our situations were reversed. But that¡¯s what we did back in Cold Company. We looked out for each other. If you couldn¡¯t count on someone in your unit to watch your back, who can you trust?¡± Maeryn breathed in deeply, running her hand over her face. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not used to having someone watch my back. I¡¯m usually the one having to watch theirs. It¡¯s a rather unusual feeling.¡± ¡°It¡¯s something you get used to,¡± Kveldulf told her. ¡°When you¡¯re with a group you can trust implicitly.¡± Maeryn looked at Kveldulf briefly, then to the floor before moving back to the chair, picking up her affects and returning to her cross stitching. ¡°Probably a good idea to let you get back to sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty much awake, now, more or less. And for what it¡¯s worth, I wouldn¡¯t mind someone to talk to.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not exactly much of a conversationalist,¡± Maeryn said to him with some apprehension. ¡°Neither am I, but it¡¯s usually easier to talk to someone when you know them better.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to talk about.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Kveldulf paused thinking hard to find an item to speak of with her. She looked at him, slowly leaning back and growing increasingly concerned. ¡°Everything all right?¡± ¡°Trying to find something unusual to talk about, but nothing is coming to mind, and I do not like it.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Maeryn said, slowly moving her hand to cross stitch, ¡°you can ask me anything about ¡­ anything, if that helps.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Kveldulf hummed before saying, ¡°I know that one is proper rubbish.¡± ¡°What is?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Oh, just something we heard about elves from Tirlloegr doing this thing called a Wind of the Morn.¡± ¡°The fuck is that?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t remember the details, but the gist is it¡¯s this ritual where you all flatulate on each other, or near each other, as a morning ritual.¡± Maeryn looked at Kveldulf, utterly disgusted. ¡°I do not say I believed it.¡± ¡°Then why did you ask?¡± Maeryn demanded. ¡°Not being well assessed on your culture, I figured I¡¯d someone from the culture directly.¡± ¡°No we don¡¯t fart on each other!¡± ¡°I probably should¡¯ve worded that better.¡± ¡°There is no way to word that better!¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s a knife in my belt still if you want to stab me for recompense.¡± ¡°Where did this even come?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Jeanne was the one who told me.¡± Jeanne peered her head through the doorway. ¡°I heard my name,¡± she said innocently. ¡°Where did you get off telling others my people pass wind on each in a religious ceremony?¡± Maeryn cried out. ¡°Firstly, I did not make that up. Even at my worst, I don¡¯t fuck with people¡¯s religion.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Kveldulf said quickly. Jeanne continued, ¡°I heard that from one of the sergeants in Shield Battalion back with the Cold Company.¡± ¡°That would be something they¡¯d say,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°And finally, what I get off on is no one¡¯s business but me, myself, and I.¡± Maeryn gave Jeanne a perplexed look as Kveldulf put his head into his hand, groaning, ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to proceed on with that one.¡± ¡°Is she always like this?¡± Maeryn asked Kveldulf, before turning to Jeanne. ¡°Are you always like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say yes, unless the pinky toes are feeling fancy.¡± ¡°The fuck does that mean?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I was about to say,¡± followed Maeryn. ¡°Hey, you need to ask them, they¡¯re the ones with minds of their own.¡± Jeanne turned down into the hall and smiled before saying, ¡°Doc!¡± cheerfully. Leonidas, looking thoroughly confused and somewhat frightened, slowly passed by Jeanne, his back pressed against the threshold opposite where she stood, and slid into the room. He turned to Maeryn and Kveldulf and nodded slowly at the two of them. ¡°So ¡­ I see this is happening.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start, Doc,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I don¡¯t know and I don¡¯t want to,¡± Leonidas followed, ¡°Ever.¡± Part Nine - Visitors Kveldulf rested in his bed, feeling the heat of the fire warm his bed from a short distance away. He stretched his neck, and his arms and legs, as much as he could before he aggravated the wounds. As his muscles relaxed his thoughts wandered to no one particular matter. He sometimes felt his leg jerk suddenly, before he let himself be at ease. He kept his eyes closed as he heard his door open and a soft shuffle of footsteps move towards his bed. Only when he felt someone climb into the other side of his bed did he look out of the corner of his eye to Jeanne looking back at him. ¡°Hi,¡± she said, with a big smile on her face. ¡°What do you want?¡± Kveldulf asked, letting out a small groan. ¡°I¡¯m bored. Entertain me,¡± she said, poking his cheek with a finger. ¡°Jeanne, I am not here for your entertainment.¡± ¡°Yes, you are,¡± she said in a sing-song tune, poking his shoulder repeatedly. ¡°Jeanne,¡± he said looking back up at the ceiling, ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to swat at yourself for a moment, or five, or something.¡± Jeanne rolled onto her back. ¡°What happened to your sense of adventure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s recovering from having two arrows being pulled out of me Jeanne.¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re going to apply logic and reasoning to everything, I don¡¯t know where our friendship is going to lead to.¡± ¡°For Rett¡¯s justice, why are you doing this?¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m bored.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there some stray animal you could play with in the meantime.¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re horrible company. Always giving me that look like I haven¡¯t fed them in years not even before they finished the bit of bread I gave them. Damned ingrates.¡± Kveldulf began pressing his hand on Jeanne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked. ¡°Trying to push you off the bed.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m not ready for this level of madness.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve know this when you signed on for a friendship with me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± he cried out. ¡°We were forced into the same squad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they all say.¡± ¡°Gods, why are you doing this?¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m bored. And Doc isn¡¯t around to annoy.¡± ¡°Do you have to annoy people on a constant basis, Jeanne?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t maintain my personable skills, they¡¯ll start to dull.¡± ¡°Personable?¡± Kveldulf asked, ¡°is that what you¡¯re calling it?¡± ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± she replied, grabbing a pillow and smacking his head. ¡°I¡¯m surprised he showed up when he did.¡± ¡°We were lucky he was in the area,¡± she said, clasping her hands together. ¡°You didn¡¯t think he would?¡± She shrugged as she laid in bed. ¡°There was a moment when I didn¡¯t think he would. Our last parting was ¡­ tense.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± ¡°I might¡¯ve brought up a sore subject and he cursed me out. Cursed me out a lot, actually.¡± Kveldulf turned to back to her. ¡°The fuck did you say?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t remember the exact wording. But I know I made some joke at someone¡¯s expense. Some one who died and he was good friends with. And he did not find the joke amusing.¡± ¡°How bad was it?¡± ¡°You know how I can get the word fuck as every other word?¡± ¡°Oh yeah.¡± ¡°He was getting them in between words, as verbs, adjectives, and gerunds.¡± ¡°The hell is a gerund?¡± ¡°Fuck if I know, but he was pulling them out of the woodworks left and right.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I know the man well, but he didn¡¯t to be of that type of foul mouthed.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t either, and then ¡­ well, I saw it firsthand.¡± ¡°Well, good thing he doesn¡¯t hold grudges.¡± ¡°Mine wasn¡¯t the greater offense,¡± Jeanne replied, twiddling her thumbs. ¡°Should I ask?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story, and I don¡¯t know all the details, honestly.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Fair,¡± Kveldulf said, stretching his neck out. ¡°How are your ribs feeling?¡± ¡°Hurts like a proper motherfucker. How about your new blowholes?¡± ¡°Is that what you¡¯re calling them?¡± ¡°I mean, they¡¯re too small for proper fornication.¡± Kveldulf looked down and pondered the thought. ¡°Probably not deep enough either.¡± ¡°By the Shepherd!¡± Jeanne exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯re worse than me, sometimes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who brought it up!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I want to hear that, Kel.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t open the door.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯ve had a bad influence on you.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re starting to recognize this.¡± Both began laughing, Kveldulf wincing in pain and gripping his torso tightly. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Jeanne asked. Kveldulf nodded quickly. ¡°Yeah, sometimes it hurts to laugh. But I¡¯m fine. ¡°You should still rest, let your body recover.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a week and a half,¡± Kveldulf grunted. ¡°How much longer do I have to wait?¡± ¡°Doc said a few more days and you shouldn¡¯t need to be stuck in the bed anymore.¡± ¡°I feel like a newborn babe, being stuck in this damned bed.¡± ¡°At least you¡¯re not being swaddled or having your diapers changed.¡± ¡°As much as I¡¯d joke about both, I¡¯ll count my blessings.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Kveldulf looked back up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said somberly, ¡°Just thinking.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°A lot of things, honestly. But mostly I¡¯ve been thinking about my parents.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°we don¡¯t have to talk about that, Kel.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t even know where to start. Even now, back here of all places, I feel cut off. Divorced from all sense of identity. As if shackled to a cold-hearted sea, unable to find warmth or refuge no matter how hard I tried. Forced down an exile¡¯s path despite how much I wish to change my fate. And in the last few days, as I¡¯ve been laying here, stuck in this bed with only my spirit-coffers to count in my mind.¡± ¡°S-spirit coffers?¡± Jeanne interjected. ¡°Thoughts, Jeanne, I meant thoughts.¡± ¡°Well just say thoughts.¡± ¡°I was trying to be poetic.¡± ¡°We are not poets, Kel.¡± ¡°I will put you in the pit!¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t even dug a pit!¡± ¡°I will dig a pit and put you in it. And that¡¯s not even the point!¡± Jeanne lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What was your point?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a good chance that I¡¯m the last of my line. If I didn¡¯t make it through,¡± he waved his hand over where he had been hit, ¡°this, there¡¯d be no one else to speak for my kin. To try and remove this stain on our house. We¡¯d be forever known as curs and villains, without a shred of valor and honor to our name. How many before were exiled from the Golden Hall, for crimes committed after their passing? How many robbed of their rightly earned place, because of actions they had no power to influence sentences them to eternal damnation. ¡°And if I died before anything could be done, then that¡¯s it. Nothing could be done to change any of this. I¡¯d be another failure,¡± Kveldulf said, his mood growing dark and despondent. ¡°My parents raised me better than that, they wouldn¡¯t stand for me to find my end from some random brigand on the road.¡± Jeanne put her and on his shoulder. ¡°Kel, you shouldn¡¯t be putting this much responsibility on your shoulders.¡± ¡°Someone has to, Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°There¡¯s no one else out there. As far as I know, I¡¯m the last one. Who can do this.¡± ¡°But is this what you want?¡± Kveldulf rubbed his eyes, his stomach felt as if it was churning and his innards quivering. ¡°I just don¡¯t want my parents to suffer for something they never did. And for people who never knew them to stop cursing their names when they took no time to understand them as people. I¡¯m just tired of everything we¡¯ve done, and still do, being demeaned and mocked and hated by the people who used to drink to our names and sing songs of our accomplishments. I just ¡­ I just want us to be treated fairly again.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, patting him on the shoulder and slowly crawling out of bed, ¡°perhaps those of your house kept watch over you to make sure you¡¯re still in the fight.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Maybe.¡± As Jeanne made her way out of the room, Kveldulf looked out of the opened shutters, seeing the stars slowly moving by his window. He remembered when as a child, his father telling the old legend of his ancestor, Arnulf Whitehorse, facing the dreaded lord Nikatas defending the city of Orumus: Battle was joined in brutal carnage Death became the master this day Arnulf gave his all, honored thane Song singing blade shook the sky Terrible was the foe, true in spirit Cursed fiend, Niketas, killing all Valiant defenders falling before him His vile blade, horrible its effect Woe touched Arnulf¡¯s wild heart Seeing friends sundered in full Harsh winters bowed to his wrath Letting loose his war cry Arnulf unleashed his warsong Becoming more beast than man Strikes from his sword shook the earth Niketas kept himself, never yielding Til¡¯ both tore flesh from bone When both were worn from terrible war Arnulf hewed his for in two Terror taking the foe¡¯s heart City save, honor won, still unconquered Kveldulf remembered the energy his father had when reciting those words. How Kveldulf imagined himself standing next to his legendary ancestor. Defending the city from complete destruction, proving his skill and honor beyond all doubt. He found it troubling how what he found pride in the most caused him the greatest pain in his heart. All he wanted was to know he had made his parents proud. That he had proven to his ancestors that all their pain, all their sacrifices were not in vain. But he felt as if this was not a destiny of his choosing, but one given without a thought to what he wanted. Only want was demanded, and now for the first time in a long time, he wished he was truly free of any relation to something which afforded him more pain than pride. And it broke his heart to even fathom the thought. Part Ten - Recon Jeanne knelt near the edge of the forest, Benkin kneeling next to her with Hypatia and Silvius shortly behind. Pulling a couple of branched out of the way, Jeanne peered out into the camp they had raided the week before. ¡°You really think it¡¯s wise to be back here so soon?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°They¡¯re probably being as cautious as we are,¡± Jeanne replied, keep her gaze out towards the camp. ¡°And shouldn¡¯t you still be recovering?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Doc said I shouldn¡¯t be in bed all day,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°And he gave me something for the pain.¡± ¡°Did he really?¡± Silvius asked. Jeanne turned to Silvius, narrowing one eye as it twitched slightly. ¡°He did,¡± she said coldly. ¡°All right,¡± Silvius replied, leaning away from Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word on that.¡± Jeanne turned back to the camp, seeing some of the bodies from their last encounter still laying where they had fallen before. The stench of rotting flesh began filling the air, the hum of flies buzzing around the area. Murders of crows had been sating their appetites to their hearts¡¯ content as they ate away. Jeanne looked to Benkin, ¡°What do you make of it?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± he said, his eyes darting out over the scene. ¡°You¡¯d think they¡¯d bury their own, if there was a still some presence here.¡± ¡°Some bandits have less loyalty to their own than others,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Aye,¡± Benkin said, ¡°I was thinking that, too.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s a trap?¡± ¡°I want to say no, but I guess we won¡¯t know until we get out there.¡± ¡°I do not feel comfortable with that statement,¡± Silvius followed. Jeanne turned back around. ¡°Would it help if I agreed with that?¡± Silvius mulled the question over for a quick moment. ¡°A little.¡± ¡°Benkin, I want you with me when I move in there. Silvius, Hypatia, I want you both to move around and see if there¡¯s anything of note in any crate still in one piece.¡± ¡°What if we run into anyone?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Stab them in the face and hope they don¡¯t get back up,¡± Jeanne said as she moved out of the brush and into the camp. As the others followed, Jeanne could see the full extent of the destruction. There was a part of her wanting to feel some remorse for these men, these brigands left rotting to ash and waste. Here they would lay until their bodies no longer carried any semblance to what they once were. Decomposing into a clump of matter even the astute of hunter could not tell was once a creature; living, breathing, with thoughts and feelings of their own. Here they would stay until the end of time. Where no one would come to mourn. To sing songs or make a toast to their memory. Their name and relevance no forever lost in this history of the world, save for a brief violent moment. Jeanne looked at the dead bandits, even the blotted corpse of the ogre they had slain and felt sympathy for them. Then recalled the old thought lingering in her thoughts, and the old anger began returning. But it was harder for her to keep the anger here. Here she saw not wyrd-born monsters but simply men. Dead men. Dead men who might¡¯ve dreamed of lives beyond theft and other crimes. Men who might¡¯ve longed for warm hearths and a warmer drink to keep away the unsheltered cold of night. Men who might¡¯ve wanted simply to find a path of their own choosing, and not one dictated by one of a social class higher than them who knew little of the trials and tribulations the commoner faced. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Jeanne grimaced as she pondered these thoughts. She rubbed her eyes, clearing her throat and spotted Silvius and Hypatia struggling to open a crate with a worn war-hammer. ¡°That giving you trouble?¡± she asked, walking over. ¡°It¡¯s not being very cooperative,¡± Silvius said with gritted teeth as he futilely tried to open. Jeanne walked over and grabbed the war-hammer and in a few swift swings, smashed the top until most of the pieces began flying away or falling into the recess inside. ¡°That was ¡­ effective,¡± Silvius said, looking at Jeanne with growing concern. ¡°Sometimes you got to smack the bastard around to get them to cooperate,¡± Jeanne said, handing Silvius back his hammer. Peering inside, they found a selection of artwork resting inside of the box. Silvius¡¯s eyes widened as he gasped and stepped back. ¡°What is it?¡± Hypatia asked him. ¡°These were the works that the convoy lost last month!¡± Silvius said in a hushed voice. ¡°No,¡± she said, taking the same whispering tone as Silvius. ¡°Why are we whispering, everyone¡¯s dead?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh sorry,¡± Silvius said, shaking his head, ¡°These are some of the university¡¯s most prized art pieces. Some of these are hundreds of years old.¡± Jeanne let a long whistle before taking a step back. Silvius and Hypatia gave her a perplexed look. ¡°I destroy things with, as Cid says, savant-like ease. Probably best I don¡¯t break those.¡± ¡°Well, much appreciated,¡± Silvius said, throwing a tarp over the pieces. ¡°I think we can take a cart from around here and drop them off at the inn before we can take them back to the university.¡± ¡°You think the Lord Wrecker is going to give you something for all that?¡± Benkin asked from one of the other piles of crates. ¡°That¡¯s Lord Rector, and you know that,¡± Silvius replied, ¡°and ¡­ I don¡¯t know. They can be a bit finnicky about these matters.¡± ¡°Finnicky!¡± Jeanne blurted. ¡°The hell do they need to be finnicky about? You found the damned thing, you should be given something.¡± ¡°This is still technically the university¡¯s expedition, so anything we find belongs to them,¡± Silvius said with some regret. Jeanne looked at him with a narrowed again. ¡°I might be paying this Lord Reeker a visit.¡± ¡°You mean Rector,¡± Hypatia said, gently pointing her finger to Jeanne. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯ll be that, too,¡± Jeanne said as she walked off to another part of the encampment. She noted Benkin pulling off the top to one of the crates, looking inside and removing a large pouch of something metallic jingling. Jeanne came up to him and saw a multitude of bags filling the entire space of box. Jeanne looked up to Benkin, ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone if you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little tempted,¡± Benkin replied, ¡°but I don¡¯t think we have enough pockets for everything.¡± ¡°Not with that attitude we won¡¯t,¡± she replied. ¡°But how much do you think is in here?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I think it¡¯s enough to fund a kingdom a few times over.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Probably not, but I like to dream.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°But I¡¯d have to think these bandits must¡¯ve been active here for a while to collect all this coinage,¡± Benkin said as he pulled a few more bags out. ¡°You think this was for something particular or just to gather for gold¡¯s sake?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Bandits aren¡¯t exactly known for being the deepest of people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I wonder what else they¡¯ve collected here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious why they left it all here,¡± Benkin said. ¡°You¡¯d think they¡¯d want this in some place where no one could happen upon it out here.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, looking around the area. ¡°This is almost too convenient to a find.¡± Benkin looked down and moved his head forward slightly. ¡°Hmm,¡± he hummed inquisitively. ¡°What is it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I think I found something,¡± Benkin said, pointing to a slithering trail running along the ground caused by something being dragged across the earth. Jeanne¡¯s eyebrows perked up. ¡°Now that¡¯s interesting,¡± she said. Benkin turned his gaze up towards where the path entered through the outlier of the forest, disappearing into the shadow of trees. The two turned to Silvius and Hypatia, Benkin saying, ¡°We¡¯re going to check this out, see where it leads.¡± ¡°Should we come with?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Only if we¡¯re screaming to the heavens,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Don¡¯t have too much fun,¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°We¡¯ll try,¡± Benkin replied. Once inside the woods, it began intensely denser. Younger trees seemingly surrounding them, with their leaves whispering softly as the wind moved around. Old leaves and pieces of decaying branches and bark rested along the floor. Jeanne stepped slowly forward, trying to keep her movements from making any noise. Benkin hunched down, using his sword to help him adjusting his weight as he lowered himself slowly. Jeanne took a knee and peered out over a clump of bushes. There was a large stone wall stretching up into the sky, with the visages of trees overlapping over the edge. At the bottom of the rock wall, Jeanne saw two men standing by a large jagged opening. ¡°Well, that¡¯s something,¡± Benkin whispered. ¡°You can say that again,¡± Jeanne whispered, looking out towards the opening. ¡°I think we figured out where they¡¯re moving their things,¡± Benkin said to Jeanne. ¡°If not then I need to pick a new profession.¡± ¡°We should get back to the others before we get their attention.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Jeanne said as the two slowly slunk away. Part Eleven - Wandering Thoughts ¡°A cave, you say?¡± Cid said, his fingers rhythmically tapping the top of the table as he and the others sat around the table. ¡°A big one too,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°How deep do you think it goes?¡± ¡°Pretty deep,¡± she said, ¡°probably where the rest of the bandits are hiding.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid hummed as he rubbed his chin. ¡°We should probably see what we can find before we move into there.¡± ¡°You think someone mapped that place out?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°There could be a cave system going for miles in every direction.¡± ¡°There could be some effort to survey the cave system inside,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°More so if there¡¯s a mine there or something else worth noting.¡± ¡°All right, Silvius, Hypatia, I want you both to search for anything you can find. If we¡¯re lucky, there¡¯s something in there.¡± ¡°Anything you want us to do while they¡¯re taking care of that?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I think we can take the day and rest. Maybe set up a watch to play it safe.¡± ¡°You think the bandits would try something?¡± Benkin asked. Cid slowly shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, but after they hit the farmstead, I¡¯d rather not take the risk.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°Who do we put on watch first then?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have Ben and Maeryn set up around the barn, you and the good doctor can take the second one after a couple of hours.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Got it, we¡¯ll let you know if anything comes up,¡± she said before turning to the others. When it was Jeanne turn to stand watch the night had begun to set in, slowly pushing away the receding waves of color from the sun as the star became thicker and brighter in the sky. The coldness of the air chilled her lungs as she tried to push back all the thoughts from the previous days, and the growing concern about what their next move would be. Jeanne wasn¡¯t used to being in a situation where more of the decisions were placed on her. She found far more comfort in being told to do something and leave the thinking to people who actually cared for the responsibility. This was ¨C more than what she anticipated. It wasn¡¯t the idea of failing which unsettled her. But what would happen afterwards. Not knowing how many would be hurt or worse if she made a bad call. Even with Cid in charge of the outfit, there was still a measure of responsibility past merely carrying orders. And this truth was beginning to have more of a distressing influence on her. Jeanne heard the doors to the inn open up and she saw Benkin coming out and spotting her. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± he asked. Jeanne shrugged. ¡°Just pondering a thought or two.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Benkin, ¡°I know that one well. Always seemed to cause more trouble than it¡¯s worth sometimes.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s putting it one way.¡± ¡°But, as my father used to say, ¡®One who doesn¡¯t plan, can never build.¡¯¡± ¡°Was your father a builder?¡± Jeanne asked. Benkin hemmed and hawed for a moment. ¡°Not entirely. He was the lord of an archipelago. Many of my people went there after we our homeland was overrun. But that time was before my great-great grandfather¡¯s time before my own.¡± ¡°Was a lord?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh he¡¯s alive, I think. It¡¯s been a while since I last saw him. So who knows if he¡¯s still alive.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to go back?¡± Benkin shook his head. ¡°If that was a desire I¡¯d have the chance to fulfill it. No, I have little of that.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Jeanne said, shifting her weight against the wall. ¡°Nothing to be sorry about, I made my peace with all that a long time ago.¡± ¡°So what made you want to take up mercenary work?¡± Benkin shrugged. ¡°I guess when I was younger, it was to see the world, test my skills, maybe make a name for myself. I can¡¯t quite remember anymore. Probably just wanted to get as far away from that whole mess back home.¡± ¡°That bad?¡± Benkin nodded. ¡°There was more infighting and backstabbing between kinsmen than one might imagine.¡± ¡°Fair point. Almost ironic how those from the noble class act more like animals than people you find from lower stations.¡± ¡°Almost,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°Though it does help when there¡¯s a sort of acceptance within the group that if you¡¯re going to have any chance of success, you need to pull your weight. You can go about acting like some self-entitled, self-aggrandizing twit and expect to make it past your first year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than true,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Seen my share of fools find early retirement from being moronic beyond words.¡± ¡°Is that what you call it here?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Do you have a particular version?¡± ¡°Fuckin¡¯ dead.¡± Jeanne bobbed her head from side to side. ¡°To the point.¡± ¡°I try not to be too around about on those things. Tends to become a distraction more than anything else after a while.¡± ¡°So how did you get involved with all this?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°You mean with Sil and Hy? I knew Maeryn a while back. Worked together with her guarding this lord. He was an odd one, thinking there was something or someone trying to kill him at any corner.¡± ¡°A paranoid man then?¡± ¡°Aye, always had us check out rooms and entire buildings just in case there was a person waiting in the shadows.¡± ¡°Not exactly the best way to live.¡± ¡°No, no it isn¡¯t. Poor man was too busy trying not to die he forgot how to live altogether. Almost funny.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Most people think you and me, with our line of work, we¡¯ve already accepted our end. And they think we¡¯re the only ones who have to do such things. But you find farmers, holy men, artists, even nobles, so obsessed with something they cannot control, they refuse to embrace the moment as if it¡¯s a matter of principle.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°most people don¡¯t get a chance to move beyond a few miles from their hometowns.¡± ¡°Still, even then they worry too much about things they cannot control or will never happen, they prefer to ignore whatever wonders do come their way.¡± ¡°I guess not much we can do about that,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°No, that is a lesson they should learn for themselves to appreciate it in full. But getting back to your question, the lord was so paranoid he started to question if his own guards were threats to him and so, Maer and I left him to his own devices.¡± ¡°And how did you run into Silvius and Hypatia?¡± ¡°Maeryn met Hypatia when she was going through the archives at a city we¡¯re in when Maer and I were still working for the noble, and when she left Hy told us about the situation she and Sil were in and asked if we wanted to tag along. We were in need of coin, and they needed people to watch their backs in wondrously dangerous ruins and the rest is history.¡± ¡°I guess this was a lot more than what you were expecting,¡± Jeanne said with a soft chuckle. Benkin nodded. ¡°A little, but I can¡¯t say it hasn¡¯t been without some excitement.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡± ¡°Of course, that ogre was a little more than I was wanting to take on.¡± ¡°You can say that again a few times,¡± Jeanne said, rubbing her side with a hand. ¡°How are your ribs feeling?¡± ¡°They¡¯re hurting less and less with each day. But they still hurt.¡± ¡°Maybe the doc should take a look.¡± ¡°He does that already,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°He thinks you¡¯ll break them again?¡± ¡°Partly, though he prides himself on his work and it shows.¡± ¡°Fair enough. I¡¯ve met a few who barely give someone a moment of their time.¡± ¡°Still, he can be a bit annoying about it, sometimes.¡± Benkin chuckled. ¡°I can imagine. Especially when you¡¯re itching to get back out there and chop someone¡¯s head off.¡± ¡°I know!¡± Jeanne said adamantly. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m in the wrong. No harm in showing someone what their cranium looks like after its been scrambled.¡± Benkin leaned back, giving her a playful smile. ¡°Remind me never to get on your bad side.¡± ¡°Why does everyone keep saying that?¡± Jeanne asked out loud. ¡°I think it might be your penchant for smacking things violently.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡± Jeanne said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. ¡°You might have a point there. ¡°I have my moments, sometimes.¡± Part Twelve - Drinks & Recollections While Jeanne left the room she felt a sharp pain in her side, she gripped it tightly, wincing in pain. Leaning against the wall, she waited for the pain to subside and ebb away before moving again. ¡°Everything all right,¡± she heard Cid ask from behind her. She nodded, turning towards him. ¡°Yeah, just still sore from the other day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it too much,¡± Cid said, ¡°we don¡¯t want you breaking yourself again before we¡¯re back on the road.¡± ¡°But where¡¯s the fun in that?¡± she asked him. He stared with a blank face. ¡°Yeah, I deserved that one,¡± she said. ¡°Also, I think Maeryn is down stairs. It might be a good if you went down there and talked to her.¡± ¡°Fuck me,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°do I need to?¡± Cid gave her another blank stare. ¡°How about you break another rib and we call it a day?¡± Jeanne offered. ¡°I have two that are soft and tender. And I¡¯ll throw in a punch to the face to sweeten the deal. We both know you¡¯ve wanted to do that for a while.¡± Cid kept his gaze on her. ¡°But why?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t said anything mean to her.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done everything else to make her think the whole affair was her fault.¡± ¡°She let two petty bandits get a jump on us and Kel damn near died. She should¡¯ve heard them before they readied their bolts.¡± ¡°And myself as well,¡± Cid said, wiggling his ears. ¡°Or are we forgetting that fact for convivence¡¯s sake?¡± Jeanne opened her mouth to respond before stopping. She looked at Cid, grimacing and grunting before lowering her head. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to her,¡± Jeanne said as she turned around. ¡°And be nice,¡± Cid followed. ¡°I¡¯ll be fucking pleasant,¡± Jeanne growled. ¡°And don¡¯t do that thing you do when trying to smooth things over.¡± ¡°What thing?¡± Jeanne replied, thoroughly confused. ¡°You know, that thing you do that everyone always gets annoyed at.¡± ¡°You are not helping narrow down this list, Cid,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°You know, that flibbertigibbet thing you do when talking to people.¡± ¡°The hell is a flibbertigibbet, and why I am dealing with it?¡± Cid waved the comment away. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll figure it out, I have the utmost confidence in you.¡± Cid went back to his quarters as Jeanne turned away, her upper lip twitching as she tried to process the conversation. ¡°This has to be some divine retribution for something I did,¡± she told herself, ¡°It just has to be.¡± Jeanne went downstairs to the dining area of the tavern, the smell of mutton roasting on the spit touched her nose. She hummed with tempered enthusiasm before checking her coin purse to see how much merliah she had on her. Pulling a few coins, she reached the bar and waved the barkeep over. A halfling with straight brown hair, save for a few cowlicked locks. He had darkened skin and sported well-worn clothes. Though despite appearing a little worn, was in good spirits. ¡°How can I help ya?¡± he asked, finishing up cleaning an empty tankard. ¡°I was hoping for a tankard of mead and a pit of that mutton,¡± Jeanne replied, lightly jangling from golden merliah in her hand. ¡°Right,¡± the halfling said, looking back at the roasting mutton. ¡°I think that should be about three silver hermals and four copper huguns.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said, pleasantly surprised. Placing a merliah down and sliding towards the halfling. ¡°That should cover everything.¡± ¡°Right away,¡± the halfling replied, moving to get her order. Jeanne turned and spotted Maeryn, sitting by herself at a table. The elf was still working on a piece to cross stich, but was beginning to grow flustered and unable to focus. Jeanne grimaced slightly, turning away and let out a low, muffle grunt. She turned to the halfling. ¡°Can we make that order for two?¡± ¡°I can get the drinks now, but food might be a while,¡± the halfling replied. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Jeanne said, taking two tankards and walking them over to where Maeryn was sitting. Maeryn didn¡¯t notice Jeanne¡¯s arrival at first. And then barely looking up at her before turning back to her work. ¡°I thought you might want something to drink,¡± Jeanne said hesitantly. Maeryn said nothing. ¡°Also, I thought you might want to take your mind off of things for a spell.¡± Maeryn looked back up at Jeanne, turned away to then let out a sharp exhale and nudged with her head to a chair nearby. Jeanne placed the two drinks down and too her seat. Maeryn kept her gaze on the frame in hand, looking more uncomfortable than before. ¡°So,¡± Jeanne said, tapping her foot beneath the table nervously. ¡°What are you cross ¡­ stitching?¡± Maeryn took a longer breath. ¡°It¡¯s a bogle,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°A creature from where I¡¯m from.¡± ¡°You mean in general, or specifically where you called home?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Why are you asking?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°You know, some people say something is from where they called home, and then you find out they were never actually near where the creatures are. So they¡¯re going off of what they heard, and not what they actually experienced, and then you have people who were from the location proper.¡± Maeryn stared at Jeanne. ¡°This isn¡¯t something you do normally, is it?¡± ¡°The small talk?¡± Maeryn nodded her head. ¡°That obvious?¡± Maeryn nodded. ¡°A blind man could see it.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good.¡± Maeryn put the stitching wooden frame down and turned to Jeanne. ¡°What is it you¡¯re doing?¡± Jeanne puffed her cheeks out a bit, tapping on the table a quick moment. Trying desperately to think of the best words to say. ¡°Cid really makes this look a lot easier than it is,¡± she said regretfully. ¡°All right. I know I have been ¡­ hard on you since the skirmish. And ¡­ I wanted to say ¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°This is really hard for you isn¡¯t it?¡± Maeryn asked, looking at Jeanne directly. ¡°I am not used to doing this, at all,¡± Jeanne said, shaking her head. ¡°Normally Cid is the one smoothing things over. I¡¯m the one causing situations for him to smooth over.¡± ¡°And he isn¡¯t now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t like it.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Maeryn took a deep breath and placed both her hands on the table. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say I¡¯m great at conversations myself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just nervous that I¡¯ll say something stupid and then start a fistfight before the food gets here,¡± Jeanne said turning back to try and find the halfling. ¡°I¡¯m almost done,¡± the halfling said, behind the counter, a hint of worry in his voice. ¡°By the Shepherd, how the fuck does Cid do this all the time?¡± Jeanne asked aloud. ¡°Was that to me or was it one of those hypotheticals people keep asking for no reason?¡± Maeryn asked. Jeanne stared ahead for a moment. Trying to think for a second. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I¡¯m not sure how to answer that one.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ well, so much for that joke then.¡± ¡°I ¡­¡± Jeanne said before putting her hand on her forehead and let out a disgruntled growl. ¡°I know ¡­ you didn¡¯t mean for Kel to get hurt. And I know that I¡¯ve been a prim and proper bitch about the whole thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of that phrasing before,¡± Maeryn said, looking puzzled. ¡°It was something our one of our old lieutenants used to say about me, it sort of stuck over time.¡± ¡°That seems a little rude for an officer to say about a subordinate.¡± ¡°I¡¯d normally agree, but I can be a prim and proper bitch. And Kel ¡­ he¡¯s the closest thing to a family I have left. So ¡­ I acted in a way unbecoming of my own in this outfit.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have kin?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Parents, siblings, anyone like that?¡± Jeanne looked down to the table, her head hanging low. ¡°Not anymore.¡± ¡°I ¡­ I didn¡¯t know,¡± Maeryn said, pulling back a bit. ¡°Not exactly something I advertise on the first meet,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Fair,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine I¡¯d be in a bad state if one of my perthtyngu were hurt.¡± Jeanne lifted her head up. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. Perthtyngu is what we call sworn kin. Someone who isn¡¯t a blood relation but is still considered family.¡± ¡°That makes a lot more sense,¡± Jeanne said, taking a long sip from her tankard. She turned to see Maeryn returning to her cross-stitching as their food was being served. Jeanne eyes widened at the savory mutton with mashed potatoes and sliced carrots resting on their platter. She heard Maeryn¡¯s excited voice say, ¡°This is meal most needed.¡± Jeanne chuckled. ¡°For the briefest of moments, I was afraid I ordered the wrong thing.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Maeryn asked as she put a piece of carrot into her mouth. Jeanne held her hand up as she finished chewing on a piece mutton. ¡°Hmm, back in the company, there were a few elves who didn¡¯t eat meat. I can¡¯t remember why exactly. It was either a religious thing or their actual diet. But they wouldn¡¯t eat meat.¡± ¡°Was that a problem for the others?¡± Maeryn. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Not really, usually there was a farm or port nearby where we could get plants or some other means to feed them. Usually, they were capable in providing for themselves. Besides, not like you need a lot to make a salad in the first place.¡± ¡°Depends on the salad,¡± Maeryn replied, clenching her teeth to keep her food from slipping out. Jeanne pointed her knife towards Maeryn, making a tapping motion with it, ¡°True, very true.¡± ¡°I saw one a while back, I couldn¡¯t tell you want was in it.¡± ¡°Those always have me thinking there¡¯s something wrong with it.¡± ¡°One time, this was back when I was still a Bladehunter in Tirlloeger, my lord was entertaining guests, and there was this dish prepared for them, which spouted out gas.¡± Jeanne immediately choked on her food, dropping what was in her mouth on her plate and turning to Maeryn. ¡°You¡¯re shitting me!¡± Maeryn began laughing, trying not to choke on her meal. ¡°No! There were plumes, that pfft noise you hear whenever someone farts, and by the goddess the smells were horrendous.¡± ¡°Where did these people come from?¡± ¡°Somewhere far away, honestly I was more concerned with keeping everyone from trying to kill each other to remember where half the guests and dignitaries hailed.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jeanne said, finally finished with clearing her throat. ¡°That was one thing I hated about guard duty at parties. Half the people there were drunk enough to start a war, and the other half was drunk enough to consider the idea.¡± Maeryn shook her head. ¡°There was this one time, I think this was my first ¡­ no, second time I was on guard at one of those damned affairs. And this man, from the Kingdom of Gunterlin, would not stop trying to show everyone how much culture he had acquired.¡± ¡°Oh, Shepherd no, not one of those,¡± Jeanne said, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°All he did, was just reference song after song, play after play, book after book, as if it was impressive to anyone.¡± ¡°How popular was he with the other guests?¡± ¡°One almost severed his manhood when he kept demanding to know if his daughter was a ¡®true woman¡¯.¡± ¡°The fuck does that mean?¡± ¡°I knew not, and refused inquire further.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised he made it out in one piece.¡± ¡°Not for a lack of trying,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°Three lords had to be removed for him to leave unharmed.¡± ¡°Was he ever allowed back?¡± ¡°Gods no! I don¡¯t think there¡¯d be peace in the land he returned.¡± ¡°Well, maybe he found himself some woeful soul to listen to his drivel until they remove his tongue.¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve done it for free,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°So, what brought you out here?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°You seemed to have had a fairly decent thing going back home.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose the ¡®wanting to see the world¡¯ line would world?¡± ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not without some merit. But I didn¡¯t get that sense with you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Maeryn said, taking a long swig of her drink. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve kept up on the goings on back home in Prydeninsula?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve tried not to,¡± Jeanne replied somberly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say The Host of Great Night decide to roost in many of the nook and crannies of our charming little home.¡± ¡°I wish I could say I¡¯m surprised, but we¡¯d both know that¡¯s a lie.¡± ¡°I saw many friends turn on each other. Some fighting their own kinsmen. All of it for nothing more than gold, a killing to boast, or listen to lamenting song of broken hearts mourning loved ones.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the way of the world sadly. Always praising the godhood of brotherhood until it stands in the way of one¡¯s want. And then everyone is killing each other wholesale. Shepherd¡¯s guidance, it isn¡¯t a year if some damned war isn¡¯t started for a stupid reason in Anguland.¡± ¡°Still, I couldn¡¯t partake in drawing my blade against my kin. Not if I had a choice in the matter.¡± ¡°I thought bladehunters weren¡¯t allowed to leave Tirlloeger?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not,¡± Maeryn said darkly. ¡°Abandoning our lord, and our duties is considered an affront to our royal house and our people.¡± ¡°Should I ask what the penalty is?¡± ¡°Oh, you know, the usual. Good old hang, drawn and quarter.¡± Jeanne recoiled sharply. ¡°Not messing around, are they?¡± ¡°No,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°Not with that.¡± ¡°Do you think that would ever be rescinded?¡± ¡°I doubt it,¡± Maeryn said, taking a sip of her drink. ¡°That¡¯s one problem with elves having long lives. You don¡¯t have the luxury of slights of honor being forgotten after a generation or two. They tend to remember those with great clarity.¡± ¡°I remember hearing about a whole holy war between one elven kingdom over some jewels?¡± Maeryn nodded. ¡°I know that one The Rhyfelysau. Over ten generations devoting their lives to near constant slaughter. And in the end, what was fought over was destroyed in the process.¡± ¡°Almost poetic if it wasn¡¯t for the death toll.¡± ¡°Almost,¡± Maeryn said, taking another sip of her drink. ¡°How long have you been a mercenary?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I stopped counting the years a long time ago,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Long enough to where even if I returned home, it¡¯d be nothing more than memories.¡± ¡°I guess they never talk about that when discussing elven longevity.¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Most try to paint this picture of us being greater than we are. Doesn¡¯t help a lot your kind tend to run into those who have an extraordinary air of superiority to them.¡± ¡°I think goes for the vast majority of those born into the noble class,¡± Jeanne said, putting a spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth. ¡°Very true,¡± Maeryn replied, ¡°but it doesn¡¯t help when they can trace their bloodline to when elves and fae were considered one and the same.¡± ¡°You mean they¡¯re not!¡± Jeanne said, feigning surprise. ¡°Those damned curs!¡± Maeryn chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t say I know our histories well, but from some of our myths, the two were very close together. But how much of that is truth and the other conjecture and allegories, I couldn¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say we haven¡¯t the same with our pasts,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Like I said, you move through a few generations, details and the like start to fall through the cracks. Many of my kin still recall with great clarity the events which drove us all apart.¡± ¡°I can imagine it¡¯s not an easy thing to go through.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t recommend it.¡± ¡°How do you cope with it all?¡± ¡°One day at a time. One drink at a time. One kill at a time.¡± Part Thirteen - On the Hunt Kveldulf cracked his neck and stretched his arms and back after rising from his bed. ¡°Gods it¡¯s good to be finally out of bed,¡± he said to himself. His muscles felt stiff, needing an extra moment to be stretched out before he felt they were ready for the day. Throwing on some clothes and making his way downstairs, he saw the others already enjoying their breakfasts. ¡°Kel!¡± everyone shouted when he was halfway down the last flight. ¡°And already I regret this decision.¡± ¡°Oh, come now,¡± said Cid reassuringly, ¡°it¡¯s good to see you up and about again.¡± ¡°And your armor should be good to go as well,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Added a little more protection and all that.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Kveldulf sincerely before taking his seat next to Cid and Jeanne. The inn keeper walked over, placing a plate of freshly scrambled eggs, strips of bacon and a several pieces of bread on the table for Kveldulf. Grabbing a piece of his meal, Kveldulf saw while Cid turned back to the others. ¡°Now with Kel back on his feet, I think it¡¯s time we go over what we learned during our recent reconnaissance around the outer ruins as well as our guest a few days ago. Maeryn, what did you and Silvius find out?¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°their patrols have definitely increased since our last raid and with their ¡­ whoever that man was, failed with what he was doing here.¡± ¡°Are there any other viable back ways into the ruins?¡± Ben asked. Silvius opened his mouth, closing it slightly before speaking. ¡°Hypatia, Maeryn and I think we might¡¯ve found another way in.¡± ¡°Well don¡¯t hold us in suspense,¡± said Cid, gesturing Silvius to continue. Hypatia stood up from the table, holding a rolled map in her hand, unfurled it over the table once plates and mugs were removed. ¡°So, I was going through some of the old maps I have come across on the area when I found this one dating all the way back to before the Reign of the Wraith King. And that¡¯s when I found this.¡± She pointed to a small path connecting a large cavernous area to a small, looking more like a scribble of a line than a path. ¡°And we know this isn¡¯t simply an artistic inclusion?¡± Cid asked. ¡°That¡¯s what I first thought,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Since we know how some people are when they enjoy a certain flourish in their craft.¡± ¡°Like an ostiary,¡± said Kveldulf. Hypatia pointed to Kveldulf, her face beaming with a wide smile. ¡°Precisely! Well, I cross referenced this with another one done a few years ago,¡± Hypatia said as she placed another map on top of the first one. ¡°If you see here, they marked the same location as its own cave.¡± ¡°Do we know if they¡¯re connected?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain. But it¡¯s definitely worth a look,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Well, I think once we get some food in our stomachs, we gather whatever gear we¡¯ll need for the road and then pay these brigands a formal visit.¡± *** Kveldulf could spot two people at the front of the cave. They were leaning against the rock face, silent, one using a knife to clean their nails. He turned to Cid, who was crouched next to him and using hand signals said, What¡¯s the plan? Cid replied, Maeryn will take them out, you, Ben and Jeanne move up behind me, the rest will follow after the all-clear is given. Kveldulf, acknowledging the orders, slowly unsheathed his blade, laying the flat of the blade down on the ground. Cid called Maeryn over and both gingerly moved forward to the bandit¡¯s encampment. She looked over to Cid, who nodded and both notched arrows and in a swift moment, both the brigand sentries were dead on the ground. Kel, Jeanne, Cid, and Ben moved towards the entrance of the cave, and after investigating the area, Kel and Jeanne gave the all-clear. The others emerged from the woods, weapons in hand. Leonidas looked down at one of the dead and undid their sword belt, fastening it to his waist. ¡°Saw one to your fancy?¡± Hypatia asked him. ¡°I left mine back at the clinic,¡± he replied, ¡°And I¡¯d rather not be left wanting in a scuffle.¡± ¡°I¡¯d lend you mine if you¡¯d like,¡± Hypatia said, offering her his blade. ¡°Thank you, kindly, but the last time I tried to wield a song-sword it was not a pleasant experience.¡± ¡°Oof, I remember those salad days too well.¡± Leonidas unsheathed his blade and the two joined the rest inside the cave. Hypatia took point of the group, pulling out a little pouch with several sticks of white chalk. Holding the ancient map in one hand and a chalk in the other, she traveled down and marked the wall periodically. ¡°What¡¯s with the chalk?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°No sense getting lost on the way back,¡± she said to him. Cid, Ben and Silvius held a torch in hand as Jeanne used a fireball and Leonidas used a red glowing stone to illuminate the interior of the cave. As the light of the entrance faded into the blanket of darkness, fingerlings of tree roots becoming engulfed by the cave walls. Stalactites reached down towards them, with small droplets of water sporadically falling on their heads. Silvius ducked his head as one tapped his. ¡°I am not a fan of this, not a fan at all.¡± ¡°Not alone there,¡± said Maeryn, with her hood over her head. ¡°Won¡¯t that impair your hearing?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°No more than checking to see if something is dropping spit on my head.¡± ¡°Eloquently put,¡± said Silvius, throwing his own hood over his head. Kveldulf waited for half of the group to enter the cave before he continued down. Moving down the corridor, he found Leonidas, keeping close to the walls as he spotted a series of faded images chiseled into the rocks. He softly blew on the dirt before brushing the rest away. ¡°Silvius,¡± Leonidas said softly, him over. ¡°Come take a look at this.¡± Silvius walked over to Leonidas and examined the artwork carefully, using his torch to illuminate the writings and images. ¡°Remarkable,¡± he said in a hushed voice. ¡°Can you read it?¡± ¡°No, but I recognize it was written before even the Wars of The Fallen.¡± ¡°That was over twenty thousand years ago!¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely have to come back for further studies once we¡¯re done with current matters.¡± Kveldulf came up to the two and looked at the pictographs with a careful gaze. He had remembered his mother telling him about those wars when he was a child. The dark days when his family were among the few to oppose the Draken Kings and their acolytes. ¡°Make sure to mark these down carefully when you do, Silvius,¡± Kel said to him. ¡°This ¡­ this is important.¡± ¡°Without a doubt,¡± Silvius said breathlessly. As Silvius and Leonidas left, Kveldulf looked back at the images and wondered what stories they held? Were they odes to families like his, fighting against a great evils, were they the servants of Draken Tyrants cursing his ancient kin? Were they different stories altogether from ages remembered in vague riddles and fleeting fancies? When the ghostly fa?ade of what once was can barely be seen in ambiguous dreams passed down from generations. When one¡¯s soul can glimpse into a time of glory and civilization far greater in splendor than the magical words of the most brilliant of bards could muster. And the degrading disease wasting inherit to civilization had not taken hold. Kveldulf looked down, feeling the terrible sensation as if he was a small drop in a vast ocean. Lost in the vastness of time and unable to do more than be pulled to whatever direction it desired him. Perhaps this was to be the fate of him and his kin. To be lost, and forgotten by those who used to admire and praise their names. He looked back at the wall. Wondering what were the thoughts of those who made these etchings so long ago. While the others began disappearing into the cavernous path, Kveldulf placed his hand on the wall. Bowing his head, making a silent vow to his ancestors before returning to the others. Hypatia, at the head of the group, and still holding the ancient map on the cave, looked down and studied the path they were on. Silvius looked over her shoulder, inquisitively. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we have left that back at the inn?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Probably, but anything happens we¡¯ll blame the ogre,¡± she said. ¡°Can someone bring a torch over please?¡± Cid walked up, and Hypatia compared the path on the map with where they were presently. ¡°I think we¡¯re headed in the right direction,¡± she said before continuing down the tunnel. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°How much further do you think we have until were in the ¡­¡± Cid asked before he paused his speech, almost dropping his torch from his hand. They reached a ledge overlooking a vast fortress hewed into a great recess of the cave. Cid gestured everyone got down to their stomachs, Kveldulf needing to snap himself out of the trance-like state he was in as he first looked upon the fortress. They carefully peered their heads to gain a better look at the structure. At first glance, the whole structure was a great and terrible shape cloaked in darkness. Light halting before its presence, daring not to pierce through to unveil what laid behind. Only as their eyes began to adjust to the darkness, did they see the whole scene hidden deep within this forgotten part of the world. Set deep within a deeply tilted valley cloaked in shadowed light on the other side the long recess before them. The fortification itself rested on the black stone knees of the jagged valley. All dark, as if absorbing the light of the world to sate a hunger never to be satisfied. Even the ebbing light from inside seemed to be less illuminations and more the ominous cold gaze from within the bowels of the hellish beast. Each opened window took the appearance of an eye peering out, looking onward with a cold emptiness to the rest of the cavern. Even the rocks themselves seemed influenced by the vile presence of the castle nearby. Their forms were grotesque, ghostly and demented, as if born from ill dreams. A rotting odor touched Kveldulf¡¯s nose and he lifted a bit of his cloak and covered his nose. ¡°Ugh,¡± Silvius said, trying to swipe away the stench. ¡°Smells like something died in here.¡± Benkin sniffed the air before lightly coughing. ¡°I think you¡¯re not far off, Sil.¡± ¡°What do you think they¡¯re doing in here?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cid replied, ¡°but I doubt it¡¯s anything good.¡± There was moat around the keep, the outer ditch surrounding the structure was fitted against the cavern walls themselves. Several rounded watch towers and arsenal towers formed the angle points of the outer walls. Maeryn leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she viewed the walls before opening in full and pulling back quickly. She turned to the others, ¡°Look!¡± she said in a hushed voiced while pointing to the walls. Kveldulf trained his eyes to where Maeryn was looking and saw a series of pike standing upright along the length of the wall. All of them with a served head resting on top. Hypatia looked down to the base of the walls. ¡°Oh, good Honia,¡± she said, putting her hand over her mouth. The others looked down and saw more palisades erected along the stone ground, themselves decorated with impaled victims. Some appearing recent additions, others having been placed there for some time, and a few of the stakes having several bodies resting on top of the other. ¡°By the gods,¡± said Silvius. ¡°This is just ¡­ horrid.¡± ¡°An ill wind sickens this place,¡± said Leonidas, looking back to the castle¡¯s walls as Kveldulf noticed the dusky stone making up the outer walls and the stone fa?ade throughout the rest of the cavern were gilded with gold veins. Windows decorating the keep¡¯s walls displayed the image of a woman. Her head adorned the with crown styled as a cobra with its hood flared out. Her elongated face pulled down with fanged teeth spread out in a disturbing smile. Spikes come forth from her arms and fire engulfs her hands. Green ichor pours down her multiple legs as a tail curved behind her. At the top of the keep was a pillar of lighting coming from a hole along the cavern¡¯s ceiling. And save for a few small torches doting the area, was the only light source for the entire space. ¡°Well ¡­¡± said Benkin, ¡°that is something.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re at the Fortress of the Wraith King¡¯s wife, Elzba Belthory,¡± Silvius said, his voice shaky and his lip trembling. ¡°Outstanding,¡± Cid said, letting out a heavy breath. Kveldulf cracked his neck. ¡°I guess we¡¯ve got our work cut out for us then.¡± ¡°If I wasn¡¯t trying not to lose all comportment, I¡¯d be giddy and trying to write this all down,¡± Hypatia followed with a wide smile. ¡°I guess finding a chamber pot presently would be too much to ask?¡± Leonidas said. ¡°There¡¯s a hole over there, if that¡¯d help?¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I¡¯m seriously considering it,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°How could a place like this be forgotten?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°People are quick to forget what they find trivial and mundane,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Look at Orumus¡¯s Council half the time.¡± Silvius turned to Leonidas. ¡°They¡¯re not that bad.¡± Leonidas turned to Silvius. ¡°Really, Silvius? Do we need to go into the ungodly length of their title? Or how long it¡¯s taken them to fix the street outside my home?¡± ¡°They have much on their plate and can only do so much.¡± ¡°You visit them sometime and see how busy they are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Cid softly snapped. ¡°You two are going to give our position away.¡± Cid turned back to the others. ¡°Maeryn,¡± he said, waving her over, pointing to a series of steps leading down to a low bailey, with a worn path leading into the wall. ¡°Does there seem to be a way inside?¡± Maeryn took a moment to survey the area. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t really tell from here.¡± ¡°Given Belthory¡¯s history using magic to her advantage, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the door was cloaked in some spell,¡± said Silvius. Cid turned and spotted a series of steps leading down into the ditch surrounding the castle. Looking back at the others he ordered, gesturing them to follow. ¡°Come, I think a way down.¡± Moving quietly, the group negotiated their way down the steps into the ditch and towards the wall of the keep. Jeanne, Silvius and Leonidas went over to the door. Silvius unfurled a rolled belt with a variety of lockpicking tools. Jeanne ran here hands against the wall as Leonidas, his hands making geometric patterns, slowly began dissipating the magical cloak covering the door. Leonidas, moving his hand in geometric patterns and his fingers in a series of specific positions, conjuring a series of triangles, rotating within circular boundaries the followed him along the castle walls. ¡°All right, how?¡± Kveldulf asked the doctor. ¡°I took a few interesting classes at the university,¡± Leonidas replied, keeping his eyes on the wall. ¡°Must¡¯ve been an unorthodox institution,¡± Kveldulf heard Silvius whispered. ¡°Unorthodox would be an understatement,¡± Leonidas replied. Silvius shook his head in shock. ¡°All right, how?¡± ¡°Now that would be telling,¡± Leonidas said, holding his finger up and pointing it slightly towards Silvius. ¡°Are you two finding anything?¡± Cid asked Jeanne and Leonidas. Both shook their heads. ¡°Nothing,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°not yet at least.¡± ¡°Is there anything we need to be mindful of?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Wards, explosive crystals, probably something involving spikes going where spikes shouldn¡¯t go,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°We should remember that when it comes to protective measures around the castle,¡± Kveldulf said to Cid. ¡°Agreed. Just assume anything in there is hexed or bait,¡± said Cid. Jeanne, spotting something abnormal along with the fa?ade, turned to Silvius. ¡°I think I found it,¡± she whispered. Silvius came over, and gingerly fidgeted with the lock before he heard a click. As the door opened, they heard someone calling out from above them. ¡°Hey! What do you ¨C¡± An arrow pierced his skull and he fell over the rampart towards them. Before hitting the ground, Jeanne, her arms outstretched, moved the man, still in flight, into the opened door way. In less than a thought fire and smoke bellowed from the door way and up into the chamber. Jeanne and Maeryn looked at each other, both holding a thumb up before Cid gave the signal to go in. Moving quickly down the corridor, the group came to a series of room dotting each side. Cid, his ears perking up sharply, stopped the group with a flat hand held up. He turned his head slightly, before using his hand to say, Someone¡¯s coming, hide! Kveldulf ducked behind a room, with Hypatia and Silvius with him, the rest moving to the other rooms. They pressed their ears against the door. Listening to the growing clomps of heavy footsteps coming closer. ¡°The hell was that?¡± he heard one guard ask. Kveldulf could feel his hands shaking and his breathing begin to speed up as he tried to calm himself and listen to the guards getting closer. ¡°How should I know?¡± said the second guard, ¡°I just heard someone shout and then an explosion!¡± ¡°Gods, where is Clemmo? I thought I heard him shout before the explosion?¡± ¡°Probably taking another ¡­¡± the second guard stopped in his speech. A series of cautious steps taken before he said, ¡°Oh gods, it¡¯s Clemmo!¡± ¡°What on earth? He¡¯s burnt to a crisp!¡± ¡°Check the other rooms,¡± said the second guard, ¡°See if the buggers are around here.¡± Kveldulf gestured Silvius and Hypatia to brace the door. Pressing their shoulders tightly against the wooden slabs. The first strike from the guard caused dust to fall from the crevasses of the wood slats. Silvius looked to the others, ¡°That was harder than I expected.¡± ¡°Shh,¡± hushed Hypatia before the next strike hit the door. Kveldulf waved them away from the door before the third strike. Kel stood at the entrance, his sword held behind him, ready to strike, as the guard kicked down the door slab and was immediately decapitated. The other guard rushed through the door, with a cross bolt quickly landing into the middle of his forehead. Kveldulf turned to see Silvius holding a crossbow and letting out a relived sigh. ¡°When did you learn to use that?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Back at the university, it was a good way to make some extra coin ¡­ and get out of trouble if things got hairy.¡± Cid and the others left one of the other rooms. Cid peered inside, seeing the two dead guards. ¡°Nice work,¡± he said to them. ¡°Thanks,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Should we keep going?¡± Cid nodded. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s head out before more guards decide to check on these three.¡± They journeyed along the lower chambers reaching an opening to a long and dark hall to their right with several jail cells on both sides. Leonidas, passing the opening, stopped and looked towards the chamber. Benkin noticed him standing still. ¡°Everything all right, Doc?¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s someone in there.¡± ¡°Ben, go with Doc and check it out,¡± said Cid. ¡°I¡¯ll go with,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Me too,¡± said Jeanne. The four entered the dark hall, their light sources the only illumination in the room. The cell floors were covered in bodies, ranging from freshly deceased and long dead. In the last cell on their left Leonidas found a pile, with a woman¡¯s body laying at the top of the heap. ¡°Oh gods,¡± he said. Kveldulf and Jeanne came up behind him. Kveldulf knelt down and turned to Jeanne. ¡°Look,¡± he said pointing to the woman¡¯s neck, ¡°A blue broach.¡± Jeanne was silent her grip tightening around the flame and the color of the flame turning from red to blue. The fires beginning to burn away at her glove. Her jaw clenched shut as she bared her teeth. Her eyes had the look of murderous intent as the veins in her neck began bulging at the skin. ¡°Jeanne?¡± Kveldulf said to her. As her body shook in rage, she was silent. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Leonidas said, moving his hand towards her, hesitant to touch her shoulder. ¡°We find the bastard, he¡¯s mine,¡± she said venomously. Both men nodded as she left the room. Cid entered the chamber and came to where Kel and Leonidas stood. He bowed his head and uttered a quick prayer. ¡°When this is done, we¡¯ll come back for her,¡± he said to Kveldulf. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this damn thing over with,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Agreed,¡± Cid said somberly. Part Fourteen - Lady of Blood Making their way up the first level, they came upon a series of rows made of large wooden stakes, each with a person impaled them. The tips of the wooden points sticking out of the victim¡¯s mouths. Many of the bodies had long desiccated, and some of the limbs had begun to pull away from the rest of the body. ¡°By order¡¯s mercy,¡± Cid said to himself. ¡°What sort of monster lives here?¡± ¡°One who sold their soul to damnation, for nothing more than blood-born pleasures.¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Where did all these people come from?¡± Silvius asked, covering his nose and mouth with his hand. ¡°Probably were found on the road or in random camps around here,¡± said Benkin. ¡°But what for?¡± Maeryn followed. ¡°Blood sacrifice,¡± said Leonidas, kneeling down and examining the runes and symbols etched into the stone floor. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Seen my fair share of things,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°The hell are they doing here?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°My guess, it¡¯s a summoning ritual,¡± Leonidas answered. ¡°For whom?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Now that, good sir, is the question of the hour.¡± From the top of the stairs leading towards the upper level, they could hear a series of dark growls and clicks. ¡°And that just sounds ever so welcoming,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I don¡¯t like that it¡¯s our only way up,¡± said Cid, ¡°try to keep low, put out your lights, and get ready to defend yourselves when things get heated.¡± ¡°I¡¯m seriously wishing we were just dealing with regular dumb bandits,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And miss out on all this fun?¡± followed Jeanne. ¡°If we survive this, I¡¯m going to have a few choice words for you.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s what they all say,¡± Jeanne said, waving off comment. ¡°All right,¡± said Cid, ¡°Let¡¯s not lose focus.¡± He gripped his blade tightly as he began to slowly moving up the steps. Each one now made in a slow and methodic in execution. Cid began sinking lower with each progressive step the stairs. Until he was crawling along the stair case. The others copying him until they all entered the second level of the keep. Reaching the top of the steps, they saw tall columns decorated in designs of trees, animals, people made from faded gold gildings. The walls forming the rounded room were of golden marble stone with the last quarter covered in pure black. Kveldulf looked down at the floor and saw transparent glass with bodies of hundreds of people resting underneath. Many of them in their violent death throes. Their arms stretching up in the air before frozen in horrified posture. The columns resting above appeared to press many of the bodies underneath. Reaching up to hold up the ceiling above them, the pillars formed a large circle around the antechamber of the entire level. There was no one living, the floor was covered in bodies of bandits and peasants alike. The group pressed themselves against the wall, trying to avoid stepping on the bodies. Their feet slipping on the smooth floor covered in blood and over fluids. ¡°Why would anyone want to be living in these conditions?¡± Maeryn whispered. ¡°Ignorance, greed, survival,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°take your pick.¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot about this,¡± Kveldulf said with an narrow gaze and a wrinkled brow. ¡°I¡¯ve been around long enough to know what people can do in the dark places of this world,¡± Leonidas replied as he pressed himself against the wall nearby the door. The group lined themselves on both sides of the door. Kveldulf, Maeryn, Hypatia and Silvius standing on one side, Cid, Jeanne, Leonidas and Benkin on the other. Kveldulf took in a deep breath before he pressed on the door. It moved enough to make a crack without a single creak from its hinges. Kveldulf let out a silent sigh, noticing some sweat beginning to beading he looked up to the ceiling and mouthed ¡®thank you¡¯. With the door now opened they could hear something slithering on the other side. The click and growls growing in volume. They heard a voice, croaking, deep with a long-pronounced hisses at the end of their speech. Kveldulf felt his skin crawl and the hair in the back of his neck stand up on end as he heard the voice speak. ¡°What¡¯s this to turn away your sight? As if you¡¯re taken by some blight? Perhaps we cannot understand the crimson beauty now at hand? Is to gaze on bloody glory not enough to become holy?¡± the voice asked with an explosive guttural quality, a woman¡¯s, Kveldulf noticed, though it had a darker, more demonic, sound to it as he listened closer. Another voice spoke out, timid, subservient, and terrified. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lady, but the scent ¡­ it is hard for me to get used to, perhaps if I could ¨C¡± The monstrous voice grew deeper and menacing, its echo now permeating loudly into the antechamber. ¡°You daring wretch, to give command! As if I¡¯ll see this treason stand! Impudent wretch, useless contraband, for this slight, your death is at hand!¡± The second voice cried out. ¡°No! I¡¯m sorry, my lady,¡± before shrieking screams echoed in both rooms. Kveldulf curled his lips back as he heard the noise. He noticed Cid and Jeanne recoiling back and looking back at him with growing concern. Kveldulf looked back to the others behind him and noted their heads sinking into their shoulders, leaving him with a sense of dread he wished would leave him. Kveldulf looked at Cid and Jeanne, standing on the other side of the doorway. ¡°I think we made a mistake taking this contract,¡± he whispered. ¡°We can¡¯t hear you,¡± Cid whispered pointing to his ears. Kveldulf rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Will we be needing another servant for you, Lady Belthory?¡± asked a new voice. It was a man, calm, collected, undaunted by the horror they witnessed. Silvius, Hypatia, Maeryn and Benkin shot their heads up as they heard the voice. ¡°That¡¯s the bastard,¡± Maeryn said to Kveldulf, growling underneath her breath. Kveldulf lifted one ear up and heard sniffing noises coming from the room, Cid and Jeanne frantically mouthed Kveldulf to shut the chamber doors, making closing gestures with their hands rapidly, reinforcing the message. As he began pulling, the slab violently swung open, throwing Kveldulf off balance, staying upright only with Maeryn and Silvius grabbing him. In slithered a figure matching the image of the stain glass windows on the keep. Her arms were long past the length of a fully grown man, even as she rose high above the others, her tail was deep inside the throne room. Her hair matted wet with blood and her eyes were dark crimson with black irises. Her skin oozed a clear liquid, while her serpentine body moved with a slow rumble caused in her wake. She looked to Kveldulf and said, ¡°I thought I smelled the scent of blood. Bound to creatures birthed from mere ¨C¡± Maeryn notched two arrows and landed one in each of Belthory¡¯s eyes. Belthory let out a ear splitting shriek as she thrashed about in pain. Slamming into pillars and walls, causing parts of the ceiling to break off and fall down to the floor below. ¡°Into the chamber!¡± Cid shouted as every one raced into the throne room. Maeryn fired an arrow towards a man in the room, catching him in knee, causing him to fall to the floor. Inside the throne room was a large pool of blood. Piked heads flanking the throne at the far end of the room and stained tapestries of Belthory and another man standing next to her draping the walls inside. Once inside, Jeanne unleashed a barrage of fire balls towards Belthory who swung her arms to defend herself. Jeanne barely dodged the swing, covering her head with her hands as debris fell down. Benkin and slashed at her tail, as Silvius launched several crossbolts into her torso. With her tail, she wrapped the tip around a broken piece of stone and flung it towards Silvius. Silvius leaped to the ground, the force of Belthory¡¯s landing loosened a large chunk of a pillar, Benkin having to roll out to avoid the piece from crushing him. Belthory, snarling with blood coming out of her mouth, sniffed the air before letting out a wrathful screaming. She lunged at Kveldulf with great speed as Maeryn tackled him out of the way. As the serpent queen steadied herself, Kveldulf looked at Sianna, both catching their breath. ¡°Even?¡± he said to her. She nodded. ¡°Even.¡± Hypatia and Cid rushed Belthory, the swords slashing through scales and flesh. Hypatia sinking her blades, causing Belthory to race around the room, Hypatia gripping her blades as she rode the serpent queen around the room. She moved up the length of the queen¡¯s back, sinking her blades into the queen¡¯s flesh with each move up. The queen rose herself up and swung herself violently, trying to throw Hypatia off. ¡°I could use some help!¡± Hypatia shouted. Each swing getting more frantic, causing Hypatia¡¯s blades to slice down the queen¡¯s back until they began losing their purchase. Moving along the floor, the queen flung Hypatia off her, the song singer hitting the ground hard. As the queen move to slam her tail down, Benkin, with his sword, sliced the tail off the fiend, as Silvius helped move Hypatia out of the way. When Belthory tried making a rush towards the three, Cid fired the blade from his shield gauntlet into the armpit of Belthory, she slammed into a pillar and writhed in pain, before pulling the blade out and throwing it to the side. As she let out another scream, Leonidas plunged his sword deep into Belthory¡¯s side, trying to pull the blade inside her flesh. With a swipe of her hand, she launched him into a wall before he landed onto the ground with a hard thud. He began coughing tasting blood in his mouth as tried to steady his vision. He saw Belthory smiling at him, her bloody eyes looking back at him. ¡°Wonderful,¡± he groaned. ¡°I can¡¯t but smile for us to meet, your flesh it smells so since and sweet,¡± Belthory said to him with a sinister smile. ¡°Oh gods, it¡¯s like the spider-lady, only so much worse!¡± Belthory move back slightly. ¡°What?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Leonidas grabbed her throat and she began screaming as a green glow came from his hand and his blackened veins and hollowed eyes returned. His wounds began to slowly heal as her flesh began desiccating, before she flung him again into a large pool of blood in the middle of the throne room. As she moved towards him, Maeryn and Silvius loosed several arrows into Belthory¡¯s side. Jeanne used her telekinesis spell to move one of the tapestries around Belthory¡¯s head and launched a fireball towards it. As the fabric was set flame, Belthory screamed in pain before slamming herself into the blood pool to douse the fire. Cid and Silvius raced over to help Leonidas to his feet, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and moving him out of the pool as Belthory landed in there. Kveldulf leapt onto Belthory¡¯s shoulder and with a great war cry began striking her mercilessly with the pommel of his great sword. Belthory threw herself back as she writhed in pain, Maeryn sent an arrow straight into the monster¡¯s neck, causing the queen to grip her neck as she tried to breath. Using the moment, Kveldulf plunged his blade deep into her collarbone and into her heart. Immediately she became limp, swerving in the air before falling into the blood pool, splashing everyone. Everyone looked around slowing allowing themselves to relax. Benkin, Cid and Hypatia slowly making their way to queen¡¯s corpse. ¡°I think ¡­,¡± Cid said, gripping his side as he was catching his breath, ¡°I think she¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Take the head,¡± said Silvius insisted. ¡°You always ¡­ take the head.¡± ¡°I can do that,¡± said Benkin, who raised his blade and severed Belthory¡¯s head from her body in one strike. ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Leonidas, getting up to his feet, looking at all the blood all over his body, ¡°It¡¯s everywhere!¡± ¡°Smelling a little ripe, too,¡± said Maeryn, covering her nose and trying swipe away the stench. ¡°Well, we all can¡¯t smell like ¡­ whatever the hell you enjoy smelling.¡± ¡°Not even trying are you?¡± ¡°No, and I do not care right now,¡± said the doctor as Maeryn patted his shoulder, still pinching her nose. Kveldulf pulled his blade out of Belthory¡¯s corpse, he spotted Jeanne making her over to a part of the throne room. She turned to the others, ¡°Hey, I think I found our bounty!¡± The rest moved to where she was, seeing the man Maeryn hit with her arrow laying on the ground a large piece of stone laying on top of his leg. ¡°Wow,¡± said Benkin, ¡°bad day to be him.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± said Cid, loosening his neck and shoulders, ¡°Master Connar Grant, I presume, or do you prefer Culain?¡± ¡°Go fuck yourself, you spineless mog,¡± said the man, spitting at Cid. ¡°And a fine how do you do, to you as well,¡± Cid replied, shaking his head. The man let out a groan as Jeanne grabbed him by the collar and slugged him across the face. Kveldulf turned to Benkin, ¡°Now it¡¯s a bad day to be him.¡± The man turned to spit blood from his mouth. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°The fuck do you think?¡± said Jeanne. She grabbed a necklace sitting on his chest, ripped it off and held it towards Maeryn. ¡°This yours?¡± Maeryn nodded and Jeanne tossed the jewelry back to her. Maeryn gazed upon the piece with reverence before putting it back on her neck. ¡°Wait, are we interrogating this man?¡± Silvius asked. Cid shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad start,¡± ¡°I mean, we could ask what the giant snake lady was doing in here?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°Hold that thought,¡± said Jeanne, striking the man again. ¡°What the hell were you doing with Belthory?¡± The man laughed at them, revealing bloodied and broken teeth and as his life¡¯s water began flowing out. ¡°You know nothing. And will die knowing nothing. My death is but a minor inconvenience to something greater than I can speak.¡± ¡°Oh gods, another self-righteous riddler,¡± said Silvius, smacking his forehead. ¡°Is it surprising for little minds to act big?¡± Benkin followed. ¡°And the young woman from the village?¡± Jeanne demanded, grabbing Connar by the collar. ¡°Which one?¡± the man asked, smiling. Jeanne¡¯s hands shook with rage as she turned to the others. ¡°Get out!¡± Cid and Kveldulf began herding the rest of the group out into the antechamber. As the two shut the doors they heard Jeanne roaring before sounds of heavy strikes began shaking the floor. The others turned to the direction of the other room, their eyes widened and bodies becoming rigid as the assault grew in intensity. Silvius asked, ¡°Something we should know?¡± ¡°Not a story for us to tell,¡± Kveldulf replied as a great blow landed disturbing the dust around them. Once the strikes began subsiding, until stopped entirely. Kveldulf pushed open doors, seeing Jeanne slumped over as her the rage dissappated. She moved up and down, trying to catch her breath, each breath laced with pain. Kveldulf entered the throne room and coming up to Jeanne saw her skin covered in stone, save for her hands. Stone chunks dotted the floor nearby, and her knuckles were covered in blood. The man face and chest was now a pulp of flesh, bone and brains. ¡°Doc! We need you in here,¡± Kveldulf called out. Leonidas moved to where they at quickly. Getting down onto his knees and examining her hands. Her skin turned back to normal, her gaze on the battered remains. ¡°How are her hands?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Nothing¡¯s broken,¡± Doc said to him as he pulled out a white cloth, ¡°but this needs to be cleaned. And I don¡¯t think we should be here any longer than needed.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°Cid! What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°I think we should take the doctor¡¯s advice, and remove ourselves back to the inn.¡± Silvius poked his head into the throne room. ¡°Gentlemen, I think I found something you might be interested in.¡± Kel and Cid exchanged glances. Kel turned to Leonidas and Jeanne, ¡°Let¡¯s head back with the others.¡± *** Kveldulf leaned against the pillar outside of the inn. Looking up at the stars glittering against a black sky as they slowly moved above him. He remembered the last night he was with his parents. The clear summer night out in the fields of Havamal. Light from the full moon illuminating the sea of grass around them. Songs of war and glory were sung by soldiers to kings he did not know. Fighting for a cause he did not understand. His mother was singing her odes and ballads to warriors of distant memory, her song-blades slashing the air with perfect harmony. His father was playing the lute he had kept since his own childhood. Kveldulf remembered the reverie enjoyed by all as the sounds of hooves and unsheathed steel came crashing into the camp. People yelling, people screaming, barking out orders. Trying to make order in the midst of chaos. His parents telling him to run into the woods nearby. He remembered the sweat pouring down his face, the fear taking his thoughts as he ran as fast as his legs could take him. He didn¡¯t stop running until he tripped into a ravine and listening alone in the dark woods as he heard the sounds of battle until nothing but the silence remained. As the sun rose, he moved out from the ravine and back to the camp. The stench of smoke already hitting his nose before he arrived to the edge of the forest. Bodies of those he had seen in the throes of merriment now laid on the ground, their bodies hacked and mangled. Moving with care as he made his way through the camp. Kveldulf remembered his breath leaving him as he found the bodies of his mother and father lying deathly still on the ground, a short distance from the smoldering campfire and with dozens of the enemy dead surrounding them. He saw his father¡¯s great sword resting next to him, the blade coated in the dark wine of the enemy¡¯s blood. and his mother¡¯s song-blades no where to be found. Unable to hold back the tears, he remembered taking his father¡¯s blade, and leaving the terrible place. As his mind returned to the present, he removed his father¡¯s sheathed blade from his back and firmly held it in his hands. The last thing he had left of them in the entire world. Everything nothing but memories within his thoughts. He remembered lines from a poem he heard from his father: The wise one pauses when pondering thoughts, Focused on the fleetingness of all things. Little lingers in the wake of woeful decay, Ruins of giants stand barren and hidden, Covered by an ocean of grass and weeds. Sounds of citizens now long gone forever, Even the sad-faced man buried in earth. All is made naught by time immortal, For all is formed from this dark life. Kveldulf had not the winters to fathom the deeper meaning of the words when he first heard them. Only when he buried the two he such closeness with, and was left wanting and bereft of all sense of kinship did the truth sink in full. Even know there was a disconnect with others, even Cid and Jeanne, close as they were with him. He took out his pipe and prepared some tobacco for smoking as he wondered what his parents would think if they saw him now? Would they be proud, would they judge him, he could not say? Would they see him as one carrying on the warrior tradition with pride? Would they see a blood thirsty monster seeking brutal glory and coins bought by death? He couldn¡¯t say for certain. If anything, he simply wanted to hear their voices one more time. To tell them that even after all these years, all he had seen and done, they were the greatest treasure he ever had. Their words of guidance became his morals. They love of song became his admiration of the arts. Their zeal for life his want to see the known world and beyond. He wanted to tell them how much they influenced them. Most of all, he wanted to say how much he missed them. Hearing the clomps of hooves he turned his head to find Jeanne and Cid ride out of the darkness. They dismounted, hitched their horses and walked up to Kveldulf looking worn and haggard. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°About as well it can go when you tell a parent their child is dead,¡± said Cid, stopping to take a breath to regain his composure, showing his exhaustion in full. ¡°But they appreciated us bringing her back to them.¡± ¡°What are you two going to do now?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid ran his fingers through his fur. ¡°Well I am going to get something to drink, coming Jeanne?¡± Jeanne shook her head, saying nothing as she opened and closed her hands, now wrapped in bandages. As Cid entered the inn to join the others, Jeanne sat next to Kveldulf, looking down to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna ask how you¡¯re holding up,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Not great,¡± Jeanne replied weakly. ¡°You want to talk about it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°If you want, I can give you some privacy.¡± She rubbed her knuckles on both her hands, staying silent. Kveldulf stepped away from the column. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be inside if you need me.¡± As he began walking towards the inn, Jeanne said, ¡°She was their favorite.¡± Kel said nothing, turning around to walk back and sat next to her. ¡°My sister, Sabine. My parents never said it, but I knew she was. And they had every reason to think that. She was bright, she was kind. Always helping around the house or the farm. All the while, I¡¯d escape into the woods, finding bugs and lizards to make friends. Pulling pranks on them or some other passersby. Only caring for whatever amusement I could find in the moment. I can still see the disappointment in their eyes when they¡¯d look at me, scolded me, tried to make me into a daughter they could be proud of. ¡°And there was my sister, who I thought could do no wrong in their eyes. At first, I was jealous of her, how my parents always praised, idolized her. Then I despised her for being who I didn¡¯t want to be. And ¡­,¡± Jeanne¡¯s voice began breaking as she continued, ¡°¡­ then I just hated her. For ¡­ being a better daughter. I was so hateful to her and ¡­ she deserved none of it. And before I knew it, she was gone. Found dead in a ditch, butchered like an animal by a nobleman¡¯s son. ¡°The bastard thought he could get away with it, too, what with being a noble¡¯s son. Not when I was done with him. I can still remember him screaming, Kel. I was certain someone would hear him at some point. But no one did. And I didn¡¯t stop. Not when I broke his legs. Not when I shattered his arms. Not when I fed him his manhood. By the end, he was begging me for death when I started having my fun, and I enjoyed every minute of it, Kel. But it didn¡¯t take away the pain. Gods it didn¡¯t take any of it away. And out of everything, I just wanted to tell her I was sorry.¡± Jeanne, unable to hold back the pain, began sobbing as Kveldulf back his arm on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± he told her, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Part Fifteen - The Unyielding Truth Silvius and Hypatia conversed amongst themselves while pouring over the tomes and other artifacts throughout one of the wars in the keep. The whole chamber was decorated with weapons, armors, shields, flags sporting the heraldic sigils of houses thousands of years old. Kveldulf and Jeanne kept watch by the entrance of the throne, with Maeryn and Benkin doing the same by the top of the stair case leading up into the next level. Kveldulf looked at them and wondered how many had gone extinct since they were first hung in here? Did their kin ponder the fortune they enjoyed before the final day of house came to a close? Was it worth song and memory? Was it worth the blood-price paid for glory and honor? Did they find the same shameful mark his now carries? It was hard for him not to entertain these thoughts as they stood here of all places. He turned to see Jeanne looking the room with glee. He smiled, admiring the child-like wonder she had for such things. Something he wished he could have kept after so many winters. Kveldulf looked over at Leonidas and Cid pacing the circumference of the antechamber, a blue stone hovering in the doctor¡¯s hand and as they were scanning the wall with great care. Jeanne was rubbing her knuckles, now covered in fresh bandages from the morning. ¡°How are they feeling?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°They¡¯re feeling better,¡± she said, shaking her hands, ¡°Damn itchy, though.¡± ¡°Maybe have Doc could put something on them to help?,¡± Kveldulf suggested with a small shrug. ¡°He did.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ damn,¡± Kveldulf said, jerking his head back. Jeanne nodded as Kveldulf helped her up and rejoined the others. Silvius, moving over to Hypatia, who was holding a map in her hands. ¡°I think this is the room, Sil,¡± Hypatia said in a soft voice. ¡°Outstanding! Let¡¯s see what this place has for us,¡± Silvius said, running his hands along the wall. ¡°Is this a good idea?¡± Cid asked. ¡°We haven¡¯t exactly checked it for traps.¡± Leonidas nodded at Cid¡¯s comment. ¡°You could set something off, and then we¡¯ll have another problem on our hands.¡± ¡°If, and I strongly emphasize the if, I am correct, I believe this is should have some trinkets and what-nots to make this trip worthwhile.¡± ¡°I like trinkets,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°And I could use some what-nots or a do-dad or two,¡± followed Kveldulf. Silvius moved his hand to the center of a shield held by one of several warriors, and with a soft push, a secret door began opening. The ground trembled as the stone slabs moving withing the inner recesses of the walls to the and revealed a room lined with ancient armor and weapons. At the far end of the room was a thick brown tome with the image of steed rearing up on its hind legs. Entering the room, Silvius marveled at the armor and weaponry with great care. ¡°This is marvelous!¡± he declared. ¡°This has to be from the before the reign of the Wraith King himself.¡± ¡°What purpose was this place then?¡± asked Cid. ¡°Doesn¡¯t exactly look like a treasury room.¡± ¡°This must¡¯ve been an armory of sorts, with the other room being where he might¡¯ve held court while he was here,¡± Silvius said. Hypatia looked at a book resting of the massive table in the middle of the room with the etching of the Wraith King¡¯s house in the center. ¡°Then this must be the records of his war-marshal, which means this must¡¯ve been his personal residence when the Wraith King wasn¡¯t here,¡± she said with excitement. ¡°Now what was his name? Barron, Bursen,¡± she said, snapping her fingers as she tried to remember, ¡°Oh, I hate it when I can¡¯t remember their names.¡± ¡°Baeron Grimkellsen,¡± said Kveldulf solemnly, ¡°Last lord of the House of Hyvtur Hestur. The White Horse of the Old Kings of Orumus.¡± ¡°You know your history,¡± Silvius said, impressed. ¡°I should,¡± Kveldulf said with great regret. ¡°I¡¯m his heir.¡± Everyone froze as they looked at him. Hypatia even dropping the book and Leonidas dropping the stone in their hands. Kveldulf could see Cid and Jeanne looking around at the others¡¯ reactions. ¡°Run that by us again?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I am, to my knowledge, the last of that line. Once one of the noble exiles houses of the Old Kingdom of Sutr. Sword-regent of the Warband of Orumus. Now relegated to be among the worst of villains and knaves in all our history.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Silvius turned to Cid and Jeanne. ¡°Did you two know about this?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°he told us.¡± ¡°And you brought him here!¡± Silvius exclaimed. ¡°He¡¯s a wanted criminal!¡± ¡°For what crime?¡± Jeanne returned. ¡°Baeron died with the Wraith King, generations before Kel was born.¡± ¡°His kin did try to kill Allianna after she took leadership of the city,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°Again, generations before Kel¡¯s time.¡± ¡°What if he came back to finish what his family started? And bring the Wraith King back?¡± ¡°I am not a traitor nor an ally of The Wraith King!¡± Kveldulf bellowed. ¡°I think we¡¯re being a bit quick to judge Kveldulf,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°No one¡¯s asked him why he¡¯s here in the first place.¡± ¡°Ties to kin can be a great drive for person, good or ill, transcending generations,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Some houses have brought their end trying to avenge a slight instead of letting go and moving on,¡± said Benkin. ¡°But if Kel wants to prove his family isn¡¯t bad, why shouldn¡¯t he be given the chance?¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Because this could be a danger to Orumus and we don¡¯t know it,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I¡¯m about to start knocking sense into you if you keep that up, Sil,¡± Jeanne said, cracking her knuckles. ¡°Jeanne, stop,¡± said Cid, ¡°everyone, let¡¯s try and not escalate this, anymore than it has.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to stand here and listen to some fop insult my friend,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯d rather be a fop than kin to the worst traitor in the history of our kingdom.¡± ¡°You need to watch your mouth,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I think we should judge Kveldulf by his own merits,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°not the merits of someone long before him.¡± ¡°It would be easier if he wasn¡¯t as closely tied to his family¡¯s legacy,¡± said Benkin, ¡°which does seem to be the case.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t think to inform the auth¡ª¡± Silvius tried saying as Jeanne grabbed his collar and pulled him closely. ¡°Be careful with your next words scholar, they could be your last.¡± Benkin, Hypatia and Maeryn unsheathed their weapons. ¡°Let him go!¡± Benkin said. ¡°Make me,¡± Jeanne replied, beginning to turn her skin to stone. ¡°Enough!¡± Cid snapped. ¡°Jeanne, release Master Silvius. Benkin, Maeryn, Hypatia, sheath your weapons, now!¡± Jeanne let Silvius go, pointing a finger towards him before walking back over to Kveldulf. Benkin, Maeryn, and Hypatia lowered their weapons cautiously. ¡°Yes, we knew about his past. We also know him now. And Kveldulf has done nothing but try to live up to the old honor his kin were renowned for. If you cannot see that now, then you are welcomed to take your pay and go.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Silvius after a long moment of uncomfortable silence, ¡°this was most unexpected.¡± ¡°I guess this can¡¯t be easy for you to be here, then,¡± Hypatia said to Kveldulf. ¡°There are other places I¡¯d rather be,¡± Kveldulf confessed. ¡°Then why come back?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Especially with the decree in place?¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯m back,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°If I¡¯m the last of my blood, then there¡¯s no one else who could undo Alliana¡¯s verdict. My name will be known for little more than mud and nothing more. And my kin have done too much in serving this city to be given such a fate and denied the glory of honor we earned in the life after this.¡± ¡°I guess I can¡¯t blame you for that one,¡± Benkin said. ¡°That last part was more than harsh.¡± ¡°That woman denied us access to the Halls of Valor, that wasn¡¯t her call to make, and I do what I must to give us back that decency.¡± ¡°I guess there¡¯s no harm in that,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Changing the subject to ¡­ happier thoughts,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°I¡¯m wondering why Baeron would¡¯ve taken so much time and effort to make this place home?¡± ¡°It must¡¯ve had some significance to him,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°possibly family history?¡± Silvius paused for a moment, his eyes widening and inhaling sharply. ¡°I know this place!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°This is The Unyielding Fortress!¡± ¡°Come again,¡± said Benkin, tilting his head and furrowing his eyebrows. ¡°When the Draken Lords ruled these lands, House of the White Horse led a revolt amongst the free peoples to throw off the yoke of the draconic tyrants. This was their fortress!¡± Silvius smacked his brow as he took in the discovery. ¡°This was thought to be lost, or not even existing at all.¡± ¡°Many myths come with a grain of truth,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°The question is how much has been added?¡± ¡°Perhaps such things should remain hidden,¡± said Cid, ¡°given the nature of this place.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kveldulf insisted, ¡°the pursuit of knowledge should not be inhibited by the discomforts of the past¡¯s truths. What we can learn here can help us now, or generations later.¡± ¡°Well, Silvius, why don¡¯t you help us figure out if there¡¯s anymore hidden rooms in here. Kveldulf, if you¡¯d mind keeping Hypatia company while we tend to that matter?¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°Of course,¡± he turned over to Hypatia, ¡°Where did you want to check out first?¡± Part Sixteen - Doctors Secrets ¡°I was thinking maybe those shelves over there?¡± she said, pointing to a section on the far end of the room. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Kveldulf said. As Hypatia pulled out a thick tome bound in red leather and gilded in faded silver, and placed it on a nearby table. She opened the book up and slowly leaved through the pages, examining the contents with great care. Kveldulf could hear her softly whispering out loud, pausing to give a ¡®hmm¡¯ and ¡®huh¡¯ ever so often. ¡°Anything good?¡± he asked her. ¡°This seems to be a collection of epic poems,¡± she said. ¡°Going back to before even the fall of the Rubicon Empire.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kveldulf said, walking over to the table. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll read a bit of it: Come closer, Spear-siblings, Who pine for days long lost and gone. Where wonderous glory and deeds, Of mighty princes, echo the halls. Terror of warriors, bears among men. Brandishing claw and blade, Hewing through ranks unchecked¡­¡± Hypatia turned the page, beginning to read the page before speaking, yet Kveldulf spoke the next line aloud. ¡°For they were fine kings, finer men, who brought hallow honor to kin.¡± Hypatia¡¯s eyes grew wide, blinking rapidly. ¡°You know the poem?¡± she asked him. ¡°It¡¯s The Beowharta Edda,¡± Kveldulf said, ¡°My father loved that poem.¡± ¡°I remember translating The Bearheart Saga back at the university,¡± she said the Kveldulf, ¡°tales of warriors rushing into battle like maddened bears, the use of imagery to describe the fights was ¡­ amazing, just amazing.¡± ¡°Whoever compose that poem had a good day during those parts.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see a copy of this in here.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Baeron was never seen to be a man who enjoyed the written word, even if this was something he inherited. Given all the libraries and universities he had a hand in destroying during his lifetime.¡± ¡°People are complicated creatures, usually very contradictory ones at that.¡± ¡°True, very true. Still, it is rather intriguing, to say the least.¡± ¡°What do you make of it then?¡± ¡°Hard to say, but it could be he wanted to posses some knowledge of his past before such information was snuffed out forever.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Kveldulf hummed, rubbing his chin. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just wondering why?¡± Hypatia shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re guess is as good as mine,¡± she said before her eyes widened and she turned back to him. ¡°Oh! Oh no!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I did not mean it in that way, I am so sorry.¡± ¡°What are you ¡­ oh, oh! No, no no, you¡¯re fine, really.¡± ¡°All right,¡± she said, calming down, ¡°I was afraid I had put my foot into my mouth again. Sort of a habit of mine.¡± ¡°Is this a commonality at the university?¡± ¡°Sometimes, usually they prefer newer scholar to ¡®observe those before them with great concentration,¡¯ or something to that effect.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Be quiet and let the professors talk.¡± ¡°Not much of a way to foster new minds, is it?¡± ¡°In some fairness, you do have a few students who think they already know the ways of the world before they set foot onto the university¡¯s grounds.¡± ¡°And do they?¡± ¡°Iura no! Most don¡¯t recognize when they¡¯re showing their lack of awareness to anything, or even when they¡¯re being insulted to their faces.¡± ¡°And these people look at me like an idiot,¡± Kveldulf said, chuckling. ¡°Sadly, many of them have parents who coddle them in every respect. I¡¯d imagine they¡¯d hold their hands for their wedding nights.¡± Kveldulf snorted loudly as he covered his mouth. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I just imagined some man¡¯s mother, sitting next to his bed as he¡¯s about to consummate his marriage with someone and go,¡± as he continued, Kveldulf spoke in a soft and petite voice, ¡°¡®Now sweetie, make sure to not do that face you make when trying to use the privy, it¡¯s not very becoming. And for the love of Barna don¡¯t yell ¡®victory¡¯ when you¡¯re finishing, that¡¯s just poor form.¡¯¡± As he finished both he and Hypatia began laughing out loud. Hypatia added, using a shaky and groggy voice, ¡°Sweetie, are you all right? You have that look on your face when you¡¯d need to be changed as a baby.¡± Both continued laughing, Kveldulf completely bowled over and hitting the table with a clenched fist. ¡°Oh Thekkin, I needed that laugh badly.¡± Hypatia wiped a tear from her eye. ¡°That makes two of us,¡± she said, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself. ¡°I guess this wasn¡¯t something you expected back at the university?¡± ¡°No, no this was not,¡± she said. ¡°Though they use a laugh or two to liven themselves up.¡± ¡°Not the most animated people in the room?¡± ¡°Depends on who you talk to. A lot of them have amazing minds to pick information from. But some, Ellia¡¯s mercy, they can be just boring beyond words.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°A lot of them love to hear the sound of their own voices, usually complimenting themselves for superfluous achievements no one cares about.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Is that a problem?¡± ¡°When they¡¯re deciding which expeditions get the university¡¯s backing, it can be.¡± ¡°And they didn¡¯t back this one, I take it.¡± ¡°Not without a plethora of conditions,¡± she scoffed, shaking her head. ¡°Poor Silvius almost stopped trying to get this thing going altogether with all the difficulties they put him through.¡± ¡°He was telling about that back at the inn a while back. I¡¯m still surprised they weren¡¯t more supportive to this whole thing.¡± ¡°They are convinced everything about this time has been learned, and nothing more can be derived from further investigation. Goes against the whole concept of what we do, but they have a narrative they¡¯re comfortable with, and they have no desire to hear about a new one.¡± ¡°Is that why you joined Silvius for this thing?¡± ¡°My first reason is the man¡¯s organizational skills are grossly lacking, if you saw his desk, you would see what I mean. But ¡­ I stayed because he needed someone who believed in what he did. Someone who was there to pick him up when he fell.¡± ¡°He¡¯s lucky to have a friend like you.¡± ¡°To be fair, he was there for me when I was in a bad place. Even put his neck out for me at one point. And ¡­¡± Hypatia rubbed the back of her neck as she turned her gaze away, ¡°why he¡¯s been facing a lot of resistance for this research.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story, and I think we should be getting back to the research.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Kveldulf said, nodding slowly, ¡°I¡¯ll let you get to it.¡± While Hypatia continued going through tomes, Kveldulf walked over to a relief placed high on the wall nearby. It depicted an unnamed warrior engage in brutal combat, arrows sticking out of his body as he fought a dozen warriors surrounding him. The warrior carried had sharpened teeth and clawed fingers on his hands as he engaged in what Kveldulf assumed was his final stand. He wondered what story this was depicting, was it a fable from an age long forgotten? Was it a moment of his past that even his parent did not know? Was this a warrior who earned this form of immortality in this place? Pondering these thoughts made him wonder how he should be feeling as he stood in this place. This former home to his kin, this bastion of what his family stood for. He wanted to feel pride, but so much shame came with it he could not ignore. He ran his hand over his face as he tried finding some place where these two contrasts could coexist, but nothing came. ¡°You doing all right?¡± he heard Jeanne ask, taking him by surprise. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, ¡°didn¡¯t mean to startle you this time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always when you¡¯re not trying that you get the jump on me.¡± ¡°I know, I hate that ever so much. But you didn¡¯t answer my question.¡± He tilted his head back and forth, ¡°I¡¯ll be better when we¡¯re back in fresh air again.¡± He wrapped his arm around his chest tightly, the hand now gripping the arm. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what it must be like being in this place like this for long,¡± she said, looking around at the ancient stonework. ¡°Weird would be a good start,¡± he said, looking back into the war-room. ¡°And being here is just ¡­ I don¡¯t know what to think.¡± ¡°I know renovations probably don¡¯t help.¡± ¡°No ¡­,¡± Kveldulf said slowly, ¡°No they did not.¡± A loud crack broke the calm. Kveldulf and Jeanne turned to the noise and saw Leonidas pushing against a hidden door open. ¡°Look at that!¡± Silvius said, a bright smile on his face. Cid turned to the rest of them, ¡°Silvius, you and Hypatia keep working in the war-room. Maeryn, Ben, keep watch. Kel, Jeanne, doctor, come,¡± he said, waving the three to follow. The spiral staircase leading upwards was dark, save for the red stone glowing as it floated above Leonidas¡¯s palm. Pressing themselves against the walls of the stairway, they slowly moved up the steps, carefully looking for the next step. Kveldulf let out a relieved sigh when they reached the top, glad to have avoided tripping over his feet. Out of the stairway, Kveldulf and the others walked out into a large circular level. The flooring was made of ember colored stone, with etchings of wolves, deer, eagles and other animals in motion. Four large columns held up the ceiling where, in the middle, two hanging braziers lit themselves high above them. The light above revealed intricate etchings of the history of Hyvtur Hestur along the walls. On the opposite end of the room was another flight of stairs leading upwards. As the light illuminated the room on their own, the four instinctively unsheathed their weapons. ¡°Damn magic,¡± said Cid through clenched teeth. ¡°Sorry, Jeanne, doctor.¡± Leonidas shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m with you on that one. That¡¯s rarely a good sign in these places.¡± ¡°This could stop at any given moment,¡± said Jeanne. Before them were two giant metal doors. Both slabs were engraved with scenes of people running from demons of the depths of the world, clawing away at their flesh, sinking their teeth into severed limbs of the dead, piles of bodies collected at the bottom of them. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just disturbing,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I was going to go with creepy,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°That works, too,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Jeanne, see if they have any protective measures,¡± said Cid, sheathing his blade. Jeanne knelt next to the door as a soft violet orb formed around her hand and she moved it around the bottom and middle slit of the door. ¡°Looks clear,¡± she said to Cid. Cid and Kveldulf gripped the large door rings and pulled them back. The doors creaked loudly as they moved, causing Kveldulf¡¯s hair to stand on end. With a thin crack to peer into, Kveldulf peeked inside Kveldulf saw the light outside glittering back at him. Kveldulf reached in and pulled out a small glass with clear liquid inside. ¡°Hey can I get some light over here?¡± he asked the others. Jeanne walked up and held a small fireball near the bottle. The light coming inside unveiled a pile of treasure, reaching beyond twice their height. ¡°I think we found something,¡± Kveldulf said, ¡°Cid, help me with the door.¡± As the two moved the doors open, their mouths dropped when they saw more piles of gold coins, statues of silver and marble, pottery painted in rich colors and bullions awaiting them. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, ¡°Good thing I hadn¡¯t established loot distribution.¡± ¡°And what, pray tell, is my cut?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid bent down and handed Kveldulf a small dust bunny. ¡°For you, my friend.¡± Kveldulf looked at the fluff of dirt for the moment before gingerly placing the dust bunny on Cid¡¯s head. ¡°For you, my friend.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insufferable sometimes, you know that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll credit Jeanne with that,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Do not blame me for that one!¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Still, I think this will be a nice addition with the bounty,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Definitely will make it easier to afford that damn inn,¡± said Cid. ¡°Everyone!¡± called Leonidas in a muffled voice, ¡°I think you want to see this.¡± Cid and Kveldulf came over to Leonidas who was covering his nose with his hand. ¡°Oh peace,¡± said Cid, ¡°That stench is horrible.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Leonidas as he opened the door further. Holding the glowing stone tightly as he moved it inside the room, he spotted a ghastly mound of rotting corpses and severed limbs revealed itself. Cows, dogs, cats, deer, and humans all were laid together in this horrifying display. Reaching to such a height the glow from his light barely touched the top of the pile of bodies. Maggots innumerable crawled and feasted on the decaying flesh. Their movements giving the remains an appearance of them still carried some life. ¡°Right ¡­ so that¡¯s a thing,¡± said Leonidas, slowly stepping to close the door. ¡°This explains a lot about the disappearances,¡± said Cid, ¡°none if it is comforting.¡± Kveldulf turned to Cid. ¡°I know it¡¯s not a wonderful. But I¡¯m thinking, we just burn the pile and ¡­¡± He stopped the pile began stirring and growling. ¡°¡­ Did that pile just growl?¡± ¡°Ah shit,¡± said Leonidas, putting the stone back into the satchel and began moving his hands quickly in an esoteric pattern. Limbs moving to life and crawling towards the top. A head emerged, multiple eyes stuck to the skin and moving randomly around the room. Multiple arms attached themselves along the torso, some sinking into open wounds and decayed orifices of cadavers. The creature breathed heavy, gurgling with slime flowing from its mouth. It spotted the four and gave a disturbing smiling. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just wrong,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Jeanne!¡± shouted Cid. ¡°On it!¡± she said as with both hands she unleashed a pillar of fire towards the creature and the whole pile. As the creature writhed in pain, Leonidas and Kveldulf shut the doors, Leonidas drawing a quick series of runes on the door as it closed. The sound of a roaring conflagration exploded on the other side. ¡°All right,¡± said Kveldulf pointing to Leonidas, ¡°The fuck was that about?¡± as the others raced into the room, their drawn and readied. ¡°What¡¯s going on up here,¡± Benkin asked. ¡°We dealt with a vodnoy,¡± said Leonidas, ¡° it¡¯s a flesh fiend.¡± ¡°And how the fuck do you know that?¡± Kveldulf demanded. ¡°That¡¯s not precisely something that screams medical.¡± Cid and Jeanne looked at Leonidas. ¡°Probably a good idea to elucidate everyone to your qualifications, doctor,¡± Cid said to him. ¡°Just great,¡± Leonidas said with a slight snarl. ¡°Well, if you must know ¡­ I am a trained ¡­ necromancer.¡± Part Seventeen - From the Veil ¡°So, the archives are closed, outstanding,¡± said Cid, rubbing his forehead as he sat at the dining table. ¡°But you were able to get some sketches of those maps?¡± ¡°Mostly, yes,¡± said Silvius. ¡°We didn¡¯t have a lot of time to work with, so they¡¯re not my best work if I¡¯ll be honest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than nothing,¡± said Cid, holding out his hand to look at the sketch. Studying the lines carefully. Cid lifted an eyebrow up before looking back at Silvius. ¡°And this is your worse sketches?¡± ¡°Maybe not worst, per se, but I know I could better.¡± ¡°Hey Doc,¡± said Cid as he gestured the doctor over, ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Leonidas came over, looked at the sketch and back at Silvius. ¡°How much time did you have to do this?¡± ¡°About an hour, more or less.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°If you ever want a career change you can make a killing at map making.¡± ¡°Actually, I was a mapmaker before I got into this line of work,¡± said Silvius chuckling nervously. ¡°That makes a lot of sense, then,¡± said Cid. ¡°Well, I think we have enough to get started. Grab your gear and be ready to move out in the morning.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll grab a couple of things for the trip and prep my armor,¡± said Leonidas moving up to his chambers. ¡°Wait, when did he have armor?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°Oh, he has a whole thing upstairs,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Different armors, weapons, do-dads, what-nots, the works.¡± ¡°You must¡¯ve been like a child enjoying a wild assortment of treats.¡± ¡°I was when I got this,¡± she said, gleefully when presenting her new war-hammer. ¡°Is that why there¡¯s a strong aroma in here all of a sudden?¡± Cid asked, covering his nose. Jeanne had a puzzled look as she pondered the question. Then a terrified look came over before she bolted up the stairs, slammed the door and a series of panicked yelps came from the floor above. ¡°Did no one else smell that?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I was told not it wasn¡¯t polite to bring it up,¡± said Silvius. Hypatia shrugged. ¡°I have smelled much worse.¡± ¡°Thought it was one of Doc¡¯s patients,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to seem catty by accident,¡± said Sianna, letting out a stifled cough. ¡°There was a smell?¡± Kveldulf asked, causing everyone to turn to him. ¡°Oh, because you¡¯re all lords of the whiff!¡± *** Kveldulf leaned against the pillar, watching Silvius and Hypatia examine the stone etchings, tapestries and other artworks hanging from the walls. Maeryn was leaning on a column next to him on the other side. Her gaze was moving constantly, never staying on one spot for more than a few seconds. She also gripped her bow tightly and had one arrow already notched on the string. He walked over to where Maeryn was standing. She spotted him, letting out a soft hmm before going back to looking around the room again. ¡°Everything all right?¡± he asked her. She nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just not a fan of this place.¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯re expecting a monster to come out of nowhere.¡± ¡°I mean we did kill a large snake lady. And you saw a flesh monster. Who knows what else is here,¡± she said, tapping her foot rapidly. She said nothing, her eyes still moving around constantly. ¡°Sianna?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you to go to the other room for a moment?¡± ¡°What if something comes out?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still be within earshot, and, honestly, there isn¡¯t much we can¡¯t see from the doorway.¡± Both moved to the threshold of the antechamber. Maeryn kept her eyes on Silvius and Hypatia as she spoke to Kveldulf. ¡°Feeling better?¡± ¡°Not really, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± ¡°Is it because of where we¡¯re at?¡± ¡°Somewhat. Being in here just reminds me of when we fought for the first time and ¡­¡± ¡°Oh, oh ¡­¡± Kveldulf said in a long drawn-out response. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were still torn up about that.¡± ¡°Kel, you almost died because I wasn¡¯t doing my part.¡± ¡°We were in the middle of a skirmish, and then we fought an ogre,¡± Kveldulf said ¡°I ¡­¡± He stopped, seeing her looking away and frowning as she pressed her lips together tightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to be dismissive.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s just I was trained to be good at spotting threats and dealing with them quickly. I was trained to be a hunter, to sneak and not be seen or heard. Not to be caught off guard and have someone take two arrows meant for me. You almost died because I couldn¡¯t do my job. And now I¡¯m worried that the next time I can¡¯t do what I¡¯m supposed to do, we may not be so lucky.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I don¡¯t feel the same any time we go out and face the unknown. And I know I¡¯d be feeling horrible if the situation had been reversed. But I will say this, you¡¯ve more than been able to pull your weight since we first met.¡± Maeryn turned away from the room, letting out a small groan. ¡°And when you hit Belthory in her eyes before she could think twice, that was amazing!¡± ¡°I was surprised that worked.¡± ¡°With the way that fight went down, I¡¯m glad she didn¡¯t have her eyesight.¡± ¡°Yeah, that was not a fun one.¡± ¡°And then with what you did on The Bellamy Blade, that literally got us out of a bad spot.¡± ¡°That was a pretty good shot.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask where you learned how to use a bow like that?¡± ¡°My father was a member of the Brecon Guard during the campaigns back home in Glyndwr.¡± ¡°Really? I can imagine the training was intense.¡± ¡°It was, but he wasn¡¯t cruel about it. He explained that an archer needed to be able to hit what she could see. And you need to be aware of your surroundings at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth you make it look effortlessly easy.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen me when I was first learning how to use a bow. There were a few shots even I was unable to explain how I did it.¡± ¡°Oh, I can imagine there were a few wild ricochets during that time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say they made sure heirlooms were safely put away when practice began.¡± ¡°I hope that wasn¡¯t something they continued after you improved.¡± ¡°They¡¯d joke about it, but I knew it was in good humor.¡± ¡°Did you join your father with the Brecons?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I was considering it, but I wanted to explore the world and what it had to offer.¡± ¡°How long were you doing that before you ran across Ben, Sil and Hypatia?¡± ¡°About three months, when I met Ben. We were sailing on the same ship and he was a helped me get used to sailing on a ship for a long length of time.¡± ¡°And our two academics?¡± ¡°They were advertising for a bodyguard and a hunter for their expedition. And we were looking for some steady pay. Not exactly how I expected this to turn out. But it has been an interesting journey to say the least.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely been something. Not a bad tale to tell when this is all over.¡± ¡°You think this is something we¡¯ll make it out of?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to think so,¡± said Kveldulf, sifting in his armor, ¡°Even if we have a fool¡¯s hope to make it out of this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s starting to feel that this is well past any of us are prepared for.¡± ¡°Maeryn, this was supposed to be a simple bandit bounty. Show up, stab some outlaws, maybe nab some quick loot, and move onto the next job. This was maybe, and this is a very loose maybe, something we¡¯d be doing a few years down the road.¡± ¡°You were expecting this down the road?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to think I have an active imagination.¡± ¡°Probably a good way to pass the time when sailing,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°It was that or start conversing with the seagulls.¡± ¡°Oh, that was always something.¡± ¡°Especially Bob, he was an odd one.¡± ¡°You gave them names, too?¡± ¡°Yeah, though they never came when you called them.¡± ¡°They were insufferable, weren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Gods yes.¡± They turned to Silvius as he called out to them. ¡°Um, I think we found something.¡± The moved into the room and towards Silvius and Hypatia who were standing near an unlit brazier nearby the blood pool. ¡°What did you find, Silvius?¡± Kveldulf asked. Silvius lifted his torch to the wall, illuminating a stone relief of a star map. It displayed a rectangular indentation, with figures where the Black Masque of Calanband, plain, smooth, without markings. In their right hands held torches lifted high, streams of fire moving down and to the pool with a map of the city and the surrounding realm inside. ¡°I am intrigued and highly confused,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°As was I,¡± said Silvius. ¡°But I think I figured out what it means.¡± ¡°I am not above asking for help.¡± ¡°So, there was an old technique used in the old eras to hide maps and the like from unwanted eyes. Sort of a hidden in plain sight thing,¡± said Silvius. ¡°And this was something used here?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I believe so,¡± said Silvius. ¡°The figures there were holding torches around the map, which was a key part of the process.¡± He took his torch and lit a near by braziers, moving around the pool until they were all lit in the room. Maeryn looked into the pool, her eyes filled with shock as she said, ¡°Something¡¯s happening!¡± As everyone turned to the pool, light from the braziers moved down, waterlike in its motion. Flowing down to the deepness of the pool, the city of Koulberg and the lands in its realm was seen through the redness of the blood-water. ¡°I¡¯m sort whether to be impressed or exceptionally unnerved,¡± said Kveldulf, turning to Silvius and Hypatia. ¡°No offense.¡± ¡°None taken,¡± Silvius said, looking down at the map in wonder and abhorrence. ¡°How many people died to make this?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Too many,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Stories go this wasn¡¯t the only map Callandan had at during his reign. And he decreed the water would not grow cold or stall under his darkened gaze.¡± ¡°That would definitely explain the missing people and animals,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°And only the gods knows, what would happen to the bodies afterwards,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Look!¡± said Hypatia, pointing to the blood map. ¡°There¡¯s more showing!¡± Within the center of the city was a great light, outshining all others within the metropolis. Then down the winding road towards The Unyielding Fortress before spreading across and touching five points along the outermost edges of the map. ¡°I think we may need to consult the good doctor,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I¡¯ll go do that now.¡± Silvius moved out of the room, coming back with Leonidas and the rest from the upper floor. As the doctor looked at the blood pool and the glowing map underneath. He knelt down, examining the lines with great care. ¡°All right, this explains a few things,¡± Leonidas said as he rose to his feet. ¡°What do the lines mean,¡± Cid asked. ¡°More or less, this fortress is what¡¯s called a place of union. It¡¯s where two or more ley lines converge.¡± ¡°And what does that mean?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It could mean a multitude of things. But depending how much energy is running through the lines, its impossible to tell what exactly can be done.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the worse that could be done with them?¡± Leonidas growled as his head tilted to his left. ¡°It could range from opening up a whole to a whole new plane of reality, summon an army or just a single demon, and daemonic resurrection is not off the table.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°That¡¯s just wonderful.¡± ¡°So, these people could summon a hell on earth?¡± asked Benkin. ¡°That is a viable possibility.¡± ¡°Well, I think a hole in the ground is becoming rather desirable,¡± said Benkin. ¡°We to tell someone back at Koulberg,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°The Council won¡¯t listen,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°We¡¯re already in their sights and they¡¯re looking for a reason to throw us into the city dungeons.¡± ¡°Maybe we should go to the camps and see if we can get some evidence to push the Council into action,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Do we have time to check out each camp if time is of the essence?¡± asked Kveldulf. Cid scratched the back of his head, troubled with thought. ¡°We don¡¯t have the evidence and the Council won¡¯t believe us, and if we get the evidence, there may not be a city left to save.¡± ¡°Even if we go now, the only thing different than last time is we found ley lines,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°If you don¡¯t know what all information that entails, such as The Council, then it would be no different than speaking to them in a different language.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re stuck between a rock and a hard place,¡± said Cid. From the floor above the noise of steel grinding together began to be heard. Everyone turned their gaze up. ¡°The hell is that,¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t like it,¡± said Benkin. Leonidas¡¯s eyes moved around as he tried to pinpoint the familiar sound before ¡­ ¡°Oh shit!¡± he cursed, running up to the stairs. The others followed as they returned to the library. The ley stone glowed brightly, pulsating with increasing rapidity. As it reached a blindingly intense radiance a low growl shook the walls around them. Sparks crackled and shot from the heart of the ley stone. Leonidas shouted, ¡°Get down!¡± as a beam of magic fired within the stone and through the walls and the fortress. As the noise and shaking settled, everyone slowly rose to their feet. ¡°The hell was that?¡± Silvius asked breathlessly. ¡°Someone did something on one of the lines,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°That¡¯s not tell us a whole ¨C¡± said Kveldulf before the doctor interrupted. ¡°I don¡¯t fucking know, all right!¡± he screamed, ¡°I don¡¯t know the incantation said, the tools used, what items or people were given to power the spell, I don¡¯t even know where the fuck the damn thing took place at, let alone gods knows what else. There is a lot more to magic then slapping some fucking words together, making some haphazard hand gestures and hoping something happens. And other then a shit ton of energy was used for it, I do not know.¡± There was a stillness in the room as everyone got to their feet. Leonidas, removing his helm, ran his fingers through his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, just a little on edge,¡± he said to Kveldulf. ¡°No, it¡¯s all right,¡± Kveldulf replied calmly, patting the doctor¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I know you¡¯re doing what you can. We¡¯re all under a lot of pressure.¡± ¡°Can we tell where it was going?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Hold on, I might have something,¡± Leonidas said, reaching into his satchel. He pulled out a compass and opened the cover. Inside were two needles, one resting on the needle, the one above floating just over that in two separate parts. ¡°What does that do, Doc?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°You can use it to find out where some came from, or in this case where it is going. I still can¡¯t tell you it¡¯s origin point, but it will narrow down to a small selection.¡± ¡°Do you need a map?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°That would do wonder, Hypatia, please.¡± She pulled out a map of the region from her bag and laid it next to Leonidas. The doctor placed the compass and darted his eyes back and forth between the map and compass. ¡°So, it came from north-northwest,¡± Leonidas said to the others. He looked at the compass once more to see half of the ley needle pointing straight into the heart of Koulberg itself. ¡°We need to get to the city, now.¡± Part Eighteen - The Laboratory ¡°What sort of devilry is this?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Chaos,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Chaos at its finest.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Chaos magic is considered the most powerful form of all magical arts. It is what one tries their hand at when they have mastered every other art there is to know.¡± ¡°Why does that not give me much comfort?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°It¡¯s considered past the point of accepted risk by many trained in the magical arts.¡± ¡°Did you know of it, Jeanne?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Enough to stay away,¡± Jeanne replied as she tried to stay away from the instruments and other artifacts in the room. ¡°I¡¯m almost afraid to ask what this place was being used for,¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°If I was a betting man,¡± said Leonidas, picking up an astrolabe and examining it before placing it back down, ¡°it was for something beyond foul.¡± ¡°But The Wraith King was never associated with this type of magic,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°Why would he take on this now?¡± ¡°Most people who do, rarely advertise it, given the stigma. This is considered the most forbidden of all the magical studies. And this could be an acolyte of his.¡± ¡°Does that matter?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I¡¯ve come across more than a few people who wanted to impress or surpass whomever they served,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Again, most of them not knowing how much fire they were messing with.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Hypatia asked, ¡°This just seems like there¡¯s more risks involved to justify the usage.¡± ¡°What makes chaos magic so alluring is you get to pick and choose what of the other schools you want to use. Similar to how you learn several martial art styles and then form your own that¡¯s tailored to your strengths.¡± ¡°Then what was he doing here then?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Now that is the question of the hour,¡± said Leonidas. He turned to find an orb hovering over a pedestal. It was craved with an ornate pattern, hollowed in the middle and glowing blue on the inside. ¡°What is that?¡± Benkin asked as he reached to touch it before Leonidas stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s a ley stone,¡± replied Leonidas. ¡°A what?¡± Benkin replied. ¡°You use it to anchor ley lines so they don¡¯t start wandering about.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a ley line?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Oh,¡± both Leonidas and Hypatia said as both tried to answer the question. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°By all means,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Well, from I read in the archives, ley lines are part a vast body of energies that intersect all over the world. Usually at places where spiritual and magical energies have joined together. Sometimes it¡¯s places where high energy gathers, such as a religious site, and in others it can where something major occurred, such as a battle or natural catastrophe.¡± ¡°Is there a use for ley lines?¡± asked Cid. ¡°Generally, they can be used to help a magic caster perform exceptionally powerful spells. The ones that tend to need days to prepare and conduct. So, for example, Jeanne can do a fireball spell without the need of a ley line. But if she wanted to cast one large enough to destroy an entire city, then she¡¯d need a ley line, or ten for that case.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of ley lines,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°A common misconception is they have unlimited access to magic. But similar to a road you travel on, there¡¯s only so much power than can be funneled in a line. And depending on where the line begins and how much power it¡¯s acquired between conjurations, it can greatly affect what you can do with it. So, one spell might only need one line, whereas another can require a dozen or more to complete,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°So, what does it mean that this thing is here?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But just being here in all places is rather discomforting.¡± ¡°We could go back to the archives of the university to see if this crosses over any other ley lines,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Certainly can¡¯t hurt,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I think we need to inform the Council back at Orumus,¡± said Silvius. ¡°You think they¡¯ll listen?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°We can¡¯t just sit around and not tell anyone,¡± Silvius insisted. ¡°We should at least inform the reeve here,¡± said Cid. ¡°The reeve thinks we¡¯re thieves and brigands,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°We bring him the bandits and our bounty and that should take care of that problem,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And the giant snake lady?¡± Jeanne asked, grabbing a book from the table. ¡°I mean, how can one deny a giant severed head?¡± Benkin replied. Leonidas crossed his arms, grimaced out of the corner of his mouth. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯ve down this road before and it can be ¡­ problematic.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Leonidas let out a grizzled sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I felt the same once and wound up beaten to a pulp and with a target on my back. I¡¯m not saying we should be silent, this could turn against us, and quick.¡± Cid growled in thought. ¡°That is a good point. Not a comforting one, but a good one.¡± ¡°I still say we go to the reeve, at least inform him of the bandits, and get your names cleared before we see what our next move is,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I agree,¡± said Cid. ¡°We will collect the bounty, get that off our plate. And I feel it is imperative we alert those back at the city of our findings. I know it may not lead to anything, but what would we do if we sat by and let something go unknown and lead to horrible tragedies?¡± Everyone exchanged glances, saying nothing to challenge the point. ¡°Good, we¡¯ll grab what we need and then go see the reeve tomorrow,¡± said Cid. ¡°Now let¡¯s get out of here, this place is making my fur stand on end.¡± *** The reeve stared at the head of Belthory, mouth agape and unable to find his words. ¡°Did ¨C did we petrify him?¡± Maeryn asked. Leonidas shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s not a gorgon, so he should be fine ¡­ I hope.¡± The reeve rose from his chair and walked around his desk to get a better look at the severed head. ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± ¡°In the cave system not far from here,¡± said Jeanne, pointing with her thumb. Cid turned to her. ¡°It¡¯s over that way,¡± he said pointing in the opposite direction. ¡°Oh, shush, Lord I Know My Directions von Smarts.¡± The reeve didn¡¯t notice the back and forth, still gazing at the head. ¡°I still cannot believe the wife of the great tyrant was such a short distance from our doorsteps.¡± ¡°We also found many of the stolen animals from farms,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Oh, oh! Yes, I could imagine that. My apologies to your friends,¡± he said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure let the town know of what you¡¯ve done. No need to spread any false hearsay and innuendos. Most unbecoming.¡± ¡°Hear hear,¡± said Ben, clearing his throat and looking at the others with a smile. ¡°I think we should also get word to the proper channels back at Orumus.¡± ¡°Oh, oh gods, yes! Of course,¡± the official blurted out. He rushed to his seat, pulling out a quill and ink well. He wrote as fast as he could, stopping only to check his writing. ¡°Oh gods, I¡¯ll be hearing all about that spelling error,¡± he murmured to himself, ¡°They¡¯ll get that figured out.¡± Finishing, he folded the missive, grabbed a sealing wax stick, heated one end with a candle and let several drops land on the tip of the final fold. He pressed his office¡¯s seal on the wax blot and handed it to Cid. ¡°Take that the Council,¡± he then reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a metal medallion, placing it on the desk and pushing it towards Cid. ¡°Bring this with you as well, it¡¯s a badge of my office. It should help expediate the process,¡± he said while sitting back down in his chair. ¡°We appreciate the assistance,¡± Cid said to the reeve as he took the medallion from the desk. ¡°Yes, anything to help, the last thing we need is for this to escalate into something dire.¡± ¡°And the bounty?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Oh, gods, I almost forgot,¡± said the reeve. He rose from his seat, went over to a tapestry and as he lifted it, revealed a safe sunk into the wall. He inserted a key hanging from a necklace on his person to unlock the door reaching in to pulling out a palm-sized bag of coin he handed it to Kveldulf. ¡°Please, take this, that should more than compensate you for all of your efforts.¡± ¡°Much obliged,¡± said Cid bowing hid head, ¡°But if you¡¯ll excuse us, we¡¯ll begin making our way to Orumus.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± said the Reeve, ¡°May Caeltru''s blessing guide you.¡± *** The city of Orumus held a different influence on Kveldulf than it did on his first arrival. The air was not scented with the sense of adventure and wonder. The buildings did not shine with an aura of a civilized, yet untamed spirit. The sounds did not carry a melodic quality to them, likened to a bard creating an improvised tune to demonstrate the musical enlightenment of the moment. Even as he looked down from his horse along the outer ridge lines, he could smell liquid waste permeating from the canals of western and northern districts. He could see the discoloration of the roads from rich, healthy earthen colors to miniscule spots of the cobbled streets covered in muck and waste of animals and people. Even the buildings changed hues as one passed from the farms along the outskirts and into the city proper. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Cid asked him, nudging his horse to Kel¡¯s. Kveldulf nodded. ¡°Just had something on my mind.¡± ¡°I can imagine this is the last thing you want us to do.¡± ¡°Yes and no. It¡¯s hard to explain.¡± ¡°Well, the others are resting, and the weather is nice for a chat.¡± Kveldulf took a deep breath, considering his words carefully. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I had a few reservations in coming back here. I¡¯m always afraid the actions of those long before my time would mire what, if anything, I do in this life. But I am just tired of running from a past I cannot escape. I want people to see me, not the sins my ancestor committed. I acknowledge what he did, and refuse to make excuses for him, but I am not him, despite how much people insist I am.¡± ¡°I know how easy it is for people to hold onto the past. Especially when they¡¯re wanting to some terrible event from happening again. But they would prefer to keep staying where they are, never wanting to move forward. They even weave newer fantasies to reinforce crimes to paint succeeding generations as the same martyries as their own ancestors. Or commit the same crimes done to them on another for some semblance justice satisfied when none was made. Because deep down they know they¡¯re just as bad as the people they hate. They¡¯re not perfect and that truth drives them insane. For in a generation¡¯s time they will be mocked and ridiculed for the same reason they mock you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m getting your point, Cid,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I¡¯m getting there. My point is, those people down there, you don¡¯t need them to redeem your house. That is for you, and only you to decide. Eventually they will see you the way I do. But until then, fuck all of them, you¡¯ll probably outlive them in the end.¡± Kveldulf chuckled. ¡°Thanks, Cid. I needed that one.¡± ¡°Anytime. So ¡­ did you think we would be confronting The Wraith King, or his allies?¡± ¡°Gods no! And I would rather be facing anything other than them. I was expecting us out in the field of some great battle. Earning fame and glory, possibly reclaiming some of that lost luster to the old family name. But this, this is something else entirely.¡± ¡°Yes, this is something from those old stories you as a child. Quite different know when your grown and the intricacies of the real world begin to alter your view on things.¡± ¡°You can that again.¡± ¡°I could, I can¡¯t remember everything I said.¡± Kveldulf chuckled. ¡°I needed that one, too.¡± ¡°A good laugh is always in need, in both good and bad times.¡± ¡°I just wish I knew how things would turn out with this whole damned affair.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain most of us share the same opinion. But I like to look at it this way. If we knew exactly how things would turn out, then it would take all the sense of adventure out of life.¡± ¡°You always were one to jump into the unknown with the utmost vigor.¡± ¡°Makes the journey that much more fun.¡± There was a stillness as they looked out over the cityscape. ¡°You know there¡¯s a good chance you¡¯ll be meeting her, yes?¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Are you comfortable with that possibility?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, to be honest.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine she¡¯d know who you are.¡± ¡°If she does, we may have another problem on our hands.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯d be that concerned?¡± ¡°Elves are known to playing the long game, those of the Elder lines especically. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there was something in the works.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope this is all over before we have to worry about that bridge.¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer to take a ferry is that¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Oh right, you and the water are not on good terms.¡± ¡°Just oceans, lakes and anything where I can¡¯t see the bottom after a certain depth.¡± ¡°You are a peculiar cat, you know this, yes?¡± Cid shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d like this it¡¯s a part of my charm.¡± ¡°It¡¯s something all right.¡± Jeanne came up to the two, leading her horse up to the top of the ridgeline. ¡°What are you two plotting?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not plotting,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I know my plotting,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°and you two look like you¡¯re doing quite a bit of that.¡± ¡°And since when did you become such a master in the fine art of espionage?¡± Kveldulf asked. Jeanne shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Cid, shaking his head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m associated with you two sometimes.¡± ¡°Like you don¡¯t enjoy our partially unhinged banter,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I swear I am beside myself,¡± Cid said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°No, you¡¯re not, you¡¯re right there,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the others,¡± Cid said, turning his horse around and riding back to the camp. ¡°This is when I know we broke him,¡± Jeanne said to Kveldulf. ¡°I know, it¡¯s a nice feeling sometimes,¡± Kveldulf replied. As Jeanne began making her way back to the others, Kveldulf looked once more over the city and felt an uncomfortable feeling grow in the pit of his stomach. Part Nineteen - Clinical Meeting Moving down the road to the city, the farthest of farmlands showed the rich and fair summer harvest beginning to bear fruit. Many farmhands picking apples, pears and pomegranates as beekeepers tended to their hives, pulling out shelves to harvest honey of the people back in the city of Orumus. Others feeding and watering animals as the sun was shining high in the sky. As Kveldulf looked out to the tall towers of the Heraclea Keep twinkling in the sunlight, its glory not diminishing at any point of the star¡¯s flight in the sky, he felt a sense of wonder. One he imagined a wanderer would¡¯ve had viewing the sights of ancient cities, beauty dwarfing what he saw, during the ages before even the zenith of the Rubicon Empire, the Draconic Wars or even The Age of Wisdom. Lines came to his mind to fathom such admiration filling his mind: See afar with wonder sun-sired and moonlight born towers, brilliant all. Filling hearts with such awe and wonder to seek out deeds great and noble-like. For honor, for glory, for what we mere things can never stop yearning for. Until we win the way to the halls hewed of sun, of moon, and of fame, Immortal. As the thought The Golden Hall, the honored realm to those who won war found glory without reservation came to his mind, Kveldulf smiled as he imagined walking through the tall blue grass of the Barna fields. Down the Path of Torfa and up the Steps of the Honored to be greeted by the Svodur guards to usher him into their ranks of hallowed comradery. The thought of such a sacred prize brought Kveldulf a sense of peace and longing, even for a brief moment. He turned to his left and saw a small farmhouse, its walls discolored from the years underneath a ceaseless sun, and it roof now weathered. Greying and after a longer look, sinking in on itself. Kveldulf straightened himself up at the sight. His brow pulled together as he saw several young children following their father within the fields. Parent and child dressed in worn clothes, holes and stains marking their attire easily seen from the distance. Anymore wear and tear and the clothing would turn into completed tatters. Though he wandered his mind for some line of verse to find words for his troubled thoughts, Kveldulf could find none. He turned his gaze back to the farmer and his children. A slow twisting sensation came to his stomach as he mulled the thought over. Despite the ages of the world that had come and gone, the countless bards and poets who composed verses and scenes of wonder and inspiration, only the affairs of kings, warriors and deeds of battle and slaughter were given the attention to be remembered. Yet those who dedicated their lives to tilling the earth, to growing things and bringing more life and beauty to this world are given no such honor. Relegated to ignominy by those who burn, who pillage, who wrought war horror to the end to all things they touch. Kveldulf thought of those of his line who had written the end of armies, kingdoms and innumerable houses on the parchment made from the skin of the dead, written in blood formed ink and a cold shiver crawled up his spine. How many throughout the ages looked to his kin, and saw them not as those worthy of song, but to be cursed for ill deeds now formed as noble and pure? He turned to the others, riding long the road with him, and wondered if these were same opinions they had about him? Were there words left unspoken which marked their true feelings about him? He wasn¡¯t certain of the answer which left an ill disposition in his mind. This lingered as they reached the formidable southern gate into the city. Kveldulf examined the entrance, noticing three different points to pass through to reach the other side. The front and back were two pairs of large wooden slabs, with a latticed portcullis situated in the middle. The gatehouse itself was four stories high, with arrow slits running along the width of the third and fourth levels and a walkway and parapets above that. On each side of the house were two squared towers, both two levels higher than the gatehouse. The flags of the city¡¯s coat of arms, a winged lion holding a sword in one of its paws, with the motto ¡®Go with the Saints or perish with the Devils¡¯ underneath, fluttered in the wind. With one hanging beside each side of the fortified entrance. Along the parapets, guards moved with a calm and collected pace as they patrolled the walls. Peering out to the world outside, their spears resting on their shoulders. ¡°Welcome to Orumus,¡± one of the guards announced, as they neared. ¡°Glad to be back,¡± Cid said as he and the others began moving through the gatehouse. Moving along the pathway, Kveldulf could see more arrow slits and bigger gaps placed along the ceiling above them. ¡°I¡¯d hate to be stuck in here with the ways shut,¡± Silvius said. ¡°It¡¯s not pretty,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Hard rocks and boiling water are far anything I¡¯d want.¡± Kveldulf turned to one of the guards stationed inside the walkway, who tilted his head towards him in a friendly manner. Returning the gesture Kveldulf let out a light sigh of relief once he rode past them. Riding up the cobbled streets, Kveldulf noted some vagabonds sitting along the edge of the streets clutching decrepit brooms in their hands. ¡°What¡¯s that about?¡± Kveldulf asked, nudging his head towards the people. The others turned where Kveldulf was pointing to and Leonidas replied, ¡°The Council enacted several laws against vagrancy in the last few years, especially what with the recent influx of people moving in. So, some try to earn some money by cleaning the path in front of a person when they across the street, hoping to Ellia they can afford a place to sleep for the night.¡± ¡°Seems like they¡¯re punishing people for what they couldn¡¯t control,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°That¡¯s what a few people were saying until the council promised to establish some new towns to help with the problem,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Right,¡± said Silvius, ¡°I remember hearing about that. Not sure what ever happened to them though.¡± ¡°They became the Councils¡¯ new summer homes,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Oh,¡± Silvius said, turning his gaze away as his voice trailed off. Riding down the city streets, Kveldulf looked at many of the merchant buildings, from three to four stories in height. Many of the taller buildings leaned against each other, some with the upper corbelled stories pressing tightly together. As if they were propping each other upright in a collaborative effort. Many of the buildings showed signs of warping, windows with distorted viewings from the sagging in the glass. Colorful signs for taverns, candle makers, cobblers, boot makers, weavers, bakers and many more tradesmen displayed their wares to the wandering public. Some shops with doors and half doors opened, allowing the chatter of proprietors and patrons to fill the streets with noise. People moving up and down the streets, attending to their own errands. Dogs, cats, and the occasional mouse tried to keeping to the shadows as geese honked while roaming the city randomly. Many talking loudly as they bartered and discussed matters Kveldulf could not make out clearly. He kept his hand over his nose and mouth as the smell of animal dung, human dung, and other variations of dung assaulted his nose. There were other scents that floated around in the air. Fresh loaves of bread, roasting meat from nearby inns, flowers from windows, and many others. But they were mixed with the aroma of waste, there was no way to make former aroma smell better with the latter ones. They eventually came to a building with a sign of a caduceus hanging over its door. Leonidas nudged his head towards it. ¡°This is my clinic,¡± he said to them with a proud smile. ¡°I like the sign,¡± Maeryn said to him. ¡°Thank you!¡± he replied, delightedly. ¡°Took me a month to get the design figured out.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I went through the phase.¡± ¡°Out of how many?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°You shush.¡± ¡°You shush!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not make a scene, please,¡± said Cid, ¡°Doctor, were you wanting to check on your place?¡± ¡°It might be a good idea, maybe restock on things we might need for the next few days. Plus, I think I have a couple bottles of wine we can indulge in,¡± said Leonidas as he dismounted and hitched his horse. The others followed suit as he pulled out a key and opened the door into his home. He waved them inside with his hand, saying, ¡°Come on in, make yourselves comfortable.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. They entered a small anteroom, dark brown wainscotting covered the lower half of the walls. There were two small stools with a low shelf for boots and other footwear placed to their right with a series of pegs situated above them with two hats and a hood already hanging on them. To their left was a bucket with a sign reading, ¡°Please vomit here.¡± Hypatia read the sign, her head shooting up and turned to the doctor. ¡°Why?¡± Leonidas turned to Jeanne with an emotionless stare. ¡°Hmm, why would that need to be there, Jeanne?¡± ¡°Oh, for the love of the Shepherd! It was one time!¡± ¡°One time?¡± Leonidas challenged. Jeanne bit her lower lip. ¡°Two times?¡± ¡°Ten! It was ten times, you bastard!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± exclaimed Silvius. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all right, I¡¯ve been called far worse,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°It¡¯s true she has,¡± said Kveldulf, nodding calmly. Benkin entered last into the clinic, needing to duck underneath the top threshold slightly to get inside. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Leonidas said to him embarrassed. Benkin lifted his hand to ease the doctor, ¡°Not the worse place I¡¯ve had to move around in. Definitely has a nice homely feeling to it.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Leonidas said with pride. ¡°I really tried to make the place feel uncomfortable.¡± In the room on their left there was a room a wooden table, long for a person to lay down comfortably, two chairs and several cabinets affixed to the walls. A window allowed light to fill the room and gave the area a warm glow. To their right were counters with jars of tonics and herbs, charts of various humanoid figures and the layout of their organ and skeleton systems, shelves filled with medical books, scrolls and parchments. In the center was a longer table with a white linen and a wide accoutrement of medical tools resting nearby. ¡°What room is that?¡± Silvius asked, pointing to the bigger room. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the surgery room. The other one here one is where I normally see patients,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°The next floor is where we can sit and get some food and drinks.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I could go for some wine if there¡¯s any,¡± said Silvius. The doctor smiled. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re in for a treat, my good scholar.¡± ¡°You have some rum?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I do,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°I think I have one you might enjoy.¡± Moving up the flight of stairs they reached the hall of the building. There was a large fireplace on the left side of the hall, with several pots and hanging from a rod over where the flames would be roaring. Though now only ash and soot rested there as Leonidas came over and knelt down. ¡°I know what my first errand is for this place.¡± As he began removing the burnt materials and tossing them out from one of the narrow windows towards the back alley. ¡°Get some light going here,¡± Jeanne said as she lit a small flame in her palm and began lighting some of the oil lamps dangling from chains from some of the rafters over their heads and candles resting on walled candle holders made from animal fat. ¡°Candles!¡± Benkin said surprised. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting such luxuries.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a candlemaker in the Torcello Ward who¡¯s a regular patient. Every so often, I¡¯ll get a decent amount of candles as a payment,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Nice way to use barter,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Certainly has had its advantages,¡± the doctor replied. Once the soot was gone, Leonidas went over to a shelf decorated with trinkets and mementos of adventures past. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said as he looked over the shelving, ¡°going to need to dust this place.¡± Maeryn looked up at several herbs and spices suspending from two rafters closest to the hearth giving the area a lovely scent all over. A woven tapestry hung on the wall just right to the fireplace with the image of a giant fighting several warriors with ancient runes running along the top and bottom of the scene. She pinched her mouth and stiffened her posture. Kveldulf asked, ¡°Everything well?¡± ¡°Just never got used to seeing plants hanged like that,¡± she replied. ¡°I think the proper term is hung,¡± Silvius said. Maeryn gave Silvius a cold stare. ¡°You¡¯ve never met many elves, have you?¡± Silvius swallowed loudly before moving away from the elf. ¡°I think that fact¡¯s revelation is more apparent than I would prefer it to be.¡± Maeryn took a breath, her expression relaxing itself. Next to the tapestry was a trestle table with a bench on each side for sitting and two other chairs for sitting near the fireplace. The west and northern walls had cupboards covering most of the walls and held more medical and alchemical instruments, ingredients and some bookshelves filled with many tomes. All with shelves built in between the cupboards to provide more space for other miscellaneous items. The rest of the walls were lined in tapestries, depicting scenes of the rural countryside. Farmers tilling the earth, children running through woodlands and meadows, joyous feats of townspeople enjoying the fall¡¯s harvest with utter delight. The colors of these works were of bright golds, reds, blues, violets, and other rich hues. ¡°How did you afford such decorations?¡± Silvius asked having to stop himself from touching the pieces. ¡°One of the perks of my specific line of work. You find a lot of people willing to pay handsomely for what they would prefer hidden from prying eyes,¡± Leonidas replied. Kveldulf looked down at the floor, seeing layers of rush lining on the floor. ¡°No carpets?¡± ¡°When you have people coming in with all kinds of fluids and humors seeping out of their body, you learn to not have nice carpets?¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± said Kveldulf. Benkin sat on the bench, stretching his neck. ¡°Definitely not the worst place to hang your hat.¡± ¡°It does its job nicely when I¡¯m not traveling, if you¡¯ll excuse me for a quick moment,¡± said Leonidas as he went upstairs in into his quarters. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan with The Council, Cid?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I doubt they¡¯re going to let us walk in and drop off a giant decapitated head at their feet.¡± ¡°Not with that attitude,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°We do have the missive and medallion from the reeve,¡± said Silvius. ¡°One would think that¡¯d be enough to merit a ¡®how do you do,¡¯¡± said Benkin. ¡°One would hope,¡± said Cid, ¡°and I¡¯m hoping that should be enough to, at least, get an audience.¡± ¡°What if it doesn¡¯t?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°We could inform the public,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°If there is enough pressure from the residents, it could force the city government to change their tune.¡± ¡°Or break out the guards and soldiers,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You¡¯d think they¡¯d do that?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°We¡¯ve seen more than a few nobles severe their foot if it meant convincing the public things were under control,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°They¡¯d prefer the fa?ade of control, even if it means actually losing it.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t imagine the Council being that oblivious to a danger like this,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Given their history with Callanband and his supporters, you¡¯d hope they¡¯d jump to nip this problem in the bud before things escalated,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Sadly, succeeding generations have a habit of diluting time-honored lessons learned and dangers lurking, simply because they now live after such times. And those who try to keep those teachings relevant are accused of perpetuating ancient malice sowed by slanderous cowards and injurious traitors,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s a wonderful truth,¡± said Leonidas, coming back down with a bastard sword hanging from his hip. ¡°Of course, they¡¯re also to first ones to scream for bloody restitution and demand action once the wolves finally reach the gate.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve met the type then?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I stopped counting for my sanity¡¯s sake,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°What is that?¡± Benkin asked, marveling at the blade¡¯s scabbard. ¡°This good sir,¡± said Leonidas as he unsheathed the blade, ¡°Is what got through a few hairy situations in the Outlands.¡± The blade was black as the night sky, with glittering sparkles in the metal, moving across the steel as the night does. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Night-steel,¡± Leonidas said proudly. ¡°In the right hands, its edge can cut through hardened steel as a knife cuts through butter. A friend made this for me when I was in the Outlands. Not the worst way to pay back the medical fees for a few house visits and a surgery.¡± ¡°May I?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°By all means,¡± said Leonidas, handing Benkin hilt of the blade. Benkin swung the blade with great skill, the flurry of slashes singing as it cut through the air. After a few moments, Ben handed the weapons back to Leonidas. ¡°Wields like a dream.¡± ¡°So how do we see who will hear our case?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°That one we are going to have to find out as we go, and I do not like the uncertainty,¡± said Cid. ¡°But I hope we don¡¯t have to jump through too many hoops to see them.¡± ¡°Perhaps while you¡¯re doing that, Silvius, Doc and I could go over the records and see about the ley line we found,¡± said Hypatia. Cid nodded. ¡°That sounds good. The rest of us will go to find the master of the guards and see what we can do.¡± Part Twenty - Seeking Council Kveldulf gripped the head of his axe tightly as they moved through the crowded avenues towards the center of the Heraclea Ward. He kept wiping the sweat from his brow, his other hand shaking as it dangled loose on his other side. While the light coming from the Grand Plaza grew in intensity, he felt the sensation of walking towards his own execution. He felt a tap on his right arm, he looked and saw Jeanne staring back at him. Her eyebrows drawn together and keeping a strong gaze. She said not a word but Kveldulf, turning his gaze away, knew her thoughts. ¡°That obvious?¡± he asked. ¡°More than reading a book,¡± she replied. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, wiping his brow again. ¡°Gods it hot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the middle of Polaris,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°and springs here aren¡¯t known for their intense heat.¡± ¡°Oh you are not helping right now.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re going to give a guard something to ponder if you don¡¯t take a breath.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in the country you¡¯re banished from.¡± Jeanne pondered the thought. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°Just ¡­ just close by all right?¡± Kveldulf asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t plan on wandering soon.¡± ¡°You never plan on your wanderings, Jeanne.¡± ¡°Not my fault the muse of adventure sings me a siren song.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to need to tie a length of rope to our feet aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°I probably would,¡± Jeanne replied. Reaching the end of the avenue, Kveldulf closed his eyes as the blinding light of the shimmering sun struck his eyes. As his sight adjusted to the change, his mouth dropped as he saw the light was simply reflecting off the bright white and silver veined marble used to form the central grand palace in the middle of the open area of the plaza. The seat of the city¡¯s government rested in a ten-story building with a brilliant white stone face covering every inch of the outer walls. Towers rounding the corners of the structure, with hundreds of arrow slits in between. Banners from hundreds of noble houses flew from the very top, with one at its highest left empty. Kveldulf spent his hands clench tightly mixed with awe as he saw the keep for the first time. Jeanne let out a long whistle. ¡°This is a sight,¡± she said to them. ¡°Perhaps we should go and meet the council now,¡± Cid said to them before they moved to the building. Moving up the steps Kveldulf saw two guards standing by the double door. They were dressed in plate armor with chain mail covering where the plates could not. Their helmed were shaped with a lion fa?ade with two small openings to allow the wearer to see out of them. Reaching the top step and moving to the door, the two guards crossed their spears together to bar the group entrance. ¡°What business do you have here?¡± one of the guards asked. ¡°We were hoping to speak with the Council,¡± Cid replied, holding out the sigil given to them. The two guards looked at the sigil and one of them turned to the other before looking back to the group. ¡°Give me one moment, I need to grab someone,¡± the guard said before moving through the door and closing it securely with an audible click. ¡°I thought the sigil would be an easy way in,¡± Benkin said to them. ¡°The Council is ¡­ peculiar when it comes to that,¡± the guard said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cid asked. The door opened and the other guard and a courtier emerged from the building to meet them. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough,¡± the guard replied. The Courtier was dressed in pantaloons of gold and white, swirling into the other from his hip down to his shining boots which held a long point past his toes. A deep emerald tunic was fitted tightly to his chest with blue gigot sleeves. His moustache and a small patch of hair on his chin were neatly trimmed and maintained. ¡°Greetings and salutations. I am Berardo, I was informed you¡¯d like to speak to the Council?¡± he said to the mercenaries. ¡°We were,¡± Cid replied presenting the courtier with the sigil. ¡°We have something The Council would be interested in seeing.¡± ¡°Is that so,¡± Berardo said, his head moving upward and one eye narrowing slightly. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time someone, or some group, has arrived saying they have some matter of great import to discuss.¡± ¡°Did they have a severed head?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°What?¡± Berardo asked. Benkin opened the canvas sack and showed the severed head of Belthory. Berardo jumped back, putting his hand over his heart as his face went white. ¡°What is that?¡± he said breathlessly. ¡°Lady Belthory,¡± Cid said, ¡°Found her skulking about in a cave not far from here.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Berardo, trying to catch his breath, ¡°this was not what I expected to see today.¡± ¡°Can we bring this to the Council then?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Sadly, I am not allowed to make that decision. Only the members of the Council are given that authority.¡± ¡°Can we talk to them when they¡¯re not in session?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Unfortunately, they do not allow an audience with those they do not know.¡± ¡°Are you fucking kidding me!¡± Jeanne snapped as she lunged towards Berardo. The man jumped back, both guards moved between him and Jeanne as Cid and Kveldulf pulled her back. ¡°Jeanne! Not now!¡± Cid ordered. ¡°This is fourteen forms of bullshit mixed with a side of stupid!¡± she replied. ¡°How are we supposed to talk to these windbags if they make it impossible to talk to them!¡± ¡°Assaulting the man is not going to solving the problem,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And we¡¯d rather not have an incident please,¡± said one of the guards. ¡°The paperwork is going to be a ¡°There is a way,¡± Berardo said, raising a shaking finger to catch her attention. ¡°We¡¯re listening,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°If you go to the captain of the city guards, he can interrupt The Council¡¯s meeting, should an emergency arise,¡± Berardo told them. ¡°Would he be willing to work with us?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I would definitely consider that a viable option.¡± Cid turned to the others. ¡°All right,¡± he said, annoyed, ¡°Let¡¯s go pay him a visit.¡± *** The city guard¡¯s garrison ward at Grado seemed more of a natural extension of the main keep than a separate entity on its own. The walls matched the outer walls of the city, guards making their rounds along the walkways at the top, sounds of steel clashing and grunts of exertion made when from those training. A tall and wide stone building rose above the wall, a keep outfitted with hundred of arrow slits, large iron pots with wisps of steam rising from the content inside. Kveldulf noted how this keep closely resembled the shape and size of the Unyielding, though the grey pith forming the outer walls gave a far less ominous atmosphere. ¡°This place is almost as tall as the Council¡¯s home,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Also close by, too,¡± Maeryn followed. ¡°It¡¯s probably to give the rubes something of a quick escape when they¡¯ve perturbed the citizens¡¯ patience into a full revolt,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Gee, I wonder why?¡± Jeanne asked sarcastically. As Cid, Kveldulf, Jeanne, Maeryn and Benkin arrived to the gatehouse leading in, the opening was a simpler design with one portcullis on each side and a tower flanking each side. One of the guards stepped forward, her hand outstretched. ¡°What¡¯s your business here?¡± she asked firmly. ¡°We need to speak with the master of guard,¡± Cid replied. ¡°For what purpose?¡± Benkin held up the bag carrying Belthory¡¯s head, the bottom stained dark crimson. ¡°Head or heads?¡± the guard asked. ¡°Head,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Right,¡± the guard for a moment, still looking at Belthory¡¯s head with horror, ¡°come with me please.¡± As the guard finally turned away and into the training yard, they loosely gestured them to follow. Moving across the training yard, past guards attacking training dummies, firing arrows at moving targets, performing marches, and other forms of drill. ¡°Impressive operation you have here,¡± Cid said to the guard. ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied, ¡°our captain used to be in the Orumusic army and applied that level of discipline when he took over the watch. He¡¯s more than eager to ensure the city is under the best of protection.¡± ¡°Did the Council not feel the same way before the captain¡¯s arrival?¡± Cid asked. ¡°The Council pays little attention what they felt would an elevation of unnecessary and expensive imperialistic expansion,¡± said the guard. ¡°I see,¡± said Cid, grimacing. Kveldulf turned to Jeanne. Wonder who they¡¯d run to first if someone attacked here? he gestured to her. Probably to their own shielded world view before a forceful return through cold steel, she replied. Entering the stone building Kveldulf saw officials, clerks and archivists going about their business at a fast pace. Up to the second floor, they reached the sleeping area, closely resembling a military barracks in style. There were two-level bunkbeds lined in neat rows throughout the length of the room. Weapon racks hung on walls in between the bunk beds. Up to the final level they found the master of the guard along with several other officers sitting at their respective desks. The master of the guard was deep in thought as he scribbled. The guard saluted the Master of the Guards, reporting, ¡°Captain Laurent, sir, this group arrived with a ¡­ head.¡± Laurent, his quill jotting down notes feverishly, grunted in acknowledgement. ¡°What should we do with the head, sir?¡± the guard asked. Laurent continued writing and muttering to himself unabated. The guard turned to Benkin and pointed in a trajectory motion to the desk. Benkin gave her an acknowledging smirk and loudly dropped the severed head onto the desk, echoes reverberating from the walls before dying out quickly. The master of the guards and his officers, lifted from their vocationally induced spell noticed the bag and began studying it intently. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± one of the officers asked. Giving the officer a smirk, Benkin untied the top of the bag, revealing the severed head inside. Several of the officers stepped back, their hands firmly placed on the hilts of their weapons. ¡°So ¡­ that¡¯s what became of the Blood Serpent,¡± the master of the guards said cautiously. ¡°Where did you ¡­ find her?¡± ¡°In a cave system near a town called Amlin. She was at The Unyielding Fortress, where her servants were sacrificing people and animals,¡± said Cid. ¡°Hundreds of them,¡± Maeryn followed. ¡°I know that town,¡± said Laurent, ¡°Ellia¡¯s mercy, was that¡¯s what was happening over there.¡± ¡°By Kusti, the damned rumors were true,¡± said another officer. ¡°Rumors?¡± Kveldulf repeated aghast. ¡°You people were aware of this?¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°We had heard snippets and rumors from traders and other travelers that things were happening,¡± said Laurent. ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to send someone to investigate?¡± challenged Jeanne. ¡°Of course, we thought it,¡± retorted Laurent, ¡°we¡¯re not stupid. But half the time someone goes missing, it¡¯s because that person wanted to go on an adventure, or they just decided to run away from home. You¡¯d be surprised how many times that happens around these parts. And for the rest, the Council refuse give us the resources to reach any real conclusion.¡± ¡°Did they say why?¡± asked Cid. ¡°They¡¯d say there were other, more important matters, to attend to,¡± said Laurent. ¡°Just the wife of an immortal, necromantic tyrant,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Listen,¡± said Laurent defiantly, ¡°I accept my part in this, but when the Council says they won¡¯t put the manpower or money into something because they use the sources to make a new thing to celebrate, there isn¡¯t anything I can do. They¡¯re already reducing our budget and I can barely keep the peace throughout most of the city on the best of days.¡± ¡°And why is the Council doing such things?¡± Cid asked. ¡°It started as the means to help reduce cultural tensions between our people and refugees from Angulriek and Taraneasca, and a slew of other place. Soon it turned into people declaring themselves as animals, carts, and who what else. All the while the people who were supposed to benefit are left in the gutters of Sinnepassi,¡± said Laurent, slumping back into his chair. ¡°I learned to stop asking a long time ago. Less headaches and even less of a desire to drink myself into oblivion.¡± ¡°Do you think if we presented them with this, it would change their minds?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°It might,¡± Laurent said with little confidence. ¡°Though to be honest, I doubt anything would change their minds unless a monster was gnawing on their skulls and sucking their brains out. And even then, you¡¯d have to twist their arms, a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a rather interesting image,¡± said Kveldulf, his lip curling and tapping his boot to the stone slab floor. ¡°Just wait until you meet them,¡± Laurent said. ¡°Is there any way we could speak to Lady Allannia, herself?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°She¡¯s the Grand Consul of the city, that should account for something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more of an honorary title now,¡± said Laurent. ¡°After her fifth jubilee, she decreed a transfer of most of her rights of rulership to the council, so no one person could have the same power Callanband did. Which means everything has to go through the Council¡± ¡°That¡¯s turning out be a good call,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°It started off well enough, but soon lessons learned from the war were willing forgotten. And by those who felt their enlightenment came not from the knowing the past in full, but merely from the passage of time. What little history they do care for is cherry picked or fully rewritten in a tale more fantastical than myths told in our youth. For nothing more than a narrative that lifts their small cadre and leaves all others behind.¡± ¡°This is leaving me with a lot less confidence in this meeting,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Still, we should at least try to see what good can be done, if any,¡± said Cid. ¡°And if they give us any trouble, there¡¯s always the fun method,¡± said Jeanne. Cid and Kveldulf turned to Jeanne. ¡°You ¡­ you¡¯re literally right in front of the captain of the guard,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not like he¡¯s a big fan of them, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if he was,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Could we not have this conversation here now,¡± Laurent requested. ¡°Fine,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°ruin all my fun.¡± ¡°But I do see this as being something of a conundrum the Consul created,¡± Benkin said. ¡°In her defense, I doubt she could¡¯ve seen what this would¡¯ve lead to,¡± said Laurent. ¡°But the fact is we¡¯ve got a real threat on our hands. And they need to be informed in some capacity.¡± He grabbed his cloak, throwing it over his shoulders and fastening it before turning to his officers. ¡°Stay here until I return, you good folks, come with me.¡± Laurent escorted down a concealed passageway. They moved quickly down the stairs, through the training yards and towards a large white building housing the Council and their lower offices. ¡°I can see where the city¡¯s budget is spent,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°No,¡± Laurent said, bitterly, ¡°This is nothing. But, welcome to the Council¡¯s Palace. Formerly the Reman¡¯s Keep.¡± ¡°Why did they change the name?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°The Council thought it carried a warmer connotation,¡± Laurent replied. Reaching the doors into the building the guards stood at attention as Laurent neared. ¡°At ease, just seeing the Council,¡± Laurent replied. ¡°And them, sir?¡± the guard asked. ¡°They¡¯re with me, and give them no trouble,¡± Laurent replied commandingly. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the guard replied, letting them in without issue. ¡°We need to do this more often,¡± Jeanne said to Kveldulf. ¡°It¡¯s like we¡¯re guests of honor.¡± ¡°I swear you task me sometimes,¡± Kveldulf replied, shaking his head as he looked up to the heavens. Inside the first level were the royal gardens of the Grand Citadel of Orumus. The walls were painted with life-like precision to imitate a scene set deep within a forest. Thick trees clustering the western and eastern walls appeared to go deep within the woods for endless miles. The northern and southern ends displayed rolling pastures of long green blades of grass. Along the floor were thin canals of water flowing down them with effigies of fish floating and held with string to make them wriggle in place in the water. Deer and foxes were painted in the forested scenes rabbits, and other woodland critters depicted. Above them were rods with crackled paper tied close together, causing the rub against each other and make the sound of trees rustling to the wind as people above them spun and shook the roods. ¡°Because there isn¡¯t a forest outside their walls?¡± Jeanne asked out loud. ¡°They prefer imitation before genuine articles,¡± replied Laurent. Courtiers walked around leisurely enjoying the decorations were stunned to see the captain and his cadre marching down the pathway, breaking the serene ambiance. Some pulling away, others grabbing their coin purses, and most whispering amongst themselves. ¡°The fuck is with these people?¡± Kveldulf asked Cid. ¡°Their illusion is quite important to them,¡± Cid answered, his lips curling upwards. One of the guards standing by the bottom of a long marble staircase looked at Laurent. ¡°Captain, I¡¯m but the Council ¨C¡± ¡°Will make the time, this is important,¡± Laurent interjected. ¡°Of course, sir,¡± said the guard, leading them up the stairs. ¡°Right this way.¡± Moving up staircase to the tenth floor of the building. Reaching the top of the landing Kveldulf could see the wainscotting running along the walls producing a rich reflection, allowing one to see his image perfectly in the wood grain. Kveldulf wrapped his hands around his torso, noticing Jeanne doing the same. ¡°Not wanting to touch anything either?¡± he said to her. ¡°Shepherd¡¯s peace no, this looks like it was a fortune to put up.¡± ¡°And a few fortunes to keep up,¡± Laurent replied, ¡°Though it does look nice.¡± He noticed the others giving him a perplexed look. ¡°What? I like good woodworking.¡± Reaching the top of the staircase, they saw dozens of portraits, tapestries, flags, frescos, heraldic devices, and other works of art displayed on the walls and ceiling. At the end of the long hallway was a double door, large and ornate, with two guards standing in front of them. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll admit it,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°This is pretty damn impressive.¡± As they reached the doors leading into the Council Room, Laurent whispered into one of the guards ear who nodded and quietly entered the room. ¡°The council should be on the other side of this room,¡± said Laurent. ¡°No before we go in, is anyone of you not familiar with the history of the Council?¡± Everyone held up their hands, though Kveldulf began lowering his. ¡°Are you referring to a short summation, or detailed history?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°Either.¡± Kveldulf shook his head and raised his hand once more. ¡°All right, after Allannia defeated Callanband, she put the city¡¯s council back together to help her with running the city. This initial group comprised of her top officers. And as I mentioned before, she¡¯s given much of the rulership over to them. The people who you will be talking to are the descendants of those original council members. They are very proud of that fact, and will not hesitate to remind you of this, repeatedly.¡± ¡°So, expect pompous assholes,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Your words, not mine,¡± said Laurent before he opened the door. Once inside, the group saw the walls covered with etched frames of gold and jewels. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, as silver braziers shaped in the form of bowls were held up by golden figures in the forms of women and men. Gorgeous wooden molding with gold and white paint lined the tops of the mirrors, and bordering the curved ceiling above. The ceiling was painted with images of mythical creatures, ancient battles, and other fantastical scenes, life in crisp color and details. On the far side of the room was a semi-circular table with five people sitting along the length of the piece on the other side. Behind them was a large stain glass window, filling the room with colored light from the sun. Each one was of the current members, with their names and titles gracing the space on the table where they sat. As the group finally reached the table, the seated individuals paid no attention to the mercenaries. The one seated in the middle had their interlocked, save for the index fingers, which were pointed upwards. ¡°I still believe we need to reign in the use of pointed shoes for those of the lower classes,¡± he said to the other councilors, ¡°if the common folk are pushed to such extravagant means, then they will not spend time working on improving themselves and sustaining their ways of life.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± said the second council member, ¡°many in the Lower Wards are already living in dire straits. It would be barbaric if they allocated any meager funds to such superfluous affairs such as shoes and obscenely colored garments.¡± As they finished they adjusted their indigo blue and scarlet red tunic as they lifted their long pointed boots onto the table. ¡°They¡¯d probably spend whatever money they¡¯ll save from this new law over at the houses of ill-repute,¡± said third council member. ¡°Oh don¡¯t get me started,¡± said second council member. ¡°Damned filthy whores. If Alliana hadn¡¯t continued their charters they¡¯d be run out of the city.¡± ¡°Of course, that had to be one of the few facets she kept for herself,¡± said fourth council member. ¡°You¡¯d think she¡¯d let us show how to be more than mere instruments of sexual gratification,¡± said the second council member. The first councilor, sitting at the middle of the table, spotted Laurent and the others and addressed them. ¡°Ah yes, the adventurers from the village of Amlin. We were informed that you had some information for us,¡± he said in a calm, tolerating demeanor. ¡°We do,¡± said Cid, bowing his head forward. ¡°We ¡­¡± Before Cid could finish, the first council member interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t aware that your leader was a Felidan.¡± The councilman looked at Kveldulf and Jeanne, who were standing right behind Cid. ¡°I am,¡± Cid replied, ¡°These two are my lieutenants.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± said the councilman. ¡°So, this is your freelance company, then?¡± ¡°Yes, we are ¡­ The Wolf Company.¡± Cid inhaled sharply, his lips slowly receding inward. Kveldulf and Jeanne turned to Cid then to each other, silently shrugging. ¡°The Wolf Company,¡± the councilman said, ¡°Good to know there¡¯s a group who can be relied on for difficult circumstances. I am sure you have done much for our community since your inception.¡± ¡°Of course, reliability is the cornerstone of any good business relation,¡± said Cid, ¡°We have the distinct honor of helping with recent troubles around Almlin. And to whom do we have the pleasure to speak?¡± ¡°I am Marin Faletro, long kin to Marius Faletro, who served Her Serene Grace, Lady Allannia in the wars against the Tyrannous Callanband and his craven acolytes,¡± said Marin, his chin up and a confident smile on his face. ¡°And to whom do we owe the pleasure?¡± Cid, gripping his sword¡¯s hilt tossed it into the air, guards beginning to move forward as Cid caught the weapon and with a quick slash of his blade, pointing to the floor declared, ¡°My name is Rodrigo Diaz¡¯la de Vivar¡¯enza de Cideador, Lord Champion of the Kingdom of Ibera, Master Knight of the Order of the Tiger, and your most humble servant.¡± Marin jutted his jaw to the side while taking a deep breath. ¡°Quite the show,¡± he said, ¡°We are glad to have you and your compatriots within our walls.¡± Cid sheathed his blade, easing the guards¡¯ mood, and said, ¡°The pleasure, of course, is ours, and we felt compelled by civic virtue to inform you and your peers of a discovery we came upon. Ben if you could, please.¡± Benkin, the sack in hand, planted it on the circular desk and showed Belthory¡¯s head to the council. Gasps, stunned gazes and skin turning white came over all of the council, speechless as they looked upon the deceased. ¡°Is that ¡­?¡± one councilmember asked, covering her mouth as she spoke. ¡°The queen of the tyrant herself,¡± another followed. ¡°Did you,¡± said a third council member, unable to finish the question. ¡°We faced her and some of her followers to The Unyielding Fortress. It seemed as if she was working on something, to what end, I cannot say,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Yes,¡± said Marin trying to reach out towards the sack, but shirking away as he neared it. Benkin gently lifted up the canvas fabric, and took it back with him. ¡°I see this is something indeed.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could inform her grace,¡± said Benkin. ¡°That will not be needed,¡± said Marin. ¡°She has many pressing matters to attend to responsibilities, this would be the last thing she¡¯d need to know.¡± ¡°Still,¡± said Cid, ¡°It would only be right that she was made aware.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to inform her personally,¡± Marin said, ¡°You have my word.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Cid. ¡°We will adhere to your discretion.¡± ¡°But let us not think of such horrid things,¡± said Marin as he moved to the group. ¡°In fact, I think you all have earned yourselves a bit of a reward for your service,¡± Marin turned back to the other councilors, ¡°Would you not agree?¡± The others simply nodded and smiled politely. ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well, it is almost the time of the Spring Solstice and we normally hold a charity feast in cooperation with the various religious churches, temples and other hallowed locations in order to raise money for the less fortunate. It¡¯s a wonderful affair, and I think you and your compatriots would greatly benefit from being there as a token of our gratitude.¡± ¡°We are going to need some appropriate attire,¡± said Cid. ¡°This is essentially all we have clothing wise.¡± ¡°Never you mind,¡± Marin said to him, ¡°I¡¯ll send for my personal tailors, they¡¯ll have your outfits ready before you can think twice.¡± ¡°And not everyone in our group is present.¡± ¡°Just tell my people how many are coming, and the rest will be taken care of.¡± Marin turned his gaze to Laurent, ¡°Captain, if you would be so kind as to stay with us, for a few moments, I do believe our business here is concluded.¡± Captain Laurent bowed his head. ¡°Yes, Councilman Faletro. Guard, if you could escort our guests to the garden.¡± The guardsman gave a quick salute and led the group to the garden level. The courtiers looking on them in the same manner as when they first arrived. As they left the building Cid looked to the others. ¡°So that was interesting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± Kveldulf responded. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they want us to speak with Allania?¡± asked Maeryn. ¡°My guess is they don¡¯t want her to know,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°But why?¡± asked Benkin. ¡°It¡¯s like not telling someone their house is on fire.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more to this than what we can see, at least for the time being,¡± said Cid. ¡°Let us play the fool for the moment. Not jostle the boat and make waves and turn more of their attention to us.¡± ¡°Should we do anything in the meantime?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Jeanne, why don¡¯t you stop by Doc¡¯s clinic, see how things are going with him, Sil and Hypatia. The rest of us will try to find an inn to hunker down and see what will be our next contract.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°Don¡¯t get into too many fights while I¡¯m gone.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll save them all for you until we regroup. Now go and fluster our academics you prophet of chaos and anarchy,¡± said Cid, waving Jeanne off. Part Twenty-One - Seeking Selene Jeanne knocked on the door to Doc¡¯s office, Hypatia opening the door on the other side. ¡°Hello there!¡± Silvius said cheerfully. He pulled the door back in full in let Jeanne in. ¡°How did the meeting go?¡± ¡°All right,¡± said Jeanne as they walked up the first flight and into the hall. ¡°Ben showed everyone the head. They all went bleh and then we were given polite ¡®Get out¡¯.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± said Silvius, ¡°I would¡¯ve thought they might want to do something about this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what of the rest of us thought. Cid said we should wait and see what comes of it.¡± ¡°Do you think that¡¯s a good idea?¡± ¡°Cid is pretty good when it comes to political acumen. Which I have no desire to learn at all.¡± ¡°So, what are we to do in the meantime?¡± ¡°Cid suggested we inquire about some new contracts. Probably help with connections and reputation while we see what the council does in the meantime,¡± said Jeanne as she sat down at the table and leaned her back against the table edge and stretched her back. Where¡¯s Doc and Hypatia, anyway?¡± ¡°There was an accident at one of the markets and someone grabbed to help some of the injured and Hypatia wanted to watch the process.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t want to go with?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been comfortable to watching medical things being done,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I¡¯m not certain why, but I never have.¡± ¡°I get that,¡± said Jeanne as she went over and grabbed a bottle from the cupboard. Rummaging through some of the bottles, she pulled out a bottle of wine and grabbed a few cups before walking over to the table Silvius was sitting. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we wait for the others to get back?¡± Jeanne shook her head casually. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine, this is some of the stuff he keeps on hand for those days.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯ll be that bad?¡± ¡°How long ago did they leave?¡± ¡°Oh, maybe a few minutes after you and the others left.¡± Jeanne went wide eyed for a moment and then in one of the four cups poured the wine to almost to the brim. ¡°Oh yeah, he¡¯s going to need this.¡± As she finished pouring the four cups, the sound of the door swinging open loudly. Loud, heavy stomps echoed on the walls as Doc and Hypatia made their way up the stairs. Their shoulders were slumped over, heads hanging low and dangling, with blood stains all over their clothes. ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne groaned, ¡°how bad?¡± ¡°Bad,¡± said Doc, grabbing the full cup and chugged the entire contents down in one drink. Jeanne cocking an eyebrow up before he slam the cup down as if attacking a foe with the pommel of his sword. ¡°What happened?¡± Jeanne asked, leaning back. ¡°Someone crashed their wagon into a crowd at a market and struck a few people.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Silvius, pulling back. ¡°At least a dozen children were hurt in the collision,¡± said Hypatia, running her hand over her face. ¡°Did they all make it?¡± Silvius asked. Leonidas shook his head, ¡°A few didn¡¯t, and some people were crushed underneath the cart that went through when it toppled over, including the damned driver.¡± ¡°Gods, that¡¯s horrible,¡± said Silvius. ¡°One of the perks of this occupation,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°And gods I wished it wasn¡¯t. How are you holding up, Hypatia?¡± ¡°Processing,¡± she said listlessly. ¡°Same,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Do you want another one,¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°No, I should keep it to the one, gods forbid something else happens before the day is done.¡± ¡°Would you like us to give you two some privacy?¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d prefer some company,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Same,¡± said Hypatia, nodding slowly. ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said with some hesitation, ¡°we had an interesting conversation with the Great Council.¡± ¡°Oh, what happened?¡± asked Hypatia. Jeanne went over the conversation and how Cid wanted to handle the situation. ¡°Not a bad idea,¡± said Silvius, ¡°in the political perspective, we are not unlike an invading army. Especially since we bring news that could, potentially shake the very foundations the principality here.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re not threating the Council,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°No, though that may not be how they see us,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°The Grand Council as it stands has today has withstood five centuries of wars, riots and insurrections, depressions, as well as other hardships, and its previous incarnation was formed back in the Age of Legends. If we tried to do anything without some form of support, we¡¯d be a whiff of air trying to move a glacier.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of waiting while other forces are at work,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not at all uncomfortable with it in the slightest,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°But there aren¡¯t many viable options opened to us.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s our current plan for the time being?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°For the time being,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°So, we¡¯ll need to find things to do in the meantime.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Silvius, ¡°That reminds me we still needed to go to the university¡¯s archives!¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Leonidas rising from his seat, ¡°Let me get changed into some cleaner clothes.¡± ¡°You mind if I use the examination room, Doc?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I was just to say to use that one, actually.¡± Hypatia made her way downstairs as Doc went up to the upper floor and his bed chambers. Silvius rose from his seat, ¡°I¡¯m going down to Doc¡¯s surgery room, get my credentials in order for when we leave.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll check in on Doc, make sure he¡¯s all right,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You don¡¯t think he is?¡± ¡°Not sure, better safe than sorry.¡± Jeanne negotiated her way up the steps and reaching Leonidas¡¯s chambers knocked on the door. ¡°Yeah!¡± she heard from the other side. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°It¡¯s unlocked.¡± She grabbed the door handle and slowly pressed it inwards. Inside she saw a canopied bed, cloaked in blue drapes. A clean shirt, vest and pants resting on top of the bed linens. A chest rested at the end of the bed, nearby was a table and two chairs placed next to the bedroom window. Behind a dressing screen was a metal tub, empty of water and with a towel hanging over one of the long edges. Next to the bed was a washing basin stand, with a mirror hanging on the wall above it. Leonidas, his shirt and vest now removed, splashed water over his bloodied hands and sweat covered face. She saw several scars marking his torso, including three long ones stretching from his back to his left side and front. She could see his lips pinched tightly shut, his hands frantically trying to remove the blood from his skin. ¡°Doc?¡± Jeanne said to him. Doc was silent, the erratic movements growing in fury. ¡°Leonidas?¡± Grabbing the bar of soap on the basin he threw it against the wall with all his might as he gave out a scream. As it bounced off it landed halfway back across the room. He looked at the bar, dented and misshaped. He went over to pick it up and rinse it and his hands off, grabbed a towel and dried his hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you saw that,¡± he said to Jeanne. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be sorry about having an emotional reaction, even if it isn¡¯t not what you want the world to see.¡± Leonidas sat at the edge of his bed, placing his head in his hands and rubbing his forehead with his fingers. ¡°No, but it doesn¡¯t make the problem any better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s if you let it be your only solution, Leonidas,¡± said Jeanne, sitting next to him on the bed. ¡°But letting such things build up can eat away at you.¡± ¡°True. But gods I hate feeling like this.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I just feel so useless when I can¡¯t save them. Even after all these years. And I knew the first day I started down this path that I wouldn¡¯t be able to save everyone. But it still cuts deep sometimes. Especially when it¡¯s a child. Gods, those are the worst.¡± Jeanne put her hand on Doc¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You know this isn¡¯t something you have to struggle with alone.¡± Leonidas wiped budding tears from his eyes as he cleared his throat. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a lot easier said than done, Jeanne.¡± He moved to throw on the shirt, buttoning it as she stood up. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Jeanne, I¡¯ve lost a lot of friends. Many of them died on me when I tried to save them. And after a while, you just stop making new ones.¡± ¡°Was it that terrible in the Outlands?¡± ¡°It was hard. Any day could be your last. If it wasn¡¯t the toxic storms of sand and ash, there were the animals lingering in the dark corners of the world, waiting to tear your flesh and gnaw your bones, and then ¡­¡± Leonidas paused, looking at his hands, gripping them tightly before relaxing the muscles, ¡°¡­ then there were the people. Half you couldn¡¯t trust to a cooking recipe let alone your darkest secrets. And those who, when I began to feel a slight sense of kinship died. So, I just stopped, and attended to my struggles on my own. I just grew tired of finding someone I could find some form of companionship and comfort and then lose them.¡± Jeanne took Leonidas¡¯s hand into hers. Looking up into his eyes. ¡°I know what¡¯s like to lose people close to you. But for what it¡¯s worth, if you need to talk, I¡¯m here.¡± Leonidas smiled softly. ¡°I know. You might a bane to my existence. But I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°You should probably finish getting dressed,¡± she said to him, ¡°don¡¯t want to keep the others waiting.¡± ¡°We could,¡± he said calmly, ¡°But it might be rude.¡± ¡°And we wouldn¡¯t want that,¡± she said coyly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t, I don¡¯t need naysayers telling people I¡¯m a bad host.¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s the worst people could say about you,¡± she said. ¡°At least they aren¡¯t saying I¡¯m a bad singer.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start on that one.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± Leonidas said as he threw on his vest and grabbed his satchel, ¡°but we should go meet the others.¡± *** Riding outside of the city, the four eventually came to a complex of buildings encompassed around a wall roughly three-quarters the height of the city walls. There was an elaborate gate which had more of a decorative presence than one to provide protection. Students and professors moving around the campus grounds. Chattering to themselves, their noses deep in a book and the occasional pupil trying to catch up on lost slumber. ¡°Ah home sweet home,¡± Silvius said aloud. ¡°You think the professor would be glad to see us?¡± Hypatia asked as they entered under the university gate. ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± said Silvius, ¡°This was all his little idea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Well,¡± said Silvius as they turned right and walked under a cobbled path with curved arches held the stone ceiling over their heads, ¡°Professors Glyllnu were the ones who helped to organize our expedition.¡± ¡°And they pulled wait with the headmasters to actually approve our request to explore the ruins.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Why did they need to approve it?¡± Jeanne asked as Hypatia opened a large wooden door covered in iron forged designs of leaves and vines. They moved down a hallway they moved past doorways into lecture halls, a few opened enough for Jeanne to peer through and see students jotting down on clay tablets with styluses as their instructors told read to them from giant tomes resting on lecterns. As they made their way through the halls, Silvius replied, ¡°The Council, in conjunction with the bylaws of the university, stated that any and all explorations within ancient and uninhabited ruins must be approved by or it will be considered equal to the crime of graverobbing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit harsh,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Keeps amateurs, boredom afflicted youth, and actual grave robbers from considering diving into places they should not go,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Just imagine some bored child wandering into The Unyielding Fortress to find what we did,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Chances are they wouldn¡¯t have made it out alive,¡± said Silvius solemnly before spotting a room with the number thirty-four above the doorframe. ¡°Ah here we are.¡± Inside the room they found a gnomish woman, standing next to a lectern. She was gingerly dabbing her quill into an ink well before jotting down notes on a parchment. Silvius knocked on the doorframe. ¡°Professor Glyllnu?¡± he called out politely. ¡°Hmm?¡± the professor said before turning to them. ¡°Oh, Silvius, Hypatia!¡± she said before moving a series of steps from the lectern and moved towards them. ¡°How did the expedition go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s brought about some intriguing results,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Well, don¡¯t keep in suspense,¡± she said, quickly clapping her finger tips together, ¡°Tell me what you saw.¡± Hypatia and Silvius reported on the events on their expedition into The Unyielding Fortress. Professor Glyllnu slowly scratched the back of his head, her gaze wandering off as she took in the words. ¡°Well,¡± she said with a short pause before continuing, ¡°that was not what I was expecting to hear.¡± ¡°What were you expecting?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Your normal affairs of an abandoned ruins. Some treasures, maybe some broken pieces of pottery, possibly of book or two, and, depending on the ruin, any number of skeletons. Certainly nothing along the lines of a woman who was supposed to be exceptionally dead, let alone who metamorphosized into a snake type person. Highly unusual, if not a bit odd.¡± ¡°We could always show you the head,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You have her head!¡± Glyllnu hissed, ¡°Why in all of logic and reasoning would you have her head?¡± ¡°Well, who hear would believe our story of slaying Queen Belthory if we did not present something off her person,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°That¡¯s a fair one,¡± said Glyllnu, ¡°But that leaves a few more questions unanswered.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± asked Leonidas. ¡°Well,¡± said Glyllnu, crossing her arms, ¡°firstly, how is she not dead? As the records went, she and her husband were slain by Allania and her chosen blades when they took the city.¡± ¡°Either someone lied, or they got something wrong,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Not impossible, but it¡¯s a rather large bit of information to get wrong,¡± said Glyllnu, ¡°Though if she was not brought back to life, what did she do to sustain herself?¡± ¡°She did have that massive blood pool,¡± said Silvius, ¡°Perhaps she used that to sustain her?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°Once it¡¯s out, blood is almost useless in most of its intended purposes. Even vampires need to drink through the skin or it starts to harm their systems. The only thing you can do with exposed blood is use for a religious offerings or disturbing decorations.¡± ¡°But I thought Belthory believed she could sustain her life by bathing in blood,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°She did, and she was wrong.¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But you¡¯ll accept anything as truth if it keeps you from accepting realities you dare not believe.¡± ¡°In that case,¡± said Glyllnu, ¡°It must¡¯ve demonic in nature. But what of her husband? The chronicles said Alliana personally beheaded him and displayed it to her soldiers and the city¡¯s populace.¡± ¡°Maybe he hasn¡¯t been brought back?¡± followed Jeanne. The others turned to her. ¡°We found no signs that he was there, only those of his followers.¡± ¡°But why kill them?¡± asked Silvius. ¡°Payment to whomever they serve, I¡¯d bet,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Many demons are like that when it comes to the price paid for their boons.¡± ¡°And the ley stone there is ¡­ most unusual,¡± said Glyllnu. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Well, they tend to be held in places where arcane research and experimentation is held. One of the biggest reasons being the needed safeguards in the event the powers used start to overwhelm the person using them. There have been incidents of these being found outside of such places, but seldom do they occur.¡± ¡°Would there be any maps showing what this leystone connects to?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if there wasn¡¯t,¡± said Glyllnu, ¡°But they are most likely in the special archives, which isn¡¯t open to the public.¡± ¡°Is there anyone we could talk to for that access?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°There is one, he¡¯s been working with me for this very project.¡± ¡°Can we find him at his office?¡± Silvius asked her. ¡°What¡¯s today? Tuesday,¡± Glyllnu squeezed her chin to her chest as her eyes bulged for a brief moment. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What? What is it?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°You can definitely find him, but it¡¯s going to in a rather unorthodox spot.¡± *** ¡°I think we¡¯ve been had,¡± said Jeanne as they looked at the front of the brothel. It was a three-story building. Each succeeding level putting out slightly. On the rafters hung lanterns, alternating from a normal tint and a red one along the length of the rafters. There were no other decorations to mark the building. They came upon an iron door with a grated viewport. Above the entrance was a sign of the moon resting in the palm of a hand with the name Selene¡¯s Solar. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how many a professor has used this place for a lecture hall,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Still better than a horse stable,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°No shit,¡± said Leonidas. Jeanne groaned, ¡°Really, Doc?¡± ¡°Oh, you love my puns.¡± ¡°Love is not the word I¡¯d use to describe that.¡± Silvius lightly tapped on the door. Heavy clomps were followed by eyes of a male dwarf coming into view through the port. ¡°Yes, what do you want?¡± the dwarf said to them. ¡°We were hoping to speak with Professor Wilford?¡± said Silvius. ¡°We were told he was holding lectures here?¡± ¡°Right,¡± said the dwarf, ¡°What¡¯s your permission number?¡± ¡°Um,¡± said Silvius, scratching the back of his head and tucking his lips in. ¡°We don¡¯t actually have one. We were hoping to consult him on a particular manner.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry,¡± said the dwarf, ¡°But if you don¡¯t have a number to enter the class I can¡¯t let you in to see the man.¡± ¡°Is there any other way we could get in?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Unless you¡¯re going to be participating in any business with our courtesans, I¡¯m afraid not. And I would highly discourage the ¡®say you are and sneak in¡¯ ploy. They worked around those with a few unsavory countermeasures.¡± ¡°Well thank you kindly,¡± said Silvius as he and Hypatia turned to Leonidas and Jeanne. ¡°Well, I¡¯m out of ideas.¡± ¡°Let me try something,¡± said Leonidas as he walked up to the door, ¡°Hey Gruddoc.¡± ¡°Oh, doctor, good to see ya.¡± ¡°Good to see you, too. How¡¯s your foot feeling?¡± ¡°A lot better than it was a while back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, and the wife and children?¡± ¡°Oh, you know, same old same old.¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯re with the two who just tried to come in?¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Gruddoc, ¡°you know the rules, as well.¡± ¡°Perhaps if we could speak with Madame Selene and possibly get an exemption? This is somewhat urgent in nature?¡± ¡°What type of urgent are we talking about here?¡± ¡°We killed a giant snake lady who had a blood pool,¡± said Jeanne. Gruddoc looked back to Leonidas. ¡°That true?¡± ¡°I was flung into said blood of pool.¡± ¡°Oh, not a good day to have been you,¡± said Gruddoc. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll talk to her, but I can¡¯t make any promises.¡± ¡°More than appreciated,¡± said Leonidas. As Gruddoc left Leonidas walked back to the others. ¡°So, we¡¯ll just have to wait and see.¡± ¡°How are you on first name basis with the doorman?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Well, he messed his foot up something fierce a few months back and I helped him get back on his feet, literally in this sense. But, many of the people working here were some of my first regular clients when I moved into the city.¡± ¡°That¡¯s almost serendipitous,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Plus, many of the people who work here come to me for physicals, examinations, and the like. Certainly, has had its advantages.¡± ¡°Snuggles or gossip?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Gossip,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°Oh what secrets of the world are spilt when pillow talk is in play.¡± The door opened and an elven woman clad in dark red silk gown flowing down to her feet. Red hair hung from her head and over her right shoulder. A waist belt helped the dress fit to her voluptuous form. Two female attendants stepped out behind her as the woman approached Leonidas, her arms outstretched. ¡°Leonidas!¡± she said cheerfully, giving him a firm embrace, ¡°so good to see you again.¡± ¡°And you as well, Lady Selene.¡± ¡°Oh, still so formal?¡± she said releasing him. ¡°Well regardless, I am glad to see you back. And Silvius, I haven¡¯t seen you in many a day. You¡¯ve become so robust since our last meeting.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Silvius, looking away and his cheeks becoming red. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve put on a few pounds.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so crude,¡± Selene said, touching his shoulder, ¡°Humility, while becoming, should never lessen one¡¯s growth. Hypatia,¡± she said, taking Hypatia¡¯s hands into hers, a sweet smile coming to her face, ¡°how have you been?¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Hypatia, brushing locks of Selene hair off her forehead and behind her ear. ¡°Busy, but good.¡± ¡°Well, maybe when you¡¯re not busy we could catch up on your daring dos.¡± ¡°It is the first thing I wish to do, Lady Moonlight,¡± Hypatia said to her. Selene¡¯s head tilted to the side, a light smile on her face. ¡°Just be careful out there.¡± ¡°As you wish, my lady,¡± Hypatia replied. Selene looked down to the ground for a moment before turning to Jeanne. ¡°Now here is a face I have not seen. Who might be?¡± ¡°I am Jeanne Marias,¡± Jeanne replied, bowing her head forward. ¡°Well Lady Marias, a friend of these three is a friend of mine,¡± Selene said, gesturing them to follow. ¡°Come, come, let us move to more conducive settings for conversation.¡± As they entered Gruddoc asked Selene, ¡°Is there anything you¡¯ll need of me, my lady.¡± ¡°Not at the moment,¡± she replied. ¡°You may return to your post, good sir.¡± Gruddoc put his hand over his chest and bowed his head before returning to his station. The four followed Selene as she moved through the entry hall and up a winding staircase. Reaching the second story and moving down the hallway towards the back of the building. ¡°Now, Master Gruddoc informed me that you were wanting to speak with Professor Wilford?¡± Selene asked. ¡°Yes,¡± said Silvius, ¡°we were hoping to see if he could help us with something.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Selene replied, ¡°I can imagine he¡¯ll enjoy someone to talk to once his lecture is over. Poor man.¡± ¡°Is something wrong with him?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Nothing to his health, so far as I know. But you can tell this setting is not his cup of tea. He is a man who prefers the quietness of a lecture hall over this environment.¡± ¡°Then why is he here?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The university¡¯s governing body felt it was in their best interests to increase the fees professors must pay to rent their lecture halls. We, on the other hand, have kept ours the same. So, we¡¯ve almost turned this old building into a proper bastion of learning, what with all the academic minds now coming here to teach.¡± ¡°I can imagine it¡¯s been a boon to business,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°More ways than one,¡± said Selene. ¡°Given all the academic talent coming here, some of my courtesans have learned enough of academia to become tutors. Literally doubled their income in some cases.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised no one from here has started teaching on the campus,¡± said Silvius. Selene scoffed. ¡°The Council would rather watch their city burn I holy-fire than see someone they find beneath them rise above their station. To them, we are vermin spreading filth and sin to their pure and innocent citizens. At times I think they are too afraid to look in a mirror, and see what a true whore is.¡± ¡°What, you mean your betters are not better, scandalous!¡± said Leonidas. ¡°They certainly look like their shit doesn¡¯t stink,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I see you meant them?¡± Selene asked. ¡°Sadly,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°they seemed more annoyed by us than anything else.¡± Selene shook her head in a mocking manner. ¡°That¡¯s normally what happens when you¡¯re too busy patting yourself on the back to do anything else. Most of the city has learned to run itself over the last few generations of leadership. But that is a conversation for another time,¡± Selene stopped and held her hand at a door, ¡°Your professor should be finishing up his lecture in this room.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lady Selene,¡± said Silvius, ¡°We¡¯re in your debt.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± said Selene. ¡°I¡¯m always willing to help good friends.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll try not to tarry past our welcome,¡± said Leonidas. ¡®Take as much as you need. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me,¡± Selene said as she took her leave. The four stood by the door until students began filing out of the room and down the hall, a couple knocking on the door to some of the other courtesans and being ushered inside. ¡°I should be surprised,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°But I¡¯m really not.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t really blame them,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°No, no you can¡¯t.¡± As they entered the room, they found a bed covered in a wool blanket. A lectern with a book resting on top of it, opened to a random page. Several candles were lit with a roaring fire crackling from a fireplace. The walls were covered in notes, maps and drawings of artifacts and artwork from ages long past. In a chair near the lectern was a man slumped in his chair letting out a heavy sigh with closed eyes. ¡°Hello? Professor Wilford?¡± Silvius gently called out. ¡°Hmm, what?¡± Wilford said as he snorted himself from a slumber. ¡°Oh. Oh! Silvius, Hypatia, two people I don¡¯t know! How do you do?¡± ¡°Very well, sir,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°We have news of our expedition to the ruins.¡± Wilford jumped out of his chair, his weariness immediately gone. ¡°You what! Tell me what you found.¡± ¡°Would you prefer the abridged report,¡± Hypatia asked, pulling out a thin report, ¡°Or the full one?¡± she asked as she pulled out an immensely thick pile of papers that she dropped on the bed. The pile bouncing for a moment before settling. ¡°I take found some things,¡± he said to her sardonically. Taking the smaller report, he skimmed through the document. Going over the pages, his brow furrowed increasingly. ¡°You found The Unyielding Fortress?¡± he asked in a breathless voice. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the only thing,¡± Silvius replied. Wilford continued reading before his widened. ¡°You ¡­ found Belthory?¡± ¡°Well, we also too her head,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You have her head!¡± ¡°Oh yeah, with tendrils and saggy jaw and everything.¡± ¡°How eloquently put, Jeanne,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°My gods,¡± said Wilford. ¡°This is ¡­ I cannot find the words to speak what in on my mind.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Silvius, ¡°We were hoping there was something you could do to help us.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. What can I do?¡± ¡°We need access to the special archives, we found a leystone and though to cross-reference between existing leylines with the fortress.¡± ¡°Absolutely, I¡¯d be happy to ¡­¡± Wilford said before above them there was a series of thumps coming from above them. Each one getting faster until it was a constant pace. Soon cries and moans came with the thumps as Wilford rested his head in his hand. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°That ¡­ that¡¯s Ciara¡¯s three o¡¯clock.¡± He let out a heavy sigh as he pulled out a quill and inkwell. ¡°Let me get you a permission note and after that, I don¡¯t know about you fine people, but I¡¯m getting something to drink.¡± Part Twenty-Two - Party Favors I Jeanne held her hands over her mouth as he watched Leonidas walk out of his bedchamber in a dark blue velvet doublet, a black leather belt fitted around his waist. The heavy clomps from his knee-high riding boots lightly echoed off the walls, covering the lower half of his black pants as he finished pulling his dark leather gloves taunt. ¡°What?¡± he asked her. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said in a strained voice, turning to look away. He looked down, his eyes scouring his attire frantically. ¡°Did I put something on backwards?¡± She shook her head, tears now forming as she futilely held back laughter. ¡°Oh ha ha,¡± Leonidas mocked. ¡°Like it¡¯s so wrong to look decent at a party. You know it¡¯s your turn to get all spiffy.¡± Jeanne stopped laughing, mulled over the words before her shoulders slumped and she furrowed her brows. Merely saying, ¡°Crap¡± before she went up the stairs as Leonidas met the others down at the solar. ¡°I¡¯m actually surprised you already had a suit ready for such a thing,¡± said Cid, adjusting his all-black outfit, similar to the doctor¡¯s, save for a pair of short boots. ¡°You exorcise a tailor¡¯s child; you get some nice clothing as a payment.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could get their name?¡± Silvius asked, straightening out his deep green doublet cloaked with an earthen red long skirted jacket over it, along with brown pants and black shoes, and his rapier hanging from his left side. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Benkin, wearing a magenta doublet and pants, knee high riding boots with a white coat laying over his right shoulder. ¡°Be nice not to have armor as our sole articles of clothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask,¡± Leonidas replied, ¡°But I can¡¯t make any promises.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Maeryn, carefully examining her violet gown, edged with golden leaf patterns, and a golden waist belt resting on her hip, ¡°this doesn¡¯t feel like something you could run fast in.¡± ¡°Which is why I¡¯m wearing good old pantaloons,¡± said Hypatia, sporting a white doublet, dark brown pants and riding boots ending half way up her calves. ¡°Those look nice, but are a trip hazard all around.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of people are going to murmur?¡± Kveldulf asked. Leaning against the doorframe with a blood red doublet pants and riding boots. ¡°I¡¯ve learned to stop caring a long time ago,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°If they¡¯re not people who respect me for who I am, then I don¡¯t respect their opinions of me.¡± Kveldulf shrugged. ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°What is the purpose to this whole affair anyway?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I heard it¡¯s to collect money to help the Lower Wards,¡± said Cid, adjusting his sleeves at the wrist. ¡°Are the conditions really bad there?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°People here call that section the Lost Ward,¡± said Leonidas. Benkin had an uncomfortable look on his face at the response. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just cheery.¡± ¡°Has it always been bad over there?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Been this way since I¡¯ve lived in the city,¡± said Leonidas. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°And nothing¡¯s done about it?¡± Kveldulf asked, his right fist clenching tightly. ¡°The Council wouldn¡¯t be remised in their duties if they didn¡¯t,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I¡¯d be like a parent leaving their child to live in utter squalor by choice.¡± ¡°That why the Council decreed that is where they¡¯ll throw refugees from Angulsvai, Pamanoti, and a half dozen other realms tearing themselves apart. And I don¡¯t even know the amount of fees the city, the guilds, landlords, and who knows what else are allowed to be put in place to further exacerbate the problems,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Surely the Council wouldn¡¯t go that far,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°You saw how the university officials stonewalled our efforts,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°That¡¯s the university, the Council is tasked by Alliana herself with guiding the fortunes of the entire city,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Weren¡¯t they talking about a law to regulate who could have certain sized shoes?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I know not every law made is base solely on sound reasoning, but there has to be some valid reason for them to be in their position,¡± Silvius insisted. ¡°Let us hope you are right,¡± said Cid. ¡°I want to think this night of rubbing elbows will be worth the effort.¡± ¡°What exactly are we doing going to this thing?¡± Benkin asked Cid. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be trying to find more clues to what the Wraith King¡¯s acolytes are doing?¡± said Maeryn. ¡°I want to, but with the Council¡¯s current opinion of the matter, I¡¯m hoping we can find some members of the nobility to convince to our cause. At least apply some pressure to get the Council to get moving on this,¡± said Cid. ¡°You think this is going to work?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It¡¯s better to have a fool¡¯s hope than no hope at all,¡± Cid replied. ¡°And on that note, we should probably start heading out. Doctor, since it¡¯s your place, you get to ensure Jeanne doesn¡¯t miss the fun, or burn your house down.¡± ¡°I thought we were on good terms, Cid,¡± Leonidas said, defeatedly. ¡°We are, but you¡¯re still doing it.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± Leonidas said as the others left. Once they had left gone he turned back to his bedroom. ¡°How are we doing up there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost done!¡± Jeanne called out. ¡°Oh look, this looks pretty!¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re just messing with me,¡± she shrieked. ¡°It¡¯s so shiny and glittery and with ¡­ why are there eyes looking at me?¡± ¡°Those are your eyes being reflected, Jeanne.¡± There was a short pause. ¡°Oh thank the Shepherd.¡± ¡°Jeanne, I swear I do not want to be given the stink eye of tardiness by these upper crust curs.¡± ¡°I said I am almost done!¡± she said defiantly. Leonidas grumbled. ¡°Look at me, I¡¯m Jeanne. I give everyone trouble and then go wee wee wee, all the time. Oh, look at that it¡¯s a wombat in a cart, bleh bleh bleh!¡± Jeanne opened the door looking down at him from the top of the stairs. ¡°I heard that!¡± ¡°Of course, you ¡­¡± Leonidas turned, his eyes widened and completed arrested in his speech, before his thoughts slowly returned, ¡°¡­ did.¡± Jeanne moved down the stairs, her hands lifting the front of her dress to help move down easier. Her dress was deep crimson, with white embroidery formed along the edge with the appearance of interlocking chains. Her belled sleeves opened down past her waist, which had a gilded belt resting on her hips. Standing before the good doctor, she lifted her chin up and sported a gentle smile. ¡°Tell me doctor,¡± she said in a sophisticated tone, ¡°how do I look?¡± ¡°Enchanting,¡± he said softly, wearing a warm smile. Jeanne was stunned for a moment before turning away and blushing. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± he asked, feeling his heart to beat swiftly in his chest. ¡°No, it¡¯s just,¡± Jeanne paused looking down before turning her gaze at him. ¡°That¡¯s just not a term people use to describe me.¡± Leonidas lifted her chin gently with his hand. ¡°Then let me be the first.¡± ¡°I think I will allow you the liberty, but don¡¯t assume I¡¯ll start to change my ways, good sir,¡± she said batting her eyes playfully. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡± He nudged his head towards the door. ¡°We should get going, the others are probably waiting.¡± Part Twenty-Three - The First Contract Leonidas was making a stew as Jeanne, Hypatia and Silvius were sitting comfortably by the fire. He lifted a spoon with some of the brew and sipped it gingerly. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said as the herbs delighted his tongue. ¡°Almost ready,¡± he said to the others before moving to grab a couple bottles of wine. ¡°It¡¯s sort of nice to relax by a fire and not be in the middle of a large crowd at an inn,¡± said Silvius. ¡°The murmur can be nice for ambiance,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°but I agree with you entirely.¡± ¡°I do enjoy a nice brawl once in a while,¡± said Jeanne, laying on her back, her hands behind her head and one leg crossed over the other. ¡°You start one here, and I will turn you into a newt,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°You¡¯ll have to kill me first,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You would say that,¡± Leonidas replied. Jeanne mockingly imitated the doctor before he threw a dish towel at her. ¡°How rude,¡± said replied, rolling it up and placing it under her head. There was a knock at the door with Leonidas moving towards it, ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± he said to the others. He reached the door and saw Cid and the rest on the other side. ¡°Oh good, dinner is almost ready, come inside,¡± Leonidas said, waving them into his home. ¡°So how did your day go?¡± Leonidas asked them. ¡°Well, most of our previous contracts had already been turned in,¡± said Cid. ¡°So that means we¡¯re going to be waiting for the next wave of ne¡¯er do wells to have a price on their head.¡± ¡°I mean in the city like this, that shouldn¡¯t be a long wait,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it would be. But we also will want to see which ones might help ingratiate us into the Council¡¯s eye.¡± ¡°And in the meantime, we can get look for leyline maps from the archives,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°That¡¯s going to take more than a day or two to find all the ones we¡¯ll need.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Cid, ¡°That¡¯ll give us some idea what Belthory might¡¯ve been doing in the fortress.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember hearing from the stories that she was well-trained in the magical arts,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I don¡¯t think she was,¡± said Silvius, ¡°She was more of the political force for her husband¡¯s reign while he attended to learning magics few dared to tread.¡± ¡°But why would she turn herself into such a monster like that?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Power has a very blinding affliction on the mind,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Added with unhealthy doses of apathy and hubris, it can lead a person to become a creature surpassing the monstrosities written in ancient myths,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And those serving her?¡± asked Benkin. ¡°The desire to have some of that power for themselves, or for at least to protect themselves from a tyrant¡¯s wrath, a little of both?¡± said Leonidas as he began grabbing mugs from a cupboard. ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid growled as he rubbed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think we might¡¯ve bitten off more than we could chew.¡± ¡°I believe that is a sentiment we¡¯re all sharing,¡± said Leonidas, placing mugs on the table before grabbing four large bottles of ale. ¡°I thought we were supposed to be a simple lancer company,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s what I was told,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°but I think our brave leader has hoodwinked us.¡± ¡°Hey, I was hoodwinked, too,¡± said Cid, grabbing a mug of ale as Leonidas poured him a drink. ¡°To be fair,¡± said Silvius, ¡°If we didn¡¯t have you to help us out, we may not have come out of those ruins as well as we did. No offense Ben and Maeryn.¡± Benkin shook his head. ¡°Oh no, I didn¡¯t want to deal with that snake woman all by my lonesome.¡± ¡°That would¡¯ve been a hard one to do with just us,¡± followed Maeryn. ¡°Though that does kind of bring up another question,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°What are we doing when we¡¯re down with whatever the hell is going on here?¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Cid turning to Ben, Sianna, Hypatia and Silvius, ¡°if you want, you¡¯re more than welcomed to be a part of our company.¡± ¡°Oh right!¡± Maeryn exclaimed, ¡°The Wolves!¡± ¡°The what?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Oh yes,¡± said Cid, ¡°That was the name I told the Council. I ¡­ might¡¯ve panicked a bit there.¡± There was a short pause between everyone. ¡°I like The Wolves,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Sounds quite epic,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Aye, I thought that was the name you picked from the beginning,¡± said Benkin. ¡°You would¡¯ve thought that,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°But we didn¡¯t get that far into the process things kind of escalated.¡± ¡°That seems to be our lot in life,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Only when you¡¯re involved,¡± said Leonidas, handing out bowls to everyone and ladling out stew for supper. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m the bad luck charm!¡± ¡°You saw that, Cid, she admits it.¡± ¡°Oh gods, I have two of you now,¡± said Cid as he sunk his head into his hands. ¡°Perhaps we could do a recruitment drive,¡± said Silvius. ¡°One problem at a time, Silvius,¡± said Cid, ¡°My sanity can only take so much at once.¡± ¡°I might have a tonic for that,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Please stop talking,¡± said Cid. ¡°So ¡­,¡± said Kveldulf lifting his mug, ¡°The Wolves?¡± ¡°The Wolves,¡± said Hypatia, lifting her mug. ¡°The Wolves,¡± said Benkin and Silvius, together. ¡°The Wolves,¡± Cid, Jeanne, Maeryn and Leonidas said, together. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°The Wolves!¡± they all said together with pride, before giving a martial cheer. As the cheering calmed, there was a tapping on the door. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who heard that, right?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°If you did, my earing is falling terribly,¡± said Maeryn. A second series of knocks struck the door, Leonidas rose from his seat and moved downstairs. ¡°Hey, Cid,¡± he called out from the first floor. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone here to see you.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Cid, ¡°What did I do this time?¡± ¡°What it is, I want nothing to do with it,¡± said Jeanne. As Leonidas came back upstairs, he was followed by the official Kveldulf met at the docks and a figure towering over the two. They were equal in Benkin in height, and dressed in full plate armor. ¡°Oh!¡± the official said to Kveldulf, ¡°So good to see you again.¡± ¡°You as well,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I hope my friend here hasn¡¯t caused any trouble,¡± said Cid. ¡°Far from it,¡± said the official, ¡°In fact I might have something of use to your efforts.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could know who we are working with, before we get into any business dealings.¡± ¡°But of course,¡± the official said with a chuckle, giving a courtly bow. ¡°My name is Conall Crowe, and this is my guard, though you need not worry about their name.¡± ¡°My name is Cid,¡± Cid then introduced the others before turning back to Conall, ¡°Now what is it we might be able to do for you?¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Conall, ¡°I was given word someone with high influence in the city had something of theirs stolen by some rather unsavory characters. And they would very much like to have their property returned to them.¡± ¡°What type of item are we taking about here?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°Hmm?¡± Conall hummed curiously. ¡°Is this an heirloom, does it have magical qualities, does it have dangerous magical properties?¡± ¡°It is a necklace with a pendant and ring hanging from it. I take it this isn¡¯t your first foray, is it?¡± Conall asked him. ¡°Not mine, but I don¡¯t know about the rest,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°I like to think I¡¯m somewhat aware of these things,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Sil, you thought sharks would attack you in a pool,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°I was five, I was an idiot, and you swore never to bring that up.¡± ¡°Oh, is it, story time?¡± Jeanne exclaimed with delight, ¡°Doc fucked a spider-lady.¡± Everyone turned to Leonidas, including Conall, wide-eyed. Leonidas looked at the others, then to Jeanne. ¡°You just had to tell them, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t a denial,¡± she said innocently. ¡°You fornicated with a spider-woman?¡± Silvius said, his hand on his mouth. ¡°If you had met her, you would not be judging me,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°And on that, I think we should get this conversation back to its original purpose,¡± said Cid, ¡°If not to save all our dinner from making a return trip.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Conall said slowly, great concern writing all over his face, ¡°In any case, we¡¯d like to hire your services in getting this artifact back from these thieves.¡± ¡°And do you know where we¡¯ll need to go to find this artifact?¡± ¡°Oh yes, the isle of Victual,¡± Conall replied. ¡°Ah, the central hub for all pirate,¡± Kveldulf said, letting out a heavy groan. Jeanne¡¯s head perked up, and exclaimed, ¡°Pirates!¡± ¡°Oh gods, no,¡± Cid said, his head resting on the table and wrapping his hands over. ¡°Argh, matey,¡± said Jeanne, leapt onto the table, pretending to hold a sword in hand. ¡°We be sailing the seas for gold and fame.¡± ¡°Get off my table!¡± Leonidas demanded. ¡°You make you filthy landlubber,¡± Jeanne replied., closing one eye tightly playfully sneering at the doctor. Leonidas tried pulling Jeanne off the table, eventually causing both of them to fall over. Jeanne called out, ¡°Help I¡¯m being dragged into the depths of the dark sea!¡± ¡°Stop thrashing for gods¡¯ sake,¡± said Leonidas, trying to wrestle her off of him. ¡°Never!¡± Cid, watching this unfold with a look of growing concern, turned back to Conall slowly. ¡°Another question,¡± he asked, trying to ignore the scuffle nearby, ¡°if we are able to acquire the item and get it back to your associate, would this help gain an audience with Lady Alliana?¡± Conall pondered the question for a moment. ¡°If you get this artifact, you will more than wake waves to catch her attention.¡± *** Kveldulf stood outside of Leonidas¡¯s house, watching the stars. He could hear the occasional call out in the distance. In one of the nearby taverns there were the sounds of singing and indistinguishable chatter. The faint smell of food and drink touched his nose as he tried to steady his thoughts. ¡°You seem to be troubled, my friend,¡± he heard Cid say to him, gently closing the door behind them. ¡°Yeah, just had a lot of my mind.¡± ¡°Is it about Allania?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a part of it, yes.¡± ¡°And well else is troubling you?¡± ¡°For five hundred years, my family has been synonymous with everything a person should not be. I must hide who I am in order to keep people from knowing who I belong to. And now that I have the chance to finally start changing that ¡­ I am starting to feel every inclination to run and find some refuge in a hole.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lie in trying to imagine what you must be feeling. Even with my own trials and tribulations, I have had to go to such effort just to find some semblance of peace. And a person of your quality should be forced to endure the punishment of generations long past,¡± Cid put his hand on Kveldulf¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Whatever it is I can do to help you in this, I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°Thanks Cid,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°That means a lot.¡± ¡°Anytime, my friend.¡± ¡°So, what do you think of The Council.¡± ¡°Not much, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± ¡°Do you think they¡¯re working with Calanband¡¯s supporters?¡± ¡°That I don¡¯t know, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they were,¡± Cid looked up at the night sky, letting out a long whistle. ¡°The night is gorgeous tonight.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Kveldulf said solemnly. ¡°You miss them, don¡¯t you?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Your parents.¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said with some reluctance, ¡°They used to tell stories of what created the stars by the sparks made from divine forges. Or other tales from my kin¡¯s past: Here I ask from the holy races, Of Guardian¡¯s kin, high and low; Of the All-Father who I call kin, The legends of so long ago.¡± ¡°I forgot how much you enjoyed poetry,¡± said Cid. ¡°Blame my parents, they always a warrior who well-versed in art was better versed in war.¡± ¡°They weren¡¯t wrong,¡± said Cid, pulling out a pipe, stuff it with weed and lighting a match with the heel of his foot. He took a long draw from his pipe and let out a long puff of smoke. Rolling a stone back and forth with his foot. ¡°You seem to be mulling a few thoughts,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°A few.¡± ¡°Any in particular?¡± ¡°Part of me wonders if coming here was such a good idea.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Kel, the idea was to do few small bounties, start making a name for ourselves, and maybe getting hired for protecting a lord who wanted more than to collect coffers and honors behind tall walls and unmovable walls. I was expecting to ride head first into the machinations of monsters, wizards, and political intrigues which I care not.¡± ¡°And here I was thinking you wanted to earn glory and fame for you and your house?¡± ¡°I have not yearned to give my house such fame in many a year, good friend.¡± ¡°Then I can imagine interacting with the betters of this city is not your cup of tea.¡± ¡°No, but it is a taste I¡¯ve come to tolerate, if only for necessity.¡± ¡°You do it better than I.¡± ¡°Exceptionally true, you look as if you¡¯d prefer to take your sword to such betters at times.¡± ¡°Am I that obvious?¡± ¡°And then some.¡± ¡°I guess I should probably learn to tailor my thoughts for such things.¡± ¡°It would give me a little more peace of mind.¡± Kveldulf growled as he turned his eyes upward. ¡°I know it is asking a lot, I truly do. But if you want to help your family regain any of the honor its lost, you cannot antagonize those who hold the key to the door.¡± ¡°I do hate it when you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always a fan either, if that¡¯s any consolation.¡± ¡°What do think of this new contract?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cid said, snarling out of the corner of his mouth, ¡°and that¡¯s what worries me.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Usually in these situations, I am able to sniff out a trap or something to that liking. But this time I can¡¯t tell whether this is a sincere thing or if we¡¯re being set up for something we cannot get out of. And that does not sit well with me at all.¡± ¡°The method of our solicitation didn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°No, no it did not.¡± ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°As much as I would love to turn down this offer. With everything else going on, we might be the only people capable of getting a word in to someone who desperately needs to know.¡± Kveldulf nodded, staying silent. ¡°I know it is not what you¡¯d want to hear.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kveldulf said, ¡°but I may finally seek an answer I¡¯ve been wanting to find for so long.¡± ¡°Then let us find the answers together, and bring to light something which has long been cloaked in night.¡± ¡°Where ever you lead, you know I¡¯ll follow.¡± ¡°I know, that¡¯s why I¡¯m glad you and Jeanne are with me. It makes the burden less so on my shoulders.¡± ¡°Well, I guess we should get some rest before we do this.¡± ¡°Yes, it would be good idea before we embark on this little excursion,¡± Cid said as he put out his pipe and gingerly opened the door and he and Kel made their way back into the house. Part Twenty-Four - The Isle of Victual ¡°All right,¡± said Cid as the others congregated into the solar of Leonidas¡¯s home, ¡°let¡¯s go over what we know about this job?¡± ¡°The ship in question is called The Belamy Blade,¡± said Hypatia as she went over her notes. ¡°And the crew manning it has gone by the name of Belamy Bastards.¡± ¡°I see they love their word play,¡± said Jeanne, rolling her eyes. ¡°I kind of liked it,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Of course, you would, you pun-tificating pain.¡± ¡°Yet you¡¯re the one who made the pun.¡± ¡°Oh, fuck me!¡± she said with exacerbation. ¡°And before we get too off track,¡± said Cid, ¡°what do we know about this Isle they¡¯re on?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a reputed stop for privateers in the region to rest and resupply in between voyages,¡± said Silvius. ¡°So, we just need to pass ourselves off as privateers,¡± said Cid. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be too hard.¡± ¡°Is there a certain aura that says ¡®pirate¡¯?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°If there is I don¡¯t have it,¡± said Leonidas, shaking his head. ¡°I mean, noblemen have forfeited their status and wealth to go sail the seas and seek plunder,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s remember not to let our guard down. I do not think any of us have been here before, and I¡¯d rather not get taken into a trap if we can avoid it,¡± said Cid. ¡°Does that mean we can¡¯t buy a few trinkets and what-not¡¯s?¡± Jeanne asked. Cid pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Jeanne ¡­ why?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Oh for the love of,¡± Cid said, looking up to the heavens, ¡°if you can find something worth buying, and reasonable, I¡¯ll allow it.¡± Jeanne clapped her hands with eager delight. ¡°Not a boat!¡± Cid followed. ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said sullenly. *** The Wolves made their way to the dock of Victual. The smell of the sea air, fresh fish displayed among several market stalls, and hundreds of people moving back and forth from ships and businesses throughout the harbor. Many pirate crews wore uniforms unique to their crews. Some carrying an air of martial naval bearing, while others had a more bohemian flair. Hundreds of seagulls flocked the area. Some floating in the air, others resting on the posts sticking up from the walkway. Barnacles stuck themselves onto wood and ship alike under the water¡¯s surface. The occasional visit of sealions and seals poking their heads up to watch the activity on land before diving back into the realm of the sea once more. Kveldulf stretched his legs and neck as Maeryn took in the sights. ¡°You¡¯ve been out to sea?¡± he asked her. ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen the sea much before I left home. It¡¯s almost like peering into a whole new world.¡± ¡°Maybe we can see a mermaid,¡± said Benkin. ¡°They¡¯re not what they¡¯re cracked up to be,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Should we ask?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan, Cid?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking we find this ship of ours, and start scoping the vessel out,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Watch out,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°someone¡¯s coming.¡± A dock official came up, preparing paperwork as they neared The Wolves. ¡°Welcome to Victual,¡± said the official, ¡°My name is Rofe Horman, and I¡¯ll be documenting your arrival. Names?¡± The group gave their names to Rofe. ¡°Right, eclectic crew, aren¡¯t we? Do you associate with any side for any existing conflict?¡± ¡°That¡¯s kind of an odd question,¡± said Silvius. Rofe looked up at them. ¡°Is this your first time to the Victual?¡± Everyone nodded. ¡°Right, so whatever side you are on determines which half of the isle you get access to. Last thing we need is the entire place turning into its own warfront.¡± ¡°What if we¡¯re just getting started and haven¡¯t picked a side?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Oh, then you get an all-isle pass,¡± said Rofe, handing everyone a token. ¡°Make sure to keep that on your person at all times or you will be thrown off, Rule-Breaker Peak.¡± As he finished, Rofe pointed to a large sea cliff reaching out over the sea. At the very tip of the peak the group could see people being thrown off into the ocecan. ¡°That¡¯s something,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°We take pride in keeping the isle in good order and rule breakers will not be tolerated.¡± ¡°Is there anyone we could talk to for hiring our services?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well,¡± said Rofe, ¡°If you go to the center of the isle, you¡¯ll see all kinds of stalls of kingdoms, republics, municipalities and who knows what else. Once you decide which side you wish to be part of, you¡¯ll need register your crew with the Office of Hostility first, where you¡¯ll fill the respective duplicate forms out, then you¡¯ll register your crew with the Office of Loyalty, which you¡¯ll need to fill out the two triplicate forms to declare your alliance and patronage with the respective country. Make sure to use the full name of the government, and not the shortened one. Now, is this your entire crew?¡± Everyone nervously nodded. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not nearly enough heads for the minimum requirement to be a full crew,¡± Rofe said to them, ¡°You¡¯re going to need to go over to the Barracks of Sails to get yourself up to code on that. And how many of you are actually trained to sail?¡± No one raised their hands. ¡°Oh mercy, you¡¯re gonna need to go over to the Privateering Academy to get your credentials before you can become guild sanctioned privateers.¡± ¡°Is there anything else we need to know?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, but I¡¯d double check with your respective offices to make sure you¡¯re all right in the paperwork,¡± Rafe replied. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you could give us a suggestion on places to eat?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°As an official representative of the Privateering Guild of Victual, I am to neither speak ill or kindly to any of the fine eateries and brew companies established within the boundaries of the isle.¡± ¡°What if you were not on duty?¡± asked Cid. ¡°Oh, The Dead Keg, hands down,¡± Rofe stopped for a moment, ¡°But I didn¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Cid, ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Anytime,¡± said Rofe, ¡°and remember, this is the only official guild to sanctify any and all legal pirate activity, those conducting such happenings without explicit approval is liable to legal action from the guild.¡± ¡°I thought the general punishment for piracy was death,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°After we get through with them, that would be a kindness,¡± Rofe said to Silvius before he took his leave. ¡°So,¡± Cid said to the others as Rofe was out of earshot, ¡°I¡¯m starting to regret taking job on, how about the rest of you?¡± ¡°Why are such sticklers about rules?¡± said Sianna, ¡°I thought pirates were these idols of individual freedom.¡± ¡°Maybe it to keep that freedom from setting the whole place on fire,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Aye,¡± said Benkin, ¡°such things are until someone decides they want to see your house in flames.¡± ¡°Well, this might our situation a little harder,¡± said Cid, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the center of this place and see what nations are trying to kill the other.¡± As they move from the docks onto city streets, Kveldulf noticed many law offices and printing presses busy with activity. One legal office he heard a barrister, tapping on a contract on his desk, ¡°You said, here in writing that the crew was to get five percent of the total plunder collected¡­¡± At another office, he heard the captain shout, ¡°What do you mean weevils aren¡¯t good enough to considered citrus! Scurvy isn¡¯t that bad!¡± Kveldulf did a quick turn around when heard someone scream, ¡°How does she get half the ship? You can¡¯t make it float without the other half!¡± ¡°All right,¡± Kveldulf said to Jeanne, ¡°I think I don¡¯t want to be a pirate anymore.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s sort of a disappointment.¡± ¡°Certainly is took the wind out of her sails,¡± said Leonidas. Jeanne stopped as her eyes widened and turned to Leonidas, sporting a wide smile. ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± she said snarling. He patted her shoulder before she snapped at him. ¡°Cool it,¡± said Cid, ¡°We don¡¯t want to attract too much attention.¡± ¡°Probably be breaking a rule somewhere if we did that,¡± said Silvius, sticking his hands into his pockets. As they reached the center of the island, they found stalls with heraldic devices for each respective city attached to the top of the stall¡¯s sign. Each one had at least one person present, trying to call anyone to them. Some had their leaders made in doll form. Others carried complimentary weapons as a sign on bonus. One had large spikes with a screw at the end. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°What on earth is that for?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I think that¡¯s for attaching severed heads to the railing of your ships,¡± Benkin replied. Silvius leaned back. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start with that one.¡± ¡°I think one place is handing out eyepatches,¡± said Jeanne, lifting up one eyebrow. ¡°Are you actually thinking signing up just for an eyepatch?¡± asked Leonidas. ¡°Is that wrong?¡± ¡°Wrong, no. Concerning, highly.¡± ¡°You know, we could sign up and all get matching uniforms,¡± Jeanne said to everyone who gave her a blank look. ¡°Oh, like you wouldn¡¯t want to look spiffy,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°No,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°I do not want to look spiffy.¡± ¡°Well not with that attitude you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°All right, what¡¯s all this then?¡± asked a watchman, with a hand on a long wooden baton. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kveldulf asked the watchmen. ¡°Sound like some ruckus of a potentially escalating nature.¡± ¡°No,¡± insisted Jeanne, ¡°We¡¯re just like this to each other all the time.¡± The watchman turned to the others. ¡°Is this true?¡± Everyone nodded. ¡°All right,¡± the watchman said begrudgingly. ¡°Well, if something starts to escalate beyond a t¨ºte-¨¤-t¨ºte between you two, you¡¯ll need to register it with both of the guild¡¯s ministry of justice and the isle¡¯s chapter of the pirating dueling society to schedule a proper and legitimate duel. We¡¯re not having those random scuffles those curs like to have over in Koulberg. This is a respectable community of pirates, thieves, and other ne¡¯er do wells.¡± ¡°Wait, you have to register with two offices just to have a duel.¡± ¡°Aye, and both of ya will need to fill out the proper paperwork, in triplicate, separately.¡± ¡°For a duel,¡± Jeanne repeated. ¡°Aye, it not that complicated,¡± said the watchman. ¡°Now don¡¯t let me catch you disturbing the peace, again." As the watchman left Jeanne turned to Kveldulf. ¡°I am so confused right now.¡± ¡°You and me both.¡± ¡°It might be harder to keep our heads down than I first thought,¡± said Cid. ¡°What¡¯s our next move then?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Well I doubt this place is going to get us anything we want to know, and I doubt a tiny figure of one of Koulberg¡¯s council is going to do us any good.¡± Cid turned to continue speaking finding Jeanne with an eyepatch over her right eye. He stared at her for a moment, his jaw dropped. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t what?¡± ¡°That!¡± he said, pointing to the patch. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Cid shook his head, gesture the rest to follow him. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Jeanne, with a skip in her step, softly said, ¡°Argh,¡± as she went. *** As they moved down the docks, they passed by several ships, their crew working on handling cargo or preparing the vessel for its outing to sea. Hypatia looked at the ships and asked, ¡°Cid, why couldn¡¯t we go to the dock¡¯s registry to find the one we¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying that is a bad idea,¡± said Cid, ¡°My only concern is potentially alerting our prey that someone is seeking them out. Since this is a smaller port than most cities, and with a small community as well.¡± Hypatia nodded. ¡°And there would be a paper trail, now that you mention it.¡± ¡°Exactly, so as much as I would like to use docking records to my advantage, that might be more of a problem for us in this case.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could ask to find the ship to join their crew?¡± Silvius said, ¡°That way any inquiry would be given an explanation and allay any suspicion.¡± ¡°I like that,¡± said Cid, ¡°Why don¡¯t you, Doc, and Hypatia go and find our ship, while the rest head to the one of the taverns and see what we can find.¡± Silvius, Leonidas, and Hypatia, went over their way before Cid and the rest moved into The Dead Keg. Most of the tavern was empty, save for a couple of tables with a person or two enjoying their lunch. As they took their seats, a server came up to them. ¡°Afternoon, what can I get yeah?¡± ¡°I think a round of ale, for everyone would be a great start,¡± Cid said to the server. ¡°And we have a few more coming in later.¡± ¡°Of course, of course,¡± the server replied. ¡°Let me get those for ya and I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± As the server returned, dropping off their drinks, she asked, ¡°Will you be wanting any food to eat?¡± ¡°Probably roasted fowl would do us fine,¡± said Cid. ¡°Good choice, if I do say so myself,¡± the server replied. ¡°Also, we¡¯ve been having some trouble finding a specific crew we were hoping to join,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°Oh, were you not able to find the Victual Records and Administrations building?¡± ¡°We were, but there was a terribly long line.¡± ¡°Gods, that¡¯s a bloody truth if I ever saw that.¡± ¡°It seems the whole island is a little ¡­¡± Maeryn said before having trouble finding the right words. ¡°Bureaucratic beyond words?¡± the server concluded. ¡°Something like that, yeah.¡± ¡°Well, it didn¡¯t used to be like that, but when the guild was formed it sort of well escalated a bit.¡± ¡°But why have the guild then?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Oddly enough, it¡¯s sort of been what¡¯s kept a lot of navies from sending their ships this way. With the system in place, it keeps the crew from going too crazy, and when they do there¡¯s quick accountability. So, it¡¯s sort of paying a small price for some peace of mind.¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense,¡± said Cid, ¡°But would you happen to know where a ship called The Bellamy Blade is at?¡± ¡°Oh, of course, it¡¯s a short walk north of here on the dock The server left to grab the food and when she returned, Silvius, Hypatia and Leonidas returned. Cid waved them over to the table. As they took their seats Kveldulf asked, ¡°How did everything go?¡± ¡°Good news is we found the ship,¡± said Silvius. ¡°And the bad news?¡± Cid asked. ¡°It leaves tonight,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°So, we need to nab this thing tonight,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Precisely,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Well, let¡¯s finish up here quick and be on our way,¡± said Cid, ¡°maybe do this when there is no one really on the vessel.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°The sooner we¡¯re off this rock the better.¡± Finishing their business at the tavern, The Wolves made their way down the wharf and soon came to a large galleon with the title The Bellamy Blade displayed in gold. Stopping a short distance from the vessel itself, the group huddled around next to a pile of wooden crates and barrels. ¡°Sianna,¡± said Cid, ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°At least six sailors on deck. Maybe two in the captain¡¯s quarters.¡± ¡°You think we can rush them?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Depends, how many are on the gangway?¡± ¡°Only two at the bottom,¡± said Sianna. ¡°And no one else is here to prep for the ship¡¯s departure?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°This is starting to seem like a trap,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel that as well,¡± said Cid. ¡°You think we were set up?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Can¡¯t say,¡± said Cid, looking back at the vessel, ¡°But we don¡¯t have much of a choice on the matter at this point. Jeanne, how long can you keep the stone-skin up?¡± Jeanne took a deep breath, ¡°Haven¡¯t held it for too long. We can find out?¡± ¡°All right, get on deck, try not to kill the crew, and we¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Jeanne nodded before she threw on her hood and marched towards the boat. Cid gestured the others pull up theirs as they followed behind her. ¡°Oh, this is going to be good,¡± Kveldulf said eagerly. Jeanne moved towards the ship undaunted by the guards at the bottom of the gangway. They spotted her, unsheathing their swords and she backhanded the first guard knocking him off the dock and grabbed the second¡¯s sword arm mid-swing and head butted him before punching him in the face with a stone covered hand. She moved up the gangway and as the two guards fired cross bolts at her they ricochet off her clothes. As they tried to reload their crossbows, she took the weapons and smashed them on the railings and knocked both men out. As she arrived to the door to the captain¡¯s quarters. She gestured for Benkin to her. Benkin had a wide smile on his face as he kicked the down the door. As the door slammed down with a violent crash a man stood up, dressed in a pristine uniform. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± the man demanded as Jeanne, still in her stone-skin form grabbed him from behind his head and slammed it against the desk, knocking him out cold. Her skin turned back to flesh as she began opening desk drawers. Benkin and Kveldulf entered opening cabinets and other drawers as the others reached them. As Cid arrived, he said, ¡°Sianna, you and Silvius stay by the door in case anyone shows up. Everyone else, find the damn thing.¡± Kveldulf pulled out a drawer, several candle sticks rolling about inside as he let out a grunt and slammed it back in. ¡°I¡¯m not seeing it,¡± he said to Cid. ¡°Neither am I,¡± said Benkin. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here at the desk.¡± ¡°Jeanne, Doc, do either of you know a spell to find this thing?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Not working,¡± they said together. ¡°Damn,¡± Cid cursed, seeing a collection of letters and missives on the desk. Kveldulf came over and looked over with a quick inspection. He spotted a small emblem on some, causing his eyes to widen and his shoulders to drop suddenly. ¡°Uh Cid,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°Some of these have the Council¡¯s seal on them.¡± Cid came over and looked at them. ¡°Oh gods, you¡¯re right. Grab as many as you can, and take them with us. Doc put these in your satchel.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Leonidas replied, quickly moving over to the desk. ¡°Um, we have company,¡± said Silvius as the others looked out and saw dozens of the crew and two dressed officers blocking the gangway off the ship. ¡°Ah shit,¡± said Benkin, ¡°it¡¯s a trap.¡± ¡°We were set up.¡± ¡°That bastard!¡± Jeanne said through her teeth, rolling her shoulders and neck, bouncing on the balls of her feet and tightening and loosening her fists. ¡°I am going to be honest,¡± said one officer, ¡°This was a pretty impressive insertion. Quick, clean, no dead bodies; most impressive. But we can¡¯t let you leave the vessel.¡± ¡°We have one of yours in here,¡± Cid shouted. ¡°Are taking hostages?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Whatever will help with getting us out of here.¡± The officer turned to the men. ¡°Oh god, they have a hostage.¡± ¡°Does that mean we do get the hostage form, sir?¡± asked one pirate. ¡°No I think we need to do prisoner exchange,¡± said another. ¡°You idiot, that¡¯s when we have one of theirs,¡± said the first sailor. ¡°Both of you be quiet!¡± said the officer, ¡° ¡°We did need to do something and quick. Before any of the guards show up,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Silvius, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine the paperwork.¡± ¡°Paperwork?¡± Cid said as an idea struck. ¡°Excuse me, what¡¯s the protocol for hostage taking?¡± ¡°Oh god,¡± said the second officer. ¡°Jonas, please recite the standard procedure for hostage taking and negotiations.¡± A sailor cleared his throat and began speaking. ¡°In the event of the first party, hereby known as party A procures, without voluntary acquisition of a member of another group, hereby know as party B, party A will have initiated the process of hostage taking, as stated in local statue ¡­¡± As the man continued talking, Cid turned to the others. ¡°I think I bought us a few minutes, I¡¯m not against idea.¡± Sianna, notching an arrow and pulling it back half-way on her bow. ¡°Cid ¡­ the officer has the bracelet.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cid asked astounded. ¡°The officer on the left, he has the bracelet.¡± ¡°You think you can shoot it off his hand?¡± Maeryn pulled the bow back all the way. ¡°We¡¯re about to find out.¡± Loosing the arrow, it nicked the strap of the bracelet, which tapped the wood as it hit the deck. The officer looked down as Cid rushed forward and slammed the officer with his shield as Jeanne followed and knocked out the other officer with hard slam with her fists. As Cid grabbed the necklace, the rest of The Wolves rushed out of the captain¡¯s quarters and down the gangway. Cid and Jeanne followed the others as a pirate cried out. ¡°That¡¯s not proper protocol.¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t personal.¡± ¡°Will you please stop trying to be so nice!¡± Jeanne said to him as they rushed into nearest dark alley and into the night. Part Twenty-Five - Homecoming The Wolves were on deck as the ship made its approach into the Koulberg harbor. They sat on the deck, most of them resting their heads against the interior of the wooden wall as the ship slowed to a stop. Rising to their feet and waiting for the gangway to be lowered Maeryn said with little energy, ¡°We have a welcoming party.¡± ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake!¡± said Jeanne, her head dropping down. Peering over the port side, they saw a line of guardsmen waiting for them, Capt. Laurent at the head. Cid, took in a deep breath. ¡°Gods I wished I had been a haberdasher,¡± he said before turning to Kveldulf and Jeanne, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see what the good captain wants.¡± ¡°And the rest?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Have them ready for anything,¡± Cid said, with resignation. Reaching the bottom of the gangway, Captain Laurents stepped forward the rest of his guardsmen stand shortly behind. ¡°I hope the voyage wasn¡¯t too eventful,¡± he said to them cordially. ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything to write home about,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Fair enough,¡± said the captain. ¡°I heard from some sources that there was a ruckus over at Victual, of a group using a ship of this description, and the individuals having a remarkable likeness to you and your friends.¡± ¡°Well, I guess it is a small world,¡± said Cid. ¡°I¡¯ve been confused for both kings and criminals alike.¡± The captain nodded. Looking back at his contingent, lifting a finger into the air and with a quick rotation, the line performed an about face. The captain, then turning back to Cid, said ¡°I was under orders, by the Council, to arrest whichever passengers left this vessel. But if I don¡¯t see you get off this vessel, then ¡­ who¡¯s to say who left this ship and who didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°That is most kind of you,¡± Cid said to the captain. ¡°If it¡¯ll give them some sweat under their collar, then I¡¯d be happy to help,¡± said Laurent, ¡°But I¡¯d recommend laying low for a while until things blow over. And whatever the hell you and your friends nabbed, don¡¯t lose them.¡± ¡°Thanks for the advice,¡± said Cid, ¡°Kel, Jeanne, get the others, we¡¯re leaving.¡± The two nodded, quickly moving up the gangway. Kveldulf said, ¡°Grab your stuff, now!¡± Everyone, their packs in hand, left the ship and slipped into the darkness of night. Once out of sight of the guards, Cid said, ¡°Keep to the alleyways, I want us seen as little as possible.¡± ¡°The hell was that about?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°We rub the Council the wrong way, and now they¡¯re acting on it.¡± ¡°Oh gods, we¡¯re criminals!¡± said Silvius. ¡°I can¡¯t go to jail,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°I¡¯ll have nothing to talk about!¡± ¡°Seriously, that¡¯s your concern!¡± said Silvius. ¡°I thought we¡¯d have a few nice conversation starters,¡± said Sianna. ¡°Everyone shush!¡± hissed Cid. ¡°Panicking solves categorically zero problems.¡± There was a murmur in the back. ¡°What was that?¡± Cid demanded. ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± said Leonidas, moving to the front, ¡°I said it¡¯s caused more problems than solved.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true he did say that,¡± Maeryn followed. ¡°I keep forgetting about your elven hearing,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to interpret that.¡± ¡°Could we please focus!¡± said Cid. ¡°Right now, we need to lay low and not bring attention to ourselves.¡± ¡°Well, Hypatia and I can work on go and get the materials from the archives,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Good, Doc, see what you can do to help them out,¡± said Cid, ¡°the rest of us will drop off this trinket over to the good Conall and get this job off our plate.¡± ¡°And the other things we acquired?¡± Doc asked. ¡°I want to wait a couple of days, and see where things stand. At this point, I think our best option is to get it into the hands of the captain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kidding?¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯m not on board with the idea either,¡± said Cid, ¡°But at this point, he¡¯s shown to be only one who is actually in our corner.¡± ¡°What about Collan?¡± Kveldulf asked him. ¡°Oh, we¡¯ll be getting a better gauge on him when he pays us a visit.¡± *** Kveldulf opened the door, finding Conall and his guard on the other side. ¡°We were hoping to see you,¡± Kveldulf said with a brimming smile. ¡°Come, come, we have much to discuss.¡± The three made their way up the stairs and into the solar, when Cid grabbed Conall and threw him onto the table. Benkin, Leonidas, Kveldulf, Silvius, Maeryn and Jeanne drew their weapons on the guard at once. ¡°You have quite the nerve coming back here after the stunt you pulled,¡± said Cid as he drew out his claws and pressed them against the official¡¯s skin. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Conall replied. ¡°The pirates knew we were coming!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know, I swear,¡± Conall pleaded. ¡°That¡¯s what they all say,¡± said Cid. ¡°You have to believe me, why would I even think of coming back here if I thought I double crossed you? And to do so without more guards, no offense.¡± The guard shrugged casually at the comment. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad point,¡± said Kveldulf, his gaze and weapon still trained on the guard. Cid groaned loudly before he turned to Jeanne. ¡°Do the thing,¡± he said to her. ¡°What thing?¡± she replied. ¡°The truth thing!¡± ¡°Oh, that thing, right.¡± Jeanne moved over to the two and said to Conall, ¡°Have you had a truth spell used before?¡± ¡°No,¡± Conall replied, shaking. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t to the absolutely, positively, without a doubt the worst pain you¡¯ll even feel. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jeanne said coolly before muttering to herself quick, then asked. ¡°What did you know about the pirates ambushing us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know anything!¡± he repeated. Jeanne turned to Cid. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s telling the truth.¡± Cid looked at Conall, his anger subsiding and helped sit the man up. Cid brushed off the dust and straightened his clothes up. ¡°My apologies, we were less than delighted when this took occurred.¡± ¡°Understandable,¡± said Conall, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be in a great place either. Though I, if it¡¯s not too much to ask, I wouldn¡¯t mind a stiff drink, please?¡± Leonidas turned his head to Cid enough to keep his gaze on the guard. ¡°Does that mean we should lower our weapons?¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± said Cid, ¡°I think we can be a bit more relaxed now,¡± Cid said, gesturing with his hand to everyone to lower their weapons. Leonidas went over to grab a cup and bottle of wine as the others made themselves comfortable around the room. As he returned with the wine, Leonidas handed it to Conall, who took a long series of gulps. ¡°Well, that was a very good year. Just what I needed.¡± ¡°Good to hear,¡± said Cid, reaching in and pulling out the bracelet from his pocket. ¡°We believe this was what you were wanting.¡± Conall took the piece and examined it closely. ¡°Yes, yes, this is precisely that. Excellent work, most excellent. Let me go down to my horse and ¡­¡± He began rising from his seat when his guard lifted and hand, stopping him, and began moving down the stairs by themselves. Conall chuckled uncomfortably. ¡°I keep forgetting I don¡¯t need to do everything myself anymore.¡± ¡°So, what were the pirates wanting with this thing in the first place?¡± asked Jeanne. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you, honestly,¡± said Conall, taking another gulp of wine. ¡°I was told by someone I work that that particular crew had taken the jewelry. No other details were given to me.¡± ¡°Well, at least we have one less person after our heads,¡± said Cid. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Conall asked. Cid recalled the event at the pier with the guards. Conall rubbed the back of his neck as his guard let out a low growl. ¡°I can see that adding to some of the reception now.¡± Cid nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a few days to say the least.¡± He turned to the others, still having their weapons trained on the guard. ¡°Wha ¨C what are you doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the look they¡¯re giving me,¡± Kveldulf said to Cid. ¡°They¡¯re wearing a pigface style bascinet helm, you can¡¯t see they¡¯re eyes,¡± Cid exclaimed, turning to the guard, ¡°no offense.¡± The guard lifted a hand waving off the comment. ¡°It¡¯s the unseen eyes, the ones that stare into your soul,¡± Kveldulf said. Cid, swatted the weapons. ¡°Weapons down, or I am sending you all to your rooms without supper.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± exclaimed Leonidas, ¡°This is my house! You can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°I can and I will, now stop tasking me!¡± ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Leonidas murmured to himself as he took a seat near the fire. ¡°If the city guards are after us, does that mean we need to leave the city?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Perhaps not,¡± said Conall. ¡°If the captain of the guards let you escape, even if it¡¯s implied, they may see their influence stretching so far.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s keeping the Council from replacing Laurent,¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The captain is personally appointed by Lady Allania, herself,¡± said Conall, ¡°Only she is allowed to remove him from power.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s another facet in our corner,¡± said Cid. ¡°Do you think the Council will try something?¡± ¡°Undoubtedly,¡± said Conall. ¡°But they prefer to keep troubles to a minimum and without much bloodshed.¡± ¡°No assassins in their pocket?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Only when the situation is reaching a certain point,¡± said Conall. ¡°But body counts begin building up and eventually the blood trail starts to lead back somewhere. And unlike many tales you here, most professionals prefer to stay away from large groups, altogether.¡± ¡°Still, I think it¡¯ll be best if no one goes out alone,¡± said Cid, ¡°I¡¯d rather play it safe with everything else happening.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°We should probably get the documents once morning comes,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Ben, Maeryn go with them, just so they¡¯re not by themselves. Jeanne, I want you with Doc.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°I thought we were on good terms, Cid,¡± Leonidas said listlessly. ¡°You can file a complaint when we got out of this,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Kel, you and I are going to stake out the Council¡¯s building.¡± ¡°You expect to find something?¡± Kel asked. ¡°Nothing specific,¡± said Cid, ¡°But sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough if you¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Speaking of which,¡± said Conall, ¡°Did you find anything other than the bracelet when you were at Victual?¡± Cid turned to Jeanne who nodded silently. ¡°Where you expecting us to find something?¡± ¡°I was hoping you would.¡± ¡°Doc, grab what we found.¡± Leonidas left the room to go upstairs, when came back, he had his satchel in hand. He pulled out the various missive and handed them to Conall. The official took the missives and examined the emblems on the wax seals closely. As he read the opened ones he pulled back. ¡°This is most disconcerting. And I can see you left the sealed one alone.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t think reading them on the boat was prudent.¡± ¡°Good thinking, some sailors aren¡¯t the best at keep secrets.¡± ¡°We were thinking of getting these to the captain of the guard,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Am I still under the truth spell?¡± Conall asked Jeanne. ¡°You are,¡± she replied. ¡°I can assure you, they¡¯ll be getting to right people,¡± Conall said to them. Cid, looked down at the missives before handing them to Conall. ¡°I want to say, I appreciate your trust in this matter. I know this isn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the nice thing about truth spells,¡± said Cid, ¡°They help dispel some of the uncertainties in life.¡± ¡°But gods it takes it out of you,¡± said Jeanne, rubbing her head. ¡°I just make everyone some tea,¡± Leonidas said, moving into the kitchen to grab a kettle. ¡°Anyone want to come with while I get some water?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come,¡± Hypatia, following Leonidas out of the house. ¡°I¡¯m still trying to figure out why we¡¯re having to work behind the Council¡¯s back like this?¡± said Silvius. ¡°If Callandan or his followers are actively trying to bring him back, wouldn¡¯t the Council take steps to keep it from happening?¡± ¡°Fear mixed with arrogance and greed will blind one to a straight path before them,¡± said the guard, their voice harsh, gravelly, and ominous. ¡°The Council may think they are doing the best for the city, but they may not see the fire spreading until their flesh is charred and flaking off their bones.¡± ¡°All right, I was not expecting that,¡± said Kveldulf taking a step away from the guard. ¡°My guard is certainly one of few words,¡± said Conall. Leonidas and Hypatia returned from the well and the doctor began preparing tea for everyone. Hypatia joined the others as Leonidas went over the kitchen area. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be long before it¡¯s ready,¡± said Leonidas told the others. ¡°I don¡¯t know what our next is going to be with the council,¡± said Cid. ¡°I think what the captain suggested in laying low for a quick spell isn¡¯t a terrible idea,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And if they¡¯re not going to be trying to kill us, they may try to win us over,¡± said Hypatia.¡± ¡°As they say, ¡®the enabler of power is the quality of friends¡¯,¡± said Sianna. ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid hummed rotating his neck muscles, ¡°We¡¯ll tend to that one when we get to that bridge.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t mind going to nice little party,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I¡¯m going to need a new outfit,¡± said Benkin, ¡°I don¡¯t think this attire is going to do.¡± ¡°I could get a nice party dress,¡± said Jeanne, lightly clapping her hands together. Leonidas turned to her. ¡°You are an intriguing person,¡± he said to her. ¡°In any case,¡± said Conall, finishing his drink, ¡°I should take my leave, before I overstay my welcome.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to stay for tea?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°As much as I would like, I should attend to this matter with haste before I am remiss in my duties. I do thank you all for your efforts and I know my associate will not forget this kindness.¡± ¡°Well, I hope our next meeting will be less intense.¡± ¡°Yes, I agree with this entirely,¡± said Conall, as he and his guard made their way out of the home. Cid turned ran his hand down his face as Leonidas handed him a cup of tea. ¡°It¡¯s official, I want to be haberdasher,¡± he said to everyone. Part Twenty-Six - Kindred Spirits Leonidas was grinding herbs in a mortar, pestle in hand before tapping the contents in a glass jar and handed it to two parents and their daughter. ¡°Have her drink this once a day, and this should take care of her cold.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you, doctor,¡± said the mother, ¡°I can¡¯t think of a way to repay you for this.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Leonidas said to her, ¡°Just a part of the job.¡± As the family left the clinic, Leonidas closed the door gently behind them and turned back to the staircase. ¡°Jeanne!¡± he called out. ¡°Jeanne, where are you?¡± He heard Jeanne make an unusual animal sound. A cross between the hoots of an owl, a wolf howling, and a person yodeling. ¡°I seriously need to apologize to Cid,¡± he said to himself. ¡°Jeanne, I swear if I have to look for you, I will hurt you.¡± ¡°Come outside!¡± he heard her muffled voice. ¡°Oh gods, what¡¯s she doing now.¡± Leonidas ran his hand over his face, wishing he had just gone back to bed. He opened the door, looked out, turning his head to both ends of the street, seeing not even a stray animal. ¡°All right, I¡¯m here,¡± he said. He heard a series of quick steps causing Leonidas to look up as a blurred figure leapt off his roof and turn face him. Recognizing the figure was Jeanne as she descended, her fall was arrested a half foot off the ground. Then she softly touched the earth and gave a courtly bow. Leonidas mouth jutting to the side, his eyebrows lifted up high and nodding. ¡°All right, that was pretty damn impressive.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, gleefully. ¡°I got it from a book I found over at The Unyielding Fortress." ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, up at in the library.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°Maybe we can take a look and see what else is there.¡± ¡°You mean head out today?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see why not, I have no one else to see and the others are going to be out and about for the few days.¡± ¡°We should probably leave them a note so they¡¯re not worried.¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± said Leonidas, as he went over to his desk in examination room to scribble a quick note. ¡°I¡¯ll grab my gear, too. Just in case.¡± ¡°Your medical gear?¡± she asked as they moved up the stairs. ¡°That too,¡± he said. ¡°What other gear do you have?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised.¡± Reaching his bedroom, he stepped behind in front one of the wardrobes and grabbed some brigandine armor hanging next to his full plate armor, placing it on his bed. ¡°Where did you get all this armor?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Something I gathered over my years in the Outlands,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Learned to keep whatever you found and were gifted that could help you live to see the next sunrise.¡± ¡°Some of this must¡¯ve cost a fortune.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised what people are willing to give when you save them or their family.¡± He removed his shirt and vest, throwing them onto his bed. He noticed out of the corner of his eye Jeanne looking at him, specifically the three scars on the left side of his body. ¡°Everything all right?¡± he asked her. She cleared her throat, nodding quickly. He looked down at the scars. ¡°It was a lycan creature.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°The scars, it was a lycan who got me,¡± he said imitating the clawing motion with his fingers. ¡°I can imagine how much it hurt,¡± she replied. ¡°It was not enjoyable,¡± he said. ¡°Neither was treating it.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± ¡°I had to cauterize the wound before I could get back to my supplies, damn near passed out, and then I had to stitch the wounds shut,¡± he said, wincing at the memory. ¡°Gods!¡± she said, running her hand up and down her arm. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nothing. One time I broke both my legs when I fell into an artic ravine, had to drag myself out of there and back to a nearby settlement.¡± Jeanne¡¯s mouth dropped slightly. ¡°How on earth did you survive?¡± ¡°I¡¯d credit sheer will, unbridled rage, and a good ole fear of dying in an ice tundra for being a real drive for survival. That and I had enough pain medication to not feel anything until my legs were set back in place.¡± ¡°Was this all in the Outlands?¡± ¡°More or less yeah. The vast majority of these wonderful little marks, scars, and everything else was when I was over there,¡± he said as he threw on his brigandine tunic. ¡°Remind me never to go there,¡± she said, sitting on the edge of his bed closest to him. ¡°There¡¯s very little that¡¯d make me go back,¡± he said, pulling out several pieces of leg armor, ¡°And I doubt most of them are still alive.¡± ¡°What made you want to go over there in the first place?¡± ¡°Well, the big reason was there was a plague going on over there and I was wanting to try and do some research to try and maybe start developing some actual treatments,¡± Leonidas said as he began attaching the pieces of leg armor over his pants. ¡°And it wasn¡¯t for anything else?¡± ¡°I can only assume you¡¯re referring to my devilishly good looks?¡± ¡°Doc, do you want me to insult you, or not?¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± he replied with a chuckle. ¡°There was a noblemen¡¯s family who¡¯s boy had been possessed by a demonic entity. It was a lesser demon, but I can¡¯t remember which one anymore. In any case, I was preparing to exorcise the spiritual bastard when the family decided they were going to try a different method. They then declared that I was a witch, was trying to sell their child¡¯s soul to the underworld and was marked as someone outside of the protection of the law.¡± ¡°Wait, they made you an outlaw for suggesting an exorcism?¡± ¡°That¡¯s about the size of it, yes?¡± ¡°Gods, what was the family planning to do?¡± ¡°If remember correctly, they were going to try and use mediative chants to dispel the boy¡¯s negative energies and align his chakras.¡± ¡°Did ¨C did it work?¡± ¡°Gods no! He went full on feral, murdered his parents and ate their flesh.¡± ¡°I ¡­ that was an escalation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said when I found out.¡± ¡°Was that what made you come back?¡± ¡°No. That was because I grew tired of people doing the same cyclical efforts of self-harm and self-destruction, never learning from their errors, and acting as if their actions god-like miracles and their shit was divine boons.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even sure where to start with that,¡± Jeanne said, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re telling me.¡± ¡°But not everyone there was like that, right?¡± ¡°Oh no, not everyone. Just the vast majority,¡± Leonidas said, grabbing a cuirass with flanges fanning out along the bottom, and strapped it around his torso. ¡°Was there anyone who you had more than a friendship with?¡± ¡°You mean intimately?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Yeah, like Spider-Lady,¡± she said, wiggling eight of her fingers. ¡°Oh, for the love of ¡­ her name is Lynnvielle. She had two arms and two legs last time I saw her. Though who knows if that¡¯s changed at this point. And ¡­,¡± Leonidas paused for a moment as he looked at Jeanne, ¡°damnit I forgot what I was gonna say.¡± ¡°That you slept with a spider-woman?¡± ¡°A ¨C am I detecting a bit of jealousy?¡± he asked, grabbing two gauntlets from his wardrobe. ¡°I just didn¡¯t see you as someone who would, you know ¡­¡± she said trailing off and looking out towards the side. ¡°¡­ Have a sexual relation with someone who I barely knew?¡± Leonidas finished. ¡°Yeah. And who was a spider-lady.¡± Leonidas took a deep breath, and sat next to Jeanne. ¡°Her being an arachnethrope notwithstanding, I was in a rather dark place at the time. The royal patrons at the court I had joined had literally left the lands without much of a warning. My skills as a healer were being belittled by people who had days before sung praises to my craft, and everyone felt they were an expert in demonology and arcane arts because they felt that they were. I felt useless, I felt like I was nothing. So, when she proposed a, for a lack of a better term, night together, I took it. It certainly wasn¡¯t my proudest moment, but I don¡¯t entirely regret it.¡± ¡°Was there anyone who you had a deeper relationship with?¡± Leonidas looked down to the ground and gripped the bedsheets tightly. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you mean more than physical. There was one. Her name was Selreene Ianyra.¡± ¡°Was?¡± Jeanne asked, leaning forward as she looked at Leonidas. Leonidas nodded. ¡°She was ¡­ a complicated person. Sadly, those complications got her killed.¡± ¡°How so, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± ¡°It turned out she was not above saying what she thought was needed to survive in the Outlands. Even if it meant twisting emotions to get what she wanted. Regarding her and me, I thought she was looking for a sincere relationship. When I learned of the truth, I realized I wasn¡¯t more than a play thing to her.¡± ¡°Did you love her?¡± ¡°At one time there was something. Though whether it was love proper or an intense desire, I couldn¡¯t tell you. Our relationship was still fresh when she wanted to keep it platonic. Which that alone didn¡¯t bother me. It was all the lies, the falsehoods, and the deceit, which made it difficult to know if I had feelings for the real woman, or if it was to nothing more than a waking dream. And honestly, when she died, it was the last straw for me staying there.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°For years I would make connections and feel the bliss of findings those I could open myself to. To not put on airs and pretend to be what I thought I needed to be so I could be accepted. And without a single warning I would be saying goodbye to them as they were being buried and sent into the next life. It was getting to where I could not be myself to people in both public and private moments. Having to bind and seal my innermost thoughts. As if I needed to shackle my very soul into the darkness of the world.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Jeanne was silent as Leonidas¡¯s head sunk low. As he spoke, Leonidas¡¯s voice began breaking, ¡°I was just tired of feeling as if I was an exile, bereft of kinship, in a land of people who cared more for their own reputation than for their survival. I was just tired of being alone.¡± ¡°I ¡­ I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Jeanne said, placing her hand on his shoulder. Leonidas shook his head, standing up as he wiped the tears from his eyes and grabbed a pair of shoulder pauldrons and fitted them on him. ¡°There was nothing done there you should take responsibility for. And those who should would never see why, nor is it my place to open their eyes to the true world around them.¡± ¡°Have you made any friends since you came back?¡± ¡°As of right now, you are about it. And I¡¯m trying to be better about not keeping the others at an arm¡¯s distance.¡± ¡°You really haven¡¯t appeared to be doing that with them.¡± ¡°Being professional doesn¡¯t mean being cold. And, like I said, it isn¡¯t anything you guys have done. It just, you lose enough friends, you naturally stop making new ones. At least as fast as you used to.¡± ¡°I get that,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°I guess we were doing that back in the Cold Company when the replacements would come in. You didn¡¯t want to get too comfortable with them if they didn¡¯t last their first month.¡± ¡°Though it was nice they didn¡¯t freak out when they learned who I am.¡± ¡°I mean, it does help you¡¯re not actively trying to resurrect half a crypt.¡± Leonidas shuddered. ¡°Gods that¡¯s just creepy.¡± Jeanne leaned back. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Gods yes. The undead are usually covered in some weird slime, they smell horrible, and are absolutely terrible conversationalists. All they do is gargle and groan, or that screech which sounds like nails scratching a chalkboard. No thank you.¡± ¡°I can imagine you love going into dungeons then.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my first choice, obviously. But if the situation calls for it, then I just do what¡¯s needed. Though it is nice when I¡¯m not the only one going in there.¡± ¡°Well don¡¯t expect me to hold your hand when we¡¯re down in there.¡± ¡°And I thought were on good terms,¡± Leonidas replied, imitating being hurt by the comment. ¡°Maybe if you got me a nice trinket, that would be a good start.¡± Leonidas looked at the lone buckler on Jeanne¡¯s side and pointed to it. ¡°Question, how come you have a buckler, but no weapon?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said, looking down at the sole piece, ¡°I had a sword a while back, but between learning the rockscale spell and that weapon breaking, I sort of stopped using one.¡± ¡°Would that mean you would be again a replacement?¡± Jeanne lifted an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not against some window shopping.¡± ¡°Give me a moment, I think I have something you¡¯d enjoy.¡± He reached into the wardrobe and removed a long staff with a caduceus design at the top with a red stone placed at the top. Within the stone there was a swirling of light and dark red clouds swiftly akin to a great storm raging. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re going to give me?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°This? No, that¡¯s my fulminating staff.¡± ¡°Is that what kids call it these days?¡± Leonidas jutted his jaw to the side before saying, ¡°And I signed on for this.¡± He reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a war hammer. Its handle was short and made of dark hickory, enough to hold with one hand and the metal head was black as night, with soft light specks reflecting the light of the room. Jeanne clutched her hand over her heart. ¡°Is that?¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°Night-steel. It was made from the same rock that made my sword. Though the material is rare around here, in The Outlands it¡¯s like sand in a desert. You¡¯re practically tripping over it. And this hammer was what got me out of that damned ravine,¡± he flipped the hammer, grabbing the head and pointing the to handle and the belt holder to Jeanne, then sheathing his own weapon. ¡°I think it¡¯ll serve you exceptionally well.¡± ¡°I ¨C I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Jeanne said to him, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Consider it a thank you gift,¡± he said to her. ¡°For what?¡± He put his hands on her shoulders and said, ¡°For being there. And giving me the chance to remember what it¡¯s like to have someone to care for. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve felt something like that, a very long time.¡± She wrapped her arms behind his neck, pulling him in close. ¡°What if I cared for you as well?¡± He moved his arms down to the base of her back, holding her tightly. ¡°Are you saying what I think you are?¡± She softly kissed his lips. ¡°Maybe,¡± she said coyly. He kissed her lips before moving to her neck, moving down with each one as she breathed in sharply. ¡°What about the ruins?¡± she asked. ¡°I doubt they¡¯re going anywhere until tomorrow,¡± he replied. *** Leonidas watched the rays of the morning sun cresting over the horizon slip through his bedroom window. He turned over seeing Jeanne resting next to him on her stomach. He could see the many scars of battles on her bare back and arms. Some beginning to fade away, while others had more color, with small indents or beading on the skin. She stirred in bed, groaning as she moved about. ¡°You awake?¡± he asked. ¡°No,¡± she replied, with her eyes closed. ¡°I¡¯m fast asleep, and completely unable to hear you.¡± He glided his index finger along her back. ¡°So, I probably shouldn¡¯t do this, should I?¡± ¡°You stop, and I¡¯ll taking your hand.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to be like that aren¡¯t we.¡± She opened her eyes as a smile grew on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the old saying? ¡®Seek comfort not in the arms of a sorceress. For she will lock your limbs and mind, steal your want for food and drink, and make you forsake your desire of sleep.¡¯¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Leonidas scoffing. ¡°My teacher knew that writer. Said he was a man who desperately needed to get out of the little space he called a room and touch some grass.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking!¡± ¡°No, he was five hundred winters old when I met him, my teacher obviously.¡± ¡°Five hundred!¡± Jeanne exclaimed. ¡°Absolutely, a real master in the arcane arts. Still out and about, last time I heard about him.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think someone could live to be that old.¡± ¡°If you know what you¡¯re doing, and don¡¯t fuck with forces beyond your control it isn¡¯t that hard. But, to my original point, that gentleman needed to go out and see the world. Probably touch some grass and maybe a tree. And definitely let go of more than a few personal grudges against women.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± said Jeanne, snuggling closer to Leonidas, ¡°I thought he was just a normal world deprived monk?¡± ¡°Oh, he was. But he also had one of those ¡®thou female-iths are all sinners-iths and should be punished-iths¡¯ attitudes.¡± Jeanne rolled her eyes. ¡°I should be surprised people quote him.¡± ¡°People cling to where they find comfort in. Even if the comfort is a complete and utter lie.¡± ¡°Was there a lie you believed?¡± ¡°Well, there was one?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°It was I wouldn¡¯t sleep with a woman who tried getting high some of my herbs.¡± Jeanne gave him a stern glare. He gingerly placed his finger on her nose. ¡°You know I¡¯m right,¡± he whispered. She snapped at his finger. ¡°Shut up,¡± he said to him. He kissed her on her forehead, holding her tight as she her ran hand over his chest. ¡°What do you think the others are doing?¡± he asked her. ¡°I know Kel and Cid are probably staking out the Council building. And they¡¯re good at keeping themselves out of trouble.¡± ¡°What do you think of the others?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. My concern is while we were gone the Council either took the documents we were looking for or they¡¯ve just locked it down.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m worried about that too.¡± ¡°You think there¡¯s a way to figure out the lines without the maps?¡± ¡°There is, but it can be a little finnicky.¡± ¡°Finnicky?¡± He brushed her hair from her forehead, placing it behind her ear. ¡°Oh yeah, ley lines can change and flow as time passes and energies are changed. That¡¯s the nice thing about maps made focusing on them, they tend to help figure out what the changes are. Sometimes even see where they¡¯ll go for their next major shift.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know they could do that.¡± ¡°Absolutely, this can happen when something major happened, like when a religious site is no longer being used, or if something traumatic occurred like a battle or a catastrophic disaster. But one doesn¡¯t necessarily mean the ley lines are altered or even generated.¡± Leonidas rubbed her shoulder with his fingers as she looked out to the sunrise before letting out a drawn breath. ¡°Sun¡¯s now up,¡± she said, turning back to Leonidas, ¡°We should probably get dressed, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Probably,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I prefer to deal with the day¡¯s problems with pants on.¡± ¡°I see the extent of your adventurous spirit.¡± ¡°I have a comment, but I¡¯m going to keep it to myself.¡± ¡°Am I the subject?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Leonidas, while he nodded adamantly. ¡°I swear you are incorrigible sometimes,¡± said Jeanne, shaking her head as she rose from bed. ¡°You¡¯re one to say that, but we both know you¡¯re the enabler,¡± said Leonidas, rising from bed and grabbing his clothes. ¡°I am the enabler?¡± she challenged, throwing on her pants and grabbing her shirt. ¡°Absolutely, I was a sweet little partially insane doctor until I met you,¡± he said as he tucked his shirt in and looped his belt through the belt straps. ¡°You are the living embodiment of chaos and all things weird.¡± ¡°I swear to all the gods in creation, I will show how I truly drive people crazy.¡± Leonidas went over and embraced her tightly. ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t want anything less,¡± he said with a smile before kissing her lips. A short series of light knocks came from the door. They both turned to the front and to each other. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to get to work.¡± ¡°I doubt we could pretend to be sick,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I sure as hell can¡¯t,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Gods no, my acting abilities are deplorable.¡± Reaching the front door, Leonidas and Jeanne were greeted by Silvius, Sianna, Hypatia and Benkin. All of them looking worn and haggard. ¡°Gods, what happened with you lot?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°We spent the entire night trying to shift through all the records and make legible copies of the maps we found,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Would the archives not let you take them out?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re not too keen on that,¡± said Hypatia, slumping in a chair and sliding down the seat as her body went limp. ¡°And they were already doing us a favor by letting us see the maps in the first place.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The Council established certain new rules and regulations, mostly pertaining to keeping the special archives off limits to anyone without a special pass.¡± ¡°And I can assume how easy that one is to get,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Between the forms, duplicates and triplicates, as well as the upfront and monthly fees,¡± said Silvius, his arms crossed on the table with his head resting on top of them, ¡°Not exactly.¡± ¡°Thankfully,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°I have some friends at the archives who misplaced their key. So, we were able to find the stuff and make some sketches. But¡¯s going to be it regarding the archives.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to need to get them a nice gift basket,¡± Benkin said, laying on his back next to the fire. ¡°Or maybe a selection of fine meats,¡± said Sianna, curled up in the other chair. ¡°Sia, not everyone is into meats,¡± said Benkin, barely lifting his head up. Maeryn waved the comment, making a groaning noise in lieu of speech. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you all rest for the day, regain your strength and Jeanne and I can go check to see how Cid and Kel are doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m for that,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I could go for a nap,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Naps look quite lovely right now,¡± said Hypatia. And poor Maeryn was already asleep. ¡°I think we should let them rest,¡± Leonidas said to Jeanne. ¡°Yeah, that might be a good idea,¡± she said as she gently closed the door behind them. *** Leonidas and Jeanne reached the plaza where the Councilor¡¯s building rested. Keeping out of the open area and their hoods up over their heads. They soon found Kveldulf and Cid standing by one of the many columns of the walkway. Cid was leaning against the column as Kveldulf had his back to the building and occasionally would peer out behind his shoulder. They spotted Leonidas and Jeanne approaching them, lifting their chins as the two neared. ¡°Hope we¡¯re not intruding?¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Not at all,¡± said Cid, ¡°Things are about what you¡¯d expect around here?¡± ¡°Bored beyond words?¡± asked Leonidas. ¡°And then some,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I keep forgetting just how boring these people can be sometimes.¡± ¡°Should we even ask?¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± said Cid. ¡°There was one group ¡­,¡± said Kveldulf as Cid smacked his hand against his face. ¡°Oh no,¡± Cid said weakly. ¡°¡­ And they were just talking about this musician they had listened to and were literally saying how instead of going dah, dah, dah with her notes, went dah, dah, daah, and somehow this made the composition exponentially better.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°He¡¯s using fancy terms.¡± ¡°You would¡¯ve wanted to bash their faces in, too, if you heard them,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Anything about the Council?¡± ¡°They meet for about an hour, usually after lunch, and leave in a particularly foul mood.¡± ¡°And these people are in charge of the city?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Blame that on Allania,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°She was the one who gave them the greater share of power in the city.¡± Kveldulf snarled as he looked back at the building. Leonidas opened his mouth to speak, but caught himself. ¡°Sorry, I forgot.¡± Kveldulf waved it off. ¡°You¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s hard to see what exactly the Council does,¡± said Cid. As he finished his ears perked up. He looked at the others, making the hand signal: Someone¡¯s behind us. Get ready. They turned around swiftly, their weapons half drawn as they saw Captain Laurent standing behind them, dressed in casual clothing. ¡°Nice to see you¡¯re all well,¡± he said to them calmly, ¡°Mind not taking those out? There¡¯s an ordinance about that.¡± The four slowly put their weapons away. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you,¡± said Cid. ¡°That¡¯s funny,¡± said Laurent, ¡°I was.¡± The four stared at him with a narrowed gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that sounded more condescending than I meant. After what the Council¡¯s been doing, I¡¯d be surprised if one of you didn¡¯t have an eye on them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t supposed you know why they¡¯re being obstinate in helping us?¡± ¡°Entirely I can¡¯t say. But I¡¯d bet good money it is from fear.¡± ¡°Fear?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°Anything involving Calanband or his ilk have been sparse, disorganized, mostly outsiders looking for somewhere to fit in. Nothing that would merit a real threat. But when you lot arrived with the severed head of his wife, that changed the story. And they haven¡¯t been preparing for this eventuality. Not by any stretch of the imagination.¡± ¡°And you have?¡± asked Leonidas. ¡°As much as we can dominus medicus medicinae et necromancia,¡± Laurent replied. Leonidas¡¯s eyes widened and color left his face as Jeanne began moving forward. Laurent lifted his hand out, palm forward. ¡°Do not fret, good doctor, if we wanted to do something about your deeper knowledge we would¡¯ve had. If this job has taught me anything, it¡¯s don¡¯t be too terribly picky about who your friends are.¡± Laurent turned back to the Council Building, dropping his head and shaking it slowly. ¡°And at this point we can use all the help we can.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you just get rid of the Council and be done with it?¡± asked Jeanne. ¡°It is easier for an established institution with years behind it to maintain power than for a new one to replace it,¡± said Cid. ¡°And besides, most people who probably not believe us even with the head.¡± ¡°Doom is often the only impetus to shift the minds of the ignorant,¡± said Laurent, ¡°Even if the truth can only live for a minute or two.¡± ¡°Then what are we to do,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°if the Council refuses to see the truth and people will accept death without a thought?¡± ¡°My suggestion is maybe try to find something from the fortress. Something that would force the Council to act.¡± ¡°What if they don¡¯t?¡± asked Jeanne, ¡°What if they have us arrested?¡± ¡°Then we will do what we can,¡± said Laurent. ¡°As I was told as a young boy, ¡®Better fail trying, than to sit and do nothing.¡¯¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get back to the others and see what our options are,¡± said Cid. ¡°Take care, captain.¡± ¡°And to you,¡± Laurent replied, as the four made their way back through the city streets. Part Twenty-Seven - Deeper into The Fortress ¡°Classically or self-taught?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°Classically!¡± Leonidas said defiantly. ¡°Is that the first thing you want answered?¡± Silvius asked, bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m with him on that one,¡± Leonidas said, pointing to Silvius. ¡°Why thank you,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t fuck dead people,¡± Benkin said, leaning back and wrapping his arms tightly around his torso. ¡°No,¡± Leonidas said calmly, ¡°But sadly I have known some who have. And it¡¯s disgusting.¡± ¡°And you let him into our group?¡± Maeryn asked Cid. ¡°Necromancers defy every facet of life and nature itself, they commune with demons who bring chaos and ills upon the world.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t saying that when I was putting you all back together,¡± Leonidas fired back heatedly. ¡°And gods knows what hexes and curses you put on us all when you did it!¡± ¡°I do not do curses!¡± Leonidas shouted his voice echoing off the walls and he began stepping towards the archer. ¡°Knock it off, or I¡¯ll knock you both out!¡± Jeanne ordered, getting in between both of them. ¡°My kin hunt down these dogs and put them out of their misery before they summon hordes of the damned to wipe out villages,¡± Maeryn said to Cid, ¡°and you welcomed this man into our company?¡± ¡°Jeanne vouched for him, and he has pulled his weight,¡± Cid said in a calm and firm voice. ¡°I¡¯m with Maeryn,¡± said Benkin. ¡°My father had to put down a rebellion led by a necromancer, you didn¡¯t think bring this to the rest of us before?¡± ¡°Unless you want to choose to forget, the man came rushing in on short notice because we all were wounded from our first fight,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°and the man saved my life. And for me, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°He¡¯s put me back together more than once,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°even when he would¡¯ve rather done the breaking.¡± ¡°Hypatia,¡± Cid said to the sword-singer, ¡°what are your thoughts?¡± Hypatia bit her lower lip and rubbed tip of her boots on the floor while scratching the back of her neck. ¡°I¡¯m not happy this was how we found out about this. But, he didn¡¯t have to come when he did, and he didn¡¯t have to stick around. And ¡­ he did save Kel¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Then why does he hide what he is?¡± Maeryn dared Hypatia. ¡°How about you ask that question to my face, if you have the gall,¡± Leonidas replied. Maeryn shot him a fierce glare. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. But I¡¯ll answer anyway. You know how many towns I saved from a plague wiping them out, and when they get the faintest idea of what I know, they chase me out with pitchforks and torches? More than I can count. I¡¯ve saved the lives of people I¡¯d wouldn¡¯t piss on if they were fire, but I did it because it was the right thing to do. What¡¯s more, most people don¡¯t even take the time to know me when they do learn, only judging on what little they know about I¡¯m taught in. Which I¡¯m sure you haven¡¯t experienced since you came here.¡± Maeryn leaned back and turned her gaze away. ¡°Still, you have to admit a lot of necromancers have caused problems,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Most actual necromancers know well enough not to draw attention to themselves. Those who do cause problems, like the one your father dealt with, are usually amateurs. Usually a egotistical prick who thinks after they¡¯ve read a book or two, they mastered the field. Plus, they always have some superfluous chip on their shoulder for some damned reason.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not wrong,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°How did you find out?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°My grandmother was a necromancer, she never told me her rituals, but she taught me how to spot a fraud.¡± ¡°And?¡± Hypatia shrugged. ¡°The doctor isn¡¯t faking it.¡± Silvius hemmed for a moment. ¡°I guess that¡¯s good enough for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give him a chance,¡± said Benkin. Cid turned to Maeryn. ¡°And you, Maer?¡± Maeryn said nothing, only nodding. ¡°So ¡­,¡± Silvius said to Leonidas, ¡°you¡¯re a necromancer ¡­ that would explain a lot.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Why does everyone keep say that?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Because you¡¯re insane,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You would know that,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°So ¡­ do you raise dead people?¡± asked Maeryn. ¡°Firstly, I don¡¯t resurrect people. Most necromancers don¡¯t, for a few reasons, but this isn¡¯t the time. Second, I do not consort with demons. Most of them are arrogant, a few are just assholes. And don¡¯t get me started on their deals. Third, I do not resurrect. Four, I don¡¯t go digging beloved family members or household pets for experiments. And five ¡­¡± ¡°No resurrecting?¡± interjected Kveldulf. Leonidas paused for a moment. ¡°No ¡­ and now I can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°So, what do most necromancers do if they don¡¯t resurrect people?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°We mostly commune with deceased spirits. Hell, even our title means divination of the dead. And bringing a person back to life can, like I said, bring a lot of complications. Usually dire ones.¡± ¡°And that trick you did on the door?¡± Kveldulf asked, his mood less confrontational. ¡°Oh, that was from training I had was on handling creatures, lesser demons and other varieties of monsters. I specialize in those that effect a person¡¯s physical health.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t all possessions do that?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°It depends, but it still leaves a long list of spiritual squatters to kick out.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Silvius, ¡°That could be advantageous in situations.¡± ¡°I do have one more question,¡± Kveldulf asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use more magic when you operated on me?¡± ¡°I only use enough to see what I was doing. Not everyone reacts well to magic, despite what most people like to think. So, I try to use practical means as much as possible.¡± ¡°Oh, that makes a lot of sense.¡± ¡°I try to, though most days a bit of a challenge.¡± ¡°So,¡± said Maeryn, pointing to the door, ¡°Should we open that door anytime soon?¡± Leonidas pressed his hand against the door for a quick moment. ¡°No, we still have some time. Shouldn¡¯t be too long, though.¡± As the door finally cooled down, they slowly opened it to find a pile of ash where the corpses were. Moving into the room, everyone circled around the ash pile carefully trying to avoid disturbing it. ¡°At least the smell isn¡¯t as bad,¡± said Cid. ¡°The wonders a large fireball can do,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± said Jeanne, before pointing towards the pile. Kveldulf noticed a smooth stone on the far end of the wall with a symbol etched into the stoneface. He moved over and examined it closely. Silvius came over and knelt next to Kel. ¡°Hmm,¡± Silvius hummed, rubbing his chin. ¡°What do you make of it?¡± Kveldulf asked. Silvius pulled back before looking at Kveldulf. ¡°It¡¯s the heraldry of The Wraith King.¡± Kveldulf looked back to the sigil. His brow furrowed together as he looked upon it with a growing fire in his eyes. ¡°Do you think this means he¡¯s returned?¡± Benkin asked. Cid pulled out a pendant from the pile of ash, The Wraith King¡¯s symbol clearly displayed. ¡°I do not know, but this is leaving me with little doubt.¡± Leaving the room, Leonidas and Maeryn turned their noses up, sniffing the air. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s odd,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Anything of interest?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Possibly,¡± Leonidas replied, moving up the stairs to the floor above them. On the third fourth floor they found woven tapestries, statues of warriors, kings, poets, and deities standing tall on pedestals, bowls, pots, and furniture richly colored and elaborately etched with detailed designs. The floor was covered in white marble with light blue veins spreading all throughout the area. Even their lightest steps caused echoes to softly go from wall to wall. ¡°What is all this?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Some of these go to the days of the Fabled Age,¡± Silvius said. ¡°These should be in museums!¡± ¡°I think this is one, Sil,¡± Hypatia said to him. ¡°Seemed like this Wraith King was an adamant collector in anything and everything,¡± Benkin said, examining one of two large sailing vessels. One with a large rectangular sail where an azure six-pointed star rested in the middle with one square behind it with crescent moons positioned on its cardinal directions and smaller stars placed in a square behind that placed on the intercardinal directions. The second had a triangular sail with the design of a red and black dragon curling outward with its claws facing the eastern side. ¡°A real collector, all right,¡± Benkin said, walking back to the others. Up to the next level they found the grand living chamber of the castle. The floor was covered in black soapstone with gold accents within the veins. A four-corner post bed with thick blanket draped over the mattress rested on the opposite end of the room. On one part of the curved wall, a mirror framed in red oak and hung near several stands with clothing still hanging form them. Near that was a golden bath tub with towels resting all around the floor beneath. There were several shelves of books and scrolls that almost glittered in the light of a chandelier hanging from above. The candle still flickering and illuminating the room below. ¡°How are those still lit?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t like it,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Come on,¡± Cid said, ¡°we should keep moving.¡± On the final floor was a vast laboratory. Tables lined in neat rows. Covered in white linens and instruments of alchemical, astrological, runic, divination, portents and other facets of magical research. The walls were lined with book shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling, each row filled with tomes, journals, scrolls, and piles of notes and parchments. Ladders rested on highest level of the shelves, connected to rails to keep them from falling over but allowing them to slide over to other parts of the room. On many of the tables were jars with severed limbs, heads, organs, from man, elves, dwarfs, gnomes, halflings, felidans, and a multitude of others races throughout. Kveldulf saw one hand being shocked with small bolts of energy, forcing it to twitch briefly. A small pocket mirror laid on its back, a dark purplish color covered the glass as Kveldulf looked seeing. Little eyes opened themselves up and he heard a whisper in his head saying, ¡°play with us.¡± He stepped away and spotted a journal with its pages opened. Leaving through the book he came the drawn image of a child before and after experimentation. Kveldulf turned his head away, placing his hand over his stomach and feeling his stomach turn inside. ¡°Where¡¯s Rett¡¯s wrath when you need it?¡± said Kveldulf. Part Eighteen - The Lower Wards The Wolves barely stopped in time for the guard to raise their hand. ¡°What on earth has gotten into you lot?¡± the guard asked. ¡°We¡¯d like to speak to Captain Laurent, please,¡± Cid said politely to the guard, trying to catch his breath. ¡°All right, all right, let¡¯s not start a stampede when one isn¡¯t needed. Might cause others to lose their wits before they know better.¡± They arrived to Laurent¡¯s desk, who upon seeing them as blinking rapidly. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Cid asked the captain. ¡°I was expecting to see your entire group here, if I¡¯m being honest,¡± the captain replied. ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t come here for a social visit,¡± said Cid. ¡°That¡¯d surprise me more if you did,¡± Laurent replied. Cid recalled their recent events to the captain, who sat back in his chair. ¡°Has there been anything odd happening in the city in the last few days?¡± Cid asked. ¡°No,¡± Laurent said, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s been more or less business as usual.¡± The Wolves exchanged puzzled glances. ¡°Nothing at all?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Honestly it¡¯s been quiet for the most part,¡± said Laurent, ¡°Even in some of the rougher parts of the city.¡± Laurent¡¯s last words began to register a new context as he started tapping his finger on his desk. ¡°Maybe we could check out the lower wards,¡± said Cid, ¡°See for ourselves.¡± ¡°Hold that thought,¡± said Laurent, ¡°Sergeant Elywen, I¡¯ll out of the barracks for the time being. If anyone asks I am inspecting the guard posts in the lower wards.¡± The woman he spoke to threw a quick salute. ¡°Yes, sir. Be safe out there, sir.¡± ¡°I am the very soul of caution,¡± he said to her, ¡°But I think my seven companions should be enough to avoid any major incidents. Right?¡± The Wolves nodded agreeably. ¡°I feel as if a great blunder as been made,¡± Laurent said aloud. ¡°I¡¯d blame her,¡± Leonidas said, pointing to Jeanne. Jeanne shook her head, mocking Doc and going, ¡°bleh bleh bleh,¡± motioning him speaking with her mouth. ¡°And the feeling is now certain,¡± said Laurent. *** Reaching the gate to the Lower Wards, they found several guards standing before a blockaded entrance. ¡°What¡¯s going on here,¡± Laurent demanded, ¡°By whose authority is this blockade even here?¡± ¡°The City Council¡¯s,¡± said a guardsman. ¡°They declared the Lower Wards be quarantined and blocked off.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We were not informed, captain, when the order came down to set up the blockade.¡± ¡°And I wasn¡¯t informed of this?¡± Laurent asked, becoming incensed. ¡°We were told they had already spoke with you on the matter and you were supportive of the plan, captain.¡± ¡°I was told no such thing, nor is this what I would approve of in the slightest,¡± said Laurent, ¡°Break this thing down, and make way.¡± ¡°But captain The Council ¨C¡± ¡°Is not here!¡± Laurent interjected, ¡°And if they have an issue, I would suggest they move their enlightened asses here and discuss it here in person,¡± ordered Laurent. The guards pulled down the wood pieces, opening the large gates to let the captain and The Wolves into the ward. As the doors closed behind them, Kveldulf could not help but think of the lines from a song he heard years past: Wolf of the isle, bearing bloodied fang, Filled with darken spirits, murderous and cruel. By want you rip flesh from bone, Never resting, ¡®til spear sent to earthen grave. As they moved deeper into the city, Maeryn and Cid were the first ones to cover their nose as they neared the Lower Wards of Koulberg. Flies were rampant in the air. Leonidas tied a fabric around his mouth and nose and covered the rest of his head with his helm. Benkin smacked one of the minute knaves on his neck. ¡°Bloody annoying little buggers,¡± he said. Maeryn, covering her nose, asked, ¡°Is this normal for this part of the city?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say this is the nicest in terms of scents and local wildlife,¡± said Laurent, ¡°but it usually isn¡¯t this bad.¡± ¡°And where is everyone?¡± asked Silvius. ¡°I haven¡¯t anyone out since we passed the ward¡¯s walls.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not even stray cats or dogs or anything else,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Yeah,¡± said Cid, ¡°I¡¯m noticing that, too.¡± ¡°Are you feeling anything, Doc?¡± Hypatia asked. Leonidas¡¯s left hand, shook terribly, causing him to clasp his right over and pressed against his torso. ¡°Something happened here,¡± he said shivering. ¡°All right, everyone keep a look out for anything,¡± said Cid, resting his right hand on his hilt. The others moving their hands to their weapons. Their horses moved slowly down the city streets. Many of the side streets and alleyways were cloaked in shadow. There was little noise aside from the breathing of the horses and the distant caws of seagulls. Kveldulf darted his eyes back and forth, trying to see the enemy in the darkness, sneaking within the metropolitan fens around them. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The stench of the surrounding area began growing in intensity. Putrid, rotting, with something unusual. Kveldulf took a long whiff and turned to Cid. ¡°The hell is with the smell around here?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you if I tried,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been to many a city, ill and better, and this is not a smell I¡¯ve ever seen before produced.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t smell right here,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°We should try and get to the officer¡¯s post,¡± said Laurent, ¡°it should be a short ride from here.¡± Turning the corner, they found the guard outpost a short distance away. Laurent¡¯s face went white as they found the bodies of civilians and guardsmen all slain. Their bodies torn to pieces, entrails, blood and visceral spread out over the streets and walls. ¡°By the gods,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°what horrors happened here?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t even the scene of a battle, but a massacre,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Is this entire section of the city devoid of people?¡± asked Jeanne. ¡°I want to say no,¡± said Cid. ¡°But signs are not looking good to disprove this assumption.¡± Maeryn dismounted her horse and knelt down, looking at the ground and examining it closely. ¡°What are you seeing?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Tracks,¡± she said, ¡°some human, elf, dwarven, and some of these are ¨C unusual.¡± ¡°What do you mean,¡± asked Silvius. ¡°They¡¯re nothing I¡¯ve ever seen before,¡± she said. ¡°It forks out at the end, and there seems to be hairs, I think.¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Cid said, visibly confused. Maeryn looked up and around the nearby rooftops. She sniffed the air and spotted something on the roof to her left. In an instant, she loosed an arrow and a figure fell from the rooftops and slammed onto the ground. Everyone drew their weapons, dismounted and neared the dead creature with great caution. Moving towards the figure, they saw it was with six appendages, two pairs where the arms and legs would normally be. The extra pair pushed out from around the hips and carried no vestige of human limbs. In its place were thin, thick haired protrusions jutting out rigidly. The clothing was ripped and torn from the mass of the creature. The exposed parts had no skin. Instead, what covered their flesh was a hard surface, reddish-brown hue. Their eyes were small and black, situated more to the side than directly in front. Where their mouth should be held pincers and more of the thick hair along the length of the forceps. Two large antennas stuck out from the head and occasionally twitched as the creature laid there on the ground. ¡°What is that?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°That is a murmek,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°And for those not familiar?¡± asked Laurent. ¡°It¡¯s a hybrid of ant and man. Some sorcerers tried to combine the two into a mix due to the loyalty and ferocity ants possess for their leader. As you can see, the results are not what one hoped.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to suspect this might¡¯ve been what the energy burst at the ley stone was all about,¡± said Cid. ¡°Likewise,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯m also starting think that ¨C¡± As he spoke the laying murmek sprung to life, grabbing the doctor in its clutches. Benkin plunged his blade deep into the fiend¡¯s head and pulled back as hard as he could. A bluish green fluid poured from the murmek as it chirped and gurgled on its own fluids. Kveldulf and Jeanne helped Leonidas to his feet. ¡°Are you all right, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked, dusting off the poor doctor¡¯s armor. ¡°A little startled, but I¡¯ll live,¡± said Leonidas, breathing quickly. ¡°I thought the fall would¡¯ve killed the thing,¡± Benkin said as he cleaned the blade. ¡°Most insects can take a fall surprisingly well,¡± said Silvius. ¡°They¡¯ll be comatose for a while, but since their skeleton is on the outside, generally it doesn¡¯t have the same impact as for people with an endoskeleton.¡± ¡°Better take the head then,¡± said Benkin as he decapitated the corpse. ¡°Please do,¡± said Leonidas, now looking at the other rooftops. ¡°I doubt this is the only one of these creatures in the area,¡± said Cid. ¡°We should try to get back out of the wards before we ¡­ aw damn it.¡± Several of other murmeks emerged from the alleys and rooftops. The horses bolted away into the alleyways. ¡°Great,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°there goes the quick escape.¡± Jeanne summoned her stoneskin as she grabbed her war-hammer and buckler. Smacking her weapon against her shield, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s see how well they put up a fight.¡± ¡°What happened to enjoying the aftermath of a fight?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I think that we¡¯ve past that point,¡± she replied. Cid moved to the front, sword at the ready towards the enemy. ¡°Wolves, on me!¡± As the murmeks charged The Wolves rushed to engage the monsters. Cid thrusted his blade into the skull of one of the murmeks as Hypatia quickly server the arms of hers. Jeanne slammed her war-hammer into the skull of the murmek charging at her, the creature¡¯s blood and brain splattering over her. As one grabbed her arm she bashed her stone covered head through it¡¯s chitin carapace, killing it instantly. Leonidas slashed deeply into the torso of a murmek before using his caduceus to crush its head. As Kveldulf cleaved his into two halves. Silvius cut into the neck of one, it¡¯s head dangling from the slump as Maeryn felled several reaching the rooftops as Laurent kept those on the ground from her. As Kveldulf pulled his blade from the murmek¡¯s body as the others looked around, steadying their breathes. ¡°You think that¡¯s the last of them?¡± he asked the others. ¡°I want to say yes, but I would rather not push our luck,¡± said Cid. ¡°Doctor Leonidas, do we have any injuries needing attention?¡± ¡°Nothing terrible that¡¯ll keep us from moving out.¡± ¡°I thought they would be a lot stronger,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°I thought ants could lift ten times their own body weight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trade off with merging a human with an ant,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°You lose the independent thinking of a person, and the potential strength that ants can bring to a battle.¡± ¡°Good thing for us then,¡± said Cid, ¡°et¡¯s get back to the gate and inform the glorious Council what happened. Ben, grab a head so we have something to show them.¡± ¡°Already done,¡± said Benkin, holding a severed murmek head. ¡°This is starting to seem like a weird penchant we¡¯re getting into,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Find something behead something and give the head to the Council.¡± ¡°At least it is not whole towns emptying their neighbors for hands and fingers just so they could collect on the bounties,¡± said Laurent. ¡°Should we even ask?¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Another one of the Council¡¯s immaculate decisions.¡± ¡°Come,¡± said Cid, ¡°I want to get before anymore decide to try anything.¡± The group moved down the main street towards the gate. Half of them moved down one side of the road while the other half moved along the opposite side. Their weapons were out, their steps were soft and quiet, their eyes always moving, constantly searching, trying to find the enemy before they could strike out. Reaching the gate, Laurent pounded against the wood slats, the rest forming a small perimeter. ¡°Open the gate!¡± Laurent called out. A small slot hole opened up and a guard¡¯s eyes peered from the other side. ¡°Captain, thank the gods, your alive.¡± ¡°Likewise, I¡¯m happy to breathing as well.¡± ¡°Those things tried breaching the gate, we barely had time to get your horses in before they hit.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s one good thing going for us,¡± said Laurent. ¡°How bad was the attack?¡± ¡°We had three wounded, sir. And their effort before that left five fatalities.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Laurent. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll figure out what the Council thinks of this shortly. Bring our steeds to the Barracks, get some more people to reinforce this damned gate, and where in the hell can we get out of here?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take care of the first two right away, sir,¡± said the guard. ¡°There is a way out, but it is through the sewers.¡± ¡°I wish I was surprised at that,¡± said Laurent, ¡°but honestly, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Well, this is going to be a wonderful day for my nose,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°You and me both,¡± said Cid. ¡°Come,¡± said Laurent, gesturing the others to follow. ¡°There¡¯s an entry point not far from here. Though I¡¯d recommend you through something on so the smell doesn¡¯t overwhelm.¡± ¡°Outstanding,¡± said Kveldulf, throwing a kerchief over his nose, ¡°this is turning out to be one of those days.¡± Part Nineteen - The Hive They arrived to the front of a church in a decrepit state. The stained-glass windows had long since lost their color. Statues of saints and other figures, their features gone and mere humanoid in their shape and bearing. Vines had stretched out from the ground and the shadows flanking the church, reclaiming the building back to a natural state within this part of the city. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, his head sinking into his neck at first sight, ¡°this is not leaving me with a high degree of confidence.¡± ¡°The fa?ade can be a little misleading,¡± said Laurent, leading the group inside. ¡°This place is still much a part of the life here in the ward.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised a place of worship would be in such a state,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°This would have been considered an act of sacrilege.¡± ¡°The recent Council, in their push for religious freedom and tolerance, decided none were worth pursuing and that a modicum of religious affiliation was backwards and a near absolute evil.¡± ¡°So much for freedom of worship,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Seems they feel above the need to master a loftiness of the personal spirit and office,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Why my good Silvius,¡± said Benkin, ¡°if I didn¡¯t know better, I thought you¡¯d have a grievance or two with our betters.¡± ¡°Betters is becoming a rather loose term at this point,¡± Silvius replied. Moving along the broken and rotted pews, they found a metal gate leading down into a dark stairway leading to a lower level. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just wonderful!¡± Leonidas said, looking up at the ceiling and shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s going to dark in here,¡± said Laurent, pulling out a torch to light, ¡°I¡¯d suggest you ¡­¡± Before he finished he saw each of The Wolves pulling out torches, or preparing an illuminating spell. ¡°Oh, not your first dive, I see.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been into more than our share of dark holes,¡± said Kveldulf. Jeanne snorted out a laugh, failing to stifle it. ¡°Really, really Jeanne?¡± Kveldulf said to her. ¡°Can you blame me?¡± Kveldulf glared at her. ¡°No.¡± ¡°And on that note,¡± said Cid, ¡°I think we should get moving so we don¡¯t come across anymore of these murmek hosts.¡± As Laurent opened the gate and let the others in the sound of deep, ominous chirping punctuated the air outside. ¡°Shit!¡± Jeanne hissed as she turned back. ¡°You think they found us?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I have no desire to wait and find out,¡± said Cid, ¡°Laurent are you able to lock the gate behind us?¡± ¡°Already on it, my good man,¡± Laurent replied, placing the lock on the door. ¡°That¡¯ll by us a few minutes at least.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s get going,¡± said Cid, ¡°Maeryn, take point, Kel stay close to her.¡± The light from the world above quickly left their sight. Darkness held back by the flickering light of the torches. Maeryn moved cautiously forward, as the tunnel began to gradually move closer around them. The walls, when the light of the torches touched the surface were sandy colored. Some cobbled, but most had a roughly hewed exterior. Over their heads there was an occasional archway, ancient and well worn. The vibrations of their feet caused small flakes from the ceiling to loosen and fall on their heads. Jeanne feeling one touch her hair, moved her fingers back and forth to remove the flakes. Leonidas tapped her shoulder. As she turned, he communicated through hand signals, You all right? Yeah, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll be better when we¡¯re back on the surface, she replied. You and me both. Benkin had to duck down the most as they progressed. ¡°This is already becoming my least favorite place in the whole city,¡± he said to them. ¡°Oh it¡¯s going to get a lot better,¡± Laurent said to them, wiping the sweat from his brow. They arrived to a series of massive chambers. A thin stair case moving down to the lower floor. Laurent turned to the group, leaving his torch to illuminate some of the first chamber they were entering. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lie, these chambers are a little unnerving?¡± ¡°That leaves me with even less confidence,¡± said Cid. ¡°Fair enough, but now you¡¯ve been warned,¡± Laurent replied. As they moved down the stairs, their light began to reveal the walls lined with bones. Skulls, femurs, shin bones, and numerous others from the deceased bodies of humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, and all others varieties of species. ¡°What on earth in this place?¡± Jeanne asked, turning her body to make room in the pathway. ¡°Currently it is mostly the city¡¯s ossuaries,¡± said Laurent, ducking underneath a stone support. ¡°Before then it was a mine where the stone to make the buildings above were excavated. Once graveyards began having problems where to put the bodies, they started being put into here.¡± ¡°This feels a little disrespectful,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Where I¡¯m from this would¡¯ve started a war,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°These aren¡¯t even my kin, and I¡¯m offended,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I take it this was another of the Council¡¯s idea?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°One of many,¡± Laurent said shamefully. Maeryn pulled back on her bow and aimed it at something in the darkness. ¡°Wait!¡± someone called out. ¡°We¡¯re friends!¡± ¡°Then come into the light and be seen,¡± Kveldulf replied. Several emerged from the shroud of darkness. Some were city guards, their heraldry torn into tatters, chainmail ripped and cuts and bruises on their exposed skin. Others were civilians, many huddled behind the guard and staring at these strangers with a terrified gaze. ¡°Guardsman Colins?¡± said Laurent, sheathing his blade. ¡°Captain!¡± the man cried out, rushing to Laurent and embracing him as his voice began breaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d find anyone down here.¡± The captain, patted the man¡¯s back. ¡°It¡¯s all right. We¡¯re getting you and the rest out of here. Is there anymore of the garrison with you?¡± ¡°No, about ten of us made it down here to escape those damned creatures,¡± said Colins. ¡°We brought down as many civilians as we could, but they came so fast.¡± ¡°I know, we had a run in with them on the way here.¡± ¡°Who are they?¡± said another guard helping some of the civilians into the light. ¡°These,¡± said Laurent looking back to his escort. ¡°These are The Wolves. They¡¯re here to help.¡± ¡°They¡¯re mercenaries?¡± said one guard, with distrust. ¡°Normally yes,¡± said Cid, ¡°But today we¡¯re just doing our civic duty.¡± ¡°Regardless of their normal profession,¡± said Laurent, ¡°They¡¯ve been valuable to us in the last few days, and I¡¯d rather not get into a trivial spate about who we pick for help. Guardsmen, do you think you can move out?¡± ¡°About as ready as we can be, sir,¡± said Colins. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Then grab what you can and move out, I think it¡¯s as good as time as any to be rid of this place.¡± Moving through the chambers they found bodies old and new resting within the walls of the ossuaries. Clouds of dust floating in the still air, emerging into the light with little warning before landing on a person walking by. Leaving the chambers they found tunnels submerged in water. ¡°Oh, this is just grand,¡± Cid said, before stepping into the muck. The water was ankle deep and he turned to the others. ¡°Not too deep, but be careful.¡± Moving deeper inside, the water came up to their waists. Maeryn having to lift both her bow and torch above the water. Silvius turned to Hypatia. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to need a pair of boots after this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to need a new pair of everything,¡± she replied. ¡°Oh you are joking,¡± said Cid before turning back. ¡°Ben! Get up here!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Look,¡± Cid said as he pointed to a hole that went as high as Cid¡¯s knee and was roughly as wide. ¡°Thank goodness I didn¡¯t bring my dress uniform,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°What¡¯s the situation, why did we stop?¡± Jeanne asked before see the hole. She looked up at Cid, ¡°Can I tender my resignation now, please?¡± ¡°After we crawl through this damned thing,¡± Cid said. ¡°You all right, Cid?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I do not like tight spaces,¡± he said as he began crawling through the hole. Kveldulf turned to Jeanne. ¡°Did you know about that?¡± ¡°No, but we¡¯ve never really had to deal with often.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Guess we better get this over with.¡± ¡°Oh, you first,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You¡¯re senior with time on the job,¡± he said to her. ¡°You¡¯re better looking.¡± ¡°I think Doc would say different about that.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t bring me into this?¡± Leonidas pleaded. *** Entering the Council¡¯s Gardens, everyone stood aghast at the group of warriors covered in muck, grime, and bringing a smell most foul into this paradise of the city. Laurent told The Wolves, ¡°I¡¯ll meet you at their chambers I need to see someone first.¡± Cid and the others waved him goodbye and made their way up the stairs. As they reached the guards, one said, ¡°Should I even ask?¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer you didn¡¯t,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I can assume you¡¯re here for the Council.¡± ¡°Preferably.¡± ¡°Right, follow me please.¡± As they entered the Council Chambers, The Wolves could hear one of the members say, ¡°¡­ And this is why we need to regulate how far of a point these shoes should have, this is just getting outrageous!¡± ¡°Members of The Grand Council! The Wolves have arrived,¡± said the guard. ¡°Yes,¡± said Marin Faletro, slowly standing up from his desk. ¡°I see you and yours have been quite busy.¡± ¡°The situation over at The Unyielding Fortress has been quite the enlightening experience.¡± ¡°Yes yes,¡± Marin said, waving the matter off. ¡°That ancient woe. Much like a dream long forgotten after you wake up.¡± ¡°Perhaps you can visit the Lower Ward and see if they share the same feelings,¡± said Jeanne. Marin and the other council members turned to Jeanne. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Marin replied. ¡°We visited the area today. There are murmeks running through the streets killing anything they can get their hands on.¡± ¡°Murmeks are creatures of the distant past they, are as much of a threat to us as fallen white horse ¡­¡± as Marin continued his diatribe, Kveldulf grabbed the murmek head from Benkin, walked up to Marin and slammed the severed head in the councilman¡¯s chest. Splattering his fine garments with blood and brains. ¡°I¡¯d like this explain then, please,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Because I know a fucking fantasy from something trying to kill me.¡± Marin, utterly disgusted, was unable to speak. Kveldulf turned to the other members. ¡°Would any of you like to take a gander? Because I¡¯d love to hear the latest excuse you wretches can muster about this.¡± None of the members could answer. Kveldulf felt his hands shake with rage as began shouting. ¡°Do you have nothing! You speak of how high and mighty and better you are from the pitiful squalor that you let die out in the streets. You have parties to aid their plight, which only assuage your guilt for living in luxury. You speak ill of those who have done more in a month to help this city, than you excuses of life have done in an entire career!¡± He felt Cid grab his arm roughly, ¡°That is enough Kveldulf!¡± ¡°I am tired of being ashamed and hearing my kin being mocked and insulted while these vermin get to commit murder without a semblance of justice!¡± ¡°Y ¨C you, you¡¯re a member of the White Horse!¡± said Marin as Laurent arrived to the chambers. ¡°Laurent! This knave is a criminal and a traitor, he has assaulted a member of the council, arrest him!¡± ¡°That, councilman, is not possible,¡± Laurent said calmly. ¡°Why not!¡± ¡°Because I was given the authority to arrest him.¡± ¡°I gave you the authority!¡± ¡°You gave an order, one which I will not do.¡± ¡°Then I will finally be rid of your incessant presence and put someone in who will do as I say!¡± ¡°That will also not be happening, councilman.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°I answer to Lady Allania, and she does not wish me to be replaced.¡± ¡°Well I would appreciate to hear these words for myself then,¡± said Marin. At that moment, Collan¡¯s guard entered the room, with Collan following shortly behind. Their stride was with purpose, the floor shaking with each step. They gripped the handle of their sword tightly as they moved forward. Marin moved the guard, their temper completely gone. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± he demanded. ¡°I will not ¨C¡± before finishing, the Guard gripped Marin by the throat lifted him up and threw against the wall behind the council¡¯s desk. As the Guard removed their helm the council gasped and the color drained from their face. Kveldulf turned to see a woman, blonde hair and pale skin. Her ears were pointed, an elf, with lines of age on her eyes and forehead. She had a scar on her left cheek, much of it faded and she glared at the council with murderous intent with icy blue eyes. ¡°Long have I stood by and watched the legacy of your kin be humiliated and shamed. Long have I allowed this to happen and all with the hope that you would come to your senses and return to the wisdom graced those long since past. But this, this was the last of many last straws. You would let entire sections of the city be purged by our very enemy than to step up and face him!¡± ¡°My lady,¡± said Marin, ¡°We do not know ¨C¡± ¡°You have seen the head of his queen and another of one of his soldiers. What must happen for you to open your eyes and see we are under siege! To have your guts feasted upon and this city on fire! No, I will not stand by and let this unholy incompetence continue.¡± ¡°You cannot remove the council,¡± said another councilman, ¡°it¡¯s been an institution of the city since it¡¯s very founding.¡± ¡°I am not getting rid of the council, it will stay and once this threat has been dealt with and a new group have been selected, provide the service it was supposed to. But I am getting rid of all of you, on it, and whatever good can be gained from the material hoarding you have collected will be used to aid this city. Captain Laurent!¡± ¡°My lady,¡± Laurent said, standing at attention. ¡°Please accept these former members of the council into the city guard. I believe there is a section of the city needing to be cleanse of foul beasts.¡± ¡°There is, my lady. And I shall happily accept them for our forlorn hope.¡± ¡°Even that is more of an honor than your lot deserves.¡± As she finished, several more guards entered the room and forced the councilmembers from the room. Laurent turned back to Allania. ¡°I would like to personally thank you for letting me watch that, my lady. Is there anything else I may do for you?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said to him. ¡°If there is anything more, I will get in contact.¡± Laurent bowed his head and left the room. Allianna turned to The Wolves, who were still processing what happened. ¡°I would like to speak with you, if you would please.¡± Leonidas tapped Jeanne¡¯s shoulder, saying in code. Did we pull our weapons out on her? Jeanne replied. I do believe so, yes. Well, we¡¯re all dead. Allianna sat on the edge of the table letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°I cannot begin to thank you all for what you¡¯ve done for this city already. I know this is not the typical situation most starting lancing companies undergo in their initial months,¡± she said to them. ¡°It¡¯s certainly been something to say the least,¡± said Cid. ¡°And it pains me that random strangers have done more to combat this growing threat than those I entrusted with the task. No offense meant,¡± said Allianna. ¡°We were thinking the same thing, Lady Allianna,¡± said Kveldulf. She looked up at him, studying Kveldulf intently. She stood up, walked over to him calmly. ¡°Kveldulf Einarsen. I was wondering when one from your house would return home.¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t exactly given an invitation back, Lady Allianna.¡± ¡°No, no you were not,¡± she turned her gaze down for a moment before looking back at Kveldulf. ¡°I heard about your parents; I regret never have the honor of meeting them myself.¡± Kveldulf was silent his jaw clenched and fist shaking. ¡°I know there is much you would like to say, much of it against your captain¡¯s discretion¡­¡± ¡°Ever do much,¡± interjected Cid. Allianna chuckled. ¡°¡­ Though I think it might be good for us to speak when hearts have soothed and spirits refreshened. I say we give ourselves a day to regain our strengths.¡± ¡°And the Lower Ward?¡± Kveldulf said, holding his anger. ¡°Right,¡± Allianna said, turning to the door, ¡°Shadowmaster Roland?¡± The man they had called Collan spoke. ¡°Yes, my lady?¡± ¡°Please inform Captain Laurent that the first, second, and third regiments of foot will be at his disposal aid in restoring order to the Lower Ward.¡± ¡°At once, my lady,¡± Roland said, bowing and then moving out of the room. Allianna turned back to the others. ¡°I am so confused right now,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I think we all our, Doc,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I¡¯ve learned over the centuries the importance of having a good network to inform me of the goings on in my city. Though recently events have not been the most comforting,¡± Allianna said to them. ¡°But like I said, we¡¯re all could use some time to recover our strengths.¡± ¡°And I think our gear could use a nice cleaning,¡± said Hypatia, swatting away the stench from her nose. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say, but that would be a little nice. One of the downsides of elven senses, I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me, my lady,¡± said Maeryn, pinching her nose. Cid simply tied a kerchief over his nose. ¡°I¡¯ll have some of my guards escort you to your residence. And I¡¯ll have my smiths and armorers tend to your equipment personally in the morning.¡± ¡°That is most kind of you, Lady Allianna,¡± said Cid. ¡°Consider it a small repayment for the services you have done for this city. Hopefully, we have bought ourselves some time to prepare for the enemy¡¯s next move.¡± ¡°Hopefully we¡¯ll have an easier time figuring out what that is,¡± said Cid. ¡°Just let me know what you need to help, and its yours,¡± Allianna told them. ¡°Could we have a castle?¡± Leonidas asked. As everyone turned to him, he followed, ¡°Oh come on we know that was a joke.¡± Allianna laughed. ¡°If we make it through this with our lives intact, we can revisit that matter later.¡± Part Twenty - Reprieve Leonidas sat in the solar staring into the fire as it roared in front of him. His muscles ached as he breathed, the weight of the armor still on him after he had returned home. He held his helm in his hands, looking down at the worn marks and scratches it had from other battles and skirmishes. He saw Jeanne sitting down next to him, causing him to jump in his seat. ¡°What¡¯s with you,¡± she said to him. ¡°I completely forgot you were in here.¡± ¡°You invited me in here!¡± ¡°I know, and I still forgot.¡± ¡°Are you that out of it?¡± ¡°I think I am, honestly.¡± ¡°Gods, it really has been a day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly.¡± ¡°You were pretty amazing with your staff there.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°When you crunched that one murmek¡¯s head.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t too shabby yourself.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°You literally smashed her head into a murmek¡¯s skull.¡± ¡°That was pretty impressive,¡± she said, bobbing her head back and forth. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± ¡°Honestly, I would like go visit somewhere relaxing. Where troubles are few, and laughs are plentiful. Though knowing my luck, something outrageous would happen.¡± ¡°You seem to have the weirdest of luck.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough to keep me alive, but by the gods everything else just goes crazy.¡± ¡°You might feel better if you took off the armor.¡± ¡°Yeah, might be a good idea. Plus, I think a bath would be in order.¡± ¡°You take baths?¡± ¡°Jeanne, I do not have the energy or the patience for this lunacy today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Leonidas rose to his feet, then turned to Jeanne. ¡°Come on, I want to see you something.¡± ¡°Is this your non-existent collection of spoons?¡± she asked him, rising to her feet. ¡°Where the hell did you get that?¡± ¡°I do not know,¡± she said, with a slight slur. ¡°Are you drunk?¡± ¡°No, just tired.¡± ¡°Yeah, that sounds about right.¡± They came down to the first floor where Leonidas pulled on a candle holder attached to the wall. A section of the wall opened up, revealing a set of stairs leading to a lower level. Journeying down, Leonidas turned to Jeanne, saying, ¡°So when I moved in here, I found there was a fake wall installed. Once I figured how to open it, I found this!¡± He tapped a sconce on a wall, which immediately lit up, causing several others to come to life and illuminate the whole room. Revealing a room with immaculate tile work. Frescos of monsters, animals, athletes, warriors and diving beings decorated the walls. The floors had an intricate, almost hypnotic, geometrical pattern. Leonidas saw Jeanne look at the design, blinking repeatedly. ¡°You, all right?¡± he asked with a chuckle. ¡°This pattern is something else,¡± she replied, ¡°Not sure what, but something else.¡± ¡°Yeah, it took me a while to get used to that, too,¡± he then knelt down and put his hand on the floor. ¡°But that¡¯s not all, feel the floor.¡± Jeanne took a knee and placed the back of her hand on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s warm!¡± ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a heating system underneath the floors. Comes in handy when its winter.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense; this has to be hundreds of years old.¡± ¡°Probably close to a proper millennium at this point.¡± ¡°But this isn¡¯t shouldn¡¯t even be here. This would predate the first years of Calaband¡¯s reign.¡± ¡°Something I¡¯ve learned in my wanderings, society has a wonderful knack to simply build over what was there before. And then assume it¡¯s been lost.¡± ¡°And how did you get to look so nice?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy. I had a few favors to call in from clients. This paid off a few bills, and worth every copper.¡± Jeanne went over to the small pool, sitting along the edge and touched her fingers over the surface of the water. ¡°This is warm, too,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°Definitely a step up from bathing in a wooden tub,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Plus, the water gets cycled out, so it there isn¡¯t a build up of grime, mostly.¡± ¡°This is really lovely here, Doc.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad place to unwind and forget the cares of the world.¡± Jeanne looked towards a room where a curtain hung from a rod just above door. ¡°Is that the room where all your truly malevolent activities are hidden?¡± she asked. ¡°Or it¡¯s the changing room.¡± ¡°Oh! I thought you, you know ¡­¡± ¡°Just stripped out here?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Oh gods, you are something else.¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking that as a compliment.¡± ¡°Of course you would. You want to change first?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do,¡± she replied. As she pulled the pulled the curtain back, she turned to Kveldulf. ¡°No peeking,¡± she said playfully. ¡°I still have a will to live,¡± he said under his breath. He moved over to one side of the arch, leaning back against the wall. ¡°You need help with the boots?¡± ¡°No¡± she said, struggling. ¡°I am ¡­ oh gods ¡­ I¡¯ve got this!¡± ¡°You sure?¡± A series of growls and curses proceeded. ¡°I sure!¡± As Leonidas started to wheeze laughing, he heard a loud thud from the other side. ¡°I would to rescind my previous statement. I need some help.¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± said Leonidas as he pulled the curtain back and saw Jeanne on the ground, her right leg up in the air. ¡°That one first?¡± ¡°Please,¡± she said quickly. He grabbed the heel and toe of the shoe and began pulling, causing her to slide along the floor. They looked at her foot and he said, ¡°Maybe we should have you sit?¡± ¡°That might be prudent.¡± ¡°Did ¡­ was that towards me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied. ¡°Oh gods,¡± he said, shaking his head. Once her boots were removed, he handed her a pair of sandals. ¡°You¡¯ll want these so you don¡¯t burn your feet on the floor,¡± he said to her. ¡°Good to know, now get out you pervert!¡± ¡°I ¨C I¡¯m just going to leave that alone,¡± he said as he left the changing room. Back on the other side, he waited until she emerged, her towel wrapped snug around her torso. She sat on the edge of the pool again, running her fingers over the surface of the water and brushing locks of hair behind her ear. Leonidas smiled softly, admiring how serene and peaceful she made him as she sat there. She looked up at him. ¡°Everything all right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Was just thinking of something.¡± ¡°Well, go change, I¡¯m don¡¯t want to be the only person here with just a towel on,¡± she said, shooing him to the change room. He removed his armor and placed it in the shelf area in the changing room. After fitting the sandals to his feet, he folded his clothes as he removed his them and stretched his neck and torso before wrapping the towel around his hips. He stepped back into the bathing area. Seeing Jeanne already in the pool, her head resting on the tile edge and her arms stretched out. As he removed his sandals and entered the pool, she said with her eyes still closed, ¡°I didn¡¯t say you could come in.¡± Dipping his fingers into the water he flicked water droplets onto her face, making her scrunch her face as they touched her skin. ¡°That was rude,¡± she said to him. ¡°And this is my house, and my bath.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°You should be more respectful to your host.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°And?¡± Leonidas looked up to the heavens, tapping his hand on an underwater step and shaking his head. ¡°And I invited you into here.¡± ¡°Yes, yes you did,¡± she said bopping his nose. He leaned back, resting his arms on the pool¡¯s edge. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to try.¡± Jeanne moved closer, wrapping her arm around his chest. ¡°Does this help?¡± ¡°I think I can manage,¡± he said before lightly chuckling, kissing her forehead. ¡°I thought so, you little baby.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not above admitting that.¡± She giggled. ¡°You know, there¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known for a while now. And I know you¡¯re not into boosting about yourself, but it sometimes seems like you¡¯re putting yourself down.¡± ¡°I do?¡± Leonidas asked, surprised. ¡°Yeah, it sometimes seems like you see yourself less than who you are.¡± ¡°I do?¡± ¡°I mean, anytime we¡¯ve been in a tight spot, I¡¯ve never seen you run away.¡± ¡°You never saw me in the Outlands, Jeanne. I did more than my fair share of running.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, there was one time I was being chase by these aquatic creatures as the rest of this group was exploring a ruin.¡± ¡°How many of them were there?¡± ¡°My group or the creatures?¡± ¡°The creatures.¡± ¡°Oh, about a half dozen, easily.¡± ¡°Did you abandon the ruins?¡± ¡°Gods no, that meant they would¡¯ve been jumped without warning.¡± ¡°So, you kept those things busy until the others came?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Was, there any other times you had something like this happen?¡± ¡°I remember being chased by a few hell-hounds and a feldragon once.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, I was out gathering ingredients and such, and collecting soil samples for experiments when some hell-hounds started chasing me. And then a feldragon decided to join the fray. That ¡­ that was fun.¡± ¡°How did you escape from that?¡± ¡°Well, there was this cave I knew with a little alcove you can climb into that has a passage to the other side of a little mountain range. It was too high for the hounds to climb and the dragon couldn¡¯t fit into the hole.¡± Jeanne stared at Leonidas, dumbfounded. ¡°What?¡± he asked her. ¡°Was there anything else you want to add?¡± ¡°Well, there was that time I organized an impromptu triage in the middle of a battle.¡± ¡°Was this the only time?¡± ¡°For that engagement, yes.¡± ¡°How many were there?¡± ¡°Oh, let¡¯s see. There were the Battles of The Deathlands, The Morass, The Respite, of Paradisus, and the final one at The Camlann Fields.¡± Jeanne shook her head rapidly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± ¡°Did I say something?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back over this shall we?¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± ¡°You survived in the woods after being beaten and with both hands broken ¡­¡± ¡°¡­ And with potentially two necromancers after me.¡± ¡°And with potentially two necromancers hunting you. You kept a half-dozen, fish people from ambushing your friends.¡± ¡°Actually, only two were friends, the rest I¡¯d consider professional acquaintances.¡± ¡°Whatever, and then you fought in five battles?¡± ¡°Truth be told, the battles were before the fish people.¡± ¡°Again, whatever. And you survived being chased by monsters?¡± ¡°Then there was that time,¡± said Leonidas before Jeanne put her index and middle finger over her lips. ¡°That is enough, you shush,¡± Jeanne said to him. Leonidas simply nodded his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what those people saw you as when you were in the Outlands, but for me, you need to give yourself more credit than you have been.¡± Leonidas tried to speak, but Jeanne tapped his lips again. ¡°No! I¡¯m not done.¡± ¡°Hrmm.¡± ¡°Since I¡¯ve know you, not once have I seen you run from danger; once. You may not be doing the front-line work, but you don¡¯t run either. And those two incidents don¡¯t count. Because there¡¯s a big difference between being brave and being stupid. And you might lack some common sense, ¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fair statement.¡± ¡°¡­ but you¡¯re not stupid. And anyone who can¡¯t see that is an utter fool. A brave man isn¡¯t someone who runs into danger to with the hopes to win glory or treasure. It¡¯s someone who knows those risks and does it for nothing more than they know it¡¯s the right thing to do. And you¡¯re one of the bravest men I¡¯ve met.¡± Leonidas turned away for a moment before looking back at Jeanne. ¡°You know I think that¡¯s the first time any one has ever called me brave before.¡± ¡°Ever?¡± ¡°Ever.¡± ¡°What did they usually call you?¡± ¡°Mostly unhinged. Though that varied from friendly jests to outright insults.¡± Jeanne held him tighter than before, resting her head on his chest. ¡°I can see why you wanted to leave.¡± ¡°Yeah, I doubt they did though.¡± ¡°Are there any you miss over there?¡± ¡°Not many, maybe three I¡¯d actually go back for if they were in need of help.¡± ¡°So, what made you decide to move to Koulberg anyway?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Do you have any family out here?¡± ¡°If I did that¡¯d be news to me. No, I came here mostly because in the city you usually have something going on. And there¡¯s always someone who is getting hurt. Then, of course, you have the fact there¡¯s some fighting going on, in case I want to help keep some soldiers alive.¡± ¡°So, no family then?¡± Leonidas shook his head. ¡°Not here at least.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeanne said, her fingers stroking his chest. ¡°What about you? Do you have any relatives here?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said shaking her head slowly. ¡°And I doubt they¡¯d want to speak to me if they did live here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I told you about my sister, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Well, the man responsible. His father was the lord for our county.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Leonidas said slowly. ¡°And he didn¡¯t take too kindly to one of his ilk being beaten into a pile of visceral.¡± ¡°Not surprising.¡± ¡°So, when it was found out his men were searching for whoever was responsible, I left and joined the first mercenary company I could find. Which just happened to be Cold Company.¡± ¡°And your folks? Do you think they¡¯re mad?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see them being thrilled at what I did. Nor with the repercussions.¡± ¡°Perhaps time will time or way or the other,¡± he said, caressing her side. ¡°Have you ever wanted to go back?¡± ¡°You mean like to my old home?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I mean, sometimes. Usually when I¡¯m longing to return to my youth when troubles were few and far between. But even then, those were rare. What about you?¡± ¡°Sometimes. Usually when things are quiet and calm. Once everything is still and I have nothing occupy my thoughts. Then I dream of the fields outside my parent¡¯s home. How the wheat and rye would sway with the wind. How the pine would make the air smell so fresh and alive. Or you could hear the sounds of animals around the farms going about their business and not have a single care in the world.¡± ¡°It sounded like a lovely place to live.¡± ¡°It was,¡± she said, voice beginning to break and her lips trembling, ¡°It was.¡± Leonidas held her close and caressing her head. ¡°It¡¯s all right, I¡¯m here. I¡¯m here.¡± *** Leonidas stood over the fire place watching the eggs and sausages fry in the pan. He was beginning to turn them over as Jeanne arrived to the solar, wearing a thick blue bathrobe and slippers on her feet. ¡°How did you sleep last night?¡± he asked her as she sat next to him. Jeanne stretched her arms in the air, letting out a relieve groan. ¡°Not too bad, and you?¡± ¡°Best night¡¯s sleep I¡¯ve had in a while.¡± ¡°It is nice when things start moving in your favor,¡± Jeanne said looking over Leonidas¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I will attest to that,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°It¡¯s always easier to sleep when you know you don¡¯t have a target on your back.¡± He grabbed a kettle from the hearth and poured a dark brown liquid into Jeanne¡¯s cup. ¡°Let me get you some milk,¡± he said as reached for a petite pitcher and pour some of the contents into her cup, lightening the brew to a sandy tint. ¡°You know how I like my coffee?¡± Jeanne said, smiling. ¡°I try to remember the little things about people,¡± he said. ¡°Tends to make the bigger decisions easier.¡± She kissed his cheek. ¡°You¡¯re going to spoil me, if you keep this up,¡± she said as she moved over to the table. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll happen,¡± he said to himself, smiling back at her. A frantic knocking struck his door. Causing both to jump from their seats. ¡°I¡¯ll get that,¡± he said to Jeanne. Grabbing his sword and strapping it around his waist. ¡°You think that¡¯s needed?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± he said. He went downstairs to the door. A loud slam of the door opening was following by the cheerful cries of Hypatia running up calling out, ¡°Great news, every ¡­ one.¡± She turned to Jeanne, now staring at Hypatia with a stunned look in her eyes. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s the doctor?¡± ¡°He was downstairs by the door,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Why hello Hypatia,¡± said Leonidas in a strained voice, ¡°please come inside.¡± Returning to the solar, he was rubbing his forehead, one eye partially closed and twitching and looking most thoroughly uncomfortable. ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± Hypatia said to him. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± he said, ¡°Would you like some breakfast?¡± ¡°Oh no, I already ate, thank you.¡± ¡°So what brings you over to this part of the city?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh!¡± Hypatia said with great excitement, ¡°Allianna got us back our access to the special archives!¡± ¡°What?¡± Leonidas blurted out, the pain on his face dissipating. ¡°She told the archives to give us whatever access we needed for research and anything else we needed. I have collected so many inkwells and quills, I could just die!¡± ¡°Why did you get so many of those?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Because I can!¡± Hypatia declared proudly. ¡°Well, I know what to get you for gifts during the next Winter Solstice,¡± said Leonidas, rubbing his head once more. ¡°We should probably tell Silvius,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°He¡¯d probably want to get started with his research.¡± ¡°Already took care of that,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°In fact, Doc, we we¡¯re hoping you could help out with gathering materials to go over. As well as going over them.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Doc, ¡°Give me a moment to finish breakfast and I¡¯ll be over there.¡± ¡°Mind if I tag along?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to say no, just so I can say I was obstinate. But yeah, of course you can come.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Jeanne, rising from her seat as she took a long sip of her coffee. ¡°I¡¯ll go get dressed and I¡¯ll be ready to leave.¡± Jeanne moved up the stairs and closed the door as Hypatia turned to Leonidas and lightly tapped on the table. So? she asked, You and Jeanne? Yeah, he replied, I wasn¡¯t entirely expecting it myself. I remembered when she contacted you when Kel was hurt. She thought you weren¡¯t going to answer, Hypatia gestured, trying not to laugh. There was a part of me saying not to reply, Leonidas said, a slight look of embarrassment on his face. Gods, that would¡¯ve been a bad scene, gestured Hypatia, stifling a laugh. It wouldn¡¯t have looked good on my part, Leonidas replied. But what prompted the whole, you know, interest? If you don¡¯t mind me asking? Leonidas sat back, pondering the question. ¡°I mean,¡± he said thoughtfully, ¡°There¡¯s really not one thing that did it. She was always been fair to my eyes, and while she has a knack for just driving me up the wall with some of her wilder antics, it¡¯s hard not to be a little effected by her energy. Plus, she has an undeniable strength of spirit which I respect. And I think the biggest thing is I just like being around her. Though it has been nice not having her break into here and leaving wild animals in my place.¡± ¡°I could see that,¡± Hypatia said understandingly. ¡°How¡¯s Selene doing, by the way?¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing well,¡± Hypatia said with a warm smile. ¡°Been keeping busy what with her ling of work.¡± ¡°I can imagine. Has the whole Council situation affected her business at all?¡± ¡°Not that I could tell. But I know there was some pressure by those rubbing elbows with the Council.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, you know, people saying they want to help women with achieving what want in life, yet they¡¯ll treat female courtesans like nothing more than a living, breathing sex object. And on top of that these are the same people who treat their male counterparts as if they¡¯re not real men.¡± Leonidas shook his head. ¡°Such profound sophists,¡± he said condescendingly. ¡°But with recent events being what they are, things have looking up. Though, that reminds me, Selene said she needed to set an appointment with you for a couple of her staff to get their examinations.¡± ¡°Hopefully once things calm down that¡¯ll be more manageable.¡± Jeanne came down from the bedchambers upstairs and entered the solar. ¡°Did I miss anything?¡± ¡°Doc was just saying how much he loves your antics and jokes,¡± said Hypatia. Leonidas just stared at her. ¡°I want to say I am surprised, but I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Oh, that means I need to improve my sportsmanship,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°No! no it doesn¡¯t,¡± Leonidas insisted. ¡°Now I see why Jeanne loves to do this,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°This is fun!¡± ¡°How good for you to see,¡± Leonidas grumbled. ¡°Should we be off then?¡± Hypatia asked, trying to catch her breath. ¡°Doc and I will meet you at the door,¡± said Jeanne. As Hypatia left the room and made her way to the door, Leonidas rose from the table and was stopped by Jeanne, placing her hands on his chest. ¡°Do I have something on face?¡± he asked, moving his hand over his chin and cheeks. ¡°There is something,¡± she said, kissing him gently on his lips. ¡°I like being around you, too.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± he said lifting her hands to his lips. ¡°And good thing you didn¡¯t say anything truly embarrassing.¡± ¡°I was about to say,¡± he said as they left to join Hypatia. Part Twenty-One - Sins of the Past Kveldulf arrived to the Council Palace as the sun crested over the city buildings. It was an uneasy feeling being here alone as he stood there with no one else from The Wolves. There was hardly anyone else in the plaza, which reinforced the growing tension. Coming to the large, he knocked on it three times. He looked back into the plaza, half-convinced there was someone watching him from some unseen vantage point. The metal clack of the locks caused him to turn and see a guard on the other side, opening the door slowly. ¡°Can I help you?¡± the guard asked. Kveldulf held up a letter with the seal of Allianna pressed onto a wax seal. ¡°I received this from her grace.¡± ¡°Ah yes,¡± said the guard, nodding, ¡°I was told to expect you. Please come in.¡± Kveldulf came inside, the guard closing the door and turned back to him. ¡°One moment please, I¡¯ll inform the lady to your arrival.¡± Kveldulf said nothing. He pressed his back against the wall, gripping and loosening his grasp on the hilt of his blade as he waited. He tried to calm his breathing, feeling the urge to flee the building and hide himself from this whole farce. ¡°Ah, welcome!¡± he heard Roland call out, as he approached him. ¡°I hope this wasn¡¯t too early to come over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Kveldulf said, ¡°I¡¯m normally up early anyway.¡± ¡°Good, very good. Since Lady Allianna has taken on much of the duties to running a city, she has not as much time to speaking leisurely as she used to.¡± ¡°I can imagine how difficult this has been,¡± Kveldulf said. Roland smiled, before clearing his throat. ¡°Well, come come!¡± Roland gestured Kveldulf to follow. Kveldulf fought the desire to groan as he went with Roland. Moving down the halls and stairways up to the hallway leading to the Council Chambers. Instead of turning left, Roland opened the doors on the right. Inside the room, the walls were lined with weapons, armors, flags of Koulberg stretching back to the reign of the first kings. In the middle of the room were three couches, placed to form a u-shape around a round table with a small tree resting in a planter. ¡°What is this place?¡± Kveldulf asked, his mouth half opened. ¡°This is the lady¡¯s parlor. Where she entertains guests and the like.¡± ¡°Hard not to catch someone¡¯s attention.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Roland, ¡°She has collected many interesting trinkets and what nots during her travels.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡± ¡°Well, sadly I must attend to other matters, but she should be with you presently.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Kveldulf, still absorbing the ancient artifacts of war all around him. Once Roland left the room, Kveldulf moved around the room. He stopped by one suit of armor. Glittering chainmail with metal shoulder pauldron, a helm shaped as a wolf as with sabatons molded to look like wolf paws. At the bottom of the display read, Armor of Ragnar Wolfbane ¨C Highking of Koulberg. Next to this was long bladed sword, almost as tall as Kveldulf when standing next to the weapon. The cracked leather revealed the wood underneath, still sporting a luminescent sheen to it. Looking at the blade¡¯s edge, Kveldulf could see it still carried a keen sharpness. He was reached out to thumb it, but pulled back as he thought different of the idea. Next to it was a sign reading, Blade of Clovis the Hammer ¨C First Knight of the Order of Dragons. His mouth dropped and head fell back as he found a suit of armor he instantly recognized. It was plated, with chain mail covering the exposed parts and he could see bits of gambeson underneath the plates. The helm was decorated with wings on the side jutting upwards slightly. The front face was plain, no decorative etchings of any kind. Covering the cuirass was the image of a white horse rearing on its hind legs before a bright golden sun. ¡°No,¡± he said weakly, stepping back as he saw a ghost come back from beyond the grace. ¡°It took my best smiths months to repair that armor,¡± he heard Allianna say as she arrived. ¡°And even then, there was only so much they could.¡± ¡°This was his armor?¡± Allianna nodded. ¡°It was. A few people argued it should¡¯ve been melted and cast into the ocean. To rust and fade away within the darkest depths of the ocean. I decided against it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°A few reasons, young Kveldulf, son of Einar. Lord of The White Horse.¡± ¡°You dare use title on me?¡± he replied, offended. ¡°After what you did to my house, my family!¡± Allianna looked back to the armor. Pain growing on her face. ¡°I did not mean offense with that remark.¡± ¡°No offense,¡± said Kveldulf, feeling his heartbeat quicken, his teeth clench and his fist tighten and shake violently. ¡°You banished my house from this city, the city we defended with our blood and lives. You called us traitors and beyond honor!¡± ¡°I would prefer ¨C¡± ¡°I would prefer to see my parents not be feasted on by the crow. To have their remains given the treatment fitting of my people! I prefer they lived to see their grand children run and play, and enjoy everything you stole from us! Don¡¯t you dare try to act as if you have been inconvenienced!¡± ¡°Master Kveldulf ¨C¡± Without thinking, Kveldulf grabbed the long sword and swung it towards Allianna. She dodged the attack, calmly stepping to the side. Preparing another attack, she swiftly grabbed his hand and with her other arm wrapped it around his neck. He struggled, but could not break himself free. ¡°I did not ask you here so I could end your line,¡± she said coolly. ¡°I came to speak with you, personally.¡± ¡°I can tell, my lady,¡± he said, struggling to breath. ¡°If I release you, would you be so kind as to have a cordial conversation?¡± ¡°I think that might be my only available option, my lady,¡± Kveldulf replied. Allianna slowly released her hold. Kveldulf steadied himself, cautiously placing the sword back in its place. ¡°All right,¡± he said, catching his breath, ¡°Let us talk.¡± ¡°Firstly, I will not bandy with words on how your family was treated,¡± she said, looking up at the armor. ¡°In all honesty, I was anticipating rescinding the decree before the second generation of kin had reached maturity following Baeron¡¯s last breath.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°One cannot tell what people will choose to remember, and what they will decide to forget, or forgive. And there are still those within the elven community here who remember with advantages what your ancestor did. Not many, but enough.¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I know Baeron served Callaband during his reign,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°He did more than that,¡± said Allianna. ¡°He did far more than defend a crown worn by a tyrant for whom mercy was beyond foreign in thought and deed.¡± ¡°What did he do?¡± ¡°When you travelled to the town of Amlin, you passed by the Crimson Fields?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°When I was a child, I remember when it used to a forest. Trees as wide as houses. Birds singing songs that touched your soul. The scent of ancient life stretching back to the beginning of the world, if you believe the stories. I would run across the ground bare foot, feeling the morning dew chill my skin,¡± as she spoke, Allianna lips trembled, her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed. ¡°It was where I met my beloved, Elduin. It was where we were wed. And it was where your Baeron had him executed.¡± Kveldulf turned to the armor, his stomach beginning to twist and turn. ¡°Baeron had that entire forest hacked to pieces, turning the trees into stakes to impale all the enemies of his king. Some trees bore him many hellish pikes to stain the earth with the blood of those murdered souls.¡± ¡°Why I have never heard of this? I thought it was when Callaband made a pact with a daemon lord and tainted the ground around him.¡± Allianna scoffed, ¡°It is not unheard of for people to believe true fantasy to shield themselves from the darkness of their hearts. Or to be reminded of the horrors they can commit for nothing more than a word.¡± ¡°But, if he did that, if he did such horrible things, why have this, a shrine to him?¡± ¡°Many reasons, Kveldulf. At first it was a reminder of what happens when you lose sight of what is right and wrong. To never forget those I lost when warring against the tyrant and his allies. As time passed, I began to see it as a relic of when things were simpler. You knew who was your enemy and friend. Who you could rely on, who wasn¡¯t telling you what you wanted to hear, only to work to undermine everything you have given all but your very life for. And, to a certain, to honor him.¡± ¡°Honor him?¡± ¡°He was cruel, he was unyielding, he was many things that would chill a person to their soul. But he did have some qualities one would find admirable, one in particular.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°When all of Callaband¡¯s lords abandoned him. When the end was near, and death was beyond certain, Baeron fought alongside his lord. He did not run, nor hide, nor ask for mercy. He faced his end with courage and with whatever dignity was left in him. And throughout the entirety of the war, Baeron fought with every fiber of his being. Even if it led him to do terrible things for victory. We tend to forget how rarely we see ourselves as the villains in our own story, and how the actions we make now will be seen by those afterwards in a very different light.¡± ¡°Then why was my family punished?¡± ¡°Another facet of the story many have chosen to forget, Kveldulf. But to put it simply, it was a compromise.¡± ¡°Compromise, for what?¡± ¡°Many of the nobility who sided with me, and even those who had turned against Callanband, near then end, called for the death of your entire house. To be an example for those who wished to try and reinstate some semblance of Callaband¡¯s old regime. But, I fought to stay their hands, and their bloodlust. The decree to banish your house was the agreed concession allowing your kin to survive. And as I said, I had expected this to have long been annulled well before you drew your first breath. The fact that it has stood true to this very day says much, a little of it well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to say, in all honesty,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Neither can I,¡± said Allianna. ¡°Though at this point it seems words can only begin to convey the full scope of the injustice done.¡± ¡°Well I can¡¯t say Baeron was not deserving of what happened to him.¡± ¡°No, but the generations after should not be punished for the actions of someone well before their time. And while I do not wish for the actions of Baeron to wash away into the vast dark sea of oblivion, I feel it is time for those who know not the full horrors of what occurred to act as if they experienced them first hand. There is a vast difference between remembrance and petty vengeance. Though many would prefer not to learn that lesson.¡± ¡°I suppose that means removing the decree is not as easy as a simple wave of a hand?¡± Allianna chuckled. ¡°If it was, then you would not have arrived under false monikers to avoid immediate detection.¡± Kveldulf laughed uncomfortably. ¡°I guess that ruse didn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°To be fair, I¡¯ve kept an eye on you and your kin in some capacity for some time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± Kveldulf asked shocked. ¡°Do keep in mind, you are not the first of your house to return to this city, and a few have tried their hand at a more direct approach to achieving satisfaction.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ oh,¡± Kveldulf said, pulling on his collar as he felt a sudden rise in heat. ¡°That certainly did not help with convincing individuals, such as the Council, to go along with removing the decree on your house.¡± ¡°Well, with the Council out of the way, what else would need to be done?¡± ¡°If there was one thing that would give you the heart of city, enough to wipe away the stain of Baeron without question, I would be delighted to tell you. But as of this moment, I cannot. That being said, what you are doing now, aiding in protecting this city, trying to uncover what it is Callanband and his minions are doing, this is more than a good start to your efforts. And I more than wanting to see your banners fly high amongst its noble brethren once again.¡± ¡°That would be nice to see. I know my parents would be proud to see the family name no longer dragged through the mud and bound to an eternal shame.¡± ¡°I am sorry for their deaths, they died long before their time.¡± ¡°Thank you, it was not an easy time for me.¡± ¡°Losing a parent is hard, even when it is under more idyllic circumstances. But I could not imagine what it must¡¯ve been like.¡± ¡°It¡¯s made me who I am, better or worse. Though I am curious how you knew how they died.¡± ¡°We had an agent within the camp keeping an eye on you and your parents. When their camp was ambushed, our agent was killed with the rest. We sent a party to find out what happened to them, and found your parents nearby where they laid. It was assumed you did not survive the encounter until word came of a young man bearing the name Kel Stiegsen had joined the famed Cold Company.¡± ¡°And here I was thinking I had covered my tracks well enough.¡± ¡°Regardless, I will not speak on their behalf, for it is not my place to do so. But given what I¡¯ve seen first-hand and from the words of others; I would be proud to call you kin.¡± ¡°Your words are most kind.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve earned it, Master Kveldulf. And sadly, there seems to be more people who care about putting on the airs of accomplishment than actually accomplishing something worth remembering.¡± ¡°So much for the road less traveled,¡± Kveldulf said, letting out a sharp scoff. ¡°Yes, certainly has made me reflect on a few decisions I¡¯ve made.¡± Kveldulf pressed his lips together, looking uncomfortable as a though crossed his mind. Allianna lifted an eyebrow and nodded. ¡°I am going to guess you want to ask about the Council then?¡± ¡°It has been on my mind, as of late,¡± Kveldulf admitted. ¡°Well, after the tyranny of Callanband, I was always afraid that I would become the very thing I spent so much time fighting. In seeking order and peace, I would sow the seeds of war, death, and so much strife to last generations. When things appeared to reach a point of stability, I thought the Council was more than capable of attending to matters throughout the realm.¡± ¡°And your agents?¡± ¡°They were initially there to ensure supporters of Callanband could not infiltrate and do harm to our people. It wasn¡¯t until recently that I was forced to turn their gaze inward and begin to softly check the ineptitude of the recent Council.¡± ¡°I would think that was not an easy decision to make.¡± ¡°They never are,¡± she said somberly. ¡°Do you know what we need to do before we can take the fight to the enemy?¡± Allianna chuckled softly. ¡°Was it something I said?¡± ¡°I just never thought I would be discussing action against that damned Callanband with Baeron¡¯s own heir!¡± she said, holding her hand over her mouth. ¡°The irony was not lost on me,¡± Kveldulf said, trying to hold back the laughter. ¡°Well, this does remind me of one more thing I wanted to do.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± she said, moving over to a weapon hanging next to Baeron¡¯s armor. It was a long and thin spearpoint resting at the top of short wooden handle with a flat axe head attached to the shaft at a perfect right angle. ¡°Is that?¡± Kveldulf asked breathlessly. ¡°It is, the famed Warbringer. Born by the hands of Aeirik Stormeye at the founding of Koulberg. Wielded in battle by each generation until Baeron¡¯s time.¡± ¡°But I thought it was destroyed?¡± ¡°It was broken, yes, but much like any tool, it can be repaired in the right hands. And what the Council thought was a mere trinket need not be corrected.¡± She gently gripped the weapon and with great care handed it to Kveldulf. ¡°I think it would be poignant if this weapon was in hands of those who gave it glory.¡± Kveldulf gripped the handle, marveling at the intricate details of the etchings running along the axe-head¡¯s edge. ¡°I¡¯d be careful with that,¡± she said cautiously. ¡°Why?¡± Kveldulf asked as the handle extended on its own, puncturing an ancient tome resting on an elaborate pedestal. He turned to her, blinking rapidly as the color left his face. ¡°I am so sorry.¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not that heartbroken. That writer was someone who desperately needed to go outside of his small monk-like quarters.¡± Kveldulf chuckled. ¡°I think you and Doc would get along just fine.¡± ¡°Perhaps when things wind down, we can all find time to become better acquainted.¡± ¡°I think that would be nice. Give us all the chance to catch out breath and come to terms with everything.¡± Allianna nodded. ¡°I know when the wars with Callaband were done, I had hardly the energy to raise from my bed. Let face the trials that came with my new station.¡± ¡°How did you become used to it?¡± ¡°Who said I did?¡± Part Twenty-Two - Discovery Silvius held one of the maps in front of him, periodically peeking from the side and into the lit map in the blood pool. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said aloud. ¡°Find anything interesting?¡± Kveldulf asked as he entered the room. He watched some of the workers grabbing some of the pikes piled up since they were dislodged from around the pool. He held the flat of the halberd on his right shoulder as he moved down the room to the scholar. ¡°Just comparing maps,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Seems there¡¯s been some changes to the ley lines since these were mapped.¡± ¡°Anything major?¡± ¡°I hope not, but it could mean they land in different spots now. And the starting points for these lines many no longer be available to us for one reason or another.¡± ¡°Are they the most recent works down for these?¡± ¡°I think so, we¡¯ve checked the archives enough times they have a table reserved just for us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°No, but they try to keep it open for us when possible.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s nice.¡± ¡°I know!¡± ¡°Any idea what the good doctor is doing upstairs?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s checking to get a better bearing of where the spell came from that brought about the murmeks in the Lower Wards.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Kveldulf said, scratching his chin. ¡°I wonder if they¡¯ll try something like that again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always possible. But unfortunately, there¡¯s no real way to know when that¡¯ll happen until after it¡¯s been cast and on its way.¡± Kveldulf groaned. ¡°That¡¯s lovely.¡± ¡°I know Doc is trying to get that taken care of. Though I don¡¯t know how well of a go he¡¯s having. One of the many wonders, mysteries, and good old headaches of the magical arts,¡± said Silvius, again studying the markings of the map. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Not that I can think of right now,¡± said Silvius, ¡°But I would like to reserve the right to change that if something happens.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check on the good doctor and our battle mage.¡± ¡°Is that what Jeanne¡¯s title is now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I always considered her. Though I do we ever went over specifically who¡¯s roles were what.¡± Silvius lowered the map, turning to Kveldulf with a perplexed look on his face. ¡°Have we never established any form of hierarchy?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, no. Aside from Cid¡¯s in charge, of course.¡± ¡°Huh, surprised this hasn¡¯t been an issue since we met.¡± ¡°I credit it with a good match of personalities.¡± ¡°I have to agree, I know at the university there would probably have to be a committee for the committee to make a committee to decide who¡¯s turn it was to buy lunch.¡± ¡°That is a lot of committees.¡± ¡°What¡¯s sad is that not a terrible exaggeration sometimes.¡± ¡°I sincerely never want to know.¡± ¡°To be fair that¡¯s the administrative side of things. The academia is much more thrilling.¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll take your word on that. Can¡¯t say I¡¯m much of a person who¡¯s had time for books.¡± ¡°What do mean?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I was usually with an army. Marching, fighting, camping, fighting, and in some other order of those things. So never had too much time to learn much in the academic pursuits and the like.¡± Silvius rolled the map in his hands and walked over to Kveldulf. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to pry. But um ¡­ oh,¡± Silvius said, tapping his foot on the stone floor, ¡°what I mean to ask is ¡­¡± ¡°Can I read?¡± Kveldulf asked calmly. Silvius nodded hesitantly. ¡°I know enough common tongue to make my way around. I wouldn¡¯t consider myself terribly versed in the written word, though. And I can write a little bit, as well. Mostly to sign contracts and the like.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put this out there, and there¡¯s no obligation to do this if you¡¯re not interested. But if you¡¯d like, I could ¡­ you know ¡­¡± Kveldulf looked down cocked an eyebrow up. ¡°If we make it through this thing in one piece. I might just take you up on that.¡± Silvius nodded. ¡°Good, very good. Well better get back to it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check on the good doctor. See what he¡¯s up to.¡± ¡°Give him my regards,¡± said Silvius. Kveldulf smiled, shaking his head as he moved up the stairs. As he arrived he saw Leonidas moving around the leystone, with several of the stones whirling in short orbit above the stone to create viewing discs. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start,¡± Kveldulf said bluntly. ¡°Oh,¡± said Leonidas, startled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here.¡± ¡°I just arrived, as a matter of fact,¡± Kveldulf said, picking up a book, opening it up and leafing through the pages. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I¡¯d be careful,¡± Leonidas said to him. ¡°Some of those might have a protection ward around them.¡± ¡°A what?¡± ¡°A protection ward,¡± said Jeanne popping her head out from behind a shelf. ¡°It¡¯s a way to prevent people from reading something you don¡¯t want them to.¡± Leonidas pointed his finger towards her direction. ¡°That. Some of them were mostly harmless, usually a loud noise or something.¡± Leonidas picked up a book nearby and has he opened it the sound of a baby laughing emanated from the pages. ¡°Obviously someone was having a good day.¡± ¡°Well I¡¯m going to not touch anything then,¡± Kveldulf said, putting the book back slowly. ¡°And what are you doing, Jeanne?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m checking for protection wards on these books and what new books these freaks had out and about.¡± ¡°When did you learn to dispel magic?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I knew how to do minor ones a while back, but I¡¯ve been working on higher level ones since we started combing through the library here.¡± ¡°Certainly, found some interesting works,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°And what about the whirly stones?¡± Kveldulf asked, pointing to the leystone. ¡°Oh, those are trying to measure what type of magic the stone has been using.¡± ¡°I thought it could use any type?¡± ¡°Technically, yes. But you can tell what certain types of magic have been used after a spell¡¯s traveled through a stone. Not unlike being able to tell when a sole ride, a horse drawn cart or an army has marched through a point of the road.¡± ¡°Have you had any luck about who sent our last major incantation?¡± ¡°As of right now it looks like it was a combination of a few types of magic.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that require more magic than a person could muster?¡± Jeanne asked emerging from the bookshelf with several tomes in her arms. ¡°It can, which is one reason why magic users tend to use leylines to offset the strain on their bodies. Plus, if you perform a ritual over a period of time, you can gather enough energy without risking as much of an adverse effect on your end.¡± ¡°And I take it just going forward isn¡¯t a prudent idea in finding where this thing started?¡± ¡°Not entirely. The potency of the spell when it arrives to its destination can also determine how it was when it was cast.¡± ¡°I thought it would stay the same as it traveled down these things,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Not entirely, the spell does still wear down, but at an incredibly lower rate. Though it also depends the type of spell, the power behind its incantation and where it¡¯s heading. The hope is whatever residual energy still within the stone, or on the line can be picked up by one of these stones.¡± ¡°So, what did these people use?¡± asked Kveldulf. Leonidas walked around the stone, looking at the discs methodically. ¡°Well, we can out most some fields; elemental, ritual, natural, divination, tonal, metaphysical, and the like. Though a few of them were a given.¡± ¡°Why were you using those then?¡± Kveldulf asked, pointing to the stones. ¡°Didn¡¯t want to leave those stones unturned.¡± ¡°Was that a pun?¡± Jeanne asked. Leonidas looked up from the stones for a moment. ¡°Not intentionally, but I¡¯m standing by that one.¡± Jeanne shook her head as Leonidas looked back at the discs. ¡°There are definitely some residual ethereal energies. That¡¯s probably the biggest component for what was sent into the Lower Wards.¡± ¡°I take it that¡¯s a fairly important detail, Doc?¡± ¡°For this case, yes that is correct,¡± Leonidas said, examining a violet discs hovering over the leystone. ¡°Um,¡± Kveldulf said hesitantly, ¡°why?¡± ¡°Ethereal energies are the basic elements to all magic. Similar to a base alloy in smithing. Or a basic frame and foundation for a sturdy building. If there is no ethereal energy to tap into for a spell, then the spell won¡¯t have any power behind it,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Precisely,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But what about houses without a foundation?¡± Kveldulf asked. Leonidas¡¯s head perked up, not even turning to Kveldulf in response. ¡°Jeanne, could you?¡± ¡°On it,¡± she replied, lightly smacking Kveldulf on the back of the head. ¡°Ow! What was that for?¡± Kveldulf asked, rubbing where he had been hit. ¡°Firstly, anyone with a remedial understanding of construction knows the more secure the foundation, the better. Second, even when you use the ground, you still need to sink posts into the ground so the whole damn thing doesn¡¯t blow over. And third, the hell does that have to do with magic?¡± ¡°I feel like I hit a nerve,¡± Kveldulf said, leaning away from Doc. ¡°I had to deal with this asshole who thought everything he said was a stroke of pure genius. And he couldn¡¯t even use the word ¡®butler¡¯ properly.¡± ¡°Jeanne, I¡¯m scared,¡± Kveldulf said to her. ¡°Run,¡± she said in a menacing voice, ¡°Run as fast as you little stubby feet can take you.¡± ¡°I am not stubby!¡± Kveldulf challenged. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Leonidas said to Jeanne, ¡°He really does take offense to that.¡± ¡°You told him!¡± Kveldulf said offendedly. ¡°What are you complaining about, she told everyone about me and the spider-lady.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Kveldulf said, calming down, ¡°She does do that.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why I never became a spy. Or did I?¡± She asked turning back with a sly look on her face. Kveldulf and Leonidas glanced at each other before turning back to Jeanne. Both men saying adamantly, ¡°No,¡± repeatedly. Leonidas dropped his head, saying, ¡°No no, boys, control yourselves, she¡¯s with me.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not the worst,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Leonidas said, looking down at his hands, ¡°There¡¯s far worse to worry about.¡± All three turned back to the leystone as the sound of sand shifting began coming out of the dark violet disc. Leonidas raced over, Kveldulf behind and Jeanne moving to a table where Leonidas¡¯s satchel rested. Looking at the violet disc, Leonidas examined the readings and adjusted the view with quick short movements of his fingers. ¡°Get Silvius up here quick,¡± Leonidas said to Kveldulf and Jeanne, ¡°and with a map, too.¡± Jeanne bolted out of the room to get Silvius as Kveldulf stayed behind. ¡°Is it bad, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It¡¯s not good,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Definitely not good.¡± Jeanne and Silvius returned, map in tow. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Someone is starting a ritual spell. And it¡¯s a big one, too.¡± ¡°All right,¡± said Silvius, unrolling the map on the table nearby. ¡°Here you go,¡± Jeanne said, handing Leonidas his compass. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said taking it and holding the instrument under the disc. As the mage needle orientated itself to the source of the spell, Leonidas said, ¡°North-northwest.¡± ¡°Right, let me look here,¡± Silvius said as he traced his finger from their fortress over to a spot on the map making him leaning forward and squinting. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s the ruins of Castle Stonehammer.¡± ¡°Stonehammer,¡± Kveldulf said, ¡°I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d go there.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°It was one of the castles Allianna used to begin her five-year assault on Koulberg,¡± said Silvius. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it was where she directed her forces until she participated in the final attack herself.¡± ¡°I¡¯d think they place would¡¯ve been used to ward off any similar attacks?¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Probably another worldly decision on the Council¡¯s part,¡± said Silvius. ¡°How poetic.¡± ¡°How long do we have before the spell is cast?¡± Jeanne asked Leonidas. ¡°Not long,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°we need to move, now!¡± Part Twenty-Three - Stonehammer The Wolves arrived to the wooded outskirts of Stonehammer. Along the outer walls were tumbled towers and walls. On the other side they could rotted and ruined rooftops shattered on the floor. The gatehouse of the fortress looked as if it had been ripped from its mortared stance and eaten up by age. A ramshackle scaffold built between the two towers connected the broken structures. The central keep to this stone corpse had less of a presence of feudal strength and carried the appearance of a face long since desiccated and feasted on by birds. Before the broken fortress was a long field of tall grass surrounding the whole outer ring of the fortification. With a deep moat just before the walls, much of the old walls now resting within the dugout. The drawbridge to the gatehouse down, the chains resting on the ground. Along the remaining walls still upright were impaled bodies some long dead with others disturbingly recently deceased. ¡°Gods, this place used to be sung in stories and odes before even the founding,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s what happened when remembering your past is considered a cultural sin,¡± said Silvius bitterly. ¡°Maeryn,¡± Cid called out, ¡°Can you see anything?¡± ¡°I see two guards at the ruined gatehouse and a couple went by the tower arrowslits not too long ago.¡± ¡°All right, Doc, how much time do we have left before the spell goes off?¡± ¡°Two hours, two and a half at most.¡± ¡°Then time isn¡¯t on our side,¡± Cid said, snarling. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, Cid,¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Stay in the tall as long as we can until we get to the moat, Maeryn when you can, take those two guards at the gate house out. I don¡¯t want them making things difficult.¡± ¡°We could hang right of the house,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°The grass is a little taller and those ruins in the moat look like it¡¯d be easy to move up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking,¡± said Cid. ¡°Kel, take Ben, and Hypatia and infiltrate the walls there. Once inside we¡¯ll move in behind you.¡± ¡°Got it, come on,¡± Kveldulf said as he gestured the others to follow. Keeping their heads down they moved through the tall grass. Kveldulf felt the blades of grass tap on his armor, some of the dew making them stick before being pulled off as he continued forward. A sharp caw of a bird in the distance caused them to stop, turning towards the sound and then looking at each other before moving again. Reaching the outer edge of the moat Kveldulf felt his muscles tense. Constantly checking behind him to see if the others were still there, or if someone else was there. Peering his head out, Kveldulf saw no one on either side, turned to Hypatia and Benkin and gave a quick nod. Moving into the moat, the three moved down the ditch, behind some of the debris. Kveldulf moved himself up a large broken section of the wall now in the moat. He helped Hypatia and Benkin up before poking his head over the top of the depression. Much of the inner bailey empty with one collapsed house positioned on his right side. To his left was a stair way leading up to the gatehouse structure and where the two guards He clicked his tongue twice, catching their attention. Do you see anything?, he asked them. They peered their heads up briskly before pulling them back down. I can¡¯t see anyone, said Hypatia. Neither can I, Benkin followed. All right, let¡¯s move in. We¡¯ll head up the stairs and take the two guards out. Hypatia, signal the others to move in, Ben we¡¯ll take out the other two Maeryn mentioned before, Kveldulf gestured before slowly pulling out the halberd as Ben and Hypatia readied their weapons. Moving over the edge they rushed up the stairs and reaching the top spotted the two guards along the scaffolding. Hypatia swiftly crossed the path, striking both guards down before they could make a noise. One man fell over the parapet and in front of the two men standing guard below. They looked, spotting Hypatia above them as they were shot down by Maeryn in the distance. The rest moved quickly to the gate as Kveldulf, Ben and Hypatia opened it enough for them to get inside. As they gathered in the courtyard Cid surveyed the area. ¡°Excellent work, now, where would they be holding this ceremony?¡± ¡°If they were doing at the top, we¡¯d be seeing signs,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°My money would be on them inside, probably somewhere deep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re wrong, Doc,¡± said Benkin, ¡°But I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not happy either,¡± Leonidas admitted. ¡°Let¡¯s not tarry then,¡± Cid said as he noticed Leonidas jerking his head to the side briefly. ¡°Everything all right, doctor?¡± Leonidas looked up at the impaled bodies. ¡°They¡¯re not dead,¡± he said as he unsheathed his sword. The bodies began spasming to life. Gripping the stakes holding them and pulling themselves upwards. The metal pulling chucks of flesh and flaked bone off the deceased bodies. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just outright disturbing,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t eat breakfast,¡± said Silvius. As the undead released themselves from their stakes, they gripped the metal halfway down and with a twist removed the tops from their placement. ¡°Are you shitting me!¡± Jeanne said, turning her skin to stone and reaching for her war-hammer. ¡°Go for their heads!¡± cried Leonidas, ¡°That¡¯ll kill them immediately.¡± The undead leapt from the parapets, landing on the ground and lunged towards The Wolves. Kveldulf cleaved halberd¡¯s blade deep into the chest of one body. Benkin decapitated one monstrosity and slicing another in half in a single stroke. Hypatia composed an ode of war with multiple movements on several of the oncoming enemy. Jeanne slammed her hammer into the skull of one as another tried biting through her skin. An arrow from Maeryn loosened the undead¡¯s jaw. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Much, thanks,¡± Jeanne replied, throwing her hammer into the eye socket of a creature running towards the elf. Silvius removed one of the undead¡¯s head as he saw Leonidas running up the steps, several of the monsters after him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he shouted at Leonidas. ¡°Keep those things, busy,¡± Leonidas shouted, ¡°I¡¯m gonna try something.¡± ¡°Hurray up, Doc!¡± Hypatia said, decapitating another of the undead. One reached for him as he clefted its head into two. He kicked it down, knocking another off the stairs as more came after him. He lifted his staff into the air, the clouds above turning a blood red. With dark ominous voice he utters the words: Command the soul, Command the flesh, Heed my words demon wretch Depart the world, begone at last Summoned back and spell uncast! He slammed the butt of his staff the ground as red lightening erupted from the sky and struck the undead around them. The undead fell to the ground and turned to ash, The Wolves look up at Leonidas. Leaning heavily on his staff he looks back at them. ¡°I feel like I made a blunder.¡± ¡°That¡¯s was epic!¡± Benkin declared, ¡°With the clouds, and the voice, and the staff in the air!¡± Leonidas, making his way down and catching his breath nodded, ¡°Thanks, I was hoping that¡¯d work.¡± ¡°You mean it could¡¯ve gone bad?¡± asked Silvius. ¡°If the caster had more power behind the spell, then we¡¯d be in a bit of trouble.¡± ¡°Thank the gods for small favors,¡± said Cid, patting Leonidas¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s good to have an expert with us.¡± ¡°Well, I think that¡¯s all I got for today,¡± Leonidas said, wiping the sweat from his brow. Cid spotted the door into the central keep. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the way is clear.¡± As the others prepared their torches and lighting spells, Cid gingerly opened the entrance and looked down into the darkened entryway. ¡°And why am I not surprised.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°I¡¯d be concerned if they had immaculate lighting waiting for us.¡± ¡°Kel.¡± ¡°Yeah Cid?¡± ¡°You need to be quite.¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± As The Wolves moved into the darkened halls, Kveldulf felt the sensation he was not alone. His shoulder jerked up as he felt a cold wind touch his neck, as if someone was breathing behind him. Out of his peripheral vision he would see an eye staring back at him. ¡°This place is giving me an uneasy feeling,¡± Maeryn said softly. ¡°You think place is haunted?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I was hoping you were going to say he was wrong,¡± said Hypatia, forcing a chuckle. ¡°Then I wouldn¡¯t a be good little doctor, would I?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean you can indulge us.¡± Cid turned around and held up his hand. Everyone went silent and watched him with great intent. He turned his ear up and listened to something. Maeryn moved up to where Cid was as well. I think we found them, Cid gestured. Any idea how many? Kveldulf asked. Cid shook his head. Can¡¯t tell, too many voices. Well that¡¯s never a pleasant sign, Benkin gestured. What, no sense of adventure? Hypatia asked. I have as much of that as the next person in a questionably inviting place. But this place is all kinds of creepy, Benkin replied. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the hold up?¡± Kveldulf hissed in a whisper. ¡°Oh gods, we haven¡¯t been moving,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just embarrassing,¡± replied Benkin. Rounding the corner, they came upon a door ajar. Cid moved to one side, Kveldulf on the other. As Cid pressed his fingers push the door open more, they heard chatter amongst some people on the other side. ¡°I think whatever caused the commotion above is finally over,¡± said one voice. ¡°Good, that was starting to get a little strange,¡± said another voice. ¡°Guess we should get out the mess,¡± said a third voice, ¡°make sure everyone is all right up there.¡± Cid and Kveldulf readied their weapons as footsteps drew near. One of the men opened the door as Cid shot the blade in his shield into the man¡¯s neck, piercing his skull. Kveldulf, mace in hand, slammed his weapon into the second man¡¯s torso, and once more against his back. Silvius two knives in hand, threw them into the neck and heart of the final guard back in the room. ¡°That room¡¯s clear,¡± said Cid. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Passing by several more rooms, The Wolves saw nothing inside, person or even furniture. ¡°Taking minimalist living to an extreme, are we?¡± Cid said out loud. ¡°Perhaps these were just storage rooms?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Not an unlikely conclusion,¡± Cid replied. ¡°But I¡¯m not saying one way or the other, given who we¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Do you still hear the voices?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°A little,¡± said Cid, ¡°It seems to be getting a little louder now.¡± ¡°Same,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°I can make out some of the words but not enough to get what they mean.¡± ¡°I almost prefer not knowing what they¡¯re uttering,¡± Cid replied. ¡°At least we¡¯re moving in the right direction,¡± Kveldulf said. Moving deeper into the bowels of the keep, they found a large double door closed shut at the bottom of a flight of stairs. The Wolves spilt, moving down both sides of the stair case until reaching the bottom. Maeryn moved to the lock, pulling out a series of lockpicks and other tools. While she did this, Jeanne checked the door for magical tampering. ¡°Is anyone else getting a bad feeling about this place?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m not,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°but I get it with every place like this we¡¯re in.¡± Maeryn turned to Cid. ¡°All clear with the lock.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not getting anything, either,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Good,¡± Cid replied, ¡°Let¡¯s move in and see what these people have planned.¡± Kveldulf and Cid pushed the doors open, seeing six cloaked figures, their hands raised upward chanting in an ancient tongue. In each corner of the room there was a statue in a similar pose, beams of energy pulsating blue, purple, and white came out from the stone heads and met together to form a great ball which hovered over the six individuals. The Wolves moved from pillar to pillar, keeping to the shadows and out of sight. Jeanne stood next to Leonidas, both looking at the growing ball of energy above them. ¡°Is that the spell?¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯d say it is.¡± ¡°The hell are planning with that?¡± ¡°A lot of things, none of them good.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s end it before it gets worse,¡± said Cid, standing by the pillar next to them with blade in hand charged the cultists. The cultists, spotting Cid and the others rushing towards them, ceased their chanting and began conjuring spells. Leonidas, staff in hand bound one of the cultists arms together as he struck the foe with his sword. Another leapt into the air as Maeryn¡¯s arrows pierced their chest. One fired a burst of energy at Jeanne, her skin covered in stone. The blast shattered some of her stone skin, leaving the rest intact. The cultist smiled with malice as she looked on Jeanne. ¡°Let me give you something to smile about,¡± Jeanne roared as she sent a fireball to the person, setting their robes blaze. As they screamed Jeanne struck their head with her hammer. As the other cultists fell dead, The Wolves moved around the empty room. The sphere of energy slowly disappearing the cultists blood spread out over the floor. ¡°Well, that was faster than I was expecting,¡± said Cid. ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining.¡± ¡°That can be remedied,¡± said a deep, ominous voice. It echoed off the walls, catching The Wolves off guard. They turned around, weapons at the ready, seeing no one else in the room. ¡°Oh good, disembodied voices,¡± said Silvius, ¡°That¡¯s always a good sign.¡± ¡°You just had to say something, Cid,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°I¡¯m not proud of myself either.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on you since managed to end Belthory. She wasn¡¯t the type to go down without a fight,¡± the voice continued. ¡°And I must admit your tenacity is nothing short but admirable. And if thought there was a true chance of such a thing happening, I would¡¯ve more than offered you the chance to join. However, I am fairly certain we all know the answer to that question, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to consider options,¡± Kveldulf said, surveying his surrounding as sweat beaded on his brow. The voice chuckled. ¡°The humor is appreciated, but nothing more than a formality. And I¡¯ve poured too much time, resources, and effort to have this undermined. But, before I give you this parting gift, know that perhaps in another life, we could have been quite the allies. Perhaps we might draw swords together in the next life, only time will tell.¡± ¡°Why does that not fill me confidence?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Because it shouldn¡¯t,¡± the voice replied. As the energy disappeared and the room began shaking violently. A monstrous roar came from the depths below. Something beneath them was striking with tremendous fury to breach the floor above. Parts of the ceiling began falling to the floor, Silvius and Jeanne barely dodged from the debris. ¡°Move it!¡± Cid called out as the rest of The Wolves raced up the steps. The ferocity of the earthquakes causing their feet to slip and tumble. The wooden supports began cracking and snapping as they left the subterranean levels. Reaching the top of the keep, they poured from the entrance as the whole keep collapsed onto itself. ¡°Can we not do that again?¡± Leonidas said, bent over and trying to catch his breath. ¡°I agree with the doctor,¡± said Silvius, ¡°That was anything but pleasant.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before whatever was down there decides to ¨C¡± Cid said before a hand exploded from the ground, launching a shower of dirt clumps into the sky. ¡°Cid,¡± Jeanne shouted, ¡°Gods damn it, stop jinxing us!¡± ¡°We can discuss this later,¡± said Cid, ¡°fall back to better ground.¡± As the emerged hand clasped the ground and gripped the earth, tearing into it deeply with its claws. Its head emerged from the bowels of the ruined keep, its nose protruding over its mouth. The maw when closed still have dozens of curved teeth peering over the scaled skin, stained in dark hues of gold, brown and black. Its eyes crimson red where the pupils lie with blackness surrounding the rest. Each side of its head was a large horn swirling until it pointed outwards. Rising further revealed the large elongated scales cutting through the dirt as a sword serrating through flesh. Scars, gashes, and other ancient wounds marked its hide as came out of the earth. Each strike of its hands and feet shook the ground. As it opened its maw, droplets of saliva dripped down with bits of broken bones dripped from down from its teeth. A deep bellowing churned from within followed by a thunderous boom shuddered the heavens as it released a chilling scream. ¡°The fuck is that?¡± shouted Hypatia. ¡°It¡¯s a Bukavac!¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Just wonderful!¡± said Kveldulf. Maeryn, sunk an arrow into the creature¡¯s flesh. It turns its gaze to her as she ran for a pile of rubble nearby. Each stride brought her closer, more than her legs to regain the distance. From the parapets, Hypatia leapt from the stone works, her blades pointed down and sinking deep until the cross guards arrested their thrust. The creature roared as it thrashed about. With one arm it reached to grab her off. She barely missed the first swipe as its own claws into its own flesh to swipe her off. As it stood and tried to attack her, Benkin and Kveldulf moved to attack its feet. They slashed at the Bukavac¡¯s ankles with terrible fury. The Bukavac lifted one foot up and slammed it hard against the ground. Rock and earth jutting up from the strike. Kveldulf was flung into the air and landed hard. Cid and Leonidas helped him back to his feet as they moved to a rubble pile. ¡°Tell me you have another trick up your sleeve, Doc,¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I used mine with the undead,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°I have a few small ones, but nothing to knock that thing out.¡± Jeanne ran up. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, Cid?¡± Cid turned to Benkin, ¡°You think you can get on that thing and give Hypatia some support?¡± ¡°On it,¡± Benkin said, rushing off back into the fray. ¡°We can¡¯t use brute strength with this thing. Doc, do you know any weakness of that thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s weak to fire and extreme heat, and its insides are exceptionally susceptible to damage,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Jeanne, do you have any spells you can cook up?¡± ¡°I got an idea,¡± said Jeanne, turning to Kveldulf, ¡°But I¡¯m gonna need that spear-axe of yours.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a halberd, and why?¡± ¡°The handle can extend, right?¡± ¡°When I hold it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m gonna need you, too, buddy.¡± Silvius cried out as he flew in the air, landing near the rubble pile. Leonidas rushed out to grab him, dragging him back to the others. ¡°I got you, friend,¡± he said once they reached the others and started treating Silvius¡¯s wounds. ¡°Oh, gods damn it,¡± he said reluctantly as he rose to his feet. ¡°Come on.¡± He followed Jeanne up the steps to the parapet. They saw both Benkin and Hypatia hanging off the shoulders of the creature as it tried to dislodge them. ¡°You know how to extend that thing on command?¡± she asked him, running along the walkway of the wall. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on that yeah,¡± he replied. ¡°Good, and I think you know what I need you to do.¡± ¡°I do, but I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t like what my part is either.¡± Kveldulf spotted Maeryn down in the courtyard and readying for another shot. ¡°Maeryn!¡± Kveldulf shouted. As she turned to Kveldulf he continued, ¡°Get it to open its mouth wide.¡± She nodded, turned to the creature, and after a short shrug fired an arrow into a spot causing the Bukavac to scream in terrible pain. It fell to its knees and as it continued crying in pain, Kveldulf launched himself into its mouth, extending the handle of his halberd to keep it from closing its jaw shut. Jeanne bouncing on her feet a couple of times before going into a full run, leapt into the Bukavac¡¯s maw and as she fell deep into its bowels unleashed a torrent of energy. After a series of deep explosions, the innards of the creature blasted away, its guts, organs, blood and bone scattering amongst the immediate surroundings. The creature landed on its chest, both Benkin and Hypatia tumbling off of the fresh corpse. Kveldulf, retracting the handle, crawled out of the mouth. Rising to his feet he turned to find Jeanne covered in the visceral of the creature. She stumbled her way out of the cavity of the dead Bukavac, a dazed look in her eye. ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked her. ¡°No one is screaming, so that¡¯s a good sign,¡± she replied, her head moving slowly and her eyes opening and closing asynchronously. Benkin and Hypatia, now on their feet they came to Jeanne, both ecstatic brimming from her feat. ¡°That was fucking epic!¡± Benkin declared. ¡°You just leapt in and exploded it like it was nothing,¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°Well ¡­ I do like making memorable performance,¡± she said, still recovering her faculties. Leonidas ran up, his helm removed and shaking his head. ¡°Another one from the fortress?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Jeanne said proudly before having a confused look on her face. ¡°What fortress?¡± Leonidas began chuckling as Cid and Silvius reached the rest. Cid ran his hand over his face. ¡°That was, without a doubt, the dumbest thing I have ever seen you do since I¡¯ve met you. And only you could¡¯ve pulled that off.¡± ¡°Aw,¡± Jeanne said, brimming brightly, ¡°You know just what to say.¡± ¡°Do you need a moment to ¡­ you know ¡­ recover?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I just want to leave this place, ever so much,¡± she said with great certainty. Part Twenty-Four - Outpost Stross Leonidas walked down the stairway into the bathing room and saw Jeanne resting in the pool. The water line stopping just under her nose. He chuckled as he walked over the pool. ¡°Feeling better?¡± he asked her, sitting on the edge of the bath. She nodded slowly. Moving enough of her head up for her mouth to speak freely. ¡°This is a nice start,¡± she said, complete in relaxation, slowly ducking back down. ¡°And I guess a nice dram of mead would be out of the question?¡± ¡°Is it the good mead?¡± ¡°Very good.¡± ¡°Oh, you are going to spoil me rotten, Doc.¡± ¡°You say that like it¡¯s a bad thing.¡± ¡°Only if you stop,¡± she said with a big smile. ¡°I have some stew being made for whenever you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± she said with a wide smile, still underneath the water. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving there anytime soon, are you?¡± ¡°How long would you stay in here if you were covered in blood and guts from a ¡­ whatever that was?¡± ¡°It was a Bukavac,¡± Leonidas said calmly. ¡°Sure. Whatever.¡± Leonidas chuckled, rising to his feet. ¡°I went ahead and put a set of clean clothes in your bin when you¡¯re ready to come out.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, resting back into the warm pool¡¯s waters. Leonidas moved up the steps and back into the kitchen to check on the stew. Grabbing a wooden stirrer, he slowly moved the contents around, taking a sip from a small sample of the broth, and tapped the stick on the edge of the pot before putting it back on a nearby counter. He sat down at the table, with maps, notes, scrolls rolled and unrolled spread out over most of the surface. Taking a map and comparing notes from a nearby scroll, he rubbed his forehead. He jerked his head to the side when he saw Jeanne sitting next to him at the table. Wearing a shirt, her pants, her ruffled damp hair rested over a small towel wrapped behind her neck. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you go up the steps.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± she said, surprised, ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying that time.¡± ¡°Wait, is this something you do regularly?¡± ¡°I mean, how often are we sneaking around before we stab someone prolifically?¡± Leonidas turned away, considering the thought. ¡°That does make sense. Be counter-productive if you¡¯re trying to sneak and just make as much noise as possible.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve run across those types,¡± Jeanne said, shaking her head. ¡°They seem to breed like rabbits.¡± ¡°Only not as cute.¡± ¡°Or as good company.¡± Jeanne looked over the paperwork on the table, grabbing one of the rolled-out parchments. ¡°Don¡¯t read that,¡± Leonidas said to her. ¡°Why?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Asshole.¡± ¡°Well, I learn from the best.¡± ¡°Flattery will get you nowhere, good sir.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t hurt to try,¡± Leonidas placed the parchment on the table, ¡°You want something to eat?¡± ¡°Please,¡± she insisted, ¡°and something to drink would be nice.¡± ¡°Mead, ale, or wine?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the question of the hour,¡± Jeanne replied rubbing her chin. ¡°I tend to go with mead when it¡¯s been a day,¡± Leonidas said as he grabbed a couple of bowls from a cupboard. ¡°That sounds good to me,¡± she said, as she rose from her seat to grab some flagons. Leonidas placed two steaming bowls of stew on the table as Jeanne returned with a bottle of mead and flagons in hand. Leonidas began stirring his meal as Jeanne took a spoonful of stew and after putting it into her mouth. She starts blowing on her tongue rapidly with water beading in her eyes. ¡°Did ¡­ did you not blow on it?¡± Leonidas asked, laughing in surprise. ¡°Shut up!¡± she said, struggling to swallow her food. ¡°It just came out of the pot, Jeanne. It¡¯s hot!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°Your what, you¡¯ll set your tongue on fire?¡± ¡°I will turn you into a newt.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know a metamorphosis spell.¡± ¡°You want to bet?¡± ¡°What spells did you find there?¡± ¡°Oh, some real fun ones so far.¡± ¡°Just ¡­ just blow up my house, please,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°I like this place, and I prefer not have to move after a couple of months.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± ¡°Yeah, that was during a whole war thing between two eleven factions.¡± ¡°What were they fighting about?¡± ¡°Land, power, whose cock was bigger. You know, the usual,¡± Leonidas said with a spoonful of stew. ¡°Glad things never changed,¡± said Jeanne, taking a sip of her mead. ¡°Well a wise man once said ¡®it is easier to maintain a society you are used to, merely from its ancient nature, than to form one new and be a stranger to all.¡¯ ¡°And here I thought they would use the chance to actually start again.¡± ¡°Certainly, was never a dull moment over there.¡± ¡°So, what are you trying to do with all this?¡± Jeanne asked, making a circular motion with her finger over the papers, maps and scrolls. ¡°After our last little excursion, I thought it would be a good idea to start seeing what other places our fun opponents might have to work in.¡± ¡°I take it simply just following a trail is not an option?¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Leonidas as he moved his bowl and flagon and grabbed a map to pull it before them. Jeanne moved her bowl to make more room for him as he stood over the chart with several markings on all over. ¡°So, something about leylines that people don¡¯t know is not can the lines alter, but you don¡¯t have to be on it precisely in order to tap into the powers flowing through it.¡± ¡°Like a side road.¡± ¡°Exactly. And sometimes a small road can change into larger one if a previous anchor for a leyline is no longer used.¡± ¡°And how many of the previous places were used as anchors?¡± ¡°Five, from the records gathered.¡± ¡°And we can possibly rule the one at Stonehammer out now.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Jeanne jerked her head back at the comment. ¡°What?¡± Leonidas asked her. ¡°Not that we left the place in a wonderful state, but what would keep them from using the anchor?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fair question,¡± Leonidas admitted. ¡°Of course, there is the chance they¡¯d go back to doing what they were before we paid them a visit. Most cults are naturally highly superstitious and exceedingly cautious, and if one meeting place is compromised for whatever reason, they tend to abandon them entirely, usually for years, before they feel safe enough to come back.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeanne hummed, ¡°Would explain a few things.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Just when Cid, Kel and I were back with Cold Company we¡¯d occasionally find cult gathering places where they¡¯d left everything behind. Books, tools, bones, symbols, the works.¡± ¡°Exactly. Most group will immediately vacate the premise and leave behind whatever is there.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that mean valuable artifacts could be taken by others?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Though for many it¡¯s like reading a whole other language. You and I could comprehend what they¡¯re saying and the meanings behind the words. But most random people on the street would be utterly confused.¡± ¡°Well at least they were showing some concern for keeping secrets secret.¡± ¡°Better than some people you¡¯ll find in government.¡± Jeanne rolled her eyes. ¡°Gods, please don¡¯t remind me. So what are our other options?¡± ¡°We have the outposts of Cullenwald, Stross, and Wallach, and then there¡¯s the other Fortress of Adamant.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeanne hummed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing it¡¯s related to what we¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Well, now you have to tell me, Jeanne. I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just ¡­ where to they name these places?¡± Leonidas cocked an eyebrow up. ¡°I know the outposts were named after people of note. For the other places, I have no clue. Probably something to bring about ethics or some trait they wanted to amplify.¡± ¡°Anyways, which place do you think they¡¯re hunkering down in?¡± ¡°My money is on Fortress Adamant. It¡¯s most defensible, and the leylines have changed the least. And Callanband was known to use the place to take care of his enemies quickly, and violently.¡± ¡°Meaning the line¡¯s been used since it was charted.¡± ¡°Exactly. The other three haven¡¯t been marked on a map since Allianna first retook the city. So if it¡¯s Adamant¡¯s path has stayed the same up the most recent charting ¡­¡± ¡°¡­ Then someone¡¯s had to be using it,¡± Jeanne finished. ¡°I guess that means we¡¯re going on another outing, aren¡¯t we?¡± she said, biting her lower with as she grimaced. ¡°Oh perk up, buttercup! There might be another monster for you to blow up.¡± ¡°Leonidas, I can¡¯t do that every time we¡¯re in a fight.¡± ¡°Well, not with that attitude.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ so that¡¯s it feels like to receive that.¡± *** Leonidas, Jeanne, Kveldulf and Maeryn arrived to the last of the three outposts, Stross. Grey cloud loomed over head. The trees had a twisted and gaunt appearance. The wind was soft and chilling. A thick fog covered the landscape, causing the four to move slowly. ¡°I¡¯m starting to wish we had taken this one first,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Maeryn, who wrinkled her nose and covered her mouth as she began coughing before tying a kerchief over both. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Just a foul scent in the air,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°I should be fine.¡± ¡°Well let¡¯s hope this is a short visit,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°This place is unwelcoming to say the least.¡± ¡°I think I see something,¡± Jeanne said, as she pointed to a wooden palisade. ¡°That should be it,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°About damn time,¡± said Kveldulf. Reaching the wooden palisades, the abatis were well rotted. Leonidas barely pressed his fingertips against the grain before a full chunk of wood collapsed and shattered on the ground. Insects resting inside scattered, only moving a few inches before their bodies began splitting apart and contorting violently. ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± said Leonidas weakly. ¡°Should we be expecting something?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I could not tell you,¡± Leonidas replied, unsheathing his sword, ¡°But I¡¯m not taking chances.¡± Moving into outpost Stross, they found the ground scorched black. The horses stepping not on earth, but compressed ash and soot. Bodies littered the inner field of the outpost. Many piled up to the height of the wall. Others resting against the once dirt, their posture warped terribly. Bones snapped, spines twisted and separated, flesh and skin long desiccated and now at one with the skeletal remains. ¡°The fuck happened here,¡± Kveldulf asked. Leonidas was silently. He mouth was slightly open and beginning to breath heavy. Jeanne gently touched his shoulder, calling out his name. He snapped out of his stupor. ¡°Sorry, this was more than I expected.¡± ¡°Have you ever seen this before,¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°A long time ago,¡± he replied. ¡°And I hoped it was the last time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna take a gander and say this isn¡¯t the place for story time,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I would agree with you completely,¡± said Leonidas, who dismounted his horse, removed on glove and as he knelt down and glided his fingers over the ground¡¯s surface. He examined the dirt. Fine powder, light enough for a whisp of the wind to carry it off into the sky. Sniffing the remaining residue, his eyes grew as he turned back to the others. He reached into his satchel, removed a violet and a blue orb. He quickly created discs and held them together and viewed the area around them. The readings were a cavalcade of colors, letters and numbers. Markings coming to life, feasting on others, writhing and dissipating in mere moments. Turning the discs to the middle of the outpost building, he saw a pair of eyes looking back at him with an almost circular smile. He ended the discs and threw the rocks back into the satchel, closing it up tightly. ¡°Doc,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°You¡¯re getting me worried.¡± ¡°Someone performed a demonic ritual here,¡± he said dimly. ¡°What?¡± Jeanne asked, dismounting her horse. ¡°Someone made contact with a demon here. This ¡­ this explains so much. The creatures, the energy readings. This explains why none of the main magical elements were being picked up.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this be picked up on the discs eventually as well?¡± Maeryn asked. Leonidas shook his head. ¡°Unless it leaves a physical mark, then no. Demonic energies dissolve rather quickly, since it¡¯s from a whole other plane entirely. So, for it to linger you need a permanently opened portal to the other side. Plus, this could explain how people who should¡¯ve been dead for centuries are still around.¡± ¡°I thought magic naturally extended people¡¯s lives,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°And Belthory and Callanband were both well known to dabble in that.¡± ¡°It can only go so far,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Mostly it slows the process down. Sort like giving muscles, bones and nerves the chance to regain energy that wouldn¡¯t be there otherwise.¡± ¡°How does demonic magic differ the results then?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It stops the process entirely,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But it also begins to alter your physiology in the process. You¡¯re introducing an element from one plane of existence and meshing it together with another. There¡¯s no way you can do that without having some form of a reaction.¡± ¡°That would explain Belthory¡¯s lovely complexion,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I thought it was because she bathed in the blood of other people,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°No,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°That was because she was a sick bitch. But it wouldn¡¯t change her body. It would be combining fire and flesh. They can exist together, but it greatly changes both by the end of the process.¡± ¡°But now we know the magic used for the murmeks,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°You¡¯re certain it was that, Doc?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Almost without a doubt.¡± ¡°Almost?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°An academic always leaves room for new facts and data to alter conclusions when needed,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°But to get a better idea as to what the hell happened here, we¡¯re going to have to go inside the main building.¡± ¡°Is it too late to leave?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°If it¡¯s too late for me, it¡¯s more than that for you,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°I¡¯d get weapons out, just in case,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°You never what demons are lurking in the shadows.¡± Jeanne and Kveldulf entered the building first, with Leonidas and Maeryn following shortly behind. There was hardly any light coming into the compound. The windows were boarded shut and only slim beams of the sun could breach inside. The floors creaked as they stepped, and puffs of smoke floated around aimlessly. Most of the furniture inside was turned over, many with their legs and other parts broken off. There was a humming sound from upstairs. This was coupled with a gurgling noise occasionally joining the symphony. The scent of sulfuric brimstone and rotted flesh created a putrid scent, causing everyone to wrap their noses with fabric. ¡°This is just filling me with comfort and delight,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I can barely take the smell,¡± Maeryn said, her eyes watering up. ¡°That¡¯s sulfur,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°One of the big tell-tale signs something wicked is going on.¡± ¡°I guess it was too much to ask for them to smell something more appealing,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Holy men say it¡¯s a result of their unholy nature,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Do you believe that?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Leonidas replied, ¡°I made it a point to avoid talking to them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Leonidas replied strongly, ¡°Half of what they say filled with loopholes to make your existence miserable, and the other half is just complete lies.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°But I thought you said you lived with a djinn?¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°First, I didn¡¯t live with him; he was the village leader. And second, he claimed he was a djinn. Though I have my doubts.¡± ¡°You sound a little defensive, Doc,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°That man was weird, and not in the good way.¡± ¡°Should we ask?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say he desperately needed to touch some grass. For a few weeks, minimum.¡± ¡°You certainly ran across a few interesting characters, Doc,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Some were interesting,¡± he said to Maeryn. ¡°A few were just ¡­ odd.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it, then.¡± A loud thump, coming from the upper floor, caused them to look up. ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯m not even asking at this point,¡± said Jeanne. The humming grew as the gurgling took on a different quality. It was no longer random, it was regular, methodic even. Jeanne to get the others¡¯ attention. What the hell is up there? Leonidas and Maeryn turned their ears up and listened carefully. It sounds like a giant fly, Maeryn gestured. Yeah, Leonidas gestured, his face souring, that¡¯s what I was thinking. Maeryn took point moving up the stairs. Kveldulf behind her with Jeanne and Leonidas covering the back. Entering the second level there was more broken furniture and several rotted limbs of humans laying through the room. The severed body parts had a thick liquid on them, dissolving the flesh. ¡°Ah shit,¡± Leonidas said as a monstrous creature dropped from the rafters and onto the wooden floor. It had six sets of wings, fluttering quickly to make the humming noise they heard earlier. The wings were connected to a torso covered in animated pustules expanding and contracting as the creature breathed. It had two sets of legs with claws cutting through its feet, its blood oozing from the wounds and light green liquid covering the rim of the talons. Its thin elongated arms carried flat blades, with holes and cracks throughout. On the creature¡¯s head was a singular protrusion of with four tentacles dripping liquid continuously. And there were not two, or even a dozen eyes, but hundred, wrapping around the spherical parts of its head. Without hesitation, Maeryn sent two arrows into the creature¡¯s eyes. As they struck it screamed and writhed in pain. ¡°Can¡¯t see us now,¡± she said. ¡°It has hundreds of eyes, Maeryn,¡± Leonidas replied. Maeryn, stunned turned to Kveldulf. ¡°Kill it, kill it, kill it!¡± she repeated frantically as he raced over and with his halberd raise on high smote the foe squarely deep into its cranium. It fell deathly still. Only twitching slightly as it laid there. Kveldulf removed the blade and walked back to the others. ¡°Doc ¡­ what is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Beelik,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°It wasn¡¯t terribly hard,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°They usually aren¡¯t,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°For the most part, they¡¯re about the same as a vulture or hyena. They wait for the bigger predators to have their fill and then move into the feed off of the leavings.¡± ¡°Do they normally cross over into here?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Not often, usually there¡¯s more going on here than to their liking. Meaning something was going on here for a while before the gate was closed.¡± ¡°That is not making me feel better,¡± said Kveldulf. As he spoke, the Beelkin made a gurgling noise, raising back to its feet. It lunged towards Kveldulf, the force of an arrow into its heart changing its trajectory as it struck the wall and was unmoving. Everyone turned to Maeryn, who had a shocked face as the rest. ¡°Can we please leave?¡± she asked bluntly. Part Twenty-Five - The Gift Kveldulf watched Cid as he was accessed on the situation by Leonidas. He bit his lower lip and slowly pushed away his meal as took in the information. ¡°Doc,¡± Cid said after a long pause, ¡°From now on, no more reports from you when I¡¯m eating.¡± ¡°We should probably add before we retire for the evening, to play it safe,¡± Leonidas replied.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± said Cid, holding the back of his hand to his mouth and trying to stifle a pronounced bout of indigestion. ¡°So, what¡¯s next move, Cid?¡± Silvius asked with a strained voice and holding his stomach. ¡°If Fortress Adamant is the last place for the enemy to be using, then I think we should start taking the fight to them. Though I want us there in force, gods only know what sort of things they have over there.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That thing we killed wasn¡¯t a threat, and if we¡¯re dealing with demonic presence that changes much of the situation.¡± ¡°Should we alert Captain Laurent and the city guards so they¡¯re not unaware?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°I¡¯ll tend to that first thing tomorrow morning,¡± said Cid. ¡°We¡¯ll coordinate efforts for a city defense. And once that¡¯s done, we¡¯ll go to Adamant.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re sure this is the last place where a leystone is at?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Most likely,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°On the way back, I double checked with the stone at the Unyielding Fortress and there¡¯s still something happening at one of these points.¡± ¡°And if all the others ones are accounted for,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°That would leave Adamant.¡± Cid scratched the back of his neck. ¡°So, this is it,¡± he said, ¡°I can¡¯t promise this will be an easy mission. And it¡¯s safe to assume they¡¯ll know we¡¯ll be coming.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if otherwise,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Which means we¡¯ll need to be on high alert when we go in,¡± Cid continued. ¡°Whatever plans they have with the city, whatever preparations they have for us, we need to ready for anything.¡± ¡°No heroics then,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You¡¯re kidding?¡± Silvius replied. ¡°This is a clandestine mission,¡± said Cid, ¡°Not the first of this type we¡¯ve been one. Though stakes were not nearly this high. Even then, the last thing we need is someone getting hurt trying to be a hero.¡± ¡°The glory of war belongs to the dead,¡± said Kveldulf somberly. ¡°I want us all to come home and see the rewards we¡¯ve all been due. I know we did not expect to find all this chaos and machinations and so much weirdness when we came together. But everything we¡¯ve gone through, everything we¡¯ve suffered and put on the line, I want any of you to be rob of what you have so justly earned.¡± ¡°Same goes for you, big ole¡¯ fluffy cat,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I like you, you incarnate of chaos.¡± ¡°Why does everyone keep saying that?¡± ¡°Gee, I wonder why?¡± Kveldulf said sarcastically. ¡°In any case,¡± said Cid, ¡°Let us get some rest, and prepare to leave tomorrow. It¡¯s going to be a long journey and we will all of our strength before the end.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. As the others slept, Kveldulf sat by the fire place at his room in the inn. His mind riddled with thoughts to keep him from slumbering. He had thinking of parents much over the last few days. In the quiet moments. When they weren¡¯t traveling, collecting documents, or engaging in mortal combat. When he wondered if this was all a futile effort, doomed to failure and another tale of ignominy for his house. He wondered what their thoughts would be if they saw him now? Would they be proud? Would they feel dishonor? Were they aware of any of what he¡¯s done since they left this world? All of his heart, he wanted to say yes, but there was the lingering doubt behind every thought and hope. For five centuries the name of his house tied with the worst qualities of any person. Few taking the time to see past actions he had no hand in. Maybe with this final act, his house would be lifted the burden of eternal shame? Perhaps. But he, so far as he knew, the last of his line. A noble house pushed the very point of extinction. If he does not do what must be done, who will take his banner and break this curse of honor? This thought gave him a cold feeling running up his spine. His hands shook as imagined them unmoving, sans the very spirit of life itself. He clenched them tightly as he tried to think away from fell thoughts. There was a knock at the door, taking him by surprise. Moving to the door he opened it, seeing Allianna on the other side. ¡°Evening, Master Kveldulf,¡± she said in a calming voice. ¡°Is all well, you seem to have something on your mind?¡± He nodded. ¡°I am well, my lady. Please come in.¡± She entered, closing the door gently. ¡°I heard from some of my sources that you and your friends have narrowed down the bases for Callanband¡¯s allies.¡± ¡°We have, we intended to move out in the morning after telling Captain Laurent.¡± ¡°Good, we may need the preparations before this is all over.¡± Kveldulf let out a heavy sigh. Allianna tiled her head to the side. ¡°You do have something on your mind,¡± she said with certainty. ¡°Its just ¡­ it is hard to find the right words.¡± ¡°I would start with what seems to burden you the most.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about my parents. A lot given recent events.¡± Allianna nodded. ¡°I would imagine. I lost both of them over five thousand years ago, and the pain of their loss is as fresh as if it had been yesterday.¡± ¡°Sometimes I feel like I¡¯m starting to be free of the pain, and then it comes right back with a vengeance.¡± ¡°I noted that in our conversation at my parlor.¡± ¡°I still feel terrible for my actions.¡± Allianna chuckled. ¡°No harm came from it. Though I do remember hearing something about your line having a reputation for their, how was described, oh yes, battle fury.¡± Kveldulf chortled uncomfortable. ¡°My parents used to tell me of that as well. It was said this was a gift from the war god, Thull. For strength and vigor in battle, we became like animals. Surrendering our humanity, for a brief moment, to bring fear into our enemy¡¯s ranks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I was told, myself. Though before I stepped onto my first battlefield, I was informed the practice had become a tradition long abandoned.¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°My parents said it was a part of a heathen past. A part of the dark days, when blood flowed like water in the creeks and rivers of the world. And the crops of these lands were feed by the bodies of those fallen on battlefields.¡± Allianna lifted her eyebrows briefly. ¡°Such are things said by those who vilify those who bring them shelter and glory, when they call to the field has long since faded. Beaten and shamed into the next generation until what should be valued is belittled and the vain and witless worms bring down the world into fire and ruin.¡± ¡°I thought it was good to be in control of your emotions. Would it not be better to temper rage when prudence can bring a better world.¡± ¡°If one could truly control their emotions, then yes. But no one person can. Our emotions are akin to the forces of nature. We can either control them or be rid of them. What we can do is find peace with them. There is no shame is feeling angry, just as there is no shame for feeling love. But neither should be giving full reign on your thoughts. And trying to control them will only build them up until they overcome you and steal your mind. Any one who speaks of one emotion being naturally better over the other should not speak of what they do not understand.¡± ¡°But surely anger is the drive that pushed society into ruin.¡± ¡°No, Kveldulf, that is greed. The want of glory, the want of gold, the want of land and power and all the things one can never fully attain, that is drive societies to ruin. And that not mastering, not controlling. For even greed in moderation can be beneficial, whether it is sustaining needs or superfluous wants. They all requiring mastering and mastering requires an understanding of oneself, that which control cannot abide, and demands the acknowledgement of an undeniable truth.¡± ¡°And what truth is that?¡± ¡°That it is the acceptance of one¡¯s flaws, not the denial of it that gives you the strength you need to overcome.¡± ¡°If it was simple as that,¡± Kveldulf said, rubbing his hands together. ¡°If only,¡± Allianna said. ¡°But I have come with something else.¡± ¡°You have?¡± ¡°I have,¡± she said, moving to the door and after she opened gestured several servants into the room, each one carrying an item cloaked in fabric and placing it in his bed. ¡°I am afraid I am a little confused, my lady.¡± Allianna turned to the servants. ¡°Thank you, you may wait until I am finished here,¡± she said to them before turning to Kveldulf. ¡°I felt since the hour is near to face the hand of Callanband, it would only be right if the last of the house of the White Horse ¡­,¡± Allianna unfurled of the items, revealing the cuirass cloaked in Kveldulf¡¯s heraldry, ¡°¡­ to find honor in a hard won victory, if this is the hour of our defeat, to be seen fighting the devilish host and defend our people, one last time.¡± Part Twenty-Six - The Enemy Revealed! The stars had started peeking out as the sun set behind the Shalladin mountains. Golden lights from within the fortress itself softly glowed. The entrance to the gate resembled a gaping maw ready to devour its next meal. The effected enhanced as the two large windows to the gatehouse carried the appearance of eyes constantly watching for a creature to devour. The four main towers reached to touch the stars and corrupt very the heavens with its disease. The stonework around the entire complex had turned dark. All the while the wind provided a sharp chill in the air as it shrieked by one¡¯s ear. Giving the whole castle grounds an ominous appearance. The moat surrounding the entire outer defenses was filled with a dark and murky liquid. Maeryn and Cid already winced at the scent. Kveldulf looked towards the surface of the water and found small protrusions poking upwards. They were rounded along the tops, thinned in the middle and the smallest fluttering of insects could be seen hovering around them. Kveldulf snarled as his eyes adjusted enough to the darkness to recognize the hundreds of heads piked throughout the watery barrier. ¡°Certain is a lovely decoration,¡± he said to Cid. ¡°What is it with people and piking heads,¡± Silvius asked, pulling away. ¡°Best way to get a message across to avoid a place. Or the people inside.¡± Cid and Kveldulf waited by a tree, watching the night guards move along the high walls behind the castellations. These were not the same kind of warriors they had seen before. Brigands dressed in random armor, carrying no bearing of martial pride. These were something else. They moved as if each step was one of great contemplation and with purpose. There was no air of amateurism at all. Cid turned to Kel, ¡°Well, this should make things interesting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one of putting it,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Hypatia,¡± Cid called out, as she came over he asked, ¡°Were there any plans for the layout of the castle?¡± She nodded. ¡°A few, I made sure to note if there were any sally ports or sewage tunnels we could use to breach inside.¡± ¡°Tell me there¡¯s one sally port available?¡± Silvius said. ¡°What are you complaining about?¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°Cid and I are the ones with the enhanced senses.¡± ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t discounting what you or Cid go through,¡± Silvius said to her. ¡°And I apologize for coming close to that insinuation.¡± ¡°Perhaps we should have this conversation later,¡± said Cid, ¡°but seriously, Hypatia. Please tell me there¡¯s a non-sewage entry point.¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s one on the eastern side of the fortress,¡± Hypatia said, pointing to a spot on a folded map. ¡°All right,¡± said Cid, ¡°Maeryn, Kel, head over there and check it out, make sure they haven¡¯t removed it. Everyone else, keep to brush, get your weapons at the ready and be prepared to move in at any moment.¡± With a quick tilt of his head, Cid signaled Kveldulf and Maeryn to move down the eastern side of the castle. The height of the grass forcing them to crawl on their stomachs to avoid detection. Maeryn carefully moved her head up, ducking it down quickly after a moment. Kveldulf slunk his way over. ¡°Can you see anything?¡± he asked. She shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen anything yet.¡± ¡°What about any entry ports?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Damn,¡± Kveldulf muttered. ¡°And I¡¯m a little concerned what¡¯s in the water before I cross it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t blame you,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°I doubt it would be as good as a nice bath.¡± Maeryn peered her head up again and patted Kel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked. ¡°I think I found something,¡± she said, ducking back down and moving further to the back of the fortress. Moving around to the northern section of the castle walls, there was a portcullis. Over its face was a barred gate and a small trickle of waste and water flowing out. Kveldulf looked at the opening and back to Maeryn. ¡°I¡¯m assuming there is a reasoning to the madness.¡± She notched an arrow and said ¡°You and me both,¡± before releasing. The arrow landed in the water, about half of it poking out of the moat¡¯s surface. They exchanged glances, wide eyed. Emerging from the grass, they waded through the water and reached the gated portcullis. Kveldulf looked at the gate and after running fingers along the stone edge turned to Maeryn. ¡°There¡¯s no track here.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The gate isn¡¯t retracted at all. It¡¯s just a door.¡± Maeryn removed an arrow from her quiver. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s see if little lock will be nice or a pain.¡± ¡°You think an arrow head will pop it open?¡± ¡°Oh no, but if we¡¯re lucky, it¡¯ll destroy the lock, but it will also loosen the hook on the outside so you can lift it up with a sword¡¯s edge.¡± ¡°Has it worked before?¡± ¡°Every so often, usually with older locks,¡± she said as the locked popped open and fell to the ground. ¡°Well, that was ¡­ you know I¡¯m just not going to complain.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get back to the others and let them know we¡¯re good.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she said regretfully, ¡°Such is our lot in life for the quiet and nimble.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a baby.¡± Maeryn playfully mocked Kveldulf silently before rushing off to regroup with the others. As he waited inside the opened way, he heard familiar chirping. Only there seemed to a different quality to them. This wasn¡¯t random noises with little rhyme or reason. One chirp would be answered by another. As if ¡­ no, he thought, they weren¡¯t. Kveldulf felt his air stand up on end as he listened to the chatter continue. He turned around, staring in the darkness almost expecting a monstrous creature to come out and drag him into the depths of oblivion. He felt his hands shake and sweat bead over his forehead as the others made their way to him. He watched as they moved in groups of two over the moat. ¡°Tell me that¡¯s not what I think it is,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Murmeks,¡± Kveldulf confirmed. ¡°Out-fucking-standing,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°How did they manage that?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°Probably just used ants metaphor them into humanoid form,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Would that mean they lose their strength?¡± Cid asked. ¡°That I don¡¯t know, but I hope that is the case,¡± Leonidas answered. Reaching a second door, Maeryn pulled out a lockpicking kit and began working on the lock. ¡°Wait, how come you didn¡¯t use that for the first door?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°This is a far more complex lock, that last one looked like it didn¡¯t need a lot of time and attention.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. After a couple of clicks and clacks, Maeryn¡¯s face lit up as she pushed the door open and looked inside. On the other side of the door was a corridor, well lit all the way through. ¡°And now I am all kinds of suspicious,¡± said Cid. ¡°Can we volunteer a guard to set off the traps again?¡± asked Silvius. ¡°Oh if only,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no good way to find out,¡± said Cid, taking a gingerly step inside. He looked down at his foot, then turned back to the others. ¡°I think it¡¯s all right.¡± Moving down the corridor came to a door and a cautious push, found long four dead prisoners. Their arms were chained to the walls, preventing them from sitting on the ground. ¡°Gods, what is wrong with these people?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Only the gods know,¡± said Cid, ¡°But let¡¯s make them pay nonetheless.¡± Moving through the hall, they cleared our room after room after with more unfortunate souls long since passed. At the end of the corridor, they arrived to a massive dungeon filled with devices of pain and torture. Wooden horses, brazen bulls, bloodied breast rippers, thumbscrews, pears of anguish, scavenger¡¯s daughters, stretching wheels and racks, iron maidens, hanging cages, were but a few in the exhibition to this barbarity. Many of them had fresh corpses on them. ¡°Why are these people still here?¡± Benkin asked, incensed. ¡°I think they¡¯re too close to what they¡¯re planning to care anymore,¡± Cid said to them. ¡®Let¡¯s get moving, I doubt they¡¯ll be waiting to give us a warm welcome.¡± Quickly moving to the other side of the dungeon and up a stair case, they reached the next level. Before them was an antechamber, plain in design and decorations. The stone grey in tone and a series of braziers hanging from the ceiling provided light. Thumping noises came the other side. The Wolves, weapons out moved to the door as they heard the voice from before speak to them. ¡°Once again, I am impressed by your unyielding spirit. There are few you can say they have faced a Bukavac and live to tell the tale in true honesty.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re so glad to give you that,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°But the hour has come for the tide to turn against the usurper. To burn away the weakness she has bred within her city and my people.¡± ¡°As we saw downstairs,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°The price for progress is sometimes paid in the blood of patriots. Few understand the need for the blade to drive civilization forward to greatness and glory.¡± ¡°Perhaps we should have this conversation face to face,¡± Cid demanded. ¡°And not behind a veil of shadows, Callanband.¡± ¡°I think you might be right,¡± the voice replied calmly. ¡°I can see one mistake which should be tended to promptly.¡± Both opened slowly on their own power. Revealing a large room on the other side. Much of the sunk in, two steps deep, the floor covered in marble. Within the space stood hundreds of murmeks, clad in armor and holding spears with swords hanging on their sides. At the far end was a stone ring, stretching to the very top of the ceiling, the inside red, moving like water on the surface. Before this was a man, wearing a knightly cloak and dressed in black plate armor. He looked at The Wolves, nodding contemplatively before speaking. ¡°Now we can speak face to face, without any interruptions,¡± he said to them. ¡°Umm,¡± said Silvius, pointing to the murmeks with his rapier. ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°Oh, they will not do anything without my orders.¡± ¡°How, lovely,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Certain makes it easier to discuss things cordially when the clashing of steel does not fill the air,¡± the figure replied. He turned his gaze up, sniffing the air. ¡°Hmm interesting.¡± ¡°Dare we ask?¡± Cid responded. ¡°There is a scent in the air, one I was not expecting to experience,¡± the figure said turned his attention back to The Wolves. ¡°A scent of ¡­ kinship.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just weird,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Not with you,¡± the figure replied. Leonidas shook his head with relief. ¡°Never mind, then.¡± ¡°No ¡­ there is another,¡± the figure said, staring at Kveldulf. ¡°Ah, so there is still a White Horse among us.¡± ¡°The hell are you talking about?¡± Kveldulf demanded training his flamberge to the figure. ¡°I had not thought our line still lived,¡± the figure said, pulling back the hood, revealing a face which chilled Kveldulf¡¯s blood. ¡°Baeron?¡± he said weakly. ¡°In the flesh,¡± Baeron said, taking a small bow. ¡°But what of the tokens of Callanband back at the Unyielding Fortress?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Ah, those were token Belthory kept for her beloved. She thought we reclaimed my city; we could bring her cur of a husband back.¡± ¡°You used her?¡± Cid said. ¡°No more than they used me, than they used all of those poor wretches who bled and died for our homes, our people.¡± ¡°Then why do this?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Why do any of this?¡± ¡°I swore on my father¡¯s deathbed I would protect my city from all who would endanger it. And that includes leaders who care more who one dresses than how one feeds themselves. For centuries, these betters have allowed those in their charge to starve, freeze, steal, and murder simply to see another dawn. And they called me a monster.¡± ¡°You impaled people!¡± Kveldulf challenged. ¡°I executed traitors as was within my right,¡± Baeron responded. ¡°What of the women and children?¡± ¡°You slay one of a family, the others will long for vengeance. You end the line, and the threat is averted. Simple as that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why they wanted to wipe us out!¡± Kveldulf shouted. ¡°You made them hate us! Then and now!¡± ¡°People do not know what to hate, nor love. They are molded as their betters want them to be. That¡¯s how it¡¯s been since the dawn of civilization. The question, will they follow one who will guide them to glory or ruin?¡± ¡°You¡¯re mad!¡± ¡°Mad is but a word for one willing to do what is needed,¡± said Baeron. ¡°But I do not have the luxury of time. My legions should be breaching the walls of the city at any moment. And I have to ensure Lady Allianna does not escape the justice which has far eluded her.¡± Baeron turned, bowed his and turned to the portal. ¡°Kill them,¡± he said before entering. The portal immediately closing afterwards. The murmeks turned, their spears trained to The Wolves, who immediately pulled the doors shut. ¡°Well this is a fine predicament,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Not now, Silvius!¡± Hypatia shouted. ¡°If we make it out of this, I am blaming you,¡± Leonidas told Jeanne. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± she said, ¡°Add that to the fucking list.¡± Silvius tapped his foot rapidly speaking to himself. ¡°The hell¡¯s gotten into him?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Don¡¯t know, don¡¯t care, help us brace the door!¡± Cid answered. Silvius, jumped on the balls of his feet and rushed over to one of the stone columns holding up the ceiling. He looked frantically for something on the rocky surface, murmuring, ¡°Comeoncomeoncomeon!¡± ¡°Silvius,¡± Jeanne roared, ¡°Get back here, or I¡¯ll rip your manhood off and feed it to you!¡± Silvius then slammed his fist against a stone and a large crash came from the other side. The sound of murmeks crying out in pain filling the air. ¡°Mind explaining?¡± Cid politely demanded. ¡°To keep details short, I remembered that the other room was where Callanband had this dinner where he invited most of his rivals. A sort of ¡®water under the bridge¡¯ sort of thing. And when he left to attend to another matter, the floor opened up and there were sharpened stakes waiting for his rivals below.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Then never mind the removal of your manhood.¡± ¡°Much obliged.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just take your spleen.¡± Silvius shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if you didn¡¯t say something of the like.¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯m becoming predictable.¡± ¡°And we shan¡¯t have ¨C¡± Leonidas said as a sword began cleaving its ways through the door. ¡°So much for hoping it¡¯d took all of them,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Take positions!¡± said Cid, readying himself. ¡°What positions?¡± Jeanne cried out. ¡°Oh yeah, wedge formation!¡± They flanked Cid, weapons drawn as the Murmeks broke down the doors and lunged forward. Cid fired his shield¡¯s blade into one as Maeryn struck down another with her bow. Hypatia slashed one foe as blocking another¡¯s strike. Silvius parrying and shoving the length of his blade into a murmek¡¯s head. Kveldulf cleaved one of the monsters into two with his sword as Jeanne slammed the spike of her hammer into a creature¡¯s skull and ripped part of the skull out. Leonidas blocked one attack with his sword as he crushed the fiend¡¯s torso with a twirl of his staff. Benkin sliced one murmek¡¯s head into two with his sword as he severed another¡¯s arm clean off. As the Wolves kept killing the foe, more poured into the room. Soon joined by guards from the walls began arriving to engage them in mortal combat. ¡°Fall back to the lower level,¡± Cid ordered. He grabbed an orb hanging off his side and after pressing a button tossed it into the mob into the fray. The monsters looked down as The Wolves rushed down the stairs as a large boom erupted behind them. Reaching the lower level, Kveldulf slammed the door shut, he and Benkin grabbing some tables and placing them against the door. Leonidas and Jeanne both frantically writing runes on the door. Leaving the that room, they raced down the hall, Jeanne and Leonidas repeating the same lettering on the door leading to the portcullis. ¡°What are you two writing,¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°A parting gift for our hosts,¡± said Leonidas as a large thundering boom followed. ¡°It¡¯ll keep them busy while we get out of here,¡± Jeanne. ¡°Good thinking,¡± said Cid, ¡°Let¡¯s get out here, before there¡¯s no city left to save.¡± Part Twenty-Seven - The Battle of Koulberg Pillars from countless fires throughout the city rose into the morning sky. Sounds of a waking city were replaced with a cacophony of screams and shrieks. The scent of smoke touched Kveldulf¡¯s nose as he and The Wolves watched from the ridge in horror as they came upon this terrible sight. ¡°How are we going to get through all that?¡± ¡°The gates look open,¡± said Cid, ¡°And we don¡¯t have time to look for an alternative.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re just going to let us walk in?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°If you have a better idea, I¡¯d be thrilled to hear it.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Wolves, have weapons ready, but don¡¯t tarry. We don¡¯t have time for prolonged duels.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the destination, then?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We get to the city barracks, and then see what exactly the situation is,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Wolves, ride out!¡± Spurring their steeds on, they raced towards the city gates. Kveldulf could feel the heat of the fires on his face as they raced by. The roar of the murmeks, spotting them and calling them out. Some of the enemy rushed them, only meeting a quick end wrought by swift hooves and sharp steel. They arrived to a barricade of stalls, wagons and furniture, with bodies of murmeks, civilians as well as guards and soldiers littering all over. As they neared the blockade they found Captain Laurent standing at the top, covered in blood, sweat and grime. ¡°You lot are a sight for sore eyes. What the hell happened back at the fortress?¡± ¡°Much, though there isn¡¯t time to explain,¡± said Cid, ¡°where is Lady Allianna?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been organizing a defense of the city at the Council¡¯s Palace? Why?¡± ¡°We learned this was all Baeron¡¯s doing, and he¡¯s coming after her personally.¡± ¡°That opened up so much questions than I cared to have, right now,¡± Laurent admitted, ¡°but this is not the time for that conversation. Head to the barracks, I¡¯ll signal the guards there to let you in.¡± The Wolves rode to the gate of the barracks. The Guards pulling the iron gates up from the ground to let them in before closing quickly once inside. Laurent, with a few of the other guards with him met the Wolves after a long moment. ¡°How have you guards been faring?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Not well,¡± Laurent lamented, ¡°But we have a perimeter now. I don¡¯t know where the hell these bastards came from. And everyone we kill, another five take its place.¡± ¡°Doc, is there a murmeks can replace their numbers?¡± ¡°Because of the breeding process no, they become sterile. But this could¡¯ve been a long process where they could¡¯ve built up their host, especially if they had a means to keep them from aging until now.¡± ¡°So they could be in the thousands, outstanding,¡± Laurent replied spitting on the ground in disgust. ¡°Are their any efforts to get the civilians out?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°We¡¯ve been organizing that as soon as we could. Most are on ships and getting out of to sea,¡± Laurent answered. ¡°And if the city falls?¡± Cid asked. ¡°It is not falling,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Kel ¨C¡± ¡°This city is not falling!¡± Kveldulf said, removing his cloak and throwing it to the ground. ¡°I will not abandon this city!¡± ¡°Kel, if you die then what will that accomplish?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I do understand, but dead men can¡¯t fight, let alone what you¡¯re trying.¡± ¡°And would you not do the same if it was your kin who were shamed, mocked, spat on, cursed, by people who hardly knew? Never giving you a chance to show your worth and passing a sentence, centuries old, simply because. What would you do?¡± Cid took in a deep breath, letting out a growl as he exhaled. ¡°All my life, I¡¯ve had to hide who I am. And now I have a chance to end it.¡± ¡°Kel, look around, there¡¯s no chance of beating this army by brute force.¡± ¡°Brute force wouldn¡¯t be needed,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Baeron is using demonic magic to do all of this. And the murmeks are attached to him. If we kill him, we kill the hive.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°We take the head, the body follows.¡± Kveldulf looked back at Cid. ¡°I have to.¡± ¡°Well, if this is what does us in. Not the worst way to go,¡± said Cid. ¡°And I¡¯m not going anywhere you¡¯re not,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Us too,¡± said Benkin, with Sil and Maeryn and Hypatia behind him. ¡°I said to count me in,¡± said Leonidas. Kveldulf nodded, tears beginning to form. ¡°Thank you, I know this is asking a lot.¡± ¡°We pull some of the reserves out, and help make a breach in the murmek lines long enough for your to get inside.¡± A large explosion shook the ground from where the council palace stood. ¡°They¡¯re beginning another attack,¡± Laurent snapped, ¡°damnit!¡± ¡°We can use it to our advantage,¡± said Cid. ¡°Hit them on their flank, they wouldn¡¯t expect it.¡± Laurent nodded. ¡°Yes, yes that¡¯s an excellent idea.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s not keep these bastards waiting,¡± said Kveldulf, placing his family¡¯s helm on his head. ¡°Let¡¯s give them a warm welcome.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Moving through the complex they quickly found a colony of murmeks rushing into the palace. Some stopping to chew on the flesh and bone of the fallen. Kveldulf turned back to his friends and allies and cried out, ¡°Defenders of Koulber, follow me!¡± From the pathways the guards, soldiers and Wolves struck the murmeks, taking many by surprise. Kveldulf, letting loose his rage, struck down one murmek after the other. He felt his blood go hot as he sunk his ancestral blade deep into the enemy flesh. A wrath, years held back, now beginning to find some solace. The gurgling cries of the enemy dead, as many began panicking and running into other sections of the city. ¡°The bastards are gone,¡± said Laurent to the Wolves, ¡°go to Allianna, and end this!¡± The Wolves rushed into the building, striking down the enemy as fast as their blades could fly. Up the stairs, moving over bodies of city defenders and murmeks best they could. As Kveldulf arrived to the top of the final landing he could hear a terrible battle being fought between Alliana and Baeron. At the doorframe he saw Allianna resting with her long claymore, trying to catch her breath as Baeron, appearing unfazed by the fight turned to find The Wolves¡¯ arrival. ¡°Now isn¡¯t this a surprise?¡± Baeron said, delighted. ¡°I know I should be perturbed. But I am absolutely thrilled!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I thought you were glass half full?¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Withing reason,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°I have to say, while it¡¯s been a treat providing Allianna with a literal what for, I could use a bit more of challenge,¡± Baeron said. ¡°So sorry ¡­ to disappoint,¡± Allianna said, breathing heavy. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a spoil sport,¡± Baeron replied beginning to crack his knuckles. ¡°Now then, shall we?¡± The Wolves charged Baeron who calmly loosened his shoulders and neck. Kveldulf landed the blade of his halberd deep into Baeron¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Huh,¡± Baeron replied, ¡°That is my old halberd.¡± Baeron kicked Kveldulf half way across the room, as Jeanne and Benkin struck Baeron with their weapons. With a strike of each hand, he sent them flying away. Maeryn fired two arrows to him, he simply caught them with one hand as Cid and Silvius thrust their blades into torso. ¡°All right this is becoming a bit repetitive,¡± Baeron said as he grabbed Cid and slammed him into Silvius. As Hypatia began slashing at his head relentlessly. ¡°And now this is simply a bother,¡± he said before his jaw was lacerate and he punched Hypatia in the stomach and elbowed her to the floor. Allianna landed a strike, cleaving his hand into two. Kicking her hard into a column he removed the sword, letting his head fuse itself back to together. ¡°Now that was just unsporting,¡± Baeron replied throwing the sword towards her. Kveldulf knocked her out of the way, both barely missing the attack by mere inches. ¡°Much obliged,¡± she said. ¡°Not at all,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Any idea one how we take him down?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, he¡¯s far more powerful than the last time he and cross blades,¡± she said as Jeanne, stone covering her skin began striking him with terrible fury. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d say that,¡± Kveldulf said as Baeron knocked some of Jeanne¡¯s stone skin off with a strike to her jaw. Baeron then grabbed her foot and slammed her onto the ground, dissipating the stone skin and throwing her away from him. Leonidas trained his staff towards Baeron uttering an incantation, constricting Baeron¡¯s limbs. Baeron strained as he said, ¡°Oh we can have this.¡± He rose to his feet and as he moved towards the doctor, grabbed him and after two hard headbutts flung him aside with easy. ¡°That would¡¯ve made things difficult,¡± Baeron said, composing himself. Jeanne rushed over to Leonidas. ¡°Are you all right?¡± she asked, seeing his bloodied face. ¡°Felt better,¡± he said in a strained voice. She looked at Baeron, murderous intent in her eyes as she lifted her hand and unleashed a destructive burst of energy towards, exploding his head and arms. The Wolves looked at the standing pair of legs which began to regrow muscles, bones and skin. ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± said Silivus weakly. As Baeron reformed completely, he clapped his hands. He turned to Jeanne, ¡°Now that is thinking outside of the box,¡± he said with admiration, ¡°But now I¡¯m really going to have to hurt you lot.¡± The Wolves and Allianna attacked Baeron, none of the strikes having a long effect on him. Though his healing was beginning to noticeably slow down as the fight wore on. ¡°What the hell will stop this man,¡± said Maeryn, letting loose another arrow towards Baeron. Leonidas, rising to one knee, leaning against his staff and breathing heavy said, ¡°He¡¯s healing is starting to slow down. If can hit him in the heart, that¡¯ll kill him.¡± ¡°Well now you have to spoil all my fun,¡± Baeron said as Kveldulf landed the halberd¡¯s spike into his head, ¡°didn¡¯t you.¡± Baeron, taking a deep breath, knocked all but Kveldulf and Allianna off their feet. Baeron removed the weapon and with two quick twirls, struck Kveldulf across his head, knocking his helm clean off and kick him in his stomach. Kveldulf, on the ground and coughing up some blood, saw Baeron standing over him. ¡°For the record, you and your friends put up a lot of more of a fight than I was expecting. But, this needs to ¨C¡± Before he could finish, Allianna impaled Baeron with her blade and flung him away. ¡°Now it¡¯s time for you to die!¡± she roared, charging towards him. Kveldulf laid there, trying to catch his breath as his mind began to blur. He could hardly hear the noises of the fight as Baeron began to overcome Allianna once more. The pain in his muscles began to subside, his mind became calm, and he heard a voice call out to him. ¡°Son,¡± he heard his father voice call out, ¡°don¡¯t give up now.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too strong, father,¡± Kveldulf said. He heard his mother say, ¡°You¡¯re so close, son. But you have to get up and fight!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have it in me to continue this,¡± Kveldulf said, his chest tightening from the shameful truth. ¡°You have what we all had, but were afraid to use,¡± his father said. ¡°And it kept us from coming home with our heads held high.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it rob you of your own destiny,¡± his mother said. ¡°It robbed us of ours, and your forebears since Baeron.¡± Kveldulf¡¯s vision began to clear and he saw the outline of his parents, and of others he could not recognize standing around him. ¡°We are all with you, son. The line of our people back to the beginning are here, but only you can determine what our future is.¡± ¡°This was never about us,¡± his mother said, ¡°but of all those Baeron hurt. And you can stop it from happening all over again.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kveldulf said, rising to his feet. He unsheathed his father¡¯s flamberge, finding Baeron holding Allianna by the throat and prepping to strike her down with their ancient halberd. Kveldulf felt his eyes strain, his heart burning with rage, his teeth begin to length and his skin grow hot. He began to feel a sensation within him he had never let loose become free and his hatred turned onto one man. Facing his enemy he let out a roar carrying the qualities of a bear. He rushed Baeron with a terrible fury, who turned to find Kveldulf in the air and landing his sword from Baeron¡¯s collar bone to his hip. Dropping Allianna, Baeron could not speak before Kveldulf continued his swift and unyielding assault of his foe. Striking the traitor mercilessly, Baeron, havin increasing difficulties with healing up before he could continue the fight. Now being forced to give ground, for the first time, Baeron had a look of fear in his eyes. The rest of the Wolves, stunned at the change of events, tried rising to the feet as Jeanne, the look of horror on her face, began making a quick series of geometric symbols with her hands and uttering an incantation under her breath. She slammed the ground as Kveldulf lunged at Baeron and both plunged from the stain glass window. Jeanne, back to her feet, said ¡°Come on!¡± gesturing the others to follow. ¡°Are you insane?¡± Maeryn cried out. ¡°I used a spell to soften the fall, now let¡¯s move!¡± ¡°You heard her,¡± Cid said, ¡°Wolves, on me!¡± The Wolves and Allianna ran towards the broken window leaping out and falling down to the ground. Seeing the guards and soldiers slowly being pressed back by a renewed attack from the murmeks. Landing softly they saw Kveldulf and Baeron engaging in fierce combat, both landing terrible blows and neither yielding. Cid turned to the others, ¡°Keep them off Kveldulf!¡± as he charged into the fray. The Wolves and their allies fought the murmeks fiercely, felling many to their blades as Kveldulf cleaving Baeron into two, mounted the left half and began cutting into the heart. Using one hand to pry the torso open with his sword and the other to hold the torso down. Unable to speak Baeron¡¯s left arm tried to push Kveldulf off. But after cutting deep into the Baeron¡¯s chest saw a glowing, beating heart. Without hesitation he plunged his father¡¯s blade into the heart of the great traitor and in a bright flash, he felt nothing. Part Twenty-Eight - The White Horse Kvedulf awoke in a field of bluish hue grass. The distance covered by a soft fog. The was sweet, the scent of honey with hints of nutmeg and other spices. He saw a road, gravel, neatly kept with soft winding curves. He rose to his feet and causally made his way down its path. Moving up a low ridge he saw the fog split apart to reveal the great of hall of the honored dead. Hewed from golden lumber, etchings depicting tales of myths and legends decorating the whole. He began to see figures come from the fog. Humanoid, though their features were still shrouded. With their weapons in hand, they thumped the earth, saying in unison, ¡°Kveldulf, Kveldulf, Kveldulf!¡± He began walking faster towards the hall, the chanting quickening with his pace. As he neared the gate, he saw two guards there, spears in hand. As he was about to pass through to the other side, the guards placed their hands on his chest. ¡°These grounds are for the honored fallen,¡± said one guard. ¡°And you are not ready to join our ranks,¡± said the other guard. ¡°You still have much to do before your time comes,¡± said the first guard. ¡°But know you have earned your place among us,¡± said the other guard. As Kveldulf began to feel a force pulling him back, the guard grabbed his shoulder and pulled him close to them. They said together, ¡°And know how proud we are to call you, son. Farewell, and remember us.¡± Before he could say anything, he felt himself wake up. Leonidas compressing his hands over his chest. As he saw Kveldulf wake up, the doctor cried out, ¡°He¡¯s breathing!¡± The rest of The Wolves ran over, tears and worried smiles on their faces. Jeanne firmly embraced him tightly. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re all right,¡± he said to her. ¡°You asshole!¡± she said, slapping his shoulder, ¡°You had us worried.¡± As his vision cleared he saw Allianna walking over with his halberd in hand. ¡°I think this belongs to you,¡± she said, handing it back to him. He took it, feel the weight of the handle almost too much for his fingers as their strength returned. As he rose to his feet, he saw the murmeks fallen dead, many of the citizens now beginning to congregate to the palace. Allianna turned to the crowd and said, ¡°Captain Laurent, have your guard begin a sweep of the city, and make sure these monsters are not rampaging this city,¡± she then turned to the rest of the crowd gathering, ¡°And despite the vile machinations of the traitor Baeron Grimkellsen has been ended!¡± As she lifted her sword into the air, the crowd applauded and cheered. Allianna raised her hand, causing the crowd to quiet. ¡°But who was it who warned us of this danger? Who was it who, without thought to their own welfare and safety, risked all to save this city? But The Wolves, who will forever find a home here in the city of Koulberg!¡± The cheered with greater energy as The Wolves raised their hands in thanks. Allianna once more called for the audience to let her speak. ¡°But there is one of The Wolves who deserves notice,¡± she turned to Kveldulf and waved him to join her, ¡°Come, Kveldulf.¡± As he did so, she placed her hand on his shoulder and addressed the crowd. ¡°This is Kveldulf Einarsen. One of the house of Hyvtur Hestur, the House of the White Horse. Never minding what we did to his kin, nor for the status he has in this city, he personally fought the traitor himself, and gave us the chance to live free and without fear!¡± The audience began cheering Kveldulf, who felt a lump form in his throat. ¡°And for what he as done for in service to the city of Koulberg. I, Allianna, Lord Defender, do hereby rescind the decree of shame on this house! Captain Laurent, let the flag of the White Horse rejoin its peers with pride and distinction.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The captain bowed his head and before Kveldulf could process what was happening, the flag of his house was once again flying atop the keep of the city. ¡°Let us give cheers to The Wolves, and what they¡¯ve done here this day!¡± As the crowd cheered on The Wolves, Kveldulf turned away, clutching his chest and fighting hard to hold back the tears. He felt put her hand on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± she said comfortingly, ¡°enjoy the moment.¡± Without a word spoke, he embraced as he broken down in tears, the others joining in. Kveldulf had never felt this since of relieve before. Always watching over his back. Always worried of what others would think of him if they learned the truth. For the first time, in all of his life, he felt free. *** They were seated around a small table, barely enough room for them to sit comfortably in the throne room of The Unyielding Fortress. It felt awkward in the throne room where they fought Belthory. Though no one was bothered with the blood pool and spike now removed. ¡°So what are we going to do with this place?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Cid. ¡°Sort of got used to using it as a base of sorts.¡± ¡°I mean, if we spruced up the place,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°We could use it as a base of operations of sorts.¡± ¡°Most merc companies usually have a place to hang their helms and weapons,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I think it would be a wonderful idea,¡± said Allianna entering the room. All The Wolves stood up, but she waved it off. ¡°Rest, you¡¯ve more than earned it,¡± she said to them. ¡°Though I am glad not to have been here after Belthory took residence.¡± ¡°It had a few unique decorative choices,¡± Silvius said to her. ¡°I¡¯ll take word on that,¡± she said. ¡°I remember when my grandfather told me stories about this place.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know your grandfather knew of The Unyielding Fortress,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I would hope so, he served here during the Draken Wars.¡± ¡°He was?¡± Hypatia asked, astounded. She began grabbing a parchment and quill when Allianna began laughing. ¡°Perhaps another time,¡± Allianna said respectfully, ¡°I am here on a sort of officially business.¡± ¡°What business did you have in mind?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well, I think it would be foolish if we thought we¡¯ve seen the last of our friend Baeron. And while it turned out to be a false lead, there is also a chance Callanband or his other acolytes will rear their wonderful heads to hound us. Therefore, I would like to hire your services.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re definitely open to the idea,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Unless anyone has any objections.¡± ¡°How close are we going to have work with the Council once it¡¯s reformed?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°A fair amount, I¡¯ll admit. But I am certain this new selection will be far more inclined to give you assistance then the last.¡± ¡°I would hope so,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯d rather not live in the wilds unless I have to, my lady.¡± ¡°I can understand that sentiment.¡± ¡°Oh, master Kveldulf.¡± ¡°Yes, my lady.¡± ¡°I was hoping to bestow a gift to you.¡± Kveldulf rose to his feet and stepped towards her. ¡°I am honored, my lady.¡± She handed him a small sigil. ¡°I cannot restore all the lands once belonging to your family, but there are enough to qualify you as a lord in your own right. Along with the incomes and privileges invested with them.¡± ¡°I honestly cannot find the proper words to thank you, Lady Allianna.¡± ¡°Your friendship is more than enough, Lord Kveldulf,¡± she said to him, smiling. She turned back to the others as Kveldulf returned to his seat. ¡°Yes, The Company of the Wolves. That has noble connotation to it. Until we meet again,¡± Allianna said as she left the room. ¡°So,¡± said Benkin. ¡°That means we¡¯re on a permanent retainer?¡± ¡°I should hope so,¡± said Silvius. ¡°What do you think our next job will be?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°Hopefully nothing major until our heads are no longer throbbing,¡± said Leonidas, rubbing his forehead. ¡°You¡¯re complaining, I was slammed onto the floor, repeatedly,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°And you were covered in stone.¡± Cid rose from his seat. ¡°Still I think this is a great for our friend, Kveldulf, for us, for The Wolves!¡± Cid unsheathed his blade as he finished. The others rising to their feet and holding out their weapons. Doing so they all called out together, ¡°The Wolves!¡± Part Twenty-Nine: Blood & Stone Jeanne rested her head against the tree, embracing the atmosphere of the surrounding forest. The wind softly weaving in and out from around the ancient trees. Birds singing and chirping to each other within the cover of lush green canopy of leaves. The fluttering of a butterfly¡¯s wings touched her ears as she opened her eyes slowly. The small insect landed on her raised knee and she smile as she watched it move around. ¡°You stay there, and I¡¯ll charge rent,¡± she said blithely. As the butterfly lifted itself off her leg and moved away as she heard someone call out. ¡°Jeanne!¡± It was a young woman, a couple years older, wearing a long woolen skirt with an apron on top. ¡°Come on, father wants us to help with the cows,¡± the young woman told her. ¡°I¡¯ll be there later Sabine,¡± Jeanne said, nestling herself more comfortably. ¡°Jeanne, seriously!¡± ¡°Will you stop being such a spoiled sport?¡± Jeanne snapped before murmuring to herself. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t know fun if it slapped you in the face.¡± She waited for a response, planning her next retort when after a long pause, she opened her eyes. ¡°Sabine,¡± she said confused. Jeanne sat up, seeing her sister missing. ¡°Sabine?¡± Rising to her feet she noticed the leaves had changed from green to reds, goldens and autumnal colors. A cold wind blew through the trees and sent of icy shiver up her spine. ¡°Sabine!¡± Running her fingers through her hair, she began breathing heavy. ¡°Sabine!¡± she screamed, her voice echoing in the forest. She caught the faint cries of a woman in the distant. Not Sabine, someone older. Oh gods!, she thought, Mother! She raced through the forest as fast as she could. Breathing quickly as with each stride, tears flying off her face and desperately pleading to the gods for this to be a cruel fantasy. Moving towards the end of the forest she charged in, hearing a horrified shriek as she was bathed in pure white light. *** Jeanne awoke with a cold sweat covering her skin. Sitting up immediately and breathing in short, rapid breaths as she looked around at the room. The light of the moon gave the room a soft glow. She found herself in a bed, in the middle of a large bedchamber. Hearing soft tapping of a rain hitting the wood and window from the outside. As her breathing slowed down, her partner, Leonidas, stirred from his slumber and sitting up next to her. ¡°Everything all right?¡± he asked in a groggy voice. Jeanne nodded, her hand on her forehead and her lips quivering. ¡°Just a bad dream. A really bad dream.¡± Leonidas wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She rested her head on his shoulder, clasping her hand over his. He kissed her head. ¡°You want me to brew up some tea?¡± She nodded again, faster this time. ¡°Please.¡± He gave her a quick embrace before rising from their bed and after throwing a thick robe made his made downstairs. She pulled her knees close and began trembling as she wept silently. Grabbing a pillow, she pressed it against her face and let loose a painful scream. She tossed it back and felt herself begin to feel calm. She went over to the wardrobe, grabbing her robe and joined Leonidas in the kitchen of his home. The fire mow roaring, a kettle resting an iron frame and a small amount of steam flowing out of its spout. She sat near the fire, feeling the flames touch her legs and feet. Holding her hands out, she cold began leaving her fingers and she ran her right hand over her neck. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Leonidas took the kettle and poured the water into two cups, handing one to Jeanne. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, blowing on the surface before taking a sip. ¡°You¡¯ve been having that dream a lot lately,¡± he said, holding his cup in between his hands. ¡°This happens when it gets close to the anniversary of ¡­,¡± she paused, taking a deep breath to steady her thoughts. ¡°¡­ when I lost her.¡± ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± Leonidas asked her. She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I can do about it.¡± Her hands shuffled the cup as she looked down at her tea. ¡°It¡¯s been over ten years when ¡­ you know it still feels as fresh as the day it happened.¡± ¡°The pain?¡± She slowly looked back up at him. ¡°And the anger.¡± Leonidas said nothing, keeping his eyes on hers. ¡°I know we joke about it, you and me, as well as the others, but there was a time where I was ¡­ not the best person to be around. I¡¯d snap at anything I thought was an insult. Hell it wasn¡¯t a normal day if I wasn¡¯t in a fisticuff in some manner.¡± ¡°Did you and Kel ever cross swords?¡± ¡°A lot,¡± she replied. ¡°There were a few who thought we hated each other. And at first I thought he did.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never asked him, but I think he quickly picked up there was something and just let me get it out.¡± ¡°Was that why you began to study magic?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jeanne asked, taking another sip of her tea. ¡°You know, casting spells requires concentration and emotional control.¡± ¡°It does?¡± ¡°Yeah. Did ¡­ did no one tell you that?¡± ¡°Concentration yes, but no one mentioned emotional control.¡± ¡°That raises more questions than answers, but that¡¯s another matter entirely.¡± Jeanne chuckled. ¡°To be honest, it might¡¯ve been good that I did tie my magic with my emotions. It gave me a way to focus that part of me in a manner where I wasn¡¯t pushing everyone I knew away.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Leonidas hummed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just reminded me of someone I knew back in the Outlands.¡± Jeanne leaned forward lifting her eyebrows slowly. Leonidas smiled letting a chuckle. ¡°Not her.¡± Jeanne smiled, taking another sip of her tea. ¡°It¡¯s can be hard to not think of her on some days.¡± ¡°I get that,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Even when you lose someone under natural circumstances it can be hard to adjust to the new normal.¡± ¡°And I think it took me a long time to start adjusting into it in a healthy manner,¡± Jeanne said, looking around at the rafters above them before turning her gaze back to Leonidas. ¡°Well, a lot of people tend to spend their entire lives avoiding it altogether. So, it says that you¡¯re taking those steps.¡± Jeanne leaned next to Leonidas, resting her head on his shoulder. ¡°Thanks, Doc. This is really helping.¡± ¡°Feeling better?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°You want to head back to bed, or do you want to stay here for a while.¡± Jeanne closed her eyes, snuggling closer to Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay here a bit longer. Listen to the fire for a little while.¡± Leonidas held her close, resting his head on hers. ¡°Just remember I charge by the minute.¡± ¡°You would say that,¡± she said relaxed, feeling the heat of the fire soothe her spirit. Part Thirty: Old Sins The two arrived to The Unyielding Fortress, the headquarters of their mercenary company, The Wolves. Much of the dark and ominous aura from their first encounter was long gone. Amazing what three months can do, Jeanne thought to herself looking at the stone face of the high walls. There was no longer the sense of danger, of caution, of dread. Now there was a sense of strength and revitalized honor. The stain glass windows now showing the emblem of their company a wolf¡¯s head looking forward, its eyes all white and stalwart in its gaze. Leonidas and Jeanne moved through down the path and arrived to the gatehouse where they found a small elven woman practice with her bow in a deepened bailey to their right. ¡°Maeryn!¡± Jeanne called out, waving to the elf. Maeryn loosened her pull on the bow string, turning to the couple and waved back. ¡°Hello there!¡± ¡°How¡¯s everyone been doing?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Not bad,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°Everyone¡¯s been set up with their own quarters, and Allianna¡¯s workers have finished providing some better lighting for the library.¡± ¡°Oh, thank the gods,¡± exclaimed Leonidas. ¡°That¡¯ll help my eyes.¡± ¡°You mean, you don¡¯t enjoy being cloaked in the darkness as you educate yourself on the darker knowledge of the world?¡± Jeanne asked nudging his arm. ¡°No!¡± Leonidas challenged. ¡°I like being in a well-lit setting. And I don¡¯t enjoy straining my eyes in near pure darkness for the ambiance.¡± ¡°Well not with that attitude,¡± said Maeryn. Leonidas looked at Maeryn with a look of utter desperation, Jeanne doing the same with sheer delight. ¡°I thought we were on good terms,¡± he said to the archer. ¡°We are, but I like to mess with people sometimes.¡± Leonidas turned to Jeanne. ¡°I blame you for this.¡± Jeanne pondered the thought before agreeing with vigor. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take this one.¡± Leonidas shook his head and continued into the main hall seeing Kveldulf Einarsen and Miyamoto Benkin practicing their sword skills. The first level of the keep was refitted to being their training hall. Their training swords swung through the air with great speed. Striking their generating terrible blasts that echoed off the walls. Jeanne watched the two in their element, it was hard not to admire the dedication put in to hone their craft. She spotted Hypatia and Silvius standing next to a series six of hourglasses. Five had already drifted downwards, with the last one having its final grains of sand trickle down to the bottom. Silvius took a stick and smacked a bell nearby three times. Kveldulf and Benkin returned their weapons to an attention stance and after a moment reached out and gripped the other¡¯s forearm. ¡°That was a good one,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°It was,¡± said Benkin, ¡°I had a fun time.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± Kveldulf asked Hypatia. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Hypatia said as she leafed through a small book. ¡°Hmm, divide that by one, carry the four, don¡¯t the forget the ¡­ Doc and Kel.¡± Leonidas narrowed his gaze towards Hypatia. ¡°You just picked that randomly, didn¡¯t you.¡± Hypatia nodded eagerly. Leonidas went over to one of the several weapon racks and grabbed a long, unadorned staff. As he and Kveldulf took their stances, Jeanne moved around the ring. Towards the stairs at the back of the room and negotiated her way up to the war-room. She found their commander, Cid, standing over a map and several missives over a large circular table. She moved closer to the table as Cid spotted her. ¡°Jeanne,¡± he said to her, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here.¡± ¡°Just arrived with Doc.¡± ¡°Oh, where is the good doctor?¡± ¡°Trying not to die while sparring Kel.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Cid replied. ¡°That should be a wonderful exhibition to see.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°We would know if we were present for the meetings,¡± he said, giving her a wide-eyed look. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°We¡¯ve been present for every meeting.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Cid admitted, ¡°but it¡¯s been too long since we¡¯ve given each other some hassle.¡± Cid then looked down at the papers before his brow furrowed and he turned back to Jeanne. ¡°Wait, when do have meetings once a week or twice a week?¡± ¡°Twice, that way we can focus on other obligations between contracts.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then why did I think it was once a week?¡± Cid asked, ¡°Because you¡¯re overworking yourself again?¡± Cid looked up at to the heavens. ¡°Gods, mother was right. I am too dedicated to my work.¡± ¡°Could be worse. You¡¯re not married to your sword.¡± Cid looked at her. ¡°You know someone is.¡± ¡°Yeah ¡­ you¡¯re probably right.¡± ¡°Be an odd wedding night.¡± ¡°Could you imagine if they got a divorce?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I would you¡¯d get the better cut of the estate?¡± Jeanne followed Both looked at each other and before they began blurting out laughing. As they regained their composure Jeanne asked, ¡°So has anything come in from Allianna or another contract?¡± Cid shook his head. ¡°Nothing recently of terrible import? Most of those who were aiding Baeron have skuttled underground for the time being. We have had a couple of bounties come in. Mostly minor ones, but they¡¯ve brought in a few coins.¡± ¡°Any contracts still lingering?¡± Cid brushed a few pieces of parchment aside. ¡°Uh, I know I saw one earlier. Let me see,¡± he grabbed one contract, looked it over closely and handed it to Jeanne. ¡°This was a bounty that seemed promising.¡± Jeanne reached out, taking the bounty and reading it closely. Her eyes first narrowed as she skimmed over the writing. Her brows furrowed as her mouth slowly opened. Her breathing began quickening as she gripped the paper tightly in her clenched fist. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°Are we taking it?¡± Jeanne asked staring at Cid. ¡°I mean,¡± Cid said hesitantly, ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like a priority when I first read it.¡± Jeanne said nothing, looking down at the parchment with murderous intent. ¡°You mind cluing me in here, Jeanne?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of them,¡± she said through gritted teeth. Cid¡¯s mouth dropped. ¡°One of them?¡± Jeanne nodded, she began growling as she breathed. She snarled as she lifted her fist into the air as she slammed her hand was covered in rockscales. Cid came over and placed his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Fucking Kolvilles!¡± ¡°All right,¡± he said to her, ¡°let¡¯s pay the good captain a visit, see if we can ¨C¡± ¡°What is there to find out Cid!¡± Jeanne snapped, ¡°these bastards are the same who murdered my sister. We should be out there gutting them like pigs!¡± ¡°I know, Jeanne, I know,¡± he said. ¡°You know I wouldn¡¯t want anything more. But we don¡¯t know where to start looking for them. And I doubt the bounty on your head has gone away either. Let alone you¡¯re branded an outlaw, someone could stab you in the middle of the street and their wouldn¡¯t be a single charge made to hold them accountable.¡± Jeanne looked down as she calmed herself down before she looked back to Cid. ¡°I won¡¯t say I know what you feel. I won¡¯t dare insult you like that. But I know if the situation was reversed, I would want you to caution me to not rush into something without being prepared.¡± Jeanne took a deep breath before nodding her head. ¡°I guess that¡¯s why you¡¯re the leader.¡± ¡°A leader is only as good as the people they¡¯re with,¡± he said, calmly taking the bounty and holding in the air. ¡°But this now our priority.¡± ¡°Thanks Cid,¡± she said, a weak smile on her face. ¡°I appreciate that.¡± ¡°Not at all. You¡¯re family.¡± ¡°Then why can¡¯t you lend me money when I ask?¡± ¡°Firstly, you kept using it to get yourself in trouble. And second, you have a lovely doctor to fund your penchant for chaos.¡± ¡°And here I was thinking we were kin.¡± Cid looked at her with his eyes half opened. ¡°Jeanne, if you were actual kin, then we wouldn¡¯t be on speaking terms.¡± ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll need to write that down.¡± ¡°And to think I call you a friend,¡± Cid said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. *** Jeanne sat on a ledge overlooking one of the deepened baileys. She would look around at the empty training field before letting out a heavy breath and looking back down again. ¡°Copper for your thoughts?¡± she heard Maeryn ask. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Just in my head right now.¡± Maeryn sat next Jeanne, laying her bow down next to her. ¡°Anything you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Just learned of a contract that came in from the city guards. Turns out one of the brothers who ¡­ took my sister, Sabine, has a price on his head.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be a good thing?¡± ¡°You would think that. But life has a way to just making something simple excruciatingly difficult.¡± ¡°That¡¯s never a good sign.¡± ¡°No ¡­ no it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well, what¡¯s keeping the authorities from just, you know, rounding them all up, throwing them into a dungeon and throwing away the key?¡± ¡°They¡¯re nobles,¡± Jeanne replied. Maeryn closed her eyes and let out a low moan. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Too low in the pecking order to inherit status and wealth, but too high in society to be given the same punishments most are heir to.¡± ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jeanne admitted, her voice breaking. ¡°Every inclination wants me to go off and rip their heads off with my bare hands, place them on silver platters and serve them back to their kin. But I know such things can be problematic.¡± ¡°I would think you¡¯d rush off without a care to the consequences.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m still dealing with the consequences of such an action,¡± Jeanne followed, looking back at Maeryn. ¡°The man who murdered her, he wasn¡¯t subtle about what happened. And waited until he didn¡¯t have his brothers to defend him. Made him think he was going to have another roll in the hay. Before he knew it, he was covered in his own blood, begging for me to let him live. When I saw the fear in his eyes, I saw the fear in Sabine¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t a clean kill, Maeryn. He did not die quick, and I enjoyed myself completely in the moment.¡± She took a moment to look up at the rocky ceiling above them while taking a deep breath. ¡°I thought I was going to be hailed a hero. Bringing justice when the system would not. Then I learned of the bounty on my head and that was when I ran from home. By luck or some divine intervention, I ran into a recruiter for Cold Company and, well, here I am.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what it must¡¯ve been like to go through that.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m still going through, if we¡¯re going to be honest here.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t think that¡¯s something you fully get over, Jeanne.¡± ¡°I just ¡­ I thought I would have started having some closer with what happened. Some peace of mind and it¡¯s like nothing happened. Like that little sniveling shit still walks the earth! Like ¡­ like I did nothing.¡± Maeryn looked at Jeanne, grimacing as she tried to find the right words to comfort her friend. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if I did any good at all, or if I made the situation worse for people back home. I wouldn¡¯t even be surprised if they all cursed my name.¡± ¡°If they do, then they¡¯re fools in every sense of the word,¡± Maeryn said, putting her hand on Jeanne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I cannot say I entirely blame them for staying their hands towards a nobleman, even when the noble is an outright bastard. But if they hold any ill will towards you for seeking out justice, then I cannot feel any sympathy. Especially when you did what many of them had considered doing.¡± ¡°And I left them at the mercy to those who cared little on if they lived or died. Would we not feel a sense of longing for retribution if we were given the same fate?¡± ¡°I see your point, though I still stand by my thoughts on this.¡± Jeanne put her hand on Maeryn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That means a lot, Maer, thank you.¡± They turned to the opened gatehouse as Kveldulf called out. ¡°Hey, Cid wants to call a meeting with everyone.¡± Both women rose to their feet and made their way inside. Part Thirty-One: Return To the Solar Jeanne arrived to the door of a three-story building with red and gold lanterns hanging in the front. She looked up at a sign saying Selene¡¯s Solar, and moved to knock on the door as she looked around. A slide at around her eye¡¯s height slide open and she saw a dwarf man looking back at her. ¡°Hello there,¡± the dwarf man said, he paused holding up a finger before slowly turning his head away and letting out a long, ¡°Ah ¡­¡± He turned back to Jeanne, his cheeks beginning to redden. ¡°I do apologize, but I cannot recall your name, miss.¡± Jeanne chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Jeanne Marias. How are you Gruddoc?¡± ¡°Oh, and you remembered mine,¡± he said with embarrassment. ¡°Now I am very much in the wrong here.¡± Jeanne put her hand over her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s no problem, truly.¡± ¡°Well, aside from seeing a full-grown dwarf blush, was there anything you needed? Come to see Lady Selene?¡± ¡°Actually, I was hoping to see Hypatia,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain if she was here.¡± ¡°I do believe she is inside, though they might not be in the state to entertain visitors.¡± ¡°Would there happen to be a waiting area at all?¡± ¡°Well, we got one, but that is where we have patrons and the talent pool mingle and discuss preliminary business agreements.¡± ¡°Business agreements?¡± ¡°I try not to belittle the professional element of this line of work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair. Is there a tavern in there, per chance?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Gruddoc replied. ¡°Helps provide an additional income aside from the primary services and tutoring.¡± ¡°You all definitely have your toes in a few markets, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It helps to diversify our services.¡± ¡°Again, fair enough. But I wouldn¡¯t mind waiting at the tavern, if it¡¯s all right with you.¡± ¡°Aye, give me a moment and I¡¯ll let you in.¡± Gruddoc stepped down and in a quick moment opened the door and allowed Jeanne inside. Escorting her to the tavern, they arrived to a balcony with tables overlooking a wide room below them. Jeanne looked to her right and saw several more tables, some empty and the rest with people eating. In the middle of the room was a large tree, the bark white with glittering jewels scattered throughout. The leaves were covered in gold, silver and crystalline blue colors. At the far left was a long bar with two people tending to people there. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°This is impressive,¡± she said to Gruddoc. ¡°Why thank you,¡± he said with distinction. ¡°We take great pride for our eatery and culinary services. But I¡¯ll let Lady Selene and Lady Hypatia know of your arrival.¡± ¡°Much obliged to you, as always, Gruddoc.¡± ¡°Of course, Lady Jeanne,¡± he said, bowing his head and taking his leave. She made her way down to the bar and waved one of the servers over. ¡°What can I get for you?¡± they asked. ¡°Mead?¡± ¡°Any particular brand?¡± they asked, nudging their head towards a variety of meads on the shelves behind them. ¡°Not really,¡± said Jeanne. As the server went to grab her drink Jeanne turned around and surveyed the people around the eating area. The patrons were dressed in attire from various social classes, mostly merchants and nobles. Those of the working courtesans wore silk himation and chiton attire for the men and women, respectively. Both going over one shoulder and fastened around the waist with a corded belt. One of the men came to the counter next to Jeanne. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen your face around here before,¡± he said to her. The server handed her a dram of mead and as she handed them the coin she turned to the courtesan. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know this even existed.¡± ¡°Well we do strive to ensure our customers are completely satisfied,¡± the courtesan said to her. As she took a sip, her eyes widened. ¡°Oh! Oh no. I am so sorry. I¡¯m waiting to meet someone here.¡± The courtesan gave her a warm smile. ¡°Nothing to worry about. I¡¯m Forwin, and if you change your mind, I¡¯ll be over there with some of the others.¡± As he finished, he pointed to where the tree was and the other courtesans were chatting with each other merrily. Jeanne turned back to the server. ¡°I wasn¡¯t mean, was I?¡± The server shook their head. ¡°No,¡± they said calmly. Jeanne let out a relieved sigh as she heard Hypatia call to her. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Jeanne saw her come down the stairs. Her hair lightly tousled and a relaxed smile on her face. ¡°You look like you came back from a long holiday.¡± ¡°I feel like it,¡± she replied. ¡°It¡¯s amazing what a night of dancing, singing and other joys can do for the soul. But I doubt you came here to see what how I¡¯ve been enjoying some down time.¡± ¡°Honestly I kinda wished I known about this part of Selene¡¯s establishment.¡± ¡°You should definitely try some of the food when you get a chance.¡± Jeanne took another sip from her mead. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. But you¡¯re right, I didn¡¯t come here for a chat.¡± Hypatia took a seat at the counter. ¡°Well, what¡¯s the matter everything all right?¡± Jeanne told her of the bounty she and Cid went over and the connection it had to her time before joining Cold Company. ¡°Well,¡± Hypatia said, blinking her eyes a few times as she processed the information. ¡°I was not expecting that. I¡¯m surprised Cid didn¡¯t bring this up during the meeting.¡± ¡°I asked him not to,¡± Jeanne told her. ¡°How come?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to do, Hypatia. I have a price on my head back home, my life is literally held outside of the law last time I was there, and I don¡¯t believe they would¡¯ve lifted this because I was gone for a while.¡± ¡°Well, is there anything I can do?¡± ¡°Possibly,¡± Jeanne said, looking uncomfortable to say the next few words. ¡°Are you able to get access to any copies of any royal writs or decrees?¡± ¡°To a certain extent, yes. How come?¡± ¡°I wanted to know if you could get me anything made regarding the Kolvilles family.¡± Hypatia put her hand on her chin, pondering the requesting. ¡°We can definitely check out the archives. Though they don¡¯t have any fealty or major commercial interactions with Koulberg. Which can make things a little difficult. Is anything in particular you¡¯re looking for?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Everything you can find,¡± Jeanne replied. Part Thirty-Two: Ambush Arriving to the Council¡¯s Palace in the city, Jeanne looked up at where Kveldulf and his ancestor, Baeron, fell during the latter¡¯s attempt to overthrow the city. The remnants of the shattered glass now removed and a new one was in the midst of being installed. Instead of it being an image of the Council, it was a city of Koulberg under the light of the sun. ¡°Not a bad change of d¨¦cor,¡± Jeanne said to Hypatia. ¡°No, not a bad one at all.¡± Hypatia said with a smile on her face. Entering the building, they reached the fourth floor, with a sign saying, City Archives hanging over the door. Hypatia turned back to Jeanne. ¡°If there¡¯s anything about the Kolvilles that came this way, it would be in here.¡± Jeanne nodded as they entered. Opening the door, the walls were lined with shelves stretching up to the ceiling. Candles were fastened to the walls and braziers hung from the top to provide light. All held away from the papers nearby. Every shelf filled with tomes, scrolls, single sheets of parchments. Long ladders rested against the wall to Jeanne¡¯s left and in the distance, there was a desk with a person sitting at a lone candle flickering. She well older than Jeanne or Hypatia, though Jeanne could not get a gauge by how much. The women hummed as she was scribbling something down on a piece of paper, stopping to gently dip her quill in the inkwell. She was swatting away at a miniscule gnat when she noticed the two women standing by the doorway. ¡°Hypatia, so good to see you!¡± Hypatia led Jeanne to the clerk and waved, ¡°Hello, Aila, how have you been?¡± ¡°Oh, you know,¡± Aila said, looking at the rows of literature around her, ¡°having wonderful one-way conversations with all these records and tidbits of information.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t imagine that being too interesting after a while,¡± Jeanne replied, examining the size of the collection throughout the room. ¡°Oh, some of these are far more intriguing than you¡¯d first think,¡± Aila said, pulling out a parchment from a pile. ¡°Let¡¯s see this one is from last month. One of the local judges reported on a woman who was convicted of concealing her pregnancy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an actual charge?¡± Jeanne asked bewildered. ¡°Sadly yes,¡± said Alia, ¡°and then there¡¯s this one we received from the Dual Imperium. This person was charged with murdering a home intruder in the middle of the day.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard that one before,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Not sure if that is one of those holdover laws from ages ago, but I¡¯m glad that¡¯s not a thing we have here.¡± Alia paused for a moment to think. ¡°At least, I don¡¯t believe so. Going to need to visit the local laws and have a nice chat with those parchments,¡± she said looking up and shaking her head. She looked back to Hypatia and Jeanne and continued, ¡°But I doubt you two came here simply to discuss the conversation skills of the written word.¡± ¡°No,¡± Hypatia said to Alia, ¡°we were trying to find records that might¡¯ve come this way on the Kolville Gang.¡± Alia¡¯s face wrinkled as she pondered the name and hummed. ¡°Hmm, somewhat familiar. Where did they hail?¡± ¡°The Prydainlands,¡± Jeanne said, looking away from Alia. ¡°Oh right,¡± Alia replied, snapping her fingers. ¡°We just got some writs from Legornesis, not too long ago.¡± Alia rose from her seat and went over to a neat pile of writs on a nearby shelf. She grabbed the whole pile and handed it to Hypatia. ¡°These came in not too long ago. Most are renewals of outlawry status or updated bounties and the like. Take a look, I¡¯m certain the Kolvilles would be in here.¡± ¡°Thank you, Alia,¡± Hypatia said as she handed half the pile to Jeanne. ¡°Of course,¡± Alia replied, ¡°And don¡¯t hesitate if you need anything else.¡± Alia stopped, closing one eye, deep in thought as she looked back to Hypatia and Jeanne. ¡°I said ¡®don¡¯t hesitate¡¯ right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Hypatia replied, nodding. ¡°Oh good,¡± Alia said, relieved. ¡°Sometimes I think I forget the ¡®don¡¯t¡¯ part.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°I¡¯ve had that happen before,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°Never a fun time.¡± ¡°Well, hopefully that¡¯ll put you on the right track, and let me know when you¡¯re done,¡± Alia said to them before returning to her previous task. Hypatia and Jeanne went over to a table, placing the writs down and going through them. Hypatia would pick on up, and a brief look later place it down and began reading the other. Jeanne looked at the first one on the pile, reading the multitude of words piled together, stating the name of all the offices one person held. Some seemed to be a repeat of the same line just before, as if the writer wanted to remind the reader the specific titles invested in the person by memory. Half the writ didn¡¯t even touch on the actual subject matter of the crime being discussed. ¡°You want to know a trick to go through these quick?¡± Hypatia asked Jeanne. ¡°Absolutely!¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Most of this stuff is just fluff, the part you want to look at is at the bottom. If it isn¡¯t the people in question, you can move onto the next one.¡± ¡°Did you want them piled up in a certain way?¡± ¡°If you put them down in the order they¡¯re in now, we should be fine.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jeanne said, skipping to the bottom and seeing an unfamiliar name. ¡°I can see why this is a thing few dare take on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous life, archiving. The cataloging, the alphabetizing, and, of course, the dreaded paper cuts.¡± Jeanne quickly grimaced as she read another writ. ¡°I hate those,¡± she said, looking at the name at the bottom and placing it on the pile. ¡°Almost prefer fighting that ¡­ big thing we ran into at Stonehammer.¡± ¡°Oh, the Bukavac?¡± Jeanne gave Hypatia an annoyed glare. ¡°You would know the name.¡± ¡°I mean you¡¯re the one who blew it into two chunky bloody pieces. That would only be the courteous thing to do.¡± ¡°Only you would say that,¡± Jeanne said, trying to stifle a giggle. ¡°I mean, I not the kind of girl who explodes and tell,¡± Hypatia replied, turning red and closing her eyes tightly as she tried to compose herself in vain. Jeanne felt tears roll down her cheeks as her sides began to hurt. ¡°Damn it, Hypatia,¡± she said in a strained voice. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Hypatia said, covering her mouth. Both women took a moment to regain their composure, Jeanne even cracking her neck as she fanned herself with her hand. ¡°That ¡­ that was a badly needed laugh.¡± ¡°I am happy to provide the service,¡± Hypatia replied, her hand on her chest as she steadied her breathing. Jeanne picked up another writ and examined the name of the person in question. Her eyes widened, looked up at Hypatia and shot up from her seat. ¡°What is it?¡± Hypatia asked. Jeanne went over to Hypatia. ¡°That name, it¡¯s one of them!¡± ¡°Mind if I see it?¡± Hypatia asked, holding her hand out. Jeanne gave her the writ and she read closely. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This is a full term of outlaw.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it?¡± ¡°Some kingdoms have varying statutes when it comes to much a person be living outside the law. In some cases, it can be enough to where if someone wants to be compensated for an unpaid debt, they can be quartered-outlawed. Others if your half-outlawed you can be beaten to a pulp and hauled in front of the justices of the peace, and no one will bat an eye so long as you draw their breath.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that allowed anyway?¡± ¡°There¡¯s usually a fine if the person is in a sorry state. Which is usually why that¡¯s not a common status used.¡± ¡°And full outlawry?¡± ¡°That means anything can happen and no one can do or say anything.¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s a comforting thought.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know that?¡± ¡°Hy, when I learned there was a bounty on my head, I didn¡¯t stay long to get the details.¡± ¡°Sorry, that was ¡­ a bad question.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jeanne said, waving her hand, ¡°I knew you didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± ¡°Well, for what it¡¯s worth, the designations are usually reserved for the nobility. Keeps them from becoming a full bandit like their lesser peers.¡± ¡°How lovely for them,¡± Jeanne said apathetically. ¡°Can¡¯t expect them to be held to the same standards as the rest of us.¡± ¡°Surprised they weren¡¯t buddying up to the last council.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if that was happening in some capacity.¡± ¡°Well, does this mean the whole gang is outlawed at the same level?¡± ¡°More than likely. Not often you have a group of bandits with varying degrees of outlaws.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why the pirates began forming a guild.¡± ¡°I know. Gets confusing after a while.¡± ¡°Does it say what are the charges involved?¡± ¡°Nothing specific. Robbing, murder, kidnapping, can¡¯t say there¡¯s anything too extreme here written.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. They were doing that for years, and not even the local sheriff would lift a hand to quell them.¡± ¡°Could be they aimed higher than their protection could hold back.¡± ¡°Maybe, we should get this back to Cid, see how he wants to proceed with this.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Hypatia, stuffing the writ into her small satchel. ¡°Let me check this out of the archives and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡± Reaching the outer plaza, Jeanne looked out to the courtyard. People moving about, chattering amongst themselves, paying little heed to her or Hypatia. She turned to Hypatia, who was straightening her things in her satchel and adjusting her song-blades. When she was finished, she turned to Jeanne. ¡°Ready to go?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, looking around the plaza. Entering one of the empty streets Jeanne looked up at the rooftops around them. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Hypatia asked her. ¡°Just got an odd feeling,¡± Jeanne replied, keeping her gaze upwards. ¡°Uh ¡­ Jeanne,¡± Hypatia said, lightly tapping Jeanne shoulder. Jeanne saw several armed men facing them, all of them facing. All of them had their weapons out and ready to be applied in their deadly application. Jeanne turned around and found several more behind them, equally armed. Jeanne grimaced, turned to Hypatia, who was looking back at her and turned back to the armed men. ¡°Well shit.¡± Part Thirty-Three: Complications Cid and Kveldulf arrived to the gate of the city guards. One of the guards saluted the two men. ¡°Master Cid, Lord Kveldulf,¡± they said, ¡°good to see you both again.¡± ¡°Hope the city hasn¡¯t been too harsh on the guard,¡± Cid said to the sentry. ¡°No more than normal usual,¡± the sentry replied. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± said Cid, chuckling, ¡°I was wondering if we could see the captain? We had some business we were hoping he could help us with?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said the sentry, waving them in, ¡°I¡¯ll send someone up escort you both to him right now.¡± Reaching the central command of the city¡¯s guards, Cid and Kel found Captain Laurent sitting at his desk discussing matters with two individuals. Both dressed in black leather brigandine armor. One was a man, brown hair down to the base of his neck and a well-trimmed beard and moustache. The other was dressed the same as their companion, but had their head covered with a barbuta helm, with narrow slits in front of their eyes. Laurent spotted Cid and Kveldulf before turning back to the other two and standing up and holding out his hand. ¡°Excuse for a moment, please. Cid, Kel!¡± ¡°Captain,¡± Cid replied, gripping the captain¡¯s forearm, ¡°sorry to catch you in the middle of something.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± said Laurent, ¡°in fact I was just talking about you and the others to these two just now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if we should be flattered or concerned,¡± Kveldulf said to the captain. ¡°The captain has done all but sung your praises,¡± the man said, rising to his feet and extending a hand to the two. ¡°Now that is something I would¡¯ve liked to have seen,¡± Cid said to Kveldulf. ¡°Especially to someone I do not know.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± said the man, ¡°I¡¯m Teodore Galca and this is my partner, Gabriel Cutov.¡± Gabriel bowed their head forward. ¡°Well met,¡± the voice was distorted through the mask. ¡°So, what odes have you sung to our fame?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Ones you¡¯ll just have to keep waiting for later,¡± Laurent said, turning back towards his two guests. ¡°However, as I was saying, I believe the two of you might have some mutual goals.¡± ¡°Oh really,¡± Cid replied, ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ve been made aware a member of the Kolvilles clan has found a sizable bounty on their head.¡± Cid cocked an eyebrow up. ¡°We heard about that, too. Though we haven¡¯t really decided on if we¡¯re taking the bounty or not.¡± Kveldulf looked at Cid before turning back to the two others. ¡°How you two had a run in with these individuals before?¡± ¡°Personally, no,¡± said Teodore, ¡°but they¡¯ve made themselves ¡­ known to some of other associates.¡± Cid and Kveldulf looked at each other before looking back at the two. ¡°Should we be discussing this in a more ¡­ private setting?¡± Cid asked. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be a horrible thing,¡± Teodore replied. Gabriel nodded silently in agreement before rising to their feet. Laurent led them to one of the interrogation rooms. ¡°Sorry if it¡¯s not ¡­ homely. We weren¡¯t expecting it to be entertaining guests,¡± the captain said slightly embarrassed. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Nothing to fret, my friend,¡± said Cid. ¡°This should suit our purposes quite nicely.¡± As the four sat down around the small table Cid turned to Teodore. ¡°So, what exactly can we do for each other?¡± Teodore cleared his throat, raising his eyebrows high before regaining his composure. ¡°Hmm, excuse me. So, while we don¡¯t want to say we¡¯re trying to be, well, I don¡¯t want to use the word secretive.¡± ¡°I guess ambiguous wouldn¡¯t help,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I was thinking that for a moment,¡± said Teodore, ¡°but no.¡± ¡°We would prefer it not made public knowledge,¡± said Gabriel. The three turned to them before looking at each other. ¡°I¡¯m certain there¡¯s a simple word that doesn¡¯t sound ominous,¡± said Teodore. ¡°But in any case, we¡¯ve been made aware that the Kolville brothers have gotten themselves into a bit of a bind with their upper peers.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve heard a little bit about that,¡± said Cid, ¡°But I don¡¯t see what this would have to do with your ¡­ associates? I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t think we know who you¡¯re working for specifically.¡± ¡°We¡¯re members of an order referred to as The Crimson Blades,¡± Teodore. ¡°Right the vampire hunters,¡± said Kveldulf. Both Teodore and Gabriel looked at each other. ¡°We prefer sentinels, if it¡¯s all the same to you,¡± Teodore said to them. ¡°How come?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Hunters can give the implication that we¡¯re hunting all vampires. And that¡¯s simply what we do.¡± ¡°And what is that your people do?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We hunt vampiric criminals,¡± said Gabriel, ¡°those who risk adding further wrath upon those who simply wish to live their lives in peace.¡± ¡°Not to mention perpetuating some of the harsher iconography when one thinks of vampires and other creatures that go bump in the night.¡± ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re more like specialized guardsmen,¡± Cid said to Teodore. ¡°That¡¯s a fair assessment, yes,¡± said Teodore. ¡°And a good portion of our numbers of vampires themselves. Be somewhat contradictory to be in a good dedicated to the eradication of your people, as well as yourself in the process.¡± ¡°And how did the Kolvilles get your attention?¡± ¡°After the Vamprye Disporia, many vampires journeyed to various parts of the world,¡± said Teodore. ¡°The vast majority residing in the Prydainlands for refuge and safety. When they arrived, they had brought some of their more sacred artifacts of their culture and faith. Tapestries, religious tomes, statues, royal jewels, things of that nature. ¡°As you can imagine, not everyone was thrilled to have such esoteric neighbors. And made this well known. One of the lords, Eustace Kolville, had been trying to wrest land granted to the refugees by his own high king. This led to some rather violent incursions between both parties. Recently, one of his curs born progenies absconded with an item of significant importance to the community.¡± Held his hand over his mouth and silently took in the words as Cid responded. ¡°What type of artifact are we talking about here? Cultural, religious, magical?¡± ¡°It has a high value in terms of it as a relic of the past.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t know if it has magical properties?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Much of our past was lost during the Disporia. And what we do know is a little better than educated guesses if not pure myths.¡± ¡°And what pray tell did the Kolvilles steal?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It is a stone sarcophagus called The Heart of Evenstar. We¡¯re not certain who is buried in it. But it¡¯s been a hallowed relic of our people for thousands of years.¡± ¡°And what does this Eustace wish to gain from taking this vestige?¡± Cid asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± said Teodore. ¡°And that¡¯s what we¡¯re concerned about.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not certain if this is a relic of incredible magical power, if it has a curse placed to prevent it from being opened, or if it is simply someone¡¯s resting place,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°And what exactly would you have us do?¡± Cid asked the two. ¡°We¡¯ve been tasked by the High King of the Prydainlands, to keep the peace and bring vampires who break the king¡¯s laws. However, we¡¯re not allowed to go after other criminals. And if we made a move against the Kolvilles, it could potentially make vampiric subjects targets for reprisals and even full on pogroms in cities and villages,¡± said Teodore. ¡°And we¡¯d want to take on the Kolvilles?¡± Kveldulf responded. Gabriel reached into an inner pocket in a vest and pulled out a small folded piece of paper and placed it on the table, pushing it towards Cid and Kveldulf. ¡°I do believe one of your own has had a well-established history with the Kolvilles.¡± Cid took the piece of paper, unfolded it and read it carefully. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath and handed the slip to Kveldulf. ¡°Oh no,¡± Kveldulf said in a low growl. ¡°Well, when she goes, she goes big,¡± Cid said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ¡°You should probably know a few bounty hunters have already arrived to collect,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Kveldulf demanded, shooting up from his chair, his hand already grabbing the handle of his shortened halberd. Cid grabbed Kel¡¯s arm and gave him a stern gaze. ¡°They were on the same ship we traveled on when we arrived here,¡± Teodore replied. ¡°One of the reasons we came here was to get in contact with your group so has to alert you all to this.¡± ¡°I hate to be rude,¡± said Cid, rising from his seat and talking quickly, ¡°but we need to attend to this matter right now.¡± Part Thirty-Four: Arrival Before either could answer Cid and Kveldulf raced out of the door. The officers and Laurent watched the two running at full speed through to the stairs. Kveldulf almost knocked someone over as he leapt from the third final step to the ground and rounded the corner. The guards at the gate instinctively began lowering their weapons as Kveldulf and Cid rushed to their horses. The captain poked his head out of a window shouting, ¡°Let them pass!¡± Getting into their saddles, both men spurred their horses into a full gallop. Cid turned to Kvledulf, ¡°Go get the others from the inn, I¡¯ll get the doctor!¡± ¡°How are you gonna find them?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid looked at Kveldulf, not saying a word. ¡°Sorry, took me a second,¡± Kveldulf replied before splitting off to grab the others. Reaching Leonidas¡¯s home, Cid leapt off the horse and slammed his fist against the front door. ¡°Doctor! Open the door!¡± Cid yelled. Cid heard footsteps quickly come down the stairs as the doctor opened the door. ¡°Cid?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°What the hell is going ¨C¡± ¡°Jeanne has bounty hunters after her, where is she?¡± Cid told him. Leonidas, his sword already tied to his belt grabbed his staff from behind the doorway rushed out the door, slamming it behind him. ¡°She and Hypatia were going to the city archives at the Councilor¡¯s Keep.¡± Both men mounted their horses and galloped to the Councilor¡¯s Keep. Leonidas looked around. ¡°I don¡¯t see them.¡± Cid perked an ear up. For a moment there was nothing but ambient noise. Then a faint whisp of a roar he had heard on many battlefields. ¡°This way!¡± he said to Leonidas as his horse returned to a full gallop. ¡°Can you do a signal flare?¡± Cid asked the doctor. Leonidas readied his staff. ¡°Just say when.¡± Riding hard into a side street, Cid shouted. ¡°Get ready to turn hard right, then let a signal out.¡± Leonidas nodded moments before both had their horses skid to a stop and turn right. They saw Jeanne and Hypatia, their backs against each other, their weapons at the ready. Bloodied cuts staining their clothes, several dead men around them as they tried to catch their breaths. Blood splattered on stone walls and shattered boxes. Cid began calling out to Leonidas who already sent a flare signal into the city skyline. A cross bolt barely missed striking the doctor from one of the rooftops. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Take cover!¡± Cid ordered, the four getting behind some of the unbroken crates. ¡°How hurt are you two?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Nothing to keep us from the fight,¡± said Hypatia, looking at a cut on the back of her shoulder. ¡°But it hurts like hell.¡± A man¡¯s voice called out from the shadows. ¡°We don¡¯t want trouble. Just give us the bitch and ¨C¡± Before the man could finish, he began gagging and convulsing, emerging from the shadows as his body twisted and limbs snaped and flesh and blood poured from the fresh wounds. ¡°Call my Jeanne a bitch, will you?¡± Leonidas said. Hypatia looked at Leonidas. ¡°Your eyes,¡± she said to him, pointing. ¡°I¡¯ll worry about that,¡± he said, sending another flare into the sky. ¡°But where the hell is our reinforcements?¡± ¡°Lemme go check,¡± said Cid. ¡°Jeanne, Doctor, keep me covered.¡± ¡°With what?¡± Jeanne blurted. ¡°Just keep me covered,¡± Cid followed, sheathing his sword and ducking in between two buildings and extending claws he sunk them into the plastered walls and negotiated his way up the wall. Pulling himself over the ledge he found six crossbowmen along both sides of the alleyway. He unsheathed his sword, plunging it deep into one of the crossbowmen before he noticed the danger. As the other spotted him, the blade from his shield embedded itself deep in the man¡¯s skull. One crossbowman on the other side loosed a projectile towards Cid. He grabbed a crossbow, firing it towards the two attackers on the next rooftop. As the they dodged the bolt, Cid jumped over the gap and grabbed one of the men as several bolts landed into the man¡¯s torso. Cid spotted a small elven woman and a man wielding a rapier engaging the men on the other side. Thank the gods, he thought to himself before turning his attention back to the next enemy. He struck the man with the hilt of his blade and threw to the ground, screaming before landing hard with silence following. The last two dropped their weapons and fled from Cid. Looking down into the alley, he saw Kveldulf and Benkin hacking and slashing the enemy mob, Jeanne, Hypatia and Leonidas now pressing from the other side. All now standing on the pile of their fallen foe. ¡°Is that all of them?¡± Cid called out. ¡°I think so,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°There weren¡¯t anymore when Ben and I started pressing the attack.¡± ¡°All right, Maer, Sil, let¡¯s rejoin the others and see if any of these bastards are still alive.¡± Climbing back down and returning to the thoroughly bloodied alleyway, Cid looked around at the carnage and shook his head. The captain is not going to happy, he thought to himself. ¡°In the name of ¡­ Lady Allianna ¡­¡± said a city guard, finding The Wolves standing amongst the dozens of bodies on the ground. ¡°Oh my,¡± the poor guard said, now looking at The Wolves with dread. ¡°Would you mind informing your captain there¡¯s been an incident here, please?¡± Cid asked the man cordially. The nodded and ran from the scene. ¡°You¡¯re too nice, you know that?¡± Jeanne said to him. ¡°We¡¯re going to be chewed out enough just for this soiree,¡± Cid replied, ¡°I¡¯d rather not have attacking a poor city-guard on our list.¡± ¡°I think this was a rather clean situation,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And for the record, I did not start this,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Jeanne, I¡¯ve known you long enough to recognize a fight you started over one you somehow get into.¡± ¡°Cid, I think we should get Jeanne and Hypatia back at the clinic to be looked over,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Agree,¡± Cid replied, ¡°but I think we¡¯ve over stayed out welcome. Jeanne, Hy, you two use the horses and the rest of us will move out before anyone else decides they want to investigate the place further.¡± ¡°Should we check to see if anyone¡¯s alive for questioning?¡± Maeryn asked. Cid shook his head. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything they know of interest to us. Come, we should be gone before anymore decide to test their skills.¡± Part Thirty-Five: Recovery Leonidas pulled out a small curved needle and thread, a small pair of scissors, and a salve to place over Hypatia¡¯s wound on her shoulder before bandaging the wound. ¡°Oh, I think I made a mistake in looking,¡± she said, wincing as she turned away. ¡°Not a fan of needles?¡± he asked her. ¡°No, not really.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯ve never liked them myself.¡± She turned to Leonidas, perplexed. ¡°But you work with them.¡± ¡°I got to where my mind doesn¡¯t freeze when I see or use them. But it doesn¡¯t mean we write letters to each other. Now hold still.¡± He looked at the wound, cocking up an eyebrow and humming. ¡°What is it?¡± Hypatia asked him. ¡°Just considering what type of a suture to use.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± ¡°Oh, it nothing terrible,¡± Leonidas said, nodding to himself as he grabbed the needle and threaded it carefully. ¡°Some styles are better suited to larger wounds, others work for smaller cuts. Some are reserved for when you need to reattach the skin to the flesh itself.¡± ¡°Sort of like different stitching patterns?¡± ¡°Precisely!¡± Hypatia sunk her chin into her neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was that ¡­ thorough.¡± ¡°Has to be so we can treat the wound. Also, to make sure the suture doesn¡¯t strangle the skin and flesh.¡± ¡°That can happen?¡± she asked nervously. ¡°It¡¯s a possibility. One reason why we like to check the wound often.¡± ¡°Can I schedule an appointment for tomorrow?¡± ¡°Already on my itinerary.¡± As he began stitching the wound shut, there was a frantic banging on the door. Leonidas, keeping his eyes on his task, said, ¡°Kveldulf, could you get that please?¡± Kveldulf called out on the other side. ¡°Already on it, Doc.¡± Leonidas and Hypatia heard a woman burst through the doorway. ¡°I think it¡¯s Lady Selene,¡± Leonidas said to Hypatia as he finished tying a knot. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be pretty,¡± Hypatia said aloud. ¡°What do you ¨C¡± ¡°How dare you bring her into one of your blasted escapades!¡± they heard Selene bellow from the other side. ¡°Back the fuck off or I¡¯ll bash your fucking teeth in!¡± Jeanne roared back. ¡°Don¡¯t speak to me like that you uncultured rat!¡± ¡°Show you what a rat can do when I rip your throat out!¡± Leonidas pressed his lips together as he heard Jeanne and Selene began screaming at each other. He looked up at Hypatia, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He gingerly placed his tools on the table next to them before making his way to the door. He opened it enough to poke his head out before screaming, ¡°This is a fucking medical clinic, not a fucking May Day festival! Either take it outside or shut the fuck up! And if you can¡¯t shut the fuck up on your own, I¡¯ll sew your fucking lips shut!¡± He followed this with a reserved, ¡°Thank you,¡± before returning back to Hypatia. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Where did that come from?¡± she asked weakly. He finished the last suture and began applying the salve. ¡°Oh, that was just a wonderful leftover during my time in the Outlands. Whether it was a battle, a party or some other situation, people loved to make a scene when you¡¯re trying to keep someone from dying. And after a while you tend to get tired of idiocy.¡± ¡°Wait, even in battles?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, you¡¯d have people have full on arguments about battle tactics and the like when the medical personnel were trying to keep someone¡¯s guts from falling out onto the floor.¡± ¡°How did you make friends there?¡± ¡°Very rarely,¡± he replied, ¡°And enough to count on one hand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to understand why.¡± Leonidas finished with the salve and bandages. ¡°You¡¯re good to go,¡± he said to her. ¡°And I may get some distance between Selene and Jeanne until things simmer down.¡± Hypatia nodded, getting to her feet and entering the surgery room. Inside, everyone looked at her and Leonidas with a wide-eyed gaze. Hypatia went over to Selene, taking her hand and said, ¡°Come, I think I use could a drink for my nerves.¡± ¡°I am in agreement,¡± Selene said, trying to avoid making eye contact with Leonidas as they left. Leonidas turned to Jeanne, who had pressed a bloodied bandage over a wound on her left arm. ¡°Come on,¡± he said, nudging his head toward the examination room. As she entered the room Cid put his hand on Leonidas¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I want us to head for the fortress tomorrow, and plan our next move. And I¡¯m having Maeryn stay here with you two just to have some extra protection.¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll break out some things so she¡¯ll have a bed to sleep on.¡± ¡°Good, and I want to speak with Jeanne once you¡¯re done, alone.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Leonidas said, looking back to the examination room. ¡°I can¡¯t tell how she¡¯s handling all this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But given who sent these men, I can imagine she¡¯s not in a good place.¡± Leonidas let out a heavy sigh. ¡°There should be some mead and a few other things to drink.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get some for everyone else,¡± Cid said as he went up the staircase. Leonidas went inside the examination room. Jeanne was sitting at the table with her head hung low. He could see tears dropping to the floor. Grabbing a bandage he sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her side. ¡°I wish there was something I could say to make this whole thing better, Jeanne.¡± Jeanne looked up, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I just want them to leave me alone,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Gods I even left the damn kingdom, sailed an ocean to put myself between me and them. And they won¡¯t stop hounding me.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said dimly. ¡°Part of me wants to run and hide and never be seen or heard of again. The other half wants to finally face these bastards and put an end to this once and for all. And I can¡¯t even start to think of what I¡¯m going to do.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t I take care of this wound, let yourself just process everything, and we can come back to this after some food and drink.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, or thirsty for that matter.¡± ¡°Even for mead?¡± ¡°Even for mead.¡± ¡°Well, we maybe we can come back to that later. But I should get started on this papercut of yours,¡± Leonidas said as he began cleaning the wound. As he began stitching the slash closed she asked, her eyes looking away, ¡°What would you do?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± he hummed looking up briefly as he began finishing the last series of stitches. ¡°If you were in this situation, would you go back?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. But I¡¯d like to think I would.¡± ¡°I just,¡± Jeanne paused putting her free hand on her forehead. ¡°I know if I go back, I¡¯ll just be one person going up against those already exempted from their own laws. I don¡¯t even know if the village I grew up in wouldn¡¯t try to kill me on sight. Or if they¡¯d sell me out of the damned bounty. I just feel so helpless right now, and I hate not knowing what to do. But I couldn¡¯t just let them get away with what they did to Sabine. I can still remember hearing my mother screaming as they brought her body back for burial. How my father stopped smiling, or laughing, or showing any signs of mirth. And how those filths laughed at it. They laughed her. And when found one of their own, butchered like an animal for the slaughter, they stopped laughing, too. But I don¡¯t know if I can face them alone this time.¡± ¡°Not this time,¡± they heard Cid say as he entered the room. He grabbed a chair, placing it in front and Jeanne and sat down. ¡°Jeanne, I never thought much of having a family. The thought never truly was one I cared much for. But since I¡¯ve know you, you¡¯ve become the daughter I never had. And what these bastards did, wasn¡¯t coming after a comrade, or even a friend. They came after family. My family, our family. And I do not take kindly to that. So, when your wounds and Hypatia¡¯s are healed enough for travel, we show these dogs what a war looks like. And a cruel and sharp lesson that status is not invulnerable. For our family, for you, and for Sabine.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jeanne said as she began to shake, fighting to steady her breath. Cid placed both hands on her shoulders. ¡°This is no longer a fight you need to fight alone anymore. Know that. Now I should let the good doctor finish his work, and after that you should get some rest. I¡¯ll see you both tomorrow.¡± Part Thirty-Six: Contemplation Leonidas felt Jeanne stirring in bed. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± he asked her, caressing her head. She shook her head. ¡°Not really, no¡± ¡°You want to talk about it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know what else there is to say. If I don¡¯t go home, they¡¯ll send more people to hunt me down. And going back is going to be ¨C complicated.¡± ¡°So, you are going back?¡± She nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t keep running forever, even if I wanted to.¡± Leonidas was silent, looking up at the ceiling above them. ¡°What?¡± she asked him. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯d have the courage to do what you¡¯re doing?¡± he said turning back at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You remember when I told you about Selreene?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Well ¡­ there was to what happened with her, and why I left the Outlands.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Leonidas let out a long exhale before he continued. ¡°Not long after she returned from attending this arcane university, she developed an acute drug addiction to a combination of blue lotus and opium. Something she seemed to enjoy with her then partner.¡± ¡°Was is bad?¡± ¡°Bad was an understatement. She would make irrational decisions, usually leading to people getting hurt and gradually turning most communities against her. A few of those times she even blamed me, saying if I was being reckless why couldn¡¯t she?¡± As he finished, he looked down at the three large scars on his left side, softly growling at the memory. ¡°But I thought you said she died from the lies and deceit she told people?¡± ¡°No, that made most people stop trusting her. What got her killed was,¡± Leonidas paused as he squeezed Jeanne¡¯s hand in his. She put her hand on his face. ¡°Take you time,¡± she said softly. ¡°She found while I was out gathering supplies requesting to use one of the holding cells we where I was living.¡± ¡°You had holding cells?¡± ¡°The group I worked with had been through some conflict and wanted to be prepared just in case. Though most of the time they were used to help house break animals and the occasional prank. But, Selreene ran into me and asked to use one as she was getting the narcotics out of her system. The first few days weren¡¯t easy but she was slowly beginning to be on the mend. Then one day, we had gone out to do our errands and when we came back ¡­ her throat was slit with a poisoned blade.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Oh gods,¡± Jeanne said recoiling. ¡°And I did everything I could to save her. Even though at that point I wanted to kill her just like everyone else.¡± ¡°Then why did you let her inside?¡± ¡°Because even though I wanted to cast her aside and let the wilds take her, she was someone who was in need of help. And possibly there was a way to help her become something of the person she used to be. But as we buried her and everything sunk in, I had a thought that if I had not let her inside, she may not have been murdered.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know that was going to happen?¡± ¡°No, but I definitely made it beyond easy to do. And between that and everything else, I just couldn¡¯t deal with the guilt. Even if whatever connections we once had were gone. Because there will always be that lingering thought of if I had said no, turned her away, she may still be alive. Or at least not died the way she did. And even now just thinking of coming back to the Outlands makes my stomach turn and my skin crawl. Having to face those repercussions, not knowing how people will see you. The fact you¡¯re doing it shows a lot.¡± She rested her head on his chest. ¡°After the day I¡¯ve had, I really appreciate you saying that.¡± ¡°Course, I think Selene might be banning you from the premise.¡± Selene rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯d rather not talk about her, please.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Gods, and everything was starting out so nice, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how the worst ones usually go.¡± ¡°I just wish I could this all behind me. Finally have some closure. Not have this lingering in all my thoughts each waking moment.¡± ¡°Well, I think they¡¯ve had enough fun being on the offensive, he said holding her hand in his. ¡°I think it¡¯s about time for them to learn what it¡¯s like to be hunted.¡± He noticed her look at him. Her emerald eyes glowing in the ambient light of the moon. ¡°What?¡± he asked her. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said, resting her head on his chest. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°I am too,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m an interesting person.¡± She giggled. ¡°If that¡¯s how you want to put it.¡± ¡°Until I do something stupid, yes.¡± ¡°I have a question?¡± ¡°No, I will not teach you summon a gerbil army.¡± ¡°No, not that. The Outlands. Would you go back?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, I know you don¡¯t always speak of it fondly. But it¡¯s clear you still hold in close to you.¡± ¡°I learned a lot when I was over there. For better and worse.¡± ¡°Then how about this,¡± she said as she moved up on top of him. ¡°If we make it through all this with our heads still on our bodies, we go to out there.¡± ¡°To the Outlands?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, nodding. ¡°It can be a little adventure.¡± ¡°I can imagine the others would want to join.¡± ¡°If anything, they¡¯ll want to meet you know who,¡± Jeanne said lifting her eyebrows repeatedly with a gleeful smile. ¡°Of course, you¡¯d bring her up, after everything,¡± Leonidas said, laughing. ¡°You know I won¡¯t let that little piggy go.¡± ¡°And out of all the things I¡¯ve told you, that¡¯s the one you stick with.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she said kissing on his lips. ¡°What about if I did something nice for you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna finally pay me back for those herbs you got high on?¡± She took in a deep breath. ¡°All right. I was asking for that one.¡± She then leaned in kissing him again. ¡°But I was thinking something else.¡± ¡°Oh, oh!¡± he said before pointing to her arm. ¡°That isn¡¯t going to hurt at all?¡± She looked at her stitches and back to him before grabbing the headboard with both hands. ¡°I¡¯ve managed with much worse,¡± she with a sultry look in her eyes. Part Thirty-Seven: Learning the Enemy Hypatia and Silvius entered Cid¡¯s quarters, both of them holding a box of papers in their arms. A desk made a dark wood with a chair of similar wood situated behind it. Nearby was a simple bed, a light beige wood box frame and a mattress resting inside. A woolen rug rested on the floor and a fireplace burning a short distance away. Several bookshelves lined the wall with tomes and a few mementos of Cid¡¯s pervious years as a mercenary for The Cold Company. ¡°Cid,¡± Silvius said to him, ¡°we have the papers you requested.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Cid said, holding his hand out over the desk. ¡°Put them on here and let¡¯s see what we have.¡± Silvius and Hypatia placed the papers on the desk, spreading them out over the top slab. Cid grabbed a few, reading over them. ¡°I see the Kolvilles have been busy, very busy.¡± ¡°Well, that seems to be a standard when a war of succession is in play.¡± Hypatia unfolded a long parchment, on it was an image of a long and extensive tree, with names attached to the branches with the names of the respective families. All of them attached to a missive trunk marked with the name Normaunds. ¡°You know, these are fun to look at when you¡¯re not trying to figure out who actually has a claim to a throne.¡± ¡°Just be lucky none of the illegitimate children are listed on here,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°You shut your mouth,¡± Hypatia threatened. ¡°Those make these lineage trees look like something out of a haunted forest. And usually with a bad mood behind it.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t think they¡¯d want to test their luck,¡± said Cid, reading a parchment titled Chronicles of the First Year of Strife with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Especially if half of this is true. And who exactly are trying to get this throne?¡± Cid asked. Hypatai looked down at some notes next to her, turning back for a quick glance at the tree periodically. ¡°Hmm, looks like High King Aethelwulf and his first cousin, Grand Empress Adelize.¡± ¡°And how strong are their claims to this throne?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Uh, Aethelwulf is the first son of Princess Elenore, the only daughter of Osbern the Victorious. And Adelize is the only surviving child of King Adelart, Osbern¡¯s third son.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°What of the other two sons?¡± Silvius asked. Hypatia looked back down to the tree. ¡°The eldest, Rufus Longblade, died without any children of his own, and the heir to the next king, Adelart the Builder, died in a shipwreck, leaving no clear heir to the throne.¡± ¡°Well, that would throw succession into a right mess,¡± said Cid. ¡°And these two will want anyone who doesn¡¯t have an issue doing their dirty work.¡± ¡°You think we should consider throwing our services into this?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°We are mercenaries after all?¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°I¡¯m not saying your wrong, but we don¡¯t have the numbers for such a campaign. We¡¯d merely be a small platoon than anything else compared to other units being levied by lords and other mercenary companies.¡± ¡°How many would we need to go on these campaigns?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°At least a hundred so we could be a full company, though I¡¯d like for us to be fielding a bigger force to account for casualties.¡± ¡°So, what would the objective be if we go over there?¡± Hypatia asked Cid. ¡°Probably be specialized bounty hunters, bring in the Kolville Brothers, get this bounty off of Jeanne¡¯s head, and then get ourselves out of the area as fast as we can.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that put the rest of us into the ire of those wanting to bring Jeanne in?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°There¡¯s always that chance. But I know if I was the one with a price on my head, she¡¯d do the same for me.¡± ¡°And not try to collect on the bounty?¡± Silvius asked. Cid gave Silvius a narrowed glare. He opened his mouth before having a second thought. ¡°Actually she might, depending on the situation. But she¡¯s still break the person out.¡± Silvius and Hypatia nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± they said. ¡°Still, this isn¡¯t going to be an easy task, even if there was no warfare going on.¡± ¡°It could be something to our benefit from a certain point of view,¡± Hypatia said to them both. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Silvius asked her. ¡°Well, this realm is in some form of chaos. These bandits are participating in activities of a highly dangerous nature. Should something happen to them, who can say if they didn¡¯t of mysterious causes?¡± Hypatia said, with a shrug at the end. Cid rubbed his chin in thought. ¡°I¡¯ve been entertaining the same thought. It¡¯s just figuring out how exactly to pull this off.¡± ¡°Too bad we can¡¯t just saunter into a battle, kill the brothers and then be on our merry way.¡± ¡°Gods if only it was that easy,¡± Cid said, rubbing his head. There was a knock by the doorframe, Kveldulf ducking his head inside. ¡°Hey Cid, I hate to interrupt, but there¡¯s a couple of people wanting to speak to you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Teodore and Gabriel, from the Crimson Blades.¡± ¡°Right!¡± Cid said, kicking his head back. ¡°Forgot about them. Send them in, we can touch on this later, yes?¡± Both Hypatia and Silvius nodded. ¡°Send them in, please, Kel,¡± Cid said to Kveldulf. Part Thirty-Eight: The Vampyre In a quick moment, Teodore and Gabriel were escorted by Kveldulf into Cid¡¯s quarters Gabriel now had her hood and mask off. Revealing amber eyes that turn red near the pupil, short raven hair, and pale skin. Cid noted the stoic demeanor he had seen with officers back during his days in The Cold Company. He noted how, with her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, it was relaxed but nearby to unsheathe if needed, in a place of safety. Cid stood from his seat walking up to shake their hands. ¡°Good to finally see you both in the flesh,¡± he said to them. ¡°Well it isn¡¯t as if we haven¡¯t met before,¡± Teodore said to him. ¡°No, but your friend doesn¡¯t need to shield herself from the sun.¡± Teodore turned to Gabriel. ¡°He does have a point.¡± ¡°For the record, our doctor will probably have some questions for you when you meet him.¡± ¡°Actually, he was the one who invited me into the keep, he noticed I was standing at the doorway when the others had already entered,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°That makes sense,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I was surprised he recognized that.¡± ¡°The doctor is well versed on ¡­ esoteric knowledge.¡± Teodore and Gabriel nodded. ¡°Hmm,¡± Teodore said, ¡°good to know.¡± ¡°So, what brings you both to our part of the world?¡± Cid asked, taking his seat, gesturing the two to do the same. ¡°I figured we had gone over most of what needed to be discussed.¡± ¡°Most,¡± said Teodore. ¡°Though there was something we were hoping to ask.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The order felt it was imperative to have one of our own members be a part of this effort. To ensure our interests were being taken into account.¡± ¡°I see,¡± said Cid. ¡°And I can imagine you¡¯re aware this is already going to be difficult with Jeanne¡¯s history, yes?¡± ¡°The point has not been lost on us,¡± said Teodore. ¡°And we recognize this is coming at a rather precarious moment.¡± ¡°And I can imagine us saying no would only cause more problems for both our groups?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see it making things easier,¡± Teodore admitted. Cid let out a long groan as he stretched his neck, a couple of pops sounding out. ¡°Then may I ask who you plan to have tag along?¡± ¡°I was nominated,¡± Gabriel replied, tilting her head forward. ¡°Right, and I don¡¯t suppose you have experience in these types of situations?¡± Gabriel pulled out a dossier and handed it to Cid. ¡°I thought you¡¯d appreciate a more organized collection of my credentials.¡± Cid went over them carefully. ¡°You know, I shouldn¡¯t be surprised how extensive your record is, but I am.¡± ¡°I hear that a lot.¡± ¡°So, I can assume taking orders from me is not going to be an issue?¡± ¡°As long as it does not anything to needlessly harm civilians, vampiric or other, I shouldn¡¯t see that as an issue.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Cid. ¡°We¡¯ve got a good group of people here. And would not want to see them hurt because of some hothead.¡± Teodore snickered at the comment. ¡°Was there something I said?¡± Cid asked. ¡°If you knew her, you wouldn¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± ¡°I appreciate the ringing endorsement, Teo.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Oh, you know it¡¯s true.¡± Gabriel shook her head before turning back to Cid. ¡°To address your concern, I will work to avoid the ¡®hotheaded¡¯ path in these situations.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cid said to them before raising from his seat. ¡°Well let¡¯s get you introduced to the rest don¡¯t think you got lost while on your way back.¡± Cid saw Teodore pressing his lips together and Gabriel point a finger at him. Arriving to the library Cid, Teodore and Gabriel found Leonidas leafing through a book with several other parchments strewn about the table. ¡°Doctor!¡± Cid called out, ¡°Do you have a second?¡± Leonidas perked his head up. ¡°Whatever I did, I didn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°Not this time, at least,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I want you to meet our liaison to the Crimson Blades.¡± Leonidas stood from his seat, stretching out his hand to the woman. ¡°Right, we met at the keep¡¯s entrance, correct?¡± Gabriel nodded. ¡°You gave me an invite into the place.¡± ¡°I hope that didn¡¯t appear presumptuous.¡± Gabriel shook her head. ¡°Not at all. You¡¯d be amazed how many times I¡¯ve had to stand outside for an ungodly amount of time because someone forget to let me in.¡± ¡°Still, I know some vampires prefer not to be addressed as such. But I also don¡¯t want to appear rude.¡± Gabriel laughed softly. ¡°Still, I was impressed you could tell who I was?¡± ¡°Well, the ambered eyes, pale skin, and needed to be invited inside our headquarters, were the big give aways. If you weren¡¯t of the vampiric persuasion, then throw egg on my face and call me flatulent jester of kings.¡± ¡°He is an eccentric one, isn¡¯t he?¡± Gabriel asked Cid. ¡°To be fair, we all are,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Though in all fairness, I¡¯m still trying to tell dhampirs, vampires and the other more humanoid varieties apart.¡± ¡°Is it truly important,¡± Gabriel asked lifting an eyebrow up. ¡°For me, yes, because each one requires different approaches to treat wounds.¡± ¡°Sort of like that tonic you have that can kill lycans,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Precisely!¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°I was concerned there was more to it than that.¡± Leonidas shook his head. ¡°Oh no, I learned a long time ago, what truly defines a person is their actions, not their birth. Besides, I knew a few vampires back in my time in the Outlands. Fine people. A little off kilter, but still fine people.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± Gabriel said to Leonidas. ¡°Though in all honesty, it¡¯s hard to tell dhampirs and vampires apart.¡± ¡°I still throw some people off when they meet me,¡± Teodore said to Cid and Leonidas. ¡°How come?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Because I¡¯m not a vampire.¡± Cid looked back at Leonidas before turning back to Teodore. ¡°I should¡¯ve guessed that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see both human and vampires working together,¡± said Cid. ¡°Since we answer to the high king of the ¡°So, what brings you all to my wonderful workspace?¡± ¡°I thought general introductions would be good, since she¡¯ll be coming with us on this little excursion of ours.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Leonidas said, his eyebrows creasing, ¡°How come?¡± ¡°The Kolvilles aided in stealing something of value to one of our noble patrons,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°and to our people, and we want it back where it belongs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I can ask what this item is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a sarcophagus, specifically.¡± Leonidas jerked his head back sharply. ¡°Huh, why would they steal that?¡± ¡°Well, you know the rumors and innuendos that can float around about vampires. How garlic is somehow a fatal weakness for us. Or for some reason all we do is tie our diet with an ungodly amount of copulation.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Leonidas said, rubbing his chin, ¡°that is a common trope.¡± ¡°Is garlic actually harmful to vampires?¡± Cid asked. ¡°No,¡± Gabriel said, shaking her head, ¡°they just give us exceptionally bad breath and enough flatulence to shake the floors.¡± Leonidas and Cid exchanged glances. ¡°Did you know about that, Doctor?¡± Cid asked. ¡°No, and I now, I sincerely regret learning this.¡± ¡°Regardless, there is a prevailing rumor that our blood as a magic property to it. Some people think it can cure diseases while others swear it can imbue themselves with new abilities.¡± ¡°So, they pinched this thing for someone to try and surpass their limitations. How quaint,¡± Leonidas said, closing one eye as the other twitched. ¡°And there¡¯s no word on if this has an enchantment or some other incantation placed on it?¡± Cid asked. Teodore shook his head. ¡°No, we tend to assume they do until we find a document saying otherwise, or we find someone who can determine one way or the other. Better to play it safe and not set off the magical explosion from curiosity.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of a few those occurring when I was in the Outlands,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°The aftermath was ¨C unpleasant.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Absolutely! You had people who paid no heed to any form of caution when diving into dungeons, caverns, or some other obscenely darkened place of the world. And a few times they¡¯d set a trap off which would get someone killed or maimed or hexed with something terrible. Do we know who¡¯s in the sarcophagus?¡± Teodore and Gabriel both shook their heads. ¡°We don¡¯t have any records who is inside,¡± said Teodore. ¡°All we know from the material and design is it was someone of high stature.¡± ¡°Outstanding,¡± Leonidas said with a groan. ¡°And of course it¡¯s in the hands of those who¡¯ll take all sorts of precautions regarding the cargo,¡± Cid followed. ¡°It seems these Kolvilles are just making friends everywhere,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°That¡¯s certainly one way of putting it,¡± Gabriel said to the doctor. ¡°I recommend we try and nab this thing before those idiots set off something that could wipe out half a city from their stupidity.¡± Cid shook his head rapidly. ¡°Let¡¯s hope no one is dumb enough to consider that thought before then.¡± They turned as Kveldulf popped his head into the library from the staircase. ¡°Hey Cid, we have a royal herald here with a letter.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s it for?¡± Cid asked. Kveldulf cocked an eyebrow up. ¡°You, sadly.¡± ¡°And I can guess who¡¯s it from,¡± Cid followed. ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Out ¡­ standing,¡± Cid said regretfully. Part Thirty-Nine: Unhealed Scars Jeanne rotated her both her shoulders, feel the joints pop and the muscles warm and loosen as she moved. With a slow breath she felt earthy sensation come over her skin as she summoned the rockscale over her body. The weight of the rock weighing down her limbs and torso. Tensing her fingers, her knuckles, and the rocks over them, cracked, echoing in the training yard in the bailey. She looked at a mannequin made of straw and hay staring back at her with cold dead charcoal eyes. She imagined the face of the Kolvilles in front of her. Her hands squeezed into tightened fists, shaking with rage. Her teeth bared, eyes turning red, she began striking the training dummy with fierce hatred. Each hit fraying the straw beneath her knuckles. Each punch she saw the image of her sister when she was returned to her family. Broken, bloodied, each wound speaking volumes of the torture she endured. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she violently attacked the mannequin. Roaring as her unmoving opponent cracked and shattered from her assault. Soon she stopped trying to retain her form, slamming her hands into the scarecrow, knocking it to the ground. Pouncing on the dummy, she struck it with such ferocity, chunks of the stone on her knuckles flew off and she struck with her bared knuckles. As any semblance of form long gone she felt someone calling out. She gave no care for the voice, unwilling to show mercy to this proxy of all the hate and pain she had kept inside for years. She felt a person pull on her shoulder. Without thinking she latched onto the person, pulling them down, raising her fist to strike them when she heard them scream her name. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Jeanne snapped out of her fury. Seeing Hypatia on the floor her throat in Jeanne¡¯s tight grip, unable to breath before Jeanne released her grip. She stood up as a cold sweat began beading in her skin with her hands shaking and her breathing quickening. While Hypatia got to her feet Jeanne back moving out of the training yard. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Hypatia called out. But Jeanne didn¡¯t stop. Not until she left the underground fortress and entered the woods outside. Reaching a tree within the forest, she tried to steady her nerves and racing pulse. She wheezed as she gripped the trunk of the tree tightly. The world spun around her while she slowly went down to her knees and wrapped her arms around her torso. Jeanne spotted someone coming up to her, from the corner of her eye. She fell to the ground, pushing herself away from the person. As her senses cam back she found Hypatia standing near her, slowly lowering to one knee. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Hypatia said to Jeanne. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Jeanne stared at Hypatia, wide eyed while still breathing heavy and unable to speak. ¡°It¡¯s me, Jeanne,¡± Hypatia said to Jeanne. Jeanne felt the rush of anxiety finally subside. Thoughts coming back as she gradually moved into a sitting position with her legs crossed. Her head hung from her shoulders with Hypatia sitting next to her. ¡°What happened back there?¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I just ¨C I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Is it because of what happened in the alley?¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t know!¡± Jeanne screamed. ¡°All right, all right,¡± Hypatia insisted lifting up her palms to Jeanne to try and clam her. ¡°We can come back to that later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to help. But ¡­ it just feels like everything is starting to slip out of my control all over again. And I hate all of it!¡± ¡°I think you need some time to not worry about this.¡± ¡°I can put this all behind me when all of these Kolvilles are left to feed the wolves. And find whoever put this bounty on my head and shove their manhood down their throat.¡± ¡°As I said, maybe find some time to collect ourselves before we indulge in any irreversible measures. Particularly ones involving the removal of body parts and forcing them to be digested.¡± Jeanne gave Hypatia a stern look. ¡°I didn¡¯t say not to do it, just maybe give it a day before actually doing it.¡± Jeanne sat back down, running her fingers through her ruffled hair. ¡°I¡¯m just tired of people acting as if they''d take a higher road when they''ve never had to endure any of this." Hypatia chagrined. ¡°Selene probably didn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°No, she fucking did not,¡± Jeanne asserted. ¡°I really am sorry for what happened, Jeanne.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t do it, you shouldn¡¯t apologize.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t help that I feel bad for what she did. I know she can be a little, well, ardent in her actions.¡± ¡°She almost got a few teeth knocked out.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was her wisest decision.¡± ¡°Like she fucking knows what I¡¯ve been through, what my family was put through. Selene never learned how her sister was murdered by some noblemen¡¯s group of bored children. Felt the sense of hopelessness when the very system of justice you were told would seek out any and all who¡¯d do you wrong sit by and do nothing. Was forced to sit by and let those horrid fiends make jests about what they did in front of you, knowing you knew the context. She doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s its like to be hunted like a dog, forced into an exile because you did what the authorities had no courage to do. Where¡¯s her ego then! Where¡¯s her enlightened thoughts and visions? Yet, she can stand and strut and judge me for things she knows nothing about. Yeah, she can fucking judge me.¡± Hypatia gave an uncomfortable smile, patting Jeanne¡¯s shoulder. Jeanne rested her head into her hands before letting out a long-pained moan. ¡°I¡¯m just tired of people acting like they¡¯re better than me or would¡¯ve taken the higher road when you know they would¡¯ve done the same thing. When they¡¯ve had lives far from the harsh realities from their safe walls.¡± Hypatia kept patting Jeanne¡¯s shoulder. Jeanne looked up as Hypatia hand landed firmly and didn¡¯t come back up, seeing Hypatia stare off in the distance. Jeanne turned quickly to find Selene standing off in the distance. Jeanne tightened her fists once she saw her and rose to her feet. Selene put on hand to her chest and lifted the palm of her other hand to Jeanne. Her mouth trembled as she tried to speak. ¡°I ¡­ I didn¡¯t know ¡­ any of that,¡± she said with her voice breaking. Jeanne breathed in sharply. She bit down on both lips, stretching her neck before shaking her head and returning to The Unyielding Fortress. Selene tried to move towards her, but Jeanne quickly held up her hand. ¡°I want to be left alone,¡± she said sternly. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Hypatia called out. ¡°Not everything can be solved with a quick sorry and a hug, Hypatia. And right now, I just want people to stay the fuck away from me,¡± Jeanne said as she continued into the cavern. Part Forty: Common Ground The tenth training dummy fell to the ground before Jeanne¡¯s feet, frayed and shattered like others. Her knuckles were now covered in wraps, blood still seeping through as she panted and wiped the sweat from her brow with her arm. She turned to look for anymore mannequins to grab, only finding none. She moved over to a bench and sat down hard on the seat. She grabbed a towel laying nearby and draped it over her neck. As the sweat on her skin and clothes evaporated, she could feel the chill of the air in the cave cool her down. Helping her feel a return of calm to her. Her muscles finally relaxing and free from stiffness. All ill thoughts melting away from her mind. Rotating her neck, she heard someone moving into the training area. She rolled her eyes, still keeping them closed not wanting to open them to acknowledge whoever was there. ¡°Lady Marais,¡± she heard Selene address her. Gods ¡­ damn it, Jeanne thought, trying not to snarl at hearing her voice. ¡°I was hoping to speak with you, if we can,¡± Selene said. Jeanne had to quick keep from saying the first few responses coming to her mind. ¡°As you wish,¡± she replied. Jeanne gripped the edge of the seat to keep from swinging towards her guest. ¡°I wanted to apologize for what I said during our last meeting. I acted in a way that was not acceptable given circumstances.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think my responses were not helpful in that respect.¡± ¡°Still, I feel as if there is enough going on with you and your fellow Wolves that adding to it wasn¡¯t prudent.¡± There was a long pause between them. ¡°And ¨C hearing about your sister. I have no words.¡± ¡°I guess you heard the rest of what I said.¡± ¡°I did, and while I won¡¯t say my life has been a simple walk through a meadow, I cannot say I have endured what you have.¡± ¡°Probably not the easiest job running a ¡­ I¡¯m sorry what would you call your business?¡± ¡°A brothel,¡± Selene replied. ¡°Right, I wasn¡¯t certain if that was the proper term or not.¡± ¡°Well, most people still call it a whorehouse. Though we do try to run a more respectable enterprise.¡± ¡°I can say your tavern is fucking amazing,¡± Jeanne said, before turning away. ¡°That could¡¯ve been phrased better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite all right,¡± Selene said giggling, ¡°I was proud of how that all turned out.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I surprised you haven¡¯t turned it into its own little venture.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been considering the idea, though we¡¯d like to ensure no one sneaks their way into the other part of our establishment.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, there is that little kink.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Selene said, ¡°but I could not imagine what it must¡¯ve been like to lose any of my family in such a terrible way.¡± ¡°Have you lost anyone?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°My parents, during a bout of scarlet fever in the city,¡± Selene replied. ¡°But I had time to come to terms, to prepare myself. And all of my siblings are living their own lives. Sometimes I forget how fortunate I¡¯ve been with what I have and enjoyed. Sometimes you do forget just how bad the world can be beyond the walls of a city.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t I don¡¯t do the same when I¡¯m visiting the city. Hard not to feel like those worries are far away.¡± ¡°And I know you didn¡¯t mean for the alley situation to happen. It was clear as day what occurred. It¡¯s just, when I heard Hypatia was hurt, I reacted on emotions, and I blamed the wrong person.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t have done the same if someone I cared for was hurt. Actually I might¡¯ve blown half of Baeron¡¯s body up when he did.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad not to have seen that the other day.¡± ¡°Gods I¡¯d be hearing about that for the end of my days,¡± Jeanne said, laughing. ¡°I can only imagine,¡± Selene said rising to her feet. ¡°But I should get back to Hypatia. I don¡¯t want her thinking I got lost.¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably in the library,¡± Jeanne said, standing up. ¡°I can take you to her, if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that,¡± Selene said to her. ¡°I¡¯m not well acquainted with the layout of this fortification.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°It took me over a month just to figure out most of the major locations in this place.¡± As they entered the main keep Jeanne asked. ¡°Do you mind if I ask a question?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Selene replied. ¡°How did you and Hypatia meet? I was taken a bit by surprised when I learned you two were together?¡± Selene clapped her hands together as the memory came back to her. ¡°Well, it was, I think, three years ago when we first met. I was having to renew some of the charters I needed to fill out for my little enterprise. And when I arrived to the city archives, she was the first person I met. It¡¯s hard to describe but it was almost like a dream when I saw her. Just listening to her speak gave made me feel relaxed as I never felt before. It was as if I was listening to music being created for the time.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know she had that much of an effect on you,¡± Jeanne said to her. ¡°I can¡¯t say it was something that happened often,¡± Selene replied. ¡°Especially in my profession, you don¡¯t fall head over heels for the first pretty face you see. But with her, she was someone who I felt this special connection with. I even had trouble speaking when I first saw her.¡± ¡°Really? I figured you wouldn¡¯t have that problem.¡± ¡°Normally yes, which was quite the conundrum when I was experiencing myself.¡± ¡°So, who made the first move?¡± ¡°She did, of course, which again caught me off guard. Poor thing thought my shock in her inquiry was rejection and I had to assure her to the contrary.¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve loved to have seen that.¡± ¡°But what you and the doctor? You two seem like complete opposites.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still wondering that myself sometimes. Hell, it wasn¡¯t that long ago he dreaded talking to me for a medical emergency.¡± ¡°How did you two meet then?¡± ¡°Oh, I was in a fight at a tavern, had my arm dislocated, found his medical clinic first, kicked down the door and declared my need to be treated. Thankfully he wasn¡¯t in the middle of a major emergency or something else.¡± ¡°I can imagine he was thrilled with that form of entrance.¡± ¡°Oh, he was tickled.¡± ¡°And she still owes me a new door!¡± they heard Leonidas holler from the library. Part Forty-One: Meeting Conditions Cid sipped on his cup of tea as he watched Captain Laurent rubbing the back on his neck and Grand Consul Allianna reviewed the reports in her hand. She breathed slowly, her face showing no emotion while she read the page carefully, flipping the sheet over to look at the other side. Even her blinking was slow and calculated. Cid was trying hard not to clench up or quicken his own breath. ¡°Well,¡± she said after a long period of silence, ¡°this is ¡­ something.¡± ¡°I am certain the captain will agree in that, we were defending two of our own from these bounty hunters,¡± said Cid. ¡°Hard not to see that when they had crossbowmen on rooftops,¡± Allianna replied, placing the report on the table in front of her. ¡°And from what some of the residents heard prior to the fight, there wasn¡¯t even a call to surrender before the weapons were broken out.¡± ¡°They did put a bigger price on her head if she was dead,¡± Cid replied coldly. ¡°Yes,¡± Allianna replied. ¡°That tends to encourage a more heated confrontation. One I do not appreciate.¡± ¡°Of course, my lady,¡± Cid said. ¡°They certainly turned their little operation into an Outland skirmish,¡± Laurent replied. Cid snorted at the comment, Laurent and Allianna turning to him. ¡°Our doctor used to live there for a while.¡± ¡°My condolences,¡± the captain said, ¡°but that doesn¡¯t tidy up the fact your group turned a city alleyway into an open-air slaughter house.¡± ¡°Well worded,¡± Allianna told Laurent. ¡°I had time to think on that one. But in all seriousness, this is rather concerning.¡± ¡°I concur,¡± said Allianna. ¡°And I know the people of this city will quickly forget all The Wolves have done if, whatever this is, continues to escalate. The last thing we need is a full-scale war between two groups to be waged throughout our streets.¡± ¡°I agree entirely,¡± said Cid. ¡°One of the reasons why I came was to ensure that the relationship between The Wolves and the city of Koulberg is still on good terms.¡± ¡°We have not considered that relationship to be anything but on good terms,¡± said Allianna. ¡°But something must be done regarding whatever caused this incident.¡± ¡°I am concerned, though, that if we leave to attend to this matter, it may complicate our established contract with the city, specifically pertaining to searching of any loyalists to Callanband or Baeron.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°There is a risk to be taken in your absence, I will not deny that,¡± said Allianna. ¡°But between the Kolvilles acquiring an artifact with potential destructive capabilities, and this dispute between Lady Marais and the Kolvilles, I would say this takes a higher precedent for the immediate moment.¡± ¡°And whoever benefits from a group of outlaws being eradicated will probably want to show some appreciation to whoever aided in this effort,¡± Cid followed. ¡°My thoughts exactly,¡± said Allianna, ¡°and a trade agreement or even an alliance might be beneficial. Though we should not count our eggs before they hatch.¡± ¡°What exactly is this whole situation between The Wolves or the Kolville Gang in the first place?¡± Cid took a deep breath. ¡°Unfortunately, there seems to be some unresolved matters with one of my seconds back in their home country. One of the Kolvilles assaulted and murdered the sister of my second, Jeanne Marais and when the court would not hold the man accountable, she did.¡±¡± ¡°The upstart?¡± Laurent asked. Cid nodded. ¡°And now she was a price on her head, wonderful,¡± Laurent followed. ¡°How are you planning to handle this?¡± Allianna asked bluntly. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t want to know for deniability,¡± Cid replied. ¡°No one is recording this, and I¡¯m hoping the captain will not experience any loose lips.¡± ¡°I prefer to keep my jobs, if its all the same to you, my lady,¡± said Laurent. ¡°But to answer your question, my lady, we aim to go to her homeland and see what is needed to resolve this issue,¡± Cid said calmly. Allianna lifted an eyebrow up. ¡°I see. You¡¯re traveling over to the Prydainlands where?¡± ¡°That was the plan, yes.¡± ¡°In the midst of a war of succession.¡± ¡°That appears to be what is occurring there, my lady. Yes.¡± ¡°I can imagine this will be far from an easy endeavor. Especially when such circumstances will make strange bedfellows.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been working to acquaint ourselves to the situation as best we can. And we aim to influence the struggle as little as possible.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Allianna asked, taken aback. ¡°I¡¯d thought a mercenary company would leap at the chance to earn some extra coin for your company.¡± ¡°I admit the thought is tempting. And ransoming myself a new suit of armor would make my day. But I¡¯ve been involved in these struggles, both as a noble and as a sellsword and I prefer to keep myself out of this as much as possible.¡± ¡°Then I feel obligated to advise that any protection I may provide here in Koulberg and the lands that answer to this government will not be there if you undergo this expedition. We cannot appear to be taking a side in this struggle.¡± ¡°We expected as much,¡± Cid replied, placed his tea cup and saucer down onto the table. ¡°And we would not want to place you or the city of Koulberg into a compromising situation. The alley incident notwithstanding.¡± Laurent cleared his throat. ¡°In all honesty, that¡¯s what you get when you send in the bounty hunters and not professional bondsmen. At least they coordinate with authorities before moving to catch a criminal.¡± ¡°Bounty hunters don¡¯t,¡± Cid asked. ¡°God no!¡± Laurent exclaimed. ¡°They act as if they are above such protocol and after that as if they¡¯re better defenders of law and order than we are.¡± ¡°Which is why we would prefer this matter with Lady Marais be dealt with quickly before this escalates into a full-on blood feud.¡± ¡°I have two of my people searching for the ship that brought this group of hunters with them. See if there were anymore trying to collect this bounty.¡± Laurent pulled out a slip of paper and placed in front of Cid. ¡°I think this might help in the effort.¡± Cid grabbed the piece of paper and read it. His eyes narrowed and he let out a low groan. ¡°Oh Jeanne¡¯s going to be tickled.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if she uses their guts and visceral to decorate her home for the winter holidays, just don¡¯t make a scene here.¡± ¡°I only promise to try,¡± Cid replied. Part Forty-Two: Privateering Endeavors Cid looked at Jeanne snarl menacingly at the ship. ¡°It just had to be them,¡± she said through clenched teeth. Cid turned back to find four men dressed in privateer attire and standing by a ship with the name The Bellamy Blade shining in gold lettering. ¡°Remember what I said, Jeanne,¡± he told her before turning back to the others. All of them with their hand on their weapons. ¡°I want to thrash each and every one of them!¡± she hissed. ¡°Understandable, but we can¡¯t go with that route this time.¡± ¡°Are we certain of that?¡± ¡°Sadly.¡± ¡°Damn it all.¡± ¡°How do you want to do this, Cid?¡± Kveldulf asked him. ¡°You, Sly and Hy hang back and make sure no one is getting the drop on us. The rest stay near me and don¡¯t hit anyone unless I give the signal.¡± ¡°And?¡± Leonidas said to Cid. ¡°And we will make sure they won¡¯t abscond with you.¡± ¡°You really are worried about that,¡± Maeryn said to Leonidas. ¡°Pirates have a habit of collecting doctors like a child collects toys.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not wrong,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°They try anything, I doubt Jeanne would let them get away with it.¡± Jeanne was silently, only cracking her neck as she stared at the vessel. ¡°And with that, I think it¡¯s time we paid our privateering friends a visit.¡± Cid signaled the others to follow him towards the ship. The four men chatting by the ship spotted The Wolves approaching and three of them immediately leapt into the water around the wharf. The last man standing looks around him and with his open hands clenched said, ¡°Thanks for the support!¡± The privateer turned back to The Wolves. ¡°What do you people want this time? Break down the mast and maybe set the poop deck on fire?¡± ¡°That raises more questions than I was expecting,¡± Silvius said, scratching his head. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like your last visit was anything cordial,¡± the privateer replied. ¡°That¡¯s a fair statement,¡± Cid said. ¡°But seriously, why are you people here?¡± ¡°We wanted to speak with your captain,¡± Cid replied. ¡°You¡¯re not going to kill him, are you?¡± the privateer asked. ¡°He¡¯s a decent fellow and actually makes sure we have adequate citrus rations and rum.¡± Jeanne¡¯s head perked up. ¡°Rum?¡± Cid turned to her with a stern look. ¡°Not now. And no we¡¯re not here to kill anyone. We just have questions regarding a group of bounty hunters you transported a while back.¡± The privateer pulled his head back and moaned. ¡°I knew those bastards were trouble.¡± He then waved The Wolves to follow him up the gangway. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to see the cap.¡± Moving up to the deck of the ship several members of the crew spotted The Wolves and quickly leapt behind crates, others ran down to the lower decks, and a few even leapt off the ship and into the waters below. ¡°Will you stop embarrassing us!¡± the privateer shouted, ¡°I swear on some days I think I should¡¯ve become a stone cutter.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Reaching the door to the captain¡¯s quarters, Cid saw Jeanne and Benkin trading smiles as they looked at the signs of their works the last time they were on this vessel. Cid ran his hand over his face, looking to the heavens, wanting some force of divine nature to save him from this madness. The privateer knocked on the door, ¡°Captain Denis, you have some guests.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right out,¡± came a voice from the other side. As the door opened, The Wolves saw a draconic man step out. He was dressed with a steel cuirass wrapped around his torso, though the straps holding the two pieces together were fastened with buttons and not belts. He had shoulder pieces with the eagle insignia of his rank as captain adorning both sides. His hand rested on his sword as he approached them. ¡°Welcome to the Belamy Blade. This is the ¡­¡± the captain stopped in his speech and turned to the crewman next to The Wolves. ¡°Where is my crew?¡± ¡°Hiding Captain Dennis.¡± ¡°Oh, for the love of ¡­ why?¡± ¡°Remember that incident we had back in Vicatul?¡± ¡°The one with the sugar crazed tiger.¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°The one with the jester with the explosive pies?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°The one with ¡­ wait, the one when my chambers were broken into by a rock lady.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the one, sir.¡± ¡°So they were the lot who snuck onto our vessel, assaulted my sailors and absconded with client papers and a jewel piece?¡± ¡°More or less, yes,¡± said Cid. ¡°Well, color me impressed,¡± said Denis. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not everyday you come across a group that can infiltrate a pirate¡ª¡± ¡°Privateer, sir¡± the sailor interjected. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s not that much of difference,¡± Denis followed. ¡°Either way that fact you did it and it got off the boat was impressive. Expensive, but impressive nonetheless. Plus not killing any of my crew is most appreciative. What with the forms, the negative reputation and all.¡± ¡°We¡¯re happy to have provided the ¡­ whatever it was that we provided,¡± Cid said to the captain. ¡°But I doubt you¡¯d come back here to reminisce on fond memories,¡± Denis said to them. ¡°No,¡± Jeanne said bluntly, ¡°no we did not.¡± ¡°So, what I can do for you?¡± Denis said, looking at Jeanne concerned. Cid held out a slip of paper with Jeanne¡¯s bounty attached. ¡°We found some individuals wanting to collect on this reward.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Denis groaned. ¡°I knew those bastards were going to be trouble. They just had that look in their eye.¡± ¡°And a smell in their feet, sir¡± the privateer followed. Denis looked at the privateer. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go back to your post.¡± The privateer saluted the captain and made his way back, giving The Wolves plenty of space. ¡°And he made it through the sailing academy your guild has?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Sometimes you find a real savant with the guild, and then you find some real colorful characters,¡± Denis replied. ¡°But back to the previous topic, we ferried those bounty hunters into port here a while back. I¡¯m assuming you ran into them?¡± ¡°Running would be an understatement,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to assuming things didn¡¯t go well for them.¡± ¡°They¡¯d need more than a few mommy kisses for what they got by the end of our introductions,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good,¡± said Denis. ¡°A few of them still owed me money from our last game of cards.¡± ¡°I would be expecting that debt paid anytime soon,¡± said Silvius. ¡°No kidding. Well, I can¡¯t tell you much about them, other than they came from the port of Battle over in Prydainlands.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t say anything of note,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Not really,¡± said Denis, ¡°Mostly kept to themselves, hardly said anything about what their business was here in Koulberg, aside telling them if we saw your friend there at all.¡± ¡°And did you?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°We said we ran into you three months back at Vicatul, but obviously that wasn¡¯t going to be much use for them.¡± Jeanne chagrined from the corner of her mouth. Cid lifted both eyebrows and said, ¡°Well I guess that takes care of that business. Thank you for your time.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Denis replied. ¡°Thank you for stopping by and another for not damaging our vessel.¡± The Wolves walked down from the gangway and back onto the pier. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan now, Cid?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Probably charter a vessel to the Prydainlands and see what exactly can be done regarding the Follen Gang.¡± ¡°And getting the sarcophagus back,¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°Right,¡± said Cid. ¡°That was well.¡± ¡°Well hold on a moment,¡± Denis called out, quickly moving down the gangway. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a vessel, we can provide the service.¡± ¡°But we kill your last customers,¡± Maeryn said, confused. ¡°They paid their fees, and by the guild¡¯s bylaws you are allowed one free round trip.¡± ¡°Come again,¡± Cid asked. ¡°Should a vessel within the guild become a party to any feud, knowingly or not, we are obligated to offer one free trip to the offended party to prevent any ill will from escalating.¡± ¡°So,¡± Jeanne said with interest, ¡°That means we¡¯d get a trip to the Prydainlands ¡­ for free?¡± ¡°That would be the size of it, yes,¡± Denis replied. A bright smile grew on Jeanne¡¯s face and Kveldulf and Cid both moaned and rubbed their foreheads with their hands. ¡°Oh no,¡± Cid said. Part Forty-Three: Shipping Troubles ¡°Avast,¡± Jeanne cried out the cutlass pointed out towards the vast ocean. She had one foot up on the railing of the ship, sporting an eyepatch over her right eye and a pirate hat firmly placed on her head. ¡°Shiver me timbers, there¡¯s a ship ripe with booty to be plundered off the port bow and sent to the dark abyss of the blue sea,¡± she said, imitating a pirate slang. ¡°It that how we sound like?¡± she heard one of the sailors ask another. ¡°I hope not,¡± said the other sailor. ¡°But is she going to be doing this for the whole trip?¡± ¡°Aye, it is and if you get on my nerves, I¡¯ll keelhaul all ya.¡± Cid put his hand on Jeanne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Jeanne, can we not antagonize the crew please?¡± She gave a sullen ¡°argh¡± before walking back where the others were congregated on the deck of the ship. Kveldulf leaned against the railing, looking out over the vast blue sea as the ship gently lifted itself up and down over the waves. He spotted Jeanne approaching them, and tilted his head up to her as she reached him. ¡°Yo ho, yo ho, matey,¡± he said to her. She grunted while shaking her head. ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t even say something in pirate to say how little I¡¯ve been enjoying myself.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve got an eyepatch and a hat to make yourself feel all spiffy.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t feel spiffy,¡± she said, taking off her hat of plopping in onto Kvledulf¡¯s head. The two turned as they heard Leonidas leaning over the side retching loudly. ¡°Doing all right there, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I forgot how much I hate sailing,¡± Leonidas replied. Leonidas waved his hand towards Kveldulf. ¡°That wasn¡¯t meant to offend.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine,¡± Kveldulf said as he chuckled. ¡°Not everyone is meant to have sea legs.¡± Leonidas let out a guttural burp. ¡°I sea I don¡¯t have mine.¡± ¡°Really, Doc?¡± Silvius sitting down and resting his head against a crate. ¡°You have your methods of handling this, I have mine.¡± Jeanne looked around and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Maeryn?¡± Kveldulf turned his gaze upward and pointed to the crow¡¯s nest. ¡°I think I see our little elven archer.¡± ¡°Hi!¡± Maeryn called out as she waved from high on the crow¡¯s nest. Kveldulf and Jeanne waved back normally as Silvius merely lifted his hand. Leonidas looked up, puffed his cheeks out and retched over the side once again. ¡°That was a mistake,¡± he said groggily. Jeanne patted Leonidas on the back. ¡°There, there,¡± she said to him. ¡°Where is Cid and Hypatia?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°Probably with the captain,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°And Gabriel?¡± ¡°Down below,¡± said Leonidas, still hung over the railing. ¡°And I am not enjoying the show!¡± Gabriel replied from within the lower deck. Leonidas let out an unintelligible gurgle. ¡°I think he was trying to say he¡¯s sorry,¡± Jeanne said. Leonidas gave her a thumb¡¯s up, not bothering to lift his head. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Jeanne looked up to see Mareyn in the crow¡¯s nest spotting something in the distance. ¡°Captain!¡± she yelled, ¡°Captain Denis!¡± Denis, Cid and Hypatia left the captain¡¯s quarters and looked up at the nest. ¡°Why are you up there?¡± the captain demanded. ¡°I figured I¡¯d help your lookout with their, you know, looking,¡± Maeryn replied. Denis turned to Cid. ¡°Does she have good eyes.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I won¡¯t even go over all the regulations she¡¯s breaking being up there,¡± Denis said to Cid. Cid pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand while waving his other. ¡°We¡¯ll take the responsibility for whatever happens.¡± ¡°What are you seeing up there?¡± Denis asked Maeryn. ¡°A ship, decent size, heading our direction.¡± ¡°Can you make out the top flag on their mast?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see any emblems, but it¡¯s mostly black.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not how I wanted my day to go,¡± said Denis. ¡°Should I ask?¡± said Cid. ¡°They¡¯re pirates, ones acting outside of the guild.¡± ¡°I can assume they¡¯re not on good terms with guild members?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Oh, gods no,¡± said Denis. ¡°They¡¯re just insufferable. Always acting as if they¡¯re about true freedom of the seas and how you¡¯re your own man.¡± ¡°But you have more rules than some religious orders!¡± Jeanne challenged. Denis held his finger out towards her. ¡°Most are for safety, and some are to keep the navies from coming after us as criminals ¡­ well ¡­ more criminal than normal. And, for the record, we have standards when we plunder.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use looting a fishing vessel, or something barely staying afloat?¡± Denis replied. ¡°Most of those poor bastards are just trying to make a living. And usually if you don¡¯t mutilate, kidnap, or throw someone¡¯s family member overboard simply because, they tend to send less ships to try to kill you.¡± ¡°Well, I guess we can have a wonderful discourse on the nature of piracy when these chaps get here,¡± said Cid. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it,¡± said Denis as he barked out the order, ¡°General Quarters!¡± Without hesitation, Jeanne saw the sailors of The Bellamy Blade rush around the deck. Some scrambling down to the lower decks, many shouting commands, everyone moving to their position for battle. Many returned to the upper deck with weapons and circular shields in hand. Jeanne and the rest of The Wolves readied their weapons for their oncoming guest. Gabriel, her hood and mask covering her entire head once more, reached the others on deck. ¡°What¡¯s happening,¡± she asked Cid. ¡°Seems we have company,¡± Cid replied, unsheathing his blade. Denis called back up to Maeryn. ¡°Can you see anything new to their flag now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a coiled serpent around a cutlass and a skull,¡± she replied. ¡°Well, that might change things a little,¡± Denis said calmly aloud. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cid asked. ¡°If it¡¯s the ship I¡¯m thinking of, we might be able to talk our way out of a fight. But that¡¯s a long maybe.¡± The ship gradually reached The Bellamy Blade on the starboard side and roughly the same size. Crewmen on the other vessel were on deck, their own weapons out and ready for a battle. The captain was gripping a rope as both ships were now matching speed. He was reptilian in his features. Red scaled skin, golden eyes with slitted pupils running down the length of his eyes. He wore a long-tattered coat with a belt running diagonally across his chest, with three small daggers attached to it. Along his waist was a sword belt holding up a cutlass dangling off his left hip. He waved to the people on The Bellamy calmly. ¡°Ahoy there,¡± he said, ¡°it¡¯s been a long time, Captain Denis.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say so Captain Storzen, though I doubt this is a social call,¡± Denis replied. ¡°Afraid not, a bit on a business errand you see.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on the hunt for a woman about a head shorter than yourself, black hair, a wild look in her eyes and a temper to match.¡± ¡°Not sure if I should be flattered,¡± Jeanne said to Cid. ¡°Shh,¡± he hissed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to escalate things if we can avoid it.¡± ¡°What business is it of yours?¡± Denis asked. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly in the business of hunting bounties.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not,¡± Storzen replied. ¡°But there¡¯s someone who is.¡± The captain turned to his crew, snapping his fingers and within moments, two pirates dragged a disheveled man, hair unkept for some time and his clothes dirtied to a heavy degree. As the two sailors released the man, he gave them a sneer and tried to straighten up his appearance. ¡°Sort of a rough way to treat a passenger, eh?¡± Denis asked. ¡°He¡¯s been learning a lesson in proper manners towards his transports,¡± Storzen replied. ¡°And I¡¯ll be sure to return the instruction, a hundred-fold!¡± the young man declared. The same to you lot over there!¡± Jeanne saw the man¡¯s face and felt her blood boil. Without hesitation she bolted towards the edge of the ship, grabbed the first rope she could see hanging loose and swung over the gap of the two ships and landed on the other side. Before anyone in Storzen¡¯s crew could react, she tackled the man and slammed him against the ship¡¯s mast. She then threw the man over and, as she summoned her rockscales, smashed him onto the deck. There were no words to describe her rage while she roared into his frightened face and pummeled it with her fists. She gripped his throat tightly, watching him struggle to free himself as the life slowly began ebbing away. Jeanne felt the satisfaction coming over her knowing another Kolville cur was snuffed out by her hands as she felt a hand grab her shoulder. She threw a clenched fist, knocking them out entirely. Only an instant later did she see Leonidas on the floor blood beginning to come from his head and a cold shiver crawl up her spine and terrified shriek from her lips. Part Forty-Four: Linger Woes Jeanne clasped her shaking hands together. Her breathing labored and thoughts unable to pull themselves together since Leonidas was brought back to The Bellamy and seen to by the ship¡¯s collection of doctors. Kveldulf stepped out of the lower decks, his flamberge slung over his shoulders and spotted her where she was. He sat next to her, calmly placing his weapon to his side. ¡°Doc should be fine. Nothing more than a concussion. No fractures or anything of that sort.¡± Jeanne said nothing, only seeing her partner laying deathly still on a ship¡¯s deck. Out in the sea, where he was anything but happy. On an errand of vengeance, he had no part being involved. ¡°Jeanne?¡± Kveldulf asked, leaning forward. She was still silently, tears running down her face. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf repeated, nudging her shoulder. She turned to him, still saying nothing before looking back out to the vast sea around them. ¡°Jeanne, he¡¯s going to be fine.¡± ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± she finally said. ¡°None of you should be here.¡± ¡°Jeanne ¨C¡± ¡°No! This is my mess, my fight. None of you should be having to go through any of this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a hell of thing for you to say,¡± Kveldulf said insulted. ¡°But it isn¡¯t. You didn¡¯t create this mess, I did.¡± ¡°And when we faced Baeron? There wasn¡¯t a single reason why any of you should have risked your lives to stop him. Let alone restoring my house¡¯s reputation. But you did. And why was that?¡± Jeanne looked down for a moment before turning back to Kveldulf. ¡°Because you¡¯re my friend.¡± ¡°Exactly. You and the others are the only thing I have to call a family. To me, you are a sister, bound by honor and all the trials we¡¯ve endured together. And I will not let you walk down this path alone. I wasn¡¯t there the first time, but I will be here for this one.¡± Jeanne pressed her hand against her head. The emotions beginning to overwhelm her. ¡°I just don¡¯t know what to do, Kel. It just won¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°No one said you have to have a solution to every problem from the beginning, Jeanne. And you can let us shoulder some of the burden you¡¯re going through,¡± Kveldulf said as he placed his arm over her shoulders. ¡°I just wish some days all this was a bad dream,¡± Jeanne said in a weak voice. ¡°That I had just done nothing and stayed in my village.¡± ¡°We all wish for day when things were simple, cares were few, and ignorance colored our perception. But I know you Jeanne, and you¡¯re not one to stay still when there is a fight needing to be fought, a coin to be earned, and a face deserving of a stone covered fist. And I can assure you, no one in this group regrets coming with you for this.¡± Jeanne forced out a chuckle, only able to give a sad smile to Kveldulf. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Come,¡± Kveldulf said patting her knee as he stood up, ¡°I think there¡¯s still some of the cook¡¯s stew left to eat. You haven¡¯t had anything since Storzen stopped by.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised he and Denis haven¡¯t been hashing out a deal to handle what happened.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Sotrzen was too displeased with his guest getting his comeuppance, especially after he took the rest of his payment for the voyage.¡± ¡°And he wasn¡¯t upset we took his passenger?¡± ¡°I think that might¡¯ve been a condition to keeping on Storzen¡¯s good side.¡± ¡°And tying him to the figurehead?¡± ¡°That ¡­ I wasn¡¯t going to ask about. Figured was best left to the captain and Cid.¡± ¡°I heard my name spoken by the whisps of the wind,¡± Cid said as he came to the upper deck, pipe in hand and lighting its contents with a match. ¡°Always with an entrance,¡± Kveldulf said to him. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t help I have impeccable timing.¡± ¡°Anything new on the good doctor?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid turned to Jeanne, giving her a warm smile. ¡°He¡¯s awake, sporting a bit of a shiner, and suffering from a bit of a headache. Otherwise, he seems to be on the mend.¡± Jeanne looked down, letting out a relieved exhale. ¡°And he¡¯s been asking for you, Jeanne.¡± Jeanne stared up to Cid, feeling her skin chill at the thought. ¡°I think you should go see him,¡± Kveldulf said to her. Jeanne took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she rose to her feet. ¡°You want us to come with you?¡± Kveldulf asked. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, I would like some privacy,¡± she said before moving down into the lower level of the ship. Deep within the bowels the light had been reduced to mere flickers of the candlelight. The stench of sweat, grime, supplies, scents she dared not fathom touched her nose making her face scrunch for a brief moment as she acclimated to the putrid aroma. Jeanne moved through to the stern of the ship, to a little room on her left with its door slightly ajar. Peering inside she saw a single candle light illuminating the small chamber. Resting on a cot was a familiar figure, his forearm resting over his head and the other across his stomach. He breathed slowly, peacefully, as he laid there. A chair was situated next to him, its shadow stretching over most of the wall. She quietly moved into the room, sitting on the chair and gently caressing his hair from his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she said softly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s been happening with my lately. And I¡¯m angry, I¡¯m scared, and nothing seems to be making sense. What I hate the most is I can¡¯t just punch the problem away and it¡¯ll leave me alone. The more I fight, the more it fights back.¡± She felt a hand touching her knee. Looking down, she saw Leonidas gently stroking her leg as he looked at her with one eye. ¡°Sometimes attacking directly isn¡¯t the best approach.¡± He say himself up in his cot, trying to negotiate as the bed swayed back and forth. He patted the space next to him. Sitting next to him, she embraced him tightly. He kissed the top of her head. ¡°Remind me never come between a Marais and her prey ever again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not funny,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I¡¯m the who got slugged, I can make that joke.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me feel worse, please.¡± ¡°Well if you¡¯re gonna say that with those green little eyes.¡± She squeezed him tightly. ¡°I thought I ¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to finish the sentence. ¡°Kill me?¡± She nodded silently. ¡°Well, it would be a bit of a laugh, considering everything else I¡¯ve survived over the years.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°Could be I have a dark sense of humor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± she insisted. ¡°It¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Leonidas said lovingly, placing his hand on her arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to upset you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just, you weren¡¯t moving and,¡± she paused, taking a short breath to steel herself. ¡°I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t wake up.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t think a little bump on the cranium is enough to end this mad doctor.¡± Jeanne looked up, smiling at him before nestling his shoulder once more. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re better.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be more so when we get off this damned ship.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t like sailing, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather be slugged unconscious than spend another day on this wretched vessel.¡± ¡°Do you want to go up and get some air?¡± Jeanne asked. Leonidas looked at her with a shocked look in his eyes. ¡°I thought we had something special, and now you do this?¡± ¡°Oh shut up,¡± she said. ¡°Come, the air will do you good.¡± ¡°You know I wasn¡¯t joking about the hit to the cranium,¡± Leonidas said, reluctantly following her to the upper deck. Part Forty-Five: Ruminating Cid spotted Benkin as he came back visiting Leonidas¡¯s room on the other end of the ship with the rest of The Wolves. ¡°How¡¯s the doctor doing?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Doc seems to be looking a lot better,¡± said Benkin as he sat on a crate and took a flagon of mead Silvius handed him. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°poor Jeanne looked like she was about to fall apart.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t blame her,¡± said Silvius, ¡°the two are nearly inseparable now.¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s not exactly a good thing,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°If something happens to one of them, there¡¯s no telling what the other will do. And they¡¯re both our mages in this group. If they can¡¯t keep a grip on their magical usage, it could turn bad fast.¡± ¡°What are you suggesting we do?¡± Hypatia asked Maeryn. Maeryn shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But this has me more than a little concerned.¡± Silvius turned to Kveldulf and Cid, both listening to the conversation in silence. ¡°Kel, Cid, you both have know Jeanne longer than anyone, what are your thoughts on the matter?¡± Kveldulf shook his head while shrugging. ¡°What Jeanne does in her social life is her own business, as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡± ¡°And if something had happened to Doc?¡± Maeryn followed. ¡°I think it¡¯s less of their relationship than her time with these Kolvilles,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her in the midst of battle without so much as a moment to reconsider her decisions.¡± ¡°You think she could handle if Doc ¡­ you know?¡± Silvius inquired. ¡°If he died?¡± said Cid. ¡°I can¡¯t say I know how someone will act in a situation until the situation itself arrives. None of us are clairvoyants, and I¡¯d rather abstain from assuming if it can be avoided. What¡¯s more, this might help encourage Jeanne to try and reign in her fire towards the Kolvilles, who knows? But in terms of her relationship with the doctor, I don¡¯t see a need to say something, not for this moment, at least.¡± Maeryn chagrined as she looked off into the distance. Cid noted her reaction. He knew there was truth in her concern, he had been thinking of it much before they began their journey on The Bellamy. More so after what happened to the doctor. Ever since the first time he had shown Jeanne the bounty of one of the Kolvilles she had been more reliant to her blind rage than before. Normally this would be a mere annoyance on her part, but now Cid was becoming concerned. He felt his grip tighten at the thought. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s not something to be mindful of the situation. We need to make sure everyone is going into this with a clear head. Last thing we need is for us to rush into a bad situation before we get a full lay of the land. Though I think I need to stretch my legs, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come with, I could use the air,¡± said Kveldulf, both men rising from their seats. Both men made their way out of the interior of the ship, taking a breath of the zephyr air surrounding them. Reaching the starboard side of the vessel, Cid looked out over the vast ocean as Kveldulf crossed his arms and looked down to the wooden boards under his feet. ¡°So,¡± Kveldulf said, breaking the silence. ¡°What do you really think about the situation?¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, Kel. I don¡¯t know. It isn¡¯t unheard of for members of the same company to find intimacy with each other. But I wasn¡¯t expecting Jeanne and Doc creating this amount of concern.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Do you think this is something we need to handle?¡± ¡°You mean keep them apart?¡± ¡°Potentially.¡± ¡°You really think that¡¯s needed. More importantly, do you think it¡¯ll be of any use?¡± ¡°Right now, one of tougher fighters almost put our only medical personnel down permanently.¡± ¡°Because of she was pummeling one of the brothers who killed her sister, and the doctor tried pulling her off of the man. Their relationship outside of our profession had nothing to do with it. Hell, Kel, it might¡¯ve been what saved the boy¡¯s life.¡± Kveldulf put his hand on his chin. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Jeanne.¡± ¡°I am too.¡± ¡°You think this was a bad idea going on this expedition?¡± ¡°Every expedition has its share of hiccups. Just because we had one doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll be a full catastrophe.¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s still not a great sign, Cid.¡± ¡°Neither was it when we were risking our lives to restore an ancient house, but we did it because a friend needed help. And Jeanne was the first one to throw herself into the fray on that person¡¯s behalf.¡± Kveldulf growled. ¡°All right you made your point.¡± ¡°Besides, I¡¯m hoping this might temper Jeanne¡¯s fire. Not how I¡¯d like to have it happen, but I¡¯ll take what I can get.¡± ¡°I think Doc would¡¯ve preferred it be different.¡± ¡°No kidding,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Most people would prefer not have their partner attempt caving their head in.¡± ¡°You all right, Cid? You don¡¯t seem yourself.¡± Cid rubbed his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ve had lot on my mind. Between not knowing how we¡¯re to find this artifact for a group of vampires and this whole situation with Jeanne, I¡¯m not feeling my chipper self.¡± ¡°Well, hopefully when we get there we¡¯ll find some answers to what the hell is going on over there.¡± ¡°Gods I hope so,¡± Cid replied. ¡°At we¡¯ll have something of a plan to help us get through this damned farce.¡± ¡°You mean the two contenders for the throne?¡± Cid nodded. ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, they¡¯ll be enough chaos for us to sneak in, grab this coffin, and get out before anyone is wiser.¡± ¡°If the gods are busy and have no reason to torture us, we may be so lucky.¡± ¡°If only,¡± Cid said, stretching his neck out and letting out a high sigh. ¡°You think this thing will be hard to get?¡± ¡°Without a doubt. A lord will put all their guards to keep such a thing in their possession. Even if it put them ¡°I think I¡¯m going to get something to eat.¡± ¡°Enjoy the fine cuisine,¡± Cid jest. Kveldulf turned to Cid, giving him a smile. ¡°You would say that.¡± ¡°And you find this food appealing?¡± Kveldulf bobbed his head from side to side. ¡°That¡¯s fair. But it¡¯s better than starving.¡± ¡°I think I could stand to lose a pound or two before we reach port.¡± ¡°More food for me than,¡± Kveldulf replied, laughing as he made his way back down into the ship. Cid took a deep breath, leaning against the rail and feeling the ship rise and fall with the waves. The soft murmurs inside the ship was enough to break the silence but not to the point of arresting Cid¡¯s concentration. He pondered the events over the last few days. His mind racing, trying to see how what were his options for the tasks at hand. So many variables, so many situations that could go wrong and change without a single warning. This was part of a mercenary¡¯s life, but it didn¡¯t mean Cid had to like it by any measure. And with Jeanne¡¯s recent examples of her rage, that gave Cid pause. Point her in front of the enemy and let her do what she did best, that was never an issue. But there was control, direction, a purpose. Now it seemed the anger would come out and something or someone was bound to get hurt. As much as Cid hate to admit it, he was almost glad what happened earlier occurred. Maybe this would snap Jeanne back to herself again, keep her from letting her hatred blind her to the world and focus solely on revenge. Maybe this would help in keeping a low profile before they can sail back to Koulberg and to sanctuary. Maybe. There was nothing that could be done until the arrive to their destination and start seeing the full scope of what was before them. And worrying about it would accomplish nothing and put a few more grey hairs on his head. Cid watched Jeanne pull Leonidas from the quarterdeck of the ship towards the bow of the vessel while cleaning his pipe with an extended claw. He took out a match, striking the tip on the bottom of his boot and inhaling slowly as the flame touched the leaves of weed tapped inside. Exhaling he caught a faint scent of iron and frost. ¡°I¡¯m starting to get used to your scent,¡± he said looking to a figure cloaked in shadow. Part Forty-Six: Kinship ¡°I should be mindful of that when I¡¯m around your folk,¡± Gabriel said, emerging from the darkness and standing next to him. ¡°Well many of my people tend to stay within the land of their birth. Few indulging the adventures they conjured up in their youth.¡± ¡°And you did?¡± ¡°Almost had to,¡± Cid replied, taking another inhale from his pipe. ¡°For my sanity¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Oh, that sounds like a story.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Cid replied. ¡°But now is not the time or place to indulge in such long and woeful tales.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t take you to be of a character in such a story,¡± Gabriel said, looking up to the glittering lights of the heavens above them. ¡°It is much a desire to forget and leave into the mists of time where all is lost.¡± ¡°Seems odd that a man so well spoken would be a leader of a motley crew, calling themselves a lancer band of mercenaries.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine of all the winters you¡¯ve experienced in their world, you have yet to find someone wishing to be cut from their burdensome past.¡± ¡°Only when there was something they found shame in. Whether it existed only within themselves or for others to see, that is a different matter entirely.¡± Cid lifted an eyebrow up. ¡°Sometimes they are one and the same, for those to realize the truth only when any good that¡¯d come of it are mere flights of fancy.¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve been quite the event to stir you away from where you called home.¡± Cid nodded. ¡°It was.¡± ¡°How did your family take your departure?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t much of my family left to consider their thoughts on the matter.¡± Cid looked down, a dark mood coming over him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°I know it easy to lose a loved one, regardless of the circumstance.¡± ¡°I take it you know that pain.¡± Gabriel nodded. ¡°Sadly. I lost my sister to a pogrom a five centuries ago. During one of the many hunts for my kind where we used to call home.¡± ¡°I heard of those out in the eastern Vallach Mountains.¡± ¡°If anyone so much as sneezed in a way deemed unnatural people would assume they were afflicted by one of the undead. Scouring their own dead kin, digging up their remains and performing whatever superstitious nonsense they¡¯d conjure up to try to find some miracle cure for a common cold.¡± ¡°Not unheard of, unfortunately. People will believe a fantasy they can control before they¡¯d admit to something real beyond their grasp. But I am sorry for what happened to your sister. For what that¡¯s worth.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Gabriel said, letting out a sorrowful sigh. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to miss her on nights like this.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something about the heavens which me make look back to things long since past.¡± ¡°Certainly is.¡± ¡°So, what made you join the Crimson Blades, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± ¡°Well, for a long time I was in the military. Served our king and fought in enough wars to fill one¡¯s desire for such things for many lifetimes. But when all you do is spend your time fighting to the glory of someone undeserving, and denying other a peace you wish your people to have, you begin to reconsider what you¡¯re doing. And after the diaspora, I was invited to join the Crimson Blades to help bridge peaceful relations between my people and those of the Prydainlands.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°I¡¯m surprised the high king would be so accommodating.¡± ¡°In all fairness, I think it was as much to consolidate his reign with a new crop of subjects than anything resembling magnanimity.¡± ¡°True,¡± Cid said, looking out over the sea. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if a noble acted strictly outside of their own self-interests.¡± ¡°Lady Allianna appears to be someone who cares more for her people than for herself.¡± ¡°Very true, but she¡¯s one of those rare exceptions to the rule.¡± ¡°But what about you, Master Cid? What led you into the profession of a sell-sword?¡± Cid chortled. ¡°Oh where to begin with that wonderful ode.¡± He paused taking a deep breath and thinking to days he wanted to leave behind. ¡°My father was the count for one of the biggest provinces in my homeland, Yispalis. As you can imagine, being a lord he had many children, proper and improper. And as with many families of our ilk, affection was not considered a trait becoming in our class. Marriage, a tool to combine houses and consolidate power and loyalty. Children were guaranteeing your house¡¯s fortunes stayed in the family. Anything akin to affection was seen as superfluous, even a weakness to some. ¡°And since our family was not bound by some modicum of fellowship aside from shared paternity, once many of my siblings came of age ¡­ things became complicated.¡± ¡°How many siblings were there?¡± ¡°Around twenty-five, if my count is accurate.¡± ¡°By the gods!¡± ¡°He was a busy man. A very busy man.¡± ¡°Busy is an understatement,¡± Gabriel said, trying to hold in her laughter. ¡°Unfortunately, his sons were eager to out shine the other to wins our father¡¯s favor. Competition turned into rivalry, rivalries turned into hatred, and soon a small civil war. Bands of noble born brigands sacking towns of their rivals. Slaughtering any who they came upon, paying no heed to gender, age, or condition. Even the king decreed the fighting to stop and threaten to confiscate lands as recompense to the crown, the fighting wouldn¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°What brought it to an end?¡± ¡°Most of my brothers didn¡¯t see the end of the war. Some died in battle, others by a nightblade and poisoned brew, some were ended by more torturous means.¡± ¡°How did you make it out?¡± ¡°Simple, I stayed away.¡± ¡°You had no desire to rise above your brothers?¡± ¡°My father and I had a less than ideal relationship. One of the wonderful boons from being among his youngest progenies. And by the time I could have thrown my lot with one side, the other, or my own, I had not the want to do so. My father cared not for his children, but for his legacy. And when it was all said and done, he had neither to keep him company.¡± ¡°Who rules the province now?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you. More than likely the king claimed the lands as his own before my father could do more harm. Shame, too.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I can still recall when his supporters spoke of him with reverence and pride. A flower of nobles and knights, they used to say. Then, as the years wore on and the land was turned to ash and dust, those same people would not consider holding back their disgust. As if we had become the very thing they strove never to be. A tapestry left unseen. A song no one would sing. A story none would tell. We were spoken to only for the ancient splendor that demanded respect. And much of that treasure hoard was spent with the blood of my kin. No, once I came of age, there was no fire in my heart to find any glory in that travesty I once called a family. If I was to find my fame and fortune, it would be on my own terms. Not theirs. Not his.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say my family didn¡¯t have its dysfunctions. But that I that almost seems unreal.¡± ¡°I wish it was,¡± Cid said somberly, ¡°It would¡¯ve been easier for my dear mother.¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Gabriel said in a weak voice. ¡°Seeing her children tear at each other, as if we had regressed into becoming animals, it ¡­ it took its toil on her. More than she could bear.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± she said to him putting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I think it was for the best. Now she¡¯s with her children, and away from the madness.¡± ¡°And being a mercenary is any less chaotic?¡± ¡°Surprisingly so. And should I not enjoy my employment, there¡¯s always some lord or rich merchant willing to pay a fee.¡± ¡°Was that how you procured this arrangement with Allianna?¡± ¡°No, this was entirely by pure luck. It was supposed to be a simply bandit bounty and escalated well past my wildest imagination. Though it is nice not being overly paid thugs to some pompous windbag, or having to set fire to a village for the sole reason of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.¡± ¡°Did you ever have to do that?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cid said shaking his head. ¡°And I thank every god there is that I haven¡¯t had that blood on my hands. Or having to put it on theirs.¡± ¡°Not everyday you find a captain caring for the people serving under them so much.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t serve under me,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°I serve with them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see the difference.¡± ¡°Neither did I at first,¡± Cid said, turning back to see Leonidas retching over the side as Jeanne patted his back and looking uncomfortable. ¡°But you see what it means as you see those you entrust with your life more than a wielder of a blade or conjuring a spell.¡± ¡°How do you see them?¡± Cid had a soft smile on his face as said one word. ¡°Kin.¡± Part Forty-Seven: Meditative Jeanne stood before the door, her right hand clenched at her side. She raised to knock, then dropping it quickly and repeating this process. This is stupid, she kept thinking to herself. This is absolutely stupid. She looked around, trying to see if someone was around as she tried to knock on the door again. Dropping the whole effort crossed her mind, simply saying no one was there and she could pretend to forget the matter. Then she remembered seeing Leonidas on the deck, unmoving, appearing lifeless and the horrifying sensation began returning. She steeled herself holding up her hand and hurling towards the door slab. Before touching the wood grain, the door opened on the other side. Benkin, hi hand still on the handle, barely avoided being struck by Jeanne. ¡°Whoa there!¡± he said calmly. ¡°That¡¯s a rather unorthodox way at making an entrance.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were going to open the door before I did that,¡± Jeanne replied. Benkin chuckled. ¡°Fair enough. What brings you to my humble temporary abode?¡± Jeanne tapped her side with her fist. ¡°Since we¡¯ve known each other, you¡¯ve been able to take a lot of we gone through with a certain ¡­ calmness.¡± ¡°I have been told, yes.¡± ¡°Well ¡­ how do you do it?¡± ¡°Do it?¡± ¡°All my life, I¡¯ve had this fire within me. Whether it was exploring the wilds outside my village, fighting anyone I thought crossed me the wrong way, or who¡¯d push me around. And ¡­ I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m of this being what drives me forward. I¡¯m tired of this rage just being who I am.¡± Benkin nodded slowly. ¡°Hmm, I know that one well. More than I care to admit.¡± ¡°Then you know what it¡¯s like?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Benkin said to her. ¡°I understand the temptation to feed that fire. To let a passion so pure and unyielding guide your hands.¡± Jeanne looked at hers, thinking back to all the people she¡¯s fought with her bare fists in her lifetime. ¡°It can be the very strength to win your battles over a terrible enemy, and the very cause of woe to everything you hold dear.¡± ¡°Can you teach me to control it?¡± ¡°Control it?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°You can¡¯t control it. Your emotions are a natural part of yourself. Controlling it is like trying to control a natural force entirely. It¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°But ¡°Then what can I do?¡± ¡°You learn to glide with it. Letting the emotion flow, like water down a stream.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Oh I don¡¯t know how well I glide,¡± Jeanne said, scratching the back of her head. ¡°No one glides well at first, and even when you¡¯ve mastered the art, you will flounder every so often.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said nervously, ¡°I guess I have nothing to lose.¡± ¡°Course I will need an organ you have any attachment to,¡± Benkin said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been hanging around Doc too much.¡± ¡°Not for that one, that¡¯s been a tried and true go to for some time for me.¡± ¡°Outstanding,¡± Jeanne said, none too amused. ¡°But I guess getting you started on some breathing exercises would not be a terrible start.¡± ¡°Do I need to do anything special?¡± ¡°Can you breathe?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Are you able to sit in a way that comfortable?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to think so yes?¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s about most of the exercise by itself,¡± Benkin said, sitting down on an empty space in the room and crossing his legs. ¡°And there isn¡¯t anything else?¡± Jeanne asked, sitting down similar to Benkin. ¡°Physically, yes. Though the mental part I can walk you through so you know what come with it.¡± ¡°All right, ready when you are.¡± ¡°First close your eyes.¡± Jeanne followed the command. ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Now, breath in slowly counting to three, then hold it for three, and then let it out for three.¡± Jeanne began following this pattern, feeling her muscles loosen with each breath. ¡°Now, picture yourself in a vast meadow, far from away any living person. Above you is a bright blue sky, beneath your feet is an ocean of grass stretching from horizon to horizon.¡± Jeanne slowly imagined herself in long standing grass moving with the gentle winds. The humming of bees and other insects softly touching her ears mixing with the rustling of the leaves from distant trees. The scent of the wet soil reminded her of her family¡¯s farm, back in Kolville. She could even recall the taste of the wild berries in the bushes lined along the roads of the county that she¡¯d pick when she was a little girl. She began inhaling as the image of Sabine murdered form cam back to her mind. Pale skin and eyes painted red with torn flesh and blood. Her sister¡¯s face draped with drenched hair, but her eyes still stared into Jeanne¡¯s soul, causing Jeanne to gasp and scramble towards a wall. Benkin opened his eyes and made his way cautiously towards Jeanne. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked her. Jeanne rubbed her eyes, blinking quickly as she looked around the interior of the room. ¡°I. I don¡¯t know. I saw myself in a field, just like you said and right out of nowhere, there she was.¡± ¡°Your sister?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t say that¡¯s unheard of. Especially when you¡¯re first trying to master putting things out of your mind.¡± Jeanne began catching her breath, sweat beading from her brow. ¡°It¡¯s like anytime I try to put it out of my mind, she comes back with greater presence.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s the trick.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The more you try to push a very specific thought out of your mind, the more it is going to push back.¡± ¡°So ¡­ how do I not let it do that?¡± ¡°Honestly you just learn to let it wander on its own. The more you try to push it away, the more it¡¯s going to try and come back to the forefront of your thoughts.¡± ¡°Does it ever get easier?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to think so,¡± Benkin, nodding slowly. ¡°Though it¡¯s one of those things that comes with time, and practice.¡± ¡°I guess having it mastered on the first try might¡¯ve been expecting a bit much,¡± Jeanne said, trying to hide her disappointment. ¡°If it was, you¡¯d see far more people doing this regularly. Do you want to try it again?¡± Jeanne shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to do this if you don¡¯t want?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, I want to do this.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Benkin said, taking his seat once more, gesturing Jeanne to follow him, ¡°let¡¯s give it another go, shall we?¡± Part Forty-Eight: Self-Reflection Jeanne steadied her breath as she opened her eyes and saw the field once more. Holding her hands out to touch the tall blades throughout the grassland. Birds flew over her heads, singing and exploring the heavens above without a care in the world. She could feel the crunch of pebbles and dirt underneath her feet with each step. The cold air moving deep inside her with each breath. She smiled, feeling a sense of peace come over her. Coming to a large rock, she sat down and looked up at the golden sun illuminating the sky. She wrung her hands, feeling the warmth touch her skin as she let the moment bring her into a sense of peace. Hearing footsteps coming up she didn¡¯t turn to see, knowing what she would see. The figure sat down next to her, silent, cold, chilling Jeanne¡¯s skin with a frosty sensation. ¡°I know this won¡¯t mean much, given everything. But ¡­ it¡¯s been long time since I could think of you and not immediately want to scream or cry at the mere thought. And, I ¡­ I feel bad doing this to you. But I can¡¯t keep putting myself through this. I can¡¯t keep risking hurting those I care for because of what happened. ¡°This won¡¯t take away the pain I feel when I think of you. And that gods know the guilt will never go away. But need to find some peace between us. I need to know that we were more than bound by blood.¡± She shook her head, looking back up to the heavens above them. ¡°I know that I was never a great sister. I gave you well more than a fair share of grief for doing what was expected, for being a better person. And you deserved none of it. I don¡¯t know if this anger I feel comes from what I did to you, or if I think I should¡¯ve been the one who was murdered and left rotting in a ditch.¡± Jeanne rose from the rock, turning around to find no one there. ¡°Perhaps it was for the best things turned out the way they did. That way you don¡¯t have to bloody your hands in terrible vengeance. And I can do what I do best.¡± Jeanne heard an unexpected voice from call out to her. ¡°Jeanne,¡± they said shocking Jeanne to open her eyes and see herself back in her small room on The Bellamy Blade. She was sitting with her legs crossed and palms resting on her knees. She looked up and saw Maeryn standing by the door which was slightly ajar. ¡°Oh Maeryn,¡± Jeanne said as she rose to her feet. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you.¡± ¡°We were getting a little worried when you didn¡¯t show up for breakfast ¡­ or lunch.¡± Jeanne furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°I missed both?¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t say you missed them, what with it being slightly improved gruel, but Doc said you should still be eating something.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I am getting a little hungry,¡± Jeanne said moving to the door, she paused turning back to Maeryn. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m really hungry now.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s still some wonderful gruel leftover.¡± Jeanne gave Maeryn a uncomfortable look. ¡°Perhaps someone decided to catch a fish?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to know the regulations associated with that,¡± Maeryn replied, shaking her head. ¡°I already asked.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost tempted to ask how they divvy up their loot after raiding a ship?¡± ¡°From what I heard it¡¯s almost an equal distribution amongst the men.¡± ¡°I¡¯d thought the captain would be getting the lion¡¯s share of all that.¡± ¡°They get twice the average share.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s still less than what I was expecting.¡± ¡°I guess it makes them keen to find ships to raid and such.¡± ¡°You think someone high up in the guild was the one who made that rule?¡± ¡°Oh absolutely,¡± Maeryn replied. Jeanne noticed Maeryn tapping her foot on the floorboards and looking around the room. ¡°You have something on you¡¯re mind?¡± Jeanne asked her. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to put this delicately.¡± ¡°And that has me even more concerned.¡± ¡°Jeanne the others are worried about you, myself included.¡± Jeanne let out a heavy sigh. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d bring that up.¡± ¡°You damn near put us down by one medic.¡± ¡°I am more than aware of what I did, Maeryn. And how about you not speak about my partner like that!¡± Jeanne barked, rising to her feet. Maeryn leaned back, lifting her palms towards Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to offend.¡± Jeanne took a few deep breaths as she waved it off, slowly sitting back down. ¡°No, I made it more than it was.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just we¡¯re worried that you¡¯ll get yourself into a situation we can¡¯t get out of.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jeanne said somberly. ¡°I¡¯ve been worried about that too.¡± Maeryn sat down next to Jeanne. ¡°Is that why you¡¯ve been doing those meditation exercises Benkin does all the time.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t want this mess to rear its ugly let, alone bring any of you into it. And the last thing I¡¯d ever want would be to hurt those I care about the most. Yet that¡¯s happened before I knew better. It just feels like I¡¯m losing control of everything and I¡¯m just tired of it.¡± Maeryn drew in both lips as the words soaked in. ¡°I can¡¯t begin to imagine what that must feel like. And I know not who to thank for all of my family still a part of this world, but I thank them nonetheless. And I know you didn¡¯t bring any of this on. I want to make sure that we all come back from this together.¡± ¡°I do too,¡± Jeanne said giving Maeryn a light smile before her worries returned to her mind. ¡°This just feels like a bad dream that I can¡¯t wake up from.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a sentiment I¡¯m familiar with,¡± Maeryn replied, ¡°One I¡¯m fairly certain all of our little cadre know too well.¡± ¡°Almost a requirement for membership,¡± Jeanne joked. ¡°How much emotional damage have you endured? And can it be measured in drinkable tears?¡± Maeryn asked before belting out into a loud laugh. ¡°Oh gods, Maer!¡± Jeanne exclaimed, joining in the laughter. ¡°That¡¯s just dark!¡± ¡°Thus, another prerequisite for our little troupe,¡± Maeryn replied, wiping tears from her eyes. ¡°Oh, I badly needed that laugh,¡± Jeanne said, covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to regain her composure. ¡°Well,¡± Maeryn said, making her way to the door. ¡°We should probably get you some food before someone decides to help themselves to a second helping of sailor¡¯s gruel.¡± ¡°You really thinking someone is going to give themselves a second helping?¡± Maeryn shrugged. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t, but when you¡¯re starving a bowl of suspicious food can be a succulent five course meal.¡± Part Forty-Nine: Arrival to The Madness Jeanne leaned on the portside railing of The Bellamy Blade as the crew began offloading their wares from within the bowels of their vessel. Looking out to the port of the city of Hastingas. Dark brown roofs covered the tops of beige hued buildings lining of the outer street of the wharf. Stalls of fish, shell and other crustacean merchants called out to people to sell their wares. The brine and salt of the sea touched her nose while she heard people shouting throughout the area mixing with the gulls flying above her head. The cool winds of the ocean touched her skin as the warmth of the sun shined all around the region. The others were preparing their affects to depart from the ship. Small boats tied to columns of the piers bobbed up and down with the tides. Jeanne wrapped her arms around her torso as she looked out over the pier. Unsure of how to feel. There was a part of her feeling joy from returning to her homeland. Gazing upon the city that saw her off and noticing hardly any changes from when she left these shores. ¡°How are you doing?¡± she heard Kveldulf ask. ¡°Confused,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°Yeah, I can imagine.¡± ¡°For so long I wanted to come back home, and now that I¡¯m here, I¡¯m not sure what to do.¡± ¡°Probably would be better if there it was under less complicated circumstances.¡± ¡°Certainly hasn¡¯t helped,¡± she said, stretching her neck. ¡°Do you know how far it is to your village?¡± ¡°About four day¡¯s ride, weather permitting.¡± ¡°Well the skies are clear, that¡¯s good sign at least.¡± ¡°The weather here has a habit of shifting on you before you know what¡¯s coming,¡± Jeanne said as she grabbed her satchel. ¡°One moment you¡¯re in the glowing light of the sun, and in the next, you¡¯re being bathed by the fury of the rains and lightening.¡± ¡°Remind me to visit the haberdasher before we head out.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need more of a full cloak, in all honesty.¡± Kveldulf reached into his own satchel and pulled out a long cloak and draped it over his shoulders. ¡°That should take care of that.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get hot?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I can always take it off. And at least now it¡¯s out before the rains come.¡± ¡°You start reeking, don¡¯t stand next to me.¡± ¡°Because you smell like a bouquet of flowers from a royal garden,¡± Kveldulf retorted. ¡°All right, children,¡± Cid called out to them. ¡°Could we not antagonize each other until we¡¯re off the vessel?¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re going to be that way!¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°I swear to the gods, Kveldulf I will put you into a pit.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even have a pit.¡± ¡°I will dig a pit and I will put you in it.¡± ¡°I feel like this is a conversation we should be privy to,¡± Silvius replied, biting his lower lip. ¡°Oh, they do this all the time,¡± Jeanne said to the scholar. ¡°I¡¯d only worry when Cid actually buys a shovel to dig the pit.¡± ¡°And I am sorely tempted right now,¡± Cid followed. ¡°But I need to find the captain, make sure our guest is taken care of while we attend to other matters.¡± ¡°Oh, young Raul,¡± Kveldulf said, playfully embellishing the young Kolville¡¯s name. ¡°Don¡¯t want the little pup to go running around like his hair is on fire before we need him back,¡± Cid followed. ¡°Can we set his hair on fire after we¡¯re done with him?¡± Jeanne asked eagerly. ¡°I¡¯m not saying yes, but that doesn¡¯t completely mean no,¡± Cid replied. The Wolves disembarked the vessel, Jeanne pulled her hood over her head to cover most of her face. The rest did the same as they began moving down the wharf and arriving to an inn a short distance into the city. The hanging sign had the image of a baby kitten resting within the curvature of a crescent moon with the name ¡°The Catty Cathy¡± painted in dark green letter and borders with a golden background. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Inside they saw several candle holders dotting the walls with a fire pit in the middle of the room crackling. Patrons drank, ate and chatted amongst themselves, only a few looking at the group now entering before going back to their own business. Over the entrance was the mounted skull of a large saber cat with various heraldic flags hanging from the walls. The inn-keeper was conversing with some of the patrons at the bar as Cid, Kel and Jeanne arrived to the counter as the others looked for an empty table. The inn keeper finished their talk and came up to the three. Nudging her head up quickly to acknowledge them before speaking. ¡°Welcome, what can I get for ya?¡± ¡°A few rooms for the night, some food and drinks, and you wouldn¡¯t happen to know of any bounties that have been posted recently?¡± Cid asked, pulling out his coin purse. ¡°Are those others with you?¡± the inn keeper asked, pointing to the rest of The Wolves. Cid nodded. ¡°Right, let¡¯s make it twenty gold for the room and board, bathing included, and as for the bounties ¡­¡± the innkeeper reached underneath the counter and pulled out several slips of paper and placed them before the trio. ¡°¡­ These were left by the city guard. A few of them are even worth the trouble if you¡¯re looking for some quick coin.¡± Cid took the pile and after shuffling them into a neat pile handed the woman the gold coins. ¡°Much obliged. We¡¯ll be with the rest when the food is ready.¡± The three rejoined the others, and Cid fanned the parchments across the table. ¡°What¡¯s with this?¡± Hypatia asked. Cid picked up a parchment and began reading it closely. ¡°Sometimes you can get a good lay of the land by who has a price on their head.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Depending on who¡¯s in charge, someone with a bounty on them may be pardoned and people who were once in favor with the crown could be seeing themselves with a substantial reversal of fortune.¡± ¡°So if our intended guests don¡¯t have a price attached to them.¡± ¡°Then we could know who¡¯s doing well in this war of succession without potentially outing ourselves.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know we were trying to keep our presence hidden,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Given the power behind the Kolvilles and their own allies, chances are they know we are and we we¡¯re here. The less of an impression we make before we arrive to Jeanne¡¯s village, the better.¡± Kveldulf picked up a few and divided the rest amongst The Wolves. ¡°No one here that I recognize,¡± he said to Cid. ¡°Most seem to be of the regular brigand variety,¡± Benkin said as he went through his pile. ¡°See if there¡¯s a heraldic sigil next to their name,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°That tends to designate someone of high importance.¡± ¡°I see someone named Malin Mussard,¡± said Leonidas, going through one bounty. ¡°Member of House Collin, found accused on the counts of theft, grand and minor, stealing horses, and eating mincemeat pies during high holidays.¡± ¡°That is a crime?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Apparently so.¡± ¡°Well, that doesn¡¯t help with the anxiety,¡± Benkin said, massaging the back of his neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were having that,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°I get whenever I¡¯m in a whole different part of the world. Especially when you know that a sneeze done wrong could find you finding a home in a gibbet.¡± ¡°I agree with that,¡± said Leonidas. Maeryn held up a bounty, holding it for everyone to see. ¡°This one is interesting, Fulk Warin of House Warin. Declared outlaw along with members of his family and servants when refusing the High King¡¯s decision on who was to be given what Fulk felt was his by birthright.¡± ¡°You think he might be any ally?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Depends,¡± Cid replied. ¡°He could be working for one side exclusive, both, or neither one. Especially if it¡¯s a back and forth and both contenders can¡¯t seem to sway enough support of the nobles to unseat the other.¡± ¡°And if he wants to be restored to their rightful place, it could be prudent to sit out the storm and come back once the dust has settled,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Who¡¯s to say either of the contenders won¡¯t simply forget who this man is after the fact and retain his outlaw status?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Normally what happens is once the war is said and done, whoever is on top will want to consolidate their power as fast as they can,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°Keeps any missing components from wandering their way into parts of the machine where they can do the most damage.¡± ¡°That and if he isn¡¯t involved with the major actions of this civil war, most people will forget about the minor things,¡± Cid followed. ¡°And those he¡¯s robbed or worse?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Let¡¯s not fool ourselves, Jeanne. Most people tend to care for others as much as it will benefit themselves. If it wasn¡¯t their person or a close friend or family, it will be forgotten be the time the next harvest needs reaping and the oncoming winter has melted into spring. They¡¯ll rather stand by and shit out nonsense under the pretense of empathy, and find every reason not to help out.¡± ¡°And what about us?¡± ¡°Firstly, we¡¯re here because you¡¯re one of us, so we all have an invested interest in this situation back in your village. Two, while I don¡¯t like to admit this, these troubles are so plentiful it¡¯s impossible to focus proper attention to each and every crime and victim throughout the lands. And three, acknowledging the problem does not mean acceptance, in fact, quite the opposite. If you¡¯re going to confront the situation, you have to know the fuller complexities so you know where to strike in order to try and fix what¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°Also helps when those who can help don¡¯t base their morality on what is fashionable,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°What and not be able to appear magnanimous before the masses of the lesser weevils,¡± Hypatia said, imitating an elder statesman. ¡°Reminds me that damned idiot back at that damned ball we were in,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Do not remind me of that,¡± Cid ordered. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to forget that even happened.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s something interesting,¡± Hypatia said as she placed several bounties on the table. The Wolves leaned over and examined the names, faces and amounts displayed. ¡°Seems the Kolvilles have gotten themselves even more of the ire of whoever put the first bounty on them.¡± ¡°Let me take a look,¡± Jeanne said, holding out her hand. Hypatia handed her the bounty and Jeanne went over it slowly. ¡°No ¡­,¡± she murmured slowly with wide eyes and her jaw dropping. Part Fifty: Road to Avon-Upon-Teeg Jeanne sat by the fire while the others slept. Her time at watch allowed her a moment to collect her thoughts. Process much of what had happened in the last few weeks. Trying to make sense of everything and figure out what options there were to her. She was still uncertain whether the bounty back in Hastingas was real. Part of her thought it was a forgery, a trick to try and bring out from the shadows and straight into the clutches of her enemies. She had heard of similar incidents from generations before. One tale she and her friends would recite to scare each other came to her: Come around stout hearts, to sit and hear, The bloodied tales of yore. Feel your blood chill in frightful fear, And warmed nevermore. For a night like this was all in cheer, Spirits lifted to soar. Unknown to dangers drawing near, Bathing Castle Beddin in gore. Cruel death brought by spear, Eternal shame on honored lore. The story of the massacre at Castle Beddin was a favorite tale told around the fires in the darkest of nights. Two rival families long at each other¡¯s throats for generation, one invites the other to a feast to bring an end to the feud, only for the hosts to brandish swords and knives and put all their guests to the swords. Most of the time the tale was used as a backdrop for ghost stories to frighten children and those seeking swift scares. Jeanne couldn¡¯t happen but find the similarities between this tale and her own situation. The chance of putting some of this terrible part of her life behind her gripped her heart. Feeling the faintest semblances of hope began to creep into her mind. The desire to be free of what had hounded her waking thoughts was almost too tempting not to consider. Yet there was that lingering worry in the back of her mind, wondering if this was a fool¡¯s hope. Something she entertained to keep darker thoughts from staining what little of herself she still had before this became a part of her life. ¡°You seem troubled,¡± she heard Cid say aloud. He was resting on his blanket, one arm behind his head with his eyes closed. ¡°Just thinking,¡± she said. ¡°Anything particular?¡± ¡°A few things.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°I can only guess what you¡¯ve been pondering.¡± Jeanne looked up at the forest canopy, small gaps within allowing the stars to peer inside briefly. ¡°Can¡¯t help not to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair. Still trying to wrap my head around the recent Kolville bounties.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said listlessly. ¡°None of it makes sense.¡± ¡°My advice in a situation like this has always been to try and watch from the sides as much as you can before diving head first into the waters.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s going to be an option open to me.¡± ¡°Perhaps not,¡± Cid said, sitting up. ¡°But we won¡¯t know until we get there. And I think once we are there, we can quickly see where things stand.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± she said looking back at the fires. ¡°Because I feel like there¡¯s this specter hanging over me that won¡¯t let me be. Always nipping at my heels wherever I go. For a while I thought I was finally rid of it. Able to put this all behind me.¡± ¡°Hopefully that is something we can do now that we¡¯re here.¡± Jeanne looked away from the fire, off into the vast woods. ¡°Yeah, hopefully.¡± ¡°What else is on your mind?¡± Cid asked, sitting himself up. ¡°I¡¯m scared, Cid,¡± Jeanne admitted. ¡°Really scared.¡± ¡°With what you¡¯ll see?¡± ¡°And hear and feel. Cid I left these people after killing a nobleman¡¯s son. That¡¯s been the cause of more than a few burnings, you know that, so do I. And folk in small communities aren¡¯t know for letting go of such things when they¡¯re bound to a punishment they didn¡¯t bring.¡± ¡°You never know, they may have come to see you as a symbol of resistance.¡± ¡°Symbols don¡¯t run. They don¡¯t slip away and hide in the shadows while innocent people burn and lose everything they have.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised,¡± Cid replied, sitting next to her on the log. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I was named after one of the most famous resistance fighters of my people, back during the Occupation of Salcalmahla. Rodrigo Berenguer, the Knight of the Sacred Blade. In fact, one of my very ancestors was among his trusted lieutenants. And he fought in the hills, valleys, caves, and anything to give him and his cadre the advantage in the struggle. Now the enemy was most unpleased with this, and burned villages and towns, sacking cities and putting many unconnected with Rodrigo to the sword. But the people loved him then, and still do now. Do you know why?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Because he showed them that those who oppressed them were not untouchable. They were above the ire of those they hurt. And that they could bleed and bleed plenty. That any divine aspect to them was mere fabrications. And second, that if one can resist, so can many. For once the many begin to rise up, no armor nor blade is enough to fell all who wish to bring harm to the harmful.¡± ¡°Never thought of it that way,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Sometimes we can be harder on ourselves than needed. A good sign that we do not see ourselves as infallible. Though it is never bad to ease off every so often. Give ourselves a moment to feel some semblance of tranquility while we have the chance to do so.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said looking down at the ground. ¡°Who are you worried you¡¯ll run into?¡± ¡°My folks,¡± Jeanne said after a long pause. ¡°They were robbed one daughter. And the other put them in an unwanted situation and left without a word to explain myself.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid groaned. ¡°That I don¡¯t know. And families can be unpredictable at times. But for what it¡¯s worth, whatever happens we¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± ¡°Thanks Cid, that means a lot.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve always seen you and Kel as family.¡± ¡°Siblings or children?¡± ¡°Depends on how much you perturb me,¡± he said patting her shoulder. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some sleep, I¡¯ll take watch.¡± Part Fifty-One: The Homestead Jeanne stood before the winding road leading up to her family¡¯s homestead. She felt the urge to pace across the width of the road, trying to weigh the risk of coming up to the front steps. The wind blew from behind her with some strength. As if the wyrding hand compelled her forward to this destiny. The light green stalks of wheat slowly moved back and forth as she moved down the path. The swishing noise sounding similar to soft ocean waves washing over the sand. In her youth this would soothe her fire and bring her unrivaled tranquility. Now it had the same weight of a drum roll as a prisoner marching to their execution. On the other side was a collection of farm animals. Pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, all running about to their business, each one kept in a section partitioned off with a barrier made from random branches and bits of fallen parts of trees from the woods a distance away. The path before her was lined with fences made of wattled patterned woven to keep the animals from roaming into the wilds. She remembered watching her father and grandfather put these fences together when she was a little girl. It was impossible for her to keep from smiling as she recalled helping them by grabbing the branches and handing it to them as they moved further down the path. Minor as it was, they acted as if she was performing a monumental task. Jeanne touched the top of one of the fence posts, wondering what it would say if it could speak. Perhaps it would great her as an old friend, perhaps send her off like a scoundrel into the night? She looked back to farmhouse. Standing off in the distance with the barn and other smaller dwellings for animals to her right. The feeling of apprehension and running into the shadowed veil of the forest and never be heard from again. But despite her wanting, she knew this would still be hounding her until the end of her days. Even with no one around her, she couldn¡¯t keep her eyes on one spot. She hated this feeling of uncertainty. When advancing into a battle, there was some semblance of control. Even the excitement of that unknown filled her heart with delight and zeal. This was an entirely different matter. At with in a fight she could hit back at what was in her way. The thought of harming her parents in any capacity gave her chills. Nearing the final stretch of the path, she could hear faint voices from within. Sweat beaded on her brow and some of her clothes matted on her skin. Her lower lip trembled as she stepped to the door. Her hand shook as she lifted it to the door and closing her eyes before knocking on the door. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The voices inside were quiet as Jeanne knocked. Short footsteps from the inside drew closer, Jeanne began breathing heavy, and she forced herself not to wince as the door calmly swung open. A woman peered her head from the other side. She was around Sabine would have been. She looked Jeanne for a moment before saying, ¡°Can I help you?¡± Jeanne chuckled nervously for a moment before she said, ¡°Hello there, I was passing by and I wasn¡¯t certain where exactly I was.¡± ¡°Oh, where are you trying to get?¡± the woman asked, stepping out a little bit more from behind the door. ¡°The village of Teeg-Upon-Avon.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the woman said with some enthusiasm and pointing down the road. ¡°You¡¯re not that far as a matter of fact. Just a few more miles down the road that way and you¡¯ll see the outskirts before you know it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°We¡¯ll I¡¯ll just ¨C¡± A man came out from behind the door, placing his hand on the woman¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Is everything all right, Estelle?¡± the man asked. The expression of Jeanne¡¯s face dropped as spotted the man¡¯s face. The man seeing her and instantly recognizing her. ¡°J-Jeanne!¡± Jeanne took a half step back as the man stepped from the door towards her. ¡°Jeanne, it¡¯s me. Thom!¡± ¡°Been a while, Thom,¡± she said. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here, in all places.¡± ¡°It¡¯s kind of a long story.¡± The woman turned to Thom. ¡°Wait, is this ¡­ is this her?¡± Thom nodded emphatically. ¡°This is her!¡± ¡°I really should be going,¡± Jeanne said, taking another step back. ¡°Please,¡± Thom insisted, putting his hand on her shoulder. ¡°You must be famished, we could at least give you something to eat.¡± Before either could speak the creak of a bowstring being pulled caught their attention. Turning, Jeanne saw Maeryn with an arrow notched and trained to Thom. Silvius stood next to her with a crossbow readied to fire. Jeanne turned to find the others emerging from the wheatfield and moving to the farmhouse. ¡°Everyone, stop!¡± Jeanne barked. The Wolves stopped with Maeryn responding in a slow and menacing voice, ¡°Let her go.¡± Jeanne turned to Thom. ¡°I would not test them, Thom, please,¡± she said to him. He released his grip. ¡°Are ¨C are you planning to rob us?¡± ¡°No, but maybe avoid sudden actions in front of them.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Thom said, both him and Jeanne turning back to see his wife and young son and daughter looking out, worried, on the other side of the door. ¡°And what exactly are you ding on my family¡¯s farmstead?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I think it might be wise to take this conversation inside,¡± he said, still looking at the rest of The Wolves with concern. Part Fifty-Two: Sabine Thom handed Jeanne a bowl of stew. She rested the food on her lap as he took his seat, stilling eyeing the rest of her friends with suspicion. He sat on the other side on the hearth, his wife placing more wood into the fire as their children watched their guests with curiosity. The Wolves sat around Jeanne silently. Thom cleared his throat. ¡°Well,¡± he said finally, ¡°it seems you¡¯ve been busy since you left our little spot of earth.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Was trying to put some distance between myself and ¡­ everything here as I could.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Thom said, nodding, ¡°that would do the trick.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you had been a member of The Cold Company,¡± Estelle said, sitting down next to her husband. ¡°They were the first group to take me in, Cid was my commanding officer and Kel was in our squad.¡± ¡°I could imagine she was something of a Firestarter when you first met her,¡± Thom said to Cid. ¡°And you were in the middle of the whole mess over in Koulberg?¡± Thom asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°Would you believe me if I said that was supposed to be a simple bounty contract.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say you were pulling both our legs then,¡± Thom replied. The Wolves chuckled amongst themselves. ¡°Sorry,¡± Cid said to Thom. ¡°Just old memories.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Thom continued. ¡°As you can probably imagine there was a lot of ¡­ things that happened after you left.¡± ¡°I can only imagine,¡± Jeanne replied, looking around her former home. ¡°I¡¯m surprised this placed wasn¡¯t damaged at all.¡± ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t for a lack of trying,¡± Thom replied. ¡°You see, Old Lord Kolville sent his men out trying to find you. The Kolville Gang tried to force the village to give you up, but they learned seven wasn¡¯t good at taking on ten times their numbers at once. Then when their father sent the hunters after you, it was too long to find anything worth hunting. So he sacked them, usually by sending them into a dungeon pit, which didn¡¯t help in finding new people to go out looking. ¡°By that point Old Kolville was preparing to scour the whole county to burn you out. Even went to the king to seek proper permission to do so. While he was gone the local monastery decided to incorporate the entire area as its own property.¡± ¡°Why would they do that?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°If the church owns the land, a lord can¡¯t vandalize it without serious repercussions,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°On top of that, you have to get the Supreme Lord Cleric to consent to march on their land, let alone anything else,¡± said Estelle, ¡°And I don¡¯t see that happening. Now that caused quite a conundrum between the church and the king, but it did the trick in keeping the Kolville¡¯s men from burning the place to the ground.¡± ¡°I would thought that¡¯d create an investiture issue between the monarchy and the church?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°It did for a while,¡± Thom replied. ¡°Though they were able to work that out between the monastery and the Kolvilles, which more or less reestablishes some semblance of stability back to the county.¡± Jeanne looked out to a small patch of land outside of a nearby window. ¡°Thank the gods for small favors.¡± ¡°We ¡­ we¡¯ve made sure to keep her comfortable,¡± Estelle said to her. ¡°Sabine,¡± Jeanne said nervously. Both Thom and Estelle nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve been taken care of her resting place since we moved into here. We¡¯ve even placed flowers on her grave whenever they bloom.¡± ¡°Oh¡± Jeanne said weakly. ¡°If you¡¯d like you like to go visit her, that wouldn¡¯t be an issue at all,¡± Thom said, adjusting in his seat. ¡°I think I might do that that,¡± Jeanne replied, rising from her seat. ¡°You want us to come with you?¡± Leonidas asked her. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, I want to this alone.¡± Making her way out of her old home, she moved down a small winding dirt path leading to a tree standing tall in a tranquil meadow. The grass was trimmed short around a stone headstone with the etching, ¡°Sabine Marais, Aged 21 Winters, Wonderful Daughter & Sister.¡± Jeanne sat next to the headstone, curling her knees up and looking around at the tree and its large, spanning branches. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the tree to grow this tall since I left,¡± she said aloud. ¡®I remember trying to climb it as a small child and you¡¯d have to grab me before I fell and hurt myself. I thought you had no spirit of adventure in the slightest, Sabine.¡± Jeanne turned as a flock of birds flew from the tree lined, formed in a V-formation as they journeyed across the sky. ¡°I didn¡¯t appreciate how simple things were. No worrying about where food would come from. No concerns about whether the next day would be the one where our stories would end. No ill thoughts from dark places in your mind you never knew were within you.¡± She looked back at the grave, running her hand over the stone surface. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair, this isn¡¯t right. You deserved to grow old, find someone who made you happy, have whatever number of children you desired and find your conclusion in a soft warm bed surrounded by family and friends. You didn¡¯t deserve ¡­¡± She paused, beginning to choke up, ¡°you didn¡¯t what happened. I still don¡¯t know why it happened. Why you? Why anyone? Even if what we do requires penance, what did you do to deserve that? ¡°And ¡­ now you¡¯re here, resting until whatever god is out there decides to end this world and restart it anew. And here I am ¡­ I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m doing half the time. I used to think this was a good thing, but now I¡¯m not so sure of that.¡± A butterfly fluttered around Jeanne and the headstone. She slowly lifted her hand and it gently rested on her finger, its wings moving up and down until resting completely. ¡°I think you enjoyed the little things, Sabine. A lot mor than I did. And I know you understood more about responsibility, too. You¡¯d be amazed how much I¡¯ve had to come to grips with that little imp. Gods, you¡¯d be amazed what I¡¯ve been doing the last few years. I don¡¯t even know how you¡¯ll be when you meet Doc.¡± Jeanne turned back to the headstone as the butterfly lifted itself off her finger and away over the tall stalks of wheat and barley. ¡°I know, I didn¡¯t think be here either.¡± She let out a heavy sigh, tears now forming in the corners of her eyes. ¡°I really wish you were here right now, Sabine. I wish I could take all the things I said, all the things I did. Show you that I really did care about you, that I didn¡¯t think you were a horrible person. Gods why didn¡¯t I see everything until after it was too late to make amends.¡± Jeanne wiped away some of the tears running down her face as she tried to hold back the pain inside. ¡°Sabine, I¡¯m so sorry. For everything. And I¡¯d give anything to have you back again. I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m going to do now that I¡¯m back. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect to be alive long enough to reach this point. Part of me is wishing I hadn¡¯t made it this far, because I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m going to find these men, and then there¡¯s this whole vampire artifact that I hardly have any idea what the hell that¡¯s all about. Gods, there¡¯s so much going on and I feel like a small drop in a big ocean and I don¡¯t know how to feel about it. ¡°I guess that is the rub isn¡¯t it? You don¡¯t know how to feel about something until after the moment¡¯s come and gone. And then you¡¯re left with something of an experience to color your view next time something similar happens. If you¡¯re lucky enough to survive the whole thing.¡± Jeanne looked at the headstone, a gave a heavy sigh. ¡°I know they say you don¡¯t appreciate what you have until it¡¯s gone. And gods know I learned that lesson, with terrible advantage. But I wish I had never learned it this way. I love you, Sabine. And I am so proud to have had you as a sister, even if I never showed it when you were here.¡± She hugged the headstone and made her way back to the farmhouse as she the faint neighs of horses. Moving around the corner of the farmhouse, she saw several riders situated a short distance down the road with a man speaking with Cid. He was dressed in well-made cloak, a sword draped at their side and a gold and silver necklace adorned around his neck. Jeanne too a deep breath and after taking a big gulp, marched forward towards the two. Both noticed her as she neared, the man lifted his eyebrows. ¡°Well, I see the reports were true. You¡¯ve come back home, Jeanne.¡± ¡°Sigismund,¡± Jeanne said to him, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°It has, and I think you know why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would be to reconnect.¡± ¡°Partly, though my lord and master has requested I escort you to the keep if I came across you.¡± ¡°When did you become a patsy to a glorified bandit leader?¡± Sigismund let out a long sigh. ¡°I should¡¯ve known this wasn¡¯t going be easy.¡± ¡°Did you forget who you¡¯re talking to?¡± ¡°I was trying ever so much when I received the order.¡± ¡°How do we know she¡¯ll be leaving this your lord¡¯s keep alive and unharmed?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I can assure you that is the last thing Lord Kolville wishes,¡± Sigismund said to Cid, ¡°But I am afraid you will have to take my for its worth.¡± ¡°It does even much given who you work for,¡± Jeanne replied. Sigismund jutted his lower jaw to the side. ¡°There is much you will need to be assess on when we get to the keep.¡± ¡°Let me grab a few of our numbers,¡± Cid said. ¡°I don¡¯t want ¨C¡± Jeanne began to say before Cid interrupted her. ¡°Jeanne you are not going into that place alone, and that¡¯s final,¡± Cid insisted. ¡°We would prefer ¨C¡± ¡°This is not a debate, captain,¡± Cid replied. ¡°And my Wolves have been itching to put this problem down, quickly and permanently.¡± The rest of The Wolves began stirring, their hands moving to their weapons as Sigismund raised his hand. ¡°All right, if that is everyone¡¯s wish, you pick two other¡¯s to come with and we will be on our way.¡± ¡°Sil, Ben, we¡¯re heading out. Kel, you¡¯re in charge until we get back.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Kveldulf said, turning back to the others. ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said to Sigismund, ¡°Let¡¯s go see the old bastard.¡± Sigismund chuckled hoarsely. ¡°Oh aren¡¯t we in for a surprise.¡± Part Fifty-Three: Lord Kolville Jeanne, Cid, Silvius and Benkin followed Sigismund and his men on horseback as they rode through the village of Teeg-Upon-Avon. Jeanne spotted the large farmhouse to the north end of town. She could see the smoke filtering through the slots of the opened shutters, almost certain some of the women were busy making rushlights from sheep fat. Jeanne felt a ping of relief that she wasn¡¯t given to experience the wondrously horrid stench they produced when lit, or when left alone. Some men were putting up new wattled fencing to keep their gaggle of geese from exploring too far from the roost. Others were tending to crops of peas, barley and wheat, one poor soul was trying to convince his cattle to move forward in a straight line. If they were the two heifers she remembered, the fact they were moving at all was a miracle by itself. Over the doors of the buildings were a small shepherd¡¯s crook hanging from the protruding wooden nubs along the rafters. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting design?¡± Cid said looking at them. ¡°Wonder what they mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the main symbol of my faith, Viamgregism, the Way of the Flock.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Silvius, ¡°to send off evil spirits and find refuge in bountiful harvests and golden summers, if I remember the saying correctly.¡± ¡°Certainly fits with well with farmers and animal keepers,¡± Cid replied, fidgeting a bit in his seat. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Jeanne asked. Cid calmly waved the question off. ¡°Nothing really, it can wait until we¡¯re done with this.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not that much farther now,¡± Sigismund said, pointing towards a group of alder trees. ¡°Just up the path and a short way up to the keep.¡± Jeanne was silent, spotting the people now taking notice of the riders moving through the village and up to the keep. Some gave short glances, others watched the group move with anxious fascination, a few stepped away from their errands and began murmuring to themselves. Jeanne noticed a few pointing to her in direction with hushed breaths. Children poked their heads out and left their doorsteps to trail behind the group as they rode. ¡°Seems you have a following,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, confused. ¡°Not sure if that¡¯s a good or bad thing.¡± ¡°Usually if it¡¯s bad something filthy is thrown at you,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°Perhaps their cordial in their discontent,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°Let¡¯s not linger,¡± Cid said to Silvius, ¡°lest their patience runs short.¡± The keep of Teegs-Upon-Avon was situated on a high hill, the squared shape of the keep itself had a tower on each corner. Flags of the Kolville crest, a red cross with a split flaring at each extension, with a white and gold background. Jeanne scowled as she looked at the heraldry. She fought the urge to spit on the ground, gripping the reins tightly to stay her hate. The inner wall was made of grey stone, extending out from the central building, tall crenellations running along the length of the walls and circular towers. Arrow slits dotted the surface of the walls, Jeanne seeing the occasional person passing by as their body blocked the light from inside. Guard patrolled the walkways with a careful pace, a vigilant aura in their posture. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°These men look professional,¡± Cid replied. ¡°More so than when I was last here,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°As I said,¡± said Sigismund, ¡°much has changed since you left. Come, the guards will let us without issue.¡± Holding his hand up, Sigismund made a circular motion and the guards stationed at the gate quickly moved to allow the group entrance. Once on the other side, Sigismund turned to the Wolves. ¡°If you will follow me, I¡¯ll bring you to Lord Kolville.¡± The Wolves nodded, Jeanne giving a sharp growl as trailed shortly behind Sigismund. As the two wide doors into the keep were opened, The Wolves were greeted with a flurry of activity. Servants moving back and forth tending to their daily errands. Jeanne spotted one woman tending to the fire in the middle of the room, placing logs and smaller branches into the flames. Two people, both dressed with monkish robes and adorned with small wooden crooks on their necks, were discussing to themselves over a pile of sheered wool. Past the main dining hall, a woman was carefully drawing up an agreement with elaborate calligraphy while a man was painting around the lettering of another document with the aid of a glass orb filled with clear water. Several of the servants greeted the captain, lifting their hats and bowing their heads forward. Sigismund lifted his hand politely and gave them all warms smiles. Jeanne found it hard not to recall the man¡¯s predecessor, a foul brute who would beaten into a pulp anyone who looked at him funny. Shephard knows what would happen to a person if they were a status of a thrall or worse. ¡°Not easy to find someone idle in this place,¡± Benkin said aloud. ¡°The lord believes in everyone doing their part. If one begins to slack, it could bring hardships innumerable to our community,¡± Sigismund replied. ¡°So he makes sure to reward good service and to correct slothful behavior as quickly as possible. Though usually the specter of starvation alone is enough to keep everyone busy.¡± ¡°And of the guards who keep the place safe?¡± Jeanne challenged. Sigismund turned around. ¡°We ensure these lands are safe for all who dwell here, settled or passing. Besides, most of us have our own plots of land to till and harvest.¡± ¡°The lord has your guardsmen on rotation then?¡± Sigismund nodded. ¡°Aye, we¡¯re not always having to man the walls, and that means more food in which to eat and wood to keep warm during the winters.¡± ¡°How lovely,¡± Jeanne muttering to herself as they moved up the stairs. Down a hall they saw two guards standing at attention by a door. Both saluted the captain as he approached. ¡°The lord has a guest,¡± Sigismund said to them, the two men lifting their spears upward. ¡°Guest?¡± Cid said. ¡°I apologize, but Lord Kolville wishes to speak with Lady Marais alone. We will need to wait out here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a grown woman,¡± Jeanne said to Cid, ¡°I can take care of myself.¡± ¡°If anything happens ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯ll murder the lord and then call for help,¡± Jeanne said walking towards the door. ¡°Could we not threaten my lord in front of me,¡± Sigismund asked. ¡°We¡¯d appreciate that, too,¡± one of the guards followed. Jeanne gave them all a stern glare before she moved once more towards the door. Sigismund grabbed the door handle and after a twist, pushed his way into the room. Inside Jeanne squinted for a moment as the light from a fire resting in a fireplace to her right touched her sight. To her left were shelves lining the entirety of the wall in width and height. Doc, Sil and Hy would all be properly giddy if they saw this, Jeanne thought to herself. A chandelier with candles illuminated the room, a bearskin rug covering much of the floor as it rested between several finely made wooden chairs, themselves covered in elaborate etchings. At the far end of the room was a wooden desk with a man standing the other end, looking out across the vast grasslands of Teeg-Upon-Avon. He had raven hair, with a slight scar along a small section at the back of his skull. His hands were clasped behind him, his stance was at attention. Someone who had been in the army, she thought, the Eustace she knew had been a soldier in his youth against the Ahliaman Empire, but anything of that time had long since left when she saw him. This was another man entirely. ¡°Lord Kolville,¡± Sigismund said in a courtly manner, ¡°One Lady Jeanne Marais of our village is here.¡± ¡°Very good,¡± Gareth said solemnly. ¡°If we could have privacy, please.¡± Part Fifty-Four: The Offer Jeanne noted the voice was younger, much younger than the man who she had dreamt of throttling. It couldn¡¯t be, she thought as she heard his voice, I thought he was dead. The man turned showing a long scar running down the right side of his face. Facial hair neatly trimmed encircled his mouth. He moved around the desk, each step was one with purpose and control. ¡°Lady Jeanne Marais,¡± Lord Kolville said to her, ¡°I will admit I did not expect to hear you had returned to our lands any time soon.¡± ¡°Cut the shit,¡± she said sternly. ¡°Where¡¯s the fat bastard who birthed his base born curs?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Lord Kolville said regretfully, ¡°My father.¡± Jeanne felt her blood run cold for a moment as his words sunk in. What disturbed her more was there was no hatred in the response, no defense to his family¡¯s name and honor. ¡°As you can probably imagine things have changed a little since you left. My father, Eustace the Third, passed and is no longer the lord of these lands. I am Gareth Kolville, current lord and protector of the royal and monastic lands of Teeg-Upon-Avon.¡± ¡°Congratulations on the promotion.¡± ¡°As you may have heard, after you left following ¡­ what happened, my father had taken as many measures to try and bring to justice the woman who stole him of his favorite son. He even tried to use what remained of his ilk to force the information out. Unfortunately, my father learned that seventy villagers tired his kins¡¯ activities is more than enough to handle a meager crew of seven. ¡°Filled with rage he went to the king and demanded the resistance be treated like sedition, which was granted. However, the local monastery, long opponents to the Kolvilles and their criminal activities, had stepped in and announced the land was their by right of ancient investiture.¡± ¡°But they had no legal claim to do so,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°No, but it bought the people time. Time to prepare, to arm and ready themselves for a long and bloody war,¡± Lord Kolville replied. ¡°But then a miracle happened.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Quite simple, my father died. It seemed the whole situation had been too much for him, and while on the march to quell this revolt, his heart finally gave out.¡± ¡°But how did that solve anything? The people were still in a state of revolt and the church was challenging the king.¡± ¡°To avoid an issue with the king and the church, both decided that I would be allowed to inherit my father¡¯s station in a cooperative effort with the local monastery. And the people involved, in exchanged for a full pardon, were made to swear fealty to the newly appointed lord.¡± ¡°That seems a little too convenient.¡± ¡°Normally, yes. But you¡¯d be amazed how lenient some nobles are to situations when spilt blood is not a part of the equation. Or when the most offended party is no longer around to escalate the problem further.¡± ¡°And your brothers sat by and watched this happen?¡± ¡°At first they were running for their lives as well, and before they could petition the king for a redress of grievances, the king himself died and without a designated heir, led to the wonderful war of succession you¡¯ve now walked into. By this point my brothers decided if they could not win back their former luxuries by direct force, they would court another, bigger friend to help.¡± ¡°The war,¡± Jeanne said softly. ¡°Exactly, they sided with Empress Adelize and her supporters, and as such King Aethelwulf has put a bounty on the heads of those who have become some of most pronounced thorns in his side. Particularly after they¡¯ve been targeting members of the Court of Exchequer and other government officials.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°And what of you?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Last I was here, we all heard you were dead.¡± ¡°In a certain point of view, yes. By tradition set by nobles of the ancient line, I was sent to live with my uncle, it was he who raised as his own and molded me into manhood. I used to think it was a curse, being exiled by my own family. Especially when I saw the rift made between myself and my father. But when I grew older, hearing some of the rumors of my brothers roaming the countryside, behaving like animals or worse, I thought they were nothing more than mere innuendos or embellishments of youthful rowdiness. And then I heard of your sister, and what do to young Edmund. That was when I began to wonder if there was actual truth to the stories.¡± ¡°It took my sister losing her life to open your damn eyes!¡± Jeanne hissed. Gareth let out a heavy sigh. ¡°To my eternal shame, yes. And when I began to see the truth of my father and those I am forced to call brothers,¡± Gareth folded up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a tattoo of a crook and sword before a flame, ¡°I tried to pay penance for our sins.¡± ¡°The mark of the crusades?¡± Jeanne asked, stunned. Gareth nodded. ¡°I partook in three crusades, three very long crusades, though to what end in redeeming my family¡¯s name I cannot say, for it is not mine to make. And regardless, the fact is while my kin draw breath, the shame they have wrought and will continue to bring will not end.¡± ¡°And this includes me how?¡± ¡°The fact is my brothers fear and hate you. You didn¡¯t bow down to their fearmongering. You stood up, fought back, drew blood, and proved to everyone who saw them as terrible gods of chaos, that they could bleed and bleed plenty. You broke their mystique and gave the rest of this town courage and some semblance of true peace.¡± ¡°Yet I have a price on my head,¡± Jeanne replied indignantly. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth I did not add to the bounty offered.¡± ¡°How fucking magnanimous. Didn¡¯t take the damn thing off me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Gareth said, pulling on his collar. ¡°But, while my brother was a horrible man, and deserved what he received in both your eyes and mine, in the eyes of the royal court, you committed murder, and that can¡¯t be waved away whether I¡¯d want to or not. One of the few injustices reserved for noble blood and not for the rest of our society.¡± ¡°So, is it you want with me? I doubt you wanted to bring me here just to converse on local gossip.¡± ¡°No, no I did not. The fact of the matter is, while my brothers live they are a threat to the welfare of this town.¡± ¡°And their influence on the family name?¡± ¡°That is an additional problem, and a weight only I should carry. Because of their association, they¡¯ve put this town at risk of reprisals, raids, if not full and utter destruction.¡± ¡°Pray tell?¡± ¡°Oh, come now, Lady Jeanne. You¡¯ve been in the mercenary business long enough to know how nobles act when someone earns their ire. For one who ignores the slights and jabs of their enemies, another thousand will act on the first chance to get revenge without a second thought. And we''re not wealthy, we could survive a siege for maybe a few months at best. We simply do not have the means to throw our lot into this chaos around us. Compared to most of the other counties, boroughs and fiefs, we¡¯re no bigger than a grain of sand on a beach. The less attention we gain during this whole farce of a contest, the better.¡± ¡°So, if your brothers side with someone, then it¡¯d bring more attention to here.¡± ¡°And the people here have suffered long enough because of my family. They don¡¯t need these curs making things worse.¡± ¡°Then what is it you want me to do?¡± Gareth took a long breath, pouring a goblet of wine and taking several gulps before collecting his thoughts. ¡°I need you to bring me their heads. Each and every one of them. If you do that, I will take it as an act of rehabilitation and that can be used to justify the removal of the bounty on you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all well and good, but how do I know this isn¡¯t some ploy to have me do your dirty work, keep your brothers from rivaling your claim here and when I bring their heads, you add mine to the pile?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been informed that you¡¯ve learned several magical incantations.¡± ¡°A few, yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain there¡¯s one you can use some invocation to see whether I¡¯m being honest with you.¡± Jeanne sneered as she sat down in one of the chairs, her eyes trained on Gareth. ¡°All right, let¡¯s say you¡¯re not playing me for a fool. Let¡¯s say I do this little job for you, you follow through with what you say, no strings attached, no ulterior motives. Why are you doing this? Most noblemen would bend over backwards and risk losing their own souls to keep their kin from seeing a day in court.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, Lady Jeanne,¡± Gareth said somberly, ¡°you get this job done for me, and I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Part Fifty-Five: Considering Options ¡°Do you think we can trust him?¡± Kveldulf asked Jeanne as he took a sip of mead from his flagon. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jeanne replied, rubbing her head. ¡°Damned this is giving me a terrible migraine.¡± Leonidas reached into his satchel and began rummaging around inside. ¡°Hold on, I know I have something for that.¡± Jeanne lightly slapped his hand, mouthing ¡®Stop it.¡¯ ¡°It is quite unusual for a lord to be so proactive in hunting down his own kin,¡± said Silvius, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. ¡°If he was he¡¯d be sending his own men,¡± Benkin replied, ¡°This way he can have them out of the picture and keep his hands clean of the whole affair.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t like how we¡¯re doing this on nothing more than a wink and a smile,¡± Maeryn followed, sipping from her flagon. ¡°What are your thoughts, Gabriel?¡± Cid asked. Gabriel shook her head. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t like any of this. You hear more about back stabbings and double-crosses than noblemen being true to their word.¡± ¡°What does he have to lose if we do this and he doesn¡¯t go against his side of the deal?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°The friends of the Kolvilles could see this as Gareth throwing his hat into the ring without an official declaration of support in the Strife,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And this won¡¯t blow back on Lord Kolville when we abscond with the sarcophagus?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Right now, that¡¯s in the hands of Lady Adelize, who is looking for any and all aid to win herself that crown,¡± Gabriel said, cracking her neck to loosen up the muscles. ¡°So now we have to kill these Kolvilles, get their heads back to their estranged brother as well as bring a large casket across the region,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°That seems to be about the size of it,¡± said Cid. ¡°Do we have any idea how we¡¯re going to do any of this?¡± ¡°First we¡¯ll take the next few days, get our bearings and find out where the Kolvilles have been active laltely, if they¡¯re not too busy here,¡± Cid said, rubbing his forehead for a moment. ¡°Chances are, whoever they are working for will either have the sarcophagus. ¡°And how do we find that out?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Simple, nab of the Kolvilles one before they know we¡¯re here and see what they can tell us.¡± ¡°At least we can make sure whoever we nab won¡¯t be able to talk afterwards,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That¡¯s a little morbid,¡± said Hypatia. Kveldulf shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re bringing a man the severed heads of his brothers, meaning we¡¯ll need to be lugging around across this wonderful patch of earth, no offense, Jeanne ¡­¡± ¡°None taken,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°¡­ or stashing them in a safe spot to keep someone from getting any funny ideas.¡± ¡°Is this normal for a bounty operation?¡± Silvius asked Cid. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°More or less,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Heads tend to be better form of identifying a person, as well as proving they are dead. Though some regions prefer fingers, hands and ears.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ¡­ odd,¡± Silvius said slowly, leaning back and wrapping his arm around his stomach. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, I didn¡¯t come up with the system,¡± Cid replied, taking a sip of his ale. ¡°What are we going to do with Gareth¡¯s brother back at the ship?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I¡¯d say we let the privateers know so they can send him this way,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°A dungeon is a better place to keep someone compared to the hull of a ship.¡± ¡°That and it¡¯ll be less weight on our coin purses,¡± said Cid. ¡°And we can take him off the list of Kolvilles we need to hunt,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°You think he¡¯d know what his brothers were doing with the sarcophagus?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt to ask when he gets here,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I doubt he¡¯s going to be very loquacious with us,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°I am not too concerned about that,¡± Cid replied. ¡°We do have our contingencies should young Raul begins to push his luck, and our patience.¡± ¡°Does that mean what I think it means?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°More than likely,¡± Cid answered directly. ¡°Will that be a problem?¡± Gabriel shook her head. ¡°With them, not a bit.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t mean torturing the man?¡± Silvius interjected. ¡°And if they do?¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°I am going to defend the man¡¯s actions, but when do we keep ourselves from becoming as bad as they are?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not robbing people, murdering them for fantastic slights, having our way with whomever we come across our path and leaving their corpses to rot in a ditch!¡± Jeanne bellowed as she rose to her feet. Cid and Kveldulf quick moving to get between her and Silvius. ¡°And will doing to them what they did do their victims make us any better?¡± ¡°Putting them down like dogs is sure as hell a great start, and I have no problem letting them know what the taste of their own mercy tastes like.¡± ¡°Jeanne, you have to hear what you¡¯re saying,¡± Silvius insisted. ¡°I was banished from my home, my home, because those bastards took my sister from me and no one did anything. The lord who was supposed to protect us, was the very shit who let his boys run wild and kill us like dogs. If you think I have any sympathy or compassion for them, then you don¡¯t know me at all.¡± Jeanne marched towards the door, slamming it shut as she left. Making her way outside she slammed a stone covered fist into a wooden column, the dust flying off the wood and floating into the air. Stepping outside she saw several of the townsfolk going about their business. Nearby she smelled the scent of bread baking in the oven, the hint of wood shavings smoldering on the floor mixed with the dough. She rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming back to her as she tried to calm her anger. This was beginning to concern her with each day. The rage creeping more to the forefront of her mind, trying to gain control of each thought and action. The thought of putting each of the Kolvilles down was almost too tempting and knowing this was now something of a possibility was hard for her to process since she returned to her homeland. But a thought began lingering in her mind. One which not even a week before she could answer with great certainty. Were there deaths worth it? Were they worth whatever price she would need to pay to achieve some small measure of peace and quiet? To no longer see the specter of Sabine in the shadows. Hear her voice in the quiet as Jeanne laid in bed, calling out to her. No longer thinking she was responsible for her sister¡¯s death. No longer to consider why Sabine died and she still walked the earth, that much poorer for the loss. Spilling their blood would not bring her sister back. It would not heal the rift that existed between them. It would not assuage the guilt she felt for how she treated Sabine. That would always linger in the back of her mind until all thought faded away into oblivion. She did not want to admit the truth. She wanted to see these bastards shake in fear as she gripped their throats and watched as their lives slowly slipped from their eyes. But the truth now was robbing her even the satisfaction from the fantasy itself. What she wanted wasn¡¯t justice, it wasn¡¯t righting a wrong long since abandoned. This was revenge, nothing more. This was her way of assuaging her own guilt for how she treated Sabine. If she could find them, end them, put them as far into the earth to keep them from ever coming back, then she could prove to herself that she was truly a good sister. However, that wouldn¡¯t erase the words she said, the insults, the accusations. What the Kolvilles did to Sabine was a horrible, but it was one event. Jeanne treated Sabine with disdain for years, and as each time she treated her sister as such, Jeanne grabbed her arm tightly. Jeanne tried to steady her breathing as she looked up to the night sky above, watching the stars slowly move across the sky. ¡°Everything all right,¡± she heard someone ask. She turned to find Gabriel standing nearby, sitting in a chair with a flagon of mead in her hand. Part Fifty-Six: Divine Contemplation Jeanne took a deep breath and cleared her throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know, if I¡¯m being honest here.¡± ¡°You want to talk about it?¡± Jeanne shook her head, laughing uncomfortably. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start.¡± ¡°Well, what is on your mind the most?¡± She stood next to Gabriel rubbing her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you had a problematic relationship with a sibling, did you?¡± ¡°When we were younger, yes,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°But when we became older, we began to find more of common ground.¡± Jeanne looked down, pressing her lips together, only able to say, ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t try to say that I know what you¡¯re going through, Lady Marais. I¡¯ve found it almost insensitive when people feel they know the path I¡¯ve walked when they¡¯ve hardly had the time to know me. Felt more like an empty attempt at empathy than trying to truly show compassion.¡± ¡°Something you¡¯re familiar with?¡± ¡°Too much. People always telling you they know what it¡¯s like to walk in your shoes. Feel what you feel, know the pain and hate you¡¯ve had to be burdened for years. Only to crumple it all up, toss it aside and worry about the next thing to feel better about themselves. All the while you¡¯re still left with the burden and whatever scars you¡¯re forced to carry.¡± ¡°You learn who is truly those to rely on for support from those seeking solace from their own lingering shadows,¡± Jeanne said to Gabriel. ¡°Very true. Sadly, tis very true. But I know losing family is a pain you¡¯re never prepared for.¡± ¡°No, no it isn¡¯t. Cid told my how you lost yours. That was ¡­ I don¡¯t even know where to begin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been five centuries since I lost her, and I still haven¡¯t begun to figure it out,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°How did you handle it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh, not well. Not well at all. I was still young, even by vampiric standards. And my blood ran hot enough to where all I saw was wrath and retribution. When the nights came and those I thought had taken my own sister from me I stalked and hunted and took my time as I enacted my vengeance. I was not kind and they did not die quickly. I can still remember the fear in their eyes when their lives left them.¡± Gabriel was silent as she looked out into the empty dirt road of the town. ¡°Did it bring you anything?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Not what I wanted,¡± Gabriel said regretfully. ¡°The pain I felt for what my sister never went away. In fact, it only got worse.¡± ¡°Got worse? How?¡± ¡°As the bodies grew and more and more blood was on my hands, I started wondering what my sister would think if she saw me like this? Would she be proud, ashamed, frightened? At first, I couldn¡¯t answer, which alone left an ill feeling. Then when the answer started to emerge, I was almost glad she wasn¡¯t around to see what I had become.¡± Jeanne was silent, a cold chill beginning to crawl up her spine. ¡°And when I was done, when I stopped trying to collect a blood debt I felt was rightful mine, it wasn¡¯t because I had felt the debt had been paid. It certainly wasn¡¯t because I thought I had curtailed any more of the bigotry that was aimed at my people. No. I stopped because I started to see the monster they saw me as when I looked at myself in the mirror. As if I had become the very thing parents tell their children to fear in the night to keep them in their beds. That was when I had seen the full extent of how far I had gone.¡± Jeanne rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to do. I want to see these men pay for what they did. But anytime I even think of them, I ¡­ I feel this horrible rage come out of me before I even know what is happening.¡± ¡°I know that feeling all too well, Lady Marais. All too well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just ¡­ I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s becoming something I can¡¯t control.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sort of the rub, isn¡¯t it? The whole point of control, when it comes to these things is almost to let them do what they need to do. Almost to trust them with where they need to go and not force them into one direction or another.¡± ¡°How did you do it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°One day at a time,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°And no progress is a guarantee the old monster won¡¯t rear its wonderfully ugly head back into your life.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°So much for that small measure of peace.¡± ¡°If anything, I¡¯ve tried to be better about finding such peace in the little moments when I could find them. Tends to be far more of them when you know what to look for. Especially when you feel like everything and everyone is trying to stab you in the back or sell you out to the highest bidder.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, gliding her foot over the dirt beneath her. ¡°Would you like some time alone?¡± Gabriel asked her. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind some quite, please.¡± Gabriel patted Jeanne¡¯s shoulder before returning to the other at the inn. Jeanne saw the quarter moon hovering overhead in the cloudless night, its light dimly illuminating the town below. She turned to see the church of the shepherd nearby. Light from candles flickering and causing the color of the stained-glass windows to change hues constantly. Walking over to the doorway she gripped the handle and slowly pushed the door inside. ¡°Hello?¡± she said peering her head inside. Within the halls she found several rows of pews lining both sides of the chapel. Lining the walls were standing pews with candles flickering over them. Moving into the hall, Jeanne could see the stain glass of a man standing upright, holding a crook in one hand and lifting two fingers in the air with the other. He had a calm look one his face, unphased by the woes of the world around him. Jeanne felt a hint of jealousy at the man¡¯s coolness. She walked all the way to the front row, taking a seat and looking at the altar. She clasped her hands together and bowed her head down. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you as the praying type,¡± she said heard Silvius say to her. ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she replied. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what to do at this point. And I can use whatever help I can get.¡± ¡°As much as I hate to say it, I don¡¯t think most divine entities are known for being loquacious with those praying to them.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think so,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°But I was hoping maybe sending something up the grapevine might do some good.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Silvius replied, ¡°I did want to apologize for earlier, I didn¡¯t mean to be insensitive with everything else going on.¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m just ¡­ not sure what I want anymore.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to put each of these bastards to the sword for years. Long enough to where its hard to remember when I didn¡¯t think of such things. But now that I¡¯m here, now that I¡¯m able to do this, I feel like I did before I entered my first battle. There¡¯s this sense of anxiety that before I could handle and put to the side and do what I need to do without a shred of hesitation. And now ¡­ now I don¡¯t know if what I¡¯m doing is the right thing.¡± ¡°I think, if you¡¯ll allow me the liberty ¡­¡± said Silvius to Jeanne. ¡°I will but I may require a third of your lower intestines,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°¡­ Alas, my favorite section of the whole bunch,¡± Silvius continued, chuckling. ¡°But I think this is something a lot of people tend to consider in similar situations. Particularly when it is dealing with how much is a blood debt wroth until the killing stops.¡± ¡°What are your thoughts on the matter, Sil?¡± ¡°Well, I do feel the Kolvilles who have these bounties out on them should be brought to justice. And we should make sure not the matter into our own hand because of we feel it is our prerogative.¡± ¡°And what if the justice system does want to hold these men accountable?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t say the system is perfect, not even in my wildest dreams anymore. I learned that lesson all too well with our dealings with the wonderful Council. But if we give up on what we put in place entirely without trying to find ways to fix the situation, then what good is having a system in the first place? What plan goes well the first time without needing changes and alterations to make it work? And at this point, we can hopefully invest some faith in the older Kolville in his support to our efforts. Which means we have some backing in seeing justice done, for your sister and for everyone else the Kolvilles have hurt.¡± ¡°Then why so adamant about how we do it then?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Because there¡¯s a fine line between what we do to put food in our stomachs and a roof over our heads and what the Kolvilles do. I¡¯ve read more than a fair share of accounts of mercenaries you burn, pillage, plunder, and worse to people because of pay and desire. Hell, my own brother was in the trade, earned a reputation for himself before someone pulled off his high horse and placed a well-aimed dagger into his skull.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a rather specific detail to recall.¡± ¡°I was the one who had to identify the body, so I learned much of wounds born from such events.¡± ¡°Silvius, I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not something I tend to advertise when I first meet people. And he was ¡­ not a good person. Many who found their end at his blade who were deserving, far more who didn¡¯t. Honestly, what kept him from being considered a criminal was that he had a lord to vouch for him and his actions.¡± ¡°I wish I could say I was surprised.¡± ¡°No, and I¡¯m lucky we haven¡¯t had to be a of such things since we¡¯ve pulled this group together.¡± ¡°Honestly,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°I think we stopped being true mercenaries when Allianna took us on to hunt down Callanband¡¯s ilk.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re still getting paid for a job, the job requires a fair amount of stabbing, and at least now we¡¯re getting to see the world and all its wonders. Despite the dangers that which has come for our chosen vocations.¡± ¡°No, we¡¯ve been lucky for our recent exploits.¡± ¡°Did you have to do that when you were with Cold Company?¡± Jeanne took a deep. ¡°There were more than a few times were there was a village we¡¯d have to clear out, or a farm that a lord ordered to be searched for rebels or some other thing they wanted. Most of the time the patrols were routine, but sometimes ¡­ things could get bad.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, and I¡¯m glad Sabine wasn¡¯t around to see what was done.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad Cid isn¡¯t having us go down that dark path.¡± ¡°He tried to avoid having things get to that point. Though sometimes you¡¯re in a situation where there is no good choice to make. We¡¯ve just been lucky enough not to have such things come to our doorsteps.¡± ¡°Maybe we can keep a family from knowing what that¡¯s like when we take these Kolvilles out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope we can do it without becoming the things we¡¯re hunting.¡± ¡°Amen to that.¡± Part Fifty-Seven: Lord Bellem Cid saw Jeanne and Silvius return to the inn, a smile on his face as he saw both in good spirits, and Silvius not sporting a black eye. ¡°Nice to see you both back,¡± Benkin said, lifting his flagon to the two. ¡°Needed some air,¡± Jeanne taking her seat and grabbed a drink from Hypatia. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, ¡°Now we can start brainstorming where to start first with the Kolvilles and getting this sarcophagus.¡± ¡°First, we need to figure out who the Kolville¡¯s are working for,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°Since he¡¯s the one who probably has the sarcophagus.¡± ¡°Hypatia and I can start seeing about that,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Get a good bearing of where his lands are and what type of resistance we¡¯ll be looking at.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Cid, ¡°what else do we have?¡± ¡°I could check in with a few of our old contacts,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°put on airs that we¡¯re planning to throw our lot in with either side.¡± ¡°All right, I like it. Anyone else?¡± ¡°Once we know where the Kolville¡¯s new patron is, it might be wise to maybe get ourselves into the city and do some old-fashioned espionage,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Not a terrible idea, but I think we should be a little cautious if we do that.¡± ¡°I can take along,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve done such things in the past.¡± ¡°My only concern is we¡¯ll be going into an unknown situation, no contacts to fall back on, and in a society which seems to be less than kind to outsiders.¡± ¡°Hell, even never left my town until after I needed to find a fast escape,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I have a few tricks up my sleeve that can be help. At the very least it¡¯ll hide my particular features when we¡¯re in big crowds.¡± Cid, Kveldulf and Jeanne noticed two people standing near them. A young man and young woman, the man gripping his hat tightly in his hands as the young woman looked back and forth between the man and The Wolves. ¡°Can we help you?¡± Jeanne asked them slowly. ¡°Are you Lady Marais?¡± the young woman asked with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯m Jeanne Marais, why?¡± Jeanne replied. Cid saw the others move their hands to their weapons slowly, his own already gripping the hilt of his sword. ¡°We¡¯ve just heard so much about you, how you slew one of the Kolvilles,¡± said the young woman.¡± ¡°Or how you wrestled a bear into submission with your own hands,¡± said the young man. ¡°Or how you slew a dreaded witch of the wilds through an intricate game of wits,¡± said the young woman. Jeanne looked at them with growing confusion and concern. ¡°Oh this is ¡­ not what I expected.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the reason why the Kolvilles scampered off like rats and away from here.¡± ¡°Well, I think it had more to do with the town then me,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°But you were the first. You showed them what happens when they go too far.¡± ¡°I appreciate the compliments,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°but I think much of what¡¯s been said has been embellished.¡± ¡°I think we may need to speak with an actual witch of the woods to clear up whatever misunderstanding that caused,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to bother you or your friends,¡± said the young woman, ¡°but ¡­ we¡¯ve heard so much about you, and to have you here in our village is almost impossible to believe.¡± ¡°This was my home,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°And it was not through nostalgia or some other means of longing that brought me back.¡± ¡°Well, still, it was an honor to meet you in person,¡± the young woman said. ¡°I don¡¯t if that¡¯s the term I¡¯d use,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°But I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be modest, young Jeanne,¡± said one of the patrons, ¡°they¡¯ve been singing songs to your name almost since the day you left.¡± ¡°Come again?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I know there¡¯s that one called the Lay of Marais,¡± said another patron. ¡°I have a lay about me?¡± she asked, rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°That would be nice to hear,¡± Silvius said. ¡°I could jot it down in the company annals,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°You do that and I¡¯ll rip your throat out,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Overruled,¡± Cid said with a soft chuckle. ¡°We can always enjoy a nice tune to our bravest and maddest whenever we need a nice lift to our spirits.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind hearing a bar or two,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I will bury you where no one will ever find you,¡± Jeanne said to him. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°And I know why you won¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°I have a question,¡± Jeanne asked the crowd, who were all now looking at The Wolves attentively, ¡°Given everything that could¡¯ve gone wrong. Why all this? Why the songs, the praise, the hero-worship? Hell, half of you used to give me the dirtiest of glares when I used to live here. And the other acted like I was some plague in human form.¡± Some of the villagers looked away while others winced at her words. ¡°I think we may want to curtail the rhetoric, Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf said to her. ¡°No, I want to know. I find it a little odd how when I actually lived here, I was a pariah, and now I am the talk of the town. So if you¡¯re able to speak of me with such reverence and awe when I¡¯m not here, then you can say it to my face.¡± The villagers were quite, some tapping their flagons and looking uncomfortable in the palpable silence. ¡°I guess the first reason was, well, you did what we were afraid to,¡± said a farmer. ¡°You put down the Kolville cur like the dog he was and we when you left, we knew it was either going to be worse from whatever the lord would bring or we would have to take on the job ourselves,¡± said the blacksmith. ¡°In more than a few ways, you forced us to put action behind our words or be silent with taking the abuse,¡± said the farmer. ¡°I guess we forgot how you were seen beforehand, what with the songs, the tales and everything else. I guess it¡¯s not much of an apology if you¡¯re not here to actually here to receive it.¡± Jeanne waved it off, pinching the bridge of her nose as she lifted up her hand to the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I ¡­ it¡¯s nothing.¡± She sat back down. ¡°You all right?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just another reason why I¡¯m not stay here when this is all said and done,¡± she said taking a long swig of her mead. ¡°That was something I never liked about places like this. Always touting the closeness, the family within a family mentality, all that slop. Never saw any of that when I was here. Mostly gossiping, bickering, and looking at each other with utter disdain, if not outright contempt.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not all bad,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°My mother¡¯s family hails from a small town and its rather quaint. Picturesque even.¡± ¡°No offense meant, Hy, but I¡¯ll believe it when I see it.¡± ¡°I mean ¡­ that just means another trip home for me, so I¡¯m not particularly bothered by that.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a trip into the country,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°And you could bring Selene with you,¡± Silvius added. ¡°Oh, she would love it out there,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on getting out of this in one piece, then we can consider how we will be celebrating our victories,¡± Cid said to the rest of them. Hypatia turned back to Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯m already planning this for the four of us.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas who was nodding positively to the idea. ¡°In any case,¡± said Cid, leaning forward over the table. ¡°We still need to plan for how we¡¯re going to be getting to the Kolvilles one by one.¡± ¡°And trying to keep our presence down to a minimum,¡± followed Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯m surprised we haven¡¯t gotten any troubles since we arrived here,¡± said Benkin. ¡°What with Jeanne and our vampire friend.¡± ¡°Given Jeanne¡¯s past with the Kolvilles, she¡¯s definitely more of a local hero than anything else,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Still coming to terms with that one,¡± Jeanne followed. A voice called out from behind Cid and Kveldulf. ¡°We had a couple vamps living here for a couple of harvests,¡± the villager called out. ¡°And no one had an issue?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Oh, we had issues, no doubt about that. But they kept to themselves, didn¡¯t cause any trouble. Hell, they even caught a few wolves on my land ready to make meals out of chickens.¡± ¡°What happened to them?¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°Is there a way we can talk to them.¡± The villagers turned to the group with uncomfortable expressions on their faces. ¡°The Kolvilles happened,¡± the villager replied taking a long sip from his ale. ¡°One night, much like this one, everyone was doing their own thing. Most of us were in here, enjoying the night with a few drinks and some warm food, when someone burst through the entrance and said the Bucsa farm was on fire. The road up there was clogged with fallen timbers and other debris, and by the time we got there, was much of a farm left to save.¡± ¡°And the family there?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Had stakes in their hearts, their heads severed and burned on makeshift pyres,¡± the villager replied. ¡°It ¡­ it was a hard thing to see.¡± ¡°I thought the Kolvilles don¡¯t come around these parts anymore?¡± said Benkin. ¡°After the price put on their heads and all that.¡± ¡°They usually don¡¯t. Though sometimes they like to pay the town a visit to remind us they¡¯re still around. That they can just as easily make our lives as hard as they want, should fortune come their way. And the vamps ¨C¡± ¡°Vampyres,¡± Gabriel said sternly. The villagers looked her at with confusion. ¡°We prefer to be called Vampyres.¡± ¡°The vampyres,¡± the villager said, ¡°they were more than likely targeted because the Kolvilles aren¡¯t big on their presence in this part of the kingdom. On top of that, their new friend, Robert Bellem, the lord of Inderawuda, seems to have it in worse for the night-kin than the Kolvilles do.¡± ¡°Bellem,¡± Jeanne said, cocking up an eyebrow, ¡°I thought he was still a landless lord.¡± ¡°Was a landless lord,¡± the villager corrected, ¡°Empress Adelize restored much of his lands and status when he swore fealty to her.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this Lord Bellem?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°He¡¯s one of the most prominent noblemen in the whole of the kingdom,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°And one of the most brutal.¡± ¡°Brutal is almost an understatement,¡± the villager replied. ¡®The man has more dungeons dedicated to the harshest punishments for the slightest infractions.¡± ¡°He had a reputation before I left these lands,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Aye¡± said the villager, ¡°and when he was given back his lands his cruelty has been given a renewed sense of purpose.¡± ¡°So much for turning a new leaf,¡± said Silvius. ¡°You really think a man like that would have the want to be better?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°No,¡± Silvius admitted. ¡°But one would hope such events would inspire him to reconsider what got him there.¡± ¡°I think the first mistake was considering the man¡¯s ability for self-reflection,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Something tells me we¡¯re going to be dealing with man every step of the way for this operation,¡± said Cid. ¡°And if he has money and resources that means he can be a major threat to our work if he learns we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°We¡¯re assuming he doesn¡¯t know we are here,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Good point,¡± said Cid, ¡°probably best we figure this is a known fact to him and act accordingly.¡± ¡°Best to use alternative names before we arrive there so we don¡¯t give ourselves away too much before we arrive to where ever this city is.¡± ¡°It should be about a few days ride from here,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Going back on what was said before, I¡¯m thinking we send a couple of our people in,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°See what exactly what the situation is before we have the whole troop march into what could be an accidental trap.¡± ¡°Sort of like a thief prancing their way into the middle of the barracks of the city¡¯s guards all by accident,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Precisely,¡± Kveldulf said, gesturing towards her with his knife. ¡°All right then,¡± said Cid, ¡°Ben, Gabriel, Kel, I want you three to head to Inderawuda, get a lay of the land, and we¡¯ll join you in three weeks¡¯ time.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit long?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°I think two weeks should the trick for what we¡¯re doing,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°You might be right,¡± said Cid, taking a bite from a small piece of roasted chicken. ¡°What should the rest of us be doing?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Well, you and Hy have your orders, Ben, you ingratiate yourself with the guards here, see what you can drum up. Doc, help Sil and Hy with their work, see if you can spot any odd activities might be coming from the good lord of Inderawuda. And Jeanne, I want you with me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Because you¡¯re the one best versed in these lands and their culture, and I have a few questions I need answered.¡± Part Fifty-Eight: Civil Strife ¡°Are seriously kidding me?¡± Jeanne hissed as they stood in front of the castle gates of Teeg-Upon Avon. ¡°We know he won¡¯t do anything to you, at least until you bring all the heads of his kin in,¡± Cid replied. ¡°But why me? I hear the name Kolville I want to throttle the bastard.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s another reason why I want you with me, Jeanne. You¡¯re one of my lieutenants. If something happens to me, its you and Kel. I know you don¡¯t like, I¡¯d being here as much as you do, if I¡¯m going to be on the level with you, but sometimes you have to work with people you don¡¯t like. That¡¯s one of the lesser perks of being a sword for hire, and you know that as much as I do.¡± Jeanne let out a grunt as she crossed her arms. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you have to be friends with the man. Hell, I don¡¯t trust him farther than I spit.¡± ¡°Then why are we here?¡± ¡°Do you know why there is a war of succession? And I mean what caused the a lack of an heir to cause this whole kafuffle in the first place?¡± ¡°No, and is it really that crucial?¡± ¡°Always assume it is until you have what you need to judge it as otherwise. You never want to be taken off guard in this line of work. More so if things go bad and you¡¯re being blamed for everything that went wrong.¡± ¡°Oh, you just had to remind me of the Koulberg job, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°And it¡¯s because of that job that we¡¯re independent.¡± ¡°Still don¡¯t like thinking about it.¡± ¡°How do you think I feel? That¡¯s why I have grey fur.¡± ¡°All right, all right,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this whole thing over with.¡± Once led into the study of Lord Kolville, Gareth¡¯s head perked up as he saw both Jeanne and Cid enter the room. ¡°Well,¡± he said rising to his feet, ¡°this is a pleasant surprised.¡± ¡°We hope we¡¯re not catching you at a bad time,¡± Cid said to the lord. ¡°Not at all,¡± Gareth replied, holding his out to Cid. ¡°not at all. You must be the leader of The Wolves I¡¯ve heard so much about.¡± ¡°Hopefully good things,¡± Cid said, returning the gesture. ¡°More or less, I heard your men had quite the tussle during the Battle of Venetia a few months back.¡± ¡°It was something, to say the least. Jeanne and the others performed with great distinction during the engagement.¡± ¡°I heard that as well,¡± Gareth replied, looking at Jeanne. ¡°We could¡¯ve used you and your people during a few of the engagements I was in back in the Crusades.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they take too kindly to having mercenaries in religious military affairs. A sort of conflict on interest,¡± said Cid. ¡°True, but when your knee deep in a siege, you¡¯ll accept whatever help you can get.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°But I doubt you came here to trade old war stories,¡± Gareth said, pouring Cid and Jeanne goblets of wine. Cid took the drink and indulged in a long whiff, lifting his eyebrows as he did so. As he studied the smells he looked to Jeanne and gave her a short nod. She cautiously took a sip of the wine before Cid continued. ¡°We were hoping to get some information on the current tete a tete between the two contenders of the throne,¡± he said to Gareth. ¡°Ah,¡± Gareth replied, giving a low groan. ¡°That wonderful conundrum.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the king have an heir designated before he passed?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°He did,¡± Gareth said, taking a seat in from of the fireplace. ¡°That was William of Aelth. His first and only son.¡± ¡°Was he the one who died in the ship wreck?¡± Cid asked. Gareth nodded. ¡°It was following a campaign between the prince¡¯s father and a few of his more adamant opponents. I had been bestowed my lordship the year prior, and I wanted to show support to the crown, so I was a part of the campaign. It was short, but very fierce. And many of nobles were elated when the contest was decided in favor of the king¡¯s cause.¡± ¡°I can imagine,¡± said Jeanne, taking another sip of her wine. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°The elation everyone had was beyond comprehension. As the Shepherd himself had parted the heavens and given us a new age of peace and prosperity by his own hand. Many people were indulging in wine, spirits and food as if there was no tomorrow.¡± Gareth took a long sip of his wine. ¡°The prince, along with most of the kings advisors, and his half-sister, Amelia, had boarded the vessel, The Valiant. I was invited to join them in the revelry, but I had other matters to attend to. That, and there was an uneasy feeling I had when the idea of being on the vessel was brought up. ¡°As the ship moved out of the harbor, you could hear the people singing, laughing, drunk with mirth. Almost made you forget the storm clouds bellowing off in the distance as night began to set in. When the ship had sailed out of view, you could still hear the people on the ship. At first we assumed it was the revelry from earlier carrying on into the night. Then as we found a poor baker, shivering from the cold, having washed ashore clinging a piece of the ship that had kept him from drowning did we learn the horrible truth. ¡°The ship had struck some of the jagged rocks on its journey, and there weren¡¯t enough boats to carry people to safety, or time to get them on the ship. The prince was quick placed on one of the few boats that were sent to reach safety, but when he heard his sister¡¯s cries for help, the prince turned the boat back. And was overwhelmed when people tried to climb aboard to avoid the cold depths below. Only succeeding in taking the prince with them to a watery grave. Far from home, denied even the rights to a proper burial, and to an end I would never wish to suffer in my darkest nightmares.¡± ¡°My god,¡± said Jeanne, shifting in her chair. ¡°The king was inconsolable for days, imperfect as he was, that man loved his children legitimate and not. But his heir was the light of his life. And when it extinguished, he more or less did too,¡± Gareth replied. ¡°I thought he had a daughter, as well,¡± Cid replied. ¡°He does, and before he drew his last breath, he made us swear to acknowledge her as his heir and succeeding regent.¡± ¡°Then what happened?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Well, a few things. Firstly, she was raised in a foreign court, mostly due to a marriage her father had arranged when she was still a child. When she came back after her husband¡¯s death, her time in a foreign land had rubbed some of the nobles here the wrong way. Added with the fact she demanded everyone refer to her as an empress and not anything less did not help.¡± ¡°What was your thought on that?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I honestly could not care less. A regent is a regent, regardless of the title they go by.¡± ¡°And what of Aethelwulf? Why is he challenging her rule?¡± ¡°Firstly, because Adelize wishes to remove the last vestiges of the old ways completely. Which has had a few of the nobles rightly perturbed.¡± ¡°Old ways?¡± Cid asked, looking at both Gareth and Jeanne. ¡°After the invasion by Adelart¡¯s father, Osbern the Victorious, many of the old customs of our people were replaced or completely outlawed. This included the rights of common law, inheritance of those born out of wedlock, even the legal rights of those based on legal status were changed.¡± ¡°And how did that go?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Terrible,¡± Gareth replied. ¡°It led to more rebellions and minor civil wars than one could imagine. And before it was all over, the conquering armies had come to an agreement that those of the ancient houses that had sworn fealty to the crown would retain the old ways, so long as it didn¡¯t inhibit the monarch¡¯s rule.¡± ¡°So now that Adelieze is vying for the throne she wants to uproot all that?¡± Jeanne said to Gareth. ¡°That¡¯s about the size of it, yes. And many of the nobles of the old lines are beyond livid. And even some of the newer houses are siding against her?¡± ¡°How come, wouldn¡¯t they be considering these changes as good?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Some have found the old ways more to their liking than they would like to admit. Particularly when it comes the looser restrictions on bastards and the royal lines.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t quite follow,¡± Cid said. ¡°The church is not fond of children born out of wedlock. It¡¯s seen as a sort of call back to heathen ways.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that comment to myself then,¡± Cid said aloud. ¡°It doesn¡¯t stop people from having bastards, but they¡¯re made to feel sinful for it.¡± ¡°I thought this was a religion about love and guidance,¡± Cid asked. ¡°It is, but that doesn¡¯t mean there are no contradictions.¡± ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°Then of course there is the proverbial elephant in the room,¡± Gareth said. ¡°Which is ¡­¡± Cid asked. ¡°The fact Adelize is a woman,¡± said Gareth, ¡°Many of the lords, nobles and especially the clergy, feel she shouldn¡¯t be allowed the throne or crown simply because of her gender. Though if she took to the field, that might¡¯ve quelled some of the more vocal opponents.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Women are discouraged from military service. Unbecoming of the fairer sex and all that.¡± ¡°That was the case, until Aethelwulf invoked some of the decrees lifting that ban. It almost doubled his army overnight, which nullified the numerical superiority Adelize once had and turns out a lot of the women of the realm have a bone to pick with the newer laws.¡± ¡°How poetic,¡± Cid said, taking a sip of his wine. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t everyone join up with Aethelwulf if he¡¯s wanting to retain the old ways?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Because a lot of the newer ways don¡¯t involve instigating wars, raids, and wanton destruction under the pretense of dying a glorious death. All to live in a mead hall where you¡¯ll fight even more for the rest of eternity,¡± said Gareth. ¡°Our religion isn¡¯t perfect, but it does try to promote a more peaceful means of living and entering paradise.¡± ¡°And how long do you plan to sit out most of this chaos?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°As long as I can,¡± Gareth replied. ¡°We have enough on our hands with my brothers and their new friend. I don¡¯t need to risk the little peace we have in this forsaken tug of war.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cid said, finishing his wine, ¡°I think we have the information we need on this matter. Thank you for your time.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Gareth. ¡°Least I can do. If there¡¯s anything else I can help with, just let me know.¡± ¡°We will,¡± said Cid, rising from his seat. ¡°Thank you for the wine.¡± Once Cid and Jeanne were out of the keep they paused a short distance from the castle gateway. ¡°So what do you think, Cid?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Well, firstly, you know how to pick a situation to get us in,¡± he said to her, patting her on the shoulder. ¡°And second?¡± ¡°That it¡¯s going to be hard for us to avoid joining one side or the other before this is all done.¡± Part Fifty-Nine: Adoring Fans Jeanne sat the edge of her bed. Looking at her hands, opening and closing them slowly. She felt Leonidas¡¯s hand touch her shoulder. ¡°Everything all right?¡± he asked her. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± she replied. ¡°A lot of this just feels unreal.¡± ¡°At least we have a place to hunker down and plan our next move.¡± ¡°Hopefully it¡¯ll stay that way.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think that¡¯s on everyone¡¯s mind, honestly.¡± ¡°What do you think about Gareth?¡± Leonidas let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s a tough one. I¡¯ve known a few people who appeared trust worthy and were turn on you before a second thought. While you had those who thought were beyond untrustworthy and their word was their bond.¡± ¡°Part of me just thinks he¡¯s trying to use me, that he¡¯s just like his brothers, only he knows how to play the game better. But ¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something about him that seems ¡­ genuine. And saying that about a Kolville makes me feel dirty.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say that¡¯s an unfamiliar feeling, though my case was vastly different from what you¡¯re going through.¡± ¡°What made you feel dirty?¡± ¡°Helping the woman who ousted me as a rat and then beat me to a pulp shortly afterwards.¡± ¡°Remind to give her some payback when we¡¯re done with this whole mess.¡± ¡°Jeanne, she¡¯s a head taller than Ben.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t care, she¡¯s getting her ass handed to her.¡± ¡°Oh god,¡± Leonidas said, running his hand over his face. ¡°This won¡¯t end well.¡± ¡°Not for her,¡± Jeanne said confidently. She noted her lover smiling at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this part of you since we got here, and I was starting to miss it.¡± ¡°Some people would think themselves lucky to be free of this part of me.¡± ¡°Not when it¡¯s what I love most about you,¡± he said caressing her cheek. Jeanne was wide eyed at the statement. ¡°What, what I say?¡± Leonidas said, concerned. ¡°You ¡­ you said you love me,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°I mean you meant regarding a personality trait but, I mean ¡­¡± ¡°Well, I do love you,¡± said holding his hands gently on both of her cheeks. ¡°And I want to be with you wherever this road takes us.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how much it means to hear you say that,¡± Jeanne said, placing her hand on his face. ¡°Well I¡¯d like to think I have some use other than my medical hands and devilish smile,¡± he said to her. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She smiled. ¡°I do love that smile of yours,¡± she said kissing his lips softly. ¡°Mother said it get me in trouble.¡± ¡°She did have that one right.¡± Jeanne smile began to fade. ¡°I wish mine were here, honestly.¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s nice to have family in your corner in times like this.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯d be happy to see me again if they were here?¡± Leonidas gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°I know they would. Seeing their little girl growing up into a woman who her hometown admires and writes songs for.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to hear these songs before I decide if this is a good thing or not.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair. I¡¯ve heard a few odes that were supposed to be flattering and ¡­ well ¡­ not so much.¡± ¡°Outlands?¡± ¡°No, that was before the Outlands. Back at the university.¡± ¡°This feels like a story,¡± Jeanne said, laying down on the bed. Leonidas next to Jeanne, holding her close. ¡°It is, and I don¡¯t feel like sitting to tell it all.¡± *** Jeanne watched from front of the inn as the itinerant farmers guided their cattle as they ploughed the nearby field. She stuck her thumbs behind her belt as she strolled around the town. Passing the main hall of the monastery and other adjoining buildings she saw several teenagers huddling around one of the big trees near the corner of the building. She was passing them by when one noticed her and began whispering excitedly to the others. One turned quick to her. ¡°Excuse me,¡± they said, ¡°are you Lady Marais?¡± They all turned and looked at her with mesmerized gazed. ¡°I¡¯m Jeanne Marais, if that¡¯s what you mean.¡± ¡°Was it true you fought a coal bear with only your hands?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said with a chuckle, ¡°and even with my stone scales I¡¯d probably give it a second thought.¡± ¡°Stone scale?¡± one of the teenagers asked. ¡°It¡¯s a spell I learned when I was in The Cold Company,¡± she said, holding out her hand and changing the skin from into a stone cover. The teenagers gasped and looked at the hand with great interest. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± one of them asked. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, it comes in handy in a fight, it can take a lot of damage and can deal it out, too.¡± ¡°Can I touch it?¡± another asked. ¡°You can, gently,¡± she said. The boy reached out, looking back at his friends a couple of times before quickly pulling his hand back. ¡°Have you used that in a battle before?¡± he asked. ¡°I have, a few times. Though it can take a lot out of you if you¡¯re not careful.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve fought in battles? Like big battles?¡± ¡°Battles, sieges, skirmishes, duels, raids, and all that stuff.¡± ¡°Were ever scared?¡± one teen asked. ¡°All the time.¡± ¡°Did you kill a man?¡± Jeanne paused. ¡°Many.¡± ¡°What was it like?¡± one of the girls asked. Jeanne looked at her with a firm gaze. ¡°It was nothing like what you¡¯ve probably heard in the songs sung about such things. No sense of glory, not even a sense of accomplishment, other than you lived to see the next day and the other person didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°What about the Kolville boy?¡± one of the boys asked. ¡°Was that any different?¡± ¡°You have rob you of a sibling and get back to me on that.¡± The teens recoiled at the comment, trading looks with each other. ¡°This is all fun, games and whatever you want to call it until you start losing friends, family, and everyone else you care for. Then life and death take on a very different meaning entirely, and you realize you¡¯re on borrowed time and if your lucky you haven¡¯t spent most of it wasting on things that have nothing to do with the greater scheme of things. And being the one to deny someone the chance to see another sunrise isn¡¯t a weight you should take on lightly. Because that¡¯s a weight you can never rid yourself of. And to answer the one question no one¡¯s asked. The biggest thing I wanted when was out there was to just come home, where something or someone wasn¡¯t trying to kill me. Appreciate was you¡¯ve got while its there, because it won¡¯t be forever.¡± The teenagers looked at each other uncomfortably. Jeanne rolled her eyes before letting out a short growl. ¡°That being said,¡± she followed, ¡°I did pick up a trick or two in my travels.¡± The teenagers looked back at her with curiosity as she held out both hands. ¡°I¡¯d stand back a bit, cause this can get a little hot,¡± she said as she conjured a fireball in each hand. The teens¡¯ eyes widened as they stared at the flames. ¡°These come in real handy when you¡¯re in a pinch, or if you¡¯re in a dark place and a torch isn¡¯t handy.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t just rely on that?¡± one of the boys asked. ¡°Like I said, if you¡¯re not careful these spells can catch up with you and you can be in a worse spot than before.¡± ¡°Can you teach us to use that?¡± one of the girls asked. ¡°If I had the time to do so, I¡¯d consider it. But I¡¯m not here for leisurely pursuits. In any case, I should get going. You all have a good one,¡± Jeanne said as she waved them good bye and moved on. Part Sixty: Flagellants Jeanne walked down the path, following the tall wall of the monastery complex. She cocked an eyebrow up as she said, ¡°How long were you watching?¡± Looking up she saw Maeryn walking alongside her all the way the wall before leaping off and landing on her feet. ¡°Long enough,¡± Maeryn said turning around. ¡°Were you concerned?¡± Maeryn shook her head. ¡°Nah, I figured if anything happened you could handle it.¡± ¡°I appreciate the vote of confidence.¡± ¡°Well if you can¡¯t trust the abilities of the person next to you, you can who trust?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty reasonable question.¡± ¡°But I noticed you weren¡¯t rousing the children with tales of daring dos.¡± ¡°No, no I wasn¡¯t,¡± Jeanne replied, looking back at the children. ¡°How come?¡± ¡°Come on Maer, you¡¯ve seen what this life is like. Not knowing if you¡¯ll find work long enough to put a roof over your head or food on your plate. Hoping you don¡¯t turn to unsavory ways of earning coin to keep from sleeping outside and exposed to nature¡¯s mercy. And heaven forbid you get a contract with someone and they decide to go back on the deal because the started out bad for them.¡± ¡°True. This isn¡¯t a line of work for everyone.¡± ¡°No, and I don¡¯t want them to go what we have. I want them to never know scars which never heal, the haunting presence of the waking nightmares, or other terrors which hound you until the day whatever god you believe in decides its your time to leave this world. They should worry about growing, creating and living their lives without seeing the worst this world has to offer.¡± ¡°Well, I hope you didn¡¯t mind me hanging around then.¡± ¡°Oh no, you¡¯re fine. But what were you doing out here?¡± ¡°I was trying to see how long I could skulk around before someone spotted me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Practice my sneaking.¡± ¡°Oh, that makes sense. But wouldn¡¯t people think you¡¯re up to no good?¡± ¡°They do that anyway,¡± Maeryn replied, shrugging. ¡°Might as well hone my skills and not be a weak link to the company.¡± ¡°Has anyone said you are?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°No, but that isn¡¯t a reason to not pull my weight.¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t be so hard on yourself.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not exactly in the profession where we can afford many mistakes.¡± ¡°True, but pushing yourself past your limits won¡¯t do you or anyone any good.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try to keep that in mind. What do you think the others are doing?¡± ¡°If I know them, Hy and Sil are probably going through the town archives for anything that might us. Doc is doing an inventory on medical supplies, and then going over it four more times.¡± ¡°He really does that?¡± ¡°He takes the job seriously.¡± ¡°Fair enough. And Cid?¡± ¡°My money is he¡¯s talking to Gareth, ingratiating himself with the local movers and shakers here.¡± ¡°For connections?¡± ¡°That and to see what might be brewing underneath all of this.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯ll catch anything?¡± Jeanne shrugged. ¡°Who knows. Sometimes you get lucky. Other times, not so much.¡± Both women perked their ears up as they heard the sound of marching coming from down the road. They turned to see a group of men, carrying crooks in one hand and a flagellant in the other. The whips had three strips to it and nails sticking out from the ends of each strand. The men were dressed in white robes, now stained with dirt and their backs exposed to the elements. Their exposed skin showed a menagerie of scars. ¡°Who are they?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Flagellants,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°They mutilate themselves to demonstrate their faith to our god, sorry my god.¡± Maeryn shook her head. ¡°I knew what you meant. But why do they do that?¡± Jeanne shrugged again. ¡°Given everything that¡¯s going on, I¡¯d imagine they¡¯re trying to get whatever help they can.¡± Maeryn threw up her hood over her head, covering her ears. ¡°I don¡¯t it¡¯s a good idea for me to be so open.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°I hate to agree with you on that point. But flagellants aren¡¯t known for their tolerance in these parts.¡± ¡°Should we tell Cid?¡± ¡°Yeah, and may need to move up when we rejoin the others in Inderawuda.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not officially sectioned by the church, thank the Shepard for small favors, but usually if these people are here, that means someone high up the ecclesiastical ladder isn¡¯t far behind.¡± ¡°And are they known for?¡± ¡°Sometimes nothing, sometimes they clean up a mess, but sometimes they can be ¡­¡± Jeanne stopped as she spotted the man leading the flagellants and felt her blood grow cold. ¡°¡­ We need to find Cid, now!¡± ¡°Why what is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain on the way there, but we need to leave.¡± *** ¡°Well, that was not what I was expecting,¡± Cid replied, rubbing his forehead. ¡°What should we do?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Right now, nothing, we keep our heads low, our voices lower. And we¡¯ll try to get ourselves out of here without attracting their attention and making things that much difficult,¡± Cid said to everyone. ¡°That and two of our three heaviest hitters aren¡¯t anywhere to do any of the heavy hitting,¡± said Maeryn turning to Jeanne. ¡°No offense.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not take on a bunch of religious freaks all by my lonesome,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°That seems to be right up your modus operandi,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I have no doubt I can beat them all to a pulp. And I have a strong push to do just that. But I¡¯ve got enough people wanting my head on a plate as it is, and I don¡¯t need to the church coming after me.¡± ¡°That is the last thing we all need at this point,¡± said Cid. ¡°Do you think this is a random thing with their visit?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I think it¡¯s best to assume it isn¡¯t,¡± said Cid. ¡°Seems too much like a coincidence that these show up right when we did.¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Maeryn said looking out the window of their room at the inn, ¡°I think the flagellants are ¡­ flagellating themselves.¡± Silvius shirked back slightly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s most vociferous.¡± Hypatia and Jeanne came to the window Maeryn was looking at, with Cid, Silvius and Leonidas going to the other. They watched as the group of flagellants marched around the town square, flogging themselves with their crops, the nails ripping and tearing into their flesh. Blood splattering on their clothes, the ground, and some of the people now standing outside and watching the horrifying spectacle. ¡°By all that is merciful,¡± Maeryn said, wincing at the sight. ¡°Is this normal here?¡± Hypatia asked Jeanne. ¡°No,¡± Jeanne replied solemnly, ¡°no it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°All right,¡± said Cid, ¡°We leave tomorrow. Try not to leave the building unless you absolutely need to and do not go alone.¡± ¡°Ah shit,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°They¡¯re coming in here!¡± ¡°Grab your weapons,¡± Cid ordered. ¡°Cid, what are you doing?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I do not want a fight with these men. But I¡¯m not about to let them run us out of town on their terms.¡± ¡°We¡¯re already leaving because of them,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°We were planning to leave anyway, and their arrival moved the time table up. But they are not going to barge in here and push us around. That is not happening. Now grab your gear and let¡¯s go see what these men want.¡± The group threw on their weapons and followed Cid down to the dining area of the inn. There they found around six of the flagellants moving around the area, staining the floor with their freshly drawn blood. Their flails tightly gripped in their hands as they moved about the place. Two were questioning a party of four at one table while the rest moved towards the counter and speaking to the innkeeper. Cid turned to the others. Maeryn, stay here and give us some cover. Doctor, stay here with Maeryn in case we need some healing. Sil, Hy, go to the two and make sure they don¡¯t cause any trouble. Jeanne, with me. The Wolves moved down to the dining hall, the flagellants now taking notice of the new arrivals. Some startled and looking back between the patrons and innkeeper and the group themselves. Cid and Jeanne approached the four standing by the innkeeper. ¡°Is there a problem here?¡± Cid asked politely. ¡°Keep to your own, heathen mog,¡± a flagellant spatted. ¡°Well, I see we¡¯re in a conversing mood, aren¡¯t we?¡± Cid replied turning to the innkeeper. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you could enlighten us to what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I said keep to your own mog!¡± the flagellant repeated, now holding his flay up to Cid. ¡°Heh, I see we¡¯re an eager one, yes?¡± Cid said calmly. ¡°Perhaps a drink to calm nerves before things escalate.¡± The flagellant turned back to the others before he turned back to Cid. ¡°I think this pagan cat needs to taught to keep to themselves!¡± The flagellant raised his flay as Cid grabbed the arm with his left arm and in one swift swipe, slashed the man with the claws on his right hand. The flagellant screamed in pain, Jeanne, summon her stone-scales and holding her war-hammer stepped beside Cid as the others unsheathed their weapons and aimed them to the rest of the flagellants. Cid looked at the man lying on the ground. ¡°Doc, we need your skills,¡± he said before moving around the man and towards other three flagellants at the counter. ¡°All right, which one of you is the leader?¡± he asked them. One of the flagellants pointed to the man on the ground. ¡°He is, sir,¡± the other flagellant replied. ¡°Now you see? There are some manners,¡± Cid said. ¡°You can go a long way if you have proper manners. If you¡¯d be so kind, why are you and your companions here?¡± ¡°We were told by the leader of our chapter that there were heathens who had come to this town and we needed to run them out of town.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even live here!¡± one of the patrons shouted out at the flagellants. Hypatia, swords drawn pressed their tips against the chests of the two men nearby. ¡°Our mission is not limited to the jurisdiction of our chapter,¡± the other flagellant replied nervously. ¡°Yeah right,¡± said the innkeeper, ¡°you and your pack march around here, causing all kinds of mischief. Flaying yourselves in the middle of town. Even riling up my customers when they nothing to ya and were actually minding their own business. All the while the people you¡¯re trying to find haven¡¯t done anything to cause any trouble around here.¡± ¡°We take into our own hands the spiritual welfare of our brethren, so that sin and false gods do not tempt our flock to dangerous ends,¡± the other flagellant replied. ¡°No one asked you to do this!¡± the inn keeper barked. ¡°And no one asked you to go after people for no other reason than you want to.¡± Two the flagellants at the counter moved towards the innkeeper as Jeanne slammed her stone foot into the groin of one of the flagellants and slammed her fist against the other¡¯s temple. ¡°Who else what¡¯s to push my patience?¡± she challenged. ¡°Doc,¡± Cid called out. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m aware,¡± Leonidas replied, still treating the first flagellant on the ground. ¡°Who is this chapter leader of yours?¡± Cid asked the last flagellant still standing at the counter. ¡°They¡¯re called Stefan Kolville.¡± Cid looked at Jeanne as she snarled. ¡°Of fucking course,¡± she growled. ¡°Well this will make things interesting when we reach the others,¡± Cid said. Part Sixty-One: Holy Matters ¡°A fucking holy man!¡± Jeanne cried out. ¡°He becomes a fucking holy man!¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Silvius, ¡°he¡¯s not exactly a man of the cloth. So technically, he isn¡¯t protected by your church.¡± ¡°I appreciate what you¡¯re trying to do, Sil, but that is really not helping.¡± ¡°Why would anyone see that man as anything worthy of religious teaching?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°It¡¯s not completely unheard of to find a person of the criminal persuasion to become a man of the cloth,¡± said Silvius. ¡°For some it¡¯s a way to show true sincerity in trying to turn over a new leaf.¡± ¡°Do you think this Stefan is trying to do that?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put a lot of faith in any sincerity in the man¡¯s claim,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°he¡¯s not to first to use religion to try and cover his tracks and divert any rumors away from him.¡± ¡°A theological shield,¡± Silvius, ¡°how wonderful.¡± ¡°But the people weren¡¯t too kind to the flagellants,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°That has to count for something, right?¡± ¡°Sadly, that¡¯s more of an exception than the rule,¡± Jeanne said to Hypatia. ¡°This isn¡¯t our first time with these people, and they quick wore out their welcome with the religious rhetoric and other aggressive tactics.¡± ¡°Aggressive tactics?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°You saw what they were doing in the inn. They push their way into places where they¡¯re not invited. They¡¯ll perform impromptu inquisitions on anyone they don¡¯t like, and it¡¯s not unheard of for them to perform executions for heretics simply because they wanted to.¡± ¡°Well isn¡¯t that just wonderful,¡± Maeryn replied, cracking her neck. ¡°And slashing one up and pummeling two others isn¡¯t going to win us any favors with them,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one pushing the issue,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t say the asshole didn¡¯t deserve it, but his friends are¡ª¡± Jeanne said before began pounding the door on the other side. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Who is it?¡± Jeanne asked whimsically. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Leonidas asked her with great concern. There was another pounding at the door. ¡°Heathen! Defile not the holy presence of this town, for in the name of the Shepard, I cast you out!¡± the voice called out. ¡°Fucking great,¡± Jeanne said, reaching into her satchel and pulling out a book leafing through the pages. ¡°A damn book quoter.¡± ¡°We shall cast out the daemons and judge you to eternal damnation!¡± the person said on the other side. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Jeanne said reading a page intently, holding one hand up as it began to vibrate aggressively. ¡°Jeanne?¡± Leonidas said concerningly. ¡°Eye on the prize, questions later, darling,¡± she said to Leonidas. Leonidas took a step back. ¡°I¡¯m going to give you some room, then.¡± Cid unsheathed his sword, gesturing the rest to do the same. ¡°Jeanne, what do you plan on doing?¡± ¡°Something loud, something big, and probably a little stupid,¡± Jeanne said, closing the book and heading to the door. Cid put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Jeanne, is this going to be like the last time you debut a new spell?¡± ¡°Are you talking about the¡ª¡± Jeanne said before another round of loud knocking interrupted her. ¡°Fuck the shut up! We¡¯re trying to talk!¡± she barked to the person bashing the door. She shook her head, letting out a disgruntled sigh before turning back to Cid. ¡°As I was saying, we¡¯re you talking that Bukervac thing a while back?¡± ¡°Bukavac¡± Leonidas, Silvius, Hypatia and Maeryn said in unison. ¡°Yeah yeah,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Yes,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I got us out of that one, and no one was hurt.¡± ¡°Not saying you¡¯re wrong, but that was a massive burst of energy in an open area. We¡¯re in a very enclosed space.¡± ¡°Do expect me to blow up half the building?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not to rule anything out with you Jeanne.¡± ¡°I will¡ª¡± Another loud banging on the door. Jeanne, now shaking and with a twitching eye marched towards the door. As she swung the door opened, she grabbed the man in front of the door by the throat and slammed his head on the slab three times. She then put the man¡¯s head between the door and the frame and slammed the door shut and then punched him in the face three more times each. As the flagellant collapsed onto the floor Jeanne screamed, ¡°Are you done, asshole!¡± The other flagellants stared at Jeanne with terror in their eyes. She looked at them, pointing to one and said as she curled her finger towards her, ¡°You, come here.¡± The two men turned and fled, dropping their flails to the floor and scrambling down the stairs. Jeanne watched the two scurried away and shrugged. ¡°Well that was underwhelming,¡± she said turning back to the room. Seeing the battered flagellant on the floor, she scratched her head and began pulling him away from the doorway. ¡°What exactly are you doing?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°The man¡¯s in the way, and I don¡¯t feel like stepping over an idiot to leave the room.¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, ¡°I¡¯m just glad we don¡¯t have to pay to rebuild a whole inn.¡± ¡°We may want to wipe that door down,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°I¡¯ll grab a piece of the flagellant¡¯s tunic. I doubt he¡¯d notice a piece missing,¡± Leonidas said as he went out of the room to clean the door down. ¡°I think we bought ourselves a reprieve from these ¡­ individuals, let¡¯s not push our luck anymore than needed. Get everything ready to move and I want us on the road before nightfall.¡± Part Sixty-Two: Holy Matters II Jeanne and the others reached the outskirts of Inderawuda. Riding down the royal road towards the city. The top of the keep poking out of the tree line with a flag of the House Bellem flying above the peak. A distance away from the group was a lone stone obelisk standing in a field. It was etched in old Prydainish, with ancient images of tangled branches and warriors riding on horseback into battle. ¡°Well that¡¯s interesting,¡± Silvius said, carefully examining the stone. Hypatia already had a pad out and was drawing quickly with a stick of graphite. ¡°It¡¯s a sanctuary stone,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°They¡¯re dotted all along the outskirts of the city¡¯s borders. Anyone declared an outlaw can come here and be kept safe from the law for as long as they want, given they confess do the deeds they¡¯re accused of.¡± ¡°How come you didn¡¯t come here, first?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I wanted off this piece of dirt as soon as I could. And a few miles between me and trouble wasn¡¯t going to do the trick.¡± ¡°We should throw on our hoods,¡± said Cid, ¡°We want to attract as little attention as possible.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t throwing hoods over our heads make us look more suspicious?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°No more than the next person,¡± Cid replied. ¡°And a few of us are going to stick out like a sore thumb, if we don¡¯t cover up.¡± Throwing their hoods up, the group road up to the city gates. Once they reached the main gatehouse, Jeanne looked up and saw several gibbets hanging over the opened doorway. Inside the metal cages were corpses in varying stages of decomposition. Some had birds pecking away at the rotted flesh and sun-bleached bones. Along some of the wall were piked heads of recently executed. ¡°What is your business here in Inderawuda?¡± the guard asked. ¡°We were meeting some old friends,¡± said Cid. ¡°One of them is having a child and we wanted to celebrate the occasion.¡± ¡°Well don¡¯t cause any trouble while you¡¯re here. Doubt you want to celebrate things in the city¡¯s dungeon,¡± the guard replied. The group nudged their horses forward down the cobbled streets. Much of it covered in dirt, grime, horse excrement, and hay straw. The smell of the city made Jeanne wrinkle her nose as she and the others pull their kerchiefs over their mouths. ¡°The wonders of the modern world,¡± she said to herself as they moved deep into the metropolis. ¡°Where exactly did Kel as they were all staying?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°In his letter they were at as place call Colin¡¯s Comforts,¡± said Cid. ¡°Hopefully it won¡¯t be terribly hard to find. As Cid finished, they turned a corner and found a small group of peopled gathered around a person placed in a stockade. They were pelting rotted food, waste and other projectiles towards the poor soul, who was crying out for mercy. Jeanne looked out at the person, began moving her horse forward. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid called out. She turned and saw the look on his face. Looking back, she dropped her head and let out a defeated growl. ¡°Damn it,¡± she cursed as she rejoined the others. ¡°Wait for the crowd to disperse, then we can fiddle with the locks later,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°If they make it that long,¡± Jeanne replied, looking away from the scene. Journeyed down one of the avenues, something caught Maeryn¡¯s attention, she turned her head slightly towards a noise. ¡°Something wrong, Maer?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Drums,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°I can hear drums.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to hear it too,¡± said Cid, his ears perking up. ¡°Quick, find an alley and get the horses in there.¡± They spotted an alley wide enough to guide their horses in, dismounted, and hid themselves behind several crates and barrels resting nearby. Jeanne concealed herself next to Maeryn and Leonidas, cautiously peering their heads up to see what was coming. The sounds of drums became louder with each moment. Footsteps soon followed and chants of scripture came in time with the drumbeats. A column of flagellants moved across the opening of the alleyway. Dressed similar to those back in Teeg-Upon-Avon, but now with hoods to conceal their faces. Men and women flaying themselves with no thought to their own welfare. Crying out for the glory of the Shepard and his flock. At the head of the column was a man, long dark shaggy hair, unkept beard, and a gaunt appearance even from a distance. Maeryn winced slightly when seeing the man. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Leonidas asked her. ¡°I can smell him from here,¡± she said, waving her hand in front of her nose. ¡°Oh how lovely,¡± Jeanne said, looking back at the marching column. ¡°Is that our man?¡± Cid asked. ¡°He seems to fit the description,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°And he has the aura of a demagogue,¡± said Silvius. ¡°His parents should be so fucking proud,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Look how many of them there are,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Must be dozens of the them in this march alone.¡± ¡°More like a few hundred,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Well, definitely rules out muscling our way through,¡± said Cid. ¡°Was that even an option?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°No, but now this is certain.¡± ¡°Do we still try to get to the others?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Cid answered. ¡°But let¡¯s try and still to the alleyways, keep out of sight as much as we can.¡± Cid slowly left his spot behind a crate and grabbed his horse¡¯s reins and began walking himself and his steed down the alley. ¡°Come, before one of them decides to look this way.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. *** Once they arrived to the inn, they hitched their horses and moved inside establishment quickly. Plastered walls draped with old tapestries with faded colors. Next to the hung decorations were metal sconces providing light to interior of the room, showing the smoke collecting along the ceiling above them. Much of the crowd around them were laughing, cursing, eating, drinking, singing with questionable quality, and whiling away the time. Cid stretched his neck up and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I see them, come on,¡± he said to the rest and began worming his way through the crowd. Jeanne spotted Kveldulf, Benkin and Gabriel sitting at a table, chatting amongst themselves as the rest of The Wolves arrived. ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± Kveldulf said, surprised. ¡°We had an incident,¡± said Cid. ¡°Two of them actually,¡± Silvius added. ¡°Thank you for the correction,¡± Cid said unamused. ¡°So we moved up the timetable to come up here.¡± ¡°Well what happened?¡± Benkin asked, sipping from his ale. Cid gave them a brief summary of what occurred with the flagellants. ¡°Oh, you have got to be joking!¡± Gabriel cried. ¡°Fucking religious types.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty much was Jeanne was saying,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Yeah, I was so thrilled.¡± ¡°So, one of the Kolvilles is in charge of a group of religious fanatics?¡± Kvledulf asked. Cid nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what we gathered.¡± ¡°Well that would explain a few things,¡± said Benkin. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°There seem to be a few flagellant groups roaming parts of the city. They act more like street gangs than a group of men trying to promote religion,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Are there any other groups that are patrolling the streets?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Well, there are the Gutter Rats,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Really?¡± Hypatia asked, ¡°The Gutter Rats?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t pick the name,¡± Kveldulf said, shrugging. ¡°It seems they¡¯re the more regular arm of the Kolville¡¯s thugs, and Bellem¡¯s home guard.¡± ¡°Come again?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°They¡¯ve been employing local gangs as a form of auxiliary guard for the city,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°They keep the streets free from random brigands and freelance cutthroats.¡± ¡°What happens if someone want to not be a part of a group?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Did you see the people in the gibbets outside the city?¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Yeah,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Those were the nicer sentences.¡± ¡°Nicer!¡± Leonidas exclaimed. ¡°And I thought this would be less stress for our poor souls,¡± said Cid. ¡°Really, Cid?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°No, but you have to keep some hope for things to get easier.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s just roving bands of criminals wandering the city streets?¡± Silvius asked. Outside the inn there was an outburst of screaming and yelling as people began congregating towards the opening of the establishment. Some of The Wolves rose from their seats towards the noise as Kveldulf pointed upwards. ¡°Come on,¡± he said to the others, ¡°we can get a better look upstairs.¡± The Wolves negotiated their way up the stairs and into the room and Kveldulf opened the shutters to look down below. The sounds of the fighting became clear and the sight of dozens of armed men fighting and maiming each other presented itself for all to see. Dust rose into the air as men and women tore away at each other like animals fighting over slivers of meat and bone. Many had torn their uniformed armor and clothing and lost any semblance of whatever authority they once had. Clubs, knives, nails and teeth were used as several gangs waged war before the tavern. Crates and barrels were thrown around and being crashed onto the fighters and the shattered pieces being used as weapons on their own. Bodies began piling up and obstructing the remaining combatants as they slowly traveled down the other alleyways and avenues and away from the inn. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°That was an arrest,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Who were the people fighting the officers?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°The officers,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Those weren¡¯t criminals fighting them?¡± Silvius asked astounded. ¡°Afraid, my scholarly friend,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°That was the city¡¯s best and finest trying to kill each other so one the groups could get the credit for the arrest.¡± ¡°And how often does that happen?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Daily.¡± ¡°This place is looking better and better by the moment,¡± said Leonidas, rolling his eyes. ¡°What do you expect when their lord of the city is recruiting the worst of society to do his bidding?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°It turns this place into a haven of scum and villainy.¡± ¡°Any sign of what some of the other residents feel about this?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Obviously they¡¯re not happy, but no one is willing to say anything unless they want either the gangs or the actual guards coming after them,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And what of the flagellants?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh, those people!¡± Benkin said letting a hoarse laugh. ¡°Many parade through the city about once a week,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Usually they move through the poorer regions of the city, supplicating to people¡¯s beliefs of obedience to try to stay their hands and give them some hope things will get better.¡± ¡°That and if someone says anything, they¡¯ll flog the poor bastards until their dead,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°And they also go into parts of the city where some of the smaller communities are settled and start hounding the residents there.¡± ¡°What wonderful citizens,¡± Cid said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan now?¡± Jeanne asked Cid. ¡°Well, immediately, we need to get set up with some lodgings. And then I want to see where these flagellants hang their hats. Maeryn, I want you and Gabriel on that. Silvius, you and Hypatia check the archives and see about what records there are on this Stefan character.¡± ¡°Anything specific?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Firstly, I definitely want to know where he calls home. I also want to know when the hell he became a part of this group he¡¯s leading.¡± ¡°Should we try to find anything regarding vices?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°If can do it without getting someone¡¯s attention. If the rest of the Kolvilles are under Bellem¡¯s protection here, it¡¯d be foolish to think he wouldn¡¯t have people keeping an eye on people asking questions.¡± ¡°So we should probably try to get access to records indirectly then,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°How do you plan to do that?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°It¡¯s not terribly hard,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Ask for records on resident religious figures to help with theological issues or misgivings, that¡¯ll bring us close to where good Stefan¡¯s records would be, at least with his time in the flagellants, and we don¡¯t catch anyone¡¯s interest.¡± ¡°Just make sure to be careful,¡± said Cid. ¡°This isn¡¯t Venetia. And we can¡¯t underestimate our quarry. But let¡¯s get some situated with room and board and we¡¯ll start making our moves in the morning.¡± Jeanne stood up to stretch her legs as she felt Kveldulf tap her shoulder. She lifted chin up in acknowledgement. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Just making sure you¡¯re doing all right.¡± ¡°Better than I was before,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve had some time to process, and get a much better perspective of the situation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Still can¡¯t believe one of these bastards is a holy man.¡± ¡°He¡¯s about as holy as a dead dog,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°Fair enough,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°but you know people aren¡¯t going to abandon him simply because of his familiar ties.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jeanne, grimacing out of the corner of her mouth. ¡°Too many people willing to follow a fool into the serene Welkin fields when he¡¯s taking them into the darkest pits of The Wode.¡± ¡°Well, you can¡¯t help it when someone plays on the deepest beliefs a person will have for their own benefit.¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s gonna make it harder for us to get close to him.¡± Kveldulf rubbed his chin. ¡°Yeah. And joining them would be ¡­ painful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I could use my stone-scales and get away with not marking my back up.¡± ¡°No, they may see notice something is amiss.¡± Before either could say anything, they heard someone down stairs give out a blood chilling cry of, ¡°Help!" Part Sixty-Three: Holy Mother ¡°What the hell?¡± Kveldulf said aloud. ¡°Jeanne, Kel, Ben, Maer, with me,¡± said Cid, ¡°the rest of you stay here and wait for further orders.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Easier said than done,¡± Cid replied, ¡°Doctor, get ready for some work.¡± ¡°Already on it,¡± Leonidas said as he pulled out his gear from his satchel. Cid led the way as he and the others into the dining area of the inn. They found a crowd gathered near the entrance. Pushing her way through Jeanne saw a mother with tears running down her face as she held her son who was shaking and unable to move his limbs on his own, wearing torn white garments covered in red splatters and dirt. ¡°It¡¯s my son,¡± she said with her voice breaking, ¡°he was tending to some of his chores when he just fell to the ground and started shaking violently.¡± ¡°Doc!¡± Kveldulf bellowed. ¡°We need you down here.¡± Leonidas bolted down the steps and towards the front as he saw the mother and her child. ¡°Sol¡¯s mercy,¡± he said as he began looking at the boy¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± the mother asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my son?¡± Leonidas felt the boy¡¯s arm muscles, then moving to his neck. ¡°Can he move anything?¡± The mother shook her head. ¡°No, nothing,¡± she said pleadingly. ¡°Is it bad,¡± Jeanne asked. Leonidas took a sharp inhale and had a hard time keeping eye contact with her. She felt her skin crawl, and sinking feeling in her stomach. ¡°Kel, Ben, can you help get the boy upstairs,¡± Leonidas said as he handed the woman a few gold coins, ¡°My lady, why don¡¯t you get something to drink for yourself while we tend to your son.¡± The mother nodded and silently made her way to the counter, Ben and Kveldulf moving the boy up the stairs as Jeanne stayed behind with Cid and Maeryn near the mother. ¡°So that happened,¡± Jeanne said to the others. ¡°Yes, yes it did,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Did you see the condition the boy was in?¡± Maeryn asked. Cid nodded, ¡°I did, and it was not comforting at all.¡± ¡°How come?¡± ¡°Did you see what the boy was wearing when his mother brought him in?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I was trying to ignore that for the time being,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I won¡¯t say anything until Doc says what¡¯s happening,¡± said Maeryn softly. ¡°How come?¡± Jeanne asked. Maeryn said nothing, simply lifting her chin towards the mother. Both Cid and Jeanne turned to her as she clasped her flagon in her hands. She stared into the drink, ignoring eye contact with anyone else at the bar. Jeanne could see some of the other patrons looking at her from the corners of their eyes and murmuring to themselves. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°Poor woman is treated as pariah like her boy,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°You think it¡¯s because of his association?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Can¡¯t say, and I don¡¯t want to play our hand too soon,¡± Cid said. ¡°Should one of us talk to her?¡± ¡°Are you volunteering, Jeanne?¡± Cid asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± ¡°I know you don¡¯t enjoy it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right, I want to.¡± ¡°All right, Maer and I will head up and see what the situation is upstairs. If anything happens, come get me.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°Let¡¯s hope Doc can fix whatever is wrong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s makes two of us.¡± Cid and Maeryn made their way up to the others as Jeanne took a deep breath and made her way over to the counter. She sat next to the mother, still holding her flagon, the suds of the ale beginning to disappear in the brew. As she sat next to the mother, Jeanne ordered a drink and turned to the parent. ¡°Mind if I sit?¡± Jeanne asked. The mother shrugged. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Jeanne, my companions are looking after your son.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter at this point. Nothing¡¯s going to save him now.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell you false hopes to make you feel better. But the man tending to your son is very good at what he does.¡± The mother only nodded, still keeping her gaze on her drink. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Weuve,¡± she said distantly. ¡°It¡¯s Weuve.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Jeanne,¡± she said, holding out her hand. Weuve barely turned her head to Jeanne before turning back. Jeanne pulled her hand to her side and felt a growing heat in her chest. ¡°What¡¯s your son¡¯s name?¡± she asked her. ¡°Edmund,¡± she said reluctantly. ¡°His name¡¯s Edmund.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good name. Was he named after someone?¡± ¡°His father,¡± the mother replied curtly. ¡°Sorry,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to be rude.¡± The mother let out a heavy sigh. ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± the mother said, ¡°it¡¯s just ¡­ this isn¡¯t the first time my son¡¯s had this happen. And every time it gets worse and worse.¡± ¡°When did this first happen?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t long after his father passed about five years ago. He was trying to find purpose, meaning to his life, to show he could step up to the mantle his da left behind. I think he did it more to prove to me he wasn¡¯t a child anymore. And before I knew it, he was with those damned flagellants, ripping the flesh on his back with a flail and spending more time trying to gain favor of the Shepherd than with helping me around the shop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Jeanne said taking a sip from her flagon. Weuve took a long swig of her ale. ¡°Don¡¯t, he¡¯s not your burden to bear.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s hard not to feel for someone¡¯s struggles.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to feel anymore,¡± Weuve said, gripping the flagon tightly. ¡°Every day is a struggle. Every day is some fight that comes from no where because I asked him to do something, or he decided to come home with his back missing all of its skin. Do you know what it¡¯s like having your son come home and half his back is covered in puss and blisters? Watching him become some a joke to those he was friends with years before. Do know you what that¡¯s like?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t say I have.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been with him since the day he was born. Watched him grow into who he is today, and where I used to be filled with pride and joy, it¡¯s now just wondering where I went so very wrong.¡± Jeanne looked at Weuve, opening her mouth to say something, but closed it and took a long breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not really good at this,¡± she said to the despondent mother. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much anyone can do for me at this point,¡± Weuve said as Leonidas slowly made his way down the steps. He made his way over the to counter next to Weuve and waved to the innkeeper. ¡°Five flagons of whatever juice you have.¡± The innkeeper nodded and went to fill out the order as Weuve approached the doctor. ¡°How is my boy?¡± Weuve asked. ¡°He¡¯s alive, he¡¯s resting, and he¡¯s exceptionally lucky,¡± Leonidas said as he grabbed the first flagon and drank most of the contents. ¡°What happened?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The boy¡¯s nervous systems is mostly shot, his muscles aren¡¯t functioning they way they should, it took me who knows how long to keep his heart from giving out,¡± he said with a wheezing breath. ¡°Can I go see him?¡± Weuve asked. ¡°I¡¯d try not to wake him, but he should be all right to go see.¡± Weuve nodded, leaving the flagon at the counter and heading upstairs. Part Sixty-Four: Holy Mother II Leonidas moved closer to Jeanne and plopped his head against the wood finish. ¡°How bad was it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The boy died three times, and I had to resuscitate the bastard.¡± ¡°Three times?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t what he has, but it¡¯s bad. Incredibly bad.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯ll live?¡± ¡°If he stops exposing his skin to high amounts of rusted metal, yeah, he should be fine. But we both know that¡¯s probably not going to happen.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, taking another sip of her ale, ¡°that¡¯s not giving me much of a comforting thought.¡± ¡°No, no it isn¡¯t. But I guess only time will tell,¡± Leonidas said as he turned to Jeanne. ¡°I saw you were speaking with the mother.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think she should have been by herself.¡± ¡°No, no, it was good you did that. Helps the time pass by faster, and know they¡¯re not alone,¡± Leonidas said as he took a sip from his second flagon. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said before stretching her neck. Leonidas rubbed his eyes as he let a long groan. ¡°You all right?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I had to use every trick I know to keep a person alive aside from ¡­ that, and I still almost lost the boy a few times.¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll pull through?¡± ¡°I have no idea at this point,¡± Leonidas said, shaking his head slowly. ¡°A lot of the damage is probably irreparable at this point. And right now, the goal is to be to keep him alive from one day to the next until he regains his strength.¡± ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°The boy¡¯s been whipping his back with unclean iron nails and what else they¡¯ll put at the end of these things. And almost everyday from what I¡¯d imagine.¡± ¡°Did we really save him then?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. If anything we might¡¯ve bought him some more time to prepare himself for the end.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas, her brows furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s a rather dark thought, Doc.¡± ¡°Sometimes you have to face the truth for what it is. And trying to lessen the blow in a situation like this only makes it worse when the full impact hits. That boy did a number on himself that frankly, I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s a way to reverse it at this point.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± Leonidas shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s a chance obviously, but a fool¡¯s chance.¡± ¡°I feel bad for his mother.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± the good ones always take it harder than they should. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Maeryn was keeping watch by the door, could hear some of what the mother was saying.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah, she was blaming herself for him taking this path.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sad she¡¯s the one beating herself up when she had no power over the situation. And I¡¯d bet good money the boy isn¡¯t going to lose a single wink of sleep from the whole affair. Probably whip himself extra for missing a whole day.¡± ¡°You think that?¡± ¡°Seen it happen enough times.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Outlands?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. Enough second chances to reach the hundreds, and no one would ever take the lesson to heart.¡± ¡°And you think her son won¡¯t be any different?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t know until he¡¯s awake, but like I said, I¡¯d bet some good one he won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Leonidas asked before taking another sip. ¡°What do you think about this?¡± ¡°I see two victims of the same man. And honestly, I¡¯m not sure what our first move can be when it comes to taking this man down.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ve figured out solutions to worse situations.¡± ¡°It is nice not having a demonic lunatic trying to kill you.¡± ¡°Or a peckish Bukavac.¡± ¡°Or one of those things.¡± ¡°We should probably go back up and see if the boy¡¯s awake,¡± said Leonidas, rising from his seat and taking the remaining flagons. ¡°Edmund,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Hmm,¡± Leonidas hummed. ¡°The boy¡¯s name is Edmund.¡± Leonidas paused for a moment. ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± ¡°I figured you¡¯d like to know.¡± ¡°Right, of course.¡± Leonidas and Jeanne moved up the stairs and found Maeryn leaning against the doorway to room being used. The elf held her long knife in her hand, with the blade resting on her shoulder. ¡°Anything happening?¡± Jeanne asked her. Maeryn shook her head. ¡°Not really. The mother¡¯s been sitting at her boy¡¯s side. And everyone else is ¡­ trying to give them their privacy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to be a little tough,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°We¡¯ll just keep it conversation to other things until the boy is strong enough to move.¡± ¡°Hopefully not too long,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°I¡¯d rather not have someone bunking with us.¡± Jeanne paused for a moment. ¡°Oh yeah ¡­ that¡¯d be awkward.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you check on your patient while I go see what Cid wants to do?¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°Let me know if anything major happens.¡± As Leonidas moved to the bed to check on young Edmund, Jeanne walked over to where Cid and Kveldulf were standing. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said, lifting his chin up to her. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Something the matter?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cid said looking over at the bed. ¡°Just a thought I wanted to run by you and Kel. Doctor, I¡¯m going to convene with Jeanne and Kel in the hall if you need us.¡± ¡°If I¡¯ll need you, I¡¯ll scream like my head¡¯s taken off,¡± Leonidas said while he examined Edmund. ¡°And on that note,¡± Cid said, gesturing Kveldulf and Jeanne to follow. A short distance from the room, Cid looked around the hall before turning back to Kveldulf and Jeanne. ¡°All right, your thoughts on the situation?¡± ¡°Anything particular?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Overall.¡± ¡°Obviously this can¡¯t be an isolated incident,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°There¡¯s too many of them of this child to be the only one who was affected by something like this.¡± ¡°And Weuve isn¡¯t a supporter of these flagellants at all,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Weuve?¡± Cid asked. ¡°The mother.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Cid said, pleasantly surprised. ¡°And you said you¡¯re not good with people.¡± ¡°Well, she said her son joined up after his father passed.¡± ¡°Did he now?¡± Cid said, rubbing his chin slowly. ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We can¡¯t assume this boy is the only one to join because of this Stefan. And most religious leaders tend to have some special spark to bring people to them.¡± Cid paused and turned back to his lieutenants. ¡°And if it was my child bedridden because of that man. I¡¯d want to feed him his own heart.¡± ¡°So, what are you thinking?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The mother, Weuve, when things temper down, I want ¨C¡± ¡°Are you shitting me?¡± Jeanne hissed quietly. ¡°Her son is still comatose, she¡¯s breaking keeping it together, and want to turn her into a spy?¡± Cid held up his hand for a moment before placing it on her shoulder. ¡°When her son awakens, we¡¯ll ask to see if there¡¯s anything she can tell us that might help us.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯ll know anything about this group?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Worst she can do is say no,¡± Cid said. ¡°Worst can do is tell us where we can shove it,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Still, it would be wise to at least see what she might know.¡± ¡°Who should do it?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°I can do it,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead on that, but I do want you with me, Jeanne,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°If she¡¯s familiar with you, that¡¯ll help her feel less at ease.¡± Kveldulf and Jeanne exchanged glances. ¡°What?¡± Cid asked them. ¡°Don¡¯t you mean ¡®more at ease¡¯, Cid?¡¯ Cid lightly smacked his forehead. ¡°Damn it did I mix the words up again?¡± ¡°You did,¡± Jeanne said to him. ¡°Damn it,¡± Cid said, ¡°Well you both knew what I meant. Let¡¯s go see how the doctor is doing.¡± Returning to the room, they saw Leonidas checking the boy¡¯s pulse, his breathing now at a slower tempo and his mother looking more relaxed than before. ¡°How¡¯s young Edmund?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°He¡¯s looking a lot better than before. Thank the mercy of Sol for that,¡± said Leonidas as he wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°He should be on his feet whenever he awakens.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± Cid said nodding. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a moment to rest and collect yourself. We¡¯ll call you if we need anything.¡± Leonidas nodded slowly, his eyes half opened. ¡°Right, I¡¯ll see you all later.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly,¡± Jeanne said to Leonidas. Leonidas caressed her cheek, saying. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me waiting too long,¡± before leaving the room. Cid pulled up a chair and sat next to Weuve. ¡°How are you faring, Lady Weuve?¡± ¡°Better,¡± Weuve said. ¡°A little better.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. Very glad.¡± ¡°The doctor said my boy is in a bad spot.¡± ¡°He not the type to give a person false hope,¡± Cid said. ¡°No, I guess that would reflect bad on him, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Might also have us reconsider his contract with our company,¡± Cid said, giving Weuve a warm smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d imagine that¡¯d be the case.¡± ¡°I wish there was something we could do to make this better.¡± Part Sixty-Five: Holy Mother III ¡°There is,¡± she said with a fire in her eyes. ¡°Find the curs who did this. Find that mangy bastard who turned my child into a some wild loon and hang his corpse from the tallest building.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s just the problem. We¡¯re not entirely sure where to start looking.¡± Weuve looked at Cid with a steeled gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know where those vile dogs are, but I know there¡¯s a friend my boy spends time with. Galbert, that¡¯s his given name. You find him,¡± she said with her voice breaking. ¡°You find him and his vermin friends and make them pay for what they did. You make them pay for what they did to my boy.¡± ¡°We will do what we can, miss,¡± Cid said, gently clasping her hand in his. ¡°We will bring him to justice.¡± ¡°To the Wode with justice!¡± Weuve said, ¡°There is no justice in this place. I want vengeance. I want blood. I want my pound of flesh and I want it collected with as much suffering you can inflict.¡± Cid nodded, patting her hand. ¡°We¡¯ll do what we can.¡± ¡°You put all those animals down, and leave their corpses for the wolves,¡± said as she turned back to her child. Edmund began stirring in the bed and his mother moved to caress his head. ¡°Shh, little one, everything¡¯s all right. Everything¡¯s all right.¡± Cid looked back to Jeanne and Kveldulf, gesticulating his head towards the door. As the three left, Weuve called out. ¡°Do any of you have family?¡± The three looked at each before Jeanne turned to Weuve. ¡°Not children no, but I had a sister once. She was stolen from my family, too.¡± ¡°Did you give them what they deserved?¡± ¡°Some of it, still working on the rest.¡± ¡°You send them the darkness, and you don¡¯t show them any mercy.¡± Jeanne nodded, saying nothing as she and the other left the room. They moved down to the top of the stairs landing before Kveldulf stop them. ¡°Cid, are we actually going to be enacting vigilante justice on the streets?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Kel,¡± Cid said. ¡°We can¡¯t just go around nabbing people off the street and looping off heads without some justification.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going to that Kel.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Then what are we going to do?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°If we don¡¯t put them down when we find them, we¡¯ll have to find a place to hold them until later. And if it¡¯s the former we¡¯re going to need to deal with keeping several decomposing heads.¡± Cid growled and sneered. ¡°I¡¯m still trying to figure that out. And I don¡¯t think this place has a vault to sort severed body parts.¡± ¡°I mean, there¡¯s always bury their heads in a forest.¡± ¡°All right, tomorrow, pick a spot about five miles from the city walls and find a spot. Maybe get a thick burlap sack and maybe that¡¯ll keep the worm¡¯s from getting to them ¡­ hopefully.¡± ¡°I think once the second brother is taken care of, it might get the others moving,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°You think so?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I would, out of seven brother, two are taken out of the situation. And chances are they¡¯ll start figuring these aren¡¯t isolated incidents.¡± ¡°And if the youngest one was trying to find me, it won¡¯t be long until they know I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Then we need to start moving on this one before they have time to recover,¡± said Cid. ¡°Kel, have Gabriel and Ben start looking for this Galbert character. Once this boy is out off his plate, have the doctor and Silvius prepare for obtaining proof of capture for our friends. And when you and Maeryn found a place to store the heads, we¡¯ll begin pressing in.¡± ¡°How soon do you want to do this?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Two to three days,¡± Cid said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to give them the chance on catching us by surprise.¡± ¡°All right,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°I¡¯ll start letting the others know.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cid said to Kel before he left. ¡°Let me know if anything comes up. Jeanne, walk with me, talk with me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think I did anything this time.¡± ¡°No no, nothing of the sort. I just wanted to check in, see how you were doing?¡± ¡°Conflicted, to be honest.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I want to hang, draw and quarter each one of these bastards, have Doc bring them back to life and do it all over again.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s staying your hand now?¡± ¡°A lot of things.¡± ¡°Anything you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Cid, let¡¯s not beat about bush on this, why are you asking?¡± ¡°Your one of my lieutenants, it¡¯s part of my job to make sure you¡¯re able to do what you need to do.¡± ¡°You think I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re in a tough spot and that can cause tougher decisions.¡± Jeanne let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Cid, how would you handle this?¡± ¡°I¡¯d try to do what I knew was right, not what I felt right for me.¡± Jeanne narrowed her eyes and growled. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just wonderful.¡± ¡°I think maybe if you focus on one person at a time instead of the whole it might make things easier. At least you don¡¯t have to see the whole mess until after it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Yeah, guess I¡¯ll try that.¡± ¡°Certainly, couldn¡¯t do any harm.¡± ¡°No, no, but one other thing. When we come across these brothers, do you think you can keep yourself from doing when we were on the Bellamy Blade?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°I know I fucked on that, Cid. But I¡¯m not going to let myself get carried away like that.¡± ¡°At least make sure when you¡¯re doing something exceptionally silly you¡¯re keeping it strictly to the enemy.¡± ¡°I only promise to try,¡± she said, giving a him a slight smile. ¡°That¡¯s all I ask.¡± Part TBD - Dark Hearts [TWH New Part] Leonidas sat on a bench, staring out to the stables a distance from inn after Cid and Ben moved the man Jeanne apprehended there for interrogations. The doors were closed and little noise came from there. The shock had finally left him as the sun set into the horizon. The horror of the moment at the farmhouse ebbed away leaving bringing an old familiar, dark presence from a corner he wished he could hide away forevermore. One he had tried to bury this back in the Outlands, and leave far behind when he returned back from his exile. The trials of that land untouched by laws and civilization; tilled with blades, sowed with bones and watered in blood. Tribes, villages, small towns barely scraping existence from the earth on one day. Only to be wiped from existence with no warning on the next. Sometimes by beasts born by waking nightmares, sometimes wrought by forces of magic and the divine wielded by few who barely understood such things, yet many felt were masters in the craft. Sometimes by those fighting each other for reasons which boggled the dullest sensations of logic and reasoning. It was a hard land, and every day it tested him to his limit. Goading him to be the very thing he stood against this darkness within him with every fiber of strength he could conjure to stay its hand. And what was his reward? Graveyards filled with friends and comrades. Branded a knave, criminal and hunted by those whose lives he saved for false accusations born from inflated egos. The burning anger began filling his mind with dark thoughts. Even the slightest memories caused him feel the compulsion to indulge in ill deeds, growing stronger by the second. So deep in these thoughts he jumped when he noticed Jeanne taking a seat next to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to startle you,¡± she said, handing him a flagon before sitting down next to him. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said weakly before taking a short sip of the mead inside. ¡°I heard what happened at the farm. I¡¯m ¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask how you¡¯re holding up.¡± ¡°I appreciate that.¡± ¡°How well did you know them?¡± ¡°Moire was a good friend. I knew her husband before I was sent to The Outlands. They were the first to give me work when I got back. Helped me get back on my feet. When Siomon was born I helped her deliver him. When her husband died I did what I could to make his passing easier. Tried to be something of a father figure to Siomon as I watched him grow from babe to being on the cusp of manhood. And she treated me with a kindness I could never begin to repay. In some ways I saw them as kin. And now they¡¯re gone, just like with so many others I came to find some comfort and solace.¡± Leonidas looked up, seeking succor for this terrible pain in heart and found none. ¡°I used to think I had a blessed life. For all the times I stared death in the face and yet was graced to see the light of the dawn one more time. Now I wonder if this was nothing more than a mere trick to keep me from a bitter truth.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That I¡¯m truly cursed,¡± he said with his voice breaking. Jeanne placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I won¡¯t act as if I can speak on their behalf. It¡¯s not my place, and frankly I¡¯m certain a few wouldn¡¯t even give me a moment of their time at this point. And I doubt I¡¯d give them the same courtesy if they sent me something. But ¡­ I do not think you¡¯re cursed, Doc. I think you just have a caring heart.¡± Leonidas looked down, taking in the words. ¡°That means a lot, Jeanne. Thanks.¡± ¡°Hold off until you know how much you owe,¡± she said, giving him a cheeky smile. ¡°Prick,¡± he said, chuckling. His demeanor became less serious as the laughter ebbed away, ¡°I can assume you and your friends are going after these outlaws?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan, yeah. Hunt them down until they¡¯re all put to the sword.¡± ¡°Count me in.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas, taken aback. ¡°You sure? This ¡­ this may get ugly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with ugly before,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°It¡¯s a road I¡¯m more than familiar with.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, wrap her arm around his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯ll be nice to have someone who can actually do some healing. As well as a few of those odd bits you know,¡± she said, taking a sip of ale. ¡°I can¡¯t just rely on my devilish good looks all the time,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m letting you have that one,¡± Jeanne said, shaking her head and nudging his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll thank you for your magnanimous boon.¡± ¡°You very good welcome, good sir,¡± Jeanne said, bowing her head towards him. Cid and Ben emerged from the stable. Shaking the fingers loose and rotating their shoulders and looking worn as they neared the inn. ¡°You two don¡¯t look thrilled,¡± Jeanne said to them. ¡°It wasn¡¯t as productive as I had hoped,¡± said Cid they reached the other two. ¡°Did you get anything out of him?¡± Jeanne asked them. Benkin shook his head. ¡°Not much, mostly insults and a few slurs to us and our kin. So, you know, the usual.¡± ¡°Same thing when you brought up the farmhouse?¡± Leonidas asked. Cid shook his head. ¡°He showed little remorse about that.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know of any pressure points that might help them?¡± Leonidas took a deep breath, rose to his feet, turned to Ben, ¡°I might, mind if I borrow that knife?¡± Ben, lifting an eyebrow up at the request, cautiously handed Leonidas his knife. ¡°Don¡¯t dull it.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t be an issue,¡± Leonidas replied as he began calmly walking towards the stables. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Jeanne asked, concerned, slowly rising to her feet. Leonidas turned to her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll just be a little chat,¡± he replied coldly. Inside the stables, Leonidas found the bandit tied to a chair. Bruised and bloodied all over his face, his shirt torn in many places, and his breathing was heavy as he looked up at the doctor. ¡°The fuck do you want?¡± the man asked. Leonidas turned to the door and ran his fingers over the stable doors. He watched as the wood tightened shut, causing some of the dust to fly off. ¡°Just want to play a game. I ask, you answer. You give me something within your current antagonizing manner and ¡­ you know what, why spoil the surprise?¡± The man spat at Leonidas. ¡°Fuck you and your mother.¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°This is going to be far easier than I thought.¡± He moved around behind the man, asking, ¡°Which is your dominate hand?¡± ¡°The fuck would I tell you for?¡± ¡°And there you go just keep digging that hole,¡± said Leonidas as he used the knife to lacerate the man¡¯s left hand. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The man growled in pain before turning back to Leonidas. ¡°You think a little cut like that is going to make me talk?¡± Leonidas grabbed a large iron bucket resting next to a wall and moved it underneath the man¡¯s cut hand. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m not going to make you talk. Though I do know how, even if your mouth was gagged, waxed and sealed, with runes and incantations. But I¡¯m not here to make you talk,¡± the doctor said with a hint of menace. As he spoke, Leonidas¡¯s hands began to glow red, the bones now visible from the inner light through the skin. Veins along his skin turned black as his eyes disappeared, leaving only dark abysses where they once were, he held up his left fist and the man found to his horror his mouth was forced shut, ¡°I¡¯m going to make you sing.¡± *** Leonidas struggled to open the stable doors, wiping a layer of sweat from his brow, breathing heavy and his skin colorless. He leaned up against the outer walls of the building as the three came up to him. ¡°What happened in there?¡± Cid asked flinching his head back. ¡°He should be in a better mood to talk,¡± Leonidas replied, trying to catch his breath while running his right hand up and down his left arm. Benkin opened the door, taking a step back and his mouth falling open for a moment before he regained his composure. ¡°Those are some pressure points, Doc.¡± ¡°Like I said, I know a few tricks,¡± said Leonidas, handing Benkin back his knife before he began stumbling towards the inn, ¡°If you all don¡¯t mind I think I¡¯m going to call it a night.¡± ¡°You need help getting back to your room?¡± Benkin asked. Leonidas waved it off. Not looking at the warrior as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just need some night air and I¡¯ll be all right.¡± Barely hearing the startled conversation behind him, Leonidas made his way to the inn. The labored breaths growing worse as each step demanded more of an effort for him to keep his balance. His muscles screamed in pain with each movement, the world spun randomly as he moved, his eyes opening and closing rapidly to try and reorientate himself. The scent of food and ale made his stomach turn. Reaching the base of the stairs, he rested much of his weight on the railing to help negotiate his way up the steps. Once at the landing he leaned against the wall, unable to regain his balance without some aid. Arriving to his room, he grabbed the door handle and with what strength was left in him, he pulled the handle down. Opening the door, he collapsed onto the floor with a hard thud. He tried to force himself to crawl further, desperately searching to find the chamber pot under his bed. As his hands shook terribly, he lifted his torso high enough for his head to hover over the pot and vomited a black bile into the recess. Once he finished, his strength left him and rolled onto his back. His began slowing down as the room began spinning, voices of those long dead speaking to him in words he could not make out. His eyelids twitched violently as his skin shivered as the world became black. Leonidas awoke to a mind splitting headache as the rest of his body ached to find himself on his bed. It took him some effort to sit up in his bed. As his vision came back, he found Jeanne and Cid sitting next to his bed. ¡°Huh,¡± Leonidas said in a gravelly voice, ¡°that answers my first question.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Cid, in a calm but stern voice, training his gaze on the doctor. His legs cross and hands clasped over one knee with a straight back. ¡°Especially since I have been enjoying a rather interesting conversation with Jeanne.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Leonidas replied, his head falling back onto his pillow and placing a hand over his eyes. ¡°Are you really that surprised?¡± Jeanne asked him. ¡°Not entirely, though this was something I would prefer handling. How much did you tell him, Jeanne?¡± ¡°Everything, Doc.¡± ¡°Figured as much. I¡¯m assuming you have questions, Cid.¡± ¡°Many, as well as some reconsiderations, but Jeanne is vouching for you, even after seeing what you did to that man,¡± Cid shook his head, clearing his throat. ¡°Are you really that upset?¡± Leonidas challenged. ¡°You honestly are telling me you wouldn¡¯t have the same to the man to get whatever information he had?¡± ¡°You crushed his arm enough his bones and flesh poured out of that cut on his hand,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Then there were all the ribs you broke,¡± Cid followed. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t want to do the same,¡± Leonidas replied, sitting up in bed. ¡°That man is part of the group who will two innocent people. One of them a child! They damn neared killed your friend who¡¯s still bedridden. Are you telling me with all honesty that you both didn¡¯t want to get a little payback?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± said Cid. ¡°Then I would love to be enlightened to this one,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Doc,¡± said Jeanne, moving to sit next to on the edge of his bed, in a more relaxed tone. ¡°First, I think this goes against the whole ¡®do no harm¡¯ part.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more of a guideline than a rule,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°As I was saying,¡± Jeanne interjected, a harsh looking in her eyes, ¡°even if it is a guideline, I think crushing a man¡¯s arm to where it¡¯s a bloody bag of skin might be taking it a bit too far.¡± Cid puffed his cheeks out, wrapping his arms around his stomach. ¡°Jeanne I was just to not be nauseous from that.¡± ¡°Sorry Cid,¡± Jeanne said to the Felidan before turning back to Leonidas. ¡°On that brings me to my second point. How many times would you lecture someone who used magic they had no business using? How many times did you tell me stories of what happened when rituals, despite them doing everything right and by the book, had something horrible occur? Then you do this? Doc, I¡¯m not mad, I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Leonidas said weakly. ¡°Just ¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jeanne turned to Cid. ¡°Can we have some privacy, please?¡± Cid nodded. ¡°Of course. Let me know if there¡¯s anything you need. And I expect of you present for the morning meeting.¡± As he closed the door, Leonidas turned to Jeanne. ¡°Is that a thing with you all?¡± She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been a thing of his since our days back with the Cold Company.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± ¡°But what happened back there? It was as if you snapped and became a different person?¡± Leonidas took a deep breath, looking away. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened either. Used to be before this was far easier for me to handle. Probably because it was towards me and I just told myself to toughen up and take it all with some form of grace. I don¡¯t know. But ¡­ when it¡¯s someone else, it¡¯s hard. Really hard. ¡°Especially when the person responsible gets off without a slap on the wrist or even an ill word said their way. And after Moire and Siomon I just ¡­¡± he paused, rubbing the back of his neck and rubbing his eyes, ¡°¡­ it brought back a lot of emotions that I wished would just let me live in peace. And for once, I just gave in. I saw a chance to return back all those wants and desires to unleash a turbulent storm of hate and pain and retribution. ¡°I saw a chance to finally see someone get what they deserved. To see the horror they inflicted come back and there was nothing they could do to avoid it. To rob them as they¡¯ve robbed others and there was nothing they could do to slip away into the night and avoid repaying their debt. And before you say it, I know it wasn¡¯t my place, but ¡­¡± Jeanne put her hand on Leonidas¡¯s knee. ¡°I get it, Doc. I do,¡± she said in a soft tone, ¡°We both know I¡¯m not well traveled on the high road. But you are. That¡¯s what I respect about you. If half of what you¡¯ve told me about your life is true, I would¡¯ve lost my mind and told everyone to sod off. But you¡¯re still in it. You help people because that¡¯s just who you are. It¡¯s admirable. Noble even. And there¡¯s not a lot of people in this world anymore who are like that.¡± ¡°Keep saying stuff like that, and I might start to get this ego I keep hearing about,¡± Leonidas replied. Jeanne slapped his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret trying to be nice.¡± ¡°So ¡­ what are you guys going to do with our guest?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I have no clue. Probably hand him over the authorities.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t ask about his current state?¡± ¡°Doc, seriously, how long have you been away from civilization?¡± ¡°Long enough it seems.¡± She patted Leonidas¡¯s shoulder as she rose up and made her way out of the room. ¡°Get some sleep, Doc. I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± He rested his head, trying to let his thoughts calm themselves down. A click of the knob and opened his eyes to see Jeanne reentering the room. ¡°Sorry, but there was one more thing I wanted to ¡­ talk about.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± Leonidas said, slamming his head back against the pillow. ¡°Is this another one of your ¡®ideas¡¯?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°not this time.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Do ¡­ do you remember our last conversation? The one before I brought into all this?¡± Leonidas lifted his head slowly, his eyes beginning to squint and his brow furrowing. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, before taking a deep breath. ¡°I wanted to apologize. I didn¡¯t mean to reopen a wound like that and ¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Leonidas told her. ¡°Really, it was just matter of bad timing.¡± ¡°Just, I know what it¡¯s like to lose someone close. And I know she was close to you.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah she was,¡± Leonidas paused to take a breath to compose himself, ¡°though you didn¡¯t know the whole story. And are still a few things I still prefer not to disclose.¡± ¡°No, but I still wanted to sat that.¡± ¡°I appreciate that, Jeanne. I really do,¡± Leonidas. Leonidas noted a soft smile on her face before she rose from the bed. ¡°Well I¡¯ll let you get some rest and I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let the bed bugs bite.¡± ¡°Not without a meal and dancing first,¡± she said, closing his door. Part [TBD] - Guardian Angel Jeanne leaned against a column, her hood over her head, staring out at a group of flagellants bloodying the ground as they struck their backs for the fourth day since they started watching the area. Huddled in a circle, around a dozen men and women, she counted, participating in this activity. People stopping in their errands to watch this macabre scene take place. Some getting splattered by the blood for standing so close. Jeanne, stirred, hoping the damned affair would end soon. Their cries broke the silence, as no one nearby dared speak. Turning to her right, Jeanne saw Ben and Gabriel return. ¡°Anything new?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Not a damn thing,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°They haven¡¯t stopped since you two left.¡± ¡°Any signs of this Galbert character? Or has is he still absent?¡± Benkin asked. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No signs of him yet, but the flogging is still beginning.¡± ¡°Well, at least they¡¯re adamant in their dedication,¡± Benkin said, nodding slowly. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it,¡± Gabriel said, spitting off to the side. ¡°I¡¯m surprised no one from the guard has stepped in a put a stop to this spectacle.¡± ¡°Just another perk of having friends in high places,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°And it¡¯s a little disturbing how many people are simply watching these people injure themselves,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Not much different from when you see crowds form in front of a burning building. More than willing to watch people burn but wouldn¡¯t think twice to put the fire out,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Plus, if someone¡¯s willing to harm themselves in such a manner, how many people do you think will go out of their way to help them?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Like some macabre exhibition into one¡¯s darker mind,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°wonder how many would even give that a thought before someone gets hurt?¡± ¡°Wait a second?¡± Benkin said, lifting a finger from where he crossed his arms. ¡°I think that¡¯s our man.¡± He pointed to a man closely resembling Weuve¡¯s description. Between fifteen to sixteen winters, short cut blonde hair, brown eyes, thin build, and with a suffocating air of superiority. ¡°Well doesn¡¯t he look like a wonderful conversationalist,¡± Gabriel said to them. ¡°And he¡¯s got a couple of friends with him,¡± Benkin, noticing the two larger men standing nearby, both a head taller than Galbert and dressed in gambeson¡¯s sporting the heraldry of the Kolvilles. ¡°Oh that¡¯s not good,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°I want to say I¡¯m surprised, but I¡¯m not,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°It does answer a few questions,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°I think Cid will want to know this.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll keep an eye on things here, let you know if anything happens when you get back,¡± Benkin. Gabriel nodded, and silently disappeared into the shadows. ¡°I got to find out how she does that,¡± Benkin said to Jeanne. ¡°Probably a nice boon from being a vampyre,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I think.¡± ¡°You think?¡± ¡°I mean, she could¡¯ve had to learn to sneak like the rest of us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Jeanne grimaced as the blood could be seen pooling underneath the flagellants as they continued their self-punishment. ¡°You all right, Jeanne?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°It¡¯s just a little hard sometimes to watch this.¡± ¡°Yeah, even when you¡¯ve seen the aftermath of a battle, something like this is just not easy to stomach.¡± ¡°No, no it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You want to head when Gabriel get back?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve had my filled of this whole ¡­ thing.¡± ¡°This seems to be effecting you more than I thought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to explain.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re not going anywhere until Gabriel gets back.¡± ¡°Just ¡­ I know some of those people are doing this for genuine reasons. Seeking divine acceptance, penance, absolution. They¡¯re not doing because they enjoy the pain, or they want to make watch them. Something¡¯s driving them to do this, despite society thinking it unwise, unacceptable, even sinful to the more pious. But they do it anyway because they¡¯re searching through pain what other paths cannot lead.¡± ¡°Right, but why is it getting to you?¡± ¡°Because in weird way I can relate to them. I¡¯ve never taken a flail to my back. But I can¡¯t count all the times I¡¯ve started a fight, charged into the worst of a battle, come up with plans which should¡¯ve by all logic killed me. And for the longest time I thought it was because of some general lack of common sense. Some urge to push myself past what kept me from reaching the top. But I¡¯ve looking back on a lot of things and I¡¯m starting to see a new truth coming in, which is leaving me ¡­ uncomfortable.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That in an unusual way. This, all of this, is my seeking penance. Like I said, I haven¡¯t struck myself with a flail, but I can assure you my back carries more than a few scars from all the stupid escapades I¡¯ve gotten myself into. And only the Sheperd can tell which ones were caused by some death wish I¡¯ve had longer than I want to remember.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say we all haven¡¯t had such guilt weighing on us.¡± ¡°But you haven¡¯t gotten friends hurt, Ben. You didn¡¯t bring bounty hunters onto your doorsteps, bloodying city streets, or almost ¡­¡± Jeanne turned away and put her head in her hand. ¡°Shepherd¡¯s guidance what may I becoming?¡± ¡°Jeanne, may I say something?¡± Jeanne shook her head softly, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I know the loss of kin the same way you have. And I won¡¯t insult you by saying I know the path you walk. But if I¡¯ve learned anything in this life, it is the swiftest way to harmony is through serving the greater good, and not through inflicting harm. Regardless of who is being hurt.¡± ¡°And you became a warrior?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t deny the initial hypocrisy. But I do what I do best, keep people safe. I don¡¯t seek out the duel, I let it come to me.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeanne growled as she turned back to the flagellants. ¡°Food for thought, then.¡± ¡°Why do think you¡¯re putting yourself through this?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The fact my sister died and I¡¯m here. The fact that despite how much I try to get away, this mess just seems to find me. Like this is some for of punishment for who knows how much retribution I¡¯ve collected for myself when I was younger.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re being more than a little hard on yourself Jeanne.¡± ¡°Well how am I supposed to feel? I act like a brat, my sister is murdered. I kill the man who did the act, I¡¯m outlawed and exiled. I leave everything I have behind, and people go out of there way to send trouble my way. I wouldn¡¯t even be back here if it wasn¡¯t for the damn bounty on my head.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t I have an answer for that, sadly. As my father would say, even the wisest cannot see all before them.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s usually how it goes.¡± ¡°What is it you want?¡± ¡°I want to be left alone. I want people to stop going out of their way to make trouble for me and then react like I¡¯m the villain because I socked them in the jaw.¡± Benkin nodded, rubbing his hand along his chin as he pondered deeply. ¡°Hmm, this reminds me of a saying I used to here back home.¡± ¡°What was it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had to recall it, but I think it went something like:¡± That which is still can be embraced. All can see beauty as it is. All can see good as it is. Therefore be and not-be. Embrace difficult and eases as one. Let long and short become equal measures. Let high and low sit together. Let all sounds harmonize together. Let all directions follow the same path. Jeanne bobbed her head forward and back slowly as she took in the words. ¡°Huh,¡± she said aloud. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Usually, sayings like that tend to be more vague and mysterious. But that one was fairly straight forward. A little more flowery for my liking, but still pretty up front.¡± ¡°It does help when the message actually makes sense. And it isn¡¯t someone just saying random fancy words to remind people how rich their parents were.¡± Jeanne let out a quick snort. ¡°That¡¯s the truth.¡± Gabriel arrived back, throwing back her hood. ¡°Cid wants us to follow good Galbert and his entourage.¡± ¡°All right,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Anything else.¡± ¡°No unnecessary engagements, he wants us to keep watching them as best we can.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± said Jeanne, throwing on her hood. As the sun slowly descended behind the tall buildings around them, the flagellants began lifting themselves to their feet. Some staggering under their own weight. One needing another to lift themselves up off the ground. Jeanne felt a brief compulsion to lift the man up, but remembered why she there in the first place. It was a strange feeling to experience. When even a month before she would be more than eager to jump into the fray and unleashed her fury on them. Now the mere thought made her stomach turn tightly. ¡°You ready?¡± Benkin asked her, almost taking her by surprise. ¡°Hmm? Oh yeah, I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± he asked hesitantly. Jeanne nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± she insisted. The flagellants moved down the darkened streets of the city, Jeanne, Ben and Gabriel skulking in the shadows. Jeanne bent her head down, periodically looking up at their targets. It was hard keep their distance, as some were having a hard time walking, and others needed to stop after a short while. Hiding behind alleyways, crates and occasionally checking wares of nearby market stalls. Jeanne could feel the sweat beading on her brow, her clothes beginning to dampen and stick to her skin. She could hear her heartbeats and temples pulse with each palpitation. By the Sheperd I hate this part of the job, she thought to herself as made her way forward. From the corner of her eye she saw Benkin weeding his way through a small crowd of people, trying to avoid bumping into them. Jeanne had a harder time keeping track of where Gabriel went. The woman would move faster than Jeanne¡¯s eyes could catch her movements. The shadows from the buildings must help prevent whatever problems the sun would bring, Jeanne thought to herself. The flagellants turned a corner into an alleyway and out of view. Jeanne and the others moving to the alley. Two of the flagellants were sitting on crates, breathing heavy and dripping with sweat as the rest of their group continued on their way. The stragglers wheezed out words to each other for a long moment before trying to stand up and rejoin the rest of their companions. One of the two took two steps before collapsing onto the ground with a thud. The one standing turned to the fallen flagellant and began moving towards him before someone from the group ahead shouted, ¡°Leave him, the Sheperd shall guide is path or accept him back to the flock!¡± The man shook his head at the fallen companion before leaving to join the rest. Disappearing into the darkness and out of sight. Jeanne, Ben and Gabriel peered there heads out into the alleyway. ¡°Looks like the coast is clear,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I can¡¯t smell anything?¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Should I ask?¡± Benkin said to her. ¡°It¡¯s easier for me to catch certain scents, and they a high iron tainted smell.¡± ¡°Oh, that makes sense.¡± ¡°What about him?¡± Jeanne asked, looking at the fallen flagellant. ¡°We may loss the others if we stay for him,¡± Benkin said. They moved down into the alley, reaching the man on the floor, a small pool of blood already forming underneath him. He weakly moaned as he tried to pull himself forward on the ground. Seeing the three approach him, he looked and reached up, his arm shaking terribly, calling out to them. ¡°Help,¡± he said feebly. ¡°And I don¡¯t know if Cid will be happy with you taking in more these flagellants in their midst,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°You two go, I¡¯ll get him back,¡± Jeanne said, moving to help the man up. ¡°You sure about this?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Seriously?¡± Gabriel blurted out. ¡°Go, before you lose them,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I can get myself back to the rest of the group.¡± ¡°Just be careful out there,¡± Benkin said before he and Gabriel went to follow the flagellants. Jeanne hoisted the man¡¯s arm over her shoulder. ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret this more than I am already.¡± Part [TBD] - The Wanderer Jeanne watched Leonidas looking over the man as she heard Cid¡¯s footsteps from behind her. She felt a soft chill crawl up her spine as she noted the calmness in his step. He moved past her and over to Leonidas. ¡°How is he?¡± Cid asked. Leonidas wiped his brow. ¡°Not bad as the Edmund boy. Mostly he whipped himself into exhaustion.¡± ¡°Thank the light for small favors,¡± Cid said. ¡°At least a good nap will do him wonders.¡± ¡°You and me both,¡± Leonidas said, getting to his feet. ¡°There¡¯s not much else I can do at this point. I¡¯m going to get something to drink downstair if you need anything.¡± ¡°Of course, good work, doctor. Jeanne, a word if you please.¡± As Leonidas reached the doorframe he locked eyes with Jeanne, giving her a sympathetic look. Good luck, he gestured to her. It was fun knowing you, she signaled back. She walked into the room as Cid, keeping his eyes on the flagellant, waved his hand towards the door. ¡°Close the door, if you¡¯d be so kind,¡± he said to her. Jeanne did so, letting out small groan. ¡°I heard that,¡± Cid said. ¡°I figured you would,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°So,¡± Cid said slowly. ¡°I think we know what my first question is.¡± ¡°I figured Benkin and Gabriel could handle trailing the rest of the flagellants while I brought him back here.¡± Cid turned to Jeanne puzzled. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I thought you wanted to know why I left Ben and Gabriel.¡± ¡°No!¡± Cid exclaimed, then turned to the passed-out flagellant before repeating the statement softly. ¡°I am fully confident you can make those calls.¡± ¡°Then what was the whole conversation we had a while back about?¡± ¡°To make sure you wouldn¡¯t go berserker on a Kolville when we see another one and get one of our own hurt.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ oh,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°So you¡¯re not upset?¡± ¡°Confused, yes. Upset, no.¡± ¡°Why are you confused?¡± ¡°Because we¡¯re becoming more of a medicine house than mercenaries. Though on second thought, that might not be a terrible idea once I¡¯m ready to retire.¡± ¡°So wait, what was your question, then?¡± ¡°Why did you stop to pick this man up? More specifically, why did you bring him back here?¡± Jeanne leaned against the wall next to the door, crossing her arms and looking all around the room. ¡°You¡¯re gonna think this is absolutely stupid.¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Not Bukavac-level stupid, at least.¡± ¡°So, have you ever heard of The Wanderer, at all?¡± ¡°Name¡¯s familiar.¡± ¡°Well, depending on who you talk to, he¡¯s either a friend of The Sheperd, the Sheperd in his youth, or the father of the Sheperd.¡± ¡°That is a bit confusing.¡± ¡°Oh, it gets worse, but that¡¯s not the point. One of the more well-known of The Wanderer¡¯s parables involves him coming across this man, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road by bandits. The Wanderer barely missed him, for ahead of him were two others, a monk and a noble, both devote followers of The Wanderer¡¯s teachings, and both who ignored the man¡¯s cries for help they passed him for he was a non. Uttering only a faint whisper, the Wanderer spots the man on the road, carries him to an inn, dresses his wounds, feeds and provides lodging for him. When he found the monk and the noble, The Wanderer admonished them both for their apathy and arrogance. ¡°When the noble decried the reprimand, saying the man was a non-believer and was not worthy of such treatment. To which The Wanderer said, ¡®How can one bring those into the fold if what we show is the worst of our nature? And does one view of the world deny him the basic worth of life? Would not a follower of my way go and entreat others as they wished to be treated? How can you stand so bold to one who you explicitly declare to be one of. For all I see is one who speaks only what is fashionable and nothing more.¡± Cid sunk his chin into his neck for quick moment. ¡°Well,¡± he said after a long pause, ¡°That was quite the comeback.¡± ¡°The Wanderer was known for not holding back, poetic as he was.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t even the one being chastised and I feel embarrassed.¡± Jeanne chuckled nervously. ¡°Fair. But when I saw him on the ground, I was reminded of the story. And I just couldn¡¯t leave him there.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lie, I wasn¡¯t expecting this in the slightest.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not upset?¡± ¡°Not elated, if we¡¯re being honest here. But I¡¯ve known you long enough to trust your judgement on these matters.¡± ¡°I appreciate that,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I made the right decision.¡± ¡°Well, in all fairness, what is right to one, may not be right to another. And sometimes you don¡¯t even know if a simple decision might reshape the world, or if a great effort causes a mere shuffling of the earth.¡± ¡°Then what can one do in such situations?¡± Cid shrugged. ¡°Only what you feel is the best road, and one that your conscience can with when the consequences come forth.¡± Jeanne turned to the man in the bed, breathing slowly and peacefully. ¡°What do you think of them?¡± Cid nudged his head towards the boy. ¡°Of people like him?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Hard to say. Most of the time you quickly discount them as religious zealots who sacrificed logic for some form of religious fantasy to assuage hard truths and harder decisions. But it is difficult not to summon some emotional appeal, watching them do what do. I just wish it was dedicated to some other means to bring forth change to their society.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel some connection between them and myself,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°They¡¯re suffering by the same men I¡¯ve suffered, and only the Sheperd knows how many have come to lose their lives in pursuit of something they deeply believe in.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Sometimes I wished I had their faith.¡± ¡°Really? How come?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s just this comfort in them. Having this unwavering faith in something they believe in. No hesitation, no need for their divine figure to reveal themselves to have their loyalty. If it wasn¡¯t so destructive, I¡¯d find it admirable.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve had those thoughts, too. Especially when much is on one¡¯s shoulders and there¡¯s been little chance to find rest and reprieve from the world¡¯s madness.¡± ¡°How do you handle it, Cid?¡± ¡°Simple, return crazy with crazy.¡± Jeanne looked down. ¡°I thought that was the means to approach these problems, but now I don¡¯t know what to do anymore.¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said, ¡°Would we like a hug?¡± ¡°I think I would like that,¡± Jeanne replied. Cid outstretched his arms. ¡°Come on,¡± he said gesturing her towards him. Hugging him tightly, Jeanne said, ¡°This sort of feels like I¡¯m hugging a fluffy toy.¡± Cid grimaced. ¡°Why does everyone say that?¡± Jeanne tried in vain to stifle her laughter. ¡°Shush,¡± Cid playfully hissed. ¡°You¡¯ll wake our guest.¡± ¡°Then stop making me laugh,¡± she wheezed. ¡°Keep talking and you¡¯ll get a furball.¡± Jeanne shot back with a disgusted look. ¡°Ew.¡± ¡°Not so toy like now, am I?¡± ¡°I just didn¡¯t know you coughed up hairballs.¡± ¡°Neither did I, but I am full of surprises.¡± ¡°You¡¯re full of something all right.¡± Part [TBD] - The Trap Is Set Jeanne sat in the room she and Leonidas were lodging, sipping on some tea Leonidas had just brewed. She swished the contents in her cup as sniffed the soft scent of strawberry. Sipping on the tea she thought, Hmm, still can¡¯t taste the damn strawberries. She chuckled and smiled at the observation. Doc will have a face when I tell him that. Hearing a knock at her door, she rose from her chair and said, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Gabriel,¡± she heard on the other side. Jeanne opened the door, seeing the vampyre on the other side. ¡°What brings you down here?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I was hoping to speak with you, actually.¡± ¡°Sheperd¡¯s blessing what I do this time?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Nothing,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Oh, all right, that¡¯s starting to become a first.¡± ¡°How many times have you gotten in trouble for something?¡± ¡°I stopped counting when the tally went into the hundreds.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start on that one.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, it¡¯s better for all parties involved.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry, you want to come in?¡± Jeanne asked, getting out of the way towards the room. ¡°Thank you,¡± Gabriel said, moving inside. ¡°What brings over to this odd spot of the world?¡± Jeanne asked Gabriel taking a seat at the edge of her bed and invited Gabriel to sit in a nearby chair. ¡°Well,¡± Gabriel said, taking a deep breath. ¡°I wanted to apologize.¡± Jeanne jerked her head back. ¡°Apologize?¡± ¡°Yes, for my behavior the other day.¡± Jeanne eye¡¯s darted back and forth trying to figure out what Gabriel meant. ¡°You¡¯re going to need to explain this one to me, because I am a little lost here.¡± ¡°Back when you found the flagellant in the alleyway.¡± ¡°Uh huh.¡± ¡°And you were going to bring him back here to be looked over.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°And I was a little short with you, and wanted to apologize for that.¡± ¡°You were short with me?¡± ¡°I thought I was.¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking that at all.¡± ¡°You were?¡± ¡°No! And I¡¯d like to think I know when someone¡¯s being short, especially to me.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­,¡± Gabriel said, half relieved and half embarrassed. ¡°¡­ well, this is ¡­ something.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m well acquainted with good old something. Bloody cur.¡± ¡°He does have a penchant for causing a stir,¡± Gabriel said, her posturing becoming less rigid and her demeanor softening. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad this was sorted out.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been on my mind for a bit.¡± ¡°Good to hear. I hope it didn¡¯t put you and Benkin in a bad spot.¡± Gabriel shook her head. ¡°Not really. We kept to the shadows. Kept our heads down. Didn¡¯t go into any songs or dances or anything of the sort. You know the drill.¡± ¡°Good, I was afraid I jeopardized the whole thing.¡± ¡°I mean, we weren¡¯t going to go in blades out for the hacking and slashing. And we¡¯re not exactly new to this thing.¡± ¡°Still, you worry about those things. Did you two find anything?¡± ¡°Well, here¡¯s the odd thing. We were following them as normal. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Then as they passed by the back of the house about four blacks away from where they turned off that alley, they were gone.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Jeanne said, leaning back and sipping on her tea. ¡°Any signs they went into the house at all?¡± Gabriel shook her head. ¡°No, most had stopped bleeding and there were no distinct footprints when we reached the house.¡± ¡°You thinking of checking it out?¡± ¡°Cid said he wanted to keep someone on watch in case there is activity. If one of them pops out, he wants to send everyone in.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s what I¡¯d do. Go in, break a few heads and see what we can find.¡± ¡°Sounds like my kind of plan.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think that was your choice of violence.¡± ¡°Oh, once you crack your first skull, there¡¯s no going back,¡± Gabriel said, laughing confidently. ¡°Where have you been all my life?¡± Jeanne asked. Gabriel let out a loud laugh. ¡°Oh, I needed that one badly.¡± ¡°You think we should go see what the others are doing?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Probably not a terrible idea,¡± Gabriel said, moving to her feet. Both women moved down the hall, towards Cid¡¯s quarters at the inn. Passing by one room they both stopped as they heard muffled noise from the other side of a door. Exchanging glances Jeanne pointed to the door. ¡°What¡¯s going on there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°it doesn¡¯t sound like something bad is happening, so I think we shouldn¡¯t be lingering.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jeanne said, continuing down the hall with Gabriel. Cid had come out of his lodging when he spotted Jeanne and Gabriel walking up to him. ¡°Oh, good, I was hoping to see you both,¡± he said to them. ¡°That¡¯s either good or bad,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t need you to explain yourself for anything, currently,¡± said Cid. ¡°Not sure if I should be happy or disappointed.¡± ¡°Would you be happy if I said that you can go and punch people to your heart¡¯s content?¡± ¡°Cid,¡± Jeanne said, batting her eyes, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could be so thoughtful.¡± ¡°By order¡¯s grace, Jeanne,¡± Cid said, shaking his head. ¡°I should¡¯ve had you reassigned to another squad when I met you.¡± ¡°And yet you did not,¡± Jeanne said confidently. ¡°Tragically so,¡± Cid replied, gesturing Jeanne and Gabriel to follow him into the room. ¡°Come, I don¡¯t want to discuss this out here.¡± Jeanne held the door for Gabriel and closed it, making sure to feel the door click as it shut and pulled it to ensure it was closed in full. Cid sat next to a table he was using as a desk, Gabriel sitting on the edge of the bed and Jeanne pulled up another chair nearby and sat in it. ¡°So what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Seems Weuve¡¯s little Edmund might be seeing the light,¡± Cid said as he grabbed a parchment and handed it to Jeanne. She looked at a large house drawn on the paper, several smaller rooms designated with their function written next to the room itself. There were four rooms presented; an entry room, the kitchen, a storage room and a personal quarters, each one roughly the same size and shape. She handed Gabriel the parchment as she turned back to Cid. ¡°What¡¯s this all about?¡± ¡°This is purportedly one of the main operating locations of the flagellants. Edmund said this is where some of the higher ranking individuals do some of their businesses when they¡¯re not dealing directly with Stefan.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Gabriel said, studying the drawing, ¡°interesting.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Just that he¡¯d do all this,¡± she said handing the parchment back to Cid. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting him to go all this way to help us out with this.¡± ¡°Neither was I,¡± Cid said, ¡°I almost fell out of my chair when he walked in with the little map.¡± ¡°And what is your thought on this?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°A trap obviously,¡± Cid said. ¡°The boy has a look of disloyalty all around him. And speaking ill on his mother half the time certainly didn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°Remind me to smack him when I have the chance,¡± Jeanne said, scowling. ¡°You¡¯ll need to get in line,¡± Cid said. ¡°But I want to check this place first, see what we can find there.¡± ¡°But you think it¡¯s a trap,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Absolutely, but there might be something there which we could use. And this doesn¡¯t mean we can pull a surprise of our own.¡± Jeanne perked an eyebrow up. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Part[TBD] - The Pup ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this,¡± Leonidas said as he adjusted his collar as Jeanne looked around the street before the house Edmund had told them all about. The building was old, the supports all ready beginning to wrap from the weight of the roof and age. Whatever colors had graced this place had long worn away to dulled to brown and greys. The windows were dark, almost devoid of light and warmth from inside. Cracks stretching throughout the plaster, some of it had fallen off the walls, resting on the ground nearby. The door at the front of the house was hanging from its top hinge, the bottom already detached and swaying back and forth., Kveldulf came up and as he looked at the house jerked his back and snarled. ¡°Well this was a death trap if I ever saw one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± said Hypatia as she rested her hands on her blades. ¡°The place looks like it¡¯s been plagued with an illness longer than time itself.¡± ¡°This place looks haunted,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°And in need of immediate holy cleansing.¡± ¡°Cleansing,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°why?¡± ¡°You deal with enough darker energies, you can tell when such things are near. ¡°Huh,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°a little odd for a group of religious persons to be giving off such an aura.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised who¡¯s willing to deal with devils themselves in order to achieve their goals in life.¡± ¡°I want to say I¡¯m surprised, but I¡¯m not,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Well come on,¡± Jeanne said making her way over to the house. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose the entire day waiting to enjoy myself.¡± Leaning against the wall Jeanne slowly peered her head up to the window and looked inside. Much of the interior of the house was dark. Waiting for her eyes to adjust to the ambient light, she saw several pieces of furniture. Some which had fallen into disrepair and collapsed under their own weight. Without turning to the others, she waved the to her. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan here?¡± asked Leonidas once they reached Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯m thinking we have Jeanne do what she does best,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Oh this is just making my day that much better,¡± Jeanne said, conjuring up a fireball in her hand. ¡°Uh Jeanne?¡± Kveldulf said to her, pointing to the fireball. ¡°What?¡± she demanded. ¡°If this is a trap why can¡¯t I blow it up?¡± ¡°You¡¯re wanting to blow up a wooden house, where it¡¯s surrounded by wooden houses.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re just going to be logic into this relationship I don¡¯t think we can be friends anymore, Kel.¡± ¡°Oh for Rett¡¯s justice will you stop.¡± ¡°I could but someone might get pippy.¡± ¡°The hell does pippy mean?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I think even Jeanne doesn¡¯t know,¡± Kveldulf replied. Hypatia and Leonidas turned to Jeanne who playfully shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong.¡± Jeanne shook the fireball away and summoned a bright light as she gripped her fingers around the ball. Leonidas looked at the light and said, ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Jeanne nodded, with a devilish grin. ¡°Now let¡¯s have ourselves some fun.¡± ¡°That smile has me a little concerned,¡± Leonidas said. Kveldulf put his hand on Doc¡¯s shoulder and gently pulled him back. ¡°You may want to stand back a bit,¡± he said to the doctor. Leonidas tucked his chin into his neck. ¡°Oh that¡¯s never a good si¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Jeanne kicked down the door and yelled, ¡°Eat this, mother fuckers!¡± Throwing the light orb into the first room, she ducked away as a thunderous explosion shook the house and sent a large bloom of dust flying out of the entryway. Hypatia grimaced at the dust. ¡°Obviously cleanliness isn¡¯t always next to godliness with these people.¡± ¡°Add that to the list,¡± said Kveldulf, taking out his shortened halberd. ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said with excitement, ¡°it¡¯s the spear axe.¡± ¡°I keep telling you, it¡¯s not called that.¡± ¡°And I keep telling you I don¡¯t care.¡± Kveldulf shook his head. ¡°Fuck it, I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± he said as he moved into the house. Jeanne followed him, with Hypatia and Leonidas closely behind. Inside, they saw nothing moving but specks of dirt floating in the air. Jeanne and Leonidas both conjured robs of light in their hands to illuminate the room and reveal the grotesque measure of dirtiness within the abode. Mold formed in the corners with a red liquid soaking the interior wood. The smell of rot made all four wince as they grabbed something to throw around their noses. ¡°This is just disgusting!" Kveldulf exclaimed. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Smells like my Uncle Ordo,¡± Jeanne said, dry heaving before regaining her composure. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°He wasn¡¯t a man who appreciated soap or water.¡± ¡°Oh joyous day.¡± ¡°Hypatia,¡± Jeanne said, gesturing the sword singer to follow her into the kitchen. Kveldulf and Leonidas moved towards the storage room. Jeanne kicked the door down, her stone scales fully summoned and surveying the place as Hypatia used the tips of her blades to move items around. ¡°Be careful in case something is rigged,¡± Jeanne said to her. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can just blow them up?¡± ¡°Oh, that is always the temptation. But I think Cid wouldn¡¯t like having potential evidence destroyed, regardless of how wonderful of an explosion does the deed. See anything?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Mostly faded parchments, a few used quills and inkbottles older than my sister.¡± ¡°Actual or metaphorical?¡± ¡°Actual in this case.¡± ¡°Huh, I don¡¯t remember you bringing her up.¡± ¡°She and I aren¡¯t on good terms,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°so I don¡¯t talk about her often.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Jeanne said, slowly opening a cabinet door to find a rat knowing on a piece of indistinguishable food, have lost all traits of uniqueness long ago. After clearing the room the two women moved to the storage area to find Kveldulf and Leonidas. ¡°Find anything?¡± Jeanne asked. Leonidas shook head. ¡°Not a thing. This place is more of a breeding ground for dust bunnies than anything we need.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check out the last room and report back to Cid,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I¡¯m not eager to see what they do in a private quarter,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°You want to do the honors?¡± Jeanne asked Kveldulf. He nodded and with a swift kick, slammed the door with such force it flew off its hinges. Jeanne, her hammer out and moved into the room first. The whiz of a bolt flew past her face, almost hitting Leonidas in the shoulder as it struck the wall behind him. ¡°Shit!¡± he called out as Kveldulf turned to where the bolt was loosed from. He went over and spotted a rigging with a crossbow. ¡°Well, that was a surprise. You all right Doc?¡± ¡°A bit startled, but I¡¯ll live,¡± Leonidas said, calming his breathing. Jeanne saw Leonidas and as Hypatia moved into the room, walked up to him. ¡°You sure you¡¯re all right?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah,¡± Leonidas said, nodding quickly. ¡°Just not used to having bolts heading towards me.¡± ¡°All right, just, well you know,¡± she said to him. He smiled. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll try not to squeal too much until we get back.¡± Returning to the room, Jeanne saw the four looked around, examining the bed made of a plain frame, with some hemp ropes suspending a meager mattress of straw above. A rickety chest rested near the bed and a chair and table were placed near a closed window which allowed little light inside. Jeanne moved to one corner of the room and felt the floor compress differently from the other boards. She looked down and with her radiating orb noticed a door way near the bed. ¡°Hey, look at this,¡± she said to the others. Kveldulf moved over, pulling out a knife and slowly inserted the blade through the small slit between the doorway and the floorboards. ¡°Be ready,¡± Kveldulf said to the rest before opening the door. Everyone leaned back, slowly moving back towards the hole, seeing a few rungs of a wooden ladder before it disappeared. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just all kinds of uncomfortable.¡± ¡°If I wasn¡¯t in agreement, I¡¯d make a rather unsavory joke about that,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯ll go in first,¡± Kveldulf said, sheathing his knife and moving down the hole. Leonidas looked up at Jeanne. ¡°What?¡± she asked him. ¡°I just expected another dirty joke.¡± Jeanne waved it off. ¡°I tell you later when we get back.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Jeanne followed after Hypatia moved down the ladder and into an underground pathway. The walls were held up with a wooden columns and rafters stretching across the ceiling of the tunnel. ¡°What is all this then?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°But I do not like it.¡± ¡°You think this was a mine?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°No,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°this region isn¡¯t know for having mines at all.¡± Leonidas moved to one of the wooden columns and looked closely at the wooden grain. ¡°You see anything there, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It¡¯s hard to make, sense the wood¡¯s deteriorated pretty badly. But there¡¯s definitely etchings down here.¡± ¡°And that makes me hate this place even more,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°This reminds me of a few campfire tales in my youth,¡± Hypatia said, sheathing one of her blades. ¡°I¡¯m going to assume none of the comfy ones,¡± Leonidas said to her. ¡°No, it usually wound up with everyone dying horribly,¡± Hypatia replied. Everyone turned to her with unamused looks on their faces. ¡°Quiet time,¡± Jeanne said to her. ¡°Yeah, I was thinking that too,¡± Hypatia said. Moving forward slowly, the four looked around the tunnel. Dust falling intermittently as they journeyed further into the corridors. A soft hush of the wind touched their ears, but no gust could be felt. ¡°Oh that¡¯s never a good sign,¡± Leonidas said to the others, as he looked up around the ceiling again. ¡°Mind clueing us in?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Usually when you¡¯re hearing a wind, but not feeling a wind, something unsavory is happening.¡± ¡°So just any given day in our lives, then.¡± ¡°Sadly.¡± ¡°I knew I should¡¯ve become a dye maker,¡± Hypatia said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Oh you¡¯d be dyeing from boredom,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I swear to the Sheperd,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°I will kill you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they all say.¡± ¡°Shh,¡± Kveldulf said to the others before signaling, I see a light a little ways over there. They hugged the wall and continued towards the other end. Nearing the exit, Kveldulf stopped and turned to the others. Doc, do you feel anything? Kveldulf asked him. Nothing major, there¡¯s residual energy, definitely, but strong, Leonidas replied. Should I do another light flash? Jeanne asked. Get one ready just in case, Kveldulf gestured, grabbing his halberd and extending the handle half way. Jeanne saw Kveldulf take a moment to slowly peer his head into the lit room. He jerked his head back slightly before turning back to the others. ¡°Uh ¡­ Doc? I think you¡¯ll want to see this.¡± ¡°Oh Ellia mercy, that¡¯s never a good sign,¡± Leonidas said as he moved his way to the opening. ¡°Oh,¡± he said, biting his lower lip, ¡°oh ¡­ this is going to need more than a mother¡¯s kiss to feel better.¡± Jeanne and Hypatia moved to the opening and saw the bodies of several flagellants lying dead throughout the room. Jeanne tried to count the number of bodies, but it was impossible to determine where one body ended and another began. Arms, legs, heads, and organs littered the entire area. In the middle of the room was a dark orb pulsating regularly. Some of the blood and visceral from the bodies slowly gravitating towards the sphere. ¡°All right,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°the fuck is that?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°but I¡¯d be a little careful in approaching it.¡± The orb steadied itself, a part rising up, rounded with two smaller protrusions sticking out of both sides. The two overhangs twitched softly before turning to the group. All of them with their weapons ready to engage the creature. Moving onto its four feet, the being took on a form of a small dog. Short legs with rounded feet, a tiny tail wagging rapidly and as it turned, it spotted Leonidas with two crystalline black eyes and held out a tongue and smile widely. ¡°P-Puppy?¡± Leonidas said to the magical dog. Part [TBD] - The Daemon The dog, hearing the doctor¡¯s voice, turned around with a big smile on his face. He ran to Leonidas, circling around his legs with excitement as the doctor took a knee and held his hand out to the canine. The pup sniffed his hand before he leaped to lick his face. ¡°All right, all right,¡± Leonidas said, patting the spectral dog on its back, ¡°I know where that¡¯s tongue been, buddy.¡± ¡°Doc?¡± Jeanne asked slowly. ¡°The hell is going on?¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°This is a friend I made for a while when I was in The Outlands.¡± ¡°And you named him ¡­ Puppy?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°He prefers Puppy, there¡¯s a little flair at the end.¡± ¡°Is that what he calls it?¡± Puppy turned to growl Kveldulf, lightly growling. ¡°Oh he¡¯s just playing,¡± Leonidas said before petting the dog¡¯s head. ¡°He¡¯s so adorable!¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Can I hold him?¡± ¡°Can we please focus on the plethora of dead men in the room?¡± Kveldulf followed. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°might¡¯ve forgotten about that.¡± ¡°What one earth could¡¯ve caused all this?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°My money is the flagellants were trying to summon a creature to ambush us, but botched the whole thing and wound up blowing themselves up in the process,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Is this something you¡¯ve seen happen?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Oh yeah, many times.¡± ¡°Well, I guess we should be lucky this worked out the way it did.¡± ¡°Just another example of a bunch of idiots thinking they can mess with things they have no business with handling.¡± ¡°But now you have a spectral puppy,¡± Hypatia said, bopping Puppy¡¯s nose. ¡°It is nice to see this little guy again,¡± Leonidas said, with Puppy playfully barking at her. Leonidas put Puppy on the ground and pulled out a red stone as it hovered in his hand. He moved towards the walls as iconography and writing, now displayed clearly than the columns they found earlier. Leonidas held the red stone near the images and examined them with careful intent, his spectral companion following closely behind. ¡°Huh, that¡¯s interesting,¡± he said. ¡°What is it?¡± Hypatia asked. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Well, this seems to be images portraying the events of the Days of Woe. Specifically, when Daemon Lord Vollenmar ruled the region.¡± ¡°I thought that was all stories,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°It¡¯s hard to know what is true and what was conjured by imagination of writers. But usually there¡¯s a kernel of truth to what has formed our mythology.¡± ¡°What a wonderful thought,¡± Jeanne said as she looked at the image of a daemons and other vile creatures spreading across the landscape. ¡°Why would flagellants be in a room where this is being depicted?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°There¡¯s a few variations. Much of it revolves around a night who banished the daemon back to the shadow, others say a group of mages did the deed, and a few even state that the creature was killed by being stabbed in the heart with a holy weapon.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t give a lot to work with,¡± Hypatia said, looking disappointed. ¡°Blame that on the chroniclers back then,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Many didn¡¯t feel the need to be detailed in their accounts during that period. Let alone getting their facts straight.¡± ¡°You think it was confuse people who¡¯d bring the daemon back?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Well, if people know specifically what banished the daemon, they could find a way around it and keep the entity from being banished.¡± Leonidas turned to Jeanne, astounded. ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°That is fucking brilliant,¡± he said. Jeanne bobbed her head with pride. ¡°I¡¯m fucking brilliant,¡± she said with confidence. ¡°Oh Barna¡¯s blessing,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°you¡¯re going to be like this all day.¡± ¡°And tomorrow,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Does it say what the daemon¡¯s name is?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad to say a daemon¡¯s name in a place like this?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Sometimes, but usually when you¡¯re actually summoning the entity. Which we¡¯re not,¡± Leonidas said, looked at the three, ¡°right?¡± Kveldulf, Jeanne, and Hypatia all shook their heads rapidly. Leonidas looked to his right and spotted a slip of paper with burn marks around the edges. Picking it up he read some faint scribbles on it and as he lifted his eyebrows he softly said, ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°What is?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It¡¯s a little hard to tell, since a lot of it was destroyed, but if I was to take a guess, these were the instructions used for the summoning.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think people would be reading from a book when spell casting,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°It¡¯s no different than when a chef uses a cook book for a recipe. You can adjust it here and there once you¡¯re more acclimated with the craft, but you need to know the basics to achieve the main thing you¡¯re trying to get.¡± ¡°Was there anything else to it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Well, whoever wrote this, got their directions wrong,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°The direction switch back and forth from summoning a mindless entity and a sentient one.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s bad, I¡¯d imagine?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Consider mixing two recipes, one is making a dessert pie, and the other is frying meat. They¡¯re fine separated, but put them together and you get a wild mess. Which when you¡¯re mixing magical spells, and you¡¯re not well verse in the matter, can be ¡­ well ¡­¡± and Leonidas looked around at the bodies around them, ¡°¡­ this.¡± ¡°Good thing we weren¡¯t here when this went down,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Guess we should inform Cid of what happened,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯ll definitely enjoy this tale,¡± said Kveldulf. Part [TBD] - The Knot Tightens Cid jutted his lips to the side, occasionally growling softly as he listened to Kveldulf¡¯s recollection of the events at the house. ¡°That is a development, to say the least,¡± Cid said, nodding slowly. ¡°We weren¡¯t expecting most of what we found,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Though now we know where Edmund¡¯s loyalties lie, fucking bastard,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°We¡¯ll attend to that matter soon,¡± said Cid, turning to Leonidas. ¡°But my immediate question is ¡­ why is there a spectral canine in my lap?¡± Cid then looked down as Puppy nuzzled himself in Cid¡¯s lap. ¡°He likes you,¡± Leonidas replied. Cid let out a heavy exhale. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re cute, little one.¡± Puppy was silent, having fallen asleep. ¡°And now I¡¯m stuck, fantastic,¡± Cid said, shaking his head. ¡°While you¡¯re stationary,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°how did you want to proceed with young Edmund?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard not to assume he tried to set us up, though I¡¯m not surprised,¡± Cid said, trying to find a way to lift the pup up. ¡°Should we try a more direct approach?¡± ¡°I think we should try to wake him up from his stupor, and if he¡¯s resistant, then we¡¯ll do what¡¯s needed,¡± said Cid. ¡°I doubt his mother is going to be very appreciative,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°No, but he¡¯s not leaving us with many options,¡± said Cid, ¡°though I¡¯d prefer we not bring him back beaten to a pulp if we can avoid it.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne bemoaned. ¡°If we can avoid it,¡± Cid repeated. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing him take a few love taps, personally.¡± Jeanne sported a mischievous smile once again, cracking her knuckles and neck. ¡°But let¡¯s try and get his side of the story first, before we go breaking bones,¡± Cid said, slowly lifting Puppy and placing him on the floor. Cid looked at Leonidas and shook his head. ¡°You find the oddest things to meet, doctor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still trying to figure that out myself,¡± Leonidas said. *** Jeanne and Kveldulf stood by a corner into an alleyway, watching the home of Edmund and Weuve. It was a thin two-story building, with grey stone lining the outside with a sign for a weaver¡¯s shoppe hanging over the door, and two window positioned above that with its shutters closed. The chimney stuck out on the right side but no smoke could be seen. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Jeanne scratched the back of her neck as she let out a heavy exhale. ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked Kveldulf. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, ¡°but I sure as hell don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You want to pay them a visit then?¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°Might want to get your hammer out.¡± Jeanne already had her weapon in hand, spinning it in her grip. ¡°May want your halberd out just in case, too.¡± ¡°A zweihander may be a bit too big for there,¡± Kveldulf said. Moving to the house, they both stopped and listened for a moment for any sound before Jeanne knocked on the door. ¡°Weuve,¡± she said, ¡°It¡¯s Jeanne, just checking to see how you and Edmund are doing?¡± She and Kveldulf exchanged glances when they were met with silence. ¡°Shit,¡± Jeanne cursed under her breath. ¡°You remember how to pick locks?¡± Kveldulf asked. Jeanne reached in a pulled out two pieces of metal. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough, keep an eye out for any guards.¡± Carefully inserting both pieces into the lock, she made minute movements, closing her eyes to feel and hear any changes. As a sharp vibration and click came out, she quickly threw them back into her satchel. She and Kveldulf looked around before she opened the door and moved inside. Inside they found a treadle wheel with a clump of fibers still resting on the bobbin and a small thin thread stretching outwards. Dozens of spools rested on a table near a loom where a large piece of fabric was being woven. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like this place was abandoned,¡± Kveldulf said as he moved about the place cautiously. ¡°No,¡± Jeanne said, lifting the corner of a few sheets of fabric before put them down. ¡°I¡¯d even say there was someone here well before ¡­¡± Her words trailed off as she spotted a pool of dark red liquid on the ground. ¡°¡­ oh fuck,¡± she said, looking up to find a larger stain of a similar color marking the floorboard above them. ¡°Oh gods,¡± Kveldulf said as he and Jeanne bolted up the steps. Arriving to the second level, they were frozen at the sight of young Edmund, dead and hanging from a simple wooden frame. Much of his skin being threaded on a spinning wheel. Around his was a sign with the single word ¡®traitor¡¯ displayed. Flies had begun their macabre feast and the smell struck Jeanne and Kveldulf hard as they found the wretched scene. Jeanne looked around the room, seeing much of the furniture was untouched. There wasn¡¯t even a layer of dust settling on the wooden pieces and the two beds placed near them had freshly folded sheets. On a table nearby was a tea kettle with two wooden cups partially filled with a spiced brew. ¡°Well, this is just all kinds of disturbing,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Agreed,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°You think they took Weuve with them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you want to know what I think her situation is.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Jeanne said as she moved to a chest resting at the end of one of the beds. She checked to see if there was a lock on the outside and opened to see a collection of letters inside. Shifting through some, she quickly read through a few. ¡°Huh,¡± she said aloud as she turned to Kveldulf. ¡°Take a look at this?¡± Kveldulf took the letter and read it closely. ¡°What¡¯s this Cave of St. Medmenham?¡± ¡°Local legend stated there was a hermit who lived there. You know the deal, hated most social settings, preferred exceptionally extreme isolation and barest of food and water to sustain himself.¡± ¡°Ah, living the dream I see.¡± ¡°It is tempting sometimes.¡± ¡°Sometimes?¡± ¡°All right, more than sometimes. But I like exploring the world and the excitement of this life.¡± ¡°So is this place a location that the flagellants are using?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be that surprised. It¡¯s a fairly extensive cave system and Medmenham was known for flogging himself as a sign of devotion.¡± ¡°Lively bunch aren¡¯t they?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Some people have a different perspective on how to show their piety.¡± ¡°True enough,¡± Kveldulf said, turning back to Edmund¡¯s corpse. ¡°What should we do about him?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll tell the guards we heard some noise here and leave the door open. Hopefully they¡¯ll be honest enough to actually check it out,¡± Jeanne said, looking at the mutilated corpse with a sorrowful expression. Part [TBD] - The Pups Wrath Cid looked out of the opened shutters of his room for a long moment before turning back to Kveldulf and Jeanne. ¡°This is getting more and more peculiar by the day. And none of it to my liking,¡± he said to them. ¡°I think it¡¯s a little odd that the same group of people we¡¯re actively looking act are given a bad summoning incantation and another member has their skin turned into thread while alive,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I mean, if Edmund had given us the bait to walk into a trap and we left without a scratch, it isn¡¯t that hard to think he double-crossed his own group,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°And for the time being, anything pointing to someone, or some group, actively undermining the flagellants is intuitional, no offense Kel,¡± Cid said. Kveldulf shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but I could half-ass being offended, if it¡¯ll make you feel better.¡± ¡°Could you?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to think so.¡± Cid crossed his arms. ¡°There not much making sense here. Either they¡¯re grossly incompetent, which is always possible but highly unlikely, they acted on the events involving the doctor¡¯s phantasm pup faster than anticipated, or there might be others trying to get rid of these fanatics for one reason or another.¡± ¡°What should we do then?¡± ¡°We¡¯re waiting for Gabriel and Ben to get back from their watch on Galbert at the house before we ¡­¡± Cid¡¯s ears perked up just before the sound of the doors slammed opened. He, Jeanne and Kveldulf all went for their weapons as they heard Gabriel calling out to them. ¡°We¡¯ve got company!¡± she yelled from the floor below. ¡°Of course, we do,¡± Cid said, shaking his head as he walked towards the door. ¡°Son of a bitch,¡± Jeanne said, one of her eyes twitching as she and Kveldulf followed Cid out of the room. Moving down stairs, they saw Gabriel, blood covering her mouth all the down the front of her armor, carrying Benkin as he looked dazed with several deep wounds on the back of his head. ¡°Doctor! Get your gear, we have wounded!¡± Cid commanded before turning to Gabriel. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We were watching the house when this whole damned parade of flagellant started down the street. And they were coming right for us so we hightailed it and left.¡± ¡°And the blood?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well, one of the bastards chasing us chucked a rock or something and it hit his head.¡± ¡°Outstanding,¡± Cid said, ¡°Doctor!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here¡± Leonidas said, shuffling down the steps as fast as he could, he satchel in tow, with Puppy shortly behind. He moved over to Benkin, helping Gabriel get him to a table and examined him as the vampyre went back to Cid, Jeanne and Kveldulf. ¡°And where did the blood come from?¡± Kveldulf asked her. ¡°One of them tried to cut us of from a corner and just bit his throat out,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Oh, that makes more sense than I thought,¡± Kveldulf replied scratching his head. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°So, where¡¯s this company you were talking about?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Bring out the heathens!¡± a voice cried out. ¡°There,¡± Gabriel replied, pointing outside with her thumb. Puppy began growling as he stood next to Leonidas. ¡°Oh buddy, now is not the time,¡± he said the pup. A group of four flagellants burst through the entrance into the inn. The innkeeper shouting at them before one of them snapped their flail at the innkeeper. Cid, Jeanne, Kveldulf and Gabriel had their weapons ready as the flagellants turned back to The Wolves. ¡°You have been found in acts most heinous against our kind and benevolent Shepherd. As well as having been privy to the deplorable murders of several of our pious kin in devilish acts of barbarity.¡± ¡°No, we weren¡¯t!¡± Jeanne protested. ¡°They were already dead.¡± ¡°Lies shall not avail you now!¡± the flagellant declared as he pointed his flail towards Jeanne. Puppy barked at the flagellants, who turned and were wide eyed. ¡°Wode-born abomination!¡± one of them shouted. ¡°And a family fuck you too!¡± Leonidas shouted back. ¡°That¡¯s my dog!¡± ¡°Heathen!¡± one of the flagellants said as he moved towards Leonidas. Puppy¡¯s eyes grew from black to a fiercely bright red, shaking violently, his voice growing deeper and darker. The dog¡¯s teeth extending and becoming jagged with saliva dripping from his maw. The pup grew in size as its legs became big enough to stand on two feet. Puppy¡¯s arms took on a thick muscular appearance with razor sharp claws on the ends of each finger. Cid, Jeanne, Kveldulf and Gabriel watched, stunned, as this small chipper pup transform into a monstrous creature. ¡°What the fuck is that¡± Jeanne said as the dog leapt to engaged the flagellants and engaged them without mercy. Puppy sunk his claws deep into the torso of the flagellant moving towards the doctor, biting into his shoulder and ripping out a huge part of his chest, blood and organs falling onto the floor before the rest of the body went down. The other flagellants froze in terror as color left their faces. The creature roared a guttural cry, causing them to flee into the streets. The monstrous dog following them in tow, still carrying part of the dead flagellant with him. ¡°Puppy get back here!¡± Leonidas called out. ¡°He¡¯s going to get half of the city guards on our heads!¡± Jeanne cried out. ¡°If just half,¡± Cid said. ¡°Hold on,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°I¡¯ll go get him before he causes a mess. Can someone keep pressure one Ben¡¯s wounds?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± Jeanne said as she grabbed the dressings. As Leonidas raced out Cid turned to the shaking innkeeper. ¡°How much would be a good starting price to cover the mess and, say a werewolf did that,¡± the Felidan said as he pointed to the gnawed-on corpse. ¡°How about this, you keep the gold, do whatever you want with ¡­ them, and keep that dog from chew on my person, and I¡¯ll handle the mess with free room and board thrown in?¡± ¡°Very kind,¡± Cid said. ¡°Though I hope the doctor doesn¡¯t take too long getting his pet back.¡± Leonidas walked back into the inn, covered in blood on much of his clothing and a shocked distant look in his eyes. Puppy, back in his normal form, flowing behind happily with a severed hand in his mouth. The doctor walked up to the bar, placing a silver coin onto the table. ¡°Something strong please,¡± he said to the innkeeper. The innkeeper was about to speak when Cid waved his hand and shook his head quickly. The innkeeper provided the doctor a drink who took a long swig before he went back over to work on Benkin. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Gabriel asked him. ¡°Just wasn¡¯t expecting Puppy to be so ¡­ yeah,¡± the doctor replied. Jeanne looked down at the pup, now wagging it¡¯s tail swiftly and looking accomplished, the hand still in it¡¯s mouth. ¡°Um,¡± Jeanne said, hesitantly, ¡°is that for me?¡± She fought the growing urge to let out her last meal over this gift. The dog lifted its head up and down several times. ¡°Oh,¡± she said, taking the limb and looking at it with a cringing smile, ¡°thank you ¡­ P-Puppy.¡± The dog went back to Leonidas, watching him as he worked on Benkin. Jeanne looked at the hand as Cid came up to her. Jeanne looked up at Cid, Please take this, she gestured with a pleading gaze. Cid shook his head. I¡¯m not getting on the little one¡¯s bad side. ¡°Um, Leonidas,¡± Jeanne said to her partner, ¡°d-did you know that your friend could do that?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Leonidas replied, still dazed, ¡°yeah, a few times actually.¡± ¡°And you did think to tell us any of this beforehand because?¡± Jeanne demanded. Leonidas turned to her and shrugged innocently. ¡°Slipped my mind.¡± ¡°Slipped your mind,¡± Jeanne said, her eye twitching again. ¡°It slipped your mind. I¡¯m slip gonna slip your mind like you¡¯ve never slipped before!¡± Kveldulf and Cid both intercepted Jeanne as she lunged towards Leonidas. Puppy looked at Jeanne, stepping back a few steps and whimpering before Leonidas turned to him. ¡°She¡¯s just stressed out, friend,¡± he said to the dog as he continued working on Benkin¡¯s wound. Part [TBD] - The Cardinal, The Prophet and The Duke Cid and Kveldulf dragged Jeanne, now with her skin covered in stone scales, out of the inn. ¡°Will you please stop, Jeanne!¡± Kveldulf. ¡°Slipped his fucking mind!¡± Jeanne roared. ¡°We get it. He¡¯s an idiot,¡± Kveldulf followed. ¡°I¡¯ll kill him! I¡¯ll kill him dead!¡± ¡°Jeanne, you¡¯re an officer in this outfit!¡± Cid barked. ¡°Insubordination! I¡¯ll get him for insubordination!¡± she roared. ¡°And you¡¯d know that well,¡± Kveldulf said. Jeanne stopped and looked at Kveldulf. ¡°I take offense to that.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have broken almost every rule and regulation when it came to our outfits¡­¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t established rules for this outfit, Jeanne,¡± Cid interjected. ¡°¡­ but I never disobeyed an order, and I very proud of that.¡± ¡°What about I order to stop driving me crazy?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Those were fake orders, given to test my ability to avoid malicious and harmful commands by saboteurs.¡± ¡°No, they weren¡¯t!¡± Cid replied. ¡°You drive me crazy! And I need pace!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you mean peace, Cid?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Shut Kel!¡± Cid snapped. Both Kveldulf and Jeanne turned to Cid, concerned. ¡°I need, a moment to think!¡± Cid thundered, shaking. ¡°I have a necromancer for a doctor with a ¡­ whatever his dog is. I have a lieutenant who has a bounty on her head, a vendetta against a gang of rich noble shits, and an anger issue I don¡¯t know where to start. I have religious assholes who won¡¯t stop bothering us! And anytime I get a moment to actually ponder our next move, someone else decides it¡¯s time to test my patience with fifty new problems! And I all I want is a moment to contemplate!¡± ¡°You feel better, Cid?¡± Jeanne asked calmly. Cid took several breaths, each one calming him down more and more. ¡°Much as a matter of fact. And sorry about what I said.¡± ¡°I mean, you¡¯re not wrong,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°But this constant stream of interruptions is leaving me in a foul mood,¡± Cid said. ¡°I think it might be prudent to finally pay this hut we¡¯ve been spying on a visit.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Cid, ¡°Kel, go get the others, I want them ready to move by nightfall.¡± ¡°Consider it done,¡± Kveldulf said before leaving. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said to her. ¡°I want you for something.¡± ¡°Are we going to start that criminal gang of tiny ponies you were talking about?¡± Jeanne asked. Cid stopped in his tracks looking at her with a worried look. ¡°Where do you get these ideas of yours?¡± Jeanne shrugged. ¡°Sometimes they come to me, sometimes I come to them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start on that one.¡± *** ¡°Cid, if I said I¡¯d stop being a pest, can we leave?¡± Jeanne said to him, tensing her lips and standing rigid as they stood before a large stone cathedral, standing tall, even greater in height than the city keep, with its own towers, rounded and squared along the outer edge of the complex. Multicolored stained glass windows lined the walls with figures marked with halos and others signs of divine nature. The faint gong of bells could be heard from the high bell towers before the next hour would be chimed. ¡°Let¡¯s see how this goes before we consider that answer,¡± Cid said, admiring the grandeur of the whole architecture. ¡°So why are we here, anyway?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cid said, throwing a hood over his head and lifting a fabric over his face as he moved towards the complex, ¡°I think it¡¯s about time we see what all this is about regarding our Stefan friend. See if we can find out what makes him tick.¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°This seems to be the center of theological activity in the city,¡± Cid said. ¡°But the flagellants aren¡¯t associated with the church?¡± ¡°And that means there¡¯s probably some tension between the two groups.¡± ¡°One you want to use?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hold off on that until we see a few things.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already not liking this,¡± Jeanne said, throwing over her own hood. ¡°Come, this is usually right up your alley.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I don¡¯t know, just been getting a weird feeling since we¡¯ve been here.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, just something that gives you an uneasy feeling. Like you know something is wrong. But you¡¯re not sure why.¡± ¡°Oh, I hate that feeling,¡± Cid said. ¡°Hopefully we won¡¯t be here for too long.¡± Reaching the doorway into the cathedral, the two found monks chattering amongst themselves in hushed voices. Jeanne turned her head away from the two slightly as she heard one of them finish a statement saying, ¡°¡­ they¡¯re harvest will be sowed in full ¡­¡± the monk said before the other gestured for them move somewhere away from Cid and Jeanne. Jeanne furrowed her brows as the words sunk in her mind. There was a familiarity in the words which not knowing their origins or their meaning left a more uneasy feeling with her. She tightened her left hand into a fist trying to feel her muscles relax when she released her grip but nothing like it came to her. Disturbing thoughts clouded her mind as she and Cid moved forward through the entrance. Entering into this holy place, they could find many rows of brilliant white marble columns stretching up to hold the weight of the roof above them. The light of the windows provided a clear light from the sun. Jeanne turned to her right as a service was being held by a priest. His hands raised above as he led a small crowd, standing from their pews in a song. Others were in smaller groups, conversing quietly to where Jeanne could not hear their words. One woman was reading her copy of the Gospel of the Sheperd in peace. Jeanne then saw a man light candles where one would come to mourn a passed loved one. Near the far end of one of the wings, Jeanne and Cid saw a man dressed in purple and white robes speaking to two farmers who themselves attired in fine garments. On the walls were painted murals depicting scenes of stories Jeanne had heard in her childhood. Rich in color and almost reflecting the sun¡¯s rays equally back. The light further illuminated as the white marble lit up the room inside. Cid nodded his head slowly as he took in the scene. ¡°Most impressive,¡± he said to Jeanne. ¡°When you go, go big,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°But I guess you weren¡¯t here to admire the stonework.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say this wasn¡¯t a lovely surprise. But you are correct, we are here to see if we can find this Stefan character.¡± ¡°In the middle of a cathedral? And why today of all days?¡± ¡°Do you know what today is?¡± Jeanne pondered the question for a moment. ¡°Oh god, you know I can¡¯t remember one day from the other, Cid.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Day of the First Wind,¡± Cid said, slightly taken aback. ¡°Oh ¡­ oh! It is, isn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°You astound me sometimes, Jeanne.¡± Jeanne shrugged defensively, ¡°I forget my own birthday Cid!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What day is it on?¡± ¡°Splarsh belf.¡± Cid narrowed his gaze. ¡°Jeanne you just made that date up.¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯ll never know.¡± Cid pressed his hand to his forehead and groaned as he and Jeanne heard a commotion at on the of the wings of the cathedral. They turned to find a group of flagellants moving into the greater hall of the complex. Some of them sporting clubs and flails in their hands, causing those nearby to shirk back quickly. Cid tapped on Jeanne¡¯s shoulder and gestured. Hang back and let¡¯s see what happens. Jeanne nodded, stepping back with him and watching as the flagellants moved with purpose towards the great altar at the farthest end of the building. In the middle of the group, as they passed by, Cid and Jeanne saw the man who lead the procession days before. ¡°And now things will get interesting.¡± ¡°Were you expecting this?¡± ¡°I was hoping for this.¡± ¡°And if he didn¡¯t show up?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d have a day off.¡± As the flagellants made their way forward, they were greeted by a man dressed white cassock, with a black cape resting over his shoulders. On his head was a squared hat with ridges riding upward and meeting hold in place a tuft. The man was flanked by several guardsmen, armed with swords and well armored. ¡°And who are those?¡± Cid asked. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°Those are the cardinal¡¯s guards.¡± ¡°Is that a normal thing?¡± ¡°Depends on the person. But they¡¯re not knowing for showing a lot of mercy once the swords come out.¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve fooled me,¡± Cid said, keeping his eyes on the group. ¡°How dare you come in here!¡± the cardinal shouted. ¡°Do you have no reverence for this house of The Sheperd?¡± The man they assumed was Stefan replied, ¡°We have come with no intention of bringing any ill will towards the shepherd we all respect.¡± ¡°Then you can explain yourself and quickly,¡± the cardinal said to him. ¡°We have been made aware that you will not allow us the chance to show our devotion to the Shepherd at the next festival,¡± Stefan replied. ¡°This is a time to celebrate rebirth and the world bringing forth life. Not to maim yourselves in front of whoever will gawk at you in wild, frightened fascination.¡± ¡°How one wishes to demonstrate their devotion to the Shepherd should not be risked to what society deems appropriate.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± the cardinal challenged. ¡°Then what of the bands of your ilk who rove the streets and pray on people they consider are heathens, bloodying the streets with blood and sowing hearts with fear?¡± ¡°You speak of fear as if we are the ones who first harvested it when such emotions had been cultivated by purported betters.¡± ¡°The hell was is supposed to mean?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re both of a sound mind to know what exactly I am referring to. Crusades, inquisitions, and how many have been put to the sword to spread the word of your peaceful ways.¡± ¡°And what is it you preach?¡± the cardinal demanded. ¡°You use those barbarous instruments to maim yourselves before the very eyes of The Shepherd.¡± ¡°We seek only to bring life to the earth, to sow plentiful harvests, and bring peace to our brethren.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll believe that when worms breath fire,¡± the cardinal reply. ¡°Gentlemen, gentlemen,¡± said a third voice, a man dressed in fine linens, a vest fitted on his chest and a cape draped over one shoulder. He was accompanied with his own cadre of guards shortly behind him. ¡°What seems to be stirring so much trouble?¡± the nobleman asked. Cid turned to Jeanne and gestured, Is that who I think it is? Oh yeah, Jeanne, Lord Bellem in the flesh. ¡°Lord Bellem,¡± the cardinal replied, ¡°I was discussing with this gentleman concerns I have regard the upcoming festival.¡± ¡°Ah yes,¡± Bellem said, nodding contemplatively. ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing of such concerns. Perhaps we could find a common ground on this issue before any more unpleasantries occur.¡± ¡°I am always willing to seek such things,¡± Stefan replied cordially. The cardinal took a deep breath. ¡°This is not something I am against, Lord Bellem.¡± ¡°Most excellent,¡± Bellem said, clapping his hands together. Bellem patted both men on the shoulder before turning around and leaving the cathedral, signaling his guards to follow him. Moving past Cid and Jeanne, the lord stop looked towards them through the corner of his eye and then moved towards them. ¡°Pardon, but I couldn¡¯t help but noticed you matched the description of a mercenary captain I¡¯ve heard much about.¡± ¡°Depends on which captain you¡¯ve heard,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Ah, I was right then,¡± Bellem replied. ¡°The great Cid, leader of the illustrious Wolves.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ve had a few interesting months,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Modest as always,¡± Bellem said, turning to Jeanne, ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°A thorn in the captain¡¯s side,¡± she replied. ¡°Ah, one of your junior officers,¡± Bellem followed, ¡°good to meet you regardless. Perhaps when you¡¯re free, we can discuss a potential contract.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be interested to hearing what you might have for us,¡± Cid replied. Bellem chuckled. ¡°Well I won¡¯t keep you. Enjoy the architecture, my grandfather invested much in this tabernacle of The Shepherd.¡± Without a word continued his way down. As they left Cid and Jeanne looked at each other. ¡°Did that make you feel weird?¡± Jeanne asked Cid. ¡°Exceptionally so,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Come, I think we¡¯ve gotten enough of what I wanted to see. Part TBD: The Cavern As the two returned to the others, they spotted Gabriel standing in front of the door. ¡°Gabriel,¡± Cid said, lifting his palm to her. ¡°Anything happen while we were out?¡± ¡°Nothing much, honestly,¡± Gabriel replied, ¡°though the innkeeper keeps thanking us for not having Doc¡¯s pup from eating her.¡± ¡°We should get her a bottle of wine when this is all done,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°We¡¯ll get her two if I don¡¯t get too distracted,¡± Cid replied. ¡°But is everyone ready to move out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good to go,¡± said Gabriel, ¡°but I can get Kveldulf to assess you on the others.¡± ¡°We can find him easy enough,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye out here until then.¡± ¡°Good, make sure we don¡¯t have any one waiting to surprise us with anything,¡± Cid said as he and Jeanne entered the inn. Moving up the hallway as they saw Kveldulf leave his room. ¡°Oh, good, you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°You seem surprised,¡± Jeanne sid. ¡°I¡¯ll just feel better when we¡¯re no longer here anymore. No offence, Jeanne.¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯m on the same boat as you.¡± ¡°Is everyone ready to move out?¡± Cid asked Kveldulf. Kveldulf nodded. ¡°More or less, I¡¯ll gather everyone downstairs.¡± ¡°Actually, have them meet up in my lodgings, we¡¯ll go over the plan and we¡¯ll assess Gabriel when we¡¯re moving out.¡± In a few minutes, all of The Wolves had gathered in Cid¡¯s room and gathered around a drawn map of the building the flagellants were using. ¡°All right,¡± Cid said to the everyone in the room, ¡°so tonight we¡¯re going to be participating in a good old fashion breaking and entering. The goal is to see what, if anything, the flagellants are using the place for, or if they have any papers and the like that we can help ourselves to. Doctor, how is our patient doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say Benkin is back to his old self again,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°nothing that¡¯d keep him bedridden for too long.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Then I expect everyone should be at their best when we do this. Jeanne will go in with her group through the front door, with Gabriel, and Benkin. Kveldulf you¡¯ll come in from the rear entrance with Maeryn. Silvius, Leonidas and I will come in after the first floor is cleared. Once that¡¯s done we¡¯ll take it from there, and see what we can find.¡± ¡°Should we expect any resistance?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Possibly,¡± Cid replied. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be anyone in the home. But be prepared for anyone to be lounging out there.¡± ¡°Maybe we should get them a welcome gift?¡± Silvius said. ¡°For a breaking and entering?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°It might make the incident less traumatic.¡± ¡°I can only imagine what a vision in your mind what bring forth,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°I¡¯ll take the compliment,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°Ideally,¡± Cid continued, ¡°Once the first floor is cleared, we¡¯ll have someone keep an eye out for anyone so we¡¯re not caught in a bad situation. Given most of us aren¡¯t locals and the only one who is from here has a price on her head, I¡¯d rather keep ourselves in the shadows and away from prying eyes.¡± ¡°And if things get hairy?¡± Benkin asked. Cid bobbed his head back and forth for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t have a definitive plan. But I have every confidence in our improving skills.¡± ¡°So blow something up and then be on our way,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°More or less,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Though I¡¯d prefer less property damage if I can avoid it.¡± ¡°And there goes my fun,¡± Jeanne said, dropping her head in simulated disappointment. ¡°Oh, you will survive, you delicate little lunatic. Now, double check your gear, meet outside the entrance and let¡¯s move out. *** Even under star and moonlight the city streets were nearly cloaked in darkness. Following Maeryn and Gabriel down the street, the rest of The Wolves negotiated their down the street, trying to avoid running into buildings or other obstacles. Leonidas stubbed his foot against a crate, hoping on the other foot a couple of times while cursing underneath his breath, ¡°Stupid box, shouldn¡¯t be on the street.¡± Gabriel stopped and held her hand to the others. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Good, you all know where you need to be. Jeanne, Kel, you know the drill.¡± Jeanne and Kveldulf nodded. Jeanne turned to her group, nudging her head towards the front door. Taking their positions, she watched as Kveldulf and his group moved around to the back. Counting down from ten in her head, Jeanne took out her lockpicking kit and quickly unlocked the door, pushing it out of the way. She, Gabriel and Benkin moved in, their weapons now out in their tightened grips. The house had two wooden tables of simple design resting next to the other, with a bench on each side for sitting. There was a fireplace which had been long put out and pots and spices hanging over the rafters before the kitchen area. Kveldulf and his group entered from the back and spotted Jeanne. Without saying anything, they moved around the room and cleared it our before Kveldulf turned to Jeanne. ¡°Nothing?¡± he asked her. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Nothing at all.¡± Kveldulf turned to Silvius. ¡°Get Cid and let him know the first floor is clear.¡± Silvius nodded and moved to find Cid and the rest. Jeanne began making her way up the stairs. It was difficult for her eyes to adjust to the light. As the darkness began to ebb away slowly, she took another step up, feeling a hand grab her arm. Jeanne turned sharply to find Gabriel a step behind her. The vampyre pointed to the top step, where a thin string was stretched out along the width of the stairway. They look up and saw a contraption which would¡¯ve dropped a rock onto Jeanne¡¯s head. ¡°Nice catch,¡± Jeanne said, looking back at Gabriel. ¡°Sometimes you get luck,¡± Gabriel said. They both stepped over the string and after cutting the rock down, they cleared the path on the stairs for the others to cross. Lighting a few laylight nearby, the group could see several bunk beds resting along the walls, with chests situated nearby. Jeanne looked around and noticed there was little in the room of note. Not even a carpet to dress the floors. ¡°Is anything else a little disappointed at what¡¯s where?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°I was at least hoping for a slightly decaying deer¡¯s head,¡± Benkin followed. ¡°I know, right?¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything here,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°This is ¡­ odd.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Benkin hummed, ¡°maybe we should go downstairs and see how the others are doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll head downstairs,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°See if Cid wants us to head back down with the rest,¡± Jeanne said, looking off to the side tighten her jaw shut. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jeanne replied ¡°just a feeling.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. They both turned their heads as they heard a soft squeaking as a door was opened door stairs. ¡°Wonder what they found?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Can¡¯t see it hurting to check it out,¡± Jeanne replied as they moved downstairs. Jeanne and Ben reached the others downstairs as Maeryn knelt down and looked into a hidden doorway into the floor. ¡°Oh good,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°another one.¡± Maeryn took several whiffs inside and turned back to Cid. ¡°I can¡¯t tell what¡¯s down in there, but it smells foul.¡± ¡°Gods, I don¡¯t want to go into another dark hole,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°I know, darling,¡± Jeanne said patting his shoulder, ¡°things are hard on you.¡± Silvius, standing by the front entrance to the door shot his head up as he spotted something in the distance. ¡°I think we have some guests coming,¡± he said to the others. ¡°Who exactly?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Looks like a mob, with a few of the guards at the head.¡± ¡°Are they coming here?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Look like it.¡± Cid turned to Maeryn, ¡°Go check the back, see if the way is out. Gabriel, head down and see if there¡¯s anything we can use. Everyone, get ready to make a quick retreat.¡± Gabriel moved down the ladder while Maeryn looked out quickly and said, ¡°Nothing but a dead end, Cid.¡± ¡°Gabriel!¡± Cid called out. ¡°I think there¡¯s a way out!¡± Gabriel shouted. ¡°All right, we¡¯re going down. Move!¡± Cid ordered. The Wolves scrambled down the ladder before reaching the bottom. Cid was the last person to enter and closed the opening as he went down. Reaching the dirt floor, Jeanne looked up and saw a small thin squared outline to mark where the opening was located. The muffled sounds of people moving about, thrashing the place violently could be heard. ¡°Gabriel, I hate to assume, but are you good at seeing in the dark?¡± Cid asked. Gabriel nodded. ¡°One of the few stereotypes of our people I¡¯m glad is true.¡± ¡°Then if you¡¯ll take point. Jeanne, Doc, hold off on using light spells until we¡¯ve got some distance into this place, same thing for torches. I don¡¯t want to risk them seeing a sliver of light before we¡¯re safely away.¡± ¡°Gods, willing,¡± Kveldulf said as he used a hand to help guide himself forward. ¡°Everyone,¡± Cid said, ¡°have your hand on someone¡¯s shoulder before we move out.¡± Jeanne put her hand on a shoulder of a shadowy form. ¡°Please tell me I have a shoulder,¡± she said aloud. ¡°If you didn¡¯t, Selene would be pretty perturbed,¡± she heard Hypatia respond. ¡°Oh thank the Shepherd,¡± Jeanne said as she felt Hypatia slowly move forward. Taking small steps onward down the corridor. As Jeanne felt the wall with her other hand to steady herself, she noted how this was much dryer than the last underground tunnel she was in. The air was less humid around her. There was less of an ominous atmosphere around her, giving her less of a reason to look behind her constantly. As her eyes finally began adjusting to the light, she could see the walls seemed to be hewed out differently from the last series of underground paths. This path was circular in nature, possibly naturally formed long before being used. There was not physical marks along the stone similar to where a pickaxe would land. It was smooth, exceptionally smooth. Not too dissimilar from a piece of the earth given to a sculpture before being turned into a brilliant work of art. Jeanne wondered what might¡¯ve caused this tunnel to form, and if such a thing was around to hinder their progress? After a few minutes into the corridor, Cid said in a hushed voice. ¡°All right, I think we can risk a little light.¡± Jeanne, Leonidas, Kveldulf, Silvius and Hypatia conjured a light spell or lit a torch to illuminate the interior of the corridor. Everyone looked around and allowed their eyes to bask in the sight of path before them. ¡°Oh that is so nice,¡± Kveldulf said, blinking quickly before seeing clearly. ¡°How are you two doing, Maer, Gabriel?¡± Cid asked. Both women nodded. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, thankfully,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Good,¡± Cid said, ¡°let¡¯s move out and see where this take use.¡± Journeying further into the tunnel, The Wolves stepped with great care. Jeanne pressed her lips together, taking time to breath to make as little noise as she could. She remembered lessons Cid taught her when she was first going on scouting missions with him. Breath in on one step and out on the next. Despite the walls not closing in, she hate how limited of space the corridors afforded her. This reminded her why she preferred fighting in larger spaces, even the inside of a castle keep was better than a space of a few feet. She was thankful that there was enough space for her to stand upright. Even Benkin didn¡¯t need to stoop for himself. Gabriel stopped, lifting her hand up and held a finger to the others. She pressed herself against the wall and gestured the others to do the same. Shimmying down the wall they began to see a light come out of a rounding end of the tunnel. Gabriel slowly peered her head before pulling her head back and turning to the others. ¡°So ¡­¡± she said with a wide eyes, ¡°I think we found something.¡± Jeanne followed the rest of The Wolves into an expansive cavern, with wide paths hugging both sides of the circumference of the interior. Stalagmites and stalactites dotting the roof and the deeper levels. The niches dotting the pathways were converted into cells, some with closed gates, others still opened. Looking inside some, Jeanne saw wet and moldy hay resting on the bottom. Within the opened cells, there was nothing inside. But in the closed ones, there were remains of skeletons, all of them long dead and in varying states of decay. ¡°So much for ¡®love of the world and love of thy brother,¡¯¡± Silvius said, wincing back at the sight. ¡°They must¡¯ve been doing this for years, more even,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°And my people are the ones called monsters,¡± Gabriel said, spitting to the earth. ¡°This certainly adds a morbid element to these flagellants,¡± Silvius said. ¡°And hopes up a lot more questions to what they¡¯re doing,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Everyone keep your eyes sharps,¡± said Cid, ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re in a safe territory right now.¡± As The Wolves reach halfway across the cavern the sounds of shuffled feet filled the air, the warriors unsheathed their weapons as the flagellants arrived, one of them, with a hood over his head with a hand missing as he held up a torch with the other. ¡°What are you infidels doing here?¡± the hooded man demanded. ¡°Oh can we not,¡± Kveldulf, ¡°we¡¯ve got enough on our plate as it is.¡± ¡°You come in here, into our sanctum¡­¡± the man continued. ¡°This is a far cry from a sanctum,¡± Leonidas interjected. ¡°¡­ and you have desecrated this place with your presence.¡± Jeanne took a deep breath and walked towards the man. The hooded man looked at Jeanne in confusion as she grabbed him by the throat, dragged him into a cage, threw him in and then slammed the door shut. And the man was thrown to the ground, his hood was thrown back and Jeanne perked her head up. ¡°Well, Galbert, so lovely to find you again,¡± she said before punching him on his temple. The man¡¯s head struck the iron bars hard, and he began wincing from the pain. Jeanne grabbed his collar and pulled him in close. ¡°Come, you lot enjoy pain, don¡¯t you,¡± she said with barred teeth, ¡°now where is your good leader?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, witch,¡± Galbert said. Jeanne punched him again. ¡°Keep this up, and I¡¯m going to start having fun.¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± Benkin said, ¡°remember what we worked on before.¡± ¡°To hell with that!¡± she barked. ¡°They butcher their own and themselves, they spread fear like a flood over the low counties, and you work for a Kolville. I want to know where he is! Tell me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Galbert said loudly. Jeanne punched him again. ¡°Tell me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± Galbert screamed. She grabbed his head and slammed it against iron bars. ¡°Where¡¯s Stefan!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Galbert said, breaking down. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Cid said, moving into the cell, ¡°That is enough!¡± ¡°This shit know where their master lies, and I want his head piked!¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t tell us where he is,¡± a flagellant called out. The Wolves turned to find a young man pushed his way to the front and Jeanne immediately recognized the man. Jeanne now felt herself catching her breath and standing up. ¡°Fancy seeing you back on your feet,¡± she said, fighting the urger to throttle the man. ¡°Well, your doctor was very good at what he does,¡± the flagellant said, looking at Jeanne with a frightened gaze. ¡°Thank you,¡± Leonidas replied. Jeanne turned back to Leonidas then to the young man. ¡°And what exactly is going on here?¡± She demanded. ¡°This is a place of reflective contemplation,¡± the young man insisted. ¡°And the dead bodies?¡± Jeanne returned with, as she pointed behind her. ¡°Those were never there?¡± the young man insisted. ¡°All right pull the other one!¡± Jeanne said, grabbing the young man by the collar, ¡°Just because I saved your life doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t end it.¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± said Cid, putting his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Perhaps I should handle the questioning.¡± ¡°Be quick,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to break some heads since we found Edmund.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± the flagellant asked. ¡°We saw what you did to your own. Flayed him alive by turning his skin into thread.¡± The flagellants recoiled. ¡°Is ¡­ is that what happened?¡± Cid turned to the flagellant. ¡°You mean you didn¡¯t know?¡± The flagellant shook his head quickly. ¡°No! We thought he was still not recovered from his earlier illness. We never knew that he was ¡­ dead.¡± Jeanne felt a pit in her stomach, turning away from the flagellants. ¡°Well, that raises more questions than answers,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Given the traitor sign hanging on his neck.¡± ¡°It could¡¯ve still been someone within the group,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Not unheard of for someone to go out of their way to take care of a purported problem when none existed,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But it couldn¡¯t have been us,¡± said the young flagellant. ¡°His mother never let us into her home, ever.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid said. ¡°That¡¯s rather disconcerting. And none of you know how to get into contact with your leader?¡± The flagellants shook their heads. ¡°We¡¯ve never known where to meet him. He always come to us.¡± Jeanne growled before letting the young man go and stepping back. Cid brushed the ruffled robes of the young man down and took a short breath. ¡°All right, so this was a place for introspection, yes?¡± The young man nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, the place is far from the surface and quiet so we could meditate in peace.¡± ¡°And you never saw these bodies before?¡± ¡°No! None of us had,¡± the young man said, the others behind him shaking their heads. ¡°Then was what why you lot came down here?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°We heard there was a ruckus at one of our houses and we wanted to investigate,¡± the hooded man replied from his cage. ¡°I¡¯d avoid that course of action,¡± Cid replied. ¡°There¡¯s a mob up there and they¡¯re none too happy with your group.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the damned cardinal,¡± one of the flagellant spat. ¡°He¡¯s unleashing his minions against us.¡± ¡°That can be hashed out later,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I think we¡¯re about to have company!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Cid snapped. ¡°Never a moment to think.¡± ¡°I can buy us some time, Cid,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Should I ask?¡± Cid followed. ¡°Maybe not.¡± Cid shook his head. ¡°Just don¡¯t go raising the dead, and I¡¯m happy.¡± Leonidas gave Cid a thumbs up. ¡°This should be quick.¡± Leonidas then quickly wrote out a series of sigils on the ground in a circular pattern and then poured out some water from his flask. Holding his fingers into an esoteric manner before reciting an incantation. As he spoke, a rounded head shape popped up from the ground, two sunken eyes opened and looked at the doctor. A wide smile came across the creature¡¯s face as it spotted Leonidas. ¡°Hi Bob,¡± Leonidas said to the creature. Part TBD - Cavern II Bob bounced from its position and made a happily gurgling noise. ¡°Yes, Bob, it¡¯s been a while. Listen, I need a favor from you, we need you to distract some people for a moment while we get out.¡± Bob nodded enthusiastically, bouncing on its little thin legs. ¡°But,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°no eating ¡­ or breaking.¡± Bob nodded happily jumping towards the opening in a lively fashion. As Bob entered the corridor its smile expanded well past its body. Its own size grew five times its normal size and dozens of protrusions jutted from seemingly every inch of its frame. Letting a terrifying shriek it lunged towards the oncoming pursuers who screamed horrifyingly at this creature. Leonidas turned to Cid. ¡°That should give about ten minutes.¡± ¡°Ten?¡± ¡°Bob tires easily.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t he get hurt?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Bob has no organs, nervous system or brain. Plus he can meld back into the earth when he¡¯s bored. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Doctor,¡± Cid said, ¡°remind me never to get on your bad side.¡± ¡°You speak to me like I¡¯m somewhat smart, so you¡¯re fine with me.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Cid said turning to the others, ¡°well let¡¯s not tarry more than needed. Wolves, move out.¡± ¡°And the flagellants?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°You lot can follow us, if you want, and someone¡ª¡± Jeanne already used a force control spell to manipulate the lock open and gestured Galbert to follow them. ¡°Come on,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you want to stay when ¡­ they¡¯re done.¡± Galbert began making his way, trying to gain his footing as Jeanne held out a hand. ¡°Come on,¡± she said to him as she helped him up. Moving away into the tunnel away from Bob¡¯s rough housing, The Wolves began to see elaborate imagery of people and structures from an ancient village growing in size and prestige into the city above them. As the light from behind them dwindled in the distance, they could see ancient creatures from old stories of centuries long past. ¡°What is this?¡± Kveldulf asked. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Probably a prehistoric collection of tales and myths. I¡¯d bet good money this was the basis of few stories you heard of as a child, Jeanne.¡± ¡°When we¡¯re done escaping the locals, we can come back and enjoy the images later.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to jot these images down,¡± Hypatia said in fascination. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t mind enjoy the artwork,¡± Leonidas said as he admired the artwork. Jeanne kept looking behind them, bringing up the rear of the whole group. She held her hammer in her hand and felt the warmth of her left hand as she kept the hand ready to ignite a fireball at a moment¡¯s notice. She didn¡¯t like the sounds of their feet, masking any signs that someone might be following them. Jeanne spotted Maeryn looking at her. ¡°You all right?¡± Maeryn asked her. ¡°Just nervous,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Maeryn said, gently tapping Jeanne¡¯s arm with her fist. ¡°I can hear if something¡¯s coming up.¡± Jeanne pressed her lips together. ¡°Not a fan of being underground?¡± Jeanne shook her head, ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°I can¡¯t stand being in small spaces.¡± Jeanne smiled as she let out a soft chuckle. She turned and saw an image which made her stop in her steps. ¡°What on earth is that?¡± she said aloud. The others turned a creature, snakelike in nature. Dressed in colors of gold and brown rings pressed together. Four gangly limbs jutted out of the body, several joints giving it the sense it could bend in a manner most unnatural. Curved teeth poked from the sides of the mouth and stretched downward, holes and chunks missing and still retaining a terrible sense of dread simply looking at them. What caused Jeanne to stop in her step were the eyes. Piercing red wrapped around a slit iris. There was an absence of any empathy in its gaze. No sense of compassion or lust of life¡¯s greatest sensations. It was cold, harsh, unyielding in its apathy and gave Jeanne a cold shiver up her spine. For a brief moment, she felt as if she was looking at herself, a creature bereft of a all forms of compassion and humanity. Living for the sake of living. Killing for the sake of killing. Nothing more, nothing less. She felt the tug on her arm and saw Maeryn holding her arm and looking at her with worried eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± the elf asked her. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Come,¡± Cid said, ¡°we should get going.¡± Once they arrived to a long section of tunnel, the young flagellant pointed to an indentation along the wall. ¡°Here,¡± he said to them, ¡°we can get out through here.¡± ¡°We aren¡¯t allowed to let outsiders through there,¡± one of the other flagellants said. ¡°Do you wish for those of the cardinal to find us?¡± the young flagellant replied. None of the flagellants responded and the young flagellant pressed the indentation in and slowly a doorway opened to the side and he gestured The Wolves to follow. ¡°Come,¡± he said, ¡°before the others find us.¡± As everyone crossed the threshold, the young flagellant closed the doorway behind them, led guided the group up a flight of stairs, leading up to the first floor of a neatly kept and pristine cobbler shop. Tools, bits of leather, spools of thread placed in organized shelves resting on a wall left of The Wolves. ¡°I noticed your locations are vary in condition?¡± Silvius said. ¡°We believe if we don¡¯t adhere to one manner to living, those who wish us harm will not find a pattern to find us.¡± ¡°Then what of those that had been discovered?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°The cardinal and his spies have their eyes everywhere,¡± the young flagellant said somberly, ¡°and he is eager to see us crushed under his heel.¡± ¡°You thought trying to bring back an ancient religion to the people would not have brought out such a response?¡± said Silvius. ¡°We seek no more than to find an understanding of the world which gives us purpose and meaning. It is not our burden such things do not lie within what many consider gospel.¡± ¡°I think this is enough theological talk for one day,¡± Cid said before turning back to the flagellants. ¡°Please inform your leader that we¡¯d like to have a word with him.¡± ¡°He is not one who entertains an audience,¡± Galbert said. ¡°Tell him a sin of long has come,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°And it will come either with his cooperation, or with his blood on its fists!¡± ¡°How eloquently put,¡± Cid said. ¡°I will relay the message,¡± Galbert said, giving Jeanne a concerned look. ¡°Then I think we shall bide you all an evening,¡± Cid said. ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain your people know where we are at. Everyone, let¡¯s head back.¡± Part TDB - Trepidations Jeanne sat alone at the table, holding a flagon of ale in her hand, waving her fingers through the flames of the candle. Each time a fiery ring wrapped a knuckle joining her fingers to her hand. She heard Cid¡¯s footsteps as he sat down next to her, his own drink in hand. Neither spoke, exhaustion now affecting them. Cid looking particularly exhausted in from the earlier events, his eyes half opened and his mouth drooping down. Jeanne looked at Cid from the corner of her eye. ¡°Are you going to say it?¡± ¡°I mean. Did you have to make the threat?¡± ¡°Wait, I thought you were going to talk about the interrogation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not thrilled about that either, but more of us having little time to work with when it happened.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Jeanne said, placing her flagon down, crossing her arms on the table and resting her head down, ¡°I thought you were going to chew me out.¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve preferred you not pummel the poor man, but at this point we need to start breaking some ground on this Kolville before moving onto the rest. And Jeanne, I going to be honest here. And don¡¯t take this as an offense.¡± ¡°I only promise to try.¡± ¡°I am having my fill and a half of your homeland.¡± ¡°How you do you like I feel? I want to go back home and pretend none of this happened.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Though maybe this will get this Stefan character to reveal himself.¡± ¡°Who knows at this point. And we need to talk to Bellem, too.¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Cid groaned. ¡°Why can¡¯t just have one problem at a time?¡± ¡°Are you going to meet him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t trust the man at all, and my gut is telling me it¡¯s either a trap or he¡¯ll try to hire us for some dirty work.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to remember why I never wanted to be in charge of a mercenary company, Cid.¡± ¡°It is not pleasant, that¡¯s for certain.¡± ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Tomorrow, I plan to sleep. The day after, ponder. Following that, I¡¯m thinking panic.¡± ¡°So, expect a plan then?¡± ¡°At least I¡¯ll have time to consider options.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this to get so complicated.¡± ¡°Life tends to have a habit of doing that.¡± ¡°Well, I think I¡¯m going to call this a night,¡± Jeanne said as she rose from her seat and moved towards the stairs. ¡°Tell the doctor and pup I said hello.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that,¡± Jeanne said, waving to Cid as she moved up the stairs. Reaching her room, she gently opened the door before entering. Closing the door, she could see Leonidas, with Puppy resting on his chest, sleeping on their bed. She made herself comfortable and rested next to the two. Puppy slowly moved his head up, and after hopping off of Leonidas nuzzled his head into her shoulder. ¡°You know if he finds out we¡¯re doing this, he¡¯ll lose it,¡± she said to the spectral pup. ¡°Oh that boat sailed a long time ago,¡± Leonidas said to her. ¡°I thought you were asleep.¡± He waved tilted his hand back and forth. ¡°Mhe, I was still in that tired but can¡¯t sleep state.¡± ¡°Well, if we¡¯re lucky the next couple days will be uneventful.¡± ¡°You know saying that means something is going to happen, right?¡± ¡°Always the optimist,¡± Jeanne said, weakly moving her arm and pretending to try and hit him. ¡°Someone has to be with you pessimistic miscreants.¡± Jeanne opened her eyes slightly, looking at Puppy. ¡°I need you to nibble on the doc.¡± Puppy looked up at Jeanne and then after a short moment went back to sleep. ¡°We¡¯re going to need to train this dog better.¡± ¡°You get on that. I¡¯m sleeping.¡± ¡°Of course you¡¯d say that.¡± ¡°How are you holding up?¡± ¡°Tired,¡± Jeanne stretching her neck out. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Same.¡± ¡°You planning on staying in tomorrow?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. You?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± ¡°Silvius and Hypatia were thinking of going back down into the tunnel and checking out the images down there.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± ¡°Normally religious groups tend to avoid going back to such places immediately after they¡¯re raided. And they¡¯ll want to make sure the place is safe altogether before they try to move themselves back into what was raided.¡± ¡°Is that from superstitions?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s so they don¡¯t die from someone stabbing them. Or something else of a highly annoying nature.¡± ¡°Oh, fair enough. You mind if I tag along?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°No, never bad to have an extra pair of eyes to watch your back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hoping to find another spell book aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No no no ¡­ yes, yes I am.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯d be nice to have you with us. I think it might be good for you.¡± Jeanne turned to Leonidas. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been focusing on hunting men responsible for robbing you of a sister. That isn¡¯t an easy to travel.¡± ¡°No, no it hasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You think we¡¯re near to this Stefan character?¡± ¡°I mean, I threatened him personally, I¡¯d be surprised if there was no response from him.¡± ¡°And did you Cid really run into Lord Bellem?¡± Jeanne rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t want to think about that.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t a no, Jeanne.¡± ¡°I know, but I still don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡± ¡°So is that a no to the job offer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Cid¡¯s call, but I don¡¯t think he will.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pray to Kusti¡¯s wisdom he see through whatever honeyed words the lord would bring.¡± ¡°But, I think I¡¯m going to get some sleep.¡± ¡°Night, love,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Night, love, see you in the morning,¡± Jeanne said as she cuddled Puppy and felt slumber come to her. Part TDB - Lord Bellem ¡°Ah,¡± Bellem said as he took Cid¡¯s hand, ¡°So good for you to come. Sit, sit. Make yourself comfortable.¡± The lord moved his hand to an empty regal chair to Cid who calmly took a seat. ¡°And this is your second?¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord. This is a warm welcome. And this is my other lieutenant, Kveldulf Einarsen.¡± ¡°Ah yes, I heard about your duel with the dread Baeron. I wish I was there to have seen the fight.¡± ¡°Having been there I would¡¯ve preferred a calmer evening.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take word for its worth,¡± Bellem said as he took a seat, crossing his legs and clasping his hands together. ¡°But I think we should get to business before small talk distracts us too much.¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± Cid said calmly. ¡°As you¡¯ve probably seen our city has been undergoing a bit of a problem regarding a group of highly enthusiastic followers of our faith.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve run in a few of them even before we arrived to the city,¡± said Cid ¡°They seem to enjoy making a scene wherever they go,¡± Kveldulf followed. ¡°Yes, in more ways than one,¡± Bellem replied. ¡°At first they were no more than a nuisance. But they¡¯ve started to become beyond a mere thorn in one¡¯s side. They¡¯ve become disrupting commerce, scaring away some of the local populace. I¡¯ve heard word from among reputable sources other lords are perceiving this place as a hive of scum and villainy.¡± ¡°Not something anyone would want to hear about their home,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°No,¡± said Bellem, ¡°no it¡¯s not. And I wish for this little band of miscreants to be tended to. By means I neither care to dictate or know. I just want them gone.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Cid said, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re wanting us to do something like this and not delegate it to your guards.¡± ¡°We considered it,¡± Bellem said, ¡°but if the people the guards stomping out those many feel are in their interests, it could stir unrest.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°And such matters trouble your mind?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°In winters past such troubles would be crushed by my boot and heel. But things have changed. Players are at work which could work on undo many years of hard work, which I and my forefathers before me have strived to keep for this city since the days before the coming of the Rubicon Empire.¡± ¡°And what of the cardinal¡¯s opinion on this matter?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Ah, yes, the holy man,¡± Bellem replied. ¡°He and I haven¡¯t seen eye to eye on many things. But this is one of the few we¡¯re in agreement with.¡± ¡°And how are we supposed to avoid crossing swords with the guards?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I could assume they wouldn¡¯t mind if we went about cracking heads of the local citizenry.¡± ¡°I would assume to take the head of the man in charge. Then when he¡¯s gone, the rest will gradual petter out and wither like a leaf before it drops from a branch to crumble.¡± ¡°Should we decide to take you up on this ¡­ offer, what would be the restitution?¡± ¡°Oh of course,¡± said Bellem, ¡°I think about five thousand denari would tend to the matter nicely. Would you not agree?¡± Cid lifted his eyes brows for a brief moment before turning to Kveldulf. ¡°I think this shouldn¡¯t take a long while to consider the matter with my seconds.¡± ¡°Bring me the man¡¯s head. That¡¯s all I want and then I will be a much happier man,¡± Bellem said as he rose to his feet. ¡°But alas, I do have other matters to attend to, but I appreciate you both taking the time to speak with me.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Cid said, he and Kveldulf both bowing their heads forward. ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what your people are able to do.¡± Cid and Kveldulf were silent until they were a short distance away from the keep¡¯s outer walls. ¡°What are your thoughts, Kel?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know where to start,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°But I don¡¯t trust that man at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost wanting to apologize to the others for grievous incompetence just from talking to the man.¡± ¡°Definitely gives me more confidence Gareth is on the up and up with us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still keeping my eye on him too.¡± ¡°Same here. But what do you think of the job?¡± ¡°This feels more like hire a group to end a problem, then get rid of the group and wash one¡¯s hands of the whole affair.¡± ¡°Then what are we going to do?¡± ¡°I think I have an idea now. It¡¯s going to be a little dicey, but there¡¯s enough wiggle room to make it work.¡± ¡°Are you worried about Jeanne?¡± ¡°Regarding Stefan?¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t say her disposition hasn¡¯t given me a moment of pause, here and there, since this whole mess started. But I trust her enough to do what is needed. Do you?¡± ¡°Of course. I just ¡­ I can understand these things taking a toll on you after a while.¡± ¡°Fair, very fair. But we shouldn¡¯t keep the others waiting,¡± Cid patting Kveldulf on the shoulder. Part - The Lords Contract Jeanne leaned against the cold earthen wall, looking back at the monstrous creature on the other side. It reminded her of the old stories her father would tell her in the darkest of winter¡¯s nights. When the branches outside her room took on the form of jagged fingers reaching out to grab her, the hoots of owls the foul calls of the hidden predator searching for its prey. And the moon¡¯s once warm glow, was now the dead eye of horrors long forgotten looking for its next victim to feast on in the dark places of the world. She remembered him telling her of creatures, foul and cruel. Sending shivers up her spine and nightmares for days long afterwards. But there was one she remembered with advantage. The Brenindaegwa. A fiend from a time when the ancient days of the world were still wet with the morning dew. This was a monster which devoured all who stood in their path. Leaving nothing but death and devastation in its wake. She wondered if this was the creature that inspired those stories passed down from generation to generation. She turned to see Leonidas, Silvius and Hypatia examining the image. Consulting their notes with dim laylight and a glowing white orb held by the doctor to provide illumination. She could hear their murmurings as they traded notes. Pushing herself off the wall, she walked to the edge of the lit area and summoned her own small ball of fire to move around the tunnel. As she walked a short distance from the others, she turned towards a small indentation, moving her hand around to see the details better. Hearing soft footsteps she turned to find Silvius approaching. ¡°Find something interesting?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t know. Not sure what this was for.¡± ¡°My guess is it was a burial niche for someone. Probably of high status in society.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Usually those from the commoner rank and file were cremated and their urns would be put into these smaller niches around the bigger one.¡± ¡°So who would be in the bigger ones?¡± Jeanne asked. Silvius shook his head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you for certain. Not since they¡¯ve been picked clean. But my guess would either be someone of considerable note, the head of some major house, if not just a regent by that alone.¡± ¡°And then they prop you up like a statue and watch as you waste away to bones and dust.¡± ¡°Oh. come now,¡± Silvius said, ¡°don¡¯t forget the smell.¡± ¡°Do not bring up the smells,¡± they heard Leonidas call out a distance down from the tunnel. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°I find it brings the whole spectacle together,¡± said a voice from the darkness. All four turned, torches trained and weapons unsheathed towards the voice. As the light illuminated the section, they saw a man standing with a plain staff in his right hand. His hair long and unkempt. His beard stretching down past his chest, some of the hairs catching on the rough spun tunic dressing most of his body. He had on simple laced sandals, the heels made of a thin layer of wood to keep the ground from his feet. A brown braided, stained with dirt and grime wrapped around his waist. He walked forward in a calm fashion. His eyes trained to the image of the monstrous creature before him. ¡°A reminder,¡± he said, ¡°that despite where we are, where we come from, what robes we wear or eloquent words we utter from our mouths, we all come from and return to the earth which gave us life.¡± Jeanne noticed Leonidas looking at her with a worried look, as she gripped the handle of her handle tightly. The thought of swinging the flattened head of her hammer through his temple was an alluring temptation for her. It took every once of control to keep herself from flinging herself towards the man and bludgeoning him to death. Stefan examined the image of the creature. Looking at its eyes particularly. Jeanne noticed he had an expression of one missing an old friend who had passed away decades ago, with the wound still fresh and filled with pain. He turned back to the others. ¡°This was one of the royal burial tombs of the kings of Inderawuda. Before the coming of the empire, before the coming of invasions and strife plagued this land in death and complete turmoil.¡± ¡°Is that your people are striving for,¡± Silvius said, ¡°peace and prosperity?¡± ¡°We want to bring our people back to the ways of our forefathers,¡± Stefan replied. ¡°When faith had weight to it, and not from that of coins and loot and things which linger only in this world.¡± ¡°And when did this become such a prevalent part of your world view?¡± Jeanne asked, her jaw clenched and her teeth bared. ¡°How many innocent people did you throw into the ditch to die and rot before your conscience finally discovered itself?¡± ¡°I do not hide from my past. All the terrible things I¡¯ve done. The lives I¡¯ve ruined, either from theft of gold or of their very being on this earth. And I recognize that no amount of repentance will absolve me of the sins I committed under my family¡¯s name.¡± Jeanne felt her fist clench harder, her muscles shaking, as she looked at this man. All she wanted was his blood, she wanted him to feel the pain she had held within her for years and begin to finally find form of peace. Before her thought returned she had her forearm pressed to his throat, holding his body up against the wall. She heard the others shouting at her, but their words were lost in the darkness. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± she hissed at him. ¡°I have my guesses,¡± he said in a strained voice. ¡°I am Jeanne Marais, from Teeg-Upon-Avon. And you, and your vile excuse of kin took my sister from me. You left her in a ditch to rot until our mother found her. Do you know what that¡¯s done to me! To my family! And now you speak of forgiveness? Let me tell you this, I¡¯ve been tasked with taking your head, and I¡¯ve been dreaming of doing this for a long time.¡± ¡°The irony is not lost on me.¡± ¡°So, you give me one good reason why I don¡¯t pull your head off with my hands?¡± ¡°I know not how much this means to you, but I am sorry for my part in your pain.¡± Jeanne felt a deep hatred come over her. A sensation robbing her of all but thought bloodied thought. ¡°Sorry?¡± she mustered herself to say. ¡°You¡¯re sorry?¡± She struck him across the jaw, blood splattering on the ground. ¡°Jeanne!¡± she heard Silvius cry out. ¡°Stay out of this!¡± Jeanne roared back before turning to Stefan. ¡°Too long have I dreamed of cornering one of you rats and what I¡¯m about to do.¡± She struck Stefan again, harder, feeling her skin becoming covered in stone scale as she pulled her fist back. She felt Leonidas grab her hand and she flung him back with enough force he landed on the wall from the other side. She slammed her fist into his face several times before she stopped, seeing her knuckles dripping in blood. She saw Stefan, his face battered and now laboring to breathe. Tightening sensation come over her. As she tightened her fist, she found she could not make the final strike. Something deep within her held her hand back from ending this man and she could not fathom the reason. Giving a wrathful roar, she summoned the will and hearing Leonidas cry out swung her fist down with murderous intent. Part TDB - Riotous Dangers Cid looked at Stefan Kolville as Leonidas looked him over in the bed. He turned to Jeanne, looking at the Kolville sullenly. ¡°This was not what I expected when we got back,¡± he said to Jeanne, turning to her. Jeanne was silent as she slowly tapped her foot to the wooden floor. ¡°Come, you look like you could use a drink,¡± Cid said. ¡®Do you have this doctor?¡± Leonidas turned, looking at Jeanne coldly for a moment before looking at Cid. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good up here.¡± They went down to the dining area of the inn and Cid ordered two meads for them as they took their seats at one of the tables. ¡°I¡¯m actually surprised you brought him in in one piece,¡± Cid said to Jeanne as they waited. ¡°I¡¯m surprised he¡¯s alive, too.¡± ¡°What kept you from finishing him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said, scratching the back of her head. ¡°I mean I had him there, right there. And a couple more hits and ¡­ it¡¯d be over.¡± The server placed a flagon for Cid and Jeanne, Cid grabbed his and took a long sip. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it was easy for you to hold the rage back.¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, sipping from her flagon. ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I noticed you and Doc seem to be ¡­ distant.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± she said. Cid nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fair. Well, I think we¡¯ll be moving out in the morning with our guest in tow.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jeanne asked, confused. Cid nodded again. ¡°I don¡¯t want to risk him escaping, or some of his cohorts trying anything before we can make our way out of the city. And I don¡¯t want Bellem, the cardinal or anyone else deciding to become a thorn in our sides on a whim.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°The sooner we¡¯re out of this place, the better.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m going to call it a night,¡± Cid said, rising from his seat. ¡°You get some rest all right, Jeanne?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± she said. ¡°See you in the morning,¡± Cid said, making his way to the stairs. Jeanne grabbed her flagon and stepped out onto the city street. She sat down on the dirt ground next to the door and leaned back against the wall. She felt a headache which had been bothering her since they were in the tunnel. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead and tried to lessen the pressure building. The sound of dirt crunching underneath feet caused her to open her eyes and saw the doctor standing outside and actively looking for something. ¡°Jeanne?¡± he said out loud, visibly confused. ¡°Jeanne!¡± ¡°Um, doc?¡± she said, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Oh!¡± he said, startled, ¡°there you are.¡± ¡°What did you need?¡± ¡°I was checking to see how you were doing.¡± ¡°I have a headache that feels like it¡¯s cracking my skull into two.¡± ¡°Sorry about that,¡± he said, taking a seat next to her. ¡°Did you need to tackle me like that?¡± ¡°Jeanne, I thought you were going to kill the man. And you threw me across a tunnel.¡± Jeanne growled looking down at her feet as she rubbed her forehead again. ¡°I mean, you knocked a few of his teeth out. And you nearly broke his jaw.¡± ¡°I know what I did,¡± she fired back. ¡°And everyone seems to forget who he is.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Leonidas leaned back, his brow furrowed and mouth slightly agape. ¡°You really think we didn¡¯t remember why we¡¯re here? Why we¡¯ve gone through all this crap to find these men? We¡¯re here because of you! We¡¯re here, because of what these men did to your family.¡± ¡°Then why aren¡¯t we putting them down like dogs and be done with it?¡± ¡°Because there is a very fine line between revenge and justice. And a lot of people don¡¯t like to acknowledge the difference but it is there. It¡¯s what keeps us from becoming the very people we¡¯re hunting. It keeps us from being the very thing we hate the most in others. Jeanne we¡¯re not trying to keep you from getting the satisfaction you¡¯ve been wanting. We just don¡¯t want you becoming the same type of criminal the Kolvilles are.¡± Jeanne let out a heavy sigh, looking away down the deserted city street. ¡°What would you do?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you were faced with the same decision, what would you do?¡± Leonidas paused for a moment lifting his brows up as he considered the thought. ¡°I guess it would be hypocritical if I said I wouldn¡¯t want to see certain people suffer what I did. Some more than others. And gods know the temptation is strong.¡± ¡°I just wished I could throw back what the world throws at me, and not have someone say that I¡¯m in wrong for it. I¡¯m tired of people always telling me I should be the better person. Everyone knows I¡¯m the hit first, hit second, kick, break and batter third, and then I might start asking questions afterwards.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Probably not,¡± Jeanne admitted. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you going down a road that you may not come back from.¡± Jeanne pinched the bridge of her nose. As she let out an exasperate sigh she nodded. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°At least we¡¯ll be out of the city and hopefully we can get a rest from everything.¡± ¡°One can hope.¡± Leonidas opened his mouth to speak as he noticed something in the distance. Jeanne noticed this change and turned to see what he saw. Out of the corner of the street was the faint golden flicker of torches. The angry indecipherable shouts began filling the air as the two looked at each other, color leaving their faces. Without saying a word, they raced back into the inn and up the stairs. Cid and the others stepped out of their quarters as they heard the loud clamoring. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Cid asked. ¡°There¡¯s a mob coming,¡± Jeanne said catching her breath. ¡°You sure they¡¯re coming here?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I¡¯d bet good money on it,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Shit,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Quick,¡± Cid said, ¡°go around and put the fires out. And barricade the door.¡± ¡°I doubt the innkeeper is going to appreciate the mess,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°They won¡¯t appreciate a mob coming through their front door either,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Besides if they do come here, it¡¯ll give us some time to get out before they break their way in.¡± The Wolves raced down the steps, throwing tables in front of the doorway and closed shutters. The innkeeper was hiding behind the counter, barely peeking their head up to see what was happening. The Wolves pressed themselves against the walls and listened carefully to the noise of the mob outside. Jeanne felt sweat beading on her brow as she heard the shouting get louder with each passing moment. Faint light of the torches came through the small openings from the windows. Jeanne could see the others gripping their weapons tightly as they waited for the crowd to arrive at the front of the inn and begin surrounding them. But nothing happened. The crowd passed them by and after a few arduous moments the crowd passed the building and the lights and noise faded away into darkened silence. The Wolves slowly looked at each other before carefully taking down the barricade. Silvius gestured, Are they gone? I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t them, Cid gestured back. Maeryn, Gabriel, do you hear anything? Maeryn replied, I can hear them moving away from here. Cid waited a little longer before saying out loud. ¡°All right, grab Stefan, we¡¯re leaving now.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jeanne said beginning to move upstairs. ¡°Everyone, get the tables back in place,¡± Cid said to the others. ¡°Wait!¡± the innkeeper said, moving around the counter towards Cid. ¡°Leave them there.¡± ¡°What, why?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°If they find out you have Stefan and were here and all that, they¡¯re gonna wonder if I was a part of the whole thing. But if it looks like you made a mess ¡­¡± ¡°¡­ Then you can say we threatened you and twisted your arm,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Not a terrible idea,¡± Cid said, ¡°place the tables and such on their sides and face.¡± ¡°And one of you punch me,¡± the innkeeper said. Everyone turned to the innkeeper wide-eyed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry what?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I need one of you to punch me,¡± the innkeeper repeated. ¡°Right or left?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Leonidas cried out. ¡°Right,¡± the innkeeper replied. ¡°Got it,¡± Jeanne said as she landed a blow to the innkeeper¡¯s right side. The woman stumbled back a few steps. Steadying herself she tapped her hand to the corner of her mouth and saw a small of blood on her fingers. She nodded happily as she returned to the others. ¡°That¡¯ll do, that¡¯ll d nicely.¡± Jeanne gave the woman a hug. ¡°For the record, I did not enjoy that.¡± ¡°Aw, you are a lovely dear,¡± the innkeeper said. ¡°But I think it¡¯d be good if you lot took your leave before any one of those people come back.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Cid said, ¡°Gabriel, Kel, go get Stefan and get him down here, Sil, you and Maer, Hypatia and Doc go grab the horses and bring them back here, Jeanne, go with them just to play it safe.¡± ¡°I also think that¡¯d take care of all the horses we have,¡± Jeanne replied. Cid closed an eye and looked up for a moment. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re right. Good thing one of us is good with numbers.¡± ¡°Wait, no I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Just roll with it, Jeanne,¡± Cid said. ¡°We don¡¯t have much in terms of baggage, so when the others get back, we can move out quickly.¡± Jeanne watched as after clearing the entrance, Maeryn peered her head out of the inn and turned back to the others. ¡°It looks clear,¡± she said in a hushed voice. Moving out onto the streets Jeanne saw streaks of blood already staining the ground below. The sounds of screaming and cries breaking the ambient silence. ¡°Come on,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t linger.¡± Part TDB - Outed Rounding several corners, the group found several dead bodies. All horribly beaten and lacerated. Some with their innards hanging out as the blood pooled underneath them. ¡°Gods,¡± Silvius said, covering his mouth. Maeryn took point, stopping to peer around corners and if a sound touched her ears. Jeanne looked around, half expecting a rioter to come out and alert the others to their presence. Reaching the stables, the group found two people standing before the main opening, both of them not dressed as if they worked there. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not a surprise,¡± Jeanne said as she spotted the two. ¡°You got this Maer?¡± Maeryn had already notched one arrow, the other in her mouth and clamped between her teeth. Without uttering a word Maeryn loosed an arrow and struck the one man in the head. As the other noticed their companion fall, Maeryn landed the second arrow into his torso, killing him instantly. The group darted across the open way towards the stables, Jeanne pulling on the door and with a wave of her hand, signaled everyone inside. Jeanne looked around before closing the stable doors behind them and turned to the others. ¡°All right, let¡¯s find the horses.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not here!¡± Silvius said as color left his face. ¡°What?¡± Jeanne replied, looking around the stables. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°Not a horse, donkey, mule, or hinny to this place.¡± ¡°Where did they take them?¡± Hypatia asked. Maeryn and Gabriel turned to a direction behind the stables, their noses in the air and sniffing slowly. Both flinched back as they caught a scent and turned back to the rest of the group. Jeanne looked at where they were facing and saw blood seeping in through the bottom of the wooden walls from the other side. ¡°Oh no,¡± Jeanne said as the others recoiled in horror. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Double back to the others, keep our heads down, and take care of anything that gets in our way,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Doc, can you get the pup over here?¡± ¡°I can call for Puppy and Bob, but since they¡¯re already summoned it¡¯ll take a while to find me.¡± ¡°Can they follow if you¡¯re on the move?¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°It¡¯ll take longer, but they can, yes.¡± ¡°Do it, everyone else, get your weapons out, and be ready to use them,¡± Jeanne said, taking her hammer out and loosening her wrist with a twirl. Moving swiftly from the stables, the group journeyed through several back alleys before a scream came from an opening into a street. The way illuminated by the sharp flicker of orange, red, and gold. Jeanne peered her head out and saw several men surrounding someone on the ground. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Jeanne looked up and noticed the building was familiar, as were the building nearby. She tried to think of where she was before. As the person on the ground cried out, Jeanne¡¯s widened and she summon her stone scales over her whole body as she rushed forward. She let out a war cry towards the men, who turned, confused, at the sudden intrusion. Jeanne sunk the head of her hammer deep into the skull of one man, and as she violently pulled her weapon out of the man¡¯s skull struck another nearby. One man tried to move to Jeanne but was taken down with an arrow to his heart, and the others shrunk as Hypatia played a fearful song with her blades. Jeanne struck them down before the rest caught up with her, and saw Weuve on the ground, bloodied and breathing heavy. ¡°What happened?¡± Jeanne said, helping Weuve to her feet. Standing up, Weuve wobbling with Jeanne having to steady her stance. ¡°They came out of no where. Broke into my house and dragged me out here,¡± Weuve started tremble and tears ran down her face as she continued to speak. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been here, I don¡¯t know what would¡¯ve happened.¡± ¡°Do you have any family you go to before this all blows over,¡± Gabriel asked. Weuve shook her head. ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°the nearest relative is days away.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d get out of the city and get to them as fast as you can,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°It¡¯s the damned flagellants,¡± Weuve said. ¡°They took my boy and now they want the city to burn.¡± ¡°Worry about surviving the night,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Retribution can come later.¡± ¡°I want to see that Stefan cur to burn for this!¡± Weuve hissed. ¡°That may happen sooner than you¡¯d think if things go well.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± Silvius said, ¡°I think we should get going.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Just look to yourself, that¡¯s the priority.¡± Weuve nodded and made her way to one of the darkened alleyways and disappeared into the night. Jeanne turned to the others. ¡°The madness keeps piling up.¡± They made into the alleyway they came from as Silvius said, ¡°You don¡¯t think that was divulging too much information?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say specifics on what we¡¯re doing,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°And I made sure not to tell her specifics.¡± ¡°Still,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°I don¡¯t think we should have said anything to her.¡± As the group turned a corner Hypatia said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t as if she was given a lot of details.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky we¡¯ll be out of here before anyone can put it together.¡± Arriving to the inn, the group found the rest and Stefan waiting for them near the entrance. Cid spotted them first and waved them over. ¡°Where are the horses?¡± he asked. ¡°Dead,¡± Jeanne said, shaking her head. ¡°What!¡± Kveldulf exclaimed. ¡°And the rioters seem to be burning half the city down,¡± said Maeryn sniffing the air. ¡°All right,¡± Cid said. ¡°We need to move, we¡¯ll probably need to use the sewers to leave this place without being seen.¡± ¡°Gods,¡± said Silvius, ¡°I wish there was a sally port nearby.¡± ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Hypatia said, pulling a folded parchment from a pocket. ¡°I think there might be one not too far from here.¡± ¡°What do you have?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I remember going through the maps of the city when we first arrived here and found a few points of exit in case something like this happened,¡± she said examining a map. ¡°Good thinking,¡± said Benkin. ¡°And I think there is a yes, yes! Here we are,¡± she said pointing to one section of the map, ¡°this, I believe is a sally port right here.¡± ¡°How far is it?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Two, three miles at most.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s grab Stefan and move out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± said Jeanne, moving to grab the Kolville. Cid grabbed her shoulder as she moved. ¡°Jeanne?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± she said to him calmly. As she came out, Stefan was in front of her. His hands were bound by a rope, and she had her hand on his shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re good to go,¡± she said to Cid. ¡°Then let¡¯s move out,¡± Cid said to the rest of The Wolves. ¡°I want to out of this place as soon as we can.¡± And as swiftly they moved into the first darkened alley and into the night. Part TDB - Escape I Moving through the shadow dressed alleys The Wolves moved silently towards the sally port. Hypatia at the front, her map before her as she guided the others closer to their escape. Sounds of the surrounding riot filled the air with a horrific symphony of sound of destruction and wanton murder. The Wolves now had their weapons out, looking around with increasing nervousness. Jeanne could smell the scent of smoke mixing with the terrible stench of burning flesh. She could imagine what terrible deeds these people were committing on their own. She remembered her first siege at a city far away called Khobar. She was still wet behind the ears as a mercenary, chafing under the command of an overbearing Felidan and an Aegir bladesman with an embellished blood line. The night they broke the siege was a hard night. Many friends and comrades fell to the arrows of the defenders. And when their ranks reached the parapets of the walls, the slaughter was terrible. The songs of wars long past, the exploits of the brave and valiant now tainted by the reality of war and its brutality. As the memories returned, Jeanne wondered how many people unaware of the carnage the night was bringing would forever be scarred by the inhumanity exhibited tonight? The thought left an ill feeling which she wanted to be rid of as quickly as possible. She saw Silvus was fidgeting his pin holding the corners of his cloak together, clearing his throat regularly as he looked around. Maeryn ran her thumb over her bowstring, occasionally moving her hand to her quiver. Even Hypatia looked up and down from her map with quick movements, quickly trying to find her bearings as she compared their position to the map. While Jeanne felt better knowing she wasn¡¯t the only one experiencing these nerves, she was far from feeling better of the situation on the whole. As they arrived to an open square the found a large tree at the center of the open area. On the thick branches they found hanging several dozen members of the flagellants, dead and their bodies swaying to the wind. Jeanne moved towards the tree and felt a gasp leave her lips as she noticed one of the bodies hanging there. The young man she had saved before, now a victim of this hopeless bloodshed. ¡°No,¡± she said as she looked away. ¡°Gods no,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°No one is safe in this place.¡± ¡°Let us mourn him when can,¡± Cid said, ¡°now isn¡¯t a good time for such things.¡± ¡°How much farther until we¡¯re out of here?¡± Cid asked her. Jeanne could tell even he was having trouble keeping his nerves in check. ¡°I think we¡¯re not too far from here,¡± Hypatia said looking at the map. ¡°Should be about a mile longer this way,¡± she said pointing straight towards an avenue with a section of the city beginning to peer up above the houses. ¡°Hopefully it¡¯ll be a straight shot,¡± Benkin said, looking over his shoulder, with his long curved blade resting there, unsheathed. Jeanne looked to her left down a dark alley with a light illuminating the other end. She saw a woman emerge from the other side and looking around. At first the distance marred any real distinguishing features until Jeanne began to recognize the person¡¯s silhouette. ¡°Weuve?¡± she said to herself as she peered out. How on earth did she get here? Jeanne thought. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Weuve looked down and her head shot up as she found Jeanne and the others. Jeanne felt an ill sensation form in her stomach as she Weuve turned to someone out of Jeanne sight and called out to them. Jeanne turned to Cid, ¡°I think we have a problem,¡± she said, pointing down the alley. As Cid looked, he uttered, ¡°Shit!¡± before turning to the rest and shouting, ¡°Run!¡± Without hesitation the rest of The Wolves bolted into a full run. Hypatia hardly looking at the map, now shoved it into her satchel and unsheathed both her blades. The music made Jeanne hardly feel her legs, and keep running at full speed. Maeryn and Silvius loading their weapons and readied to loose them. Leonidas let out a high pitch whistle as loud as he could and grabbed a purple pulsing orb and held it firmly in his hand. Jeanne looked behind and saw several guards rushing out and pursue them. ¡°Well fuck,¡± she said as she looked forward. A man on a horse came out a short distance in front of The Wolves, his sword unsheathed and beginning to charge them. Hypatia swung her sword swiftly, the sound now frantic and carrying a frightening quality. The horse reared up suddenly on its legs, throwing the man off and onto the ground. Before the man could recovered, Kveldulf kicked the man in the face and knocked him out. Benkin slapped the animal on its hindquarters with his hand and sent it galloping towards their pursuers. The guards leapt away from the oncoming animal as The Wolves run away. Hypatia pointed down a corner. ¡°This way!¡± As they finally arrived to the sally port, they found a solid metal door. Hypatia looked at it and looked at it carefully. She tried to open the door manually but it wouldn¡¯t budge. She turned to the others with a worried look on her face. ¡°Please tell me one of you brought a lockpick.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± said Maeryn, putting her bow away. ¡°I¡¯ll get the lock,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°You make sure no one is going to an arrow in my back.¡± As Jeanne tended to the lock, she could hear the sound of guards and others coming nearer. She tried to steady her hands as she could hear her heartbeat thundering in her head and feel her hands beginning to shake. Sweat poured down her face as she could see from the corner of her eye Kveldulf unsheathing his father¡¯s blade and striking a fighting stance. She hardly heard the words of someone, possible a ranking officer call out, ¡°We have come to collect the criminal, Stefan Kolville, for acts of blasphemy, sedition, corruption of the youth of the city of Inderawuda, and treason of the utmost heinous in nature.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°Tell me another.¡± ¡°I think they were speaking of me,¡± said Stefan. ¡°Keep talking and I¡¯ll break your jaw,¡± Jeanne said to him. ¡°You will give him to us, at once, and you will be given a swift and painless execution,¡± the guard said. ¡°Wait, why are we in trouble?¡± Silvius asked confused. ¡°We thought you were zealots on a killing spree.¡± ¡°Who do you think got the crowd riled up?¡± the guardsmen said. ¡°Well shit,¡± said Kvledulf, ¡°This was a set-up.¡± Leonidas squeezed the purple orb tightly. ¡°Tonight is just getting better by the moment.¡± ¡°Cid,¡± Maeryn asked, ¡°what do we do?¡± ¡°Let me try and buy Jeanne some time,¡± Cid said. ¡°Why exactly is our crime, we obviously are not an ally of the Good Kolville here?¡± ¡°Not when we¡¯re done here,¡± the guardsman said. ¡°Oh you would say that,¡± Cid said shaking his head. ¡°Jeanne how are we looking?¡± ¡°This lock is being a pain, but I¡¯m close to getting it open.¡± ¡°Further resistance will only result in a more severe punishment.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re going to kill us anyways,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°It¡¯s just how you¡¯ll do it.¡± One of the guardsmen turned to the leader and said something none of The Wolves could hear. ¡°No one asked for your thoughts Finley!¡± the leader said before turning back to the mercenaries. ¡°If you lot do not relinquish the criminal at once, we will not be merciful in executing Lord Bellem¡¯s laws.¡± ¡°Tell me another one,¡± Cid said as a sharp whoosh rushed by them. Jeanne heard a loud thud and something heavy falling on her. She looked to find Stefan lying on the ground, a crossbolt sticking out of his chest. She looked at him with a startled gaze as he said weakly, ¡°They were aiming at you.¡± Part TBD - Escape II Jeanne found the words hard to process as the others were getting ready to engage the guards. She felt a growing fire within her as she began shaking with rage. She grabbed her hammer and after covering her whole body in stone scales, rushed towards the enemy. She hardly noticed the bolt from one of the crossbowmen ricocheting off her skull as she landed the head of her hammer into the skull of the officer and kicked his corpse into another guardsmen. Kveldulf, shortly behind her, impaled another one with his blade as Maeryn and Silvius began release their arrows and bolts. More guards emerged from onto the scene, weapons bared and ready to engage The Wolves immediately. As The Wolves engage the guards two guttural roars broke the sounds of battle as a large wolven creature leap from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings into the middle of the group of guards. Slashing the members without mercy. From underneath the guardsmen¡¯s feet, protrusions jutted out and impaled several of them at once before an orb-shaped creature emerge from the ground and attack the guardsmen. ¡°It¡¯s about time!¡± Leonidas called out, looking at the purple orb before putting it back into his satchel. ¡°I keep forgetting the company you keep, Doc,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Comes in handy in these situations,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Jeanne,¡± said Cid, ¡°Finish with the door and let¡¯s get out of here.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Jeanne said, moving back to the door, working on the lock. Leonidas went over to look at Stefan¡¯s wound. Lifting an eyebrow up letting out a concerned groan. ¡°That¡¯s not great,¡± he said. ¡°Can you treat him?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Not here,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°We need to get him somewhere where I can work properly.¡± ¡°We may have to wait until we¡¯re back to Teeg-Upon-Avon,¡± said Cid. ¡°That¡¯s a four-day march,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll make it that long?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it hit anything vital,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°but we can¡¯t treat him here. Maybe somewhere in the woods. But it¡¯s got to be where no one can see us.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°All right,¡± said Cid. ¡°How are we looking Jeanne?¡± ¡°Almost there,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°just give me one more second ¡­,¡± trying to unlock the last tumbler within the mechanism. Another group of guards, reinforced by some of the city¡¯s residents came out and began moving towards The Wolves. Hypatia, swinging her swords uttered a shrinking sound from her blades. Gabriel unleashed a terrifying cry from her mouth, now opened to an inhuman size, her teeth protruding out and her head shaking violently. Leonidas, training his staff towards the crowd, unleashed a terrifying array of arcane energies towards the oncoming enemy. Being arrested by the sonic barrages, the crowd was unable to move as Leonidas¡¯s attack disintegrated many within the front. Jeanne, feeling the last tumbler give way, through the door open and shouted, ¡°We¡¯re clear, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°You heard the woman,¡± Cid said to the rest, ¡°Move!¡± The Wolves rushed through the door, Jeanne grabbing Stefan and moving him through the threshold. Once the last of the group was on the other side, Benkin slammed the door shut. He took a long piece of wood and wedged it against the metal slab. ¡°That should buy us a few minutes,¡± he said as he reached the others. Moving down the darkened corridor as quickly as they could, the arrived to the outer door and with a quick pull of the handle had the door opened. Running out into the field, Kveldulf and Benkin pushed a hedgerow open to all the other entrance into an area of tall wheat reaching the top of Benkin¡¯s head. Using the tall crops to hide themselves, Jeanne placed Stefan on the ground carefully before Leonidas looked at his wound. He wiped the sweat from his brow before he looked into his satchel and removed a saw and a piece of wood. Leonidas held the piece of wood to Stefan. ¡°You¡¯ll want to bite down on this,¡± he said to the man. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to use something for the pain?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°We need him as aware as we can,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°this stuff can have him wandering or acting like a loon, drawing more unwanted attention to us.¡± ¡°I can attest to that,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°If I can remove the shaft, I can take care of the arrowhead later,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°Since I don¡¯t know what the arrowhead is and breaking out bright glowing stones is not a prudent idea.¡± ¡°Maeryn, Gabriel, you two keep an eye out until the doctor is finished with his work,¡± said Cid, ¡°then we¡¯ll move out.¡± Leonidas took a deep breath before looking at Stefan. ¡°For the record, I apologize for what¡¯s about to happen.¡± Leonidas grabbed the crossbolt with one hand and with the other began sawing much of protruding shaft. Stefan tensed his jaw as Leonidas went to work, muffling his screams as tears ran down his eyes. Jeanne could see his fists clench and shake and placed her hand over one of his. With the final cut of the saw, Leonidas shoved the saw and removed shaft into the satchel. ¡°Really, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We can ditch when we¡¯ve got some distance between us and this damned city,¡± Leonidas replied, ¡°No need to give anyone following us easy clues.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say ditch it once we¡¯re in the woods,¡± said Maeryn, still keeping one of her ears up to the sky while listening intensely. ¡°Is he ready to move, doctor?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Give him a couple of minutes to recover and we should be good to move out.¡± Cid nodded and pointed ¡°Good, Maeryn, take point and be ready to move out soon. I want as much space between us and this forsaken place by the time we¡¯ve made camp for the night.¡± Part TBD - Escape III Jeanne felt the muscles in her neck stiffen as she stretched her neck. Her legs now burning with even the slightest of movements. She was afraid this would be the effect when Hypatia¡¯s sword singing had finally subsided. Using both hands, she lifted her lower limbs out and let the warmth of the fire comfort the soreness. ¡°Everything all right?¡± she heard Leonidas say to her as he rolled over to face her. Jeanne took a deep breath. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± she said after a long pause. ¡°Nothing makes any sense.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ever sense we got back to this damned piece of dirt, everything I thought I knew has been everything but that. I come home and I¡¯m a hero, when by all right I should be a pariah. Two men who belong to a family I longed to end with bloodied death, one¡¯s given me a chance at find some peace and the other,¡± Jeanne stopped, turning to Stefan, who was wheezing softly in his sleep. ¡°The other might not live no for this world, giving his life for mine.¡± Leonidas moved to the log Jeanne sat on. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine this is easy.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You forgave the woman who threw you to the wolves.¡± ¡°No I didn¡¯t,¡± Leonidas said to her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I only accepted her apology because I needed to. I didn¡¯t know who else might¡¯ve been after me and I needed whatever protection I could get. But I never forgave her. I don¡¯t know if I have the strength for such a magnanimity. If I was being honest, I don¡¯t what I¡¯d do if I ever saw her again.¡± Jeanne looked up, her eyes fluttering as tears ran down her cheeks. ¡°Then why do I feel like this? Why can¡¯t I do just ¡­¡± ¡°Given into the rage?¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Yes! Anyone who crossed me with a look or a slight I¡¯d have no problem slugging them in the face. Hell, Kel and I traded more blows when we were younger. But now ¡­ now I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening.¡± Leonidas took a deep breath. ¡°I won¡¯t say I know for certain what you¡¯re feeling. But it might be possible that you possess a certain strength of character few would give you credit for.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Revenge doesn¡¯t take much to enact, and bring out the worst in a person. But I¡¯ve found those who stayed their hand and keep those impulses from guiding their actions have a resilience few can possess.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how much of that I have left for this one.¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s been rough for everyone.¡± ¡°I just want this to be over with. To be back on a farm, worrying about harvests and feeding animals.¡± ¡°We all long for the life we gave behind for this profession. But think of all the people who you¡¯ve helped, those who won¡¯t know the trials and tribulations we¡¯ve had to endure.¡± ¡°It would be nice to enjoy such things in better circumstances.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t deny that one,¡± Leonidas said to her, ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to be back at the clinic for a while now.¡± ¡°I think I might¡¯ve been spoiled a little there.¡± ¡°Just wait until I start charging rent.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said that before, you know.¡± ¡°I have?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to need to write this down then.¡± ¡°If you do, I¡¯ll have the pup nibble on you.¡± ¡°Jeanne, I think the poor thing is going to asleep for a good day or two before that¡¯s even possible.¡± Both turned to see the little dog sleep soundly, with the occasional soft whimpers. ¡°Is he housebroken, Leonidas?¡± she asked him. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°That ¡­ that might be something we should¡¯ve figured out beforehand, love.¡± ¡°True. But I think we can handle that when we get back home.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jeanne said, before turning back to Stefan. ¡°How do think he¡¯ll fare?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°I can¡¯t get the arrowhead out until we¡¯re back to your hometown. And that¡¯s if I can take it out.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeanne groaned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t think I¡¯d have anything remotely close to sympathy for Kolville. But now ¡­ now it¡¯s the only thing I can feel.¡± ¡°Like I said, I think you have a lot more strength and resolve than a lot of people give you credit for. But I think it¡¯s my time at watch, why don¡¯t you get some rest and I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± Jeanne nodded, moving to where Leonidas had been resting, cuddling the small dog next to her. Thoughts racing in her mind kept her an easy slumber, pondering questions which she did not want to find an answer demanding to answered. Sleep did not come to her until sheer exhaustion forced her mind to some semblance of rest. Part TBD - Return to Teeg-Upon-Avon The return to Teeg-Upon-Avon was with little fanfare. Hardly a word was spoken between The Wolves on the way back. Jeanne felt the strain of the journey back. Each muscle requiring all her will to move with each step. Even breathing needed a conscious effort when it was not even a half thought before. Everyone¡¯s step was labored, shuffling along the ground and carrying none of the martial pride they possessed. Jeanne looked at them and thought of how this was more of a retreat than a victory. Despite accomplishing the capture of Stefan, there was little to be proud of in the moment. On the fifth day, as they journeyed through the woods, Maeryn, marching at the head of the group, lifted her head slowly, taking a few quick sniffs as she trained her nose into the air. Cid walked up to her. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I smell smoke,¡± the archer replied. ¡°No,¡± Jeanne said as she made her way forward. Reaching the edge of the forest, she saw pillars of smoke rising into the heavens. The faint glow of red and orange and the soft sounds of screams in the distance. Jeanne fell to her knees, her arms going limp and her chest feeling a terrible gripping sensation. She wanted to cry out for help, but no sound came from her mouth. Kveldulf reached her, seeing the sight before them and put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Oh gods, Jeanne,¡± he said to her. Cid came up to find Jeanne and Kveldulf and seeing the smoke and firelight. ¡°Oh no,¡± he said softly before turning to Jeanne. ¡°Why don¡¯t you a couple others make camp here while the rest of us escort the prisoner into town?¡± he said to her. ¡°No,¡± Jeanne insisted. ¡°I need to go there.¡± ¡°Jeanne¡ª¡± Cid said before she cut him off. ¡°It¡¯s my home, Cid!¡± Cid nodded slowly. ¡°All right, let keep moving, see what we can do.¡± Moving closer to the village Jeanne could see Maeryn and Gabriel wince as they caught a foul scent. Even Cid tightened his lips together as he tried to keep himself from being effect by stench as it began to grow in strength. As The Wolves came to a ridge overlooking the town, Jeanne began experience the wretched sensation. Her stomach turned tightly and she felt her throat solidify. Seeing the town before her, she saw all of the homes lit in flames. People lying on the ground, some dead, some dying and others trying to regain their strength. Leonidas turned to Cid who with a nudge of his head simply said, ¡°Go.¡± Leonidas then rushed out and began helping those wounded. Reaching the edge of town, the full extent of the devastation was much easier to see. Jeanne could see broken pieces of furniture and bodies burning in some of the buildings still standing as the flames burned onward. Some of the houses had begun to break down from the damage and collapse into piles of smoldering rubble. Turning to her right, Jeanne saw a mother walking out of a house, her skin covered in soot and other dirt marks. The woman was carrying a child in her arms, unmoving as the mother tried to rock the babe back and forth, tears flowing down from her eyes. A child wandered the path, blood coming down from their matted hair and covered their face, desperately calling for their parents. Some of the surviving townsfolk were moving the dead into rows as other prepared the graveyard by the church for those to be buried. Jeanne¡¯s mind went back to seemingly endless burial details which would go on for days after battles and sieges. Watching soldiers bury their friends and comrades, never to see them again outside from bittersweet memories. Those moments were hard, but was an unfortunate part of the profession she had chosen. But it was never easy when civilians were involved. As if there was some crime against nature itself when someone unfamiliar with the cruel and sharp ways of war suffered the worst such a thing had to offer. Seeing such things clawed away at Jeanne¡¯s heart, more so with it being people she knew. Some of the children she had spoken to when the flagellants first arrived were being put into a long grave where many of the bodies were being put inside. Jeanne saw many of the townsfolk moving around in a catatonic state, hardly taking any notice of The Wolves or their guest. Those who did, had a distant look in their eyes. As if there was no one before them, only the horrors they endured and nothing more. Before the walls of the town¡¯s keep there were bodies of men wearing the garments of Bellem¡¯s house. Some appeared to wear mismatched armor, akin to brigands than soldiers or guards. Those manning the walls had the signs of hard-fought engagement. Many had their surcoats slashed and stained in blood and dirt. Their armor covered with scratches and dents and a few sporting freshly made scars on their faces. Some with their spears in hand had their wood handled marred with gashes and pieces missing from innumerable strikes. As The Wolves reached the walls of the castle did they find anyone to greet them. ¡°I see we were busy,¡± the guard said in an emotionless voice. ¡°What in the name of order happened here?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Bellem¡¯s men happened,¡± the guard replied. ¡°They came out of no where when the sun had set. Started razing houses, putting to the sword whoever they found without a second thought.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell you. They weren¡¯t exactly in a mood to converse on the wherefores with their arrival. And any who we captured weren¡¯t inclined to speak for Lord Kolville put them to the sword.¡± ¡°He executed prisoners?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°He executed murderers,¡± the guard replied. ¡°Well,¡± said Cid, ¡°we¡¯ve returned with his brother, Stefan.¡± ¡°I thought I remembered his lordship before he went on whatever in the Sheperd¡¯s name he found himself doing. What¡¯s wrong with him, anyway?¡± ¡°He has a crossbolt in him, and we need a place to operate and quickly,¡± Leonidas answered as he returned to the others. ¡°And is there any place as we can set up a triage. ¡°I have no idea what that is, but I¡¯ll get the captain to see to that. Come on,¡± the guard said gesturing them all through the gatehouse. On the other side there were more people being treated for wounds or lying in state before they could be buried with the rest of the dead. Sigismund was in a conversation with some of the other guards when one of them pointed The Wolves and Stefan to the captain. ¡°Well,¡± he said to them, half-astonished, ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see any of you ever again. And with one of Lord Gareth¡¯s kin.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°We need to get him into a room so I can work on him,¡± Leonidas said to Sigismund. The captain turned to a guard. ¡°See the doctor has everything he needs,¡± he said to the man before looking to the other guard. ¡°Help Master Kolville into a room where they can have some privacy.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I can assume you¡¯ve seen what went on while you were all gone.¡± ¡°Hard not to,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Seems the Lord of House Bellem wishes to extend his power base into these lands. And what¡¯s more,¡± Sigismund said as he handed Cid a folded parchment, ¡°it seems your cadre has gotten on his bad side.¡± Cid took the parchment from the captain and read it to himself for a moment before handing it to Jeanne. As she read the words she felt her blood begin to boil with rage. ¡°He put a bounty on us?¡± she asked incredulously. ¡°Not as if our exit was without incident,¡± Benkin said. ¡°The bastard forced our hand!¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean he won¡¯t make our lives worst as a result,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°And he still has the sarcophagus with him.¡± ¡°That may not be the case,¡± Sigismund said. ¡°We had a few scouts tell us that Bellem had most of his men on the march to Adelize¡¯s host with a large item in his possession.¡± ¡°When was this?¡± ¡°A couple of weeks ago,¡± Sigismund said, ¡°heading northwest towards the region of Ulon.¡± Cid turned to Gabriel. ¡°Gods we just missed it.¡± Gabriel shook her head and massaged the bridge of her nose. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if this was an easy task,¡± she said exhausted. ¡°Do we follow them?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cid said. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where we¡¯ll be sleeping tonight.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I doubt Lord Kolville would be terribly upset if you and your men slept here for the night,¡± said Sigismund. ¡°After everything that¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°If the attack was related to you lot, Bellem¡¯s men never told us,¡± Sigismund replied. ¡°He¡¯s been eyeing our village for some time. It was just a matter of when before he and his ilk brought the war to our doorsteps.¡± Jeanne was silent looking at the bodies being brought out to be given their rites before their return to the earth. Her fist tightened once more as a discomforting thought came to her. And the old fear which haunted her for years seemed to final come to fruition. One lingering in her mind behind every thought before conjured by some malevolent spell into reality. Was this her fault? She had been a soldier of fortune to know sometimes, despite one¡¯s point of view, things simply happened due to circumstances. That situations outwardly connected had nothing more to join them together than mere coincidence. But, how many times did she see lords raze villages to the ground, impale those unfortunate enough to be caught in the warpath, and see so many lives ended for nothing more than a flight of fancy perceived as a slight. How many times did someone allow for acts of barbarity to commence in order to show their cruel powers to anyone and everyone they wanted to demonstrate their ¡°vaulted¡± strength? She had been involved in enough of these, in defending towns and as an active participant to know this was a sickeningly common occurrence. And now she stood as her old home was burned away, whatever vestiges of her old life becoming nothing more than memories. She could almost feel the blood on her hands. Unable to wash away the guilt, real or not, that she had become the very thing which brought ruin to this place. The reason why she left in the first place, the reason why she never wanted to come back, and now, unable to escape the turmoil infesting this land and forced to face truths she never wanted to look at for as long as she walked this world. She was snapped out of this thought when a guard came up to Sigismund and whispered something in his ear. The captain turned to Cid, Kveldulf and Jeanne, ¡°Lord Kolville is ready to be seen, I think he¡¯d like to speak with you three on recent matters.¡± The trio exchanged glances before following the captain towards the Gareth Kolville¡¯s study. The lord¡¯s personal physician was tending to a large gash on nobleman¡¯s arm, which had already been cleaned and being sutured shut. Gareth saw Sigismund first, who saluted. ¡°Any news from the patrols?¡± Sigismund shook his head. ¡°Nothing so far, my lord. It seems Bastard Bellem¡¯s men are gone.¡± ¡°Thank the Sheperd for small favors,¡± Gareth said before wincing as the physician stuck a needle into his skin for another knot. ¡°I did think you¡¯d want to know of the return of The Wolves my lord, and of your brother Stefan.¡± ¡°Stefan?¡± Gareth said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see him so soon.¡± ¡°It was not without some complications,¡± Kveldulf responded. ¡°I can imagine, where is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in one of the guestrooms, my lord,¡± Sigismund replied, ¡°he¡¯s being treated for his wounds.¡± ¡°Wounds? What happened?¡± ¡°He was shot with a crossbolt when we were making our escape from Bellem¡¯s city,¡± Jeanne replied somberly. ¡°I see,¡± Gareth said, trying to move his wounded arm as the doctor finished the last of the stitching. ¡°And how is he?¡± ¡°Not well,¡± Cid said, relating the events of their escape. Gareth listened to the words, looking away for a moment then turning back to Cid. ¡°How serious was the wound?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t good, in all honesty,¡± Cid replied, but our doctor did what he could before we could make our way here.¡± ¡°Well then, I should be thankful he made it home before there was no more of a chance to do so.¡± ¡°We wish we could¡¯ve been here sooner,¡± said Cid, ¡°perhaps we could¡¯ve been of some aid to you and your people.¡± ¡°Even the wise cannot see when such trials are to arrive on our doorsteps. And Bellem was looking for a reason to unleash his dogs this way. Wasn¡¯t even a question of if but when.¡± Jeanne turned her attention to the window, the faint light of the fires illuminating the sky behind the fortified walls. No longer listening to the conversation as her thoughts returned to wanton destruction. Part of her wondered if this was some punishment for her avoiding all of these issues, for not ending the Kolvilles when she first had the chance. Another part wondered whether this was her blaming herself when she was a mere speck of sand resting along an endless desert. Her part resulting in a minor if any change to the grand scheme of the world. There was little making sense and she wasn¡¯t sure if she wanted to know what the truth was now. She turned her head sharply as she felt a nudge from Cid¡¯s elbow. He thumbed towards Gareth, who was now throwing a tunic over his torso before a finer jacket over that. ¡°Everything all right, Lady Marais?¡± Gareth asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°Yes, just ¡­ thoughts on my mind.¡± Gareth looked out over the terrible sight himself, letting out a disgruntled growl. ¡°I know that feeling. I know it intimately. I hope you don¡¯t mind if I want to see my brother.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Cid said, ¡°I can imagine that being paramount.¡± ¡°Come,¡± Gareth said, waving them to follow, ¡°I feel there is still much to discuss before the night is done.¡± When they arrived to where Stefan was being treated. Two guards standing before the doorway, with their spears crossed before the entrance. As Gareth neared, they parted their weapons and saluted their lord, who lifted the palm of his hand to them. ¡°At ease,¡± he said to them, ¡°inform the doctor I¡¯m here to inquire my brother¡¯s condition.¡± One of the guards nodded and moved into the room. A moment later, Leonidas came out, wiping the blood from his hands with a stained cloth and looking at Gareth with a pained expression. ¡°How is my brother?¡± Gareth asked. ¡°It¡¯s not looking well,¡± Leonidas replied bluntly. ¡°The arrow is lodged into the bone, which means pushing it through isn¡¯t possible. And with the arrowhead inside, pulling it out isn¡¯t an option either.¡± ¡°Is there anything you can do, doctor?¡± Gareth asked. ¡°I can make him as comfortable as I can.¡± Lifting his shoulder sympathetically. Gareth pressed his lips together, clearing his throat before taking a long breath. ¡°I see. Well, I should let you get back to it then, doctor.¡± Leonidas nodded, turning to Cid, Kveldulf and Jeanne, looking back at Gareth and then returning to the room. Gareth rubbed his forehead, ¡°These days seems to be far more taxing than I care to want.¡± ¡°That is a sentiment shared by many, I¡¯d imagine,¡± Cid said. ¡°Well,¡± Gareth said, rubbing his eyes, ¡°I suspect you all would want some food and rest.¡± ¡°What about the bounties?¡± Jeanne asked. Gareth shook his head. ¡°Even if Bellem knew you were here, there isn¡¯t much he could do now. He¡¯s marching up to meet with the imperial regent herself and I doubt his raiders are planning a return soon. He won¡¯t want to split his forces up and risk his own holdings. But come, I think we could all use a moment to rest and regain our strength.¡± Part TBD - Passing Jeanne looked out from the parapet of the Kolville¡¯s keep facing the ruins of Teeg-Upon-Avon. Memories of a life spent in service of lords and nobles, the actions taken to earn an extra coin to sleep off of the cold hard ground coming back. She wondered how many of the survivors would be swearing their own oaths of vengeance on those who they felt responsible? How many lives would be dedicated not in the building of their society, but gnawing and slashing away at each other¡¯s throats? She heard footsteps coming up behind her, turning to see Kveldulf emerging from the shadows of the nearby tower, each hand holding a cup of coffee. He gave her one, she could feel the warmth from the cup in her fingers and palms. Blowing away the steam she looked back out the village, hearing the faint noise of shovels digging away into the earth and gravediggers went to work. ¡°Cid said once everyone is up and ready to move, we¡¯ll try and make our way north after Bellem.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jeanne hummed inquisitively. ¡°Given he still has the artifact and that was a job we were paid for, it only makes sense.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, still looking out. ¡°I won¡¯t even insult you by saying I can only imagine what you¡¯re feeling,¡± he said, shaking his head slowly. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what to think,¡± she said, taking a sip. ¡°Well, there¡¯s still five Kolvilles left to hunt.¡± ¡°Sheperd¡¯s guidance, if this is what two of them will be like, I don¡¯t want to know what the rest will be.¡± ¡°Things can get chaotic on the campaign,¡± Kel said. ¡°Ambushes are known to happen all the time. And accidents are as plentiful in these situations as flies are to a dung heap.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, her lips softly shaking. Kveldulf walked over, put his cup down and wrapped his arm around and patting her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jeanne.¡± ¡°I just want this all the end. Why does it just keep getting worse?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I just want this all behind me. So, I can finally move on with my life.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°What would you do?¡± Kveldulf took a deep breath, lifting an eyebrow as he pondered the thought over. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m the best for that one. Given how long I let such harsh passions guide me hand for so long.¡± ¡°You came out the other side in one piece.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that was more than a lucky fluke.¡± ¡°Kel, I¡¯m not in the damn mood.¡± ¡°Sorry, I just don¡¯t want to give you bad advice.¡± Jeanne ran her hand through her hair as she tried to focus her thoughts on the matter. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, Jeanne, I¡¯d say we¡¯re already knee deep into the big muddy, and if there¡¯s no going back, there¡¯s only moving forward or waiting for the swamp to claim you.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jeanne said, her head hanging low in defeat. ¡°And we¡¯ve gotten two of them already, which is a good start.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°That¡¯s something.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll be going after the rest of them when we¡¯re ready to move out.¡± ¡°I guess that counts for something.¡± ¡°And, when chances are, you can smack a few of them with your hammer.¡± Jeanne looked at her hammer. ¡°That¡¯s a good point.¡± ¡°Plus, once we¡¯re done with all this, we can get the hell out of here and pretend this was all a bad dream.¡± ¡°I plan on drinking this memory away, Kel.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Kveldulf said, patting her on the back. From the darkness of the tower emerged Leonidas, looking a little worse for wear and leaning against the stone wall as he let the cold air chill his sweated skin. ¡°You all right, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Been better,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Been a lot better, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± ¡°How¡¯s Stefan?¡± Jeanne asked. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°If he makes it through the night, it¡¯ll be a miracle.¡± Kveldulf nodded, both men noticing Jeanne silent, looking at her hands as they opened and closed slowly. ¡°Something the matter Jeanne?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°It¡¯s the strangest thing,¡± she said, her gaze still on her hands. ¡°All this time I wanted nothing more than to end each of the whole Kolville line. And now ¡­ now that one is nearing closer to the end of their life ¡­ I feel nothing but sadness for him. Pity even. Moreso for his brother. As if there was never a feud between us. No violence, no hatred. As if, we were just people again.¡± Leonidas and Kveldulf exchanged glances, saying nothing as Jeanne spoke. ¡°It¡¯s like I finally get to have something of a revenge ¡­ and I feel horrible. There¡¯s no sense of satisfaction for everything I¡¯ve had to go through.¡± ¡°Maybe you recognize this isn¡¯t revenge,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Gareth, from what we¡¯ve seen, is trying to do right to his people. And Stefan, while his religious views are more than what most would call comfortable, seemed to be wanting to turn over a new leaf.¡± ¡°Yeah, a far cry from the monsters you first thought they were.¡± ¡°What do you plan to do, Jeanne?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I doubt all of their kin have tried to change their ways,¡± Jeanne said, getting to her feet, ¡°and we still have a job to finish with the vampyre sarcophagus.¡± She then took drink in hand and made her way to the staircase in the tower. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Stefan was hoping to speak with you,¡± Leonidas said to her. ¡°I figured he would,¡± she said, letting out a heavy sigh before negotiating her way down the stairs. Reaching Stefan¡¯s room, she opened the door gingerly, peering her head inside. Stefan was laying on the bed. Bandages wrapped around his chest and shoulder, his exposed skin covered in sweat and his breathing was slow and labored. She closed the door quietly behind her. She found a chair nearby and pulled it over next to him. Taking a seat, she rubbed her forehead as she tried to release the growing tension in her head. ¡°What am I doing?¡± she asked herself softly as she looked up at the ceiling. ¡°That¡¯s a common question,¡± she heard Stefan say weakly. ¡°One I found myself asking many times.¡± Jeanne put her hand on his shoulder. ¡°You need to rest, Stefan.¡± He put his hand over hers. ¡°We both know where this is going to end. Whether what remains of my strength in this body is used for speech or some other action is irrelevant now.¡± ¡°Still, no need to shorten what time you have left if you don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Lady Marais, I came to terms with my death a long time ago. And the chance of me dying from natural causes or reaching old age were rather long. Especially with the life I choose for myself,¡± Stefan turned his gaze up, looking at the gilded design of the ceiling displayed above him. ¡°So many years I could¡¯ve been doing something, anything worth remembering. Aiding those I was bound to protect, instead of robbing them, ravaging them, sending them into the void long before their time. How many would be here to make the world better, if only I had never been in their lives? That questions weighed heavy on me as the years passed on and my youth slowly ebbed away and the mind begins to reflect on one¡¯s actions.¡± He turned back to Jeanne, with tears running down his face. ¡°I know this doesn¡¯t make the pain any better, or lessens the hate. But I never forgave myself for what happened to your sister.¡± Jeanne closed her eyes as the words released a wave of emotions she could not fully process. ¡°I do not hold you responsible for what happened to her,¡± she said with effort and a breaking voice. ¡°And I should¡¯ve never have done that with all¡ª¡± Stefan grabbed her hand firmly. ¡°No!¡± he said resolutely. ¡°We were are not good men, we are not men worthy of mercy. We took what we wanted with little care. Burned and sundered for the fun of others pain. And stole lives to make the Sheperd send us to the wolves as punishment. The only one who kept something of himself was Gareth, and we mocked, we insulted, even our father disowned him until his kids brought madness and death to this land. ¡°We are a blight, and should never be seen other than that. And if there is any sense of justice, of decency, of righteousness in you; find my brothers, and end them. End them before they ruin more lives. Promise me that,¡± he said. Jeanne could feel the strength in his grip waning. ¡°I promise,¡± she said. ¡°I promise.¡± Stefan laid back in bed. His breathing getting heavier than before. Gareth entered the room, looking at his brother and then turning to Jeanne. ¡°How has he been?¡± ¡°About as well as can be expected,¡± she said somberly. ¡°Is there anything I can get you, brother,¡± Gareth asked Stefan. Stefan kept his eyes closed as he said, ¡°I think now is the right moment to begin the funeral rites, brother." Gareth nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll get the priest,¡± he said before taking his leave. Jeanne began rising from her seat, ¡°I should take my leave then,¡± she said as Stefan reached out for her. ¡°Would you stay, please?¡± he asked her, ¡°until the end?¡± Jeanne looked at him and for the first time in a long while, she felt no hatred towards a Kolville. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, sitting back down, ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you.¡± *** It was morning when Jeanne found the others in the courtyard before the main gate, they were mounting new steeds and looking only a little better than when they had rested the night before. Cid called out to her, ¡°Anything happen?¡± Jeanne wiped the tears from her eyes as she said, ¡°His suffering is over.¡± ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s that then for one of our bounties,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°What does that make, five more we need to find?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°And Bellem,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°And the sarcophagus,¡± followed Gabriel. ¡°It might be prudent to keep our heads down giving Bellem¡¯s bounty on us,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Plus, we¡¯re getting a little strapped for coins for lodging and a ship back home,¡± said Benkin. ¡°So, let¡¯s start making our way up north, see what jobs we can get before we can pay the good Bellem and repay him the kindness,¡± said Cid. Kveldulf pointed off behind them. ¡°The Lord Kolville is here to see of off,¡± he said. ¡°Yes,¡± Gareth said. ¡°I thought it best to give you some words of good fortune before you¡¯re all on your way.¡± ¡°I think we can use as much as we can,¡± said Leonidas. Gareth turned to Jeanne and handed her a sash, ebony colored and made of tightly connected mail when examined closer. Along the widest part rested a metal pin made in the shape of a golden dragon¡¯s head roaring fire from its maw. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Jeanne asked Gareth. ¡°An heirloom from a time long gone, and few care to remember. It was carried by the founder of my house, and was a symbol of hope, and a future better than the present we living in. I think it would be poignant if it was worn by you in this endeavor.¡± ¡°How come you didn¡¯t give it to her before?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I was considering it before, but when you brought my brother home alive so he could die here in peace, I lost all the lingering doubt I had. And I hope it brings you whatever fortune you need in your endeavors. And may the Sheperd guide your path, Wolves of Tonaslyon.¡± ¡°And yours as well, Lord Kolville,¡± Jeanne replied. Mounting their steeds, The Wolves rode off along the Northern Road, ready to pursue the Lord Bellem and the Kolvilles to whatever end. Part [TDB ] - The Hunt Begins The night seemed to drag on for Jeanne Marais as she took her turn at watch for the night. Everyone else was asleep and for the moment, given a break from their recent troubles. Jeanne picked up a rock from the ground and move it around between her fingers and tried to fathom how they wound up in this situation. What gave her an uncomfortable feeling was not knowing where exactly they arrived to this moment, and if there was some way this could¡¯ve been avoided. She turned her gaze upward to the nocturnal heavens and watched as the stars slowly moved over her head. She wished it was possible to soar amongst the celestial seas and put this whole quagmire behind her. But chances were this would only provide a brief reprieve from everything. Perhaps if she had not ran away for so long, this would have all gone away well before things came to a head. For three days the mercenary company she founded with her sword brother Kveldulf Einarsen and the Felidan Cid, The Wolves, had been on the hunt for the Margrave Bellem, lord of the city of Inderawuda, protectors of the surviving members of the Kolville Gang, and absconder of an ancient and an ancient vampiric relic of terrible power. If anything else was added to the man¡¯s list, he would need a proper herald just to recite the list with the flair its due. Jeanne chuckled at the thought. It was the first time she had let herself enjoy the ludicrousness of the whole affair when given a second thought. Her revelry is broken as she hears a sharp snap of a twig and turns to the direction of the noise. Her eyes peering into the darkness slowly adjusting to the diming light. ¡°It¡¯s a deer,¡± Jeanne heard Maeryn, their elven archer, say. ¡°Probably a fawn, I¡¯d suspect.¡± Jeanne nodded before taking a deep breath. ¡°I doubt that would be much of a threat.¡± ¡°If I ever saw a fawn get violent, I¡¯d go back home and call it a day,¡± Maeryn said, here eyes still closed as she laid down on the earth. ¡°At this rate, that may not be entirely impossible to see.¡± ¡°You say another word to conjure that into reality, and I will hurt you,¡± Maeryn said, chuckling sleepily. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne replied, looking back into the fire. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°How much farther do you think we have until we¡¯re at the next town?¡± Maeryn asked. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, probably another day¡¯s march, at least, until we¡¯re in the Meadowlands.¡± ¡°I like that name,¡± Maeryn said, turning over to her other side. ¡°The Meadowlands.¡± ¡°I was there a few times, when I was a child. It¡¯s a gorgeous place. I think you¡¯d like it.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Maeryn asked, lifting her head up and turning towards Jeanne. Jeanne shrugged, turning her focus to Maeryn. ¡°I just thought you were the type who enjoyed idyllic farms and the like.¡± Maeryn looked out for a moment before resting her head again. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± Jeanne turned to see her friend, and a man she considered kin, Kveldulf, stirring in his sleep. She walked over, taking a knee and nudged his shoulder. ¡°Uh, wha?¡± he said in a groggy voice. ¡°You seemed to be having a bad dream,¡± she said to him. ¡°I was?¡± ¡°You looked it.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± he said, surprised. ¡°That¡¯s odd.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Cause I was having a pretty nice dream.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry about that.¡± ¡°It was starting to get boring. The shoppe was closed for the night, and the children were getting dull and smelly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask for context.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, I was in it, and nothing made a damn bit of sense.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, it¡¯s your turn on watch.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°In that case I should probably not go back to the shoppe.¡± ¡°I hope the mistress of the house doesn¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Well, she was talking backwards again. So, I think it was time she took a break from the hustle and bustle of it all.¡± Jeanne furrowed her brows, giving Kveldulf a concerned look. ¡°Again, not going to ask for context.¡± *** The Wolves journeyed up the Northern Road, through a quiet forest littered with pines, elms and yews. The morning dew dissipating in the light of the sun began to release a tranquil scent in the air of grass, leaves and earthy bark. Birds chirped and tweeted in a delightful chorus with the sound of rustling leaves conjuring a soothing ambiance all around them. Rays of the sun poked through the canopy of trees, illuminating the forest below. Jeanne turned to her right and saw a small fawn darting through the forest. She smiled, wondering what it would be like to run through wood and grasslands without a thought other than what was needed in the moment. No kings to serve, no wars to fight, no one ready to stab you in the back to put themselves in a higher position of power. Part of her considered the idea of racing into the forest and explore the wildlands like she did in her youth. But she knew this wasn¡¯t possible. Not while the hunt was on. And a cold thought began creeping in from the back of her mind. She was a wolf, a hunter, and whatever freedom she saw in the untamed wilds, there was the undeniable truth to the presence of death at any moment. She her shoulder being nudged, turning to see her partner, their doctor and necromancer, Leonidas next to her. ¡°You all right?¡± he asked her. ¡°Yeah, just thinking.¡± ¡°Anything particular?¡± ¡°No, just thoughtful wanderings.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, rubbing his chin, ¡°I¡¯ll need to remember that phrasing.¡± ¡°You can use it, but it¡¯ll cost you,¡± she said coyly. ¡°You would do that,¡± he said, grimacing out of the corner of his mouth. She softly punched his shoulder. ¡°Oh don¡¯t be like that.¡± ¡°I think you dislocated my shoulder,¡± he said, rubbing his shoulder and playfully wincing. ¡°I could make you of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll respectfully decline, thank you.¡± ¡°Always the adventurous sorts.¡± ¡°I leave that in your expert hands.¡± ¡°Maeryn,¡± Cid, said, riding at the front of the group, the elven hunter nudged her steed up to the front where them. ¡°Yes?¡± she asked him. ¡°I think I see our village, mind taking Sil and Ben and scouting the place out?¡± he asked her. Maeryn nodded, ¡°Of course,¡± she said as she rode out before them. Cid turned back to the others, spotting their scholar, Silvius, and sellsword, Benkin. ¡°Sil, Ben,¡± the Felidan called out, ¡°Keep Maeryn covered while she scouts out.¡± Both men nodded and nudged their horses into a cantor behind the archer as the others reached the forest edge and reached the outskirts of the vast fields of the Meadowlands. Pastures lined with borders made of wattled fences, grass marked boundaries and the occasional resting rock. Some of the sectioned off parts held sheep, goats, cattle. Chickens ran around areas near their coops, with geese squawking loudly in the distance near their own small hovels. Gabriel, the recent addition of the company and their sole vampiric member, looked down at the rock through the thin eye slots of the mask she wore over her face. ¡°What is used for?¡± she asked. Jeanne turned. ¡°It¡¯s just a way to determine borders and such.¡± ¡°Like I get that,¡± Gabriel replied, ¡°but what keeps farmers from harvesting past this point?¡± ¡°Fines,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°Exceptionally steep fines.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a fine response,¡± Leonidas replied, immediately smacked behind his head by Jeanne. ¡°That was a good one and you know it.¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°and you know it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Cid said to them both. ¡°I don¡¯t want us to bring anymore attention than we need to.¡± ¡°Should we be going by any aliases?¡± their archivist, record keeper and sword singer, Hypatia asked. ¡°Have something ready, but let¡¯s not feel the folks here are ready to turn against us.¡± ¡°Because the people of Inderawuda were most hospitable,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°It was only one who sold us out,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Wretched witch,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°Saved her kin and this was how she repaid the kindness.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she was the one who killed her son,¡± said Cid. ¡°You think a mother would kill her own child?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Not the first time kin turned on kin, and we still do not know the full story between her and her child,¡± Cid said. Jeanne was silent. She knew of families turning on their own, seen it when she was The Cold Company. But this seemed to be something she equated to the nobility. The pursuit of power for power¡¯s sake over any bond of fellowship. She always found it ironic how those who felt were graced with such positions of status and prestige were so quick to return to the ways of animals to tear away at each other. Such things made her appreciate her origins. Far away from the depravities of the self-titled betters of society. Jeanne knew the failings of people existed in all echelons of society, but it seemed to linger with greater effect with those who composed the nobility. Almost to the point where she would think such things were spawned from an unnatural origin. She felt a sense of lightheartedness as she looked over the seemingly limitless fields of wheat and hay stretching out over the horizons. She could even smell the scent of the crops as they neared the point of being harvested. It seemed even the animals residing in the nearby farms were exuberant as the energies of the world filled their spirits. For a moment she considered what her fortune would¡¯ve been had she taken the plough and the hoe and farmed the earth like her father and mother and those who tilled the soil before them. She knew flights of fancy when they came, and how the call to wander was a far stronger siren song for her. And the sight of thousands of such farms as a guest drew she heart than to stay at one and be its guardian and lord. Part TBD - Arrival to The Meadowlands Reaching the top of the ridge, the rest of The Wolves found Maeryn, Silvius and Benkin. Maeryn had dismounted her steed and surveyed the terrain. Benkin went over his unsheathed blade with a whetstone as Silvius had a small book out and reading it for short periods before poking his head up, looking out and then ducking his sight back into the tome for reference. ¡°I¡¯d thought it be easier to see on horseback,¡± Hypatia said to Maeryn when the others arrived. ¡°Yes,¡± said Maeryn, turning to the others, ¡°but it can seem a little suspicious if one is looking out on horseback in lands unfamiliar.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s still that bounty Bellem put on our heads,¡± Silvius said. ¡°We¡¯ll see how much concern the locals give such proclamations before we need to worry ourselves to sleepless nights,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°But I agree with Maer, I¡¯d rather us not drawn attention if it isn¡¯t needed.¡± Maeryn pointed out in the distance. ¡°There¡¯s a farmhouse not far from a cluster of buildings. I think we¡¯re near a town.¡± Silvius looked back into his book. ¡°If I¡¯m reading this right, I do believe this is the town of Sunnybrook in Eweshire.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°This is a halfling settlement.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°A couple,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Lovely place, and they¡¯re friendly.¡± ¡°How friendly?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Not to where they¡¯re crossing boundaries. Many keep their own, more or less. Even more when you¡¯re arriving with weapons in hand.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try to keep the gear covered up,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°That might be a little hard,¡± Benkin said, looking nudging his head towards the handle of his long blade resting on his back. ¡°I said try,¡± Cid said, relenting a little. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯re not the first adventurers to travel these roads.¡± ¡°You we can get some work?¡± Jeanne asked. Cid rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°I¡¯d be lying if I said that was not on my itinerary, but I¡¯m also playing this one by ear.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s nothing embarrassing,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Could be worse,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°At least you¡¯re not having to harvest secretions from giant bugs.¡± ¡°Tell me you didn¡¯t,¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Leonidas said thankfully, ¡°but I knew a few back in the Outlands who did. Not a pleasant occupation by any stretch of the imagination.¡± ¡°I think I see a farmstead nearby,¡± Gabriel said, pointing to a small collection of buildings with two producing thin pillars of smoke. ¡°Any idea what that farm is?¡± Cid asked Silvius. The scholar shook his head. ¡°No, nothing really on this one, Cid.¡± ¡°Well, guess we¡¯ll go down and have a look. Keep your weapons sheathed, I don¡¯t want people to think we¡¯re here to cause trouble.¡± ¡°We¡¯re assuming these aren¡¯t the type who assume that from the first look,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°True,¡± said Cid, ¡°so stay on your guard, we may receive more verbal condemnations than anything physical.¡± Arriving to the turn in the road towards the farm, Cid turned to Jeanne. He said, ¡°Jeanne, I want you with me when we introduce ourselves. Kel, stay with the others until we get back.¡± Kveldulf nodded in acknowledgement of the order as Cid gestured everyone to follow him. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Cid and Jeanne trotted their way down the path and towards the main farmhouse. The main building had a small porch. The second story jutted out to cover the opening underneath from rain and the high sun. To the right of the building was a small garden with various crops with a simple scarecrow propped up near the outer edge. To their left was a toolshed, with a plough leaning against the structure, and a rake and hoe resting nearby. Cid knocked on the door, taking a step back and a breath as they heard soft footsteps moving from the upper level and down to the entrance. With a light creak, the slab moved slowly opened and the head of a Halfling woman poked out from inside. ¡°Hello?¡± she said with some reservation. ¡°How do you do?¡± Cid said, taking a small bow. ¡°We¡¯ve come from the south and were looking for a place to rest our heads for a day or two.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the woman said, taking a step out from her place. ¡°Well, there¡¯s an inn not too far from here into town. Called the Fourth on Tuesday. The food¡¯s not bad and the lodgings seem to be well thought of.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never used it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°For food yes, but I¡¯ve always had a place to rest my head with either family or my husband.¡± ¡°That would make sense, then.¡± ¡°Who might we speak to if we¡¯re looking for work?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Depends on what type of work you¡¯re wanting to do. If it¡¯s farmwork, you might want to check with the local job board, though it¡¯s not glorious work. And if it¡¯s for something more on the dangerous side, I think our reeve would be the person to talk to for that.¡± ¡®And where can he be normally found?¡± ¡°Over at the reeve¡¯s house,¡± the halfling woman said, pointing down the road towards town. ¡°I guess that would make sense,¡± Cid said chuckling. ¡°Well, we¡¯ve had a few who spent more time enjoying the status of the job, instead of actually doing their job.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve had more than our fair share of such persons. But that should be more than enough. Thank you for your time.¡± The woman nodded before moving back to the door. ¡°Not at all, I hope you find what you¡¯re looking for.¡± Cid and Jeanne returned to the others and relayed the information. ¡°Well that¡¯s not a horrible welcome,¡± Silvius said. ¡°At least she didn¡¯t slam the door in your face,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°That¡¯s always fun to experience,¡± said Gabriel, making slight adjustments to her mask. ¡°Like I said before, keep your weapons sheathed, try not to break anything,¡± he said giving Jeanne a quick look. ¡°I¡¯ve done nothing of the sort,¡± she demanded. ¡°Yet,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re going to be that way, then,¡± she said, grimacing out of the corner of her mouth. Journeying down the road, The Wolves began passing houses made of wattle and daub with thick thatched roofing forming low peaks as they met together Reaching the center of town, The Wolves dismounted their steeds and hitched the reins to nearby posts. Nearby was a three-story building. Dark brown scalloped shingles covered the roof, with two large chimneys on each end along the width of the structure. A column of smoke lifted out from the right chimney and into the sky above. Stained glass decorated the windows, with light from the inside beginning to illuminate the interior. Before the inn were a series of planks placed tightly together to form a walkway towards the entrance. Much of the surface was covered in dried dirt and other stains. Inside the inn, there were several parties sitting at some of the tables scattered in the dining area which sunk in shortly after a landing area. The landing itself was used for patron to throw off their cloaks and get comfortable and was connected by a small set of stairs five steps deep. The Wolves found a halfling woman tending to the bar while a male dwarf and elf made the rounds to the rest of the patrons. ¡°Pretty quaint place they got here,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Kind of eager to taste the ale here.¡± ¡°Starting to get a bit parched from the ride,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°And I¡¯m starting to feel famished,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°We could probably get something to eat and drink while we¡¯re here,¡± Maeryn said. Cid turned to the rest, ¡°Kel, if you could arrange for some food and lodgings, while Jeanne and I go see the reeve here.¡± As the two left the inn and surveyed the streets, Cid said, ¡°What do you make of this place?¡± ¡°If I was looking to buy property around idyllic ocean of wheat and hay, this would be a good candidate.¡± ¡°And of the people?¡± Jeanne turned to see several of the townsfolk peering out of the windows of their shops. Not all of the gazes their way were friendly, and Jeanne could only imagine what words were at the forefront of their minds. ¡°Hmm,¡± she said with some hesitation, ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to find much welcome here.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Cid said as he pointed to a house in the distance. ¡°I think I found our reeve¡¯s home.¡± Jeanne saw a single-story building with the walls lined up with blocks of beige colored stones. There were three doors situated on the side facing the street, with two of the doors closed. The thatched roof stretched out to hangover slightly over the doors and small openings for the windows. Nearing the home, Jeanne could smell a hint of smoke coming from the inside. A halfling man stepped out of the opened door, sweeping out dust and other debris from the home. As they approached Jeanne noticed Cid tapping her shoulder. ¡°Hmm?¡± she replied. Using the hands signs they used back in the Cold Company, he said, I think it might be wise to use your alternate name. Jeanne nodded. Right, not a terrible idea after that mess in Inderwuda. Part TBD - Missing Persons The halfling looked up and spotted Jeanne and Cid moving towards the house. ¡°Oh,¡± said rising his hand toward them, ¡°hello there. Wasn¡¯t expecting newcomers.¡± ¡°It does seem to be rather quiet here,¡± Cid said. ¡°Well we do try to keep things calm and charming,¡± said the halfling, ¡°but even this is more than normal. But where are my manners, I¡¯m Adalbert Dewfoot, nice to meet you both.¡± ¡°Good to meet you, I¡¯m Cid and this is my friend Joan,¡± the Felidan said. ¡°We just arrived and wandered if there were any job available to take to hold us over for our stay.¡± ¡°Well, we don¡¯t get much visitors around here these days so I can¡¯t say what the farms on the outlining of the Hazelshire.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Cid asked. Jeanne looked around, surveying the area as the man spoke. ¡°Well, what with the war going on, a lot of people from outside the Meadowlands tend to stay where they are. Not want to take their chances and get caught amongst the bands of brigands and cutthroats using royal badges to rob, murder, and Sheperd knows what else.¡± ¡°Does anyone come around here ever?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Well, we have some back and forths with Garnburh and Kalthas. What with them needing wheat from here for animals and brews. Not much else though.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Cid said, nodding. ¡°I hope this hasn¡¯t been too stressful for your reeve?¡± ¡°Oh, I appreciate the thought, but we Dewfoots have been through a lot worse than this. Just keep our heads down and on the task and we¡¯ve seen it through.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose we could speak to the reeve on a few of these matters?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Well,¡± the halfling said as he leaned the broom against the outer wall, ¡°good thing I¡¯m your man, then.¡± Both Cid and Jeanne exchanged glances before looking back at the reeve. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be doing the housework,¡± Cid said. ¡°Not much use of a leader if they can¡¯t tend to their errands, big or small, that¡¯s what my father used to tell me.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that take away from the more important duties for a reeve?¡± Jeanne asked. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The reeve shrugged. ¡°If someone is too busy to devote a moment to sweep their own floor, then they shouldn¡¯t be trusted to directing a community of farmers and laborers.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°But, if it¡¯s work you¡¯re both looking for, we¡¯ve had a couple of issues come up recently which I was planning to write to the lord back in Inderwuda about this for assistance.¡± Jeanne pressed her lips together for a brief moment, turning towards Cid who was clearing his throat. ¡°I think we saw Lord Bellem marching north to join his liege,¡± Cid answered the reeve. ¡°Well,¡± the halfling replied, shaking his head, ¡°that was not what I was hoping to hear.¡± ¡°Did he not give you any correspondence?¡± Jeanne asked. The halfling shook his head. ¡°No, nothing. I¡¯d like to say the lord keeps us informed of these matters, but usually it¡¯s a hit or miss with them.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that making things easy around here,¡± Cid said. Adalbert shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ve come to expect such things at this point. But to the matter of work, I think I might have something.¡± Adalbert turned towards the door, gesturing the two to follow. Inside Jeanne noted an iron grate with several pieces of wood smoldering, smoke rising up and moving through the windows and to the outside. On the other side of the house was a table with plates and simple cloth laid out over the top. Three sets of shelves lined the walls with porcelain pots and jugs set up on the shelves. Adalbert went to a desk with three drawers, one on top of the other, situated on the far right side of the furniture piece, and pulled out a slip of paper. Holding the parchment close to read it he nodded after a moment. ¡°Right, this is over at the Lothran farm. It¡¯s run by Ebrulf and Grace, good people, and kin of mine as well.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Cid asked. ¡°One of their sons, their youngest, I think, named Gavin, went missing. We¡¯ve been looking into it, but most of us aren¡¯t hunters or trackers. The best we can do are spot sheep tracks, but not much else.¡± Cid nodded. ¡°We have a couple in our group who can handle that fairly well.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re familiar with this type of situation,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Well, whatever help you can provide I¡¯d be most thankful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose we could get some directions where the farm is?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Adalbert said, scratching the back of his head. ¡°If you go up the western road from here and keep going that way in the morning, you¡¯d probably hit their farm by midday.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cid said shaking his head, ¡°very good.¡± ¡°Anything we should know before head over there?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Beg your pardon?¡± Adalbert. ¡°Not a good idea to insult a prospective patron by accident if can be avoided.¡± ¡°Good point,¡± Adalbert said, nodding slowly. ¡°I mean, their youngest was being rather peculiar, more so than normal, before he wound up going missing.¡± ¡°Peculiar?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well, he was always bouncing off the walls, using weird voices and the like, but recently he seemed different. As if not himself.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid said, rubbing his chin as he pondered the words over. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely check that out then. Thank you for your time.¡± Adalbert waved them off cheerfully. ¡°Of course, best of luck with the Gavin situation.¡± The two covered some distance before Cid turned to Jeanne. ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I mean, it could be a variety of things. We should definitely see about bringing Maeryn and Doc along.¡± ¡°Doc?¡± ¡°If something weird beyond weird is going on, he¡¯d probably know something about it.¡± ¡°Fair enough, but we should get back to the others and let them know of the situation.¡± Part TBD - Search for Cullen I ¡°This place is almost idyllic,¡± Leonidas said as he looked out at the farmhouse placed at the top of a series of gradually rising and lowering ridges. The animals moved around the area in their pens with delight. ¡°I could swear I read about farms like in songs and poems,¡± Cid followed as he rubbed the back of his head. Maeryn coughed a little as she looked out. ¡°You all right?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just a few animals are a little ripe,¡± she said as she wrinkled her nose and snorted. ¡°It is that bad?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Just wait,¡± Maeryn replied, ¡°you¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Cid, groaned as he turned back to the farm. ¡°The coin better be good,¡± he said as he nudged his horse forward. Getting closer to the home, they could see the main building with red shingled tiles covering the roofs. The wood siding and porch were of dark wood, with shuttering of the same hue opened to let out the scent of wood burning from inside. Cid let out a louder cough after he breathed in deep. ¡°I see what you meant, Maeryn,¡± he said the elf. ¡°I¡¯m smelling it, too,¡± said Leonidas putting his hand over his nose. ¡°None of you would¡¯ve lasted on a farm,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You don¡¯t mind this?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°You get used to it after a while. Besides, there¡¯s far worse things to do around here.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± Cid followed. ¡°Let¡¯s just say there¡¯s only one way to know if a cow is pregnant.¡± The rest of the group looked at Jeanne, confused and concerned before Leonidas said. ¡°Oh gods!¡± ¡°There we go!¡± Jeanne said with a smile as she dismounted and headed towards the house. Reaching the door, she knocked three times, stepping back and waiting for someone to come to the door. Maeryn and Cid¡¯s ears perked up as they heard something from inside the house. They exchanged glances before turning back to the others. What¡¯s going on? Jeanne signaled to them. There¡¯s people inside, Cid gestured, Can¡¯t tell how many, but they¡¯re in there. How do you want to handle this? Leonidas signaled. Cid bobbed his head back and forth as he collection his thoughts. ¡°Hang back here, I¡¯ll go up to the door, myself,¡± he said to them before moving up the path. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said as he knocked on the door. ¡°We were hoping to speak with either, um, Ebrulf or Grace Lothran.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t want anything thank you!¡± a woman¡¯s cried out. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Cid turned back to the others for a moment before looking back to the house. ¡°We¡¯re not here to sell you wares, Miss.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not from the reeve, himself, then please remove yourself from our farm!¡± the voice retorted. Cid turned back again. ¡°Well, this is not going as I had hoped.¡± Jeanne took a deep breath. ¡°Should we try the Dovel method?¡± ¡°Dovel method?¡± Cid said aloud as Jeanne walked up to the door and after summon a stone scale over her hand and slammed the door, shaking it on its hinges. Leonidas and Maeryn stared at Jeanne, wide eyed, as Cid groaned while covering his eyes with one hand and shaking his head. ¡°Oh no,¡± he said weakly as the door finally opened. From the other side the door swung open, and a halfling woman with frazzled brown hair, blood shot eyes and shoulders stooped forward said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are but ¡­¡± before she could finish, Jeanne raised the stone covered hand to wave. ¡°Hi,¡± Jeanne said with a wide smile, ¡°do I look like I¡¯m in a mood for a speech?¡± The halfling woman shook her head silently. Jeanne turned to Cid and as the stone dissipated playfully punched him in the shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s ready to talk now.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jeanne,¡± Cid said, running his hand down his face. ¡°Good morning, miss,¡± he said the halfling woman with a sympathetic smile. ¡°I think it¡¯s the afternoon?¡± the halfling said, looking at Jeanne as if the correction was a possible mistake. ¡°My apologizes, I tend to refer to that greeting, usually. Always has a more positive connotation than any of the other times, personally.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± the halfling insisted. Cid turned back to Jeanne with a stern glare before turning back to the halfling woman again. ¡°I also apologize for my companion; she can be rather abrupt sometimes. More so than I care to handle sometimes.¡± ¡°Perfectly fine,¡± the halfling woman said, nodding rapidly. ¡°Would you happen to be Grace Lorthan, then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m her daughter, Roselyn.¡± ¡°What a cute name,¡± Leonidas said to Maeryn. ¡°Thank you,¡± Roselyn said, a little confused. ¡°We were hoping to speak to your Grace and her husband about a missing family member?" Some of Roselyn¡¯s resistance returned again. ¡°Where did you here that?¡± ¡°We spoke with the reeve earlier today. He mentioned about one of your kin disappearing?" Roselyn looked away for a moment, before turning back to Cid with a suspicious look. ¡°What is it you want?¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Adventuring types don¡¯t just show up to these situations out of the goodness of their hearts. What is it you want? Gold? Food? Something more private in nature?¡± Jeanne began stepping forward towards Roselyn. ¡°And this just keeps getting better.¡± ¡°Joan!¡± Cid snapped. ¡°Stop escalating things.¡± He then turned back to the woman. ¡°Now miss, I don¡¯t want experience you have with adventures, mercenaries or the like, but I can probably assume not many have to this part of the country to inquiry about your problem. Have they?¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°And is it a safe bet to say there isn¡¯t a trained hunter or tracker here to call on?¡± The woman shook her head again. ¡°Then perhaps being curt to a group offering their aid isn¡¯t what one might call prudent. Unless you want to explain to your parents why your pride was of greater import than finding your kin.¡± Roselyn took a breath and tapped her before she stepped away, lifting her arm up and said, ¡°Please, come inside.¡± Stepping inside, a small fire crackled comfortably in a fireplace. A long table with several chairs placed around the word wooden slab. Herbs were hung from the rafters near pots and pans suspended nearby. A wash bin half filled with water sitting next to a large block of soap was near by a door on the other side of the home. Roselyn lifted her hand to the chairs, saying ¡°Please, make yourselves comfortable. I¡¯ll get my parents, they¡¯re in the barn, presently.¡± As she left, Cid turned to Jeanne. ¡°What was that about?¡± he said to her, his eyes glaring. ¡°She was wasting her time, our time and whatever time we have to find her brother so she make herself feel big,¡± Jeanne said to him. ¡°We don¡¯t how long he¡¯s been gone, any details that might help us out, and she decides to get on a soap box attached to a high horse!¡± ¡°And how does harming her, let alone threatening her, help us in this regard?¡± ¡°A sudden and profound reassessment of priorities?¡± Jeanne replied. Both stared at each other in silence for a moment. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said, unamused. ¡°Fine,¡± Jeanne followed, slowly crossing her arms and tapping her foot while she looked of an opened window. Part TBD - Search for Cullen II Cid turned to Leonidas and Maeryn, both looking at their surroundings with careful intent. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± he asked them. Leonidas, looking at the fireplace, said, ¡°Just getting a feel for the place.¡± ¡°Anything to be concerned about?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°The dead plants are a little off putting.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Maeryn said, surprised. ¡°I mean, dead things, plants, animals, people, tend to produce such auras when displayed.¡± ¡°What about the pots and pans?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just bad in case there¡¯s an earthquake.¡± ¡°Wonder where the halfling has gone off to?¡± Jeanne said, drumming the wood grain of the table with her fingers. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cid said. ¡°Maeryn?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hearing three of them, the Roselyn one and what I think are a man and a woman.¡± ¡°Well, this should be interesting,¡± Jeanne said softly as Roselyn and two older halflings followed her into the main room. The older woman had her brown hair pulled back into a tight pony tail, a white outfit now covered in stains. A man followed closely behind her in similar clothing. As they entered, the four at the table rose to their feet, bowing their heads forward. ¡°Afternoon,¡± the halfling woman said to them. ¡°Our daughter said you were here about our son?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cid said to her, before introducing the others. ¡°We were informed by the reeve that you had a family member missing recently.¡± The mother took a deep breath and with a pained expression on her face said, ¡°Yes, our son Gavin. He was always a rambunctious child, full of energy, pulling pranks and the like. But not too long ago he began to show changes in his behavior.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°He just began acting differently,¡± the father said, ¡°Things he used to enjoy didn¡¯t seem to have the interest for him. Sometimes he¡¯d be up all night, grumbling and muttering things to himself. He¡¯d walk around hunched over and looking like he was just ¡­ not himself.¡± ¡°Was there anything that happened to him before his disappearance?¡± Cid asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± the father asked. ¡°Was there an incident specifically that might¡¯ve been the cause of his change in behavior?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I can¡¯t say there was,¡± the father replied. ¡°It was like he was his old self at one point and then was an entirely different person the next.¡± ¡°And nothing happened to cause this change?¡± Cid asked. Both parents shook their heads. ¡°No,¡± the mother said, ¡°not that we could think of.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Jeanne noticed the daughter grabbing her arm and looking away from the others as the conversation continued down this path. Tapping on Cid¡¯s shoulder with the back side of her index finger, she nudged her head towards the sibling¡¯s direction and Cid lifted his eyebrows up. ¡°What about you?¡± he asked Roselyn. The parents turned to their daughter. ¡°Rose?¡± the mother asked. The daughter turned away. Running her hand through her hair, looking desperate to find some way to run off and away from all this. Jeanne caught Cid glancing at her, he grimaced from the corners of his mouth. He lifted his hand to his neck and scratched it for a moment before making the gesture saying, Do it. Jeanne took a deep breath, rose from her seat, cracked her neck and knuckles before moving towards Roselyn. The daughter noticed Jeanne and color from her face began as her lips trembled. ¡°What do you know?¡± Jeanne asked slowly. The daughter shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said to her. ¡°You had nerves of steel when we first arrived,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°certainly they haven¡¯t abandoned you now.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with all this?¡± the father asked as he rose from her seat. ¡°You know where your brother¡¯s gone. Or at least enough to give us a good start.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s gone to. I swear,¡± Roselyn insisted, stepping away from Jeanne as she drew closer. ¡°Now, I¡¯d rather not get my hands dirty. At least not under these circumstances. But given how the last month has been, and the shit I¡¯ve had to go through,¡± Jeanne said as she began tightening her fists, ¡°I could use a wonderful moment for some cathartic release.¡± ¡°Roselyn?¡± the mother said to her, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where he went to!¡± Roselyn cried out. ¡°Then what¡¯s with the nervous behavior?¡± Jeanne said, standing close to Roselyn. ¡°Why are you now defensive? What are you hiding?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me where he was going to?¡± Roselyn insisted. ¡°Do you know why he left?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t tell me why,¡± Roselyn answered, ¡°just that he had to go back to where he belonged.¡± Jeanne turned to Cid and the others, the parents exchanging glances before they all turned back to the daughter. ¡°Roselyn, what did Gavin say?¡± the father asked. ¡°He never said anything specific, just that he didn¡¯t feel like this was where he truly was himself.¡± ¡°And did he say where he belonged?¡± Leonidas asked. Roselyn shook her head. ¡°He said something about life in the earth, or things around those lines.¡± Cid turned to the parents. ¡°Life in the earth?¡± ¡°Damn that boy,¡± the father called out, slamming his fist on the table. ¡°Damn that boy with his mind in the clouds all bloody day.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re still without context,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Our son had this fascination with the earth. Caves, specifically. He¡¯d just wandering in them and we¡¯d have to pull him out before he¡¯d get lost and we couldn¡¯t find him.¡± ¡°Did he give any indication why he¡¯d do this?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°If there was, he never told us,¡± the father said. ¡°He said something about seeking a coliar dras,¡± Roselyn said. ¡°A coliar dras?¡± the mother replied. Her eyes widened as she slowly lifted her hand to cover her opened mouth. ¡°Shepherd watch over that foolish boy,¡± the father said, slamming the table once more with greater strength. Jeanne noted Leonidas perking an eyebrow up, his lip pressed together and looking down as if deep in thought. She tapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Everything all right?¡± she whispered. He leaned towards her. ¡°I think their son might¡¯ve gotten himself in a world of hurt.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you all when we meet back with the others.¡± Jeanne nodded moving over to Cid, still speaking with the parents and whispered into his ear. He turned to Jeanne, intrigued and back to the parents. ¡°I think we have enough to get us started. Thank you all for your time.¡± He rose from his seat as the mother reached out to him with a shaking hand. ¡°Bring him home,¡± she said to Cid. ¡°Whatever¡¯s happened to him. Just ¡­ please bring him home.¡± Cid turned to the others before looking back at the parents. ¡°We will do anything within our power to find him.¡± As the four left the home and made their way down the dirt path Jeanne caught a sudden whiff of iron in the air. She turned to the sea of wheat, seeing nothing of note out there. Turning her gaze back to the path before them, a series of clicking noises broke the silence and caused all of the Wolves to turn sharply, stopping in their steps and beginning to unsheathe their weapons until they found nothing to attack. ¡°I think the sooner we leave, the better,¡± Maeryn said to Cid. ¡°Agreed,¡± the Felidan replied. ¡°The sooner the better." Part TBD - Search for Cullen III ¡°And you¡¯re sure about this, doctor?¡± Cid asked Leonidas. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°I¡¯d bet good coin he¡¯s gotten himself involved with a group of goblins in some capacity.¡± ¡°What gave you that indication?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Some of the words the Lorthan family said were terms used in goblin communities. And many tend to keep to caves to stay out of the sight of those they¡¯d prefer not to interact with.¡± ¡°You think they might be a threat to the boy?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Some goblin communities are more welcoming than others. It¡¯s mostly a luck of the draw when it comes to those things.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s great,¡± Gabriel. ¡°This region is littered with caves, and they can go on for miles and miles without a sliver of light to guide your way.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Silvius said, turning to the vampyre. ¡°I thought you said you could see in the dark?¡± ¡°I can, but most halflings can¡¯t. And even when it¡¯s lit, you can get lost in a cave before you¡¯d even know it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair enough,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°Let¡¯s see what information we can scrounge up about any nearby caves.¡± ¡°I can see to that,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Bring Jeanne with you,¡± Cid said. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone going out alone.¡± ¡°What¡¯s got you concerned?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Between everything that¡¯s happened back in Inderwuda and those noises back at the Lorthan farm, I¡¯m not wanting to take any chances. ¡°You think there¡¯s something out there?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ve learned to assume the worst and plan accordingly.¡± ¡°Perhaps I should go to,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Just in case.¡± Cid nodded. ¡°Not a bad idea. But I want you to see about tracking our little halfling friend. Silvius, you can help with research.¡± ¡°I though we should go back to the Lorthan farm, as well, and see if there are any signs of where Gavin may have gone to,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°You think any signs of him would still be around to read?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°If it¡¯s goblins, like Doc said, there¡¯s a chance they might be around the area, searching for new people or animals to grab. And if we can find their trail, then Gavin may not too far behind.¡± ¡°Bring the Doctor with you, when you¡¯re out there.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll leave you and Kel here at the inn,¡± said Jeanne. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°I¡¯m fairly confident the two of us will be all right here at the Inn,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be a terrible idea for us to keep our ears to the ground and see what news might come here while you¡¯re seeing where young master Gavin has sequestered himself.¡± ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± said Benkin. ¡°What should we do in the meantime then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting something to eat and drink,¡± said Cid, ¡°I¡¯m parched and famished.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll go get some air,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Leonidas asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said reassuringly, ¡°I just need to be outside for a moment.¡± ¡°You want us to order anything particular?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Just some meat, bread and ale,¡± Jeanne said before she stepped out of the inn and out into the street. The sun was now making its final descent into the earth with a deep crimson sky. The trees in the distant rustled as the winds picked up their strength. The soft rumble of thunder sounded in the distance, with the faintest of light flashing within the bowels of the clouds ahead. She could feel the coldness bite her lungs as she breathed in deeply. The back of her neck began to tingle as she heard a familiar voice speak to her. ¡°Calm winds summon storms loud and cruel. The iron scent comes to signal great doom. For lust of blood is held so dear, with want of food and need of drink. Yet those who yearn know not to yield. And scourge all life, reaping just death.¡± ¡°Would it kill you to speak plainly for once in our conversations?¡± Jeanne asked, unamused. The Figure turned to Jeanne slightly. ¡°Tis how we speak in times since past. Habit on habit, bending like steel. Until time¡¯s ¨C¡± the Figure spoke until Jeanne interrupted. ¡°We get it! You speak eloquently. Either have something to tell me our not!¡± ¡°I see we are in a mild state,¡± the Figure replied. ¡°I do not know what this is, why you¡¯re here, and anything else. And at this very specific moment in time, my patience is more or less gone. So please ¡­ please, can we just get to the point?¡± ¡°Tis a fair point. Hearts little stand weight unneeded. And few can find strength well hidden, when facing such woes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing it again.¡± ¡°Still tenacious, to the very end.¡± Jeanne turned back towards the door. ¡°I need a fucking drink.¡± ¡°Marais!¡± the Figure called out. Jeanne stopped and turned back to the Figure. ¡°There are foul fiends, wandering free. Shrouded by night, seeking prey always. They are nearing, waiting, to strike. Be on your guard, and your steel true.¡± ¡°Are they the men we seek?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Perhaps they are, perhaps not so. Even the wise, cannot see all. Though I feel safe, in the wyrd¡¯s way.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°About damn time,¡± she said to herself as she returned inside. Feeling as small rush of energy in her arms and legs as the thought of facing a Kolville face-to-face. Opening the door into the inn, she found Kveldulf stepping out, with a flagon in each hand. ¡°Oh hell!¡± he cried out as he found Jeanne in front of him. They both stared at each other for a moment before Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got nothing,¡± she said as she moved out of his way. He handed her a flagon. ¡°I thought you could use a drink. Since it¡¯s starting to get a little chilly out here.¡± She took the drink in both hands and sipped the ale. The crisp flavor of the brew preceded the warmth beginning to rise within her. Looking out at the sun as the last of it sunk into the earth and the stars now emerged from the darkness and provided a nocturnal illumination of the world below. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Kveldulf asked before he sipped from his own ale. ¡°Just admiring the stars, wishing I could sail the heavens and see what¡¯s out there.¡± ¡°Yeah, be nice to just leave this whole mess behind. And just enjoy the wonders of all creation.¡± ¡°You ever think of what¡¯s out there?¡± Kveldulf shook his head. ¡°Not really. Supposed there¡¯s some weird stuff out there.¡± Jeanne turned to Kveldulf lifting an eyebrow up. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°When you and Cid went off to do that Koulberg job, I was in this outfit with one man who said he came across creatures and beings from other worlds and fought them with his bear fists.¡± ¡°You believe him?¡± ¡°Hell no!¡± Kveldulf declared. ¡°I thought the man was blowing smoke every which way. Always trying to seem bigger than he was. Could barely tolerate the damned fool when I had to work with him.¡± ¡°Maybe we should tell Cid not to take him on with our outfit.¡± ¡°Pretty much made a blood oath that one,¡± Kveldulf said, chuckling. Part TBD - Search for Cullen IV ¡°Kveldulf?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you think this was all a mistake?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Coming back here. Getting involved in all of this mess. Was it a mistake coming back?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean to deflect the question, but where is this coming from?¡± ¡°Just with everything happening. With us chasing criminals as one chases ghosts and now here we are. In the middle of foreign lands, not knowing if the next person we meet is going to be trying to kill us or give us some aid.¡± ¡°Well, there is that whole bounty situation on your head, Jeanne.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t helping.¡± ¡°And what with the job we were hired for regarding the sarcophagus.¡± ¡°I keep forgetting about that one,¡± Jeanne said rolling her eyes. ¡°I think we were going to be having to deal with this mess regardless of whether we wanted to or not.¡± ¡°Still, sometimes I wish had run further away from home and kept from being found.¡± ¡°I think we all have those thoughts when things are at their darkest. But something I learned in my years is to enjoy the times before such hardships and know that even now, this will not last forever.¡± ¡°Did you get that from your parents?¡± Kveldulf shook his head. ¡°No, Caleb, actually.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot he was all about that.¡± ¡°I wondered what happened to him, anyways?¡± ¡°I think he was hired by a noble to command their bodyguards and took on painting on the side,¡± Jeanne said, taking sip of her ale. ¡°He did seem to be the painting type.¡± ¡°I know, he always enjoyed admiring artwork when we were still with The Cold Company.¡± ¡°Sort of makes me wish we had taken up painting.¡± ¡°Kel, neither of us know how to paint. We can¡¯t even do stick figures without them looking like they¡¯re broken in multiple spots.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Jeanne?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Quiet time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°Still, it would be nice to be back home and just handle the smaller problems for a while,¡± Kveldulf said, leaning against the wall and looking up at the stars. ¡°What the first thing you¡¯re planning to do when we get back?¡± Kveldulf shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe search for members of my kin and let them know its time to come home.¡± ¡°You think you¡¯ll find anyone?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you, for now at least, but if only one member and bring them home, that would be enough.¡± ¡°What if they didn¡¯t want to return?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. At least they know the route is open.¡± ¡°Do you still think of them?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Your parents. Do you still think of them?¡± ¡°Oh, sometimes,¡± he said, looking up at the stars. ¡°Since facing Baeron it¡¯s been easier to think of them with less pain on my heart.¡± Jeanne nodded, saying nothing as the memory of Sabine came to her. ¡°What of you? Do you think of your sister.¡± Jeanne turned her gaze down. Closing her eyes tightly and taking a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t I can keep from thinking about her anymore.¡± ¡°I can imagine.¡± Jeanne back to the storm, the clouds beginning to roll in closer. The sounds of thunder cracks and booms echoed across the sky with greater resonance than before. She could catch a hint of the aroma of water in the sky. She noticed her left fist clenched tightly at the sight and sound. Unsure of what might be coming. She turned to Kveldulf who was taking a sip of his ale as he watched the weather. ¡°Those clouds seem a bit more ominous than their usual kin,¡± he said, pushing himself off of the wall and moving next to her. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Probably best we get inside.¡± He nodded. ¡°Never liked storms when on the road.¡± ¡°I thought you said they were good for naps?¡± ¡°Only when you¡¯re home or in a cozy room. Never like it much when you¡¯re outdoors.¡± ¡°That would explain that dour expression you get.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know of that look you get when your eye brows get all flattened, your nose wrinkles a bit, you put on that glaring look and your mouth looks more boxed up than a royal treasure all packed up.¡± Kveldulf gave Jeanne a dour expression, only for her to jump up on the balls of her feet excitedly, pointing with a finger to his face. ¡°That¡¯s the look!¡± she called out energetically. ¡°I sometimes wonder why we¡¯re friends?¡± he said to her with a growl. ¡°Because we¡¯re two great mess of people and no one else can handle us for any prolong period of time.¡± ¡°What about Doc?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s just a glutton for punishment, he just doesn¡¯t want to admit it.¡± Kveldulf looked off the to the distance, jutting his mouth to the side for a brief moment with in inquisitive look. ¡°What?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I was trying to think of something to say to irk you, but couldn¡¯t think of anything good.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jeanne asked unconvinced. ¡°Well, I mean, I had some, but even I was bit offended by them.¡± ¡°Wow, how bad were they?¡± ¡°Not great,¡± Kveldulf said as a terrific flash of light illuminated the sky over their heads, followed a thunderous roar and a sudden pouring of rain from the heavens above. Jeanne looked at Kveldulf, trying to vainly blow away some of the water on her mouth. ¡°I hope you know, this is going to make my hair all curly and frizzy.¡± ¡°You can take your complaints over to Maeryn.¡± ¡°Everything all right between you two?¡± Kveldulf hemmed and hawed for a moment before he nodded. ¡°We¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying I don¡¯t want to talk about it, but maybe not when we¡¯re getting soaked thoroughly.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jeanne said as they returned to the others in the inn. Part Twenty-One - Deep Research Leonidas was in his examination room, leafing through pages of a book titled An Examination and Analysis to The Influence of Psionic Auras in Non-Magical Adults as he heard a knock on his door. Calmly closing the book he went to the door and found Silvius and Hypatia on the other side. ¡°Hello there,¡± the doctor said to them, ¡°what brings you two over here?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Silvius said, ¡°we were on our way to the university¡¯s special archive and thought you might be open to joining us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I mean, you¡¯re sort of the expert in these matters,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call myself an expert, honestly. Probably well informed.¡± ¡°You know more than anyone else in our group,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°And it¡¯d be a good idea have someone who knows what to look for ¡­ help us with what to look for,¡± Hypatia said to the doctor. ¡°Also fair. But am I going to need anything for being there?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Silvius said with certainty. ¡°As long as you¡¯re with us, you should be fine.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think anyone else is showing up today, let me grab a few things and I should be ready to leave.¡± *** Leonidas followed Silvius and Hypatia down the wide stone hall and towards the far end of the corridor. Students and scholars moving from passages dotting all over, most barely noticing them at all. The doctor looked up and saw the red earthen fa?ade that covered the curved ceiling above them. The pillars etched in elaborate stone engravings covered the stoneface. Almost hypnotizing as the doctor tried to find every little detail made into the artwork. ¡°I miss coming here,¡± Silvius said, a sense of homecoming in his voice. ¡°Feels like we haven¡¯t been here for ages.¡± ¡°Especially after your conversation with the Rector and the Academic Senate,¡± Hypatia said to Silvius. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡± ¡°What are we looking for anyway?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Well, since you mentioned laylines and their connection to the fortress, I though it would be prudent to try and see what literature the library has on that matter here,¡± Silvius said to the doctor. ¡°You think they¡¯ll have stuff on that?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly something most academics would find worth their time anymore.¡± ¡°Some still delve into the studies of the esoteric,¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°Even if most find the subject as unbecoming of a scholar.¡± Leonidas scoffed. ¡°I see some things never change.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Long story for another time,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°And I doubt there¡¯s many here who¡¯d appreciate hearing such things.¡± Reaching a door on the other end of the long hallway, Silvius knocked on the only flat spot on a door covered in elaborate etchings and patterns. After a moment the door cracked open and two eyes peered through the other side. ¡°Can I help you?¡± the voice called out. ¡°Hello Terron, we sent a missive a short while back about examining some of the tomes you have regarding ley lines and their arcane properties,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°Oh yes yes,¡± the voice said, opening the door further and revealing a stone humanoid figure, hewed into the shape of a man who had seen many winters with few springs to soften the hardships. ¡°I remember reading that a while back. I was starting to think you weren¡¯t going to show up.¡± ¡°Well, we were out of the city for a brief spell,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Must¡¯ve been some spell,¡± Terron said, ¡°but that¡¯s neither here nor there, I guess. Come, come, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to stand out chewing the fat and all that.¡± Terron led them down three flights of stairs, dimly lit with sconces on the walls trailing downward. At the bottom of the third set, they reached a large room lined with tall shelves touching the ceiling and filled with tomes, scrolls, small journals, and other literature filling each level. Leonidas nodded slowly as he surveyed the whole room and took in the scope of library¡¯s collection. ¡°This is most impressive,¡± Leonidas said aloud. ¡°Tis but a paltry compared to the full scope of the university¡¯s complete collection,¡± Terron said. ¡°There¡¯s more than this?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Indeed. The University elders feel that having all of what they have displayed could be opening the doorway to someone taking such knowledge for their own benefits though at the expense of others,¡± Terron told the doctor. ¡°Can¡¯t blame them for that,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°The library at my university had similar policies now that you bring that up.¡± ¡°What was it you were looking for?¡± Terron asked them all. ¡°Something on leylines,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°We might¡¯ve found something pertain to that when Hypatia and I were at the Unyielding Fortress.¡± ¡°I am still perplexed you were able to find it,¡± Torren said. ¡°A few of the elders stirred in their seats when they heard the news.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Whatever troubled them they would not share with me. Though perhaps they were unkeen on sailing more turbulent waters regarding the city¡¯s past.¡± ¡°Is it really that much of a change to know the place exists?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Many considered the place something residing in the realm of myth and legend. Something living only in the imagination. And many have found comfort in the tightly woven tapestry of this city¡¯s past. If they find something exists which challenges the very thing they harken to, it begs the question; what else do they not know?¡± Torren said in a calm demeanor. ¡°Still, I wouldn¡¯t think such a find would bring such ¡­ reactions,¡± Silvius said. ¡°To some even a small ripple can have the same devastation as a rogue wave.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen my share of that,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Have you?¡± Hypatia asked him. ¡°A lot of people prefer keeping whatever semblance of control they can, even if it meant watching the world burn around them to retain it.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Glad to see nothing changes in Terramiserae,¡± said Silvius. ¡°That is putting it lightly,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Well, the section you will want to go is close to the back of the archives chambers, where some of our ancient treatise of arcane reside. Sadly, I should get back to sorting returned tomes from the faculty,¡± Terron said to them as he bowed his head down, ¡°if there is anything you need, feel free to find me in my study.¡± ¡°Thank you, Terron,¡± Silvius replied, as he and the other two waved the attendant¡¯s departure. The scholar looked around, he arms akimbo while looking over the many shelves surrounding them. ¡°Well, I¡¯m looking forward to this archival expedition, what about you two?¡± *** Leonidas rubbed his eyes tightly while clearing his throat before looking back down at a rolled out scroll he was examining. The ends held down by two candle sticks. The map had cracks and heavy discoloration along the edges. Roads spawning from the city of Orumus zigzagged over the country, intersecting and separating at many points, towns long since gone marked on the map which he saw had long disappeared in newer maps he had seen throughout the day. Some villages situated near the outlier of Orumus had now become established settlements of the Torcello and Sinpassi wards of the city. Leonidas could even make out some of the wards walls that were once part of the older city walls. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, noting the city¡¯s growth over the years. His eyes moved to the center of the city, with a bluish white line stretching from the small circle, straight and guiding its way down to the small village of Amlin. There was a notable difference in the size of the town compared to what he had seen. ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± Hypatia asked, placing a thin red ribbon between two pages and closing a book she was reading. ¡°I found something interesting,¡± he said, gesturing her to come over. As she sat down next to him and looked over the map. ¡°Is that Amlin?¡± she said, putting her finger over the town. ¡°Yeah, seems to have been a lot bigger back in the day.¡± ¡°How back in the day are we talking here?¡± ¡°I think this map predates the war against the Dracon Lords.¡± Hypatia¡¯s eyes widened as she slowly moved her head back. ¡°That¡¯s quite a ways.¡± ¡°I know. Seems like Amlin was more or less the town attached to the fortress.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised no one tried taking the fortress one by attacking the town.¡± ¡°There were attempts, though most didn¡¯t want to try and take the place on in direct conflict, and it seemed most of the food was grown inside away from raiders. So attacking the town wouldn¡¯t have had the desired effect.¡± ¡°I wonder what caused the town to shrink that much?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Probably when the fortress was abandoned and forgotten many made their way to Orumus or other parts of the world. Can¡¯t entirely blame them. Must¡¯ve felt as if they were being fettered to a corpse.¡± ¡°I guess this must¡¯ve been after the rebellion against the Wraith King.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my guess,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Though I haven¡¯t checked for other maps to check when they were drawn.¡± ¡°What are these silver lines here?¡± ¡°My guess are leylines. They stretch from where the council¡¯s building is in the Heraclea Ward all the way down here.¡± ¡°And it seems to extend out to other parts on the map, too,¡± Hypatia said, her finger following another ley line down to another part of the map and resting in the center of a massive fortress far from the city. ¡°Yeah, seems like there was a system of sorts during that period.¡± ¡°What were they exactly doing with this?¡± ¡°Depends, could¡¯ve been a menagerie of reasons. Experiments, services, who knows? It¡¯s a little hard to get a gauge on that with only a couple of maps at the moment.¡± ¡°I think I found something,¡± Silivius said as he placed a large tome nearby where Leonidas and Hypatia were. ¡°What do you have?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Research notes from Tiberius of Ruluti back in the reign of the Rubicon Empress Julia.¡± ¡°He focused on leyline?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°They were starting the preliminary research into that, he was considered the first expert in the subject.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a good find, what does he say?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see ¡­ hmm ¡­ farmers noticing unusual energies and events on their property. Hauntings and good old possessions.¡± ¡°Those are fun,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°It seemed the council building in Orumus used to be a sister temple with grand temple back in Reman,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Huh, that¡¯s interesting,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°How is that connected with leylines.¡± ¡°It was something the Rubicon did when they discovered leylines,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Possibly to help strengthen their hold in the region.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Silvius followed, ¡°Possibly to help spot or counter any magic they¡¯d find problematic.¡± ¡°That¡¯d be my guess,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Be nice to know who exactly did the research, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you only hire the illustrious, but temperamental writer Anon Y Mus,¡± Silvius said with a chuckle. ¡°I have to remember that one,¡± Leonidas said, pointing to Silvius approvingly. ¡°Fancy see you two down here,¡± they heard a voice call out. A thin man, sporting a neatly trimmed beard and moustache and well kept brown hair. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you lot back so soon.¡± ¡°Aurelius,¡± Silvius said. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Going through a few census records for some research,¡± Aurelius said, plopping a thick tome onto the table next to the three. The heavy thud causing their own to shudder briefly. ¡°Census records?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t think that was your cup of tea?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t, but Professor Hadrian¡¯s research on deciphering ancient texts from some ruins in Remus had it¡¯s patronage cut by the elders and so he handed me over to another professor so I would have some way of making a living academically.¡± ¡°Why was Hadrian¡¯s funding cut?¡± ¡°The elders felt the time made to determine what the scripts said was too long and the contents too unimportant to merit the effort and coin.¡± ¡°And did the elders say where the money was going to go?¡± ¡°Something regarding the social ramification to the proliferation of pointed shoes for the general public,¡± Aurelius said with embarrassment. ¡°I wish I could say I¡¯m surprised,¡± said Hypatia. Aurelius turned to a cart behind him and grabbed another large tome and dropped the book onto the table. ¡°Seems this was something the Council were keen to see the results of.¡± Leonidas looked at the book with wide eyes. ¡°Well that one is a keeper,¡± he said to Aurelius.¡± ¡°Indeed. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve made your acquittance yet,¡± Aurelius said to the doctor. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Silvius said, ¡°this is Leonidas, he helped us out when we were delving into those ruins we were telling you about?¡± ¡°Is that so? How did it turn out?¡± ¡°We found the Unyielding Fortress!¡± Hypatia said, excitedly. Aurelius¡¯s jaw dropped as he leaned towards the three. ¡°No! You jest!¡± ¡°I swear on my house¡¯s honor, it¡¯s actually there,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Bless my beard,¡± Aurelius said, rubbing his chin contemplatively. ¡°I didn¡¯t think there¡¯d be anything valuable there.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t think they¡¯d find anything?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Well, one does hope for the best, but it¡¯s always prudent to not let your hopes get too high in case things do not go as you want.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not fully wrong,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Perhaps you could go to the elders and see about getting some more funding for your research,¡± Aurelius suggested. ¡°You think they¡¯ll do that?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I was told they weren¡¯t the biggest supporters of this whole thing.¡± ¡°No, but having some results might have them reconsider the entire thing. Especially since you have results to present to them.¡± Hypatia turned to the others. ¡°It would make it easier to get access to the more exclusive collections.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an exclusive collections?¡± Leonidas asked in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s a way to both protect the more prized possessions in the university¡¯s collection, as well as acquiring more coin for their coffers,¡± Aurelius answered. ¡°I mean, maintaining those artifacts isn¡¯t exactly the cheapest endeavor,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Oh sweet summer child,¡± said Aurelius, ¡°always looking for the best in people.¡± ¡°How else will those charged with preserving those artifacts accomplish such without the means to do so?¡± ¡°Perhaps if the elders would devote less of the coin coming to this institution to their pockets, to fund their fifth of sixth manor, carriages etched in gold and silver, vineyards for their wines, stables for their many steeds, and rich abodes with their paramours away from their wives.¡± Aurelius answered, remorse coloring his tone near the end. ¡°Honestly, it makes me glad I¡¯m leaving this forsaken place.¡± ¡°You, too?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Too?¡± Leonidas followed, confused. Aurelius nodded. ¡°A merchant wants me to join their caravan. The pay will be far more than the pauper¡¯s pay here and I won¡¯t be treated like some foul fiend simply for using my mind and the lessons taught to think beyond what the instructors and elders have limited themselves.¡± ¡°But what of your research?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°At this point, any use my research has is treated no better than a pile of horse leavings. I figured why not at least earn something of a decent living. Most around here are relics of ancient thoughts who value self-validation than actually seeking the truth.¡± Silvius looked down, running his hand over the back of his neck. ¡°I¡¯d like to think not all use their influence for such things,¡± he said defeatedly. ¡°I doubt not,¡± Aurelius said, his voice softened greatly. ¡°Many would still keep themselves from such temptations, but they are tragically few. Perhaps one could give them a reminder of what are mission is, and should be.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Silvius said, his spirit seemingly renewing in its fire. ¡°Perhaps one can show them a needed light.¡± ¡°I hate to interrupt,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°But perhaps we should take a break and rest before continuing further.¡± ¡°I think it might be best,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Agreed,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°Take care,¡± Silvius said to Aurelius, picking up some of the books and scrolls as Hypatia and Leonidas grabbed the rest. ¡°Until we meet again,¡± Aurelius said to them. ¡°Hopefully none too soon,¡± Leonidas muttered under his breath. Part TBD - Inn Reflection Gabriel twirled a knife in her fingers as she spotted Kveldulf and Jeanne return to the inn¡¯s dining area. She could smell the thick watery scent of wool from their clothes. She chuckled softly as she appreciated the warmth of the fire nearby and the tepid heat from the candle sitting on her table. As the two reached the bar they placed their flagon on the counter and kept walking towards the dining area. She called to them, ¡°You two want to get warm?¡± Jeanne and Kveldulf both spotted her and came over, taking their seats at the table and trying to dry themselves off as best they could. Even after only a few brief moments, the floor underneath them was drenched in rainwater. ¡°I guess that came in faster than expected,¡± Gabriel said to them. ¡°That is putting it lightly,¡± Kveldulf said, running his fingers through his hair and flick the access liquid from his fingers. ¡°I think Doc is coming back with a few flagons from the bar,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Bless the Sheperd,¡± Jeanne replied, turning back to see the doctor moving to the table with five flagons in hand. When he arrived, placing the brews on the counter, the three others grabbed one for themselves. As Leonidas sat down, Jeanne had downed a whole flagon and let out a guttural blech from her maw before giving an accomplished smile. ¡°Proud of yourself?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Abso-fucking-lutely,¡± Jeanne said, boastfully, before grabbing the second flagon. ¡°That would explain the odd flagon,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°I do enjoy a nice bit of ale,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°one of the few perks when being in The Cold Company. You had a ration of mead, ale or rum every day.¡± ¡°Sometimes that¡¯s what got you through the day,¡± Gabriel said, taking a sip of her brew. ¡°You worked as a mercenary?¡± Kveldulf asked. Gabriel shook her head. ¡°Not in the same way it¡¯s done here in these lands. Typically lords will lend contingents of troops out from their house to another. Sort of a way to maintain positive relations between houses during trying times. My house was charitable when it came to such things.¡± ¡°I can imagine you saw a lit of fighting,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Enough to sate the appetite of a thousand cities for a thousand lifetimes.¡± ¡°Then why do you still throw on the armor and not find another profession?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°When you do something long enough, good doctor. It becomes hard to find something else to bide your time and claim as a calling.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Leonidas lifted his eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°What made you decide to come out to Angulreich?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t exactly a decision I made with a light heart,¡± Gabriel said, a pained look coming over her. ¡°My kin, and most of my people, hail from a land called Taraturechi, the Land of Ancient Mists. It was the home of my people since the first winds kissed the earth. My family were proud members of the court of our lord and master, Voienlider Mircea the Bold.¡± Leonidas turned his head to Gabriel. ¡°Your family served the house of Vanturstrad?¡± Gabriel nodded. ¡°We did. Serving the Grand Princes and Princesses of our kingdom for generations. Even my father and his father were rewarded for their service to the crown. Back in the Years of Twilight. Before the Cold Eclipse.¡± ¡°Cold Eclipse?¡± Kveldulf asked, leaning in slowly with a steady gaze. ¡°That was what we referred to the first civil war in my homeland. Back when the Grand Prince Vasilyk of Mosvite smote his eldest son and heir to death in a fist of violence. In one moment, the entire stability of the crown was set into a state of peril. One which saw four brother set upon each other like starved animals over a petty piece of meat. That one lasted five centuries. ¡°When the dust settled and the four contenders were left with their corpses to feed the carrion, that was when the host of the Orhan Empire arrived over the mountain passes and made claim to our lands. Before we had a chance to catch our breath and recover from one war, we became involved in another one entirely. Soon some lords began turning on old friends. Kin turned on kin. And the blood water of our people fed the earth beneath our feet.¡± Gabriel turned away a moment. Clearing her throat and taking a heavy breath before she continued. ¡°Those were the years which shaped my youth. Learning to hunt people as well as animals. Mastering the art of courtly decorum while becoming skilled in butchering someone with tools sharp, keen and cruel. Fighting battles which waged unending for days, even weeks at a time. Sieges lasting centuries. It wasn¡¯t long before much of the land was no longer suitable for most families to farm and live. It was not a childhood I¡¯d wish on anyone.¡± ¡°Was that why your family left?¡± Jeanne asked. Gabriel nodded. ¡°The lord of our house, Indraz Neclint, emptied his ancestral castle, and brought any of his serfs who wished to come away from this terrifying nightmare from which we could hopefully awaken. Though things have not been easy for my kin.¡± Leonidas grunted. ¡°I can only imagine.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± Jeanne said, placing her hand over Gabriel¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m glad your people are here. Gabriel gave a Jeanne a weak smile, patting the woman¡¯s hand gently. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s rare that we get anything akin to a warm welcome anymore.¡± The others looked around and saw most of the other patrons had left the dining area, leaving them all alone. With only the innkeeper nearby, tending to some of the mugs and other dishware as they enjoyed their drinks. ¡°I think it might be time to turn in,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°You say that when your drink starts to get the better of you,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You say that when you get loopy in the head and say a gang of corgis from the Scalamanca come from the floorboards to steal your socks.¡± Leonidas furrowed his brows as he turned to Jeanne. ¡°So ¡­ this was is a regular thing with you.¡± ¡°You shut your gob and you be quiet, Kel.¡± ¡°Tell that to your corgi friends,¡± Leonidas said, sipping his brew with a smile on his face. Jeanne glared at Leonidas. ¡°Oh, you are going to regret this, on so many levels.¡± ¡°Sure thing ¡­ corgi lover.¡± Jeanne pressed her lips together and after shaking for a moment began smacking Leonidas on his shoulder shouting, ¡°This is what you made me do!¡± Leonidas shielded his drink as he laughed loudly. Kveldulf stood from his seat, pulling Jeanne off of the doctor. Gabriel looked at this whole affair, leaning away and pulling her drink close to her chest. Part TBD - Losing Faith II ¡°Is that ¡­?¡± Benkin asked Jeanne. ¡°The Shepherd,¡± Jeanne confirmed. ¡°Or the most common image used of him.¡± The Wolves looked around, Jeanne herself feeling a sense of sadness as she over the scene. ¡°This place has seen much better days,¡± she said to Robert. ¡°Much better days,¡± Robert replied. ¡°This old place doesn¡¯t see many people come inside. Not for a long while.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Most people have simply lost faith. When their betters became curs, they turned to the Sheperd for their salvation. When nothing happened, they turned from their own faith. Some have even begun worshipping the Old Gods, forsaking all they once knew.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be easy for you,¡± Jeanne said, holding the door open for Kveldulf as he negotiated himself inside with Pyrdwen¡¯s remains. ¡°Few things ever are these days. I¡¯m starting to think the only easy days are the ones behind me. I¡¯m almost too afraid to think of what my little ones will inherit when it is their time to become adults.¡± Robert gestured for Kvledulf to follow into a room behind the altar, inside were series of tables, all covered in bodies draped with plain cloth. Shelves had been built into the walls of the room, all holding bodies of the deceased. Everyone winced as the smell caught them. Kveldulf have trouble holding the body as he tried to adjust to the stench. Looking around the room, Robert spotted an empty shelf space near the back. ¡°Here, there¡¯s a place for Prydwen.¡± Kveldulf nodded quickly, taking short breathes through his mouth as he made his way over, gently placing the dead Prydwen onto the shelf. He quickly made his way out of the room, Robert casually walking behind. Once into the hall, Kveldulf began coughing out loud, occasionally gagging as he gasped for air. Jeanne patted Kel¡¯s back, trying not to breath through her nose, as well. ¡°How can you deal with that smell?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It¡¯s something you get used to,¡± Robert replied. ¡°But certainly wasn¡¯t eager to do so.¡± ¡°This ¡­ this is just wrong,¡± Leonidas said in a hushed voice. ¡°I don¡¯t wrong is the right word for this,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°not anymore.¡± ¡°Things have been hard. Really hard.¡± ¡°And whoever¡¯s doing this hasn¡¯t left any signs?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Nothing to why they¡¯re doing this?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the bodies enough?¡± Robert asked. ¡°Some people don¡¯t need a reason to be a monster. They just enjoy nothing more or less. They could have all the advantages life could give, and still they strive to burn all they have and love, just to watch the ashes fall afterwards, or to hear the cries of the broken lift their spirits. They gave themselves to a darkness even devils would not want.¡± Jeanne looked around at the bodies. She felt her fist gripped tightly to the point of shaking. Her jaw shut with such force, she could feel her teeth pressed together. She tried to control her breathing and keep her thoughts from wandering into darker places in her mind, but the wanting to break and sunder these Kolville began to become greater than anything else in the world. She closed her eyes and took an uneasy breath in, feeling a sudden chill in the air. When she opened her eyes, she found the others frozen still, and a voice speaking from behind her. ¡°Tis the truest form of a tragedy. Unabridged and utter complete.¡± ¡°I am in no mood right now.¡± ¡°Nor would I expect you, Lady Marais. Such horrid sights leave bitter tastes in ones mouth, unless they had forsaken their heart entirely.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Would you believe me if I said to check on you?¡± ¡°That would be a rich one.¡± ¡°Fair enough. But I know the road you¡¯ve been on has been rough. More so than I had anticipated. And I thought it was only right that I made some effort to see how you¡¯ve been faring.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen villages burn, including my old home. Entire families be turned into monsters, and now because of this stupid war, people are rotting in a place of worship while their priests go off trying to win divine favor. This isn¡¯t right. This blasphemous in every sense of the word. And what are the gods doing as the world is being torn, and ripped, and burned into a damned wasteland. Nothing! I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing and I¡¯m starting to not give a shit, because any faith in them is almost a wasted effort.¡± ¡°I would probably not say that.¡± ¡°Then they can get their lackadaisical asses down here and tell me personally. Where is the justice for all these people who gave them far more devotion and belief than the bastards who took their lives? Why aren¡¯t the Kolvilles struck down by some divine smiting? What the hell do they need to do for someone to do something? They¡¯ve burned down enough of the Sheperd¡¯s churches, where the hell is he? The hell is waiting for before he actually tends to his fucking flock!¡± Jeanne could feel the sweating beading on her forehead as she finished. She straightened herself up and took a few deep breaths as The Figure raised his eyebrows and shifted his stance somewhat. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked. ¡°Better. Still livid, but better.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Are you ever not livid?¡± ¡°When I¡¯m not dealing with this shit, sometimes.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°But ¡­ how are people supposed to keep their faith in anything when those they pray to do nothing?¡± ¡°This reminds me of a parable ¨C¡± ¡°If you go into an hour to explain something a sentence can convey, so help me ¡­¡± ¡°¡­ But, I was going to jump to the main lesson. If people feel a higher power will solve every problem, then they will create problems. They will turn, they will tear, they will break and soon, they will be nothing. But if they know that they must find the solution to whatever challenge they face. If they know no unseen force, or divine hand will swiftly clean away the mess before them, they will, in time, find the path needed to succeed and find the world they wish to make.¡± Jeanne stared at The Figure for a long moment. ¡°All right, just tell me the damned story, so I can have the context.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± The Figure replied, ¡°Once there were a people who walked this world before the days of the elves, dwarves, and men. During the Aetaite Coridia, or the Age of Beasts as you now call it, specifically. They were the Murinia, of Mice-People.¡± ¡°Murinia?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I¡¯d never heard of them.¡± ¡°Few have,¡± The Figure said, ¡°But their kingdom was a golden utopia, for their god watched over them with a careful eye. When famine and drought robbed their fields of food, stores would be supplied with whatever they needed to survive. When an enemy army marched against them, thunder and fire would rain from the heavens and smote the foes into ash and dust. Those people knew not want, or pain, or suffering or all the woes that life brought ¡­ in the beginning.¡± ¡°And for a while the city was a shining example of a brilliant civilization. Because people did not fret over how they would survive from day to day, they focused on the arts, sciences, and building their city into a wonderous metropolis.¡± ¡°What happened to them?¡± ¡°They happened,¡± The Figure replied bluntly. ¡°The city began to well up with more citizens than anyone knew what to do. No one wanted to leave the city for fear of what might happen if they were to explore past their borders. No one took effort to feed or clothe themselves, expecting the greater power to attend to the matter. People stopped cooking, cleaning, learning the basic elements of living were completely alien to them. ¡°And one day, their god saw something they did not expect. Mother began having difficulties carrying pregnancies to term. Many who did, left their children to fend for themselves. The men dove into behaviors so unspeakable, their legacy inspired the darkest myths and fables of your childhood. Depravity mixed with barbarism laced with complete isolation that their society fell apart. ¡°Social interactions became non-existent. Families grew apart and then turn on each other. Any semblance of kinship no longer existed. Violence was constant and soon harvests of death cut a terrible swath through much of the city. And with the population dwindling from a lack of new children being born, there wasn¡¯t much for the people to do.¡± ¡°What about the god? Didn¡¯t they do anything?¡± ¡°They wanted to, that was without a doubt. But what stopped them was not knowing where to draw the line? At this point the whole situation was caused by being involved too much in the lives of their worshippers. And now they had not the tools to handle the problems before them. When the god came to their peers, the god was rebuked for letting their flock become so inebriated with overprotection that they were nothing more than glorified newborns. And so, they did the only thing they could do ¡­ they walked away.¡± ¡°They walked away?¡± Jeanne blurted out. ¡°There was no easy way to remedy the problem, and their god was at a loss of what to do. So they stepped away and let those who could survive do so. And the rest ¡­ well I think you can put together what happened.¡± Jeanne stepped back, pressing her back against the wall to support her weight as her knees began buckling. ¡°Shepherd¡¯s mercy, that must¡¯ve been horrifying.¡± ¡°If there was ever a hell on earth, in the history of all the ages of this world, it would have had to have been there.¡± ¡°What happened to the city after all of this?¡± ¡°Well, with all the death and ruination, many of those who survived, which was a small part of the population left the city. Leaving it to be a graveyard to what was once a thriving tapestry of civilization. And within a few generations, there wasn¡¯t much left of the people to even give them much consideration beyond faint influence in fairy tales and myths.¡± ¡°But why did you think of this regarding what¡¯s happening now?¡± ¡°Because if they gods came in and dealt with one small miscreant, then it sets a precedent, which leads to another, and a another and many others. And soon you¡¯re back to the very thing you tried to prevent. So many give their flock the tools needed to fix the problem, but not much else. How the tools are used, and when they¡¯re used to their full potential, that¡¯s for you all to decide.¡± ¡°That sometimes feels like a copout, but I can see what you¡¯re saying. But I still don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a shared sentiment with more than a few divine persons. But You don¡¯t have to like the truth to understand it as the reality.¡± Jeanne looked back to the bodies. ¡°It just isn¡¯t fair.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s been one of a few things I¡¯ve learned in my wanderings. One that tends to come back regularly is how easy it is for people to say how they feel about a matter and do little to fix it. They want to feel like they¡¯re empathetic, when it¡¯s all a front. But if you care about this, and I mean truly care about all of this, then you actually need to get out there and be a part of the change. ¡°Because in the end, the people who call out their discontent on what they find wrong with the world, and sit back and do nothing, or less than the barest minimum of work to convince themselves they¡¯re not a part of the problem. They¡¯re worse than the problem. Since instead of putting any effort or diligence to making anything better, they leave the problem to fester and grow so they can still have the thing to nag about. So if this is something which you want to fix, then go fix it.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m the last person to be fixing things,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth. There¡¯s a reason why heroes aren¡¯t remembered for being perfect. They¡¯re remembered for making a difference. For moving when others stood still, breaking the silence when others feared to speak, and doing what they knew was right without so much of a second thought. But perfection never entered the conversation, not should it. Heroes shouldn¡¯t be perfect to be heroes. They just have to not be complacent.¡± Jeanne rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°That feels like you had that speech rehearsed. You not the first one I¡¯ve given that to. No offense.¡± The Fugure let out a short chuckle. ¡°None taken. ¡°I just wish I knew what I can do in all this ¡­ madness,¡± Jeanne confessed. ¡°More often than not, it isn¡¯t as hard as you¡¯d think. It¡¯s just doing what you think is right and seeing the thing through. Though many times it¡¯s the seeing it through that can be the hardest of the two.¡± ¡°You can say that again,¡± Jeanne said under her breath. ¡°But I think perhaps there comes a time when those trying to do the right thing are given an extra hand in achieving that end.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose a sword of fire would be in the cards?¡± ¡°No, but I might have something in mind.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°What was that?¡± Kveldulf asked. Jeanne looked at Kveldulf wide eyed for a quick moment. ¡°What?¡± she asked back. ¡°I thought I heard you say something,¡± he said to her. She looked around and saw the others were now moving as they once were, and The Figure was now complete gone from the room. Of course he¡¯d do that, she thought to herself. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Leonidas asked. Jeanne nodded, ¡°Yeah, just was thinking out loud,¡± she said, trying to avoid cringing at the situation. He really had to do that, didn¡¯t he? Part TBD - Search for Cullen V As the others left the room, leaving Gabriel in the dining area, she watched the small flame of the table¡¯s candle flickering on as it made its way down the candlestick. She took her flagon and made her way to her quarters. The stairs were cloaked in darkness, though her eyes quickly adjusted to where the ambient light lit the area with a soft bluish grey hue. She the wood floors beneath her feet shift and creak with each step. She moved herself against the left side of the stairs, leaving her right hand free and resting on her long knife. Nearing the top, she moved slower, listening for any noise or unusual smells in the area. Poking her head out into the hall, found nothing of note. Opening the door into her room, she placed the half-filled flagon on the chest of drawers in her room. Removing her armor and cloak, placing them on a chair nearby her bed and throwing on a loose woolen tunic and pants. She stretched her arms out and felt a couple of joints pop from the tension. She went over to a book resting on the stand, and as she grabbed it and flipped to a page half filled with writing in an old language she hadn¡¯t seen since even before she last looked to the lands of her ancestors. Running her fingers tips over the pages, feeling where the quill pressed against the paper and left indented marks even centuries after they were first written. The dusty scent of the parchment brought her back to when she saw her grandfather writing the journal down for the first time. She remembered how the light from the sun shone through the stained glass and covered his with multiple colors. How the birds in the cage sung and whistled in the sunlight as he etched the words in the journal. There was a sense of warmth to the moment when she first experienced it, one now long gone with its recollection. She wiped away the tears as she reread the words of the journal and remembered the smile her grandfather gave her as he finished the final scribbles. How he lifted her up and held her tightly before saying, ¡°Do not fret, little one, for dark times cannot linger before submitting to the might of the light¡¯s righteous command.¡± She remembered burying what was left of him on the border of her homeland, holding his journal and pained memories before leaving her being exiled lands unknown and a destiny unwoven. She put the book down, pressing her hand against her face, breathing heavy as she wished for those bitter wounds in her mind to leave and after centuries of trauma, finally find a modicum of peace. *** The wind howled across the tree tops as dark clouds passed by from overhead. As if the heavens were trying to rip the forest itself up from the ground and take it away. Gabriel, her spear leaning against her shoulder as she watched the storming clouds roll on by her. ¡°Gabriel!¡± the doctor called out. ¡°Come take a look at this.¡± Gabriel made her way over. ¡°What is it?¡± Leonidas was knelt down next a few impressions in the wet dirt. Maeryn was kneeling next to him and examining the impressions with great intent. She moved her hand over the imprint and turned her gaze up and around the area. Snarling a little as she looked. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Can¡¯t get a good read on their scent or noise with all this damn rain,¡± Maeryn said to them. ¡°Is there anything we can go off of?¡± Gabriel asked. Maeryn scratched the back of her head. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t tell,¡± she said, disgruntled. She then pointed off into a direction down a small pathway. ¡°We could always give that a look, see what comes of it.¡± ¡°Be nice to get a bit of shelter from the damned winds,¡± said Gabriel as she helped Maeryn and Leonidas to their feet. As the winds stirred the leaves into a rustling frenzy, the three made their way down a thin dirt path, throwing their hoods over their heads to keep the wind off. Wrapping their cloaks tightly to shield them from the rain. ¡°I think we may need to turn back,¡± Leonidas said to Gabriel and Maeryn. ¡°It¡¯s going to be impossible to find anything out here,¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°I can¡¯t smell anything other than water.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything of note,¡± Maeryn admitted, looking troubled by their fortune. Gabriel looked around, catching a soft scent of something a short distance near her. She held her hand next to her face and sniffed the air. To her left she noticed a smell of well cured meat with a strong hint of salt. ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± she said to herself. ¡°What is it?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Do you smell cured meat?¡± Maeryn turned her nose up, breathing in sharply. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°No, but why would there be any cured meat out here?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Maybe someone dropped some when walking the path,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°The path doesn¡¯t look that well-traveled, and unless someone¡¯s completely famished, there shouldn¡¯t be a reason why they couldn¡¯t wait to reach the farm for food.¡± ¡°Good point,¡± what should we do now?¡± the doctor asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking we get the others when the weather calms down and ¡­,¡± Gabriel said, before she stopped looking out across one of the vast wheatfields and noticed a figure in the distance. It was small, thin, gaunt, keeping itself low to the ground and looking directly at them. Whoever this was, their skin was palish earthen hue, and their eyes were had a golden color. ¡°Something the matter?¡± Maeryn asked. Gabriel turned to the elven archer and gestured, There¡¯s something in the woods over there. Maeryn barely tilted her head to look behind Gabriel for a moment before moving back and gesturing, I think we found our culprits. Are they doing anything at all? Leonidas asked, turning his back away from the unknown spectator. Gabriel shook her head. No, just keeping an eye on us. Leonidas groaned. Not a fan of being gawked at. ¡°Join the club,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°We probably shouldn¡¯t tarry long.¡± Gabriel nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s get the others and come back here when the heavens aren¡¯t toying with us.¡± Two days later, The Wolves returned to the path around the spot Gabriel and Maeryn noted their mysterious watcher. Gabriel was looking back out to the field, seeing nothing but grain stalks swaying to a calm breeze. Cid stepped up to the edge of the pathway, next to Gabriel. ¡°This was where you saw them?¡± he asked. Gabriel nodded, pointing out towards the woods. ¡°Around that area specifically.¡± ¡°Hmm, at least we¡¯re getting somewhere,¡± he said, ¡°why don¡¯t you take Benkin, Jeanne, Maeryn and Leonidas see what¡¯s out there.¡± ¡°What should we do if we find something?¡± ¡°Depends. If it¡¯s any major signs, report back here, if you find a group of those little bastards, try to avoid an engagement if you can, and report back here. I don¡¯t want you getting overwhelmed.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°we¡¯ll head out at once.¡± ¡°Good, report back when you¡¯ve found something and we¡¯ll see where to go from there.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know a good way to introduce yourself to goblins, do you?¡± ¡°All I know is, don¡¯t bring up their height,¡± Cid said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re rather sensitive about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Be careful out there,¡± Cid said. ¡°I¡¯ve also heard they¡¯re well versed in keeping themselves hidden when they don¡¯t want to be seen.¡± Gabriel nodded as she called the others to her before heading out grabbing her coiled spear and snapping it into attention. Part TBD - A Strange Find Jeanne stood shortly behind Maeryn who was on point as they moved down the road. The elf had and arrow notched on her string and looked around the area with careful gaze. Benkin was positioned shortly behind Jeanne, with Gabriel shortly behind and Leonidas taking up the rear. It was quiet, as they moved down the road. The leaves were hardly making noise let alone swaying. Jeanne looked up as she felt her hands beginning to playing in the air. She placed one hand on the head of her hammer, her fingers tapping along the metal surface without any rhythm. The other hooking onto her belt with her thumb. She half-expected to find some odd creature staring out at her. Weapons tightly gripped in their hands, waiting to strike out and try to ambush her and the others when the chance presented itself. She noticed Gabriel and Benkin had their weapons ready to face anyone they¡¯d come across. Jeanne was brought back to when she would be put on patrols back in the Cold Company. Hating every minute of it until they were back at camp and within friendly territory. Always wondering where the enemy was. If they were watching her and others out beyond the safety of whatever fortifications were thrown up beforehand. Were those on the other side simply watching them, or getting ready to try and thin their numbers by a few more than the day before. She tried to keep these thoughts from her mind so she could focus on finding anything of importance. A rustling sound touched her ears and she turned to her right, towards the direction of the noise. Gabriel called out, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Thought I heard something,¡± Jeanne replied. Keeping her eyes into the forest. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Gabriel nodded. ¡°I did, wasn¡¯t certain if it was anything or just the wind.¡± ¡°Hold up here, while Maeryn and I check this out,¡± Jeanne followed, ¡°Maeryn!¡± ¡°On my way,¡± the elf replied, quickly jogging up to Jeanne. The two entered the woodlands, negotiating through thick brush. The ground was covered in fallen leaves, broken bark and snapped twigs, which crunched under their feet as them moved inward. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Jeanne moved herself around a large tree trunk as she noticed Maeryn kneeling down and examining something on the ground. She moved over to the elf. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± she asked Maeryn. ¡°Caught whiff of something around here. Though it might be something.¡± ¡°Should I ask what that is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little gross.¡± Jeanne shrugged. ¡°Not like we haven¡¯t gone through disgusting thing in the past.¡± Maeryn bobbed her head back and forth, mulling the words over. ¡°Fair enough. Something I learned when my father was teaching me to hunt was to find things animals leave behind that can be used to track them. This can be bits of fur caught on brush, foot prints, things like that.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± ¡°Well, the problem is those tend to be hard to find. Even for elves, sometimes it can be lost in the plethora of everything else in a forest,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°So, you try to find something that is a bit easier and something animal can¡¯t help but leave behind.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Maeryn looked up at Jeanne. ¡°What do we all do at least once on any given day?¡± Jeanne began scrunching her face. ¡°I think I get what going with that. And it¡¯s a little ¡­ more than what I was expecting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not glamorous, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Maeryn admitted. ¡°But shit is a good way to track what you¡¯re looking for. Course, it¡¯s a lot easier to do that with animals than with sentient persons.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°How many deer do you see trying to hide their droppings to keep hunters from following them?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Fair point.¡± Maeryn sniffed the air again before moving aside some of the brush and spotting something underneath. ¡°There we are,¡± she said. ¡°You found ¡­¡± Jeanne began to ask before she saw what Maeryn found. ¡°¡­ shit?¡± ¡°Not old either,¡± Maeryn said, rising to her feet. Jeanne just looked at Maeryn with a disturbed look. ¡°What?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I¡¯m trying ¡­ really hard not to make a lot of shit-themed jokes.¡± ¡°This is a hard one for you isn¡¯t it?¡± Maeryn asked. Jeanne turned away. ¡°Just stop talking about it, please,¡± Jeanne said, barely keeping back to the laughter. ¡°You know you want to say it.¡± ¡°I think this is a crappy way to find people, Maer,¡± Jeanne said. Maeryn snorted out a laughter. ¡°That was a bad one.¡± ¡°I think Doc is having too much of an influence on me,¡± Jeanne said, wiping away a tear from her eye. As Jeanne was getting her composure back, she heard a harsh groan. She pulled her head back slightly. ¡°I know that was a bad one, but it didn¡¯t need that response.¡± ¡°What do mean?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°The groan.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t?¡± ¡°No, I thought that was you.¡± Both women looked at each other and Maeryn turned an ear up and closed her eyes. In an instant, she opened her eyes, notched her bow with an arrow and loosed it towards a direction in the forest. They heard a sharp shriek and rushed to find the source. Part TBD - Developments Moving through the brush as fast as they could they slide to a halt as they found a creature. The sleeve of its tunic stuck to a tree by Maeryn¡¯s arrow. So this is a goblin, Jeanne thought to herself, not much different from the books Leonidas showed me. The goblin was short, reaching to halfway up between Jeanne¡¯s knee and thigh. It had shoulder length hair, palish green skin, its muscles were wiry and defined. Its eyes were gold, with green rings circling the outer part. The face somewhat rounded, with a nose somewhat turned up. Teeth bared as the two women drew closer. ¡°Do you know if goblins have their own speech?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°I know common, damn it!¡± the goblin snapped. Both women turned to the goblin, wide-eyed. ¡°Didn¡¯t bother asking me, did you?¡± the goblin challenged. Maeryn turned to Jeanne. ¡°They got us there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a man!¡± the goblin replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to tell,¡± Jeanne confessed with embarrassment. ¡°I can, but I didn¡¯t want to assume,¡± Maeryn followed. ¡°Well isn¡¯t that awfully kind of you,¡± the goblin said. ¡°Now, if my damned support would come and help me!¡± ¡°We¡¯re dealing with their backup!¡± another goblin voice shouted. Jeanne and Maeryn turned to find two more goblins their bows ready to loose their arrows at Benkin, Gabriel and Leonidas. Their own weapons drawn and ready to engage the enemy. ¡°Well, that explains a bit,¡± Jeanne said pulling out her hammer and stepping towards the other two goblins. Maeryn trained her weapon at the other two, who noticed the threat behind them. One of the goblins turned their weapon to Jeanne and Maeryn. ¡°Let our friend go!¡± the one facing Jeanne and Maeryn demanded. ¡°Put your weapons down!¡± Jeanne ordered. ¡°You attacked us first!¡± the second goblin shouted. ¡°You were sneaking on us,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°And this isn¡¯t disproving why we were doing that?¡± the one facing them answered. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be here if you hadn¡¯t kidnapped the halfling child,¡± Gabriel responded. All three goblins turned towards the vampyre. ¡°What now?¡± the one facing the vampire asked. ¡°You have a child, Cullen, we¡¯re here to find him.¡± The goblins exchanged glances. ¡°You¡¯re here ¡­ for him?¡± the one facing Jeanne and Maeryn asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Benkin replied, ¡°his parents sent us to bring him home.¡± ¡°As in ¡­ take him away ¡­ from us,¡± the goblin stuck on the tree followed. ¡°Do you not know what find and bring home mean?¡± Jeanne asked. One of the goblins unnotched their arrow and began crying as the other comforted him. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± the first said. ¡°It¡¯s finally over.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think this day would come,¡± the other said. Jeanne and the others looked at each other, bewildered from the spectacle. Jeanne turned to the goblin stuck to the tree and said, ¡°The hell are we missing here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± the goblin said, ¡°and I¡¯d be bit more willing to explain if I wasn¡¯t stuck on this damned tree!¡± The goblin turned to Maeryn, ¡°no offense meant.¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Maeryn asked, offended. ¡°Given the way this day is going, I¡¯m not taking any chances.¡± *** Cid stared at Jeanne and the others as they gave him their report, their three goblins guests standing nearby. ¡°I¡¯m starting to wish I¡¯d taken up a whole different career entirely,¡± he said aloud. ¡°So let me get this straight,¡± he said to the goblins, ¡°Gavin came to you ¡­ willingly?¡± One stepped forward and said, ¡°As crazy as it sounds, yes. We were out searching for game to hunt, when this halfling boy comes down the road, skipping and hollering all the while, and when he found us, declared he was one of us.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°And you didn¡¯t send him home?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°We tried,¡± the other said, ¡°we kept escorting back home. Even doing that smack on the bottom with our bows to keep him from following us. But he just kept tracking us and insisted he was one of our kin.¡± ¡°Where is he now?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Back in our village, in a cave not far from here.¡± ¡°You brought him back to your village?¡± Cid asked. ¡°He was going to get himself killed!¡± the one who was stuck on the tree insisted. ¡°If he wasn¡¯t somewhere safe the he¡¯d be dead, and we¡¯d take the blame for murdering him. The chief thought if we informed someone from the village of the boy¡¯s whereabouts that¡¯d be the end of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m assuming that didn¡¯t go according to plan?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± said the first goblin. ¡°Anytime we came near the boy¡¯s farm, they¡¯d sick the dogs on us. Then we tried contacting someone at one of the other farms, and they either tried to turn us into dog food, or shot us up with crossbows and bows. And then when we were trying to contact their reeve, they grabbed a whole posse and hunted us for two weeks!¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cid said, leaning back and shaking his head slowly. ¡°That¡¯s something.¡± ¡°Have you tried writing something to them?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know how to write Common,¡± the second goblin said. ¡°And even if we were able to get a message to anyone in that village, there¡¯s no telling whether they¡¯d tried to kill us on sight for whatever reason.¡± ¡°And how do we know this isn¡¯t some kind of ploy to throw us off our guard?¡± said Maeryn. The one who was stuck on the tree said adamantly. ¡°We¡¯re hunters, we hunt! And we want to get this idiot out of our home.¡± ¡°He keeps getting on some of the other goblins¡¯ nerves, and the chief has been the only one keeping him alive!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t want money. We just want to live in quiet and away from all of these troubles. Which he¡¯s made worse since he¡¯s been here. The sooner he¡¯s back with his family, alive and unharmed, the better is for us.¡± Cid rubbed his chin while pondering his next move for a moment. Jeanne turned back to the goblins, tapping her foot as she waited to hear Cid¡¯s decision. She was taken aback by how the goblins had acted different from what she had always heard about them. They stood upright, proud and noble in their bearing. Far from the image of sniveling, hunched, wicked creatures lurking in dark woods and caverns, waiting to strike at the first person thing to prey upon. What¡¯s more, what caught her off guard was their conduct. She had heard more stories than she could count on the finicky nature of these goblins. How they¡¯d turn on each other for food, for gold, for their self-preservation. But these didn¡¯t run. They stayed with one who was unable to leave. Risking their own lives for their companion. It was admirable. It was noble. It wasn¡¯t the greatest show of bravery in the face of death. But bravery can found in the smallest of actions. And this was anything but small. Added to this, their conduct was what through her off the most. Despite their initial hostility, they were calm, thorough in their examination. They spoke with the same level of fluency as people she had known back in her village. Little if any broken speech. She scratched the back of her neck, having a problem comprehending all of this as she felt Leonidas nudge her shoulder. She turned to him as he jutted his chin up quickly. You doing all right, he gestured to her. She nodded. Just, she hesitated for a moment, wrapping my head around a few things. Do those things happen to be standing in front of Cid? Jeanne nodded. ¡°Ah¡± Leonidas said softly. He leaned in next to her ear. ¡°Come over here.¡± The two walked a short distance from the others. ¡°What¡¯s got you all ¡­ um ¡­¡± Leonidas tried to ask, having an issue with finishing the question. ¡°Befuddle?¡± Jeanne finished. ¡°That¡¯ll work,¡± Leonidas said, nodding slowly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t what I was thinking of, but it¡¯ll work.¡± Jeanne looked back to the goblins before turning back to Leonidas. ¡°It¡¯s just, these weren¡¯t what I expected goblins to be.¡± ¡°What, short, snappy and lack general understanding of proper social decorum?¡± ¡°Pretty much, yes.¡± ¡°Something I learned quickly when I was in The Outlands was to set aside much of what I was told about goblins, ogres, orcs and all the rest.¡± Jeanne demurred at the comment. ¡°Really, orcs?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t buy the stories told about them,¡± Leonidas responded. ¡°They pillaged and burned half the empire,¡± she replied, trying not to raise her voice. ¡°And the empire was altruistic in its own acquisition of territory?¡± Jeanne leaned forward, grimacing at the comment. ¡°Don¡¯t take that fancy word tone with me,¡± she said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t disprove the point, Jeanne.¡± ¡°Nor does it excuse what they did.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not excusing the actions of a group long gone. I¡¯m talking about the group that exists today.¡± ¡°Oh Shepherd¡¯s sake, this is turning into one of those ¡­¡± Jeanne said, throwing her head back and pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Sophist debates, which you have no earthly desire to participate?¡± Jeanne tapped his chest repeatedly. ¡°Yeah, that, that one.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°I¡¯d rather not have this out in the woods either.¡± Jeanne looked out into the woods her mouth jutting to the side slightly. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I was trying to find to say to make you uncomfortable, but I couldn¡¯t think of anything.¡± ¡°Always in the moment, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Listen,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°I¡¯m getting upset, this is how I deescalate myself.¡± Leonidas gave out a pronounced snort. ¡°What was that about?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Now you have me thinking weird stuff,¡± he said, trying to stifle his laughter. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me because you have a filthy mind, you filthy little man.¡± ¡°Just remember that when we get back to the inn.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Leonidas paused for a moment, pressing his lips together. ¡°I was hoping you wouldn¡¯t ask that.¡± Doc, Jeanne!¡± they heard Kveldulf call out. ¡°Cid wants you back here.¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Come on, before they start suspecting.¡± ¡°Suspecting what?¡± Leonidas asked, confused. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know,¡± Jeanne replied. As they returned to the others, Cid nodded a little before rising to his feet. ¡°All right,¡± we¡¯ll be moving out to the goblins¡¯ home in the morning. And ¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I know you told me, but what were your names again?¡± ¡°Heliw Vey¡¯in,¡± said the first goblin. ¡°Heliw Tar¡¯kis,¡± said the second. ¡°Heliw Kul¡¯kis,¡± said the who was stuck to the tree. ¡°Um,¡± Silvius said, putting his finger to his mouth, ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. Do you all share the same first name?¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Tar¡¯kis said, ¡°that¡¯s the name of our title. It means hunter.¡± ¡°That makes a lot of sense,¡± Silvius said, turning to Hypatia. Tar¡¯kis turned to Kul¡¯kis next to him. ¡°We¡¯re siblings though, if that helps at all.¡± ¡°The ¡®kis¡¯ part?¡± Hypatia asked. All three goblins nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to jot that down before I forget everything,¡± Hypatia said before she began frantically searching for her writing affects. Part TBD - Cullen Found The Wolves followed the three goblins towards the opening of a large cavern. Two other goblins walked out, spears in hand and pointed towards the mercenaries. ¡°Halt and be heard,¡± one of the guards called out. ¡°Gwyfyn Sil¡¯vah, Gwyfyn Qos¡¯riw, it¡¯s us. We¡¯ve arrived with some guests,¡± Vey¡¯in replied. ¡°And what from the hunt?¡± one of the guards asked. ¡°We starting to get low on the rations.¡± ¡°Nothing, Sil¡¯vah,¡± Kul¡¯kis said. ¡°Something has been chasing off the deer and everything else.¡± ¡°Anything from the casgwrs?¡± Tar¡¯kis asked the guards. Qos¡¯riw shook her head. ¡°Not yet, haven¡¯t heard a word from them for the last three days. I think the boss will send some people to go find them.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Vey¡¯in growled out loudly. ¡°We¡¯re never going to find anything to eat at this rate.¡± ¡°Have you tried farming?¡± Silvius asked. All of the goblins turned to him, snarling. ¡°Was it something I said?¡± ¡°The last time our kin tried to head out and farm these lands, they hunted down like dogs and piked outside this livingly quaint village. So, you tell us if those words were ill chosen.¡± Silvius¡¯ head sunk into his neck as turned away from the conversation. The guards spoke to the three hunters in their native tongue, Heliw Tul¡¯kis turned to The Wolves. ¡°Nothing to fret, just letting them know you¡¯re not here to cause trouble.¡± Jeanne noticed Kveldulf was looking at her. ¡°What?¡± she asked him. ¡°You heard what they said, no trouble.¡± ¡°I am not an instigator of trouble,¡± she followed. Kveldulf kept his sight on her. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Kveldulf remained unmoving. ¡°All right, I might be troublesome.¡± Kveldulf turned away, a slight smirk on his face. ¡°And you¡¯re the enabler,¡± she said. ¡°Fair enough.¡± One of the goblin guards left their post and walked deeper into the cave. The others looked at each other and however much they were able to see into the great cavern until darkness blocked out their vision. After a long moment, the goblin returned, muttering something to the other guard before they turned to The Wolves. ¡°The glowplm will see you all now,¡± Sil¡¯vah said, ¡°but we will need to keep hold of your weapons until your business is done here.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not, thank you kindly,¡± said Silvius, placing his hand on the scabbard of his blade. ¡°Then you can wait here until everything is concluded,¡± Qos¡¯riw followed. ¡°We¡¯re not letting strangers into our homes so fully armed.¡± Cid raised his hand to the others. ¡°Why don¡¯t I and a couple others go in and the rest of you wait out here?¡± he said, removing his sword from its belt. ¡°I¡¯ll come with,¡± said Jeanne, removing her hammer. ¡°Same here,¡± said Leonidas, handing the guards his sword and staff. ¡°You can leave them at the front here,¡± said Sil¡¯vah, to a table resting a short distance within the mouth of the cave, ¡°and they¡¯ll be returned to you when you¡¯re ready to leave. Now, if you¡¯ll follow me, please.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Cid, Jeanne and Leonidas followed the goblin guard and the three hunters as they journeyed deep within the cave. The bumpy stone walls jutted out and receded, with small fingerlings of tree roots piercing through the top of the rocky ceiling, and stretching out to the open space below. Gradually encircling around the stalactites hanging from above. Some of the stalagmites were hewed away to make the path inside easier to traverse. Once through the first passage, and the opening behind them was nowhere to be seen, they came to a wider opening within the bowels of the cave. A small creek running along the bottom, with fish swimming through the waters. Homes were carved out of the rocks themselves. The windows placed high above and no opening was seen on the walls. ¡°How do your people enter your homes?¡± Jeanne asked the goblins. Vey¡¯in pointed towards one residence where a father and son were lowering a ladder before climbing down from the rooftop. ¡°We have it where we enter from the top. Keeps predators and the like out.¡± ¡°And what if something comes here and they¡¯re not an animal?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Depends,¡± Tul¡¯kis, ¡°we keep a good watch at the front to ensure no one can simply sneak in, and don¡¯t leave anything of great value here in the living chamber.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose asking where that is would be a good idea?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Would you give that up so a stranger?¡± Qos¡¯riw said. ¡°Not a bad point,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Either way,¡± Vey¡¯in continued, ¡°that¡¯s known to our glowplm.¡± ¡°Glowplm?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Our leader, it means mine leader in your tongue.¡± ¡°I take it mining is an important part of your community?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Not just the dwarves who find caverns deep and old their home,¡± Qos¡¯riw replied. ¡°Our kin have been diving the earthen seas for jewels and riches for generations.¡± They passed a goblin working a smithy, the smith paused his work a hot iron as he watched three tall strangers pass by their village. Vey¡¯in spotted the goblin stupefied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kal¡¯en. Everything¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± the smith replied, ¡°Or the boss is going to have a field day and a half when he¡¯s done.¡± Qos¡¯riw chuckled, ¡°We¡¯ll see old-kin.¡± The three Wolves looked at the goblin inquisitively. Qos¡¯riw turned to them, seeing their faces. ¡°Oh right, that¡¯s something we call our older members. Sort of an honored titled.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting that.¡± ¡°Lemme guess,¡± Tul¡¯kis said, ¡°you heard we eat our elders after a certain age.¡± ¡°That was one of them, yeah.¡± Tul¡¯kis shook his head, looking up in disgust. ¡°And we¡¯re the sick ones.¡± Reaching a third chamber of the cave, even greater in size than the last, they found a complex set of wooden scaffolding, rail system and hewed paths along the cavern walls. All three of The Wolves dropped their mouths at the scene. Vey¡¯in turned to the other goblins. ¡°I told you lot this would happen.¡± ¡°You say that after the fact,¡± Qos¡¯riw replied, playfully punching her shoulder. ¡°Come on,¡± Tul¡¯kis said to the others. ¡°We aren¡¯t off duty yet.¡± Reaching a platform holding up an l-shaped desk, with the railing of the deck surrounding the back of the furniture piece, the group found a female goblin going over a series of parchments laying on her desk. She drank from a tankard and bit a small bite from a bread slice on her plate. ¡°Boss!¡± Qow¡¯ris called out, ¡°Here are the people the hunters found nearby.¡± She put her tankard and parchments down and calmly stood up from her desk. ¡°So they are,¡± she said holding out her hand. ¡°I¡¯m the goruchlwr, here Wyluch Ar¡¯iel.¡± Cid returned the gesture, ¡°Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I¡¯m Cid of The Wolves, these are two of my people, one of my lieutenants, Joan and our doctor, Leonidas.¡± ¡°And you lot are here for our halfling ¡­ guest?¡± Ar¡¯iel asked them. ¡°Gavin? Yes,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Right,¡± Ar¡¯iel said, gesturing them to follow her. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to him. Tul, Qos, Kul, Vey, you all can all return to your posts.¡± The three goblins gave her a quick nod and moved back to their positions. Ar¡¯iel turned to the three Wolves. ¡°Let¡¯s not keep good Gavin waiting.¡± They negotiated down a long flight of stone steps deep into the caverns of the mining space. Jeanne felt her leg muscles begin to burn with each step. She noticed Leonidas beginning to rub his thighs and wincing a little in pain. ¡°You all right?¡± she asked him. ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± he said. ¡°Just been a while since I¡¯ve had to climb a lot of stairs.¡± ¡°Took us a while to get used to it, too,¡± Ar¡¯iel said to them. ¡°And sometimes even I wish we could hire someone just to lug us up and down a flight or two.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have elevating platforms to use?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°That would require more advances carpentry, which means more resources and tools, and that would mean interaction with our neighbors, who¡¯d much rather have our heads on plates of a variable nature in quality,¡± Ar¡¯iel replied. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°that would create a bit of a problem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± Ar¡¯iel followed. ¡°but I don¡¯t want to burden you with all those troubles.¡± She reached one longer stone landing with a grated metal door. She pulled out a key and with a quick couple of twists, pushed the door inside. ¡°Come, come,¡± she said, ¡°Our guest of honor is inside. Stepping into the room, the three Wolves saw the walls, unlike outside, were smoothed and lined with firmly reinforced shelves, each one holding large wooden boxes marked with labels saying, Iron, Coal, and other earthen materials. Pickaxes and other mining tools hung on the wall, stretching the entire length of the long hall, save for the spaces made for the doors into deeper chambers. Ar¡¯iel stopped on the third door to the left and turned back to The Wolves. ¡°Give me a moment, if you¡¯d please. Gavin can be ¡­ interesting at times.¡± ¡°What do you mean interesting?¡± Cid asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Ar¡¯iel said as she walked inside. The three could hear her say. ¡°Well this is about what I expected. It¡¯s good to come in!¡± Part TBD - Spelunking Cid, walked in first, followed by Jeanne and Leonidas into a room with a simple cot and a plain square wooden table and chair. A wooden tub without a lining sat nearby the bed and there was no wash bin and a simple pot for less becoming needs. Cid turned to Ar¡¯iel, saying, ¡°Are there no accommodations to be made for the young man?¡± ¡°We did!¡± Ar¡¯iel replied. ¡°He insisted on these conditions. We had to force the cot on him. The fool wanted to sleep on the cold hard floor.¡± Leonidas looked around the room. ¡°Where is the boy any ¨C?¡± Before he could finish, the four heard a boy cry out and fall from the ceiling and land on the floor. They looked at the boy laying still and not moving. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s dead?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Hold on,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°let me try something.¡± She pressed foot softly on his back and he let out a low groan. She then pressed in a rhythmic pattern and he let out the groans in time to the pressings. ¡°Well, he always sell his skills as a living instrument.¡± ¡°Jeanne!¡± Cid exclaimed. ¡°Fine, can¡¯t have any fun.¡± ¡°Was it worth it, funny man?¡± Ar¡¯iel asked. Gavin said nothing, moaning as rolled on the floor. ¡°I think you should probably take care him, doctor,¡± Cid said. ¡°One moment,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°Is this something he does regularly?¡± ¡°All the damn time,¡± Ar¡¯iel said, ¡°kept telling him to knock it off. But we kept knowing better didn¡¯t we, little master?¡± Gavin still said nothing. ¡°I¡¯m hoping that¡¯ll get him to stop. But who knows at this point.¡± ¡°Maybe we should let this simmer a bit,¡± Jeanne suggested. ¡°Jeanne, this isn¡¯t some stew,¡± Cid said. ¡°I am not dealing with this on the way back,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°The boy isn¡¯t going to make it, if he keeps doing that,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°Jeanne will throw him into a pit somewhere.¡± ¡°Not ours,¡± Ar¡¯iel said, ¡°we can¡¯t have that sort of word coming out about us.¡± Cid lifted his palm towards the goblin. ¡°We will not be throwing anyone into any pit, isn¡¯t that right, Jeanne?¡± ¡°I feel like this was a rather pointed question,¡± Jeanne said to Cid. ¡°Because it was.¡± ¡°Well if that¡¯s how we¡¯re going to play this game,¡± Jeanne replied, feigning indignance. ¡°Doctor,¡± Cid said, pointing to Gavin. ¡°If he bites me, I¡¯m taking a his liver.¡± ¡°No!¡± Gavin cried out, in a rough, gravelly voice, ¡°no one shall take my treasures.¡± The three Wolves turned to Ar¡¯iel. ¡°What?¡± Cid asked. ¡°He ¡­ he think¡¯s he is a ¡­ treasure goblin.¡± Jeanne turned back to the others. ¡°Do you think this quest is done? I think this quest done. Let¡¯s go celebrate with some drinks! Drinks to the memory of Gavin!¡± She then turned around and began walking out of the room, stepping over the halfling. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving with the boy, Jeanne,¡± Cid replied. ¡°But why!¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°We are not letting his parents think he¡¯s dead when he¡¯s not.¡± ¡°He thinks he¡¯s a treasure goblin. He acts like a treasure goblin. Do you really think his parents want to see this?¡± ¡°Jeanne.¡± ¡°This is ridiculous, and you know it, Cid.¡± ¡°Jeanne, I don¡¯t want to pull rank.¡± Jeanne narrowed her eyes to him. ¡°What if I paid you?¡± ¡°I should probably make sure he doesn¡¯t have a broken rib,¡± Leonidas said, taking out his blood red orb. Gavin reached up for it and as his hands closed around it, red sparks came forth and shocked his hands. He recoiled and looked at the orb with surprise. ¡°Really, Gavin, really?¡± ¡°Jeanne, I pay you?¡± Cid said to Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯ll give you my pay,¡± Jeanne tried negotiating. ¡°Jeanne, seriously.¡± ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Jeanne said before turning to Cullen. ¡°Hey, Cullen, you want to go home or stay here?¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I think I¡¯d like to not get hit,¡± Cullen replied as Leonidas finished examining his torso. ¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± Leonidas said to the boy. ¡°It¡¯s not a pleasant experience.¡± ¡°I made up for that afterwards,¡± Jeanne replied, crossly. ¡°How?¡± Jeanne stared at him with a clenched jaw and bared teeth. ¡°Oh ¡­ oh! Right, shouldn¡¯t have forgotten that.¡± Jeanne made a strangling gesture towards the doctor as Cid tapped on her shoulder. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some air.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get something all right,¡± she said stepping outside. She spotted the pickaxes on the well. ¡°Look! Pickaxes!¡± she cried out. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Cid snapped. ¡°All right, all right,¡± Jeanne said as she left the hallway. She arrived to the walkway overlooking the vast mining operation. Seeing dozens of goblins going to work, using their tools to dislodge bits of earth and rock, placing chunks into wagons and pushing them down tracks and towards a deeper vault within the mine¡¯s infrastructure. She found it hard not be impressed at the sheer scale of the operation down here. The time and care they would¡¯ve had to put in to make a reality and keep it sustaining. Jeanne heard the sound of shoes shuffling on the floor off to her side. She turned to find two goblins moving down the way and towards a deeper part of the mine. ¡°Excuse us,¡± one of the goblins said as they moved by Jeanne. She moved against the railing, ¡°Pardon.¡± One of the goblins stopped and turned to Jeanne. ¡°Are you the lot here for the odd one?¡± ¡°You mean, Cullen?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Aye,¡± the other goblins replied. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re here to pick him up,¡± she said before they heard the halfling scream, ¡°Gold gold, glittering gold!¡± before making another sharp cry of pain. ¡°Stop touching those!¡± they heard Leonidas bark. Jeanne turned back to the goblins. ¡°Getting him back in one piece is a whole other matter.¡± One of the goblins, a male with short brown hair and hair lip mark on his upper lip, said, ¡°You¡¯d be doing us all a favor getting him out of here.¡± ¡°Has he been that much trouble?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Trouble is putting it lightly,¡± said the other, a female goblin with black hair long enough to be put into a small pony tail. ¡°He¡¯s got about half of the place wanting his head and the other half in a pit.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch that!¡± Leonidas shouted from the other room before they heard a sharp buzzing sound followed by a loud crack. Cullen cried out once more. ¡°Don¡¯t touch has only one meaning!¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Oh that¡¯s nothing. There¡¯s the chickens he¡¯s pilfered.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Before he stuck in that room, he was nabbing every chicken, goose, or other birds he could get his hands on.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Who knows,¡± the female goblin replied. ¡°Most of us don¡¯t like chicken!¡± ¡°Then he was going about trying to trick children into give him their parents coins and jewels,¡± said the male goblin. ¡°Then there was that whole thing he did, trying to rub moss on his chest to make it seem like he was a ¡­ ¡®hairy goblin¡¯,¡± the female goblin said. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s so much wrong there,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°And that¡¯s the stuff I can think of off the top of my head,¡± the male one said. ¡°Same,¡± the female miner followed. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you all didn¡¯t throw him into a hole and be done with it,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°The though had crossed our minds,¡± the male miner said. ¡°More than a few if we¡¯re going to be honest here,¡± the female miner said. ¡°But the boss reminded us that many people are looking for a reason to grab their pitch forks and torches and put everything up in smokes. And the less trouble we give those outside, the better we¡¯re going to be in here.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°What do you do all do with everything you mine here?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a couple of traders who¡¯ll stop on by and purchase our wells. Sometimes they¡¯ll even buy our smith¡¯s goods when they¡¯re in need.¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Jeanne said, looking amused. ¡°Have ever been to a mine before?¡± the male miner asked. ¡°Not really,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I¡¯ve peeked into a sapper tunnel once to know I wouldn¡¯t enjoy it.¡± Both the miners recoiled. ¡°Oof, you wouldn¡¯t catch in any of those,¡± the female miner said. ¡°My uncle worked as a sapper for a lord back in The Outlands. That¡¯s a nasty job.¡± ¡°Your uncle was in The Outlands?¡± ¡°Aye, got in trouble for lending his services to the wrong side of a civil dispute.¡± ¡°Civil war?¡± Jeanne asked. The female miner nodded. ¡°Yeah, one of those wonderful discourses. And he took that instead of being executed.¡± ¡°I guess he wound up finding work then,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°More than he ever wanted. And when he was able to come home, he never wanted to dive back into another hole for as long as he lived.¡± ¡°But our little mine should be more than fine for your comfort, if you want to take a quick tour.¡± ¡°Let me tell my friends so they don¡¯t think I¡¯ve gotten lost or doing something to cause a problem.¡± Jeanne went up back to the room where Cullen was being housed and saw Cullen now between two of the ceiling rafters as Leonidas and Ar¡¯iel were trying to get him down. Cid, with his hand over his mouth, looked at the scene before he spotted Jeanne. ¡°Oh, I forgot you went for some air,¡± he said to her. ¡°I was going to get a tour of the mines, you ¡­ want to tag along?¡± ¡°Give me a moment,¡± Cid as he turned back to the other two. ¡°Doctor, is there anything Jeanne or I could do to help with this?¡± ¡°I think Ar¡¯iel and I should be able to handle this,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°But if you could shut the door, that¡¯d be helpful.¡± Cid and Jeanne slowly stepped out of the room and closed the door behind them. ¡°That was just getting ¡­ odd.¡± ¡°I think we pasted the point of odd a while ago, Cid.¡± ¡°I know, but I was hoping we could go back before too long.¡± Cid and Jeanne rejoined the two other goblins as they were removing two glowing rocks from their satchels. These rocks were significantly bigger than the ones Leonidas used, and began to illuminate the immediate area clearly around them. ¡°Oh, you brought a friend,¡± the female goblin said with a smile. ¡°I thought he could use a break from whatever is going on in there,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Fair enough,¡± the male goblin said, handing them both a glowing rock. ¡°Here, you¡¯ll want have these on hand when you¡¯re going inside.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to assume having a torch is not a good idea,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°With all the gases bunched up around here with a penchant for explosive results, do you want an open flame going nearby?¡± the male goblin asked. ¡°Good point,¡± Cid said. ¡°But I suppose we should introduce each other before we dive into the mine.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± the male goblin said, ¡°That would be a good one.¡± ¡°I think we got caught in the chit-chat,¡± the female one said. ¡°But I¡¯m Cymnwr Alm¡¯gis and this is Cymnwr Rul¡¯kil.¡± ¡°Good to meet you both,¡± Cid said, bowing his head forehead. ¡°I¡¯m Cid, and this is one of my seconds, Jeanne.¡± ¡°Good to meet you both,¡± said Rul¡¯kil, ¡°Just a few rules before we go in, don¡¯t mess with the supporters, unless you want to die. Don¡¯t smack anything with a large red x on it, unless you want to die. And for the love of nymphs, do not start a fire unless you want to die badly.¡± ¡°So,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°hands in pockets for me then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna need one out for the orb,¡± Alm¡¯gis said. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°Forgot about that.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t summon a fireball, Jeanne,¡± Cid said. ¡°But they¡¯re so fun a springy.¡± ¡°Springy?¡± Rul¡¯kil said, confused. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask, I¡¯m ready to go inside when you are,¡± Cid said. ¡°Right,¡± said Alm¡¯gis, ¡°this way please.¡± Part TBD - The Rescue Jeanne and Cid ducked their heads under the thick wooden rafters. The stale air in the enclosed space gave took a long for both of them to adjust as they proceeded further. ¡°You¡¯ll want to throw something on,¡± said Rul¡¯kil, ¡°it¡¯ll help keep you from getting overwhelmed before we¡¯re out.¡± ¡°How long are you all down here?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Well, the boss has someone keeping an eye on the sun, so we¡¯re in a little after sun up and a little before sundown.¡± ¡°Stickler on being punctual, isn¡¯t she?¡± Cid followed. ¡°Well, if you one too hard, they tend to work less they normally can or they make a mistake and wind up collapsing half a tunnel with themselves and few others trapped inside.¡± ¡°I take it this is what you¡¯ve dealt with before?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°More than a few times,¡± Alm¡¯gis replied. ¡°Most of us know someone who had that happened. And Ar¡¯iel had us split from other mine operation when the owner told her we were worth less than the earth we dug.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard my share of that,¡± Cid said. ¡°I can imagine,¡± Rul¡¯kil said. ¡°Felidans aren¡¯t the most welcomed folk around here.¡± ¡°Add them to the list,¡± Alm¡¯gis said, turning to Cid. ¡°No offense.¡± ¡°None taken,¡± Cid replied. They arrived to a set of spiral staircase winding down. There was little light provided by the ends of both entrances into the walkway. Cid and Jeanne both having their hands on the walls as they moved before they could see their footing again. On the other side, the scent of earth and stone mixed with sweat as the four moved down the corridor. The interior was wide, with space for two carts to pass around support columns placed in the center of the corridor and then side by side with enough room for workers to pick away at the stone. More of the gold orbs rested short distances apart along both sides of the walls, providing light to work inside. Suspended along the ceiling at every other golden orb was a white crystal, dull and emanating no light from within. Jeanne spotted it, turning to Rul¡¯kil. ¡°That one isn¡¯t lighting up.¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t,¡± Rul¡¯kil replied. ¡°If it does, then we¡¯ve got more than a few problems.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± Cid followed. ¡°Once we¡¯re out of the mineshaft, then yeah,¡± Alm¡¯gis responded. ¡°If that thing lights up, I wouldn¡¯t say to have a deep conversation.¡± Cid and Jeanne moved behind one of the columns as a cart passed, examining some of the deep black rocks sitting on top of the cart with jet stone, cairngorm quartz, gold, blue fluorite, and even diamonds resting inside. ¡°By the Shepherd,¡± Jeanne softly said to herself, ¡°What are you lot digging in here?¡± ¡°Oh, you a gemstone here and there, and enough coal to choke a hundred team of horses,¡± Rul¡¯kil answered. ¡°Not that you¡¯d want to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t suppose there¡¯s silver coming out of these mines as well?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Aye,¡± said Alm¡¯gis, ¡°though that tends to go to the smithy before any of it is sent for trading.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Weapons mostly,¡± Alm¡¯gis replied. ¡°Werewolves?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t want to. But I¡¯m not getting caught off guard, regardless.¡± Jeanne turned to Cid and gestured, We should tell Leonidas this when he¡¯s done with the halfling. Cid nodded. Agreed. This isn¡¯t sitting with me at all. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. A commotion came from their right, and they turned to see a goblin holding up another miner, the other¡¯s feet dragging down on the floor. Alm¡¯gis called out to them. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Eil¡¯ra was working his section of the rockface when he just collapsed. I don¡¯t know what happened.¡± Before any could say a word, the white crystals at the top began glowing strongly. All the goblins looking up, their mouths dropping at the sight. Kul¡¯kis went to a nearby bell and began ringing it high as they could. ¡°Out out out!¡± Kul¡¯kis called out. ¡°Bad air! Bad air! Out out out!¡± The other miners dropped their tools and moved towards the stairs and out of the tunnel. Jeanne and Cid moving back up the stairs with the others and watching as some of the goblins organized the rest into smaller groups. One goblin turned to Alm¡¯gis, ¡°All present here,¡± they said, before letting out a sigh of relief. ¡°Same here!¡± another called out before others followed suited. One of the goblins looked around, concerning growing on their face. ¡°Where¡¯s Wul¡¯num?¡± Some of the others looked around, confused. ¡°He was just behind us,¡± of the miners said. ¡°Damn it all!¡± the group leader snapped. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Kul¡¯kis asked. ¡°We got a man missing down there.¡± ¡°Shit!,¡± Kul¡¯kis hissed. ¡°The rest of you stay here, Alm, make sure everyone is accounted for.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Alm¡¯gis asked. ¡°Someone needs to get Wul out or he won¡¯t be getting out at all.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t make it out yourself,¡± Alm¡¯gis followed. ¡°I¡¯m not letting him die in there!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go in,¡± Jeanne said, removing her cloak and throwing it to the side. ¡°I can get in and out quick.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know the layout of the mine,¡± Alm¡¯gis said. ¡°Then we both go,¡± Jeanne said. Alm¡¯gis grunted sharply before nodding. ¡°All right.¡± They turned as the sound of splashing water broke the conversation. Leonidas was pulling two soaked long pieces of linen from a water barrel. ¡°Put these on, it¡¯ll help lessen the fumes when you go in.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose a charm or two would help?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Most aren¡¯t anymore than a pretty rock on a string,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°and the functional ones are tuned to air, sadly.¡± ¡°Well doesn¡¯t that beat all,¡± Jeanne said, tying her soaked linen over her mouth. ¡°Anything I should know before we go in here?¡± ¡°Keep your head on a swivel, don¡¯t start sightseeing, and you try to pilfer one of our jewels and I¡¯ll break your fingers.¡± ¡°Seems fair,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°you first.¡± Alm¡¯gis nodded before making his way down the staircase. Jeanne followed closely behind, both them having their glowing stones out to illuminate the area around them. Reentering the tunnel, Jeanne felt a cold tingling sensation on the back of her neck. She focused on her breathing, so she didn¡¯t breath too fast or deep as they moved in deeper. Even the faintest of shadows in the nooks and crannies of the corridor had her thinking something might come out from the depths of the earth and drag her down in the depths. ¡°This place doesn¡¯t have a history of ill things and devilry within the deep, does it?¡± she asked Alm¡¯gis softly. ¡°Since we¡¯ve been here, no. But we try to make sure we don¡¯t wake anything up. That rarely ends well.¡± ¡°Is that a common occurrence?¡± ¡°Once is enough to merit a policy.¡± ¡°True.¡± Moving deeper into the corridor, Jeanne could hear the light patting of their feet against the earthen floor begin to echo lightly against the walls. ¡°I hate echoes,¡± Alm¡¯gis said, ¡°between the emptiness and this sense something is waiting to jump you, I could do without.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Jeanne said cautiously as her eyes darted around the area with increasing apprehension. Covering a short distance later, Jeanne spotted a pile of brownish clothes. At first she thought a pile of rags resting on floor until she noted two small feet poking out from the bottom. Jeanne tapped Alm¡¯gis¡¯s shoulder who spotted the pile immediately. ¡°Wul¡¯num,¡± Alm¡¯gis said as he raced over, turning the passed out goblin on his back. Alm¡¯gis placed his ear against the goblin¡¯s chest, listening for a moment. ¡°I hear a heartbeat,¡± he said, letting out a sift sigh of relief. ¡°Probably shouldn¡¯t stay here too long or we¡¯ll be in a the same bad spot.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alm¡¯gis said, ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel a little lightheaded myself.¡± Jeanne was beginning to feel a light dizziness as she began picking up the unconscious goblin. Moving through the tunnel, she could begin to feel her legs weakening from the weight. Arms and fingers straining to hold themselves up. She pondered summoning her stone scales, giving her an extra amount of strength, but with the effect the air was having, there was risk of her collapsing in that form, and then there¡¯d be two people needing to be pulled out of the tunnel. And she¡¯d be significantly worse to get out. Halfway through the tunnel, she felt her right leg give in, barely catching herself before she landed flat on the floor. ¡°You all right?¡± Alm¡¯gis asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be better when we get the out of here.¡± She noticed Alm¡¯gis was beginning to show signs of the air getting to him worse than before. Jeanne felt sweat beading on her brow as they moved closer to the exit. She started worrying they¡¯d collapse close to the mouth of the staircase, but far enough to where no one would hear them fall until well after it was too late. She tried pushing the thoughts. Kept her mind on the matter at hand. Her stomach began feeling as if stone had formed inside, slowly making its way up. Just a few more feet, she thought to herself, make it up to the top, and then I can vomit to my heart¡¯s content. Jeanne almost let out a sharp cry of joy when she saw the dim light of the staircase before them. Turning to her left, she saw Alm¡¯gis beginning to lag behind. She put her arm behind the goblin. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re almost there,¡± Jeanne said to him. ¡°I swear, if we get out of this, I¡¯m gonna kill that bastard,¡± Alm¡¯gis said, having a harder time speaking between breaths. ¡°I¡¯ll give you first crack at that,¡± Jeanne said as she pushed Alm¡¯gis onto the first step. Part TBD - Recovery Jeanne could feel her knees ready to give out as they reached the top of the stairs. Some of the goblins rushing to take their friend off her shoulders as she slumped against the wall. Leonidas rushed up to the unconscious goblin. One of the miners, his hands opening and closing into fists. ¡°Is he going to make it?¡± the goblin asked. Leonidas looked Wul¡¯mum over carefully. ¡°He¡¯s definitely going to be out for a while. But I think he should pull through without anymore scares.¡± ¡°R-remind me to wring his neck when we¡¯re done,¡± Alm¡¯gis said. ¡°In good time,¡± Ar¡¯iel replied. ¡°We need to make sure the mine is safe to work in before we go discussing rhetorical threats.¡± Jeanne, now walking over to the railing of the walkway, vomited over the side. Leonidas rushed to her. ¡°Are you all right.¡± She wiped her mouth and looked at him. ¡°Should I answer that one, darling?¡± she said with a gravelly slur. ¡°I mean ¡­ yes?¡± he said hesitantly. ¡°Give me a moment and I¡¯ll get back to you on that one,¡± she said, sitting down and leaning her head against the railing. Leonidas grabbed a flask from his satchel and handed it to her. ¡°Here take this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I should be downing that,¡± she said, waving it off. ¡°It¡¯s water.¡± She immediately grabbed it from his hand. ¡°Gimme!¡± After two long swallows she handed the flask back to Leonidas and breathed in the air and felt her head and muscles feeling better already. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Resting, she heard Ar¡¯iel say to the rest of the goblins. ¡°All right, until the air is cleared, no one goes in without my authority.¡± ¡°How long is that going to take?¡± one of the miners asked. Ar¡¯iel shook her head. ¡°Can¡¯t say, these things don¡¯t run on a tight time table, as much as I hate to say it.¡± ¡°But what are we going to do?¡± another miner asked. ¡°If we can¡¯t mine, we can¡¯t get supplies from the traders who bother stopping here.¡± ¡°If I may,¡± Cid said, ¡°if we can get Master Cullen back to his kin, we may have some pull with the reeve on this.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯re going to listen?¡± Ar¡¯iel asked. ¡°Can¡¯t hurt to try,¡± Cid replied. Jeanne gripped the top railing with her hand and lifted herself up. ¡°If those short stock bastards won¡¯t listen on way, we can beat it in.¡± ¡°I do not like the sound of that,¡± Ar¡¯iel said. ¡°Jeanne ¡­¡± Cid said before she turned to him. ¡°I have not gone through all this, the hunting, the hiding, the stalking, the anxiety, the madness, and now I just had to risk dying in a disturbing tunnel,¡± she stopped to turn to the goblins before turning back to Cid, ¡°no offense, just to be pushed around by some half pint knave,¡± she turned to the goblins, ¡°again, no offense,¡± she said to them, as they shook their heads adamantly, ¡°if they don¡¯t want to be reasonable about it, then they can find out what diplomacy by a fistful of pain is like.¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Oh, come no, Cid. You and I both know this whole mess past the borders of the kingdom of stupid and into the Empire of Absolute-Bullshit. And I¡¯m tired to bowing down to this insanity because a whole town needs a little guy to step on. I say let¡¯s step on them and see how it feels.¡± ¡°Kick their ass!¡± one goblin cried out, as the others let out a rousing cheer. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said, lifting up his hand, ¡°let¡¯s just try the less violent approach first.¡± ¡°And then I hit something, if they don¡¯t?¡± Jeanne asked, looking eager at the idea. ¡°Yes,¡± Cid relented, shirking back immediately as Jeanne let out an enthusiastic war cry and raced off out of the mine. Cid turned back to Leonidas who looked at the Felidan with wide eyes. ¡°The hell just happened?¡± ¡°I am not sure,¡± Cid said, still processing, ¡°though we should probably get good Cullen before she squishes someone into jelly.¡± Part TBD - The Terror Begins I Jeanne, Cid, Leonidas, and the young Halfling Cullen reached the others at the mouth of the cave as the sun left its peak in the day sky. ¡°Well,¡± Kveldulf said to them as they came out from the deep darkness, ¡°that was a long talk.¡± ¡°We had a few bumps in the road,¡± Cid said, ¡°but otherwise, it was a fairly fruitful situation.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s our next move?¡± Benkin asked, getting to his feet. ¡°Return the runt back to his family, and see about getting the towns¡¯ heads out of their asses,¡± Jeanne lifting the halfling boy by the neck and handing him to Kveldulf. ¡°Should I ask?¡± Kveldulf said, looking to Cid. ¡°I¡¯ll explain on the way there,¡± Cid said, looking up to the heavens and shaking his head. Arriving back at the farm, The Wolves found Cullen¡¯s parents tending to their daily chores as they spotted the mercenaries walking towards their homestead. The two sisters spotted the group first, Jeanne could see their mouths dropping as soon as they saw their younger brother amongst the group. They rushed to another part of the homestead, soon followed as a series of excited calls and the rest of the family rushing back to meet them. ¡°By the Sheperd,¡± the father cried out as a lifted Cullen into the air in his arms. ¡°I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d actually do it,¡± the mother said, taking her son and embracing him tightly. One of the sisters turned to The Wolves and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think she meant that as an insult to you.¡± Benkin waved the comment off. ¡°We¡¯ve been called worse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re back,¡± one of the brothers said, patting Cullen¡¯s back. ¡°We were missing you terribly.¡± Cullen, once released from his mother¡¯s hold, tried to readjust his clothing. ¡°Lovely to be back,¡± he said, trying to regain his composure. ¡°We ¨C we don¡¯t know how to begin to repay you,¡± the mother said to The Wolves, wiping tears from her eyes. ¡°You could start with stop trying to kill the goblins every time they poked their heads out of the woods,¡± Jeanne said. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°What?¡± the father blurted out. ¡°Do you know what those things are? What they¡¯re capable of?¡± ¡°A lot more than you,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°And if it wasn¡¯t for them, your boy would¡¯ve been a meal and a half for a hungry wolf.¡± The parents were shaking their heads as one of the daughters came up to The Wolves. ¡°The goblins ¡­ they took care of my brother?¡± ¡°They did,¡± said Cid, ¡°though a few wanted to throw him into a pit for some of his ¡­ habits.¡± ¡°What habits?¡± the father demanded. ¡°Stealing chickens for starters,¡± Leonidas replied. The parents turned to Cullen, ¡°You were the one stealing the chickens?¡± his mother asked. Cullen turned his gaze down and away. ¡°Shepherd guidance!¡± his father cried out, ¡°do you know how many people thought it was someone else?¡± ¡°Maybe the goblins ¨C¡± the mother said before Jeanne stepped forward. ¡°Finish that sentence, I dare ya,¡± Jeanne said through gritted teeth. The mother recoiled, her hands clutching her gown and holding it close to her chest. Silvius stepped in and gingerly placed his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Perhaps we should try a more diplomatic course to assuage this situation?¡± ¡°You¡¯re on the list, too, bub,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°List?¡± Silvius said, confused. ¡°Oh no,¡± Cid said as his shoulders slumped and Kveldulf smacked his head with his hand, ¡°not the list again.¡± ¡°It is back and filled with righteous indignation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a fancy term for being pissed off, isn¡¯t it?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Damn straight!¡± Jeanne said, turning back to the parents as Cid called out. ¡°Jeanne!¡± he ordered, ¡°Knock it off!¡± Jeanne turned to Cid unamused. ¡°I can¡¯t have one moment can I?¡± ¡°Save it for the reeve,¡± Cid said, moving past her and towards the parents. ¡°But she is making a good point. Your animosity towards the goblins is beyond unfounded. And would¡¯ve led to your son being returned sooner.¡± ¡°Sooner?¡± the mother asked. ¡°They were trying to tell you of the situation, but between the constant efforts to stick them with arrows and other unhospitable methods, it only made the matter worse.¡± Both parents turned to the other before turning back to The Wolves. ¡°We ¡­ I can¡¯t think of what to say,¡± the mother replied. ¡°You could head down to the cave, and let them know you appreciate them taking care of your child,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°that¡¯d be a good first step in the right direction.¡± The father nodded. ¡°I guess we could send them something, some food or I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°They could use the food,¡± Cid said, ¡°and they¡¯ll be more than able to repay you.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± the father replied. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°But we should get in contact with the reeve.¡± Jeanne noticed Gabriel as she turned her head towards the direction of the town. She sniffed the air and brows furrowed her eyes had a disturbed look to them. ¡°Something wrong, Gabriel?¡± Jeanne asked. Gabriel barely turned her head towards Jeanne before taking series of deep sniffs. ¡°I think I smell blood.¡± ¡°Blood?¡± Jeanne replied. Maeryn began sniffing the air as well. ¡°I¡¯m smelling it, too.¡± The mother asked, ¡°Is anything wrong?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cid said, ¡°But I think it would be a good idea to stay indoors until we get back.¡± ¡°What if you¡¯re not back soon?¡± one of the sisters asked. ¡°Head to the goblin¡¯s cave,¡± Cid said, ¡°and let them know we sent you. Come on!¡± Part TBD - The Terror Begins II Jeanne could smell the scent of blood hit her nose as they neared the town. Soon it was coupled with the scent of burning smoke, accompanied by a low buzzing him. Jeanne closed her eyes tightly for a moment as she came to recognize the source of the noise. It was something she had become accustomed during her years with The Cold Company, though only by pure necessity. ¡°Hold,¡± Cid said, holding a clenched fist into the air and causing the rest of them to halt their steeds. He turned back to them, a grim expression on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s dismount here and head in on foot.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s on point?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Gabriel,¡± Cid replied, ¡°I think you should be on point for this one.¡± Gabriel nodded as she snapped her spear taunt and moved forward. Cid turned to the others, ¡°Jeanne, take Ben, Hypatia forward and secure a way into town, Kel, take the rest and set up a location to fall back in case we run into trouble. Doctor, get a triage set up in case we find any survivors.¡± Leonidas silently nodded. The others unsheathed their weapons and began moving into the village. They moved slowly. Their steps cautious and eyes always seeking some unknown threat within cloaked in the shadows. Jeanne could feel her fingers tightly grip the handle of her war hammer as she journeyed deeper into the town with her squad. As she saw Gabriel drop the front of her weapon that the tip sunk into the earth, Jeanne could feel her stomach turn deep within her. ¡°Oh no,¡± she uttered beneath her breath as she saw the terrible sight before them. Bodies laid out before them, some on streets, other lying over the threshold of doors and windows. One body was hanging from the neck, their intestines used to form the noose to suspend them from the rafter jutting out from the peak of the roof. ¡°Shepherd have mercy,¡± Jeanne said as she saw the wretched scene. Gabriel went over to one of the bodies, a halfling male with most of his innards removed and flung all over the ground nearby. She knelt down and examined a part of their body. ¡°Come take a look at this,¡± she said, calling their others over. ¡°What is it?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Look,¡± Gabriel replied, pointing to two long gashed running down the length of the halfling¡¯s neck. ¡°Oh ¡­ shit,¡± Jeanne replied. Benkin and Hypatia came up and examined the body. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Benkin asked. Gabriel nodded. ¡°Vampyres.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think there were any vampyres running around in this part of the country,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°or so emboldened.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not common,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Most try to keep attention far away from themselves as they can. And attacks are away from towns and cities. Usually a single person targeted for food, more than anything else.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Then what the hell happened here?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°That one I can¡¯t tell you,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°though this is anything but a good sign.¡± ¡°Do we need to worry about them coming back to life?¡± Benkin asked, gripping the handle of his sword tightly. Gabriel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Though I¡¯m not an expert on those intricacies.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Well, normally, from what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯d want the person still alive when they¡¯re turned into a vampyre. And even then, most people turned do so over a long period of time.¡± ¡°Never heard of that being a thing,¡± Benkin said, keeping his eyes and sword point trained on the dead body. ¡°It¡¯s to make sure the body is acclimating to the change properly,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Not everyone takes the change the same as everyone else.¡± ¡°There¡¯s adverse effects?¡± Gabriel shrugged. ¡°Sometimes. One person can break out in hives, another can suffer vomiting and a severe rash, and I heard of one who had their ribs jut out and transform into a hellhound.¡± ¡°That was a jump in reactions,¡± Benkin said, leaning back slightly. ¡°I thought it was going to be a simply cold,¡± Hypatia followed. Jeanne looked off to see another corpse, their body mutilated in a similar fashion to the other they were next standing next to. She moved over and examined the body from a distance. Some parts of the body twitched randomly while the person laid in state. Jeanne turned to see a rake as it leaned against the wall. She grabbed it and turned her attention back to the corpse which was now gone. Her eyes grew as she felt a pit form in her stomach. ¡°Did anyone see a body right here?¡± she asked the others. The rest turned to Jeanne, shaking their heads. Jeanne turned back to where the body was laying, putting the rake back and taking out her war hammer again. Moving to next to where she saw the dead halfling, she heard a growl from a house nearby. She barely turned her head to the noise as a creature leapt from the open window and grappled her to the ground. The creature slashed at her arms and face, before a spear point pierced through its chest and lifted it off Jeanne and thrown away from them. The creature landed hard, loud snaps punctuated the air as the other rushed to Jeanne¡¯s side. Jeanne looked up, seeing Gabriel standing next to her, holding out her hand. ¡°Are you all right?¡± ¡°Amazing,¡± Jeanne said, taking the vampyre¡¯s hand and being lifted to her feet. ¡°The hell was that thing?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re about to find out,¡± Benkin said as he readied his blade to the enemy. The creature stood on its feet, snapping its joints back in place and revealing itself as the dead villager Jeanne had found earlier. ¡°I think it¡¯s time for a little repayment,¡± Jeanne said, summoning her stone scale armor. Hypatia stepped towards the creature and with her two blades held high and spun them quickly, filling the hearts of the others with a spirit of zeal and fire. Jeanne jumped on the balls of her feet as she readied to rush towards the creature. Gabriel moved towards the creature, landing two swift strikes into the undead¡¯s head. The first one landing into the villager¡¯s head forcing it back and the second landing deep into the roof of its mouth, the force tearing the cheeks open, letting blackened blood to start pouring out from the wounds. As Gabriel moved back, the undead¡¯s head lurched back into place as it let out a terrifying scream. She moved back in and thrusted her sword towards the fiend, the creature barely missing the strikes and racing as it spotted Jeanne. ¡°Hi,¡± she said with malicious intent, ¡°remember me!¡± She lifted her hand and a stream of fire poured from her fingers and struck the villager. It screamed as its flesh began burning and charring from the heat of the fires surrounding it. As the flames died, they could see clumps of singed flesh fall off the body, exposing blackened bone underneath. Benkin rushed towards the undead, landing his blade deep within the torso of the villager, slashing its torso open. As it let out a painful cry, Benkin lifted his sword on high and cleaved the undead into two halves. As the remains fell to the floor the group looked at each other. ¡°Well that happened,¡± Benkin said, wiping the blood from his blade. ¡°We should head back to the rest,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°let them know what happened.¡± Before they finished, four more undead rose from the ground and homes. Moving their way to the others. Part TBD - The Terror Begins III ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t good,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Fall back!¡± Jeanne said as they rushed back out of town. The ground, soaked in blood made it hard to gain a good purchase as they raced back. Jeanne felt the wind of one of the fiends try to slash at her back. The scent of the creature hitting her nose as she pushed herself forward. She heard a sharp whoosh of the wind as the arrow flew past her and struck one of the undead in the head. The other two stopped as Jeanne saw the rest of The Wolves arrived to the fray. As Jeanne turned to face the creature behind her, she felt its claws dig into her stone skin, ripping through and cutting into the flesh. Another of the undead sunk its claws into Benkin¡¯s armor, ripping some of the armor off and slashing into his skin. ¡°You right bastard!¡± he cried out as stepped away from the fiend. Gabriel lunged forward with her spear in hand, the first thrust missing the creature near Benkin, landing the spear tip deep into the shoulder of the fiend, twisting hard and pulling the weapon out. Benkin, blade in hand, swung towards the fiend¡¯s head, striking the head on a second strike, cleaving the skull into two. Jeanne noticed the fourth undead rushing up the side of a house. ¡°Someone get that bastard!¡± Jeanne shouted pointing towards the climbing undead. ¡°On it!¡± Silvius replied, firing his crossbow towards the creature. He loosed a bolt into the fiend¡¯s shoulder, it stayed on the wall, turning to him and hissed menacingly. ¡°Well that¡¯s not good,¡± he said, sinking his head into his neck. Leonidas training his staff towards the undead near Jeanne, cried out, ¡°Get away from her!¡± As a stream a green fire shot out and engulfed the creature in flames. It screamed as Kveldulf slashed deep into the side of the undead. Cid cleft deep into the left shoulder of the undead, the side now hanging loose from the rest of the body. Maeryn notched her arrow and loosed it towards the one climbing up the building. It struck the creature in its arm, sticking the limb against its torso. The third undead rushed to the building on the other side of where they all were. Sinking its claws into the wall and preparing to climb it. Jeanne could see the undead attacking her beginning to heal up as took a moment to regain its strength. ¡°Oh of course you would,¡± she said before it swung its claws at her. The second undead slashed at Gabriel, the claws sinking into her skin through her armor. She cried out in pain before she returned with her own attacks. Striking the undead with terrible fury, tearing the flesh from the bone. Benkin slashed much of the undead¡¯s right arm off, the creature recoiling back to avoid getting hit by his second strike. But a quick bolt from Silvius¡¯s crossbow struck it in its cheek, piercing it through its mouth. Leonidas unleashed a terrible storm of emerald fire towards the undead near Jeanne, singing much of the clothing and skin off of it, leaving almost only burned flesh over bone. As his fury grew, his eyes growing white and filled with murderous rage, Kveldulf quartered the enemy, their pieces falling to the ground. The undead standing next to Benkin and Gabriel now frozen in fear as it sees its companion now fallen and The Wolves moving closer to it. It was snapped out of its stupor as Cid landed a blow squarely into its side, cutting deep into the rotting flesh. Hypatia swung her blades into the air and the undead before them shook in pain as it heard the shrieking cries of her blades. It continued its escape but stumbled as Gabriel lanced its leg with her spear. As it bowed down in pain the undead barely missed the swings of Benkin¡¯s blade, a bolt flying from Silvius¡¯s crossbow, and a stream of green fire from Leonidas. It slammed into Kveldulf who with a single swing of his blade, cleaved the creature into two. ¡°Wily little bastard,¡± Benkin said. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Certainly was fleet on their feet while they had two to work with,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°Where are the other two?¡± Cid asked. Maeryn loosed another arrow into the skull of the undead on the roof. ¡°One¡¯s still there, and their friend is trying to bugger off proper,¡± Maeryn said as she turned back to the others. Silvius fired another bolt, knocking it off the roof and over the other side of the building. ¡°Kel, Doctor, Hy, Maer, go kill that one, the rest with me,¡± Cid said as they raced off to find the other undead. Bolting around the corner, they quickly saw the undead villager racing into a wheatfield. Silvius fired a crossbolt, striking the undead in its neck, it stumbled from the strike of the projectile long enough for Cid and Gabriel to reach it. Both them now hacking away at the undead, now forced to the ground on its stomach. Jeanne, Silvius, and Benkin reached Cid and Gabriel, who turned the undead over with the backend of her spear. ¡°Oh no,¡± Silvius said, putting a hand over his face. ¡°It¡¯s the reeve,¡± Benkin said, wincing at the sight. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we didn¡¯t spot him sooner,¡± Silvius said. ¡°He was charging at as with an undead face, slathering with teeth bared and trying to kill us,¡± Jeanne replied. She turned to Gabriel, ¡°No offense.¡± Gabriel shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m right there with you.¡± ¡°We should get back to the others and see what our next move is.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say getting as much distance between us and here is a good idea,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°And the unburnt bodies,¡± Gabriel said, pointing to the reeve with her spear. ¡°You don¡¯t burn them, they¡¯re bound to reform and come back to life.¡± ¡°So ¡­,¡± Silvius said, recoiling slightly, ¡°we have to burn them?¡± ¡°You want them coming back?¡± ¡°Not particularly, no.¡± ¡°Then burn the bodies,¡± Gabriel said to him. Jeanne bent over to lift up the body. ¡°Shepherd have mercy, he¡¯s heavier than he looks,¡± she trying to lift him up. ¡°And you¡¯ve been through enough already,¡± Cid said. ¡°Hold on,¡± Benkin said, holding his blade up, ¡°there¡¯s one way to lighten the load.¡± With one swift swipe severed the head of the halfling from the body. ¡°You ¡­ you know we could¡¯ve just lifted him together,¡± Jeanne said to Benkin, ¡°taking his head really wasn¡¯t that needed.¡± ¡°I heard you needed to take the head off before burning the body, keeps the vampyre from doing that rebuilding stuff with its body,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong,¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°Jeanne, take the head, Ben see you can grab the body and get moving,¡± Cid said as he moved back into town. They arrived to the outskirts of town, where the others reached them, looking worse for wear as they dragged the body of the dead villager behind them. Jeanne moved towards Leonidas, his clothes torn and with deep cuts across his chest. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked him. ¡°Things got a little hairy for a while,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°I certainly don¡¯t feel fresh or fancy,¡± Kveldulf followed behind him. ¡°A could a strong drink right now,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°and a warm bed wouldn¡¯t be bad, either.¡± ¡°We should probably stop by the Lorthan farmstead,¡± Cid said to them, ¡°make sure that¡ª¡± Before he could finish, a group of villagers began standing upright. ¡°Oh that¡¯s not good,¡± Benkin said, slumping his shoulders forward. ¡°No!¡± Leonidas cried out, ¡°we are not having any more of this nonsense.¡± With one hand he conjured a orb of emerald flames, engulfing arm all the way down to the elbow before lobbing it towards the undead, immolating them until only ashes remained. Jeanne turned to him. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have done that when we were fighting the other bastards before?¡± she challenged. ¡°That¡¯s a massive fireball of death and I have no control over where the flames go. There¡¯s no guarantee you and Kveldulf would¡¯ve been hit by the blast.¡± Jeanne looked at Leonidas with a narrow gaze. ¡°I hate it when you make sense,¡± she said, continuing her way to the others. ¡°So back to the farm then?¡± Kveldulf asked Cid. Cid nodded. ¡°Before something else decides to come back from the dead and kill us.¡± ¡°Uh ¡­¡± Leonidas said with hesitation. ¡°We can¡¯t exactly leave the bodies here.¡± ¡°Oh shit,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°I forgot about that.¡± The rest of The Wolves looked out to the decimated town and the bodies strewn around the area. ¡°This is going to be a nightmare,¡± Hypatia said, running her fingers through her hair. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose we could wait until the morning doctor?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I mean ¡­ not everyone comes back at the same time. And if the rest aren¡¯t getting to their feet, there¡¯s a good chance they¡¯re not going to.¡± He then turned to Gabriel. ¡°I reall am not trying to be curt about this.¡± Gabriel waved it off. ¡°You are fine,¡± she said, leaning her weight against her spear. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get back then, and we¡¯ll come back when the sun to see what on earth happened. Part TBD - Seeking Solace The Wolves arrived to the Lorthan house, quiet and dark. Jeanne stood near Cid as Maeryn and Benkin moved towards the house, peering cautiously into the home. Benkin turned back to the rest after a quick examination inside. Only shaking his head before he and Maeryn returned to the group. ¡°Nothing inside?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Nothing, no signs of anyone being in there, there isn¡¯t even a fire lit there,¡± Benkin replied. A sharp whistle came from the wheatfield nearby, some of The Wolves moving towards their weapons. A small poked through the wall of wheat. ¡°Can we not do that, please?¡± a voice called out. ¡°Sil¡¯vah?¡± Kveldulf responded. ¡°Yes?¡± Sil¡¯vah said as he poked his head through the wall of wheat. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Waiting for you,¡± Sil¡¯vah said. ¡°And wow ¡­ you lot look like you¡¯ve gone through a few wringers.¡± ¡°Do not remind us,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Where did the family living here go?¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re with us,¡± Sil¡¯vah said, ¡°the boss thought it was best to have them there until things calmed down.¡± ¡°That might¡¯ve been for the best,¡± said Cid, looking back to the town. ¡°What, did something happen?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get back to something akin to safety and we¡¯ll let you all know.¡± As The Wolves and Sil¡¯vah arrived to the cave, they were greeted by the guards at the mouth. Cid turned to let gesture the rest to remove their weapons as the guards waved for him to stop. ¡°Boss¡¯s orders, she wants you to keep them.¡± ¡°Our weapons?¡± Cid asked. ¡°She sent some of the hunters and gatherers to check out the town when we saw the pillars of smoke. When they came back with the news of ¡­,¡± the guard paused biting his lower lip to find the right words, ¡°what happened, she thought it best to have everyone get their weapons at the ready.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t reckon you all have silvered weapons,¡± Leonidas said, gripping his side with one arm. The guards smiled, one lowering the tip of her spear to the group. The shining glint of silver illuminated against the light of the sun as The Wolves looked onward. ¡°The smithy thought it best we had some of these in store just in case. Though we never thought something like this would come about.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s take care of a few things before we move to that issue,¡± Cid said, waving the rest of The Wolves forward. As they arrived to the residential quarters of the cavern, they could several villagers from the town being treated by some of the goblins. Some were injured with scratches, others with broken bones and other serious wounds. Leonidas took a deep breath, cracked his neck and began moving towards the wounded. Cid put his hand to the doctor¡¯s chest. ¡°I think you should rest, doctor.¡± ¡°They can use another healer,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°and I know how to treat vampiric wounds.¡± Cid nodded reluctantly. ¡°All right, but don¡¯t push yourself.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ve past that point, but I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Leonidas said before heading off to help with the wounded. Stolen novel; please report. Cid turned to the rest, ¡°Come, let¡¯s get ourselves situated before we call this infernal day over.¡± *** Jeanne gripped a corner to a larger skin pelt resting on her bed as Leonidas finished stitching up the last of her wounds. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re almost done,¡± she said, with gritted teeth. ¡°Almost finished,¡± he said, shaking his head to wake himself up. ¡°Are you sure you should be doing this?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°You doubt my skills,¡± he returned. ¡°No. You look like you¡¯re about to pass out. You got roughed up worse than me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said, snipping off the excess thread from the final stitch and taking out a roll of bandages. ¡°You are my last patient for the night, and once you¡¯re bandaged up, I¡¯m calling it a night.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°When you¡¯re done, I¡¯m going to look you over.¡± ¡°Really?¡± he said, as he began wrapping her wounds. She could see his eyes beginning to glaze and his eyes lids droop. He hadn¡¯t stopped working since they reached the goblin¡¯s cave and the day had finally caught up with him. ¡°Someone¡¯s got to look out for our residential medicus,¡± she said. ¡°If that was a concern, I¡¯d ¡­¡± his voiced trailed off before he shook his head again. ¡°I can think of anything.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why I should be taking care of those wounds you have there.¡± ¡°All right,¡± he said as he finished throwing on her bandages. He sat next to her on the bed and slowly pulled his shirt off. His arms twitched sharply, wincing slightly in pain as he pulled his tunic up towards his head. Jeanne grabbed some parts of the shirt and soon most of his tunic was turned inside out with his arms and head still inside the clothing. ¡°I think we have a problem, Doctor Jeanne.¡± ¡°I swear I will send you to Helle myself if you don¡¯t stop acting like a baby.¡± ¡°I have had a bad day, and I am exercising my right to complain to my heart¡¯s content.¡± ¡°Keep that up and I¡¯ll start charging you for the service,¡± she said removing the rest the shirt off. She saw several long gashes running down the length of his back. She looked at them carefully. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like we have an infection with them.¡± ¡°Hurray,¡± he said half asleep. ¡°I¡¯m going to assume you meant that sincerely,¡± she said before looking into Leonidas¡¯s satchel and found a small jar still filled with honeyed poultice. She then applied it over his wounds and felt him press against her fingers. ¡°All right?¡± He nodded. ¡°Just stings a little.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this won¡¯t take too long,¡± she said, reaching for a needle and thread. ¡°Wait,¡± he said, a little more alert, and lifting his head up, ¡°do you know how to stitch a wound properly?¡± ¡°For yours, yes,¡± she said, beginning to stitch his wounds. She hummed a little tune while applying her needle work. Leonidas looked up at her with a perplexed look on him. ¡°Are you having fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice being on the other side of this,¡± she said, pushing his head down. ¡°I do not appreciate this treatment,¡± he said, lifting his head up again. ¡°You¡¯ll live,¡± she said pushing his head down again. With the final stitch, she sat him up and pulled out a fresh roll of bandages and began wrapping it around his torso. When she finished, she said, ¡°That wasn¡¯t so bad was it?¡± ¡°Depends how I¡¯m feeling in the morning,¡± he said as he laid down on their bed. She took a skin pelt and placed it over him. ¡°You¡¯re not sleeping?¡± he asked. ¡°I want to get some air first,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ll won¡¯t be too long.¡± ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°You know I am the very soul of caution.¡± ¡°You have a very eschewed sense of the word ¡®caution¡¯.¡± ¡°You shush and get some sleep,¡± she said, kissing his forehead. ¡°I won¡¯t be long.¡± ¡°All right,¡± he said, ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°I love you, too,¡± she said, caressing his cheek gently before making her way out of the cavern. She stepped out to the mouth of the cave, turning to still see the low reddish hue of the smoldering town. Crossing her arms, she felt a sense of helplessness, uncertain if there was anything she could¡¯ve done to prevent what happened if they have been there to stop whoever caused this destruction. Part of her wanted to assume this was all just some raid occurring by a band of curs doing the dirty work of one of the lords involved in this forsaken civil unrest occurring. But most raids of that sort rarely resulted in the dead raising up and attacking the living. Jeanne gripped her right arm as she pondered ill thoughts over. She looked out into the tall grass, the wind moving through the vast field, creating a shushing sound as the blades moved back and forth. She could smell the faint scent of smoke and blood, not knowing if it was from the town itself or still a lingering from when she was there earlier. Her neck began stiffening and tensing, the tingling sensation spreading all over her skin. She moved her hand to the head of her war hammer. The other held up towards her head before a soft orb of light began emanating from her palm. She took a step forward, slowly, shifting her weight after each step was firmly placed. With slow movements she lifted her hammer from its holder and readied it to strike. ¡°Something out there?¡± she heard a voice ask from behind her. Jeanne turned, to find Maeryn walking out from the interior of the cave. Jeanne let out a sigh of relief as she saw he and returned her hammer into its holder. She shook her head. ¡°No, nothing. Just the light from town and some whistling from the wind.¡± Part TBD - A Town Razed ¡°Hmm,¡± Maeryn growled, ¡°I don¡¯t like any of this.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°None of this is pointing to anything I¡¯d call good.¡± ¡°No, with an ill wind in the air and the earth cold to the touch, this bring foul tidings.¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Jeanne asked the elven archer. ¡°Me? I think we get our weapons silvered before we leave this place.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, not wanting to admit the truth, ¡°I was thinking the same thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m concerned with who did it?¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Almost an entire village ripped to shreds, some of the dead coming back to life and for what? Gold? Supplies? Sport?¡± ¡°You think someone would do all that just for the fun of it?¡± Jeanne asked her. ¡°Not the first time someone¡¯s spilt blood for the thrill.¡± ¡°And the reanimation?¡± Maeryn shrugged. ¡°That one I think we should look into before we make any final conclusions.¡± ¡°Going back into town?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know of any other manner to find out what happened.¡± ¡°Helle, that¡¯s the last thing I want to do.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m not thrilled either.¡± ¡°You think we¡¯ll find something?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you. But I¡¯m hoping with a dawning light we¡¯ll have an easier time figuring that out.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s to hoping,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You think this could be any of the Kolvilles?¡± Maeryn asked. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. They weren¡¯t vampires last time I lived here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid this might be from that artifact they took.¡± ¡°You think they did something?¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve been something they did. Could¡¯ve been from mere exposure. I¡¯ve heard than a few stories about people turning into animals simply from being near a vampire.¡± ¡°If only it worked that way,¡± Gabriel said as she joined them. ¡°It doesn¡¯t?¡± Maeryn asked. Gabriel shook her head. ¡°No, there¡¯s lot more to it. Usually there as to be a transference of blood. Usually from the vampyre to person to be turned.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°I usually thought you¡¯d have to be bitten to be turned into a vampire.¡± ¡°Not always. Though I¡¯ve seen some people who contracted some illness or another through being bitten. But to be turned into a proper vampyre, you need to have actual vampiric blood in you.¡± ¡°So what do you think?¡± Maeryn asked Gabriel. ¡°Hmm, you mean about the town?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I wish didn¡¯t have to say it, but this is definitely the work of a vampire or more.¡± ¡°More!¡± Jeanne exclaimed. ¡°Vampires tend to work well in groups. Usually it¡¯s a necessity. But yeah, they tend to move in colonies.¡± Gabriel turned noticing Jeanne and Maeryn¡¯s confused looks. ¡°That¡¯s what you call a group of vampires.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne and Maeryn said in unison. ¡°Though my concern is if this was work of the Kolvilles.¡± ¡°You think they would¡¯ve used the object to ¡­ turn themselves?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°They could certainly try,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Though the results can be ¡­ bad.¡± ¡°How bad are we talking about here?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Usually if someone is being turned, it¡¯s a gradual process. That¡¯s so we can measure and determine how much more blood is needed to turn the individual. The blood needed for a human is going to be different than for an elf or a dwarf and they¡¯ll be different than what you¡¯ll use for a halfling. But if you don¡¯t take any of that into consideration, and just gulp down whatever amount of blood you feel will give you power, then ¡­ you can have some dire consequences.¡± ¡°How bad are we talking about?¡± Jeanne asked Gabriel. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Things that give nightmares pause,¡± Gabriel replied. Jeanne rubbed the back of her head. ¡°Well, that¡¯s making feel ever so much better.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt that, but at least we¡¯ll have a better idea of what in the Low Hells we¡¯ll be dealing with.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, rubbing her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of.¡± *** The morning brought little ease to The Wolves¡¯ minds. Many of the bodies, now shriveled and desiccated under the bright sun. Even the flies and crows had little desire to spend time around this poor spot in the world. Jeanne and Benkin looked through one of the houses, now empty and thoroughly ransacked for anything valuable. Much of the furniture inside were broken into pieces, the doors to the cupboards ripped out and dashed against the walls. ¡°Same in here as in the rest of them,¡± Benkin said. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Why break the furniture, the cabinetry? I can see nabbing the valuables and things to sell for a quick coin. But this, this is just unneeded.¡± ¡°I wish I could provide some answers to that,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°But I think that¡¯s going to be a mystery until we come across the buggers who did this.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°I guess we will.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± they heard Leonidas call out. ¡°I could use a hand with this!¡± Jeanne and Benkin saw the doctor trying to lift the end of a cart. The two came over to the doctor and helped him lift the wagon onto its side. Underneath the cart was a man and woman, both crushed by the weight of the items as it had been flipped over. ¡°Oh gods, I¡¯m sorry Doc?¡± Benkin asked. Leonidas shook his head. ¡°Me too,¡± he said as he ran his hand over his face. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s anyone still alive around here?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Leonidas said, his head hanging down, ¡°but I want to think there¡¯s something of a chance.¡± ¡°Maybe we should check the houses on the other side before we meet back with the others,¡± Benkin said. Jeanne nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll see what¡¯s there,¡± she said with some apprehension. Moving further to the western side of the town, the three came upon a series of houses. Some burnt down to the ground, others with doors and shutters destroyed and shattered. Splotches of blood marked the outer walls, and Jeanne could see where bodies had been thrown against the building and smashed the bits of the wattle and daub fa?ade. ¡°Where are the bodies?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°It¡¯s like they all went missing.¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t like it.¡± Benkin turned his head up, sniffing the air. With only a couple of whiffs he turned his head away quickly, covering his nose and mouth with one hand. ¡°Oh gods!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°There¡¯s a horrible smell here.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll check that out once we¡¯re done with the houses,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I¡¯d rather not having something jump out if we can clear the houses.¡± Entering one house, the three found a man, ripped into two pieces. One half resting on the table, and the other on the floor nearby. A woman¡¯s body rested nearby, withered and her abdomen opened and her innards missing entirely. ¡°This is just foul beyond words,¡± Benkin said, ¡°desecration of the natural order in every way imaginable.¡± ¡°You can say that again,¡± Jeanne said as she knelt down and examined the woman¡¯s body. She looked up and turned to Leonidas. ¡°Is this normal for vampyres?¡± Leonidas shook his head. ¡°No, most tend to drink only blood. And usually in a controlled setting.¡± ¡°Controlled?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Cups, goblets, kylixes, dishware like that. The whole neck biting thing is more of a myth, unless one is famished and on the verge of death. Or ... whatever in mercy¡¯s name happened here.¡± ¡°Do you know if they¡¯ll ¡­ come back?¡± Benkin asked. Leonidas shrugged. ¡°I can¡¯t say. Given the condition of the bodies, I doubt it. But it¡¯s not unheard of. Plus, there¡¯s other elements you need to account for to see if someone can be resurrected.¡± ¡°So, it is possible?¡± Jeanne asked. Leonidas nodded with some uncertainty. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± ¡°What do you do then to keep it from happening?¡± ¡°About the same as killing a vampire. Stake through the heart, severe the head and burn everything to keep the person from regenerating.¡± Jeanne grimaced and she noted Benkin looking uncomfortable at the news. ¡°We¡¯ll see how Cid wants to handle that,¡± Jeanne said. A loud creak caused all three to snap their attention towards a cabinet resting on a wall placed along the other end of the house. Readying their weapons they moved cautiously towards the cabinet. Jeanne at the front, with Benkin standing across with the tip of his blade trained to the small doors. Leonidas stood behind, slowly closing the front door shut and preparing an incantation with his staff. As Jeanne gripped the knob on the door, she heard a sharp inhale and the piece shaking abruptly for a moment. Jeanne recalled her hand back slowly, gesturing Benkin and Leonidas to lower their weapons. ¡°Is there someone in there?¡± she asked aloud. Silence answered her. Jeanne moved closer to the cabinet. ¡°It¡¯s all right, you¡¯re safe now.¡± The door slowly opened as they could the light begin illuminating the inside of the recess. An eye, red and with tears watering up along the bottom stared out at the three. Soft whimpers of a young girl could be heard as the door opened a little bit more. More of the face peeked out, they could see the poor girl shaking as she stared out. Her hair hung straight down, matted with sweat, her clothes stained with dirt and blood marks. While her teeth were bared, as they chattered and she breathed quickly in and out, there wasn¡¯t a sense of hostility. Her fingers gripped the wood panel of the door tightly against the slab. Jeanne could see the distant stare in her eyes. As if she was looking straight through her, into a distance far beyond this dreadful place. This was a look Jeanne knew before, and it tore her heart to see someone so young going through such a thing. She turned back to the others, who were already sheathing their weapons and Leonidas was removing his satchel from his shoulders and placing it on the table. Jeanne turned back to the young woman and gestured her to come out. ¡°It¡¯s all right. You can come out.¡± ¡°Are they gone?¡± the halfling girl asked in a wavering voice. ¡°Are the monsters gone?¡± ¡°They are,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± Jeanne waved for the girl to come out, with her doing so with great apprehension. As Leonidas began to move towards the young woman shirked back, her hands pressing against her chest. Leonidas raised a palm towards her to calm the young halfling¡¯s nerves. ¡°Nothing to worry about. I¡¯m a doctor,¡± he said to her reassuringly. The young woman looked at Jeanne who nodded agreeably. Moving to the doctor, the young woman sat down at the table as Leonidas began to look her over. Jeanne went over to Benkin and whispered, ¡°What do you make of it?¡± Benkin shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But if she¡¯s the only one, she may be the sole person to tell us what happened.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll be able to talk about such things.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Benkin said, looking back at the halfling girl before returning Jeanne. ¡°She may not be able to speak of what happened at all.¡± Jeanne rubbed her forehead as she sunk her mace back into its holder on her belt. ¡°This is going to be a long dead.¡± ¡°I wish I could say it was the last one,¡± Benkin said to her. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Jeanne replied, letting out a long sigh. Part Twenty-Two: Seeking Records Leonidas was in his examination room, leafing through pages of a book titled An Examination and Analysis to The Influence of Psionic Auras in Non-Magical Adults as he heard a knock on his door. Calmly closing the book he went to the door and found Silvius and Hypatia on the other side. ¡°Hello there,¡± the doctor said to them, ¡°what brings you two over here?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Silvius said, ¡°we were on our way to the university¡¯s special archive and thought you might be open to joining us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I mean, you¡¯re sort of the expert in these matters,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call myself an expert, honestly. Probably well informed.¡± ¡°You know more than anyone else in our group,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°And it¡¯d be a good idea have someone who knows what to look for ¡­ help us with what to look for,¡± Hypatia said to the doctor. ¡°Also fair. But am I going to need anything for being there?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Silvius said with certainty. ¡°As long as you¡¯re with us, you should be fine.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think anyone else is showing up today, let me grab a few things and I should be ready to leave.¡± *** Leonidas followed Silvius and Hypatia down the wide stone hall and towards the far end of the corridor. Students and scholars moving from passages dotting all over, most barely noticing them at all. The doctor looked up and saw the red earthen fa?ade that covered the curved ceiling above them. The pillars etched in elaborate stone engravings covered the stoneface. Almost hypnotizing as the doctor tried to find every little detail made into the artwork. ¡°I miss coming here,¡± Silvius said, a sense of homecoming in his voice. ¡°Feels like we haven¡¯t been here for ages.¡± ¡°Especially after your conversation with the Rector and the Academic Senate,¡± Hypatia said to Silvius. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡± ¡°What are we looking for anyway?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Well, since you mentioned laylines and their connection to the fortress, I though it would be prudent to try and see what literature the library has on that matter here,¡± Silvius said to the doctor. ¡°You think they¡¯ll have stuff on that?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly something most academics would find worth their time anymore.¡± ¡°Some still delve into the studies of the esoteric,¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°Even if most find the subject as unbecoming of a scholar.¡± Leonidas scoffed. ¡°I see some things never change.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Long story for another time,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°And I doubt there¡¯s many here who¡¯d appreciate hearing such things.¡± Reaching a door on the other end of the long hallway, Silvius knocked on the only flat spot on a door covered in elaborate etchings and patterns. After a moment the door cracked open and two eyes peered through the other side. ¡°Can I help you?¡± the voice called out. ¡°Hello Terron, we sent a missive a short while back about examining some of the tomes you have regarding ley lines and their arcane properties,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°Oh yes yes,¡± the voice said, opening the door further and revealing a stone humanoid figure, hewed into the shape of a man who had seen many winters with few springs to soften the hardships. ¡°I remember reading that a while back. I was starting to think you weren¡¯t going to show up.¡± ¡°Well, we were out of the city for a brief spell,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Must¡¯ve been some spell,¡± Terron said, ¡°but that¡¯s neither here nor there, I guess. Come, come, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to stand out chewing the fat and all that.¡± Terron led them down three flights of stairs, dimly lit with sconces on the walls trailing downward. At the bottom of the third set, they reached a large room lined with tall shelves touching the ceiling and filled with tomes, scrolls, small journals, and other literature filling each level. Leonidas nodded slowly as he surveyed the whole room and took in the scope of library¡¯s collection. ¡°This is most impressive,¡± Leonidas said aloud. ¡°Tis but a paltry compared to the full scope of the university¡¯s complete collection,¡± Terron said. ¡°There¡¯s more than this?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Indeed. The University elders feel that having all of what they have displayed could be opening the doorway to someone taking such knowledge for their own benefits though at the expense of others,¡± Terron told the doctor. ¡°Can¡¯t blame them for that,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°The library at my university had similar policies now that you bring that up.¡± ¡°What was it you were looking for?¡± Terron asked them all. ¡°Something on leylines,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°We might¡¯ve found something pertain to that when Hypatia and I were at the Unyielding Fortress.¡± ¡°I am still perplexed you were able to find it,¡± Torren said. ¡°A few of the elders stirred in their seats when they heard the news.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Whatever troubled them they would not share with me. Though perhaps they were unkeen on sailing more turbulent waters regarding the city¡¯s past.¡± ¡°Is it really that much of a change to know the place exists?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Many considered the place something residing in the realm of myth and legend. Something living only in the imagination. And many have found comfort in the tightly woven tapestry of this city¡¯s past. If they find something exists which challenges the very thing they harken to, it begs the question; what else do they not know?¡± Torren said in a calm demeanor. ¡°Still, I wouldn¡¯t think such a find would bring such ¡­ reactions,¡± Silvius said. ¡°To some even a small ripple can have the same devastation as a rogue wave.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen my share of that,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Have you?¡± Hypatia asked him. ¡°A lot of people prefer keeping whatever semblance of control they can, even if it meant watching the world burn around them to retain it.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Glad to see nothing changes in Terramiserae,¡± said Silvius. ¡°That is putting it lightly,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Well, the section you will want to go is close to the back of the archives chambers, where some of our ancient treatise of arcane reside. Sadly, I should get back to sorting returned tomes from the faculty,¡± Terron said to them as he bowed his head down, ¡°if there is anything you need, feel free to find me in my study.¡± ¡°Thank you, Terron,¡± Silvius replied, as he and the other two waved the attendant¡¯s departure. The scholar looked around, he arms akimbo while looking over the many shelves surrounding them. ¡°Well, I¡¯m looking forward to this archival expedition, what about you two?¡± *** Leonidas rubbed his eyes tightly while clearing his throat before looking back down at a rolled out scroll he was examining. The ends held down by two candle sticks. The map had cracks and heavy discoloration along the edges. Roads spawning from the city of Orumus zigzagged over the country, intersecting and separating at many points, towns long since gone marked on the map which he saw had long disappeared in newer maps he had seen throughout the day. Some villages situated near the outlier of Orumus had now become established settlements of the Torcello and Sinpassi wards of the city. Leonidas could even make out some of the wards walls that were once part of the older city walls. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, noting the city¡¯s growth over the years. His eyes moved to the center of the city, with a bluish white line stretching from the small circle, straight and guiding its way down to the small village of Amlin. There was a notable difference in the size of the town compared to what he had seen. ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± Hypatia asked, placing a thin red ribbon between two pages and closing a book she was reading. ¡°I found something interesting,¡± he said, gesturing her to come over. As she sat down next to him and looked over the map. ¡°Is that Amlin?¡± she said, putting her finger over the town. ¡°Yeah, seems to have been a lot bigger back in the day.¡± ¡°How back in the day are we talking here?¡± ¡°I think this map predates the war against the Dracon Lords.¡± Hypatia¡¯s eyes widened as she slowly moved her head back. ¡°That¡¯s quite a ways.¡± ¡°I know. Seems like Amlin was more or less the town attached to the fortress.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised no one tried taking the fortress one by attacking the town.¡± ¡°There were attempts, though most didn¡¯t want to try and take the place on in direct conflict, and it seemed most of the food was grown inside away from raiders. So attacking the town wouldn¡¯t have had the desired effect.¡± ¡°I wonder what caused the town to shrink that much?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Probably when the fortress was abandoned and forgotten many made their way to Orumus or other parts of the world. Can¡¯t entirely blame them. Must¡¯ve felt as if they were being fettered to a corpse.¡± ¡°I guess this must¡¯ve been after the rebellion against the Wraith King.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my guess,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Though I haven¡¯t checked for other maps to check when they were drawn.¡± ¡°What are these silver lines here?¡± ¡°My guess are leylines. They stretch from where the council¡¯s building is in the Heraclea Ward all the way down here.¡± ¡°And it seems to extend out to other parts on the map, too,¡± Hypatia said, her finger following another ley line down to another part of the map and resting in the center of a massive fortress far from the city. ¡°Yeah, seems like there was a system of sorts during that period.¡± ¡°What were they exactly doing with this?¡± ¡°Depends, could¡¯ve been a menagerie of reasons. Experiments, services, who knows? It¡¯s a little hard to get a gauge on that with only a couple of maps at the moment.¡± ¡°I think I found something,¡± Silivius said as he placed a large tome nearby where Leonidas and Hypatia were. ¡°What do you have?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Research notes from Tiberius of Ruluti back in the reign of the Rubicon Empress Julia.¡± ¡°He focused on leyline?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°They were starting the preliminary research into that, he was considered the first expert in the subject.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a good find, what does he say?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see ¡­ hmm ¡­ farmers noticing unusual energies and events on their property. Hauntings and good old possessions.¡± ¡°Those are fun,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°It seemed the council building in Orumus used to be a sister temple with grand temple back in Reman,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Huh, that¡¯s interesting,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°How is that connected with leylines.¡± ¡°It was something the Rubicon did when they discovered leylines,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Possibly to help strengthen their hold in the region.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Silvius followed, ¡°Possibly to help spot or counter any magic they¡¯d find problematic.¡± ¡°That¡¯d be my guess,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Be nice to know who exactly did the research, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you only hire the illustrious, but temperamental writer Anon Y Mus,¡± Silvius said with a chuckle. ¡°I have to remember that one,¡± Leonidas said, pointing to Silvius approvingly. ¡°Fancy see you two down here,¡± they heard a voice call out. A thin man, sporting a neatly trimmed beard and moustache and well kept brown hair. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you lot back so soon.¡± ¡°Aurelius,¡± Silvius said. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Going through a few census records for some research,¡± Aurelius said, plopping a thick tome onto the table next to the three. The heavy thud causing their own to shudder briefly. ¡°Census records?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t think that was your cup of tea?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t, but Professor Hadrian¡¯s research on deciphering ancient texts from some ruins in Remus had it¡¯s patronage cut by the elders and so he handed me over to another professor so I would have some way of making a living academically.¡± ¡°Why was Hadrian¡¯s funding cut?¡± ¡°The elders felt the time made to determine what the scripts said was too long and the contents too unimportant to merit the effort and coin.¡± ¡°And did the elders say where the money was going to go?¡± ¡°Something regarding the social ramification to the proliferation of pointed shoes for the general public,¡± Aurelius said with embarrassment. ¡°I wish I could say I¡¯m surprised,¡± said Hypatia. Aurelius turned to a cart behind him and grabbed another large tome and dropped the book onto the table. ¡°Seems this was something the Council were keen to see the results of.¡± Leonidas looked at the book with wide eyes. ¡°Well that one is a keeper,¡± he said to Aurelius.¡± ¡°Indeed. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve made your acquittance yet,¡± Aurelius said to the doctor. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Silvius said, ¡°this is Leonidas, he helped us out when we were delving into those ruins we were telling you about?¡± ¡°Is that so? How did it turn out?¡± ¡°We found the Unyielding Fortress!¡± Hypatia said, excitedly. Aurelius¡¯s jaw dropped as he leaned towards the three. ¡°No! You jest!¡± ¡°I swear on my house¡¯s honor, it¡¯s actually there,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Bless my beard,¡± Aurelius said, rubbing his chin contemplatively. ¡°I didn¡¯t think there¡¯d be anything valuable there.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t think they¡¯d find anything?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Well, one does hope for the best, but it¡¯s always prudent to not let your hopes get too high in case things do not go as you want.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not fully wrong,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Perhaps you could go to the elders and see about getting some more funding for your research,¡± Aurelius suggested. ¡°You think they¡¯ll do that?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I was told they weren¡¯t the biggest supporters of this whole thing.¡± ¡°No, but having some results might have them reconsider the entire thing. Especially since you have results to present to them.¡± Hypatia turned to the others. ¡°It would make it easier to get access to the more exclusive collections.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an exclusive collections?¡± Leonidas asked in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s a way to both protect the more prized possessions in the university¡¯s collection, as well as acquiring more coin for their coffers,¡± Aurelius answered. ¡°I mean, maintaining those artifacts isn¡¯t exactly the cheapest endeavor,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Oh sweet summer child,¡± said Aurelius, ¡°always looking for the best in people.¡± ¡°How else will those charged with preserving those artifacts accomplish such without the means to do so?¡± ¡°Perhaps if the elders would devote less of the coin coming to this institution to their pockets, to fund their fifth of sixth manor, carriages etched in gold and silver, vineyards for their wines, stables for their many steeds, and rich abodes with their paramours away from their wives.¡± Aurelius answered, remorse coloring his tone near the end. ¡°Honestly, it makes me glad I¡¯m leaving this forsaken place.¡± ¡°You, too?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Too?¡± Leonidas followed, confused. Aurelius nodded. ¡°A merchant wants me to join their caravan. The pay will be far more than the pauper¡¯s pay here and I won¡¯t be treated like some foul fiend simply for using my mind and the lessons taught to think beyond what the instructors and elders have limited themselves.¡± ¡°But what of your research?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°At this point, any use my research has is treated no better than a pile of horse leavings. I figured why not at least earn something of a decent living. Most around here are relics of ancient thoughts who value self-validation than actually seeking the truth.¡± Silvius looked down, running his hand over the back of his neck. ¡°I¡¯d like to think not all use their influence for such things,¡± he said defeatedly. ¡°I doubt not,¡± Aurelius said, his voice softened greatly. ¡°Many would still keep themselves from such temptations, but they are tragically few. Perhaps one could give them a reminder of what are mission is, and should be.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Silvius said, his spirit seemingly renewing in its fire. ¡°Perhaps one can show them a needed light.¡± ¡°I hate to interrupt,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°But perhaps we should take a break and rest before continuing further.¡± ¡°I think it might be best,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Agreed,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°Take care,¡± Silvius said to Aurelius, picking up some of the books and scrolls as Hypatia and Leonidas grabbed the rest. ¡°Until we meet again,¡± Aurelius said to them. ¡°Hopefully none too soon,¡± Leonidas muttered under his breath. Part Twenty-Three - Proud Ignorance ¡°Are you all right, Silvius?¡± Leonidas asked, he and Hypatia following Silvius as he walked out from the inner library and into an open courtyard with neatly trimmed and lightly shaded by several trees doted throughout the area. The scholar stopped, shaking his head, saying ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just don¡¯t know. None of that should¡¯ve gotten to me, but it did.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t exactly being diplomatic in his views,¡± Hypatia said to Silvius. ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± said Leonidas, looking back to see if their guest was lingering behind. ¡°You know Aurelius is not the best when it comes to putting himself in others shoes. And he¡¯s never had a scholar¡¯s heart when it comes to weathering such storms,¡± Hypatia said in a comforting voice. ¡°But he isn¡¯t wrong about the elders,¡± Silvius said. ¡°And that¡¯s what bothers me the most.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°We spent months trying to getting the mere pittance they gave for us to go and find the fortress. Yet all the while I remember Elder Reman discussing furnishing his newest home out in the country. You almost have to drag them through the mud simply to have them give you the decency of their time and then they act as if merely speaking to them is an insult of the highest order.¡± ¡°Maybe if we present them with what we found it might help a little,¡± Hypatia asked with some reservation. ¡°You think it¡¯ll make a difference?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°It certainly would be better than wondering how things might be and never knowing,¡± Leonidas followed in support of Hypatia. ¡°I guess it¡¯s better than nothing,¡± Silvius replied. Arriving to a tall and wide stone building situated in the center of the campus grounds. Leonidas had to step back while lifting his head up to see the faint peak of the steeple placed at the top of the building. ¡°Most impressive,¡± he said in a hushed voice. ¡°This was once tabernacle of the Caeltru before it became University of Orumus,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Certainly, kept its theological origins,¡± the doctor said. Inside the first chamber, there were elaborate wood molding lining the ceiling of each wall of the room. Wooden columns held aloft the upper floor above them with tapestries covering the walls. A desk rested in the middle of the room, and a human male sat there, the scratching of his quill scribbling on a parchment broke the silence. As the three neared the man he looked up and lifted both of his brows. ¡°Oh, what brings you here this day?¡± he asked them. ¡°We were hoping to speak with one of the elders,¡± Hypatia said to the man. ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± the man asked. Hypatia shook her head. ¡°Sadly no, this is more of an impromptu moment.¡± The man chagrined for a brief moment regaining his composure. ¡°Let me see,¡± he said, leafing through the pages of a small book next to him, ¡°most of the elders are in the midst of meetings and councils, I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°Is there anyone available?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°There is Elder Horatius, he¡¯s currently free to speak to for a little while,¡± the clerk replied. Hypatia and Silvius exchanged glances. ¡°He isn¡¯t the worst to speak to on such matters,¡± she said to him. ¡°Might even get some poor stone moving our way,¡± Silvius answered before following Hypatia from the desk. ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°He helped us get the funding for our expedition before we even met Benkin and Maeryn,¡± Silvius said to the doctor. ¡°He¡¯s been more than instrumental in help us with this whole situation.¡± ¡°Be nice if he had a contract for Cid and the others,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°For mercenary work?¡± Silvius asked, confused. ¡°Why not?¡± the doctor replied. ¡°Being patroned to explore ruins, collect artifacts of note and worth, all the while expanding our own understanding of the world and past. All the while avoiding some of the darker aspects that come with this profession.¡± ¡°Were you a mercenary before?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I worked with a few, back in the Outlands. So it¡¯s something I¡¯ve had some familiarity with.¡± ¡°You were quite the rolling stone, weren¡¯t you?¡± Silvius followed. ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°Still, he might be able to help us out,¡± Silvius said, turning towards the direction of long and tall stone building on the other end of the campus. *** This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Well, well, well!¡± said a man as he rose from his leather chair. ¡°Who do I have the pleasure of greeting,¡± the man said, walking over to Silvius, Hypatia and Leonidas, reaching out to shake their hands. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Professor Aurelius,¡± Silvius said, taking the man¡¯s hand. ¡°Come now,¡± the professor said, ¡°we don¡¯t need to use titles here, do we?¡± ¡°Sorry, force of habit,¡± Silvius said, letting out a nervous chuckle. ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± the man said, smiling. ¡°Now what brings you all to my part of the world?¡± ¡°Well,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°we were hoping to speak with you regarding our recent expedition.¡± ¡°Right,¡± the professor said, rubbing his chin. ¡°I had heard there were some interesting findings there in your report.¡± ¡°Interesting is a bit of an understatement,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Aurelius said. ¡°What is it exactly that you¡¯re trying to do?¡± ¡°Well, we were hoping to gain access to the special collections of the library.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you already have access to them?¡± the professor asked. ¡°We mean the more ¡­ esoteric collections,¡± Hypatia replied. Aurelius turned to the others, his brows furrowing together and a concerned look on his face. ¡°I see,¡± he said after a long pause. ¡°That might be more problematic than I¡¯d like to admit.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Silivus asked. ¡°The elders weren¡¯t exactly thrilled to give your expedition any funding when it was brought to their attention. And that was for a normal expedition.¡± ¡°But we showed that our research was correct,¡± Hypatia insisted. ¡°Indeed it was,¡± said a man behind them, standing in the doorway. The man was a thin, tall elf, blonde hair flowing down past his shoulders and neatly trimmed. His clothes were dyed blue and white, and shined in the low light of the room. He held his hands behind his back as he moved into the room. ¡°Elder Thingel,¡± Aurelius said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting your arrival.¡± ¡°I heard you were entertaining guests, so I figured I¡¯d come and see what the whole meeting was all about. And while the university is happy to see your efforts brought forth some evidence to prove your claim. We do not see the use of allocating resources to continue this endeavor.¡± ¡°But we found The Unyielding Fortress!¡± Silvius exclaimed. ¡°You found the ruins of a fortress. Let¡¯s not make it more than what it is,¡± the elf said. ¡°And what exactly will be the focus of the university¡¯s resources?¡± Leonidas asked. Thindel turned to the doctor, his nose wrinkled and eyes narrowed at the request. ¡°That is a need to know basis. And you do not need to know.¡± ¡°I see, good to know our academic betters are tending to their duties with perfect objectivity,¡± the doctor said before heading to the door. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°To get some air, and avoid saying things I¡¯ll regret,¡± Leonidas said before he left the room. He stood next to the doorway, tilting his head towards the opening to listen to the rest of the conversation. He couldn¡¯t keep himself from grimacing as he heard the rest of the conversation, hearing the desperation in Silvius and Hypatia¡¯s voices who were unable to sway the elf¡¯s mind. As the elder left the room, the elf did not give Leonidas a passing glance as he walked swiftly down the hall. Leonidas looked down and felt the urge to spit on the floor, holding back only to avoid ruining the carpet nearby. Leonidas turned back to hear Silvius say, ¡°It¡¯s hard to think of one naturally dispositioned for their own star to rise while they force others to fall.¡± ¡°This is the way of things,¡± Aurelius said. ¡°It¡¯s a sad facet of the world we live in.¡± ¡°But it goes against the very nature of what we do,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was positive facet, even a smart one, but one that exists,¡± Aurelius replied. ¡°It¡¯s like nothing we do will change their mind,¡± Silvius lamented. ¡°Maybe not by nature¡¯s touch. But know there are those who want to see you both succeed and proven your detractors wrong.¡± Silvius said nothing as he left the room and began walking down the hall. Leonidas saw the defeated demeanor as Hypatia followed behind. Aurelius stood in the doorway, watching them leave before turning to Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be more help,¡± he said the doctor. ¡°It¡¯s hard when you¡¯re the only scholar in an ocean of fools,¡± the doctor said before taking his leave and following his companions. *** Leonidas saw Hypatia sitting at the table back at the clinic, her head resting on her hand, slowly shaking back and forth as her elbows rested on maps and notes spread out over the table. He walked over, grabbing a nearby chair and pulling it over to the other side. ¡°Hugun for your thoughts?¡± he asked her. She lifted her head enough for one eye to focus on him before slowly lowering back down. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start,¡± she said, running her finger through her hair. ¡°I think we could start with throwing the elf into a deep pit.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me idea,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°He¡¯s been one of the biggest problems since Silvius and I started this endeavor.¡± ¡°How come? Doesn¡¯t seem to be a beneficial policy to take?¡± ¡°He feels we¡¯re stepping too far beyond what scholars should do and challenging the norm. So, he¡¯s doing what he can to hinder us at every avenue.¡± ¡°Makes me want to hit the bastard even more.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the only one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re like this, Hy,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°You¡¯re usually taking this stuff in stride.¡± ¡°This man¡¯s been a constant thorn in our side and at this stage I¡¯m past the point of being done.¡± ¡°That reminds me of more than a few people I¡¯m glad are out of my life,¡± the doctor said, stretching his neck. ¡°Outlands?¡± ¡°Oh yeah.¡± ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something in the land that causes some people to become fools.¡± ¡°I hope not,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°I¡¯d like to keep my mind.¡± ¡°I think you just lucked out,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°Seems like it sometimes. Any idea what you and Silvius are going to do?¡± Hypatia shook her head. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t say. We might head back to the fortress and see what we can find, but without cross references it¡¯ll be hard to see what¡¯s what.¡± ¡°How are you holding up?¡± ¡°Been better, to be honest. But I¡¯ll be fine. Just need some rest to clear my head and lose this fatigue,¡± Hypatia said, raising from the seat and heading towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll keep everything here for you both in the morning,¡± he said to her. ¡°Appreciate it, Doc. See you on the morrow,¡± Hypatia said. Leonidas listened as the door closed and he was greeted by silence while he stood alone in his home. Leonidas grimaced. He recalled memories of when his own words were doubted by those who felt their own expertise surpassed his own. Despite their opinion based on neither an education on the subject or experience in the field, but on whims and flights of fancy catering to a rose colored view of the world. He couldn¡¯t blame them. The world is a maelstrom of chaos and change, with few hating to embrace such things before they had a chance to adjust to the new normalcy. Seeking to make the world adhere to what they want for some semblance of order and stability. But the extent many took to avoid all change instead of trying to find a balance between the new and the old was beyond toleration. Placing all hopes and dreams in keeping a fa?ade of control only for what little they had to break wrested from their fingers. He could see this happening in the desolate places of the world. Where madness and reasoning warred each the other and no victor would ever be found before the passing of a hundred generations. Yet here, in one of the greater corners of the world. One of the epicenters of civilization itself, the rubes find themselves a new home to roost. This thought gave Leonidas ill feeling in his stomach as he wondered what trials and tribulations would come from this willing ignorance. And the though gave him a cold shiver up his spine. Part TBD - Search for Cullen V As the others left the room, leaving Gabriel in the dining area, she watched the small flame of the table¡¯s candle flickering on as it made its way down the candlestick. She took her flagon and made her way to her quarters. The stairs were cloaked in darkness, though her eyes quickly adjusted to where the ambient light lit the area with a soft bluish grey hue. She the wood floors beneath her feet shift and creak with each step. She moved herself against the left side of the stairs, leaving her right hand free and resting on her long knife. Nearing the top, she moved slower, listening for any noise or unusual smells in the area. Poking her head out into the hall, found nothing of note. Opening the door into her room, she placed the half-filled flagon on the chest of drawers in her room. Removing her armor and cloak, placing them on a chair nearby her bed and throwing on a loose woolen tunic and pants. She stretched her arms out and felt a couple of joints pop from the tension. She went over to a book resting on the stand, and as she grabbed it and flipped to a page half filled with writing in an old language she hadn¡¯t seen since even before she last looked to the lands of her ancestors. Running her fingers tips over the pages, feeling where the quill pressed against the paper and left indented marks even centuries after they were first written. The dusty scent of the parchment brought her back to when she saw her grandfather writing the journal down for the first time. She remembered how the light from the sun shone through the stained glass and covered his with multiple colors. How the birds in the cage sung and whistled in the sunlight as he etched the words in the journal. There was a sense of warmth to the moment when she first experienced it, one now long gone with its recollection. She wiped away the tears as she reread the words of the journal and remembered the smile her grandfather gave her as he finished the final scribbles. How he lifted her up and held her tightly before saying, ¡°Do not fret, little one, for dark times cannot linger before submitting to the might of the light¡¯s righteous command.¡± She remembered burying what was left of him on the border of her homeland, holding his journal and pained memories before leaving her being exiled lands unknown and a destiny unwoven. She put the book down, pressing her hand against her face, breathing heavy as she wished for those bitter wounds in her mind to leave and after centuries of trauma, finally find a modicum of peace. *** The wind howled across the tree tops as dark clouds passed by from overhead. As if the heavens were trying to rip the forest itself up from the ground and take it away. Gabriel, her spear leaning against her shoulder as she watched the storming clouds roll on by her. ¡°Gabriel!¡± the doctor called out. ¡°Come take a look at this.¡± Gabriel made her way over. ¡°What is it?¡± Leonidas was knelt down next a few impressions in the wet dirt. Maeryn was kneeling next to him and examining the impressions with great intent. She moved her hand over the imprint and turned her gaze up and around the area. Snarling a little as she looked. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Can¡¯t get a good read on their scent or noise with all this damn rain,¡± Maeryn said to them. ¡°Is there anything we can go off of?¡± Gabriel asked. Maeryn scratched the back of her head. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t tell,¡± she said, disgruntled. She then pointed off into a direction down a small pathway. ¡°We could always give that a look, see what comes of it.¡± ¡°Be nice to get a bit of shelter from the damned winds,¡± said Gabriel as she helped Maeryn and Leonidas to their feet. As the winds stirred the leaves into a rustling frenzy, the three made their way down a thin dirt path, throwing their hoods over their heads to keep the wind off. Wrapping their cloaks tightly to shield them from the rain. ¡°I think we may need to turn back,¡± Leonidas said to Gabriel and Maeryn. ¡°It¡¯s going to be impossible to find anything out here,¡± Gabriel followed. ¡°I can¡¯t smell anything other than water.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything of note,¡± Maeryn admitted, looking troubled by their fortune. Gabriel looked around, catching a soft scent of something a short distance near her. She held her hand next to her face and sniffed the air. To her left she noticed a smell of well cured meat with a strong hint of salt. ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± she said to herself. ¡°What is it?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Do you smell cured meat?¡± Maeryn turned her nose up, breathing in sharply. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°No, but why would there be any cured meat out here?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Maybe someone dropped some when walking the path,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°The path doesn¡¯t look that well-traveled, and unless someone¡¯s completely famished, there shouldn¡¯t be a reason why they couldn¡¯t wait to reach the farm for food.¡± ¡°Good point,¡± what should we do now?¡± the doctor asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking we get the others when the weather calms down and ¡­,¡± Gabriel said, before she stopped looking out across one of the vast wheatfields and noticed a figure in the distance. It was small, thin, gaunt, keeping itself low to the ground and looking directly at them. Whoever this was, their skin was palish earthen hue, and their eyes were had a golden color. ¡°Something the matter?¡± Maeryn asked. Gabriel turned to the elven archer and gestured, There¡¯s something in the woods over there. Maeryn barely tilted her head to look behind Gabriel for a moment before moving back and gesturing, I think we found our culprits. Are they doing anything at all? Leonidas asked, turning his back away from the unknown spectator. Gabriel shook her head. No, just keeping an eye on us. Leonidas groaned. Not a fan of being gawked at. ¡°Join the club,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°We probably shouldn¡¯t tarry long.¡± Gabriel nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s get the others and come back here when the heavens aren¡¯t toying with us.¡± Two days later, The Wolves returned to the path around the spot Gabriel and Maeryn noted their mysterious watcher. Gabriel was looking back out to the field, seeing nothing but grain stalks swaying to a calm breeze. Cid stepped up to the edge of the pathway, next to Gabriel. ¡°This was where you saw them?¡± he asked. Gabriel nodded, pointing out towards the woods. ¡°Around that area specifically.¡± ¡°Hmm, at least we¡¯re getting somewhere,¡± he said, ¡°why don¡¯t you take Benkin, Jeanne, Maeryn and Leonidas see what¡¯s out there.¡± ¡°What should we do if we find something?¡± ¡°Depends. If it¡¯s any major signs, report back here, if you find a group of those little bastards, try to avoid an engagement if you can, and report back here. I don¡¯t want you getting overwhelmed.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°we¡¯ll head out at once.¡± ¡°Good, report back when you¡¯ve found something and we¡¯ll see where to go from there.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know a good way to introduce yourself to goblins, do you?¡± ¡°All I know is, don¡¯t bring up their height,¡± Cid said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re rather sensitive about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Be careful out there,¡± Cid said. ¡°I¡¯ve also heard they¡¯re well versed in keeping themselves hidden when they don¡¯t want to be seen.¡± Gabriel nodded as she called the others to her before heading out grabbing her coiled spear and snapping it into attention. Part TBD - The Terrors Named ¡°How is the young woman doing?¡± Cid asked as Leonidas finished examining her face. ¡°Nothing needing immediate attention,¡± Leonidas said, rising to his feet and wiping some of the sweat from his brow. The doctor gestured his commander to follow him a short distance from where the halfling girl was. ¡°Something the matter?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Physically no,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°But the woman hasn¡¯t said much outside of a few words since we found her.¡± ¡°Do you think this could be permanent?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised. I¡¯ve seen this type of thing before, a way to cope with what a person¡¯s gone through. Locking themselves up, rarely glimpsing into these moments before they can come to terms with what happened.¡± Cid crossed his arms, looking back at the young halfling girl. ¡°She must¡¯ve seen a lot then.¡± ¡°More than she should¡¯ve.¡± ¡°What do you suggest we do?¡± ¡°Get her back with the others quickly. There¡¯s no reason for her to be here any longer than needed.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Cid said, nodding. ¡°And, Cid ¡­?¡± Leonidas said, with some hesitation. Cid was silent as he looked back at the doctor. ¡°We have to do something about the bodies.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You saw what some of them are starting to do, and we had a problem taking all of them out. You think a village of farmers and craftsmen are going to have a better time? This isn¡¯t some half baked story where logic goes out the window for wishful thinking and pure indulgence.¡± ¡°I am aware, doctor,¡± Cid said. ¡°But you don¡¯t think family members aren¡¯t going to be displeased at their loved ones being thrown into a pit and not given their final rites?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not thrilled about it either, but I think doing this kindness is better than them finding out a relative butchered a whole town while we were waiting for a priest to come back and make sure they¡¯re planted in the ground properly,¡± Leonidas said adamantly. ¡°I¡¯d like to not remind you of our work situation, doctor,¡± Cid said calmly. Leonidas took a deep breath. ¡°Sorry, sorry. Just ¡­ this is bringing up bad memories. A lot of bad memories. And you get used to having to twist arms off just to get someone¡¯s attention when it came to these things.¡± Cid put his hand on the doctor¡¯s shoulder and gave him a comforting smile. ¡°Take a breath, two if you need it.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Leonidas pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°I¡¯d rather have a drink in all honesty.¡± ¡°That is a sentiment I share entirely,¡± Cid said, handing the doctor a flask. The doctor took a long swig. ¡°Gods, that¡¯s strong stuff.¡± ¡°It should, the brew was older than my father when I bottled it.¡± ¡°How old was he?¡± ¡°Oh, sixty I think.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good time to wait. How long have you had that then?¡± Leonidas asked, pointing to the bottle. ¡°I want to say twenty years at this point.¡± Leonidas jerked his head back. ¡°Little sips then?¡± Cid shook his head. ¡°No, there¡¯s an enchantment that refreshes the contents.¡± ¡°Thank the gods,¡± Leonidas said, looking relieved. ¡°I was starting to feel bad about drinking too much.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t normally tell people that,¡± Cid said with a smile. ¡°Sometimes I get a coin or two for ¡®the misunderstanding.¡¯¡± ¡°You clever dog,¡± Leonidas said before freezing and turning back to Cid. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know if that was an insult or not.¡± ¡°Calling me a dog?¡± Leonidas nodded. ¡°No one told me if it was.¡± ¡°Oh good, that¡¯s the last thing I needed.¡± Cid patted the doctor¡¯s shoulder again. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t think you¡¯d be like that anyway, doctor. But come, we should inform the others.¡± ¡°Agreed, though I think someone should keep an eye on the woman.¡± ¡°Might have Maeryn handle that before we¡¯re ready to move out,¡± Cid said. ¡°Right,¡± the doctor said before they walked out to meet the others. The rest of the Wolves were resting right outside of the home the halfling woman was found. Cid noted how most of them were already on edge, their weapons out, or their hands resting on the handles, expecting something to jump out and attack them. Cid lifted a hand and called everything to him. ¡°Come, come, time to huddle up.¡± The others moved in, letting out sighs as they came closer. ¡°So currently the main plan is to move the young woman over to there the goblins are and maybe see if she can tell anything more about what happened if she¡¯s in a better frame of mind.¡± ¡°I think that might be a while, Cid,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I know, but being here isn¡¯t going to help her or us,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Do want anyone to stay behind and clear the rest of the town?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°We¡¯ll figure out the finer details, but yes, some of you will stay behind,¡± Cid said, taking a long inhale before letting out a rough exhale. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like a good sign,¡± Silvius said. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Cid followed, he turned to the doctor, ¡°do you want the honors?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had to tell worse,¡± Leonidas said, stepping forward. ¡°Unfortunately, given the circumstances of ¡­ what happened. We can¡¯t leave the bodies here as is.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kveldulf asked as the others perked up their heads with confused expressions conveyed. ¡°It means we need to ¡­ ensure the deceased are not able to come back.¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Gabriel said, shaking her head as it hung low. ¡°What exactly are you implying,¡± Benkin asked, seeing Gabriel¡¯s reaction. ¡°We need to burn the bodies,¡± Leonidas said with a mournful expression. Everyone looked at each other. ¡°Burn the bodies?¡± Maeryn said in a low voice. ¡°It¡¯s the only way to ensure whatever regenerative abilities they might have isn¡¯t allowed to bring them back. And we saw what some of them can do with trained warriors, a nearby town won¡¯t have a chance.¡± Benkin ran his fingers through his hair, as Silvius patted his shoulder sympathetically. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Benkin said in a low voice. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t something any of us want to hear,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°But the doctor is right, if any come back, we can¡¯t guarantee there won¡¯t be another similar massacre.¡± Kveldulf ran his hand over his face before hefting his great sword over his shoulders. ¡°Jeanne, Ben, Hy, Sil, come on, let¡¯s get this over with.¡± They followed Kveldulf to the dire task at hand was Cid watched them moving away. Their demeanor reminded him of prisoners who had come to accepted their oncoming execution. He turned to the rest and said somberly, ¡°Come, we should get her out of here. I¡¯d like to not leave them with this task alone before too long.¡± Part TBD - The Terrors Named II Cid leaned against the mouth of the cave, watching the soft light of the fires around the town slowly dying away. He let out a sigh of relief, this hellish incident finally beginning to become a tragic memory. He grabbed his pipe and took out a match and small pouch of pipeweed. After taking out a pinch of ground leaves into the bowl, he lit the stick and stuck it into the contents and drew a long inhale. Letting out a slow exhale, he recalled the sieges he had fought during his first years with The Cold Company. The light of the fires illuminating the night sky, muffled screams of civilians mixed with the shouts and calls of warriors committing act of barbarity no respecting bard would consider recalling to a royal court. He remembered the night the company took the city of Saleno. The rivers of blood covering the streets, damned by bodies of unfortunate souls lost in the wild orgy of war and fury. Watching his fellow mercenaries giving into their darkest natures, the mere thought causing him to shudder. Cid recalled watching the horrific scene unfold from a rooftop of a home freshly ransacked, its family slaughtered, though he knew not if it was the work of one of his own or an ally. Cid looked up to the fine black night, dotted with stars, and wondered if any of them were the ones who watched the horrid scene years before? Did they hold him responsible for what happened? He wondered if his kin had heard of terrible night and knew he was there when it occurred? Would they have judged him as he had them for their incessant bickering and backstabbing and constant warfare? These thoughts lingered in his mind as he saw Benkin coming out of the cave and pinching the bridge of his nose tightly. Cid let out a short puff of smoke away from Benkin before turning back, ¡°Is everything all right?¡± he asked. Benkin let out a weak groan. ¡°I don¡¯t know right now, if I¡¯m being honest here.¡± ¡°You want to talk about it?¡± Benkin shook his head. ¡°There isn¡¯t much to talk about.¡± ¡°I remember hearing someone talk about the rituals your people would send off loved ones when they had passed on,¡± Cid said, handing Benkin his flask. Benkin nodded, slowly gripping the flask and taking a long sip from the container. ¡°The idea is to try and purify something which impurifies the world.¡± ¡°Impurify?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Benkin said, ¡°the whole basis of our faith is everything of the world is created pure, with our actions depending whether how much of that purity remains. Much of our ceremonies are to try preserve as much of that essence for the course of our lives. We even bath our hands and heads before entering a holy place.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of that,¡± Cid said. ¡°Not something you tend to advertise on the first conversation. And our ways aren¡¯t exactly welcomed by our peers in this part of the world, so we tend to keep that mum, more or less.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Cid said. ¡°I can imagine this wasn¡¯t an easy time for you then.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had better days. A lot of them, if I¡¯m going to be honest.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Cid said, letting out a sigh. ¡°That seems to be going around a lot as of late.¡± ¡°I just hope we find these bastards before long.¡± ¡°You and me both, Ben. You and me both.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. They turned to see Leonidas walking out to meet them. ¡°The woman seems to be willing to talk now. I figured you¡¯d want to know.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cid said, snuffing out his pipe and sticking it back into his satchel. ¡°Thank you doctor, why don¡¯t you stay here and get some air with Benkin?¡± ¡°I could use some of that, to be honest,¡± Leonidas said to Cid as the Felidan moved deeper into the cave and found Jeanne and Kveldulf standing outside one of the goblin residences. ¡°Hey Cid,¡± Kveldulf said, as he spotted the Felidan, ¡°Doc find you?¡± ¡°He did,¡± Cid replied, slipping his right thumb behind his belt. ¡°As she said anything yet?¡± ¡°Nothing major,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°Mostly she¡¯s started eating and drinking water.¡± Cid nodded. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll give it a few more minutes before we start asking her.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like interrogating someone like this,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°We¡¯re not interrogating,¡± Cid followed. ¡°We¡¯re not. We¡¯re just trying to figure out what happened. This is nothing more than a cordial conversation.¡± Both Kveldulf and Jeanne nodded, still looking uncomfortable at the whole situation. ¡°Kel, why don¡¯t you stay out here, and make sure no one decides to interrupt while Jeanne and I head inside?¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Don¡¯t want to overcrowd the woman when we¡¯re trying to talk to her.¡± Kveldulf leaned against the outer wall of the stone hewed home while Cid gently opened the door, peering inside. There were two rush light holders with a glass orb resting in a wire circle, helping to illuminate where the young halfling woman was eating her food in a trance-like state. As she sat at a table, she slowly stirred a bowl of stew in front of her. One of the miner goblins sat near a hearth, a small book in hand and occasionally peering up to look at the woman before turning their attention back to the book. Across the room, Maeryn stood, her eyes closed and her back against the wall with one foot resting shortly underneath her. The elven archer turned and spotted Cid and Jeanne, only gesturing with her head towards the door. Cid confirmed and Maeryn quietly moved to the goblin, tapping their shoulder and whispered in their ear. The goblin nodded, and after placing a slip of paper into their book, left with Maeryn. Cid closed the door as Jeanne grabbed two chairs and placed them by the table near the halfling woman. Cid took his seat, near Jeanne and after a moment to settle before taking a deep breath. ¡°I won¡¯t insult you by using worn platitudes of condolences to what you went through. I don¡¯t think there are words to express the full sorrow of what I feel for your plight.¡± The halfling woman looked at Cid from the corner of her eye, her brows beginning to furrow slowly. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said weakly. She placed the spoon on her edge of her bowl and turned towards Cid and Jeanne. ¡°We know there hasn¡¯t been much time,¡± Cid followed, ¡°but the people responsible, it is without a doubt they will do this again, and more people will be ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you as much as I can,¡± the woman said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much help I can be, but I¡¯ll tell you what I can.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all we ask,¡± Cid said. ¡°What is it you want to know?¡± ¡°Did you get a look at whoever attacked your village?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see their faces, at least what they looked like before they began their rampage. But I did get a look when they were in the middle of their ¡­ carnage.¡± ¡°What did they look like?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Their faces were distorted. Their eyes turned to all red and their teeth long and jagged and sticking out of their mouth.¡± ¡°Sounds like a fish you find deep in the ocean,¡± Jeanne said to Cid. ¡°Hmm,¡± Cid hummed, ¡°it does. Not used to seeing a vampyre that looks like that.¡± ¡°We can run it by Doc and Gab, see what they think,¡± Jeanne replied. Cid nodded before turning back to the halfling woman. ¡°Was there anything else about them, anything that made them stick out?¡± The halfling woman swallowed hard before speaking again. ¡°Well, there was one thing. Both of them had something on their cloaks. A small shield, with a red cross and a white and cream background.¡± Both Cid and Jeanne looked at each other, saying nothing. ¡°They spoke richly and with greatly pride. Nobles, they seemed. Though they said little about whoever they belonged to.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t surprising,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Is there anything else you can remember about them, anything at all?¡± Cid asked. The woman shook her head. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t able to get much else. Not before they began killing everything ¡­ and everyone. Were you able to find any other survivors?¡± Both Jeanne and Cid found it difficult to look the woman in the eyes. Cid, after a long moment, said, ¡°As of now it¡¯s you and the Lorthan family. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The young woman looked back to the stew. Dropping the spoon onto the table as pain and sorrow came over her. She tried to speak, but no words would come out. Tears flowed down her face and she choked up from the anguish. Jeanne moved over to the woman, placing her arm around her shoulder as the halfling lost herself in grief. Part TBD - In Pursuit ¡°So, the two are vampires?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Not fully,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°They have many of the traits, but the transformation was not completed.¡± ¡°What does that make them then?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Some form of hybrid creature?¡± ¡°More or less, yes,¡± Leonidas answered. ¡°The difference being they didn¡¯t go through a full transition from one state into the other. Nor was it done with any of the normal factors taken into consideration.¡± ¡°Meaning?¡± asked Benkin. ¡°This isn¡¯t simply changing a profession or going from one sworn lord to another. Hell, it isn¡¯t a transformative ritual to transition one from one gender to another. These are properties and substances being used and can have terrible consequences if the body doesn¡¯t have the chance to adapt to the change. And from what the poor woman was telling us, this is exact the type of results which can come as a result,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°So we¡¯re dealing with two homicidal maniacs who abused vampiric blood, outstanding,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°What do we do than, Cid?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°We rest with the goblins for the night, to a once over for our provisions, and then get started on hunting these butchers down,¡± Cid said. ¡°Do we have any clues to where they went?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°There were footprints by what I¡¯m assuming were them,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°and they were heading north into the Aldershire.¡± ¡°That¡¯d mean they¡¯re only a few days from arriving to Baerney,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I know, which means we¡¯ll need to hoof it, proper, if we¡¯re going to have a chance at catching up with them,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°I guess that means we should bustle then?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Oh good,¡± said Jeanne listlessly, ¡°I like bustling.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯d be tickled,¡± Cid said, ¡°now come, we¡¯ve got a lot of ground to cover before nightfall.¡± *** Jeanne noted the sun had begun to its descent when Cid called for her and Kveldulf to him at the head of their group. ¡°What is it?¡± Kveldulf asked when their reached him. Cid pointed out to a short distance before the group. ¡°What do you make of that?¡± Both Jeanne and Kveldulf leaned forward and narrowed their gaze. In the distance there was a small pillar of smoke coming out of the top of the tree line. ¡°You think might be something?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°There¡¯s always a chance,¡± Cid replied, ¡°We won¡¯t know until check it out. Have the others take the horses somewhere off the road.¡± Silvius and Hypatia dismounted first and collected the others¡¯ horses before everyone moved towards the smoke pillar. Ducking under the brush and slowly moving forward, Jeanne looked up to the canopy above them. She heard Cid make a sharp click, turning to see him gesture, Everything all right? She nodded. I just noticed there¡¯s not a lot of noise from the trees. What do you mean? Cid asked. Just listen, there¡¯s no birds singing, other animals moving around, or anything. Cid looked up and around, curling his upper lip as he noticed the lack of noise. He turned back to the others, clicking his tongue twice and waving his hand towards him. Maeryn moved up and knelt between the two of them. What¡¯s the situation? she gestured. Can you hear anything? Cid asked. Maeryn perked an ear up and listened to the forest for a moment. Nothing but the trees moving. There isn¡¯t anything else? Jeanne asked. Maeryn shook her head before her face distorted in disgust. But I smell something, she followed, and it¡¯s bad. Jeanne slumped her head forward as Cid let out a low groan before giving the others the order to spread out. Gabriel took point and moved through the grass towards the smell. She threw on the mask over her face as she caught the foul scent. Inching closer, Jeanne could catch the scent herself. She had to catch herself from gagging as it touched her nose. She felt a soft tapping on her shoulder, turning to find Benkin next to her. You all right?, he asked. She nodded. The smell was worse than I was expecting. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Agreed. Whatever that is must¡¯ve been here for a while. Moving through the brush and into a small clearing, they found a dead body resting next to a smoldering firepit. It was the corpse of a man with short brown stubble on his face, covering some of his now milky pale skin. His tunic was torn open and his feet left bare to the elements. His torso was fully ripped out, with his innards removed and thrown around the area. The humming of the flies broken the deathly silence as they flew around and slowly making a feast of the dead man¡¯s remains. The eyes were missing and as the man¡¯s open mouth revealed his tongue was missing. The Wolves looked at the scene in horror as they came over the initial shock. ¡°What on earth happened here?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know where to begin,¡± Benkin answered. ¡°This is almost a crime against nature itself,¡± Hypatia said, turning to Gabriel, ¡°no offense.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in the same boat,¡± Gabriel said slowly, keeping her spear trained to the body. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll get back up?¡± Kveldulf asked, taking out his halberd and extending out to its full length. Leonidas stepped forward. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t tell, but I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Cid said, ¡°because I¡¯d rather not seeing him come back up.¡± ¡°You and me both,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Doctor, should we ¡­ tend to the deceased?¡± Cid asked. Leonidas knelt down cautiously next to the corpse, he turned to Gabriel. ¡°I hate to ask this but¡ª¡± He hadn¡¯t finished the sentence before Gabriel stepped next to him and impaled the body through the heart with her spear. Leonidas looked up at her with wide eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want them getting more than you,¡± she said calmly. Leonidas nodded, looking at the unmoving dead man for a moment before turn to Cid. ¡°I think we¡¯re safe to assume their fully gone.¡± ¡°Well, there might be something on them to help figure out who they were.¡± ¡°You think whoever did this wouldn¡¯t already do that?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think they care too much about whether this poor soul is recovered once they pinched whatever coin they could,¡± Cid replied. ¡°This just doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go help form a perimeter,¡± Kveldulf said to him softly. ¡°Get whatever air you can here.¡± Jeanne watched Silvius move out, with Hypatia, Benkin and Gabriel heading out and taking their own positions. Jeanne walked up to Cid, ¡°You mind if I check on Sil?¡± Cid nodded. ¡°I think this is hitting him harder than anticipated.¡± Jeanne walked to where Silvius sat against a fallen log, his head hanging low and shaking and choking as he softly sobbed. She moved to the log and saw him wringing his hands and clenching his teeth. She slowly sat next to him putting her arm over his shoulders. ¡°Come on,¡± she said in a whisper. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t even be here,¡± he said, trying to regain some composure. ¡°I know, we should be back home blowing something up and giving Allianna a new headache.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just, every where we go, it just gets harder and harder to keep taking everything.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sorry you¡¯re all having to go through this.¡± ¡°How did you deal with all of this before?¡± ¡°The hell are you talking about?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Just with everything in this forsaken land.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t! I got the void out!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Silvius replied, with his head sinking into his shoulders. ¡°I was hoping you had a coping technique.¡± ¡°I drank, a lot. Copious amounts of booze.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure my liver could handle that.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± she said, handing him a flask. ¡°I know I¡¯ve been needing a strong instance of the Shepherd¡¯s guidance since we¡¯ve been back here.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Booze.¡± ¡°I know, I meant what type of booze.¡± ¡°The booze you drink.¡± ¡°When isn¡¯t there a booze meant for drinking?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve ever had wine vinegar?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a thing?¡± ¡°Oh, you sweet summer child.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Silvius said, ¡°this wasn¡¯t anything I asked for.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than a shared sentiment, Sil,¡± Jeanne said, patting his shoulder. ¡°And I know the sooner we put these bastards into the ground, the sooner you can get back home to a good dusty tome and I can enjoy a good stiff drink.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t been doing that since we got here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tempt me,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to enjoy that pleasure for a while now.¡± ¡°Do you think this will ever end?¡± Silvius asked with hesitation. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Jeanne said with certainty. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, if all else fails, there¡¯s always death.¡± Silvius gave Jeanne an unamused grimace. ¡°Always the chipper one, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s got to keep up the morale here.¡± They both turned as they found Hypatia walking up towards the two. ¡°Cid was wanting to bringing everyone back,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°We found something on the departed.¡± As they returned to the others, Jeanne spotted Cid thumbing through the leaves of a small journal, covered in faced brown leather and the pages had discolored along the edges. ¡°Anything interesting?¡± Jeanne asked. Cid finished reading a page as he closed the book and turned to Jeanne. ¡°The poor bastard was named Prydwen Silla. Seemed to be traveling to Baerney when he ran into a group of travelers. Two men, three women and several children.¡± ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s the same two men we¡¯re after?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°The woman didn¡¯t mention there being any women or children with them,¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°I¡¯m not liking this either way,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°Then I hate to be the bearer of bad news,¡± Cid said. ¡°The two men described here seem to match the description of the men back at Sunnybrooke, sigil and all.¡± ¡°Then who the hell were the women and children?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯m starting to not want to know,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You don¡¯t think anyone would join them willingly, do you?¡± Hypatia asked with great hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ve seen people do dumber things and be companions for greater monsters simply for the thrill of the fiend¡¯s celebrity,¡± Leonidas answered. ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions until we know the full story,¡± Cid said. ¡°These women may not have had much say in their association with these two Kolvilles.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°From what Pyrdwen wrote in here, the women looked as if they were afflicted with a constant state of fear. Hardly eating anything, saying less, and always seemingly trembling whenever they moved. There was one time one of the men was assaulting one of their ¡­ wives, and the younger brother stayed the man¡¯s effort to stop the beating,¡± Cid said. His face winced as he continued reading, closing the book while looking away in disgust and letting out a groan of pain. ¡°What should we do with the remains?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Doctor, see if there¡¯s a chance for the departed to ¨C return, and if we can, we¡¯ll bring him to town and have them give what remains of the poor man a proper burial.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯ll be a town worth bringing him to?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°We won¡¯t know until we get there,¡± Cid answered. ¡°But I doubt they would be foolish enough to strike so soon after one raid. And they may be wanting to lay low before they hit again.¡± ¡°I hate this feeling like we¡¯re walking into a trap,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Let us hope this is just a false sense of alarm,¡± Cid said. ¡°But come, we shouldn¡¯t leave the poor man to be eaten by the flies anymore than we can avoid.¡± Part TBD - Wondering Jeanne took point as the other rode shortly behind her. Their weapons were sheathed, but their hands rested firmly on them, ready to be used at a moment¡¯s notice. Jeanne felt fortunate she was far enough from the body to no longer smell the horrible scent of the decomposing flesh. She felt terrible feeling thankful for such graces, but the difficulty placing Prdywen¡¯s remains onto a blanket began to where on her patience after a short amount of time. She turned back, watching the others move up the road. Jeanne let out a heavy sigh before turn back forward. Looking over the landscape before them, she tried to let the beauty of the region take her mind away from the morbid task at hand. Even if it was for a brief moment. The ground began sinking soft, with hedge growing from the ground to form boundaries around the farming dotting the countryside beside them. Seas of wheat, barley and hay swished and swayed to the wind, the soft rustling reminding her of the warm summer of her youth. With the warm sun lifting her spirits with whims of adventure and the setting of the forest to fuel her desire to explore the unknown places of the world. The thin pillars of smoke rising above the hedgerows stretched up to touch the blue heavens above them. She sniffed the air and caught no scent pungent smoke or the faint whisps of screams touching her ears. Jeanne turned back to Maeryn, Gabriel and Cid, all three of them sitting contently in their saddles and betraying no signs of concern on their faces. Jeanne slowly let out a sigh of relief, giving herself a moment to think such destruction back in Sunnybrooke may have passed over the hamlet of Baerney. Arriving to a farmhouse built into the side of a low rising hill, a simple rail fence outlining The Wolves found a farmer sitting on a stool next to a cow, milking the animal as his son and daughter stood nearby. ¡°Firstly,¡± the farmer said, ¡°you¡¯ll want to strip the udders around three to four times before actually milking them.¡± ¡°Why pa?¡± the daughter asked. ¡°There might be dirt or other little things that can rest on the tip, so you don¡¯t want that getting into the milk you¡¯ll drink.¡± ¡°What do you do after that, pa?¡± the son asked. The father adjusted his stool, moving a bit closer to the heifer, placing a wooden bucket underneath the udders and gripping two of them between his thumb and first finger. ¡°That¡¯s when you place two quarters in your hand and then you squeeze and pull down.¡± As he finished, the father pulled down and milk began coming out and filling up the bucket. ¡°I¡¯ve never actually seen someone do that before,¡± Silvius said to the others as they moved towards the rail fence. ¡°It starts to lose its luster after the fiftieth heifer,¡± Jeanne said reaching the fence. The father and children spotted them, the daughter pointing to the group. ¡°Papa!¡± she said to him. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go see if your mother needs anything,¡± the father before gently shooing them towards the house, his gaze trained onto the riders. ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± ¡°Greetings,¡± Cid said to the man, bowing his head forward. ¡°We were hoping to speak with whoever the leader is. We found the body of a man on the side of the road and wanted to ensure he was given proper rites.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the farmer exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that. This is starting to becoming more frequent in the past months.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Kveldulf asked. The farmer nodded. ¡°Aye, there were two bodies found by Killian Creek about two weeks ago. Poor things were exposed to the elements so long you could barely tell they were once people. And a month before back the Dorran family were all murdered in the middle of night. Ripped to shreds and all their valuables taken.¡± ¡°Is the sheriff not trying to find them?¡± Silvius asked. The farmer let out a sharp exhale and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know anymore. Half the village doesn¡¯t think much of them and I¡¯m starting to lose what trust I have.¡± ¡°I can only imagine,¡± Cid said. ¡°Still where would we find them or the local reeve?¡± ¡°Center of town,¡± the farmer said, pointing towards the town down the road. ¡°Though if you¡¯re planning on staying the night, I¡¯d be watchful, there¡¯s strange things going on round here.¡± ¡°With the murders?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Aye, them, and there¡¯s been other wild things going on. Animals found with their blood sucked out. Homes burnt down and their owners brutalized. Strange noises, stranger sights, the whole world is going mad.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s definitely something to be mindful of,¡± Cid replied. ¡°We¡¯ll keep ourselves alert while we¡¯re here. Hopefully things will be tepid for our stay.¡± ¡°Shepherd¡¯s guidance that¡¯s the case,¡± said the farmer, ¡°but if you don¡¯t mind, I need to get back to a few errands round the farm.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Cid said, bow his head forward once again. ¡°Thank you for your time.¡± He waved the rest of The Wolves to follow, riding down a short distance on the road, once the farm was out of sight, before calling the group to a full stop. ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± he asked them. ¡°If I was a betting man this seems to be the work of our men,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°They¡¯re certainly keeping themselves busy between victims,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Do you think being here will give us away?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°They have to assume someone would go after them after some time,¡± Benkin answered. ¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t go out to any place alone,¡± Silvius said. ¡°I agree with that entirely,¡± Cid said. ¡°I want you all in pairs when you¡¯re out.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°And I want that done for the lodgings,¡± Cid followed, ¡°no reason to give the curs and a reason to catch us by surprise.¡± ¡°I doubt that¡¯ll be a problem,¡± said Maeryn, cutting a quick glance over to Kveldulf. The warrior caught her look and returned the smile. ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake,¡± Jeanne said shaking her head, ¡°get a room.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Kveldulf replied, ¡°that was almost catty.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you fucking catty,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was catty, at all,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°Thank you,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I think Kveldulf is being the catty one.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°it¡¯s like he enjoys just causing all sorts of gossip and other problems.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because he¡¯s self-conscious of his foot smells,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°They do tend to be aromatic sometimes,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°You both know I¡¯m right here,¡± Kveldulf said. Maeryn stood up in her saddle to reach the top of his head. ¡°Shh, shnuckems, the adults are talking.¡± ¡°The fuck am I seeing?¡± Cid asked as the three spotted the others staring at them. ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said, taking in deep breath and nodding slightly. ¡°Forgot we had company.¡± Cid blinked several times quickly before shaking his head and turning his horse back towards the town. ¡°I ¡­ I think we should go,¡± waving the rest of The Wolves to follow. Part TBD - Losing Faith Once at the outskirts of the town, The Wolves found several farms dotting the outer rim of the village. More buildings began congregating together, signs of businesses and homes marking them out for all to see. Finding a series of hitching posts to leave their horses, the freelancers made their way down the main street. Townspeople made their wat through the streets. Most hardly giving The Wolves any notice save for a quick glance before going back to their business. One woman was standing on the wooden path resting before an inn and tavern, beating two rugs hung over a rail fence with a stick. A small black cat stepped out and looked towards The Wolves as they neared her. ¡°Aw,¡± Silvius said, ¡°It¡¯s a little kitty.¡± Jeanne noticed Cid giving her a look. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was half expecting you to ask if that was a distant cousin or some other relative of mine.¡± Jeanne balked. ¡°I¡¯m a little offended.¡± ¡°You gave me a ball of string as a holiday gift one year.¡± ¡°I keep tell you, it was because you cro-fucking-chet you mother fucking bastard!¡± ¡°Do you know what they¡¯re jabbering about?¡± Gabriel asked Kveldulf. ¡°Oh the usual,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Good morrow,¡± the woman said. ¡°Are you new to Baerney?¡± ¡°We are,¡± said Cid, ¡°we were hoping to find either the reeve or the sheriff.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be the reeve you¡¯re looking for. Though Ulren is still tending to a matter about boundaries for two of the farms and won¡¯t be back for a while, I¡¯d reckon. Is something the matter?¡± ¡°We found the remains of someone, a man, on the side of the road on the way up here. His name was Prydwen Silla, seemed to be a merchant of some sort.¡± The woman put the beating stick down and walked over. ¡°Silla¡¯s dead?¡± The rest of The Wolves nodded as Cid dismounted. ¡°Sadly, yes. We suspect it was ¡­ not by accident.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the woman said, turning away and wincing in pain. ¡°We told him to wait until this whole mess blew over. Between the war waging, animals being feasted on, and Shepherd knows who¡¯s been attacking people round the Meadowlands.¡± ¡°We are sorry to be the bearer of ill tidings.¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re doing right bringing him here to get something of a proper burial.¡± ¡°Is there no one to give him his rites?¡± Jeanne asked. The woman shook her head. ¡°Not anymore. Many of the monks and priests were recalled back to the cities or with the armies to grant their soldiers The Grace of the Evergreen.¡± ¡°I¡¯d thought there¡¯d be more than one priest in any given parish.¡± ¡°True, though many tend to stay in their monasteries. Far away from the trials and tribulations of those they¡¯re trying to save,¡± said the woman. ¡°Course,¡± Gabriel replied shaking her head. ¡°The grace of gods is for to enjoy, and doubly that when it¡¯s for a nobleman,¡± Leonidas said, dismounting from his horse. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°He¡¯ll have to wait with the others until Father Olwen comes back.¡± ¡°Any word when that will be?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°I wish I knew, but that¡¯s not something for me to know it seems.¡± The sound of footsteps alerted them to the arrival of a man approaching them. A man arrived, with a sigil of a sword resting in a circular crown behind it pinned to his chest. His left hand rubbed the back of his neck as he made his way forward. Each step seemingly taking more and more of an effort to trudge onward. There was a look of fatigue on the man¡¯s face. Lines written deep on his forehead and cheeks. His clothes displayed wear and tear, marks of dirt, sweat and only the Sheperd knew what else. As he spotted The Wolves and the woman he said in a tired voice, ¡°Who are these Helen?¡± ¡°They just came in from the road, Robert. Found poor Prydwen not too far from here. Dead,¡± Helen replied. ¡°Oh no,¡± Robert removed his hat, placing it on his chest as he lowered his head. ¡°Not another one.¡± ¡°Has this been happening often?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°At first no,¡± Robert replied. ¡°Things were mostly calm, even when the war between Adelize and Aethelbert began. But when Lord Bellem began leaning towards Adelize and Lord Kolville and his ilk began to remember their vagrant courage, that¡¯s when our troubles began.¡± ¡°As the new Kolville don nothing to assist the matter?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°If he has, we haven¡¯t seen it,¡± Robert replied bluntly. ¡°Though his predecessor left much to fix in his wake.¡± ¡°Well, where should put Prydwen before he can be given a proper goodbye?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I can take you over to the church,¡± Robert said, ¡°there¡¯s a crypt that¡¯s being used as a holding area of sorts until they can be buried proper.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that create a smell after a while?¡± Silvius asked. Robert shook his head solemnly. ¡°We¡¯ve gotten used to it by now,¡± he said before waving them over to follow. ¡°Kel, if you could bring the good Pyrdwen with us, please?¡± Cid asked. Kveldulf nodded, grabbing the remains after dismounting his horse. The Wolves exchanged uncomfortable glances before making their way to the local church. The building was made of a main rectangular structure with several extensions jutting out and a tall tower rising above the rest. The stone fa?ade was dark, the windows around the building was darker and the shutters, when opened, showed little of the inside. ¡°Is anyone else getting an ominous feeling, presently?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I think I might stay out here,¡± said Maeryn, holding her hand over her nose. ¡°Why don¡¯t you, Sil, Hy, and Gabriel stay out here. Kel, if you could bring good Prydwen inside?¡± Kveldulf nodded as he brought the body inside the church. ¡°The building itself was built long during the time of the Rubican Empire¡¯s rule over these lands. The church was dedicated to the goddess, Aurea Fon, to win her favor for rich harvests. When the empire left it soon became a monastery for the Order of St. Scapha back in the reign of King Aelfnoth the Victorious, when he was fighting The Great Horde of Thorin the Cruel.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hop, skip, and jump in time,¡± Silvius said. ¡°One way to put it,¡± Robert replied. ¡°Many of the farms and other buildings set up around the town were to help the monastery¡¯s daily operations. After the clash between King Olbert of Keelgard and The Holy See back in Remus did the monastery lose most of its autonomy.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s still running?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Mostly because it had been a part of the town for centuries at that point, and it was the only church in a twenty-mile radius.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°practicality at its finest.¡± ¡°Still, gave people a place to find a sense of community and solace. At least before the two upstarts began warring on each other.¡± ¡°Not a supporter of either claimant?¡± Cid asked. ¡°My king died five years ago. These two are glorified children who don¡¯t seem to understand the first thing of ruling a people.¡± ¡°Well, eventually they¡¯ll fight it out until someone is left standing,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°And towns will be left burning, people left hanging, and entire shires left as complete wastelands?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to keep my part of earth as far away from the mess as I can,¡± Robert said. ¡°Though it¡¯s been getting harder as time goes by.¡± Inside the nave of the church were rows of pews. Many covered in dust and showing long signs of unuse. The columns, hewed from brilliant white marble, gave no shine, even when struck by the rays of the sun. The carpet running down the middle of the hall, was matted down with years of use, drowning out the rich crimson with brown stains of dirt and mud. The altar rested at the far back of the nave, sectioned off by a rail long since having lost it luster. The gilded golds and silvers in the etchings of the curved ceiling behind were dulled, almost returning to their natural semblance, far from the jeweled beauty it once had. Resting on the altar itself was a white stone statue, made in the image of a man. In his left hand was a curved staff, his right hand held aloft with the first and second fingers pointing straight into the air and the other two curled inward. The figure was dressed in plain robes, one of a man of simple origins, simpler wants, and simplest of needs. Part Twenty-Three - Party Favors II The Wolves arrived to the party as the sun was setting behind the buildings while other courtiers, nobles, ministers of states, city officials and other dignitaries made their way into the Councilor¡¯s Palace. Several guards were stationed at the door to check in the guests whereas others were patrolling the grounds. Many had ribbons wrapped on their arms and just under the tips of their spears and laurels resting on their helms to convey a modicum of a festive spirit. Kveldulf noticed some at a gate farther down the wall were throwing out a group of people dressed in rags. He could see one woman pleading and grabbing at the guard for some form of mercy, only to be throw aside. A short distance from the gate Kel saw a group of party goers laughing and pointing at the group without a care in the world. He wished he had brought his father¡¯s sword with him for a blood filled demonstration for the night¡¯s entertainment. He felt a hand grab his arm. Turning he saw Cid looking back at him. ¡°There isn¡¯t much we can do now,¡± he said with woe in his voice. ¡°Maybe when this is all over.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Kveldulf said, doubt and shame lingering in her mind. Cid approached the guard who greeted them. ¡°Evening, welcome to the Spring Solstice Charity Feast. Your name?¡± the guard said, addressing them in a professional manner. ¡°We are The Wolf Company, Marin said we were on the guest list,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Give me one moment to look,¡± the guard said, running through the pages of the guest list. ¡°Ah there we are. The Wolf Company, commanding officer, Rodrigo Diaz¡¯la de Vivar¡¯enza de Cideador. Lieutenants, Kel Steigsen and Jeanne Marias. Fellow members, Maeryn of the Cyl¡¯Wich, Augustus Lucius Silvius, Hypatia of Koulberg, Miyamoto Benkin, and Leonidas, son of Cadmus,¡± the guard paused to count the party. ¡°Everyone is present, please enjoy the feast.¡± Moving past the gate, Benkin said to the others. ¡°Should the rest of us have positions, too?¡± ¡°I mean, I did qualify as a master swordmen¡¯s back where I¡¯m from before I went on my merry way,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Was there an official title for that?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Ken-no Tatsujin,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°Oh, I like that,¡± Cid said with some excitement. ¡°Yes! Absolutely, you are our Ken-no Tatsujin.¡± Benkin smiled widely with pride as he took in the new position. ¡°Did anyone else want a new title?¡± ¡°Can I be archivist?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°You¡¯re already an archivist,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I just want it official,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± said Cid. ¡°Anyone else?¡± ¡°Can I be called Belator Sophita?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kvledulf asked. ¡°Bladed Scholar,¡± replied Silvius. ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to write that down,¡± said Cid. ¡°Already on it,¡± said Hypatia, etching the notes unto a wax tablet. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± Cid asked, bewildered. ¡°I keep it on me,¡± Hypatia replied calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Did you want a title, Hypatia?¡¯ Cid asked. ¡°Oh archivist is just fine,¡± Hypatia followed. ¡°Scout suits me well,¡± said Maeryn raising her hand briefly. ¡°Technically, I already have a title,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Fine, everyone has a title,¡± said Cid, ¡° now I think we should get to this thing so we can go home sooner.¡± The party followed the other guests to the fifth level of the keep, where they could hear revelry being held. As they entered, they saw people inside congregating around long tables covered in embroidered with rich designs of people, buildings, animals, forests and other plant life. Kveldulf looked around, noticing something peculiar and said, ¡°Does anyone notice much of the artwork is of the Council?¡± ¡°I was starting to notice that myself,¡± said Hypatia, slowly raising an eyebrow up. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they spent most of their days in here,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Don¡¯t be too loud,¡± said Cid, ¡°you¡¯d be surprised how such comments can make it back to unintended ear.¡± ¡°Do we need to wait before we can gorge ourselves?¡± Jeanne asked the Felidan. ¡°I think we should wait a moment before you start demonstrating your lack of discriminating taste in culinary preferences.¡± ¡°You want to say that in a way I can understand?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a pig.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jeanne said appreciatively. Gold and silver platters of food were laid out for the guests to enjoy. Fresh and dried fruits, with small bowls of honey and sugar placed nearby. Varieties of cheeses rested next to glistening samples of meat and plenty of wine to be had. ¡°Good word, this would give Vinum Saltio pause,¡± said Silvius. ¡°You think he¡¯d be impressed,¡± Leonidas said, before looking out of a window to spot a man dressed in rags rummaging through a pile of rotted food piled outside a house on the other side of the fence, ¡°or insulted?¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer not to find out,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°You¡¯d think the whole realm was a land of milk and honey,¡± Benkin looking over a long silver platter of a variety of sliced meat. Musicians played along small balconies and dancers demonstrated their skills on raised platforms. Guests chatted amongst themselves moving with haughty purpose, laughing haughtily, and reveling in their luxuries. ¡°I think we should¡¯ve turned this down,¡± Kveldulf said to Cid. ¡°I wish we could,¡± Cid said with deep regret. ¡°Just another reminded why I can¡¯t stand bloody nobility.¡± Cid turned and found Marin coming up to him. Cid put on a smile as he said to Kveldulf, ¡°Kill me, please.¡± ¡°My good Cid,¡± Marin said as he held out his hand to the Felidan. ¡°Councilor Marin,¡± said Cid, taking the man¡¯s hand. ¡°So good to see you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad my tailor was able to provide you all with such elegant outfits.¡± ¡°It was certainly a wonderfully thoughtful gesture on your part,¡± Cid replied. Jeanne turned to Kveldulf. Oh, he is really hating it here. Kveldulf bit his bottom lip. What gave you that impression? ¡°Well, do feel free to enjoy the food and mingle with the other guests,¡± Marin said, raising his wine goblet to the others. ¡°We¡¯ll be delighted,¡± said Cid as he turned to the others. ¡°Won¡¯t we?¡± Everyone smiled at Marin, who bowed and then took his leave. ¡°Please tell me we can leave now,¡± Jeanne replied. Cid rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°By the light, I wish we could. But let¡¯s ¡­ mingle, for a moment so we don¡¯t appear too ungrateful. And for the love of the gods, please don¡¯t start a fight.¡± ¡°I only promise to try,¡± said Kveldulf. Cid was taken aback. ¡°I was expecting Jeanne to say that.¡± ¡°So was I,¡± Jeanne replied, somewhat stunned. ¡°Not sure how I should feel about this.¡± ¡°Regardless, just go and converse with people. See about who we can get on our side. I know ¡­ just ¡­ do what you can.¡± Kveldulf and Jeanne moved over to one of the platters and grabbed a plate each of fruit and cheeses before moving further down the table. ¡°You think the others will have any luck with what Cid wants?¡± Jeanne asked Kveldulf as she scooped two large spoonful of fruits onto her platter. Kveldulf turned to see Benkin and Silvius approaching a group who spotted them and simply walked away. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hold my breath.¡± ¡°Are you planning on talking to anyone?¡± Jeanne asked Kveldulf. ¡°No¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°I know where my strong suits are and diplomacy isn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°Same. So what are we doing here if this is all a futile effort?¡± ¡°If I was a betting man, Cid is also doing this whole thing to keep on the Council¡¯s good side for the time being. If we seem to be playing nice, we won¡¯t be meriting their attention.¡± Jeanne nodded, grabbing several pieces of cheese. ¡°That makes sense,¡± as she tossed them into her mouth, her eyes widened and she turned to Kveldulf looking as if she had made the greatest of all discoveries. ¡°This is so good.¡± ¡°I should hope so,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°One nice perk about the nobility. They get access to an ungodly amount to luxuriant food.¡± ¡°They certainly know how to bring the richness out,¡± Jeanne said as she stuff chunks of chicken and fruit into her mouth. Kveldulf stared at her with a concerned look. ¡°Wha?¡± she asked him, with bits of food flying out. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Jeanne, did you not eat today?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said swallowing everything in one gulp. ¡°This is my bruncher.¡± ¡°Oh gods, not the bruncher mess again.¡± ¡°Bruncher is amazing and you know it.¡± ¡°You literally combined all of the three major meals and made it into one word. That¡¯s not inventive.¡± ¡°Not with that attitude,¡± she said as she grabbed a goblet of wine and took a sip. ¡°You should try this wine.¡± ¡°Is it good?¡± ¡°Here,¡± she said handing him the goblet. ¡°You try it.¡± Kveldulf took a sip of the wine. ¡°All right, that¡¯s not half bad.¡± ¡°They might have a branch shoved up their ass so far you can the leaves come out the other side, but damn they know how to glutton proper,¡± Jeanne said, plopping some more cheese squares into her mouth. They spotted Cid already discussing with a nobleman dressed in fine grabs. The man was wildly waving his finger and sporting an imbecilic smile mouthing ¡®That¡¯s right¡¯ repeatedly. Cid turned to the two watching and extending one claw, made a cutting gesture across his throat before pointing to the nobleman, completely oblivious to the gesture. ¡°Oh, that poor bastard,¡± Kveldulf said before turning to Jeanne. ¡°Should we help?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think murder is the best method for the situation, Jeanne.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t even considering that until you mentioned it.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Kveldulf said, gesturing Jeanne to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s see what Cid is dealing with.¡± ¡°Outstanding,¡± Jeanne said rolling her eyes. Cid, struggling to keep a polite smile on his face, looking relieved as he saw Kveldulf and Jeanne. He interrupted the nobleman, who was rambling without end. ¡°Ah, let me introduce you to my two lieutenants, Kel Stiegsen and Jeanne Marais.¡± The nobleman nodded his head, as if possessed by a mad spirit. ¡°So good to meet you both.¡± ¡°Charmed,¡± Jeanne said, turning to Cid with a cold glare. Cid quickly shrugged looking a bit shameful. The nobleman said. ¡°So good to meet you both. Your captain is a really interesting Mog.¡± ¡°Thank you, though, our captain would rather not be referred as,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I think he can speak for himself,¡± the nobleman replied, shaking his head at Jeanne before giving Cid a perplexed look. ¡°I have, repeatedly,¡± Cid said disdainfully. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± the nobleman said, waving frantically his finger towards Cid again. ¡°Right, right.¡± ¡°So, what are your duties here in the city?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Oh,¡± the nobleman said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, ¡°my brother is in the city¡¯s army.¡± ¡°But what about you?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± the nobleman asked. Jeanne¡¯s eyes narrowed slowly as she turned to Kel and Cid, wearing a worried smile. ¡°Oh, so what do you two feel about economic declines?¡± the nobleman asked. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in such things,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°It¡¯s all foreign to me,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I told you for the tenth time, I don¡¯t care,¡± Cid followed. The man, undeterred by the responses, continued. ¡°So, one of the merchants I speak with regularly with says that the nobility should keep from buying more expensive items. What do you three think of that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to comprehend what ¡®I don¡¯t care¡¯ means do you?¡± Kveldulf asked the man. ¡°I just, you know, get so into these things.¡± ¡°You know this doesn¡¯t mean everyone does, yes?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Plus, can you imagine how much gold the Council has spent on the situation in Krajina?¡± ¡°What?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°The Prince of Runthia invaded the realm of Krajina in the spring when their ruler announced he was joining an opposing alliance.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ wonderful,¡± Kveldulf replied looking up before shaking his head. ¡°And now the Council wants to send the Krajina more money for the war.¡± ¡°Sweet Light guide me,¡± Jeanne heard Cid mutter under his breath. ¡°All that gold spent could be used here.¡± ¡°Perhaps it was to keep an even greater amount and the blood of your people from being spent should the war come to these borders,¡± Kveldulf replied. The nobleman scoffed, shrugging repetitively in a haphazard manner. ¡°What concern is it of ours? We so far away and they don¡¯t concern us.¡± ¡°Because if one region falls, that¡¯ll spur on further encroachment, which means more resources, leading to more land being acquired. And soon that land buffer is and eventually you¡¯ll be next on the chopping block.¡± The nobleman, kept smiling at the conversation, replied, ¡°There¡¯s no way we¡¯d be at risk. We¡¯re too big to be taken over.¡± ¡°Anyone with an inkling of strategic thinking knows you take a massive nation piecemeal. City by city, town by town. Not the whole region on one fell swoop. And no kingdom is above invasion regardless of perceived invulnerability,¡± Kveldulf replied. The nobleman, keeping a smile, but tapping his foot and looking down and breathing heavy turned to Cid. ¡°Can you believe him, saying this when my brother is in the military.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the only one, and that alone doesn¡¯t afford you special privileges. And whatever¡¯s given to your kin is for them and them alone.¡± Cid replied sternly. The nobleman, once more starting to fume at the conversation said, ¡°We just need to take care of ourselves. Not use any of our money for a fight we¡¯re not involved.¡± ¡°Because the nobles have been allocating the money to the city¡¯s need well before they sent it over to an ally,¡± Cid replied. ¡°The money never existed!¡± the nobleman replied. ¡°The money never existed?¡± Cid asked in confusion. ¡°Yeah!¡± the nobleman replied. ¡°The money that was sent over, by the governing body ¡­ never existed.¡± ¡°No, it didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°You do hear yourself speak, yes?¡± Cid asked. ¡°You hear this and find logic in your words.¡± Before the nobleman could respond Jeanne asked. ¡°And what exactly would you do with the money. Just for my reference.¡± ¡°I¡¯d give it to the people, we¡¯d all have money, and I¡¯d be all smiles.¡± Jeanne gave the man a cold stare. ¡°Is this idiocy a natural talent or a skill you¡¯ve honed over the years?¡± ¡°What?¡± the nobleman asked. ¡°Never mind,¡± she said walking away. ¡°I doubt there¡¯s enough of a mind to answer that.¡± The nobleman moved to speak with Cid who held up his hand to stop him. ¡°I¡¯ve had my fill of bandying words with a witless worm.¡± Kveldulf and Jeanne went back to the table and enjoyed some more of the food and wine. Kveldulf looked off to another part of the feasting hall. ¡°Hmm,¡± he groaned as he looked back at Jeanne. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting looks.¡± ¡°Oh no, gossipy or lusty?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaning on gossipy,¡± Kveldulf replied looking back up. Jeanne turned to find several women, dressed in eloquent gowns and adorned with jewels looking back at her. As Jeanne spotted them they turned away, looking at each other and began giggling and chattering amongst themselves. Jeanne rolled her eyes. ¡°You all right?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°You know when you should be mad, but the thing itself is just ¡­ not worth the effort?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°All the time.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s one of those.¡± ¡°Ah, so no pummeling for them?¡± ¡°For the moment, no. But the night is young, and the buzz is just starting,¡± Jeanne said, letting out a long belch. The two moved over to a four-tiered water fountain made from white marble. They looked down and saw the bottom of the fountain covered in various coins. ¡°You think they¡¯d have a problem if I started to grab all those coins?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I think it¡¯s for the whole charity thing they¡¯re doing,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne replied, ¡°forgot about that.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°Not a lot of signs that this charitable work Marin talked about.¡± ¡°You seem entranced by this marvelous piece,¡± they heard a woman say. Kveldulf turned to see a woman from the group they saw earlier stand next to them. She was in her thirties, dressed in a pure white gown with golden embroidery along the edges in a floral pattern. Long blonde hair with long sections around the bottom dyed with a menagerie of color, blues, greens, violets, and oranges swirled together in wild patterns. ¡°It¡¯s very nice,¡± Kveldulf said cordially. Jeanne simply nodded, saying nothing and revealing clenched her teeth while giving the woman a forced smile. ¡°This was commissioned by my father, you see,¡± the woman said, ¡°the artist was a brilliant man, far beyond his years. He made this in the shape of our world, which is in the round. Allowing the water to flow over the sides without hinderance, and never the same twice. And the top level is diminutive, barely existent, getting bigger as the water lands in each new level. Until it lands at the bottom, is reclaimed and goes through the whole process again.¡± ¡°So like a fountain,¡± Jeanne replied coolly. Kveldulf turned his gaze to her wide eyed. ¡°Exactly,¡± the woman replied, pleasantly surprised. She looked out over and her demeanor turned sour. ¡°When did they invite a bark-eater into here?¡± Kveldulf and Jeanne turned and saw Maeryn chatting amicably with some of the other guests, and was the only elven woman in the small crowd. Jeanne turned back to the woman, ¡°What about her?¡± she asked taciturnly. ¡°Look at her,¡± the woman insisted, ¡°Woman of her ilk pervade the very concept of civilization. Living in burrowed trees, feasting off the land like animals, and from what I heard, they have no quarrel with inviting anyone to their bed.¡± Jeanne looked at the woman, beginning to press her lips together. ¡°You don¡¯t say?¡± ¡°Perhaps we should ¡­¡± Kveldulf said, trying to change the conversation before Jeanne interjected. ¡°Oh no, let her finish,¡± said she, her gaze never leaving the woman. ¡°I¡¯m dying to hear more.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the woman said, ¡°I swear this city is going down a road to ruin, letting such unsavory characters get a better influence in out city.¡± ¡°But Allianna is an elf,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s of Eldar blood,¡± the woman replied, ¡°and far more refined and with centuries of wisdom. Her Woodland kin are nothing more than mutts on two ¡­¡± The woman stopped as she felt a burning sensation on her back, she turned sharply to find her hair smoldering. Panicking, she began screaming and flailing her arms when she suddenly threw herself back and into the fountain pool. Other party guests flocked to aid her as Kveldulf turned to Jeanne who had a mischievous smile on her face. Kveldulf gave her a blank look. ¡°What?¡± she asked innocently. ¡°In any other situation I¡¯d say something,¡± he said before leaning in, saying in a hushed whisper, ¡°but she was asking for it. Stiil, I think we should go.¡± Jeanne looked back, watching the woman, dress thorough soaked and her hair now a watery veil, crying at her misfortune. ¡°That would be prudent,¡± she said in a refined tone. The two found Hypatia and Leonidas leaning against a column, conversing with each other as they watched the party from a distance. ¡°Not in the mingling mood?¡± Jeanne asked them. ¡°Most of them are sad conversationalists to say the least,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°despite thinking the contrary.¡± ¡°If I have to hear about damn thread counts one more time, I think I¡¯m going to kill someone,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°Well hopefully this damned affair will end soon enough.¡± ¡°Shepherd willing,¡± said Jeanne, crossing her arms. ¡°I think our glorious host is about to speak,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Please do,¡± said Hypatia, ¡°I want this to end so I can get some sleep.¡± The others turned to see Marin standing at the far end of the room, near the fountain, the soaked woman now long gone, holding his goblet into the air, tapping it with a spoon. ¡°Dear friends,¡± he said to the crowd. ¡°It is so good to see you here, and for a good and worthy cause.¡± Many in the audience clapped tepidly. ¡°And now it is time to tally the amount we have raised, to help the poor coarse, weak, dissolute common folk of this fair city!¡± The audience applauded once again; more energy invested in the effort this time. A servant handed Marin a note. He opened it, reading the contents and addressed the crowd. ¡°This year, we have raised over thirty thousand merliah! Which will go to many of those in need.¡± As the crowd cheered, Jeanne, Kveldulf, Hypatia and Leonidas looked at each other. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like a lot of money considering,¡± Hypatia said to them. ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± said Cid, walking up to the rest of The Wolves. ¡°That¡¯s hardly enough for a year¡¯s cost for a decent orphanage, let alone a whole section of the city.¡± Cid then looked around at the decorations and food. ¡°And I know where most of the money is actually going to be spent,¡± he said in disgust ¡°You¡¯re kidding?¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Such wonderful parties need to be paid somehow,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Heavens forbid those with the means part with their own coffers, abstain from such extremes to allay their guilt for living richly.¡± ¡°I think I want to go,¡± said Silvius, pressing his arms against his sides. ¡°Likewise,¡± said Cid, ¡°I need no more reminds why I left this whole farce behind.¡± Cid gestured the others to follow. ¡°Come, we have more important things to do than cultivate egos of our betters.¡± Part TBD - Confrontation Jeanne stared in her mug of mead. Hearing the soft fizzling of bubbles and the scent of honey touching her nose. Her eye stung as she tried to focus them. The light beginning to give her a headache. She pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a moan as she opened her eyes. Silvius, Hypatia and Gabriel were eating and discussing matter at a table, Cid was going over a map with Kveldulf and Benkin and Maeryn were near a dart board, testing each other¡¯s skills. She rested her head on her left hand, feeling the weight of the last few days begin to creep up on her. Lingering thoughts to unanswered question that she wished not to ponder. ¡°Penny for your thoughts,¡± she heard Leonidas say to her. She shook her head. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m still trying to work that part out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair. It¡¯s been hard to accept what¡¯s been going on. Let alone begin coming to terms with them.¡± ¡°Was it ever this bad?¡± ¡°What? Back in the Outlands?¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Sometimes. Especially when there was a war on, or if people were arguing amongst themselves while there was a murderer loose.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think I¡¯d be used to this at this point.¡± ¡°I mean, this isn¡¯t exactly the type of thing you see regularly, even in this line of work.¡± ¡°Still, this has been a lot harder to handle than I was expecting.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t helping the damned curs we¡¯re hunting are elusive as ever. Not like they¡¯re just standing outside calling you out for a fight.¡± ¡°I wish they would,¡± Jeanne said, taking a sip of her mead. ¡°Certainly would help with the damned waiting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the truth,¡± Leonidas replied, taking a sip from his own tankard. ¡°Did you ever have to deal with vampires like this?¡± ¡°Not really. Surprisingly, most of the vampires I knew were fairly unassuming. I mean, you had a few wild cards here and there. But overall, even they tried not to bring too much attention to themselves. Last thing anyone wanted was half the region hunting you down to put your head on a silver platter.¡± ¡°And murders weren¡¯t common place?¡± Leonidas shook his head again. ¡°Against fellow settlers, not really. Now against the indigenous peoples, that was a different story.¡± ¡°Should I ask?¡± ¡°Mostly the same song and dance as anywhere else. New people arrive, slaughter the ones already living there in the name of some trumped up excuse and they act like the land was theirs the entire time. No different than anywhere else.¡± ¡°Did you ever partake in that?¡± ¡°No,¡± Leonidas said sternly. ¡°The only time I drew arms against those people it was when one of them tried taking my head and talking wasn¡¯t allowed. And even then I took no pride in the circumstances.¡± Jeanne stretched her neck. ¡°I just wish this damned thing was done with and behind us.¡± ¡°I know, the same for the rest of us.¡± ¡°What do you think would drive them out?¡± ¡°The Kolvilles? If I was a betting man, I¡¯d say something that they¡¯d find some sort of ownership of that they¡¯d want back. Or let them know where you are,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m starting to wonder if that last part isn¡¯t a terrible idea.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°If we do that, then we¡¯d lose the element of surprise.¡± ¡°You think we have that now?¡± Leonidas shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s always that chance. They¡¯re not gods, and I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if rumors were out that we didn¡¯t make it out of Bellem¡¯s city.¡± ¡°But the Kolvilles would still have some connections.¡± ¡°Maybe a couple, but these two seem to have been off the grapevine for some time. And I¡¯d bet good coin they haven¡¯t been assessed on things for some time. That could include you being back.¡± ¡°I guess I don¡¯t want to give myself any false hope,¡± Jeanne said, taking another sip of her mead. Before they could continue, Kveldulf and Cid came to their table, followed by Helen, now with an apron tied around her waist and a tray of steaming pieces of bread and a stick of butter resting nearby. ¡°Figured you two could use some food,¡± Kveldulf said as he and Cid took their seats. ¡°I could use something,¡± Jeanne said, grabbing a large chunk of bread before handing it to Leonidas. ¡°Looks like our poor friend wasn¡¯t the only victim the brothers found recently,¡± Cid said, swirling his mead in his tankard. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°There was a body brought in a day before,¡± Helen said, ¡°we think his name was Lanston, Langdon, something like that.¡± ¡°Was he around here for any reason?¡± Leonidas asked. Helen shook her head. ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell ya. He wasn¡¯t here long, and I think he was just looking for some work before he went on his way, off to Garmbuhr, for some odd jobs. A lot of people been doing that what with the war and all.¡± ¡°Was this Lanston found like Prydwen?¡± the doctor asked. ¡°Aye, just the same. Though they were something odd about him.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cid asked. ¡°His mouth was quivering every once in a while, and his eyes kept shifting. Never looking in the same spot for more than a moment,¡± Helen said, tucking her chin into her chest and shuddering at the thought. Jeanne noted Gabriel looking towards them. Her face contorted in discomfort before she turned back to the others and took a sip from her brew. ¡°We think Langston was robbed before he was murdered by the devils,¡± Helen said. ¡°Was anything particular taken?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°All the coin he had on him, and a pair of fine boots that he was particularly keen on. ¡°Boots?¡± Jeanne asked, puzzled. ¡°Aye, he had this nice pair of fine leather boots. Almost shined enough to where you thought it produced its own light.¡± ¡°Rare thing indeed,¡± Cid said, tapping his cheek with a finger. ¡°When they found Langston, his body was resting on the banks of the creek nearby, with stones placed in his torso.¡± The four exchanged quick glances before looking back to Helen. ¡°Is there anything else you can think of regarding Langston?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Actually yes, the last night I saw him, he was talking to two men, they were young, maybe in their twenties, or so. One did more of the talking, a bit of a charmer he thought he was, but I wasn¡¯t that impressed. The other sulked around and had a look in his eye that gave me chills.¡± ¡°Was there anyone else with them?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Aye, aye. Three young women, two of them with children, the other was seeing to the ill one¡¯s needs. All three of them rarely spoke and looked like they had seen or two.¡± ¡°How were the two men to them?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°They were ¡­ all right. Nothing I¡¯d consider romantic, but there wasn¡¯t any incidents between them.¡± ¡°Anything else you can think of about the group?¡± Cid asked again. Helen shook her head. ¡°Sadly, no. He wasn¡¯t here long and we didn¡¯t learn of what happened to him until a few days before you all arrived.¡± ¡°Well, thank you for that information,¡± Cid said, bowing his head forward, ¡°this is most helpful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how much help it can be, but I hope you get the bastards all the same,¡± Helen said to them, ¡°but, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I should be tending to my other patrons.¡± ¡°So, that means they¡¯ve definitely been here,¡± Cid said. ¡°You think they¡¯re far away?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Cid replied. ¡°We¡¯re definitely catching up with them,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Agreed,¡± said Cid, ¡°and that means we need to be especially careful. Can¡¯t assume they¡¯re unaware to our presence.¡± ¡°Be nice if we had something Maer or Gabe could use to track them.¡± ¡°We could do some patrols, see if we can a camp out in the woods,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°We¡¯ll start that in the morning,¡± said Cid. ¡°We¡¯ll figure out who¡¯s going where tomorrow morning, but I think we should enjoy what we can to ¡­¡± A gut wrenching scream shocked all of them alert, and they all grabbed their weapons and raced towards the door. Reaching the street outside, The Wolves found several people running away in full terror away from a person hunched over the body of a dead elf man, their body shaking as their murderer dug into their raw flesh and devoured it without a care. ¡°Well, this night just got interesting,¡± Kveldulf said as he trained extended halberd towards the killer. The killer¡¯s head lifted up at the comment, turning slowly to the others. Jeanne felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up on end as she spotted the man¡¯s face staring back at them. The black spots where his eyes should be were void of any semblance of humanity. His skin was pale as the moon, and his teeth were jagged and stained with hues of amber and crimson. His nose was thin and shortened, and wrinkled sharply as he sniffed the air. Jeanne spotted a small brooch clasping the worn and haggard cloak over the fiend¡¯s shoulder, a sigil hounding her thoughts in the last weeks and months. A house plagued with demons, in dark words and darker deeds. Now its soul manifested in flash and blood before all the world to see. ¡°Kolville,¡± she said. The Kolville tilted his head as he recognized her, ¡°You,¡± he said slowly and with growing anger. Part TBD - Confrontation II Without thinking, she gripped her hammer and lunged at the monster. The fiend let out a high-pitched scream before charging Jeanne. As she raised here hammer over her head, she let out a cry before swing it down towards the enemy. A rush of energy filled her arm as the hammer fell and struck the vampire, a sizzle sound filled the air before a loud thunderous crack snapped between her and the Kolville. Jeanne was thrown back by the incredible force, landing hard on her back. As she collected her senses, she noticed the vile Kolville getting back onto his feet, swaying before he steadied his stance. Jeanne roll herself onto her feet, trying to clear her mind to summon her rock scales as he began bolting towards her. As she could hear his ravenous growls of the Kolville as it was overtaken by the woosh of a long pole striking him in the chest, sending him back and striking the ground hard. Jeanne saw Gabriel race past her grabbing the handle of her spear, withdrawing it swiftly and engaging the monster as Kveldulf reached her. ¡°You learn a new trick?¡± he asked her while helping her up. ¡°Wha you terking about?¡± Jeanne replied with a slur. ¡°You ¡­ didn¡¯t mean to do the light show?¡± ¡°Light show?¡± Kveldulf looked back to Gabriel before turning back to Jeanne. ¡°We¡¯ll ¡­ deal with that later.¡± As Jeanne¡¯s mind cleared, she saw Gabriel engaged in a fierce battle with the Kolville. ¡°Where are the rest?¡± she asked Kveldulf, looking around the area. ¡°They¡¯re engaged with the other Kolville and their ¡­ friend.¡± ¡°Friend?¡± Jeanne turned to see a large creature, slightly larger than a draft horse, on all fours, teeth flaring out towards the others, its skin was gone, leaving only the flesh underneath, blood black as the night above dripping from the cuts and deep lacerations made from the battle between it and the other Wolves. Standing besides the creature was another Kolville. His clothes were in less tatters, but there was little regal bearing in his dress or demeanor. In one of his hands was a blood drenched short sword, and the other a club coated in dried blood and bits of teeth and hair now stuck on the wood. ¡°The other one?¡± Jeanne asked aloud. ¡°Ollen I can use some help here!¡± shouted the Kolville fighting Gabriel. ¡°This is your mess, Guthrem. I¡¯d say you should clean it up!¡± Ollen replied. Gabriel lunged at Gutherm with her spear, the strike barely missing the man¡¯s head. The other landing deep into his shoulder. Guthrum cried in pain as he tried to remove the spearhead. The beast, shrieking as Guthrum did, thrashed about. Hypatia, her two song-blades in hand, swirled them into a booming symphony, causing the creature to move away from the town, while Maeryn and Silvius loosed projectiles into its side. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Leonidas, staffed raised above his head, summoned a large storm of emerald fire and aimed it towards the creature. Its flesh burning and searing from its bones. Benkin plunged his blade deep into one of its joints, crippling the creature while Cid sunk the blade into the temple of the monstrosity as it tried to recover from the last blow. Ollen raced to Gabriel, Kveldulf and Jeanne moving with their weapons bared and ready for bloody combat. Kveldulf entered in a berserker frenzy, his roar and figure taking on bear-like form as he rushed to Ollen, Jeanne lifting her hammer to strike Guthrum. The vampire dodged the attack, making a swipe at Jeanne, his claws dislodging some of her rock scale from her torso. ¡°I remember you,¡± Guthrum said, wine dark blood dripping from his mouth. ¡°Back at Teegs-Upon-Avon, right. I remember your sister well. Little sprite was she? We had a good time with her, we did.¡± Before he could make another attack, Jeanne plunged the head of her hammer into the torso. Whatever force Kveldulf mentioned before tore through Gutherm¡¯s stomach and erupted out the other side. A bright, thunderous light coming out and striking the building behind them, creating a blast sending shattered crates and wagon pieces flying. Guthrem fell to his knees as Jeanne removed the hammer from his body. ¡°Having fun now!¡± she barked, grabbing a handful of hair and pulling his gave up to her. Before she could make the final blow, she heard the sounds of the monstrosity barreling towards her. She dove out of the way, barely missing the creature entirely. Spotting the creature again, Jeanne saw it moving swiftly towards a group of towns people fleeing the fight. ¡°Hy!¡± she yelled at the sword singer as she and the others race to the monster. ¡°On it!¡± Hypatia said, making her swords give off a terrifying shriek. The creature stopped in its tracked, turned to the Wolves and let out a guttural roar towards them. Maeryn and Silvius returned the creature¡¯s cries with several bolts and arrows landing in its fore legs and head. Kveldulf, still in his fury, landing the blade of his halberd deep into the skull of the creature, the force rippling through the beast¡¯s flesh. Benkin with his blade in hand, severed the monster¡¯s leg, and forcing it to the ground. Jeanne, with her hammer gripped tightly in hand, struck the creature in the middle of its skull, the energy from before was such it sundered the entire back half of the creature into oblivion. As the fight wound down, Jeanne could feel her muscles tingle as her skin felt an electric energy come over her. She looked around, the others were catching their breathes, but not wounded terribly. Several townspeople left their hiding places to survey the carnage as Jeanne noticed something missing. ¡°Where are the brothers?¡± she asked. The others looked around, trying to find the two vampiric villains. ¡°Must¡¯ve run off while we were dealing with the¡ª¡± Cid said before Jeanne interrupted. ¡°No!¡± Jeanne said, trying to walk forward, but her legs began buckling underneath her weight. ¡°Face me!¡± she roared into the darkness of night. ¡°Get back here, and face me!¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said, his hand on her shoulder. ¡°You need to rest.¡± ¡°I need their heads on pikes,¡± she said, her voice beginning to wheeze, moving to walk further into the darkness. ¡°I¡¯ll find you Kolvilles! I¡¯ll chase you to the end of the world and rip your hearts out and feed them to your kin, if it¡¯s the last thing I¡¯ll do,¡± she said, her knees finally giving in and she knelt down to the ground. ¡°Now come out, and face me!¡± she said, her strength beginning to leave her and her voice now becoming fainter. Leonidas came over, and putting his hand on her forehead. ¡°Jeanne you¡¯re burning up, right now. We need to get you inside.¡± Jeanne tried to push forward, but before she could crawl another inch into the dark refuge of the two Kolville brother, her vision grew dark and she felt nothing. Part TBD - The Hunt Continues Jeanne slowly opened her eyes, a soft glow from two candles resting on a small table placed next to the bed. She grabbed her head as a terrible headache broke the drowsy fugue fogging her mind. Dark beams stretching across the roof of the ceiling above her. ¡°Where am I?¡± she asked. ¡°Back at the inn,¡± Leonidas said calmly as he wrung a wet cloth over a bucket of water. ¡°You¡¯ve been out for a few hours.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know what on earth I feel like, but it isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine,¡± the doctor replied, ¡°whatever magic you used was intense to put it lightly.¡± ¡°Oh, I feel a lecture coming on,¡± she said, resting her head back onto the pillow. ¡°I mean, this isn¡¯t the dumbest thing I¡¯ve seen you do with magic, and circumstances didn¡¯t leave us with a lot of options.¡± ¡°I still feel like this should be leading up to a chewing out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I think you¡¯re prone to such things,¡± Cid said, as he entered the room. ¡°How is Jeanne faring, doctor?¡± ¡°She recovering just fine,¡± Leonidas said putting the wet towel on her head. ¡°Her body¡¯s acclimation to magic means whatever she had less of a strain than someone completely unfamiliar with the energies.¡± ¡°You mean you don¡¯t know what she did?¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Jeanne replied. Leonidas shrugged. ¡°I mean. I¡¯ve heard of people being able to do feats like what you did, Jeanne, but most of the literature we have are myths, legends, and songs of warriors in the days before even the Rubicon Empire or The Age of Heroes. And lot of that we have to take with a great pinch of salt for artistic embellishments or some other ulterior design used to influence the narrative.¡± ¡°So, we don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with me?¡± Jeanne asked, propping herself up with one arm, staring at Leonidas while holding the damp cloth to her head. ¡°As of right now, no. There are a few ideas I might have, but if we¡¯re talking about confirmed postulations ¡­¡± ¡°Laymen¡¯s terms, Doc,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°¡­ sure ideas,¡± Leonidas continued, ¡°then we¡¯re going to be lacking on those for a while.¡± Cid gave a low growl at the thought. ¡°I¡¯m not thrilled with not know what¡¯s going on with you, Jeanne.¡± ¡°That makes two of us,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Until we get a better idea what¡¯s going on, I¡¯d prefer you take charge of support and Kel tend to front line duties.¡± Jeanne scowled. ¡°I¡¯d like to note I¡¯m not happy about this.¡± ¡°Duly noted, anything else?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No, I just wanted that in the records.¡± ¡°We should¡¯ve had Hypatia up for that one,¡± Leonidas said to Cid. ¡°True,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯ll assess her on that for the time being. However, that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll be holding down the fort until we leave.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Jeanne replied with interest. ¡°Maeryn and Gabriel both have the brothers¡¯ scents, now, and we can start following them with greater effect.¡± ¡°Well, that makes my mood a bit brighter,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°I thought it would,¡± Cid said, ¡°so get some rest, and be ready to move out in the morning. We have vampires to hunt.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. *** Jeanne watched Gabriel, her spear resting comfortably in the folds her left arm, at the front of the group, with Kveldulf, Benkin and Cid following closely behind. The others were moving behind Jeanne, with Maeryn picking up the rear. Jeanne rested her hand on the head of her hammer, her eyes moving around the forest as they progressed down the winding road before them, curving into deep darkened recesses of woods. This did little to temper her hand¡¯s as they shook and jerked at perceived threats. She could feel her clothes begin matting to her skin from sweat while her toes tingled. Turning back, she spotted Maeryn, who had an arrow notched and the string to her bow partially pulled back. The elven archer eye¡¯s daring back and forth, occasionally turning to sniff the air or listen to a faint sound. But nothing came from the deepness of their surroundings than the scent of wet leaves and whistles of birds. Perhaps this was the Sheperd¡¯s way of giving us a reprieve, Jeanne thought to herself. Certainly, wouldn¡¯t be turned away at this point. Jeanne wondered if the brothers were still watching from the distance? Were they holed up in some hole in the earth, waiting for their wounds to heal and be back on the move again? What thoughts were going through their minds as they were planning their next moves? Was there any thought process to their madness, or was madness all they had to offer? Then a thought came giving her a cold shiver up her spine. What of those women who were traveling with them? What horrific existence were they forced to endure at the hands of two hell-born curs? And ¡­ weren¡¯t there children with them too? Sheperd¡¯s mercy, Jeanne thought, unable to fathom what a life like that must be for a child. Gabriel stopped, holding up a flat hand to the others. Everyone halted in their steps as she turned back and signaled, A log cabin, single story, smoke coming out. Kel, take Ben and Gab and scout the place out, Cid signaled, Everyone else, take cover and wait for orders. Jeanne positioned herself to where she could see across where Kveldulf, Benkin and Gabriel were moving from the front of the cabin. The building was small, even for most cabins residing in the woods. The chimney jutted up tall, and there was only one window at this part of the house, and it rested near the doorway. The door itself was closed, and the light from a fire inside illuminated some pots and pans hanging from the wall near a stove. Jeanne could smell the faint scent of meat cooking, one she couldn¡¯t recognize before. As the three made their way to the building, Jeanne began hearing her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She felt her right hand firmly grip the handle of her war-hammer while her left formed a rock in her hand she was gripping tightly. Gabriel using the head of the spear to press against the door slab. Gently pressing the door open, she slowly moved inside. Kveldulf followed with Benkin shortly behind. Once inside, there was a long silence throughout the area as Jeanne watched the front of the house. She pressed her lips together as she her finger tapped the ground rapidly. She turned to see Cid and Maeryn looking at the house with a steady gaze. Leonidas and Hypatia looked around the area, trying to keep their anxiety from getting the better of them while they waited for the others. Silvius was wiping the sweat from his brow, his brow furrowing as the tension grew with each passing moment. She began to feel a cold sensation come over her as Kveldulf walked out of the home. He showed no signs of physical harm, but his stance was stiff and his gaze was distant. The handle of his sword hung loosely in his fingers as he shuffled his body out into the open. Cid walked out of the brush, with Jeanne and the others shortly behind. ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± Cid asked. Kveldulf slowly turned his gaze to their commander. The color now gone from his face and tears rolling down his cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s a slaughter house,¡± Kveldulf said in a hushed whisper. Maeryn covered her nose, groaning as she turned away and began dry heaving. Hypatia and Silvius both tried comforting her as Jeanne threw a piece of cloth around her face and began moving into the home. Benkin moving from the home, his face frozen and eyes unable to close as he stepped out into the light. As Jeanne walked in, the stench of putrid flesh hit her, even with the cloth on her face. She winced, recoiling at first before slowly becoming acclimated with the horrid scent. Inside the home was nightmare brought to life before her eyes. Much of the walls, floors and even the ceiling of the home was covered in dark blood. Furniture was broken and shattered, much like back in Sunnybrook. Some of the broken pieces were used as kindling for the hearth in the middle of the home. The bodies of a man and woman were ripped apart. Skin removed, tongues and eyes were gone, and the torsos ripped open and whatever organs were inside had been taken out. The limbs had been severed and thrown onto the hearth to cook, some of the meat partially fed on. ¡°I thought vampyres didn¡¯t cook their meat?¡± Jeanne said aloud. ¡°They usually don¡¯t, it doesn¡¯t sustain our bodies much and some don¡¯t take well to cooked meals,¡± Gabriel said, her voice was weak and beginning to break. She was sitting next to a crib, the frame broken and the blankets inside ripped to bloodied shred. A small stuffed animal made to look like a rabbit rested next to the bed. Large lacerations across its front, with the stuffing pouring out of the wounds. ¡°Was there anyone else in here?¡± Jeanne asked, looking around in horror. ¡°Two children,¡± Gabriel said, beginning to break down. ¡°We think there were two. And we don¡¯t know where the infant is.¡± Gabriel began choking up, her arms wrapped around her chest as Jeanne came over. ¡°Come on,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°you should get some air.¡± Part TBD - In Pursuit II Gabriel said nothing as Jeanne helped her up and away from the terrible scene. Outside, Jeanne felt the urge to let out a sigh of relief as fresh air returned to her lungs and the aura of the cabin began leaving her. The others stood around the front of the home, trying to make sense of the scene. Leonidas went inside, his staff in hand and the stone resting at the top beginning to glow. ¡°What would be the purpose of hitting a place like this?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Supplies, time to heal up, probably an easy target to rebuild their confidence,¡± Cid said. ¡°I¡¯d bet good money they wanted to simply kill something just to kill,¡± Kveldulf followed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised,¡± said Cid. ¡°Did it look like the two had taken anything?¡± Benkin asked. Kveldulf shook his head. ¡°We didn¡¯t see anything inside. But the cupboards and shelves were empty. So, it¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess.¡± ¡°Doc, is there any chance we need to worry about them ¡­ you know?¡± Maeryn asked the doctor as he left the horrid place. Color was gone from his face and he rubbed his eyes while collecting him composure. ¡°You mean coming back?¡± Leonidas said with some weakness. ¡°No, not in their state. Even if they did, there¡¯s little chance they¡¯d do any serious harm.¡± As he finished the doctor turned around, looking at the house with a pained expression on his face. ¡°So what do we do?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°We can¡¯t leave them like this?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Cid said. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± exclaimed Silvius. ¡°We do anything, they¡¯d know someone was here. And who knows what they¡¯ll do at that point.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t just leave them there like that,¡± Silvius responded. ¡°Those are people!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already done enough to desecrate corpses,¡± said Benkin, ¡°can¡¯t we provide them with some semblance of decency?¡± ¡°If they come back,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°then they¡¯ll know we were here. And they might go back into hiding.¡± ¡°We¡¯re assuming they¡¯ll be back,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Most criminals try to avoid where they¡¯ve been, at least until the attention has gone away.¡± ¡°Predators may sometimes come back to a hunting ground, especially if they¡¯ve left food behind,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°So we just leave those poor souls to rot,¡± Silvius said, a pained look on his face. ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Cid said sympathetically, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°I agree with you, but if we are to stop these men once and for all, we can¡¯t lose whatever advantage we¡¯ve gained so far.¡± Benkin turned his gaze away, letting out an exasperated growl. ¡°I don¡¯t like this, not at all.¡± ¡°Neither do I,¡± said Cid, ¡°but we can honor these poor souls by sending their murderers into the chaotic abyss. And making sure they can¡¯t hurt another person again.¡± ¡°Then we could set a trap,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°wait for them to come back and snare them.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°They may spot us before we¡¯d know they were near,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°And they¡¯d be roaming the countryside do gods¡¯ know what before they come back.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re assuming this is a spot for them to rest and recover,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the women they¡¯ve been seen with be here then, if that was the case?¡± said Benkin. ¡°True,¡± said Cid. ¡°They would¡¯ve been here with the children.¡± ¡°So, this was random then,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Needless violence for the sake of needless violence.¡± ¡°The whole county is going to be bled dry if this keeps up,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Gabriel said, running her fingers through her hair. ¡°And the whole damn countryside is going to be combing the countryside for vampires.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Silvius, ¡°You don¡¯t think they¡¯ll start a pogrom will you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the last thing any of us want,¡± said Cid, ¡°but let¡¯s try and catch their trail again and hopefully find out where they¡¯re resting.¡± Jeanne turned back to the house, her stomach beginning to turn and her right arm recoiled without her thinking. ¡°I hope we do this soon,¡± to the rest, ¡°this is becoming a nightmare at this point.¡± *** A week of travel passed before they had rode their way out of the forest and came upon a small hamlet, a few buildings clustered together. Most seemed to come out of the earth itself, with short walls and roofs gently rising up and meeting in the middle, with a hole up top to let the out the smoke from hearths inside. Many homes were marked off with hedges forming the borders of the road through the village. The whole area was surrounded with a fence high enough to stave off wolves and other predators skulking about in the hidden places of the world. As The Wolves arrived, the dark night glimmered with stars. Jeanne looked at the scene and felt that there was a small place in this world where all the madness and chaos around them might have passed them over. Where things could be as simple and quaint as they appeared. She tried to push the thought from her mind. Not wanting to tempt the sense of ease if another hardship came and placed that much more weight on her heart before she could process everything else happening. Reaching the first home, Cid and Kveldulf dismounted their steeds and walked to the front door. A moment after knocking, Jeanne could saw a halfling man and his elven wife greeting them. They appeared cordial in their manners and tone, though she couldn¡¯t hear the words being said. Jeanne looked around and over her shoulder as the conversation progressed. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth I¡¯m not hearing anything,¡± said Maeryn, who was sitting comfortably in her saddle, leaning with her hands folded over her pommel. ¡°That actually does help, thanks,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°How are you holding up with everything?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I don¡¯t even know anymore.¡± ¡°I remember when my father would have to hunt down criminals hiding in the woods. Gods he hated it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Absolutely. Animals was one thing. There was never any animosity. They did what they had to do, he did what he had to do. Strictly business. But fellow elves, especially those living outside of the law, he never knew what they¡¯d do to try and weasel their way out of their situation.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that was an easy task.¡± ¡°They rarely were. And they rarely ended without some bloodshed in the end.¡± ¡°How did he deal with it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°He never liked talking about it with me or my brothers. But I could tell it weighed on him. Both not knowing what they could do to him and what he¡¯d have to do to bring them in. I think it affected him more than he cared to admit.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m starting to see why.¡± As Cid and Kveldulf finished their conversation, they walked back to the others, with Cid saying, ¡°They¡¯ll let us stay in the barn for the night. The wife of the house, Elenwen, will bring out something for us to eat, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot for one family,¡± Benkin said. ¡°They insisted,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Supposed they had quite the harvest when their daughter-in-law came to live with them.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s most helpful,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Always nice to have a helping hand around the homestead.¡± Cid nodded as he mounted his horse. ¡°Quite, but I for one am looking forward to some rest. Come, the barn is over this way.¡± Once inside the barn, The Wolves made themselves comfortable in the open area near the doors. Leonidas, once the doors were shut began running his finger over the wood planks. ¡°Do you really need to do that, Doc?¡± Hypatia asked, ¡°I thought vampyres weren¡¯t able to enter a place unless invited.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he said, ¡°but I¡¯m not taking any chances.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be glad when we can be in a warm bed again,¡± said Silvius trying to make himself comfortable on a small pile of hay. ¡°Likewise,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°A few day¡¯s rest would be a warm welcome.¡± ¡°I think my feet have blisters on top of their blisters,¡± said Leonidas, wincing in pain as he removed his boots. ¡°Is this even possible?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen worse,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°And I¡¯ve had worse,¡± said Benkin. ¡°You be quiet,¡± said Cid, ¡°you¡¯ve never had to deal with blisters underneath fur.¡± ¡°I¡¯d think the fur would provide a small amount of cushioning,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°You would think that,¡± said Cid. ¡°And the reality is vastly different.¡± ¡°Should I ask how that¡¯s treated?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°It isn¡¯t pretty,¡± said Leonidas, pulling out a thin needle and heating it with an orange stone. ¡°Especially when the fluids start to matte the fur up. ¡°I guess that would be a matte-r of opinion,¡± said Cid with a smile. As everyone looked at him, his smile disappeared and a grimace look came over his face. ¡°That was a good one, and you all no it.¡± ¡°Yeah yeah,¡± said Jeanne, ¡°That¡¯s what they all say.¡± Part TBD - A Moments Peace As The Wolves laughed and began relaxing, there was a light knocking from the other side. Cid and Gabriel both went to the barn doors and readied their weapons. ¡°Who is it?¡± Cid asked. ¡°My name is Rousalie,¡± said a voice from the other side, ¡°I have a pot of stew that my in-laws wished to send over.¡± Cid kicked his head towards the doctor. Come over, doctor, please. Leonidas hobbled over, one foot pointing upwards. What do you need? Do you know an incantation to see if this is a vampyre? Cid gestured. Leonidas shrugged. ¡°None that I can think of,¡± he said to the Felidan. Cid turned to Gabriel and nodded for her to open to doors. Moving the large slab into the barn, The Wolves saw a woman holding a large pot of stew, the steam still rising up from within with a long handle of a spoon sticking up from the top. Behind her was a small child, a young boy bringing several wooden bowls in his arms with spoons resting inside the recess of the top one. As she put the pot on the ground in the middle of the group, Rousalie took the handle and stirred the stew before taking one of the bowls from the child and filling it with the content inside. She first handed it to Cid who politely waved it off, ¡°I¡¯ll eat after everyone else has their meals first,¡± he said to her. Rousalie leaned back a bit, ¡°I remember hearing leaders taking the first share of any given loot.¡± ¡°Many do, but that¡¯s never been my style,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Rousalie said, as she handed the bowl to Maeryn. Maeryn blew on the stew several times before taking a sip with her spoon. ¡°This is really good,¡± she said to the others. ¡°I would hope so,¡± Rousalie said, ¡°I made the meal myself.¡± Silvius taking his first bite, followed, ¡°This isn¡¯t half bad at all.¡± The rest of The Wolves grabbed a bowl and enjoyed the meal as Cid took his at the end. ¡°Much obliged,¡± he said to Rousalie, ¡°I know we sort of came without warning.¡± ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± she said, ¡°my folks believe in taking care of each other, with or without familiarity.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Same with your husband¡¯s kin?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Especially with them,¡± she said. ¡°After my husband died, they took me in, our son, too.¡± ¡°What about your folks?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°There was a raid in our hamlet two years back by one of lords on some partisan campaign, they ¡­ they didn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Leonidas said, lowering his bowl to the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that must¡¯ve been easy for you,¡± said Cid. ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± Rousalie replied. ¡°And it was followed by husband being conscripted into our lords retinue and marching off to this damned war.¡± ¡°Have you heard anything from him?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Only how he died,¡± she said Rousalie, her voice beginning to break. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Cid said, ¡°we¡¯ve been prying too much.¡± ¡°No,¡± Rousalie insisted, wiping her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Really it is.¡± ¡°Still, I think we¡¯ve been pushing the proper boundaries of hospitality.¡± ¡°If only all our guests were so understanding,¡± Rousalie said. As the others conversed with Rousalie, Jeanne was taking a spoonful of her meal when she noted the boy looking at her war-hammer. ¡°Have you used that?¡± the boy asked timidly. Jeanne smiled, wiping the corner of her mouth. ¡°I have, in a few scraps,¡± she pulled the weapon out and pointed the handle to him. ¡°You want to hold it?¡± The boy¡¯s eyes widened as his mouth dropped. ¡°I can?¡± ¡°Only if you promise to careful with it.¡± The boy nodded emphatically before taking the weapon. He stared at the shimmering star embedded within the darkness of the metal. ¡°Is this a magical weapon?¡± he asked her. ¡°It if was I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be allowed to hold it,¡± Jeanne replied with a soft chuckle as the boy handed to weapon back. ¡°Have you been in battles before?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, more than my fair share of them.¡± ¡°What were they like?¡± the boy asked, getting down on his knees and looking up at her with admiration. Jeanne looked away for a moment, trying to find the right words. How could he understand how the songs and stories he had been given were lies? How could he know the hopes of glory in war would never be won by him until his battle-scarred body was laid into their earth. How the very thing he¡¯s looked up to had already stolen more from him than all the gold in this world could ever truly repay? ¡°In all honesty, all lies. Every last one.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re a brave warrior,¡± the boy said. ¡°You¡¯ve probably slain giants and dragons and all kinds of monsters.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve earned a few monsters under my belt. Though sometimes I wish I was back home on my parent¡¯s farm, concerned about harvests and livestock, than wondering whether this is the last dawn I¡¯ll get to see.¡± The boy looked puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Thank the Sheperd you don¡¯t, not yet at least. And if you¡¯re lucky, you won¡¯t understand for a long time. A very long time.¡± Before the boy could respond, Jeanne heard Gabriel asked Rousalie a question. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gabriel asked, after swallowing a mouthful of her meal. ¡°About three day¡¯s ride south of here is the river Rodan, not far from there is a cave where some pirates have taken up refuge.¡± ¡°Have they been causing you a lot of trouble?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Trouble is putting it lightly. They¡¯ve been plaguing us since they got here. Especially with two of their newer members,¡± Rousalie said, stirring the pot before looking back at them again. ¡°Two new members, you say?¡± Cid asked. ¡°What did they look like?¡± Part TBD - River Crossing Jeanne pushed some brush away from in front of her, looking out over a mile of river water to see a cave on the other side. It¡¯s mouth was wide, enough for three or four wagons to pass by each other with little problem. And tall enough for a two story home to fit within the recess with room to spare. Outside of the mouth was a thin pathway which meandered its way up the slope of the rock side before reaching the top of the ridgeline. ¡°That ¡­ that¡¯s going to be a challenge,¡± she said to Cid as he knelt next to her. ¡°Indeed,¡± he said raising an eyebrow. ¡°First we¡¯ll need to find a way across the river.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s the matter of infiltration,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And who knows how many of those rats are living in that hole,¡± Benkin followed. ¡°Or how deep the hole goes,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°Rousalie said there¡¯s a ferry a few miles south of here that should get us across the river without too many issues,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Thank the light for that,¡± said Cid looking up to the heavens for a quick moment. ¡°Last thing I need is to get my fur all soaked and wet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s never a good day,¡± Jeanne said. She turned to see him staring at her. ¡°What? You smell whenever you get wet.¡± ¡°Oh, oh,¡± he said, ¡°I can agree with that.¡± ¡°Should we ¨C¡± Leonidas tried to asked before both Jeanne and Cid simply shook their heads. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°First we get across the river, then we¡¯ll set up watches see if anyone¡¯s come in or out of that place,¡± Cid said, as he rose to his feet and began marching down a thin path towards the direction of the ferry. ¡°Once we have an idea what we¡¯re working with here, we move in.¡± ¡°And if they¡¯re in there?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Then we do what we¡¯ve been preparing for,¡± he said. ¡°Leave them little chance to get an upper hand on us.¡± ¡°You think these bandits would protect them?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°You don¡¯t need to like a person to be allies,¡± Cid said, ¡°you just need to have some mutual understanding. And if they¡¯ve been helping these bandits pillage and steal along the river banks, then the bandits might¡¯ve allowed them a place to rest and recover.¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t they have the means to start their own gang?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Especially if they¡¯re nobles.¡± ¡°My guess is they¡¯ve not the best at winning people to their cause. At least not enough to where people are following them by their sheer charisma and talent,¡± Cid replied. ¡°And they were more followers to their older brother than they were making the orders,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Not to mention they weren¡¯t the warmest to people, even before they became what they are.¡± Arriving to the ferry they found an old man, his hair was white, much of it receding from much of his head and he sported a long beard stretching down to his chest. His clothes were wrinkled and haggard, but he carried a poise of dignity to him as he spotted the oncoming travelers. ¡°Good day to you all,¡± he said. ¡°Would ya be wanting to use the ferry?¡± ¡°We do,¡± Cid said, taking out his coin purse. ¡°How much for everyone to cross?¡± ¡°Um, let¡¯s see,¡± the ferryman said counting them all and pondering to himself. ¡°If I did my numbers right, that should be two hermal and seven huguns.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Cid said, surprised, ¡°I was expecting a lot more.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s been a lot of traffic and the coins been kind to me as of late,¡± the ferryman said, ¡°so I try not to set the cost too high. Besides there¡¯s always another part of the river that can be crossed. And then there¡¯s robbing.¡± ¡°Is that a common problem?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It does happen from time to time. Though oddly enough, the rouges over their tend to chase away anyone trying to cause trouble.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s kind of them,¡± Cid said. ¡°Aye, makes my life a lot easier. Though when I¡¯m their way across the river, if anything did happen to me then they¡¯d up a few creeks without a paddle!¡± the ferryman said, laughing and slapping his knee. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it¡¯s worth,¡± Cid said, paying the fee before gesturing the others to follow. As they moved across the river¡¯s surface, Jeanne closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the water sloshing around underneath their feet. She remembered when she would swim in the lakes and rivers around her village. Feeling the cool water chill her skin and wash away all the cares and worries she¡¯d have. She opened her eyes and saw Hypatia sitting along the edge of the raft, a stick in her hand and running back and forth along the water¡¯s surface. ¡°Catch anything good?¡± Jeanne asked her. ¡°Mhe,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°A thought there was a halibut that was interested, but they ran off. And there¡¯s a catfish that seems a bit fishy.¡± ¡°Was ¡­ was that pun intentional?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°A little,¡± Hypatia replied. ¡°Gotta have something to keep the mind ¡­¡± Before she could finish, Hypatia got to her feet and looked out a something in the distance. Jeanne turned to the direction, and saw a rounded object bobbing up and down the water line towards them. ¡°Everyone,¡± she said, taking out her hammer, ¡°I think we might have something.¡± The others turned and upon seeing the object, took their weapons out and spread out as much as they could on the ferry. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± the ferryman demanded. ¡°Try and keep us moving,¡± Cid said, ¡°We¡¯ll tend to this.¡± Maeryn looked out and let out a painful sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t think we need to worry about this one.¡± As the object neared, it spun slowly to reveal an extremity attached. ¡°Oh gods,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°It¡¯s another body.¡± Part TBD - Small Town Concerns ¡°Should we try to bring them on board?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Are we sure they¡¯re not going to attack us?¡± Benkin followed. ¡°Doctor, thoughts?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Hard to say, vampyres don¡¯t exactly need air to function for long periods of time.¡± Hypatia turned to Gabriel, ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°More or less, though if we don¡¯t breath too long our bodies can begin changing as a result.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Oh yeah, but that¡¯s over my head when it comes to why that happens.¡± ¡°Kel, Ben, Gab, if you could help me get the deceased on board,¡± Leonidas said, waving them over to the edge of the ferry. Lifting the corpse up and turning them on their back, they could see they had found dead man with extensive mutilation of the body. The neck had been bitten deep into, removing much of the flesh behind, leaving the spine and windpipe exposed. The torso was ripped open, organs removed, and several small rocks that had clung onto the dead man¡¯s clothing had fallen back into the recess inside. ¡°What was the point of the rocks?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking they were trying to sink the body into the water,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°I¡¯d agree with that one,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Poor thing,¡± said the ferryman, shaking his head as he turned away from the macabre scene and looked back to the other shoreline. ¡°This is just getting worse and worse.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen this before?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Aye, seen a few lost souls wading along these waters in my time. Usually it¡¯s someone who had more than a few drinks than they should. But this something entirely different. Won¡¯t be anyone left here in these parts to kill if this keeps up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a shared sentiment,¡± Jeanne said before looking back at the deceased. *** Reaching a town a few miles down the road, The Wolves found a tanner applying oils over the hides suspended and trying in the sun. The woman spotted the group and grabbed a rag to dry her hands before walking up to them. ¡°Good morrow,¡± she said, hesitantly after spotting Benkin holding a large wrapped dropping item over his shoulders, ¡°is there anything I can help with?¡± ¡°The local sheriff or reeve,¡± said Cid. ¡°We found a man floating in the river.¡± ¡°Shepherd preserve us, not another one,¡± the tanner replied. ¡°You can find the reeve in her office, largest building in town, can¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Cid said before gesturing the others to follow. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. In the middle of town was a tall three-story building, crafted from dark woods and sporting golden colored terracotta tiles all over the roof. The shutters were opened and faint plumes of smoke lifted from inside and lifting up to the sky. Townspeople moved in and out, tending to various errands. One spotting the group looking at them perplexingly. ¡°Is there anything you need?¡± the person asked them. ¡°We¡¯re looking for the reeve,¡± said Cid. ¡°Right,¡± the townsperson said, ¡°I¡¯ll let them know you¡¯re here.¡± In a few moments a woman walked out, around in her fifties, with brown hair with peppered spots of grey, lines of worry and laughter distinguished her face as she immediately spotted what Benkin was carrying. ¡°I¡¯m Judith, the reeve here. And I see you found another poor bastard from the river?¡± she asked, looking at Cid directly. Cid nodded. ¡°We found him while taking the ferry. The gentleman over can ¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± the woman said. ¡°This is the third dead body we¡¯ve found in less than a month,¡± she said gesturing them inside and pointing to a table were Benkin could place the body. ¡°Do you think it might have something to do with the bandits over by the cave?¡± Jeanne said, nudging her head back to the river. ¡°That was our first thoughts. But honestly, Mason and his boys have been there before I was the reeve around these parts. And we haven¡¯t seen them out and about for some time. And we try to stay out of their business as much as we can.¡± ¡°You allow bandits to operate without recourse?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°They have a crew about half the size of this town. And they have who know how many years experience in fighting. Most of the people here would use a sword to plough a field than plough a man¡¯s flesh. On top of that, we don¡¯t have the resources to take on a bandit crew of their size. So we¡¯ve come to an agreement; they leave our people and traders alone, we don¡¯t bring the heat on their people.¡± ¡°How well has that worked?¡± Cid asked. Judith shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s get things in good order for the most part. Especially since with the war on, a lot of bandit crews have been trying to carve out territories for themselves and act like they¡¯re their own kings.¡± ¡°How wonderful,¡± Jeanne said, chagrining. ¡°That was until the group recruited two new members. That¡¯s when the bodies started turning up.¡± ¡°They would happen to have unusually pale skin, would they?¡± Cid asked. ¡°You mean like a sucking vamp? Yeah, whiter than the moon. And about as lively as one, too.¡± ¡°Have they been back recently?¡± Cid asked. ¡°What, are they friends of yours?¡± ¡°Oh no, the opposite.¡± ¡°Well ¡­ I¡¯d prefer not to rock the boat. But I can tell you they did arrive back from one of their excursions recently. Looked a little worse for wear, too. And since then things have been ¡­ quiet. Very quiet.¡± ¡°You think something happened?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Who knows. But I¡¯m not going down there, not if you paid me a five king¡¯s ransoms.¡± ¡°After we get some food and draught in us, we should be more than enough to tackle the problem,¡± Cid said with a calm smile. ¡°Well the Golden Mutton is a short that way,¡± Judith said, pointing to a building a short distance from where they were. ¡°It¡¯s an inn and tavern, in case you need both services.¡± ¡°Thank you for that,¡± said Cid. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse us.¡± Taking their leave, the group moved back out to the main square as Cid turned to the group. ¡°All right, thoughts?¡± ¡°I think the town is in league with the bandits,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°You think so,¡± said Silvius, ¡°I got the feeling she¡¯d rather not have them around.¡± ¡°Better to dance with the devil you know than dance with the devil you don¡¯t,¡± Kveldulf noted. ¡°I say we burn the place and see what the bandits do,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Is this a real idea or simply you wanting to burn stuff?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Both,¡± Jeanne replied. Cid took a long breath. ¡°Let¡¯s put that on the maybe pile in case we need to go with that plan.¡± ¡°So what is the plan?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°Maer, you and Jeanne go scout out the place, Kveldulf, you and the doctor will stay here while the rest of us find a place to rest our heads until we move in,¡± said Cid. ¡°Should we maybe look for the inn?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°I¡¯d prefer not,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I don¡¯t them farther than I spit, currently.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t spit far to begin with,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Precisely, now let¡¯s move out.¡± Part TBD - The Cave Jeanne sat on a log, watching the cave from a small ridge overlooking the area from a short distance. She took out a piece of dried meat and pulled off a section to chew on as Maeryn sat down next to her. ¡°Anything?¡± Maeryn asked. Jeanne shook her head slowly. ¡°Not a damn thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been almost a quarter of the day already. I¡¯m surprised no one¡¯s done anything.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°No guards, no wanderings, not even someone walking out to relieve themselves.¡± ¡°That is odd. Though I¡¯m glad I¡¯m not watching that.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°but still.¡± Maeryn shifted in her seat. ¡°You think they¡¯re deep within the cave?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you. Especially not knowing how deep they go.¡± ¡°Starting to think we should¡¯ve brought one of the goblins with us,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°They¡¯d be good in this situation.¡± ¡°They had more than enough issues by themselves, I doubt any would want to get involved with our little mess and a half.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Maeryn said, looking over to the dried meat in Jeanne¡¯s hand. ¡°You gonna finish that?¡± Jeanne lifted the food up. ¡°This?¡± Maeryn nodded. Jeanne handed it over. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Maeryn took the dried meat and began gnawing on it as she looked out to the cave. ¡°This isn¡¯t half bad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good when you need something in a pinch.¡± ¡°My mother used to cure meats back home.¡± ¡°She did?¡± Jeanne asked. Maeryn nodded. ¡°She¡¯d make sure my father and I had a few on hand whenever we went on the hunt. It was a tradition of our people going back to before The Great Flight.¡± She furrowed her brows as she tried to recall the phrase. ¡°Great Flight? I never heard of that.¡± ¡°Most outsiders wouldn¡¯t. We try to keep our ways and traditions outside the gaze of those who wouldn¡¯t understand. Or take the time to understand.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯d include a few people in this end of the world.¡± ¡°The invasions didn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°No, I guess they wouldn¡¯t,¡± Jeanne said, embarrassed. ¡°Though the raiding forays on our end probably didn¡¯t make for great introductions.¡± ¡°I remember my parents telling me if I didn¡¯t stop running through the woods, a woodland elf would whisk me away into the veil beyond the twilight.¡± ¡°Did you believe them?¡± ¡°At first, yes.¡± Maeryn face turned ill as she looked away. ¡°I was five, Maeryn, I didn¡¯t know any elves back then.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°That¡¯s fair. I guess most of us accepted what our parents told us when we were younger.¡± ¡°Course some of the children in my village would cut the points off leaves and put them on their ears to pretend they were elves.¡± ¡°They did?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Oh yeah. A few wanted to venture into the Forever Twilight and see what was out there.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Maeryn hummed as she looked out towards the cave in the distance. ¡°What, did I say something again?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just where I¡¯m from, The Forever Twilight is place souls go if they¡¯ve been ¡­ bad.¡± Jeanne slowly turned to Maeryn with a concerned face. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that¡¯s your hell?¡± ¡°More or less, yes.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jeanne said, taking in a sharp inhale through her nose, ¡°that¡¯ll be a profound shock for a few people.¡± ¡°And your bards are in for an eye opener.¡± ¡°I know former lover who¡¯ll need a day to recover if he ever finds this out.¡± ¡°You were with a bard?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°He had pretty eyes, and a gorgeous smile.¡± ¡°I think Doc might get jealous if he sees you talk like that.¡± ¡°Oh he knows about that, and he couldn¡¯t give less of a shit. And if he did, I have eight reasons why he¡¯d regret it.¡± ¡°Oh yeah ¡­ I forgot about that.¡± ¡°And he wishes I would,¡± Jeanne said, putting her hands behind her head with a proud smile on her face. Jeanne and Maeryn began laughing, trying to stifle the noise when Maeryn head shot up and she tapped Jeanne¡¯s shoulder and pointed to someone moving down the thin path towards the cave¡¯s entrance. The man had a large canvas sack slung over his shoulder and several canteens hanging off the other side as they clanged against each other while walking down the path. ¡°Well, he took his sweet time,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°And he¡¯s none too pleased with the task.¡± ¡°Can you hear what he¡¯s saying?¡± ¡°Nothing too clear, but occasionally he¡¯ll say something along the lines of ¡®bullshit¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯m not the new one anymore¡¯.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°that¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Usually there¡¯d be someone coming out to try and help with the load.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Maeryn said, grabbing her bow. ¡°I think we may want to move in closer.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jeanne followed, grabbing her war hammer and taking it out. Rising to their feet, they moved out of their resting spot and towards the path, waiting for the man to disappear into the cave before moving down the walkway themselves. Moving down the trail Maeryn sniffed the air before she let out a sharp cough. ¡°Everything all right?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I think I know why we haven¡¯t seen anyone.¡± ¡°Oh shit,¡± Jeanne said as they heard a horrified scream coming from the cave. Without thinking, they rushed towards the mouth and Jeanne could smell the strong scent of iron and death filling their air. Reaching the maw of the cavern, they could see little stream of blood trickling out and towards the river. With their weapons out and ready, Jeanne and Maeryn slowly moved inside. They stepped lightly inside. As their eyes adjusted to the dark, Jeanne could see splatters of blood covering much of the cave walls. ¡°Oh, this is looking bad,¡± she said softly. ¡°It¡¯s worse,¡± Maeryn looking up. Jeanne turned her gaze upward and saw several bodies impaled on tall stalagmites. ¡°Oh ¡­ fuck.¡± A body fell from the ceiling, slamming against the floor in front of them. Both women jumped back and let out a yelp as they looked at the corpse. ¡°The fuck did he come from?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°I think he came where they are,¡± Jeanne pointing up to dozens of bodies impaled on the stalactites above them. ¡°Well, that is something,¡± Maeryn said. She looked further into the cave, peering into the darkness as she notched an arrow. ¡°Hear something?¡± ¡°And smell,¡± the archer replied. ¡°Something foul and something ¡­ else.¡± ¡°Should I ¨C¡± Jeanne asked before they heard someone rush towards them. They both took and combative stance as the man they saw before ran out, with a zombie chasing him. He could only gasped and wheeze as Maeryn landed an arrow into the center of the zombie¡¯s head, and Jeanne crushed its skull with her hammer. The man landed to the floor, trying to crawl away as the two women tried calming him down. ¡°Whoa whoa whoa!¡± Jeanne said to the man, putting her hammer away. Before she could continue, the man rose to his feet and race to the entrance of the cave. ¡°Ah shit!¡± Jeanne cursed as she bolted after the man, Maeryn running closely behind. As the man tripped and stumbled over his feet, Jeanne eventually caught up and tackled him to the floor of the cave. The man screamed and thrashed about, trying to break free from her grasp. ¡°Stop fighting!¡± she barked as he kept trashing. ¡°Let me go!¡± he cried out. ¡°Maer, get his legs,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°But he keeps swinging them.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯m gonna make you stop,¡± Jeanne said to the man. The man kept screaming and begging to be let go. His voice echoing against the cave walls. ¡°You asked for this!¡± Jeanne said as she loosened her grip and knocked the man out with a single punch to the head. The man was silent and still as he laid on the floor. Jeanne pushed him off her other arm and stood up on her feet. ¡°Is ¡­ is he dead.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not moving much,¡± Maeryn said, ¡°I can barely see anything for him breathing.¡± ¡°Oh, I hope I didn¡¯t kill him,¡± Jeanne said, slowly putting her hand over her face. Part TBD - The Bandit Jeanne and Maeryn raced up the path and towards the town, barely missing carts and people travelling the main road. Jeanne saw Leonidas and Kveldulf chatting away outside a smithy as they spotted the two women. Leonidas called out, ¡°Is everything al¡ª¡± Jeanne grabbed his shoulders, and spoke before he could finish, ¡°No time! Cave guy, need you now!¡± ¡°S-Sure,¡± Leonidas said, utterly confused and followed them. ¡°I¡¯m gonna assume I should come, too,¡± Kveldulf said as he followed the group. Arriving to the cave, the four found the man still lying there on the rock floor. ¡°Oh gods, what happened?¡± Leonidas asked, removing his satchel and beginning to grab some equip from inside. ¡°I punched him,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Did he do anything?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t thrashing,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Why was he thrashing?¡± Leonidas asked as a body from above landed near them. ¡°That, that was why he was thrashing,¡± Maeryn replied, pointing to the corpse. Leonidas and Kveldulf looked around, seeing the carnage around them and their jaws slowly dropped from the sight. ¡°How did we miss this?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I just blame it on stress,¡± Leonidas replied, before getting back to the attending to the man. ¡°What on earth happened here?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°We saw the man walking in here, scream, and when we came in we found ¡­ this.¡± ¡°Well ¡­ this is interesting to say¡­,¡± before Kveldulf could finish another body fell from the rocky ceiling, ¡°¡­ the least. ¡°Perhaps we could do this somewhere else,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be bad for the patient, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°No more than the concussion Jeanne gave him.¡± ¡°I did not want to,¡± Jeanne said adamantly. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Leonidas said, grunting as he grabbed the man¡¯s shoulders, ¡°can someone get his legs for me?¡± Jeanne grabbed the man¡¯s legs and they hauled him outside as Leonidas looked over him again. ¡°Is he alive?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°He¡¯s breathing,¡± Leonidas said, opening the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°And everything else seems to be doing what they need to. So I don¡¯t think you put the man down with a single punch for good.¡± ¡°Oh good,¡± Jeanne said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. ¡°I¡¯d think you¡¯d be happy you knocked him out with one punch?¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Not when we need information,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°If this was a bar fight, that¡¯d be a different story.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°Oh!¡± Leonidas exclaimed, ¡°I think he¡¯s coming to.¡± The others gathered near as the man began groaning and opening his eyes. They watered as the sun struck them and he lifted a hand over to shield the rays away. He didn¡¯t make any words as he turned his head back and forth. As his sight steadied, they grew wide and he tried to stand up and towards the path away. But before he could stand on his feet, his knees buckled and he began falling to the earth. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Leonidas and Jeanne grabbed him before he hit the ground. ¡°Whoa there,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°you had quite the tumble.¡± ¡°I need to get out,¡± the man said, ¡°I can¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°whatever was in the cave is gone.¡± ¡°It ¡­ it¡¯s gone?¡± the man asked. ¡°Long gone, most likely,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Wait ¡­,¡± the man said, ¡°You hit me!¡± ¡°Yeah, and you didn¡¯t stop thrashing!¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Let¡¯s not do this here,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°What were you doing here in the first place?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Well, I guess it doesn¡¯t matter much now, does it,¡± the man replied. ¡°I was making a supply run for the gang here. You know, mostly dry goods, get some word on what¡¯s happening around these parts. Things like that.¡± ¡°And what happened that the gang would¡¯ve had ¡­ that happen to them?¡± Jeanne asked, pointing back to the cave. The man looking down, giving an exasperated sigh. ¡°More than likely it was the fucking brothers.¡± ¡°Brothers?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Aye,¡± the man said, ¡°two of them. Their skin was paler than snow, and their eyes red as hateful fire.¡± ¡°Did they have a particular taste for blood?¡± Maeryn asked. The man nodded quickly. ¡°Aye, they did, almost addicted they were. Eating meat almost raw from the bones, like animals living in the wilds. No sign of decency at all.¡± ¡°Do you think they were responsible for what happened?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Without a doubt,¡± the man replied. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t know loyalty if stabbed them in the face. That¡¯s why their own kin threw them out.¡± ¡°Their own kin kicked them out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they said. Though they never went into details. Didn¡¯t need to. If they were my kin, I¡¯d cast them out and let the hounds have their way with them.¡± ¡°Well, that explains why they¡¯re not with the others,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Definitely say a lot, in all honesty,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Why did you and your gang let them stay then, if they were so ¡­ vicious?¡± ¡°Our line of work, vicious has its advantages,¡± the man said. ¡°And they were good at what they did, when there was knife work to be done.¡± ¡°What prompted them from doing this before?¡± ¡°They weren¡¯t the brightest, to be honest, when it came to deciding what to do . And their wives and children seemed to be wanting a place they could call home, aside from the constant moving and camping.¡± ¡°They consider this a home,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Oy! It¡¯s not the Jeweled Palace, but it was fine place to call your own,¡± the man said. ¡°I think that¡¯s not something to be drawing lines in sand on,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Right,¡± said the man, ¡°in any case, they mostly used the place to keep their women and children when they weren¡¯t on the move.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t stay here?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Nah,¡± the man said. ¡°This was more of where they¡¯d stay put during the winter, before spring came. Though sometimes, they¡¯d stay for longer or come here whenever one of them was injured.¡± ¡°Were they injured often?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Sometimes, usually it wasn¡¯t anything major for them. One of the little ones would be ill or one of the wives was recovering from what their husbands would do to them. But not long ago, they came back and one of them was looking worse for wear. Seemed like he had been blasted in his stomach by lightening or something like that.¡± ¡°He sure did,¡± Jeanne said with a proud smile. ¡°Did they say what they were planning to do once they were done here?¡± Kveldulf asked. The man shook his head. ¡°They weren¡¯t much talkers beforehand, and this last time they were almost completely silent.¡± ¡°What did your leader think about the whole thing? Was Mason not wanting to get rid of them?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°He wasn¡¯t fond of them, but like I said, they were good at their job. And with the influx of traders going up and down the rivers, he needed every man he could get.¡± ¡°And their viciousness never butted heads with Mason?¡± ¡°Generally speaking, they could keep their bloodlust in check. But back in the summer, we had taken a ship full of goods and killed most of the crew beforehand. The captain left one survivor live, their captain I think, for a ransom. Well, the two brothers, who were kept from gutting the man during the raid, decided to strip the man naked, mount on a horse we had gotten a while before and send them both off the cliff near the hideout and onto the rocks below.¡± The four Wolves looked at the man with disgust as the story set in. ¡°Well ¡­¡± Leonidas said, breaking the silence. ¡°That¡¯s something.¡± ¡°So, what would¡¯ve caused them to ¡­ do what they did in the cave?¡± Maeryn asked the man. He shook his head. ¡°I wish I knew. But I could tell whatever happened before they returned had them on edge. Like something they couldn¡¯t beat or frighten had come for them. And ¡­ there was something else.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°They seemed ¡­ scared?¡± Part TBD - In Town ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to take that,¡± Cid said, jutting his jaw to the side, his arms crossing over his chest. He looked at the others, sitting at a table at the inn. Jeanne sat on the other side, looking around at the patrons around them. There were was an unusual air about them as they ate and drank the night away. Their seemed to be a lighter attitude to them. As if some weight had been lifted from their shoulders and shattered to dust. But there was a slight unease as well. Not knowing what would come to take the place of the bandits in the region. Would a more blood thirsty group come fill the void? Would the two brother come and wreak havoc on the villagers here? Would this bring more good fortune or greater ills to the people here? It seemed people were trying to keep these thoughts away as they tried to enjoy the peace they had, for however long they could. ¡°They didn¡¯t seem too frightened when we last encountered them,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°It was also in the middle of a fight,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Their zeal might¡¯ve kept that part from entering their thoughts.¡± ¡°And they properly run off to let their ¡­ whatever they summoned,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Flesh fiend,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Yeah, that,¡± she said, pointing to the doctor. ¡°They ran off once we were fighting that thing. And scampered off before we could turn our attention back to them.¡± ¡°Perhaps they rely on striking when they have the advantage,¡± said Silvius. ¡°That and they probably haven¡¯t had to face anyone who could hold their own in a fight.¡± ¡°So, they panicked and ran?¡± asked Hypatia. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be an impossible thing,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°I¡¯ve more than a few braggarts turn their tails and run for the hills when they had to put their mouth where their mouths were.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± said Benkin, ¡°men of their quality always seem to possess a much greater quantity of courage when they¡¯re facing someone they can beat with ease.¡± ¡°So, with the cave now gone, the last member of the Mason Gang now as far away from here as he can, and no other allies in their corner, where does that leave us?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Pretty much back at square one,¡± said Cid. ¡°Though now we know they¡¯re in the area. We¡¯ll probably need to start patrols around the area and see if we can find any camps sites nearby.¡± Leonidas rose from his seat and towards the hall away from the eating area. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, need to use the privy.¡± Gabriel got up from her seat. ¡°I¡¯m grabbing another pint.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just glad we can use the inn and not worry about some vile conspirator stabbing us in our sleep,¡± said Silvius. ¡°That makes two of us,¡± said Leonidas. Before anyone could answer, a woman and her child entered the inn. Jeanne could see she had shorter ears than Maeryn¡¯s, probably a sign of being half-elven. She blonde hair which had not been washed in a long time, covered in dirt and matted down by sweat and grime. Her clothes were worn and many spots had patches sown on to cover up holes and tears. Her child was in her arms, a young boy, with short black hair and wearing clothes roughly put together and covered in as much dirt and stains as their mother. The boy had light skin and pressed his head against his mother¡¯s chest. Jeanne wasn¡¯t certain whether the child was asleep or not in his mother¡¯s arms. For a brief a moment, the child looked up and towards Jeanne. His eyes were dark, with a hint of crimson in them. Jeanne¡¯s eyes widened and she had to stop herself from standing straight up from her seat. She also noted the woman¡¯s walk from the door. Her steps were quick in her motion. Her eyes darted about the room, trying to find something as she moved around. One of the tavern workers called out to her, ¡°Need help, miss?¡± they asked. ¡°No,¡± she said quickly, ¡°just a room for the night.¡± She placed a few gold pieces on the counter before the man escorted her to a room. Jeanne felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Kveldulf looking at her. ¡°Everything all right?¡± he asked. She turned her gaze back to the woman who was disappearing with her child up the stairs. ¡°Did you notice the woman who just walked in?¡± Kveldulf shook his head. ¡°Not really, why?¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Just a weird feeling.¡± ¡°What kind of weird?¡± ¡°Like something is just off, you know?¡± ¡°Oh that, yeah, I know that one.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe it¡¯s just me.¡± ¡°Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn¡¯t,¡± Kveldulf said, taking a sip of his mead. ¡°There was a vendor back at Oolf who gave me shivers. Thought he was some serial killer or something.¡± Jeanne looked back at Kveldulf with a perplexed look. ¡°Was that the one selling confectionaries?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡± ¡°You thought he was off?¡± ¡°All the time.¡± ¡°Huh, never thought he was odd, at all.¡± ¡°In all fairness, it could¡¯ve just been me.¡± ¡°What are two talking about?¡± Cid asked from across the table. Leonidas and Gabriel both came back and took their seats at the table. ¡°About the confections man back in Oolf,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Oh, that poor fool again,¡± Cid said rolling his eyes. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the only thing,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°Oh right,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Who did you see?¡± Cid asked. Jeanne related the woman and child to Cid and the others. Cid sat back, intrigued. ¡°So that¡¯s who I heard.¡± ¡°She seemed desperate to find a room and fast,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± asked Cid. ¡°She paid twice the going rate for a room here, and I could hear her breathing heavy.¡± ¡°She was carrying a child,¡± said Benkin. ¡°No,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°she seemed to be breathing erratic. Almost like she was about to lose all her senses.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cid said, leaning forward, ¡°I think we should focus on one problem before we take on another one.¡± ¡°Plus, we still need to bring the casket they stole back home,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°That¡¯s going to be a tricky one,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°If it¡¯s on the march, that could make it a bit easier than if they¡¯ve got it tucked away in a hole somewhere,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°So, who¡¯s going out on patrol tomorrow?¡± Jeanne asked. Cid reached into a space between his shirt and gambeson and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded the parchment to reveal a large map of the surrounding county and pointd to a section of woods northwest of the town. ¡°Kel, I want you to take Maeryn, Sil and Hy and go check out this patch of woods here. See what you can find and report back before sunset.¡± Kveldulf nodded. ¡°Done.¡± ¡°Jeanne, you and I will take the rest and survey the area in the southeast. I heard a few folks in the market chat about a bit of smoke from the area, which might be a good lead to check in on.¡± ¡°Rules of engagement?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Avoid if possible,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I doubt they¡¯ll want to do anything, but I¡¯d be a fool to think they wouldn¡¯t want to get some form of satisfaction. And honor isn¡¯t exactly in their vocabulary.¡± ¡°Right, we¡¯ll get started once the sun¡¯s up, see what ground we can cover,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Same here,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Good, I think it¡¯s about time I turned in for the night and get some rest. I¡¯ll see you all in the morning.¡± Once Jeanne and Leonidas were back in their room, Jeanne looked out from the shutters and over the main street and night sky above them. A dark heaven glittering with starlight, a crescent moon shining from above and illuminating the earth below. There was hardly a soul out on the street, save for a person or two making their way from the tavern back to their abode. She rubbed her hand up and down her arm and felt her shoulder jerk up as she pondered ill thoughts. ¡°Everything all right?¡± she heard Leonidas asked. She nodded. ¡°Yeah, just thinking about things.¡± ¡°Something in particular?¡± ¡°Hard to say. It just feels sometimes feels like we¡¯re chasing ghosts. Getting the smallest snippets of clues to where to go and not knowing if we¡¯re heading in the right direction or going on another goose chase.¡± Leonidas moved to the edge of the bed and sat next to her. ¡°I know that feeling too well.¡± ¡°Outlands?¡± ¡°There, too.¡± ¡°I just wish we could catch them by surprise. When they weren¡¯t looking at just finish this damn thing.¡± ¡°You know that leave two more of them to go after.¡± ¡°At least it¡¯d just be two more, and not more. And those two should be easier to find since they¡¯re with Bellem and the Empress.¡± ¡°Fair enough. For what it¡¯s worth, it seems like we¡¯re gaining ground on them. And they seem to be burning a lot of bridges that¡¯d help them keep us off their tails.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s one of those things you can¡¯t appreciate until after everything¡¯s said and done.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also fair,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°but I¡¯m suspecting that¡¯s not the only thing that¡¯s on your mind.¡± Jeanne let out a hoarse chuckle. ¡°That obvious?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to say I¡¯ve known you long enough to spot these things.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, looking back out the window. ¡°Do you remember that woman we we¡¯re talking about earlier?¡± ¡°A little bit, why?¡± ¡°She was carrying a child with red eyes.¡± ¡°Red eyes,¡± Leonidas said, his head slowly moving up. Jeanne nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a good look. But between that, and they way the woman was acting, it was hard not to get an odd feeling from it.¡± ¡°Hard not to agree,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But unless she comes to us wanting aid, not much we can do. Especially since we¡¯ve already got a full plate as it is.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°But it just won¡¯t stop nagging at me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve more than a few of those,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Honestly the best thing to do is try to put it out of your mind until you need to remember it.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ve been wrong about these before.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say,¡± Jeanne said, laughing now with more ease. ¡°That¡¯s why I stop sticking my neck out for people anymore, usually wound up regretting it in more than one way.¡± ¡°Should I even ask?¡± ¡°Outlands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± ¡°You want some tea to help relax?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I¡¯d like that a lot.¡± Leonidas rose from the bed and walked towards the door. As he opened it, they found the woman from earlier walking down the hall and in front of their room. She was wringing her hands and looking at them as if they had jumped out from the shadows and drew forth daggers. ¡°Hello,¡± Leonidas said to the woman. ¡°Evening,¡± she said, lifting a hand to wave and continued down the hall in a quick pace. Leonidas and Jeanne watched her move down the hall and enter her room before looking at each other. Was that her? Leonidas gestured. Jeanne nodded. I see what you meant. Keep the door locked, just in case, Leonidas gestured. Part TBD - The Woman Jeanne slowly opened her eyes as she awoke from her slumber, looking down at Puppy resting on her chest. ¡°Have a good sleep?¡± she asked the pup. The daemon canine turned his attention to her, licking her nose before going back to sleep. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes,¡± she said aloud. Leonidas, now awake himself, gently picked the dog up and placed him at the end of the bed. ¡°He loves doing that,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re in a better mood.¡± ¡°I think I needed some sleep, honestly.¡± ¡°Good, I wonder if the others are up yet?¡± ¡°We can head down and see, besides I¡¯m hungry,¡± Jeanne said, getting dressed. Leonidas threw on a tunic and finished fastening is trousers as he made his way to the doors. ¡°I know I could a ¡­¡± he stopped looking out at the other side of the doorway. Jeanne grabbed her hammer and walked to the door. ¡°Everything all right?¡± she asked. Leonidas turned to her, ¡°We have a visitor.¡± He moved back and revealed the same woman from the day before stand in front of their room. Her hands were clasped together and pressed against her chest, dark circles formed under her eyes and her shoulders drooped forward as she stood before them. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Can we help you?¡± Jeanne asked cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you,¡± the woman said in a timid voice, ¡°but you wouldn¡¯t happen to be one of the freelancers who ended the Mason Gang, would you?¡± ¡°Well, they were already handled before we got there,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°But I guess we did relay the news to here.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the woman said, leaning back. ¡°Do you know who did?¡± ¡°We have some suspects,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°But nothing solid yet.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the woman replied. ¡°Well, would you be available for work then?¡± Jeanne noted the trembling quality in the woman¡¯s voice. She was nervous to speak, even scared. There was an odd feeling in Jeanne¡¯s gut about the affair. Too many points not adding up. ¡°How did you hear about the gang¡¯s demise?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Oh, just heard bits here and there from some of the gossip around town, you know,¡± the woman replied, now twirling her thin lock of her brown hair. ¡°I see,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°and did you know anyone in the gang, at all?¡± The woman stared at him for a moment, a long moment passed before she shook her head, ¡°No, not really.¡± ¡°Then why were you asking if we knew who did them in?¡± Jeanne asked. The woman began stepping back away from them. ¡°I think I should¡­¡± Jeanne grabbed her arm and pressed her against the wall. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere ¡®til we get answers.¡± ¡°Please, let me go,¡± the woman pleaded. ¡°The last woman who played this song and dance had city guards chase us out, and I¡¯m not in the mood to repeat that one,¡± Jeanne said, pressing the woman harder against the wall. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Silvius asked as he left his chamber. ¡°We got a spy,¡± Jeanne said to him. ¡°I¡¯m not a spy, I swear!¡± the woman pleaded. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Jeanne demanded. ¡°I¡¯d start talking,¡± Leonidas said, his eyes beginning to turn black. ¡°This game can get old and bloody very quick.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything, just don¡¯t hurt me or my baby,¡± the woman said, tears now running down her face. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Jeanne commanded. ¡°I know you¡¯re looking for the two Kolvilles!¡± the woman blurted out. ¡°How!¡± Jeanne shouted. ¡°I¡¯m one of their wives!¡± the woman cried out. Part TBD - The Ill-Gotten Family Cid handed the woman a steaming cup of tea. She took it cautiously, placing the saucer on the table before slowly sipping on the contents. ¡°All right, Cyneswith, is it?¡± he asked her. She nodded silently. ¡°Can you go over how you became involved with the Kolville brothers?¡± Jeanne leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and looking at the Cyneswith with a steady gaze. Leonidas sat next to her, after looking her over once Jeanne had let her go. Kveldulf and Benkin stood near the door to Cid¡¯s room. With Silvius and Hypatia sitting on Cid¡¯s bed and Gabriel and Maeryn both standing next to the windows and keeping an eye outside. Jeanne tapped her toes inside her foot, not wanting to disrupt the debriefing yet feeling a growing energy to break a wall in pieces after what happened earlier. ¡°I was living with my parents, back on our farm,¡± Cyneswith said, ¡°and one day, while I was taking sure our geese were fed these two men showed up. My father walked up to them first and they were conversing. I couldn¡¯t tell you what, but things seemed to be well enough when ¡­ they attacked him.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Cid asked. ¡°They ¡­ one of them, Ollen, his jaw seemed to grow in size and in one motion he bit off my father neck and nearly took his head off. My mother came out and they lunged at her. I ¡­ I tried to run away and get help, but they spotted me. They caught up to where I was and they,¡± Cyneswith stopped, her face turned down and tears trickling down from her chin. Cid lightly tapped her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all right. You don¡¯t need to continue.¡± ¡°I-I can still hear my parents screaming, when it¡¯s quiet. It¡¯s like it¡¯s still happening,¡± Cyneswith said, trying to steady herself as she spoke. ¡°The child you brought with you, is he one of theirs?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cyneswith looked at him, her eyes frozen as she considered the answer. Only nodding at first before saying. ¡°Ollen. I think he¡¯s Ollen¡¯s child.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯s the father?¡± Leonidas asked, confused. ¡°He and Guthrem had a habit of sharing,¡± she said replied, her shoulders jerking up as she let out a shudder. ¡°How were you able to escape?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Before the two would make it impossible for us to have a chance to get out,¡± Cyneswith said. ¡°They¡¯d beat us for the smallest amounts of insolence, and always told us they¡¯d kill us if we tried to escape. And then when our children were born, it only made it harder to leave. On top of that, they kept us on the move constantly, and in areas where we¡¯d have no knowledge of the land, or of anyone living in the area.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°What about with the Mason Gang?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°The two held their anger in check then, and if we ran, on of the Mason bastards would come after us. And Mason was against killing if it wasn¡¯t needed. But it didn¡¯t mean he was a bloodless man.¡± ¡°How did you escape then?¡± Jeanne asked. Cyneswith turned to Jeanne with fearful look at first before answering. ¡°After you all fought the two back at that village, Guthrem was in terrible shape. I honestly thought he wasn¡¯t going to survive for long. But he recovered enough for us to move and made our way back to Mason¡¯s camp. Things were calm for the first few days. Then one of the gang tried to claim one of the brother¡¯s wives as his own, thinking Gutherm¡¯s situation was enough to lower them in the gang¡¯s pecking order. Words came to shouts, shouts came to blows, and when the two started butchering the gang, I grabbed my baby and we escaped.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what you¡¯ve gone through,¡± Cid said. ¡°And I can¡¯t begin to imagine what it took to get out of that situation.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Cyneswith said, ¡°And thank you for speaking with me. I know this isn¡¯t ¡­ a proper method for seeking out freelancers.¡± ¡°Honestly, we¡¯ve stopped trying ¡®proper¡¯ a long time ago,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°But, I don¡¯t suppose either of the brothers were in the cave when you were there?¡± Cyneswith asked. Everyone shook their heads. ¡°It seemed they got the better of the gang in there,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Were there any women or children in there?¡± ¡°No, there were none inside the cave,¡± Kveldulf replied. ¡°How many other wives and children are with them?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°There Ceolfirth, she was the first one they kidnapped, and after me was Aethelind. And between us there are five children in all.¡± Gabriel let out a long sigh. ¡°This is becoming more complicated by the moment.¡± ¡°Well, we were aware of the two having hostages,¡± said Silvius, ¡°now we know how many precisely.¡± ¡°But if they¡¯re all in a cave that could make a rescue operation difficult,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°And I doubt they would consider leaving them away from harm if anything came to a head,¡± said Leonidas. Cid turned his attention back to Cyneswith. ¡°I know you said the two brothers would try to keep you from know where you were, but would there be any place they¡¯d reside for any given period of time?¡± ¡°I know in the last few years they started using the same areas for camping when they weren¡¯t at the cave,¡± Cyneswith said, ¡°Usually in places where they wouldn¡¯t be out in the open or where they could hide easily from sight if someone was coming.¡± ¡°Was there an order to how they went over from place to the other?¡± Benkin asked. Cynewith nodded. ¡°At first they tried to be random, to keep us from predicting some pattern. But soon that stopped being a thing for them and they went into a well worn circuit.¡± ¡°Could you point them out on a map?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I can show you personally,¡± Cyneswith said firmly. ¡°I have no doubt of that, and I¡¯d take you up on it. However, I¡¯d prefer we keep you here where it¡¯s safe and populated.¡± ¡°Are we sure of that?¡± asked Gabriel. ¡°Those two tore through two towns without hesitation.¡± ¡°That was because they were hungry,¡± Cyneswith said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°They said something about lusting for blood to sustain them. It¡¯s something all vampires share after they transform, you know?¡± Jeanne turned and saw Gabriel¡¯s fists clench and shake. She turned her gaze away and after a moment, stood up and walked out of the room. Jeanne looked back to Cid who nudged his head towards Gabriel. Raising from her seat Jeanne heard Cyneswith say, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cid said in an assuring voice. ¡°They¡¯re just getting some air. You know how it is sometimes.¡± Part TBD - The Blood Rises Jeanne patted Cid¡¯s shoulder, spotting a quick smile out of the corner of his mouth as she left the room. She looked around the hall and spotted Gabriel moving down the stairs. ¡°Hey,¡± Jeanne called out she went over to the vampyre, ¡°Gabriel!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gabriel said firmly, ¡°but I can¡¯t be in that room right now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°No, no it¡¯s not,¡± Gabriel said, her teeth clenched. ¡°That woman is spewing falsehoods about my people. Lies that have led to pogroms and full scale massacres, one of them claiming my sister. And ¡­¡± Gabriel let out a long exhale as her shoulder loosened downward. Jeanne put her hand on Gabriel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know. Or, I have a good idea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired of people looking at me and all they see is a monster. Some fiend out to feast on their children and turn their families into hordes of the undead. And hearing her say that ¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Nothing to apologize for,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything that¡¯d no one else would do in the same situation. Hell, I¡¯d probably punch at least one person on my way out. Though given the woman we¡¯re talking to, that¡¯d be a bad call.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I left before I said something I¡¯d regret. And she doesn¡¯t know any better about these things.¡± ¡°To be fair, I knew little about vampyre either until you join our group,¡± Jeanne admitted. ¡°And seeing all this carnage those two men are bringing. All the death, all the destruction. I just know my people are going to be given the blame for it. Even if we do stop them, people won¡¯t know these aren¡¯t real vampyres. They won¡¯t know these are thin facades of what we really are. They won¡¯t take the time to see the truth, only take what they want to tell the story they want to hear. That we¡¯re villain, knaves, wild dogs needing to be put down.¡± Gabriel ran her fingers through her hair, groaning as she leaned against the wall. Gabriel walked over to a nearby window and looked out at the town outside. ¡°I¡¯ve been fighting this battle for over five hundred years, Jeanne. Five hundred years living in these lands. Over a dozen generations of lives to your people, come and gone, and still not a damn thing¡¯s changed. Our faces must stay hidden, our names and language unspoken, our songs and stories slowly dying away. All for the slim hope of not fearing some uninformed fool firing up a mob and torching us while we sleep. I don¡¯t know how much more of this fight I have left in me anymore.¡± ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, that dedication is beyond admirable,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I appreciate that, it¡¯s nice to not have to hide myself just to live.¡± Jeanne walked over to the window and looked out at the town. The building reflecting a soft red glow as the sun rose up and people went about their morning routines. She turned to Gabriel and saw the longing for the simple life, where all you worried were the simple things and only those. Tilling the soil, feeding animals, chopping wood for the coming winter. No great machinations of rulers or generals, no armies slaughtering each other wholesale. No monsters to hunt in the darkness of the world. ¡°It¡¯s be nice to breath and not worry about being your last.¡± ¡°It would be, gods it would be.¡± Jeanne turned to Gabriel. ¡°Is that your name, Gabriel?¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°It was tweaked a bit so it wouldn¡¯t sound so foreign.¡± ¡°You mind if I ask what your name actually is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Gavrila Kustov Hristova.¡± ¡°That¡¯s lovely name,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Thank you. I was named after my grandmother,¡± Gabriel said, giving Jeanne a sad smile as water started forming underneath her eyes. Jeanne turned back to Cid¡¯s room as Kveldulf opened the door and began walking their way. ¡°I think they¡¯re done with the meeting,¡± Jeanne said to Gabriel. ¡°Everything all right here?¡± Kveldulf asked them. Jeanne nodded. ¡°More or less, what did we have?¡± ¡°Cyneswith gave us a few clues about where the bastards rest their heads around here. They¡¯re not easy walks, but we can start narrowing down the search a lot more.¡± ¡°When does Cid want us to head out?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Today, once we get some food in our stomachs, and he wants us all together, no separate groups.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°He wants it to where if we run into the men, we can take them out before they can do anything. And nine blades sticking through them will kill the curs that much faster.¡± ¡°Well let¡¯s not keep the others waiting,¡± Jeanne said, patting Gabriel on the shoulder. ¡°About time we finished this,¡± Gabriel followed. *** Maeryn knelt down next to a fire pit, holding her hand out over embers softly glowing within the deepest recess. ¡°Not much warmth, I¡¯d say it was lit a day ago.¡± Jeanne turned to Cid, looking at a pile of bones resting nearby, a horde of flies buzzing around them as they feasted on the remaining bits of flesh still clinging. ¡°One damn day behind,¡± she said to him. ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°And not caring to cover their tracks anymore, either. Any tracks leaving here, Maeryn?¡± Maeryn looked around, pointing to some light impressions in the ground. ¡°There,¡± she said, ¡°seems to lead out and away from town.¡± ¡°What do you think their plan is?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Probably reach a part of the Meadowlands and wreak whatever havoc they can before someone comes looking for them,¡± said Cid. ¡°Hey!¡± Benkin cried out. ¡°I found something over here.¡± Cid, Jeanne and Kveldulf came over and found a partially eaten body of a elven man. ¡°Doctor!¡± Cid called out, ¡°we need you.¡± The doctor moved up and spotted the body. ¡°Oh gods, not another one,¡± he said before moving closer. Rolling the corpse over they could see the elf¡¯s flayed face. ¡°Shepherd¡¯s mercy,¡± Jeanne said, covering her nose and mouth with her hand. Cid did the same. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I like how little this is beginning to hit like it used to,¡± he said to them. ¡°You and me both,¡± said Leonidas as he looked the corpse over. ¡°Looks like the man was beaten to death, probably with a rock,¡± the doctor paused as he noted a large and bloodied branch laying on the ground nearby, ¡°or that.¡± ¡°Anything to see who this was?¡± asked Kveldulf. ¡°Not at the moment,¡± Leonidas said, then he looked down and picked something off the man¡¯s torso. ¡°Here, take a look,¡± he said, holding a clasping pin to them. Cid grabbed the piece and examined it. ¡°Local vigilant,¡± he said as he shook his head and handed Jeanne and Kveldulf the pin. ¡°Got a lot more than he could handle, poor bastard,¡± Kveldulf said, tucking the article into a pocket. ¡°I¡¯m surprised he was trying to take them on by himself,¡± Leonidas said, throwing on a glove and gently moving the elf¡¯s head to the side. He pulled his head back while letting out a harsh cough. ¡°Oh, that is wrong in so many ways,¡± in a hoarse voice. ¡°What is it?¡± Cid asked. ¡°I think they kept him alive while they were feasting on him,¡± Leonidas said to them. ¡°How do you suppose that?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Well, if you look here,¡± Leonidas said, pointing to the neck, ¡°the blood¡¯s already long dried up, probably a days, but ¡­¡± he stopped as the corpse grabbed his hand and lurched up and let out a low roar. The doctor let out a yelp as an arrow struck the corpse in the head and the figure fell back down to the earth. All four turned to Maeryn, who had already notched another arrow. ¡°T-thanks Maeryn,¡± Leonidas said, trying to catch his breath. ¡°Anytime,¡± she said, tapping her forehead with two fingers. ¡°Should we burn the body then?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I think that might be for the best,¡± Cid said, helping Leonidas to his feet. The doctor brushed off the dust and other debris from the front of his clothes. ¡°Yes ¡­,¡± he said, giving himself lone last breath to calm his nerves, ¡°yes I have to agree.¡± ¡°Cid!¡± they heard Gabriel cry out as she and the rest of The Wolves raced up the path. ¡°What is it?¡± Cid asked. ¡°We followed the path,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°it makes a sharp turn towards the road, and to the town.¡± ¡°The hell are they doing moving towards there?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we need to get there fast before there isn¡¯t a town left,¡± said Cid. Part TBD - Disturbing Finds ¡°Not exactly what I expected,¡± Jeanne said, as she and the others looked at an exceptionally untouched town before them. People walked about the street in casual paces. Idle chatter mixed with the sounds of tools being used and animals calling out to their heart¡¯s content. The Wolves watched the scene around them, cautiously moving down the main avenue towards the reeve¡¯s house, all of them with a look of unease on their faces. ¡°I thought I was losing my touch when I couldn¡¯t smell any smoke,¡± Maeryn said them. ¡°Myself as well,¡± Gabriel said slowly. ¡°Keep your eyes sharp, and your heads on swivels,¡± Cid said to them. ¡°This could very well be a trap.¡± ¡°One extensive trap, Cid,¡± Jeanne said, resting her hand on her hammer. Moving through the town, Jeanne fought the urge to jump back whenever a townsperson came near to them. She noticed her hand was tightly gripping the head of her weapon tightly, and she was summoning her stone scale underneath her clothing. Reaching the reeve¡¯s home they found Judith rummaging through several piles of papers on her desk in the main hall of the building. She looked up and spotted The Wolves, ¡°Oh good, you all are here,¡± she said as she left her desk and walked over. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re not intruding then,¡± Cid said. ¡°Not at all,¡± Judith said to them. ¡°We got word from a couple of bounty hunters that they found the two blood suckers you lot were looking for.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cid said, ¡°how did they accomplish that?¡± Jeanne cocked an eyebrow up and pressed her lips together, trying not to voice her skepticism. She saw Gabriel tapping her right foot down on the ground hard as she listened to the conversation. The other night¡¯s conversation was beginning to come back to her. Judith shrugged as she led them down towards a doorway along the back wall. ¡°They told me was they had stumbled on the two while they were asleep, knocked them out, hog tied them and brought them over to us.¡± ¡°What about the body back at the camp?¡± Benkin asked the reeve. Judith looked puzzled before shaking her head. ¡°No, they didn¡¯t say anything about a body.¡± ¡°We found one back at a camp a few miles away from town,¡± Cid told her. ¡°Thought you¡¯d want to know.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll send someone out there to claim when we can,¡± Judith said, opening the door. ¡°But in the meantime, let me show where we have two brothers.¡± Inside they found a hallway with three ironed barred cells on each side of the walkway. Walking over to the middle cell on their left, Judith pointed to two beaten and bloodied men inside. ¡°Here they are, Ollen and Guthrum Kolville. The Terrors of the Meadowlands, in all their wretched glory.¡± Jeanne looked at the men as a cold shiver ran up her spine, she turned to the others who had the same reaction as her. Before she could speak, they heard another voice call out to them. ¡°Please get me out of here!¡± They turned and found Cyneswith behind bars, her hand gripping the iron rods tightly she tried to pull them back. Part TBD - The Manor I Cid immediately turned to Judith, his ears flattened and turned back, his tail flicking behind him, and a heavy hiss in his speech. ¡°What is she doing in there?¡± he demanded. ¡°We heard she was with the two men when the bounty hunters hauled them in, figured she might let us know where the rest of them are hiding.¡± ¡°The rest of them?¡± Silvius said, ¡°You mean the woman they kidnapped and the children they forced them to sire?¡± ¡°Not details I need to know unless their relevant to the circuit judge. That¡¯s his call to make, not mine. I just want these vermin out of my county.¡± ¡°Then you may be in for a shock, reeve,¡± Jeanne said, ¡°these aren¡¯t the brothers.¡± ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°These aren¡¯t the brothers. Not even close.¡± ¡°Listen, I¡¯ve been doing this job a lot longer than most people, and with the suckers out and about I think I know how to tell them from a regular criminal. Look at their mouths, you can¡¯t tell me they¡¯re not vamps.¡± Cid turned to Leonidas and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Gabriel take a look.¡± The two walked up to the men¡¯s cells and peered inside. ¡°Open your mouths!¡± Judith ordered. The two men reluctantly did as they were told and revealed their teeth had been sharpened to points along the front part. Leonidas leaned in further before saying, ¡°Where are their tongues?¡± Judith again shrugged. ¡°Probably rotting in the woods somewhere. The boys said they were trying to put an incantation on them. Some vamp-like spell or something like that.¡± Jeanne saw Gabriel¡¯s fists beginning to shake with rage as she stood there silently. ¡°That¡¯s not how magic works,¡± Leonidas said, ¡°there¡¯s a lot more to it than simply saying a word at someone.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t care, magic isn¡¯t my thing. And that¡¯s what the two told me.¡± ¡°And what of the baby?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°What baby?¡± Judith replied. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Cyneswith had a child with her, where is he?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t a child when I grabbed her, so it isn¡¯t my concern.¡± ¡°How is that not your concern!¡± Silvius exclaimed, Kveldulf stepping in front of the man to hold him back. ¡°These people are in your jurisdiction, that makes them your responsibility.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to put the needs of the people whose families have lived and died here for generations a lot higher than some bint who came here with her half-breed bastard child. And that includes you lot. Which I do recall getting some bounties in for people matching your description that I am choosing to not act on, given people around are convinced you all took out the Mason Gang. So if I were you, I¡¯d take that much, turn yourselves around and leave this county before I change my mind.¡± Cid¡¯s ears slowly pointed upwards. ¡°All right then,¡± he said with a growl, ¡°everyone, prepare to move out.¡± ¡°But ¡­¡± Jeanne tried to say before Cid turned to here. We¡¯ll be back, but today is not the day for this fight, he gestured. Jeanne turned to Judith and walked out of the room. Once out of the reeve¡¯s home Kveldulf asked, ¡°I can assume we¡¯ll be camping out tonight.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Cid said firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t want that witch getting the jump on us if we can help it.¡± ¡°Where are going to be setting up camp then?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°When we were looking for locations before I spotted a logging cabin in the woods,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°It looked like we all could fit comfortably until we figure out our next move.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cid said, ¡°Let¡¯s head there and consider our options.¡± *** ¡°Maeryn,¡± Cid said, a stunned look on his face, ¡°what are log cabins like where you¡¯re from?¡± The Wolves stood at the edge of the woods and looked at a large estate surrounded by a motte and bailey fortification. The central keep was two stories high along the outer section, with a another two stories added to the central tower, with parapets lining the tops. The walls were rounded in shape, as opposed to the normal squared shape. The outermost wooden walls of the fortification were cut down to a quarter of their original size, showing much of the fortress to The Wolves. ¡°Architecture was never my strongest suit,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°If it¡¯s not something I can hit with an arrow, it¡¯s not a priority for me.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Cid said, ¡°You know the drill, people. Fan out, lay low and try not to burn the place before we leave.¡± ¡°I burn down one manor and you will not let me live it down,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°It was our patron¡¯s home, and you higher than a cloud that night,¡± Cid said. ¡°Oh, that was a bad night,¡± Kveldulf said, drooping his head as he shook it embarrassingly. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Cid said, ¡°let¡¯s move.¡± They crouched down in the high grass as they moved towards the outer wall. Cid, Jeanne, Maeryn, and Benkin by one opening, and Kveldulf, Silvius, Leonidas, Gabriel, and Hypatia on the other. Reaching the wooden barrier, Jeanne turned her ear up as she began to hear a noise. Hoarse breathing, fluid and uneven, mixed with shuffled steps along the gravel path. Jeanne closed her eyes tightly and cursed under her breath. She turned to Kveldulf, crouching on the other side of the wall and saw he spotted the noise as well. Without waiting for Cid¡¯s orders, she pulled out her hammer and gripped the handle tightly in her hand. Cid, situated near the opening onto the property, peered cautiously into the gap before turning back to the others. ¡°We have zombies,¡± he said regretfully. Part TBD - The Manor II Jeanne peered her head up and saw a human woman, dressed in a maid¡¯s outfit and walking along the path. Her skin had been long decomposing and began falling off, her left arm hanging from a few remaining sinews still attached to the body. Her jaw dislocated and hanging from her mouth as she groaned and tried to breath with each labored step. ¡°How do you want to handle her?¡± Jeanne asked Cid. ¡°We need her down if we¡¯re going to move in quietly,¡± Cid said. Jeanne turned to Maeryn and said, ¡°You think you can make the shot?¡± Maeryn looked above the wall and after notching her bow, said, ¡°We¡¯re about to find out.¡± Maeryn stood up and loosed an arrow into the woman¡¯s torso. The force of the strike threw the woman off balance for a moment before she recovered. Maeryn pulled her head back for a stunned moment before she began notching another arrow. Before she could loose it, a cross bolt struck the undead woman in the head, Jeanne and Maeryn turned to see Silvius had fired the bolt, he turned to the women and nervously gave them a thumbs up. Jeanne nodded as she and Maeryn returned the gesture before they all got back down. Cid bobbed his head back and forth. ¡°That could¡¯ve gotten worse,¡± he said before moving into the large courtyard. The crunch of the grass beneath his and Jeanne¡¯s feet. Kveldulf, Silvius and Leonidas came in on their side as they moved to the fortified home. Halfway down they heard the moaning of another undead moving down the entrance of the manor. Cid and Jeanne huddled the wall, both hitting the wall with a pronounced thump. Kveldulf and Silvius had no better luck when he hit the wall. Leonidas, when he was a few feet from the building, tripped over something and landed hard against the building. Jeanne winced, saying, ¡°That¡¯ll leave a mark,¡± to Cid. ¡°He may need some tender, love and care, if we make it out of this.¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯ll need to look elsewhere for that,¡± she said moving towards the opening. From the entrance she and Cid saw a figure of a Felidan guard slowly march forward through and begin slowly surveying the grassy area around them. It turned towards where Kel, Sil and Leonidas were at and began moving there. Jeanne felt her heartbeat pick up fiercely as Kveldulf rushed towards the guard, and in one swift motion, decapitated the undead. As it fell to the earth, Cid and Jeanne moved toward them, she heard Leonidas growl as he rose to his feet. ¡°How are you feeling, doctor?¡± Cid asked. Leonidas rubbed his head as he winced in pain. ¡°I¡¯ve felt better, but I¡¯ll live.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell from the growling,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°I could hear you growling all the way back there,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°That wasn¡¯t me,¡± Leonidas insisted. ¡°I heard you, too, Doc,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Same here,¡± followed Silvius. ¡°I¡¯m telling you all it wasn¡¯t me,¡± Leonidas replied. They all stopped as they heard a growling near them. From the grass they saw an undead dog rise from the earth, growling back at them. ¡°No no no!¡± Leonidas said as he threw a firebolt towards the dog, engulfing the creature in flames. They all exchanged glances for a moment before Leonidas said, ¡°I told you it wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Cid said, ¡°let¡¯s not get too distracted.¡± Two sharp whooshes flew past them as another undead dwarven guard came out of the entrance. The guard hardly had time to recover before Jeanne launched a fireball at the dwarf before it succumbed to the flames. ¡°Where are all these bastards coming from?¡± she asked. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Probably was a rich person whoever they were before this all happened,¡± said Cid as he gestured the others to follow. ¡°But I think we should get a foothold in here before we¡¯re met with another guest.¡± Kveldulf was given point, moving down the hall and slowly making his way down. Nearing the middle part of the first hallway, he gestured the others to follow as another undead guard began moving across the exit to the passage. Kveldulf immediately pressed himself against he wall. Jeanne could hear Maeryn and Silvius ready their weapons to fire. The undead stopped, looked around itself for a moment, and continued down its pathway. Jeanne could see Kveldulf let out a sigh of relief as she did the same. The others moved up the hall and as they arrived to the other side, Kveldulf gingerly peered his head out, looking both ways before ducking his head back quickly. What did you see? Cid gestured. Another undead guard, female, elven, perturbed, Kveldulf gestured back. How can you tell she¡¯s perturbed? Silvius asked. A loud angry growl filled the room as everyone head sunk back slightly. Call it hunch, Kveldulf replied with a concerned look. As the undead passed the hall¡¯s entrance, The Wolves could see the figure clad in plate armor over much of her body. Jeanne could hear Hypatia groan softly as she spotted the figure. ¡°That could your next paramour,¡± Jeanne said to Hypatia. Hypatia simply turned to her and mouthed, ¡®no.¡¯ After the figure passed them, Kveldulf swung his halberd¡¯s blade into the knight¡¯s shoulder and as he thrust its point towards her torso the knight dodged and unsheathed her great sword to engage him. ¡°Yes!¡± he said as he put his halberd back and unsheathed his own great sword. Benkin rushed to the front swinging his sword towards the knight, the undead warrior tilted their head down, letting Benkin¡¯s blade hit and slide off her plated helm as he dodged out of the way of her own strike. Benkin then swung his weapon one more time, causing the two combatants to jump back and make some distance for themselves. Maeryn loosed two arrows towards the knight, one barely missing the enemy, and the other landing in her torso. Gabriel rushed past the warrior, yelling as the undead knight slashed her back and dark blood stained the floor. Gabriel lunged at the warrior with her spear, both times the foe avoided being struck. Cid lunged at the foe, sinking his blade deep into the knight¡¯s torso and tried slashing the undead¡¯s face with his claws, but she dodged and shoved him away from her readying herself for another attack. Kveldulf rushed her and after missing the first slash sunk his blade deep into her shoulder. She roared out in pain as she swung at him with her clenched fist, barely missing him. Jeanne could hear Hypatia, both her blades swinging and weaving an rousing song which filled Jeanne with a spirit of combat. The knight swung at Kveldulf with her sword and he jumped back, missing the strike as it whooshed past him. As she rushed to engage the knight, Jeanne heard Gabriel shout out, ¡°We¡¯ve got more company!¡± as the cries of another undead man and dog joined the fight. From behind a nearby door, another undead began pounding away trying to break through and join the struggle themselves. Jeanne loosed two firebolts at the knights, the woman skillful avoiding both attacks before hitting a readied stance. ¡°Are you kidding me!¡± Jeanne shouted as Leonidas loosed his own attack which the warrior deflected with her armor. ¡°Oh, this is could be better,¡± Leonidas said. Silvius released a cross bolt at the knight and struck it in the torso as Benkin slashed the knight with his blade. Maeryn landed another arrow into the knight as Gabriel sunk her spear into the torso of the zombie charging her. Cid, with all his strength, cried out in his native tongue as his slammed his blade deep into the skull of the knight, killing her instantly. Kveldulf turned to a zombie dog rushing towards him from the other side of the illuminated hall, felling the hound in one flurry of attacks. Hypatia emerged from the hallway and with her blades emitted a terrific shriek which shuddered the zombie attacking Benkin, keeping him from hitting Ben with its blackened fingers. Jeanne fired a fire bolt strike the hound near Gabriel and cinder it to ash and dust. No sooner had the dog¡¯s remains landed that the zombie from behind the door crashed through and rushed into the hall. Flailing its arms as it tried to hit Benkin. ¡°These, bastards are getting to friendly,¡± Benkin said as he pushed the two zombies back. ¡°Let them enjoy this gift,¡± Silvius said as he landed a bolt into on the of zombies¡¯ head, killing them instantly. Benkin turned to give Silvius a brief thumbs up before slashing the last zombie. Maeryn loosed two arrows, killing the zombie before it hit the floor. Cid steadying himself and looking around at the carnage, said, ¡°Well ¡­ that happened.¡± ¡°I would prefer not going through that again for a while,¡± said Benkin. ¡°They were coming out of every nook and cranny it seemed.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in where that last one popped out from and get our bearings,¡± said Cid. ¡°Maybe catch our breath before we have anymore scraps.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a bottle in there, it¡¯s mine,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Anything in particular?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Right now, I do not give a damn.¡± Once they finished barricading the room, Cid slumped down in a chair as he squeezed the sweat from the fur on his hands before taking a long swing from his water pouch. ¡°All right, what¡¯s how is everyone?¡± he asked. Part TBD - The Manor III ¡°Fine,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Not bad,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Glad the zombies are dead ¡­ again,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Same here,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Gabriel, how¡¯s your back?¡± Gabriel grabbed a chair and turned it around so she could lean forward against the back. ¡°Hurts like a mother fucker,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not hurt,¡± said Silvius. ¡°I¡¯m doing well,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°No problems here,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°Good,¡± Cid said, ¡°Doctor, if you could look at Gabriel, please?¡± ¡°On it,¡± Leonidas said as he walked over. ¡°I think I found a bottle of Blood Wine,¡± Kveldulf said as he handed Gabriel the bottle. ¡°Oh, you are a lifesaver,¡± she said as she began pulling the top off, while Leonidas walked over and began pulling out his needle and thread. Jeanne walked over and grabbed herself a chair. Taking a deep breath, she looked around at the room. Woven tapestries hung from the walls depicting scenes of magnificent hunts, gallant knights slaying dragons and other monsters, and maidens being courted by poets. Braziers hung from the ceiling, the light flicker and giving the chamber a golden hue as the light flickered and danced all over. The carpet beneath was rich and soft and the wooden floor could reflect her image from under her. Plates and bowls still on the table were crafted from bright porcelain and elaborately painted. The fireplace on the other side burned with firewood still crackling from the flames. Jeanne wondered how long this place was in such a state, or if this place was under some hex of sorts. ¡°What place is this?¡± she heard Hypatia ask. ¡°Either it was the county lord¡¯s residence, or someone¡¯s summer home,¡± said Cid. ¡°Though my money¡¯s on the latter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised someone would try to hit this place,¡± Silvius said. ¡°When you spend more of your time and energy on demonstrating what you¡¯ve acquired instead of letting your actions speaking for themselves, you usually have a bigger target on your back than you¡¯d imagine,¡± Benkin said. ¡°You just need someone who know what they¡¯re doing to get the job done.¡± ¡°Not a fan of the finer things in life,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°I can only take so much of the good life before it is no longer good to enjoy.¡± ¡°What is our next move, Cid?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°It¡¯d be foolish to think that fight wasn¡¯t heard by anyone else,¡± Cid said, ¡°and I think we should do a clearing out of the room to make sure there isn¡¯t anyone else here to catch us by surprise.¡± ¡°Who do we put to make sure no one slips out?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Hypatia, Silivus, why don¡¯t you two stay put by the entrance in case someone or something tries to escape. Everyone else, you know how this works.¡± ¡°This should be fun,¡± said Benkin, ¡°been a long while since I got to kick in a few doors.¡± ¡°Might even find some nice trinkets and jewels to wear,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°You think that¡¯s a good idea?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°A lot of these could be custom works, and someone could recognize we¡¯re not the original wearer.¡± ¡°We can handle that problem once this place is clear,¡± Cid said, rising from his seat. ¡°Doctor, how is Gabriel?¡± ¡°Almost done,¡± Leonidas said, wrapping up the stitched area, ¡°the blood wine seems to be speeding up the healing process a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I drank after the stitching,¡± Gabriel said before taking another swig from her bottle. ¡°I¡¯d thought you¡¯d do that before he went to work?¡± Kveldulf asked. Gabriel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯d make it harder for his to do his thing, and then the stitching would get messy ¡­ and painful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Leonidas followed. ¡°It¡¯s not pleasant.¡± Kveldulf shrugged, ¡°All right, good to know.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Once Leonidas is finished working on Gabriel, we¡¯ll start taking care of whoever¡¯s left over.¡± Everyone grabbed their equipment, and once the barricade was taken down, moved out of the room. Silvius and Hypatia took their positions by the entrance to the front hall as the others journeyed into the manor. Jeanne was at the front with Gabriel and Benkin, Kveldulf had Maeryn and Leonidas with him, and Cid was in between both groups. With light steps they travelled down the hallway, none of them daring to speak a word, their weapons unsheathed and ready to strike at the first creature they came across. Jeanne could feel her clothes beginning to get damp and cling to her skin as she tried to steady her breathing as she felt her legs growing restless. She found the lavish nature of the manor adding to the uneasiness of the situation. Gabriel, on point, stopped mid-step and raised the palm of her hand to the others. She then used the same hand to point to her ear as the soft sounds of feet patting the ground began to heard. The shadow grew from the adjoining hall ahead of them and began growing in size. Jeanne recognized the shape as another hound patrolling the home. As the creature emerged before them Gabriel threw her spear at the hound, striking it behind the shoulder and toppling it to the ground. Before it could recover, Gabriel rushed over, remove her weapon from the animal and struck with such force it became deathly still. Gabriel then turned her ear up for a brief moment before looking back to the others. I don¡¯t hear anything, Gabriel gestured to the others. Good work, Cid gestured, Let¡¯s keep going. As they began rounding into the hall, Jeanne heard Leonidas cry out from behind. She turned as saw him engaged with an undead man engulfed in flames, as he cleaved the enemy¡¯s head into two. ¡°Where do they keep coming from,¡± he whispered to the others. ¡°You all right, Doc?¡± Kveldulf asked him, pointing to a section of his arm were the creature scratched him. The doctor pulled out an ointment to clean to wound and quickly bandaged it up. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, should be all healed before tomorrow.¡± Gabriel tapped on Cid¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I think there¡¯s another one,¡± she said, pointing to another hallway. ¡°Go take it out,¡± Cid said, ¡°Ben, back her up.¡± Both nodded and went off to intercept the roving undead. Cid turned to others, ¡°Maeryn, do you hear anything?¡± Maeryn closed her eyes and listened for a moment. ¡°I think there¡¯s someone in this room,¡± she said as she pointed to a chamber a short distance further down the hallway. ¡°Does it sound hostile?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Can¡¯t tell, it¡¯s hard to hear clearly,¡± she replied. Gabriel and Benkin return. ¡°They¡¯re taken care of,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Good, Maeryn, check the room for any traps,¡± Cid said. Maeryn nodded and moved over to the doorway. She looked the entryway closely before turning back to the others and gave them a thumbs up. ¡°I think we¡¯re good to go.¡± The rest move up as Maeryn gently turns to the handle and pushed the door open. Looking inside they found a bedchamber furnished with richly ornate wood furniture and art pieces covering the walls and other vestures finer living. Maeryn entered the room first, looking puzzled at first, with Kveldulf saying as he moved in, ¡°Where was the noise?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Maeryn said, but I know I heard ¨C¡± before she could finish, they heard a loud muffled cry from the other side of another door. ¡°There, it¡¯s there,¡± she said to Kveldulf ¡°You don¡¯t say,¡± he replied, faking surprise. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Cid said, ¡°Would you please.¡± ¡°With pleasure!¡± she said before kicking the door. After the first kick the slab stayed upright. She turned to the others, ¡°I got this, I got this,¡± she said before kicking it down from its hinges. As the piece hit the floor, she could see a elven man, stripped naked and bound and gagged staring at her. His color gone from his face, trembling lips and shaking as he saw her look into the room. Jeanne turned Cid, ¡°I found who was making the noise.¡± Cid walked over and as he saw the elven man, he called out, ¡°Leonidas! We need your skills here!¡± Leonidas came over and began looking at the elf who began writhing violently, breathing erratically, while trying to get away from him. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± the doctor said to him, ¡°It¡¯s all right, you¡¯re safe now.¡± The elven man slowly began calming down as he carefully watched Leonidas examine him. ¡°Well, aside from the obvious, he¡¯s seems all right.¡± ¡°Is he safe to cut the bounds?¡± Kveldulf asked. Leonidas looked at the man before turning back to Kveldulf, ¡°He¡¯s not turning if that¡¯s what you mean.¡± ¡°Cut him free,¡± Cid told the doctor. Leonidas pulled a knife out and said, ¡°Give me one moment and I¡¯ll have these off you.¡± Once the bonds were cut, the elven man removed the gag from his mouth and hugged the doctor tightly, tears flowing down his cheeks. Leonidas looked at Cid, Jeanne and Kveldulf, ¡°I think he¡¯s happy,¡± Leonidas said. The man then hugged Cid, Kveldulf and Jeanne, thanking them profusely. Jeanne, looking unsure what to do, awkwardly patted the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There, there,¡± she said to him. ¡°There, there.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ciaran,¡± the elven man said, wiping tears from his eyes, ¡°it¡¯s Ciaran.¡± ¡°Do you know what happened here, Ciaran?¡± Cid asked the man. ¡°The other day, I was tending to my duties here when these two men showed up. They were talking to the buteler, as our lord doesn¡¯t normally see guests unless they¡¯re personal friends or family. And after a moment of conversing they attacked the man and quickly murdered everyone. They save a few to turn over to guard the property, and those they left alive ¡­ they fed on.¡± ¡°Oh gods,¡± Maeryn said. ¡°That¡¯s what they did to the woman¡¯s home when they attacked there.¡± ¡°Probably something of a modus operandi,¡± Cid said. ¡°Other than the undead guards is there anyone else here, that you know of? Ciaran shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I think the younger one left. Something about keeping an eye on their ¡®families,¡¯ he said.¡± ¡°That leaves just the older brother,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°We could take the older one and put the dog down,¡± Benkin said. Cid nodded at Benkin and Jeanne, ¡°All right, Ciaran, grab whatever clothes and gold you can and get back to town, if anyone asks, you don¡¯t know anything of what happened here, understand?¡± ¡°What about you all?¡± Ciaran. ¡°We¡¯re The Wolf Company,¡± Cid said, ¡°We¡¯re in our element when on the hunt.¡± The elf nodded and made his way out of the small room and began dressing himself. Cid turned to Maeryn, ¡°Go get Sil and Hy, and get them back here, I want us in full force when wo do this.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Maeryn said as she left the room. She returned shortly with Silvius and Hypatia in tow. ¡°Hope things were quiet on your end,¡± Kveldulf said to Silvius and Hypatia. ¡°There was a zombie trying to make it¡¯s way out,¡± Hypatia said, ¡°but we took care of it without any issue.¡± ¡°Good,¡± said Cid, ¡°I up you¡¯re warmed up, because we have a son of a bitch to put down.¡± Part TBD - Kolvilles Wrath Negotiating their way up the stairway, The Wolves pressed themselves against the left side of the spiral staircase. Cid, who was at the front of the group poked his head out and cautiously examined the floor before waving the others to keep going. The room was used for storage, with crates and barrels filling much of the room. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they haven¡¯t torn into these yet,¡± Silvius said quietly. ¡°Give them time,¡± Benkin said. ¡°If they didn¡¯t appreciate what little they have, they¡¯d ruin what more they stole.¡± Maeryn slowly opened the door way leading into the second room, with Benkin standing nearby. Moving in, they found a room with a large fireplace and three cots unfolded and had ruffled sheets resting on top of them. A bear skin rug draped the wooden flooring and three racks where suits of armor would be kept in storage were empty as they stood next to the beds. I think we have more armored friends nearby, Cid gestured to the others. Oh, don¡¯t I just feel lucky, Jeanne replied. Do you think they¡¯re upstairs? Benkin asked. If they aren¡¯t, then I¡¯d be surprised, Cid replied. Maeryn walked up to the foot of the stairway leading to the final floor and after taking a moment to listen, she gestured, There¡¯s three up above. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly, loosening their joints, and steeling themselves for the coming fight. They moved up the stairs slowly, spotting the two remaining knights standing at attention, the tips of their longswords touching the floor and sporting the same armor as now fully dead their comrade floors below. As they stood there, their chests moved slowly as they drew labored breaths. In the middle sat the older of the two brothers, sitting on a large wooden chair. The size of his head was larger than a normal person, by half Jeanne estimated, with black hair was thick with oil and flat, with a streak of grey running along the left side of his head. His eyes gave off a greenish hue as he looked at The Wolves with disinterested eyes. His fingers were long and gnarled, the flesh mostly gone with his bleached white skin the only thing covering his bones. His mouth a partially opened, revealing a set of pointed teeth behind his cracked lips as he began to smile. ¡°Welcome to my home,¡± Ollen said, lifting both hands above his shoulders and towards his guests, ¡°I hope you found the new d¨¦cor to your liking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly our particular taste, if I¡¯ll be honest,¡± Cid said. ¡°It¡¯s fucking repulsing,¡± Jeanne said, glaring at the Kolville. ¡°I¡¯d figured you¡¯d say that,¡± Ollen said, methodically wrapping his fingers around the arms of his chair before rising from his seat. ¡°But I figured you¡¯re all not here to speak of home decorations and other idle chatter.¡± ¡°What gave you that impression?¡± Gabriel said, gripping her spear tightly. ¡°Call it hunch,¡± Ollen replied. ¡°But, let¡¯s not keep the inevitable waiting any longer,¡± he said before standing squared before them and opening his hands and his fingers cracking and reforming, the bone piercing through the skin of his finger tips with sharpened claws emerging. ¡°Oh wonderful,¡± Jeanne heard Silvius say under his breath as he readied his crossbow. Benkin rushed towards the Kolville, swinging his blade twice, the vampire dodging the blows with ease. ¡°You¡¯ll need to do better than that, bladesman,¡± Ollen said. The vampire screamed as Cid landed a slash along his side. ¡°The same can be side for you,¡± he said to the vampire. Before Ollen could reply, a crossbolt from Silvius struck the fiend in the shoulder, forcing him back from Cid and Benkin. Kveldulf lunged towards Ollen impaling the vampire with the point of his spear and through the other side. Ollen swiped at Kveldulf with one arrow from Maeryn landing in his shoulder, throwing away from Kel and another landing in one of the undead knight¡¯s torso, arresting their against Kveldulf. Gabriel landed a blow into the leg of the undead knight, who screamed in pain before she twisted and pulled her weapon out. Jeanne reached out with her hand and lightening flowed from her fingers, striking the two undead knights and Ollen withstanding the assault as he raised his arms and absorbed the damage. Leonidas flung a ball of emerald fire towards the undead knight attacking Kveldulf and the warrior screamed as the fire immolated its flesh underneath its armor. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Ollen rushed towards Kveldulf his claws moving past the chainmail and into the warrior¡¯s flesh. Kveldulf a scream as before headbutting the vampire¡¯s face. The vampire stumbled back, wiping the blood from his nose, and smiled. ¡°Spirited, I like that.¡± Hypatia wove a song with her blades, filling her friends with fire as the fought continued, as Kveldulf dodged a strike from the undead knight and Benkin caught the blade in side and the other struck him. As he tried retaliate, the undead knight dodged his attacks and gained distance between itself and Benkin. Jeanne spotted Ollen¡¯s wounds begin to slowly heal up as the fight wore on. ¡°Aw shit,¡± she said, ¡°he¡¯s regenerating!¡± ¡°Did you think this would be a simple fight?¡± Ollen said to her. Cid slashed across Ollen¡¯s chest with his rapier, the vampire wincing in pain as he glared at the Felidan. Silvius fired a crossbolt at the undead knight attacking Benkin, who deflect the projectile with their helm while Kveldulf entered in a berserker rage, roaring towards Ollen and charging him. The vampire frozen in fear as Kveldulf landed the the blade of his halberd into the vampire¡¯s arm shattering it. Maeryn landed an arrow into the torso of the undead knight attacking Benkin, causing the fiend to fall to one knee, using its sword to keep itself from falling to the ground. Gabriel landed a deep blow into the other undead knight, causing the warrior to stumble in its stance. Jeanne pointed two fingers towards the knight attacking Benkin and said, ¡°Get away from my friend you bastard!¡± as she fired on bolt of energy towards the knight causing it to fall and the other two striking Ollen who was beginning to appear winded. Leonidas threw another emerald ball of fire that severely damaged both Ollen and the undead knight trying to put out the flames. Ollen, unaware of Hypatia swinging her blades and causing the undead knight to shake and unable to move before it tried to swing at Gabriel, tried to put the flames out before they consumed him. As they swung their longsword it cut deep into her armor, lacerating the skin and causing blood to start pouring out, her screaming in pain as Benkin landed a terrible strike against the knight¡¯s shoulder. While Ollen was giving himself a moment to heal his wounds and rebuild his arm, Cid slashed his front and cut deeply into his flesh. Wine dark blood began pouring out of the wounds. Silvius landed a well-aimed shot into the torso of the remaining undead knight, forcing them to wobble on their feet and barely keep their balance. Kveldulf place flurry of strikes into Ollen¡¯s body, forcing the vampire to retreat from where he stood as The Wolves pushed their attack. Maeryn loosed two arrows, one striking the undead knight down to the ground, its armor now deathly still, and the other deep into Ollen¡¯s flesh. Jeanne swung her war hammer at Ollen¡¯s head who dodged, slashing through her gambeson and across her stomach with one hand and gripping his side with one hand as he tried to make distance between him and The Wolves. With her blades in hand, Hypatia rushed past, jumped into the air and sunk the full length on both her blades behind each of Ollen¡¯s collarbones. He fell to the ground screaming in pain and writhing on the floor violently. Jeanne, her arm wrapped around her wounds, walked over and grabbed one of the blades and twisted it, causing Ollen to cry out. ¡°Where is your brother?¡± she demanded. ¡°I have several,¡± he said, ¡°You¡¯ll need to be¡ª¡± Jeanne twisted the blade again. ¡°The other one you¡¯ve been murdering people with.¡± ¡°He¡¯s far away from here, you peasant whore,¡± he said, black blood began seep out of his mouth. ¡°Him and our family will be far from your reach.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not your family, and I will find your brother, and I will rip his heart out and feed it to him,¡± Jeanne said with gritted teeth. ¡°You tell yourself that, you mewling quim, you speak like you¡¯re something far more than you are,¡± Ollen said to Jeanne. ¡°But you¡¯re weak, weak when you were shit out of your mother, weak when you were spooking travelers on road, weak like your sister when we had our way with her.¡± Jeanne¡¯s lips began disappearing, her brows tightened together as the vampire spoke. ¡°We found her alone on her way to town, like some little fawn moving through the forest. We followed her for a mile or so, never suspecting we were around, and Osbert, the youngest, he rushes out, pins her down, and as she¡¯s trying to fight him off, he,¡± before he finished, he sent his right hand towards Jeanne¡¯s face, claws extended. She caught the hand and in one motion bent the limb backwards. ¡°She ¡­ had a name,¡± Jeanne growled. ¡°And it¡¯ll be the last thing you¡¯ll ever hear,¡± she said as her summoned her rock scale over her fists and forearms before she roared, ¡°This is for Sabine, you bastard!¡± Jeanne began striking Ollen with great fury, she such force she could feel the bone succumb to the pressure of her fists. She didn¡¯t recognize the damage she was inflicting until Kveldulf and Benkin rushed to pull her off of him. ¡°Jeanne, that¡¯s enough!¡± Kveldulf shouted. ¡°I want his head!¡± she bellowed. ¡°We can¡¯t identify him if you turn his head into mush,¡± Cid said. Jeanne wrested herself free from Kveldulf and Benkin. ¡°You want he was saying, about Sabine!¡± she growled. ¡°I know, Jeanne,¡± he said, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. ¡°And we¡¯re that much closer to getting her the justice she deserves. But she isn¡¯t the only victim, and we have to make sure Cyneswith and those two men aren¡¯t forced to stay behind bars anymore than they have to.¡± Jeanne said nothing, turning her head back towards Ollen. ¡°He¡¯s starting to regenerate again,¡± she said in a weak voice. ¡°Doctor, could you take care of that?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Right,¡± Leonidas said, pulling out one of Hypatia¡¯s blades and getting to work. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± he asked her. Hypatia shook her head, ¡°Oh no, by all means,¡± she said approvingly. ¡°Once you¡¯re done with that, can you give Jeanne, Ben, Gab, and Kel a look over for their wounds?¡± Cid followed. ¡°Should be finished with this shortly,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Come on,¡± Cid said, ¡°let¡¯s move to another spot to rest up.¡± Part TBD - Aftermath Jeanne sat on the steps on the fortified manor, her arms wrapped around her bent legs as her head rested against her knees. She tried remembering her breathing lessons from Benkin and steady her heartbeat. But as the words from Ollen came back into her mind, the deep hatred came back with a fury. She heard footsteps from behind her, she turned to see Benkin coming up to the steps. ¡°Doc is almost done with Ollen. Thought you could use some company,¡± he said as he sat down. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said faintly. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Benkin nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what this is for you. I mean that.¡± ¡°I know you do, Ben.¡± ¡°I used to be afraid of going through what you are, and did what I could to avoid making any connections with people so when they were gone from my life, there was little to burden me with.¡± ¡°That almost sounds like a good way to go, right now.¡± ¡°It does sometimes, though it reads a lot better on paper,¡± he said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Keeping everyone you know at an arm¡¯s distance is fine for some people. Moreso if that¡¯s the path they wish to travel. But I didn¡¯t find it to my liking. It¡¯s lonely on the road when you only have you, yourself, and the little voice telling you to burn down the forest.¡± Jeanne smiled. ¡°That voice can be a real troublemaker sometimes.¡± ¡°But I think there something to come out of what I thought was the best way of handling relationships.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Life is fleeting, whether we want to accept it or not. And everything will have to go away at some point. That is the real constant in life. But that also makes these moments worth more than all the treasures in this world. Because they¡¯ve shaped you, changed who you are as a person, for better or worse. They stay with you until its time for you to pass into whatever is waiting for us after death. And the best way to approach these changes isn¡¯t the fear them but to cherish what¡¯s there while you have it, and value the moments you had with the people who cared about, not just the end.¡± Jeanne wiped the sweat and tears from her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s a lot to think about.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still trying to find my balance that all, myself,¡± said Benkin. ¡°I just wish the world wasn¡¯t so damned messed up sometimes.¡± ¡°I do, too,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Be nice for things to be simple, a lot simpler.¡± Jeanne rose to her feet and brushed off some of the dust and debris from her clothes and armor. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to walk around the perimeter, get some air,¡± she said to him. ¡°Would you like some company?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Not right now, I just need to clear my head.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right here in case anything happens.¡± Jeanne smiled, patted Benkin¡¯s shoulder and made her way to the hewed wood palisade. She looked from the palisade and over the countryside the tall blades of grass swaying back and forth as the wind gently moved across their tips. She saw a figure leaning against the palisade to her left. She didn¡¯t turn her head as he began speaking. ¡°That was a fight,¡± The Stranger said to her. Jeanne nodded. ¡°It was something all right.¡± ¡°You all made it out of their in one piece.¡± ¡°A lot of those before didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I know, they were good people. They didn¡¯t deserve that end.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna assume that was something else out of your control?¡± The Stranger took a deep breath, a slight moan coming from him as he exhaled. ¡°I wish it was, Lady Marais. I wish it was.¡± ¡°I guess this isn¡¯t the easiest for you either.¡± ¡°It breaks my heart to see this land tear itself apart. Watching it grow through the generations. Face invasions, plagues, destruction of whole civilizations, only to return and thrive that much stronger. Now I see the blood, sweat and tears of so many, being thrown into a fire which may consume all in its path. It¡¯s like watching your children fight amongst themselves, and you know you can¡¯t step in to stop the madness. For whatever peace may be gained, it¡¯ll only last until you leave and they rush back to fighting each other. You want them to thrive on their own, not rely on constant vigilance of some divine being to keep them from madness.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I guess it isn¡¯t all heavenly judgements and decrees to make on the little people.¡± ¡°I wish that was all there was, it would make all of our lives better.¡± ¡°Do you know how this will all turn out?¡± Jeanne asked The Stranger. The Stranger shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain, but many of these shallow conflicts tend to end when both sides simply do not have the will to fight anymore. Or there is no one left or willing to die for such things. Sometimes you find the stars will align in such a way that one side will come to some upper hand, but in reality, it is just a prolonging of the next phase of killing. How long before this war reaches such an end, even the wisest cannot tell.¡± Jeanne scoffed. ¡°So this could go on well past our lifetime?¡± ¡°For over forty thousand souls, it already has,¡± The Stranger said somberly. Jeanne watched The Stranger bow his head down and tears fall from his face. ¡°I hear them praying, I can hear them pleading, crying, cursing, blaming, all of it. Yet, the only thing I wish to do is pray myself, pray for someone to take this away and let me find some peace in obscurity.¡± ¡°At least you¡¯re not alone in that sentiment,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°No, no we¡¯re not.¡± Jeanne looked up at the stars above them. ¡°You think about just leaving this world and finding a new one out there?¡± The Stranger looked up and let out a heavy sigh. ¡°If only it were that easy. But I think you¡¯re familiar with that sentiment.¡± Jeanne turned back to the mansion, watching through the windows of the highest level of the central tower as the others burned the bodies of Ollen and the rest of the undead. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. This was supposed to be a simple bounty job,¡± Jeanne said, beginning to feel her muscles ache from exhaustion, ¡°take these bastards out and then go home.¡± ¡°And you thought this would stay simple?¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°No. I wish it was. But no.¡± ¡°Did you truly want to do this for the money?¡± ¡°The money definitely helps, but we both it wasn¡¯t for that.¡± ¡°Was it for the bounty on your head?¡± Jeanne looked at The Stranger from the corner of her eye. ¡°Of course, you¡¯d know about that. But that isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Is for your kin?¡± Jeanne back up to the heavens. ¡°I just wanted her to find some peace, knowing these men would never have the means to harm another person.¡± ¡°And that was it?¡± The Stranger asked. Jeanne closed her eyes. ¡°No ¡­ that wasn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°Then what was it?¡± ¡°When I ran away, I told I had gotten vengeance of Sabine¡¯s murder. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, a kin slain for a kin slain. But I should¡¯ve known better. You don¡¯t start a fire and not expect the flames to spread. And when the truth was I ran because I was scared of taking responsibility for what I did. I ran to avoid facing the repercussions. But you can only run for so long before it catches up to you. I let my parents, my friends and neighbors live with that anxiety for too long. Far too long. It wasn¡¯t fair, it wasn¡¯t right. And in an unfair world, it¡¯s about time someone did something to make it one.¡± ¡°Such a task is more than what one person can handle.¡± ¡°One can inspire many, who can inspire others themselves.¡± ¡°This is a world where it can be hard to tell friend from foe.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a mind reader, but I¡¯d like to think I¡¯m good at telling when someone is trying to kill me.¡± ¡°There may be times when you might have to sever bonds of fellowship to achieve justice.¡± ¡°If you have to sacrifice kin and companions for the pursuit of justice, then it isn¡¯t justice.¡± ¡°There might be those who call on you for protection and safety from those who wronged them.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the first time I¡¯ve done that.¡± ¡°You may have to stop the wanton brawls you¡¯re keen to enjoy.¡± ¡°What if they¡¯re asking for it?¡± ¡°How about you don¡¯t start one without a good reason.¡± ¡°Define ¡®good reason¡¯.¡± ¡° ¡­ I¡¯m starting to regret this conversation.¡± ¡°Anything else you¡¯d like to bring up before you have your fill?¡± ¡°What if this pursuit brings you closer to your end?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been running from it long enough. It¡¯s about time I faced it head with whatever dignity I have left.¡± The Stranger nodded slightly before reaching in a pulling out a chained necklace, the pendant was a black eagle, with golden eyes looking outward. ¡°I think this may serve you well in your endeavors, Jeanne Marais of Teeg-Upon-Avon.¡± Jeanne took the necklace with a suspicious gaze. ¡°What exactly will this do? It doesn¡¯t look like a mere decorative piece to show off my neck?¡± ¡°No, there is far more to it. But I see you where the pendant of the old paladins of these lands, do you not?¡± Jeanne looked down at the dragon pin she was given by Gareth Kolville before they left Teeg-Upon-Avon to hunt the rest of the Kolville clan down. ¡°The lord of my old village thought it would give the people hope. Though I¡¯m not certain how.¡± ¡°Hope does not have to be something great to be meaningful. It can simply be awaiting the day without the same dread which plagued you the day before.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t see what this has to do with the medallion or necklace.¡± ¡°That pendant was a symbol of the Paladins of the famed Lion King, they roamed these lands, and those of the continent you came from, searching for wrongs to right, people to help and give them the hope that there was still something worth fighting for. They fought the chaos of the king¡¯s great fall with every fiber of their being, and they died for it. Their legends grew in fame with their tragicend, but slowly people¡¯s memory of them began to wane and falter. ¡°The lessons they taught were lost, shirked by those who knew not the times or the conditions they endured, the hardships they faced, and looked down on them for acting in ways no longer in vogue with the eras that followed. Their judges too frightened to put themselves in such considerations while preaching more empathy for fear they may find themselves acting hypocritically to their superfluously sacred beliefs. But now the people have no examples to give them inspiration to strive to be better than they were before. They look up to the heavens and all they see is empty skies. Nothing more. Their search for perfect heroes has robbed them of the very thing they needed. Hope. I feel the time has come for this to change.¡± The Stranger pointed to the necklace. ¡°You carry the badge of the old guard, first to do so in a long time. Do so with my blessing, and show the people that evil will be punished, and no hardship, regardless of how daunting it can be, is impossible to overcome.¡± Jeanne gripped her fingers around the necklace, feeling a slow tingling all over her skin before it ebbed away. She looked up and The Stranger was gone and heard Leonidas walking up to her. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± she asked him. ¡°Tired,¡± Leonidas replied, placing his arms on top of the palisade. ¡°Bastard¡¯s head kept trying to reattach, and his heart kept replacing itself. But it¡¯s finally done. How are you holding up?¡± ¡°Tired, too,¡± she said. Feeling the necklace in her hand. ¡°Cid said he wants to head back to two tomorrow. Get Cyneswith out of jail along with the other two bounty hunters.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°Glad we can do some good for someone,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah, about time we had some good news,¡± the doctor said before they went back into the mansion turned mausoleum to get what little rest they could. Part TBD - Release As morning came The Wolves prepared to move out with the rising sun, Jeanne could not fail to notice the deep reddish hue surrounding the great star rising from the horizon. ¡°Something the matter?¡± she heard Silvius ask her. She shook her head. ¡°Just a thought.¡± Silvius looked out to the morning sky and a troubled mood came to him. ¡°Reminds me of a saying my grandfather used to say.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Crimson skies Elune¡¯s heart flies, crimson morns Custo¡¯s mercy dies.¡± ¡°I take it they¡¯re not simple traders?¡± Jeanne asked, chuckling. Silivius lightly laughed at the jest. ¡°No, Elune is the goddess of the moon, night and peaceful slumber. My people pray to her for restful sleep to face the next day.¡± ¡°And Custo?¡± ¡°He is the god of the underworld. The keeper of all the dead.¡± ¡°Should I ask how he is?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s not all that bad,¡± Silvius said, waving his hand, ¡°he has a duty and he does it well. He¡¯s also given the dominion of justice as well.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Aye, who better to seek out the ultimate penance than the one who determines where you go after this life?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t suppose they soul in question would have a barrister to speak on their behalf?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯d like that,¡± Silivus said. ¡°But no, they have only their deeds to speak of their lives, and they will find themselves on one of the four isles in his dominion.¡± ¡°Is there a bad one?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Katadikis, without question,¡± Silvius replied. ¡°Good to know,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°We¡¯re about ready to move out,¡± Kveldulf said to them from a distance. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Coming, you big hair bag,¡± Jeanne replied. *** Judith looked at the severed head of Ollen, hey eyes blinking rapid as she slowly leaned back in her chair. ¡°Where exactly did you find ¡­ this Kolville?¡± she asked. ¡°Back at the manor a few miles from here,¡± said Benkin. ¡°Almost the entire household was murdered or turned when we arrived. ¡°And you¡¯re sure this is one of the actual Kolville brothers?¡± Judith asked Cid, her voice breaking at points. Jeanne slammed the clasp with the Kolville sigil onto the desk. ¡°I know it¡¯s our word over a villain, but I think this should suffice.¡± Jeanne felt Cid gently pull her away from the desk. She spotted him gesturing, tone it down a bit, for now. Jeanne rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest as she looked back at Judith. The reeve stood up and leaned closer to Ollen¡¯s head. Leonidas stretched his hand out, waving it quickly. ¡°I would not do that if I were ¡­¡± Before he finished the head began snapping at the reeve, who flung herself back into her chair, almost toppling herself over. ¡°Yeah, that was what I trying to get at,¡± the doctor finished. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with his head?¡± Judith demanded. ¡°I think you know about that,¡± Gabriel said, ¡°you seemed well versed in the ways of ¡°blood suckers¡± and all.¡± Judith looked up at Gabriel with a stern glare. ¡°I¡¯d watch my mouth before¡ª¡± The rest of The Wolves began unsheathing their weapons, Judith looking back and forth across all of them before slowly closing her mouth and sitting back down. ¡°Perhaps we should move onto another subject then, hmm?¡± Judith said interlocking her fingers together tightly and pressing them against her chest. ¡°I think that would be prudent,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Since we¡¯ve established that the two men you have are not the brothers, they should be released at once.¡± Judith let out a sudden sharp cough, before trying to grab a quill, inkwell and parchment. ¡°Yes, yes, of course,¡± she said. Her hands shambling about as she tried to grip the quill to write, the instrument shaking her in hand as she dipped into the ink. ¡°And Cyneswith girl, too,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Judith said, before jerking her head and exclaiming, ¡°What?¡± ¡°The woman you have in the cells back there, she is going to be released,¡± Jeanne followed. ¡°But she¡¯s with the brothers, obviously,¡± Judith said before Jeanne picked up the head and pressed it into the reeve¡¯s direction. Ollen now snapping and growling at Judith as she turned her head away. ¡°All right, all right!¡± Judith shouted, wiping the spit away as Jeanne placed Ollen back on the desk. ¡°And if you know what¡¯s good for you, I¡¯d leave our presence here out of your reports, lest we inform one of the lords around here you let a manor burn and its inhabitants be slaughtered through ignorance,¡± Cid said. Judith sneered at Cid, saying nothing ss she threw the keys at him. Cid grabbed the keys, taking one of tapping it to his head as a salute and calmly said, ¡°Much obliged.¡± The Wolves made their way to the cells and the two men and Cyneswith pressed themselves to the cell doors. As the doors opened up and the three left their confinement, they stood there with tears running down their faces. Cyneswith looked at Jeanne with her hands clutching in front of her chest, shaking and unable to speak. Jeanne gave her a soft smile and gently hugged her. ¡°There, there,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯re out.¡± Cyneswith said nothing, only embracing Jeanne and beginning to weep. Part TBD - Preparing ¡°So, what will you do now?¡± Cid asked Cyneswith as she held her son, the two bounty hunters already mounted on two horses, the third one reserved for Cyneswith. ¡°We¡¯ll be going over to Devatrix and see about starting anew there,¡± Cyneswith said. ¡°I hope things go well for you all there,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Cyneswith said, ¡°and thank you for everything. I don¡¯t know how to repay you all.¡± Cid held up the palm of his hand to her. ¡°Think nothing of it, this was the least we could do.¡± Cyneswith infant son reached out to Jeanne, his small opening and closing as he did so. ¡°Aw, he wants to say goodbye,¡± Cyneswith said to Jeanne. Jeanne looked to the others with a confused look. Cid nudged his head forward. ¡°Go on, they don¡¯t bite,¡± he said to her. She turned to Leonidas who said, ¡°I mean they usually don¡¯t.¡± Jeanne cautiously stepped forward and gingerly took the child into her arms. Jeanne then turned back to the others, ¡°Am I doing this right?¡± she asked them. As the others began snickering, Leonidas said, ¡°Does the baby look happy?¡± Jeanne turned back to the child who was looking up at her and smiling happily. Without thinking, Jeanne let out an awe before turning to Cyneswith, ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t allowed to name him before,¡± she said, ¡°But I think I was going to name him after my father, Denin.¡± Jeanne looked at the baby before giving Cyneswith a smile. ¡°I think Denin is an excellent name,¡± she said before handing the child back to his mother. Cyneswith took her child and gave him a loving kiss on his head. ¡°Well, I should be off,¡± she said. ¡°Try and be safe while you¡¯re out there,¡± Cid said. ¡°We will,¡± Cyneswith said, ¡°it seems the war is mostly avoiding Devatrix altogether, so it should be a good place raise little Denin.¡± ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll come to visit when this is all over,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I¡¯d love that,¡± Cyneswith replied. ¡°But I shouldn¡¯t keep them waiting, Shepherd guide you!¡± she said before handing the infant to one of the bounty hunters to mount her horse. ¡°Same with you,¡± Cid said as he and the rest of The Wolves waved all three off. Watching the group ride down the southern road and out of sight, Jeanne felt a slight sensation of pressure in her chest. Once they were gone Jeanne looked down and let out long sigh. ¡°I hope they make it there safe,¡± she said. ¡°The roads should be safer,¡± Benkin said, ¡°one less Kolville and that region seems to have more control of the roads.¡± ¡°Still,¡± said Silvius, ¡°I¡¯ll feel better when we know they¡¯ve arrived safe.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°many things can lurk in the shadows of the most watched over roads.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see how things are then,¡± said Cid, ¡°come, we should plan are move now that we have the last of the duo on the run.¡± ¡°Should we head to the inn then?¡± Hypatia asked. Cid shook his head, ¡°No, not while that reeve still have weight to pull. I¡¯d be certain she¡¯s looking to pay us back for this setback.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if she wasn¡¯t looking for a moment to strike,¡± Benkin said. ¡°The woman has the look of venom in her.¡± ¡°I¡¯d seen more cheer from someone at a wake,¡± Silvius followed. ¡°Even gave me an ill feeling,¡± Hypatia said. ¡°You want to head to that manor again,¡± Kveldulf asked, ¡°since it¡¯s cleared out and all?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the worst idea, doubt anyone will want to claim it immediately, and we¡¯ll be long gone when they do decide to arrive,¡± Cid said. ¡°But I think the sooner we make our scarce in this place, the better it will be for all parties involved.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Once they had arrived to the manor, Maeryn and Benkin were posted by the doorway on first watch as the others began rest and collect their thoughts. Jeanne rested in the room they had barricaded themselves in during their first visit. She pulled the boots off her feet after some effort and leaned in her chair, stretching her legs out completely. Jeanne looked up at the wooden squares situated on the ceiling above her. The wood was dark, almost as if it was night itself. She wondered what tastes brought this manner of decoration here? Was the former owner one who longed to watch the night skies while under the protection of such eloquent shelters. It was not difficult for her to assume this was a place with a long and possibly storied history behind it, but was this attached to the family living here when the Kolvilles arrived? Did whoever call these walls home hold claim to this domain since before the Great Invasion of the Rolluon swept through the lands and laid claim to the realms here? Did they resist and try to hold what was left of the old ways? Did they join the invaders for an easy peace to make the transition easier for their kin? Did they wish to spend their wintered years here and bequeath this to their inheritors unsullied? Jeanne let out a long sigh as she pondered these thoughts, with no answers coming to her. She stretched her neck, feeling the cracks and hearing the short and muffled cracks inside. She barely moved her arms and the muscle felt as if she was trying to make them lift a great weight. Her feet flinched as she moved and curled her toes. Her back felt as if entire sections of the area were solid and unable to move and curve at her command. The number of days they had been hunting since leaving Teeg-Upon-Avon had begun to meld into another. Had it been weeks, months, years? No, she thought to herself, it definitely hadn¡¯t been years. Feels like it though. She remembered being on campaign and keeping the year into two seasons: campaign and winter. If the weather wasn¡¯t trying to freeze you to death, you were expected to be on the march. She remembered the long dreary hours marching along roads, stuck at camp with nothing to do, finding the smallest of chances to break the monotony with a practical joke here or there. One came to her mind, causing her to smile and chuckle softly at it contently. ¡°Something you¡¯d like to share?¡± she heard Kveldulf asked as he entered the room. ¡°Just a fond memory,¡± she said, leaning forward, rubbing a knot on her back. ¡°Oh what? Don¡¯t leave me in suspense here.¡± ¡°Do you remember the lieutenant who replaced Sharpe?¡± ¡°Who Gregor? Yeah I remember him, why?¡± ¡°You know that pair of boots he loved to show off whenever he could?¡± ¡°Oh gods, yes,¡± Kveldulf said with disgust. ¡°Damned fool spent more time cleaning them than anything else.¡± ¡°So, after that skirmish we had near Mullenberg, and he was absent from the line because of his darling boots,¡± she looked stopped to look around before speaking again, ¡°I took the boots and used them as the footwear for the captain¡¯s horse!¡± ¡°That was you!¡± Kveldulf exclaimed. Jeanne waved her hands, shushing him. ¡°Oh we¡¯re not in with ¡®em anymore. I doubt anyone would give a damn anyway.¡± ¡°You know what Cid would do if he found out,¡± Jeanne said as they heard a sharp pop and thud of a cork. They turned to find Cid, with three goblets in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. ¡°A toast to one of the finest sorriest excuses of a soldier I¡¯d ever seen,¡± Cid said. ¡°Oh you heard everything didn¡¯t you?¡± Jeanne said as Cid pulled a chair to them. ¡°Course I did,¡± Cid replied cheerfully, handing Kveldulf a goblet and then Jeanne. ¡°But I thought that was one of the greatest gifts I had ever been given that year.¡± ¡°I thought you liked the man,¡± Jeanne said, confused. Cid gave her a firm look. ¡°No, I knew how to keep my rank, but that bastard could eat a seven course meal of fresh meadow muffins for all I care.¡± ¡°Sorry you missed the show,¡± Kveldulf said as Cid poured his goblet with wine. ¡°Oh, I had the next best thing. I was there when Gregor saw his boots all caked in mud, excrement and who knows what else. He had the look on his face like a kinsman had died.¡± Jeanne and Kveldulf looked at each other before turning back to Cid. ¡°Those weren¡¯t heirlooms were they?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Not at all,¡± Cid said plainly. ¡°He just got them to show off how much he could spend in his position in the company.¡± Jeanne and Kveldulf let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I feel a lot better then,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think it would¡¯ve bothered me much if they were,¡± Cid said. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back, Cid,¡¯ Kveldulf replied. ¡°He shined those boots when our best soldiers were off dying, he can go fuck a dead stump,¡± Cid said bluntly before holding his goblet to the other two. ¡°Cheers!¡± Kel and Jeanne touched their goblets to Cid¡¯s and took a sip of the wine. ¡°So ¡­ what¡¯s the plan now?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°My guess is Guthrem will be heading down the road here. We¡¯ll see about getting Maer and Gab to catch and scent and then see where that leads. ¡°You think he¡¯d head down this road?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°We won¡¯t know until we head that way. Especially if he¡¯s hurt, he¡¯ll probably have more of a potent scent than his departed brother.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to suggest we keep some people here as a base and see about searching for camps,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I think a couple here while the rest go out isn¡¯t a horrible idea,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Agreed,¡± Cid said, ¡°I doubt the brother would be so bold to try anything rash now that he¡¯s all alone.¡± ¡°At least not against someone he¡¯d have to struggle with,¡± said Jeanne. Cid let out a short grunt. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± he said, ¡°cowards tend to have that type of courage.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯s going to attack a village like before?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°It¡¯s possible, but I think he may stick with smaller locations, farms, huts, maybe a minute encampment. Though we won¡¯t know until we find some more clues.¡± Jeanne took a long drink from her wine. ¡°It could also push him to more drastic measures.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that as well,¡± Cid said. ¡°And I shudder to think what he could do.¡± The three turned as they heard someone coming up to the room. Maeryn peered her head inside and said, ¡°Hate to interrupt, but we have a visitor.¡± ¡°Someone we know?¡± Cid asked the archer. Maeryn shook her head. ¡°No one I recognize. But he wanted to speak with the leader of our outfit.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Cid said, getting to his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s see who this one is.¡± Part TBD - Down the Path Jeanne and Kveldulf followed Cid to the entrance of the manor, seeing a lone man standing there next to Benkin. He was a head shorter than Ben, wearing a green long sleeve cloth shirt with a brown leather vest over it with tan pants and a pair of boots covering up the lower half of his calves. He had smaller pointed ears compared to Maeryn and Jeanne noticed his fingers a longer than most, and constantly moving even when the rest of his posture was still. ¡°I was told you were looking for me?¡± Cid asked the man. The man nodded. ¡°Uh, yes, yes I have. Cillian is my, I live in a small log cabin not too far away from here.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯ve probably heard a bit of the ruckus that happened here a while back?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I thought I heard something,¡± Cillian said, ¡°But you know what they say, fools rush into a fight not their own.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that one a few times,¡± Cid replied, holding a hand out. ¡°So what you brings you all the way out here?¡± ¡°Well, I was hunting deer for myself and my son when I saw someone running through the forest,¡± Cillian said. ¡°They were going into the direction of Cave of the Storms, and I thought I¡¯d follow a bit and see if they went in.¡± ¡°That was pretty risky,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°I¡¯ve stalked more than my share of predators,¡± Cillian said, ¡°and I knew to keep my distance and not tempt the Shepherd¡¯s mercy.¡± ¡°So, what did you find?¡± Cid followed. ¡°I saw the person run into the cave, letting out a horrible scream and then I made my way back to my home. Next day I heard you dealt with a vampire back at the manor here and well ¡­ I put two and two together.¡± ¡°He found the brother then,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°Seems so,¡± Cid said before turning back to Cillian, ¡°Do you get a good look at the man in question?¡± Cillian nodded. ¡°Oh yes, he seemed in a bit of rough shape. But he definitely seemed like he could give someone a hard time in a scrap.¡± ¡°We should go out in full force than,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Agreed,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Why don¡¯t you spend the night here and we¡¯ll move out in the morning.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cillian said taking a half step back. ¡°My son is still at the cabin and Pastures forbid the fiend comes out and find the place.¡± Cid nodded. ¡°Right, why don¡¯t we meet up here and see about paying this man a visit.¡± Cillian nodded, touched his first finger to his forehead and quickly made his way out of the area. Jeanne lifted an eyebrow up and turned to Cid. ¡°Did he seem, odd near the end?¡± she asked him. ¡°He seemed a little off throughout the whole conversation,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°What do you think Cid?¡± ¡°I want to say he¡¯s letting his nerves get the better of him, but let us see what the morn brings.¡± *** Jeanne took watch at the door with Hypatia as the others finished their morning meal and prepared their gear. Jeanne was leaning against the opening, her arms crossed and peered out to the road before them in the direction of the town. Hypatia was short distance away casually practicing her sword swings and making light notes from her blades. ¡°You seem to be pondering,¡± Hypatia said as she practiced. Jeanne, keeping her eyes on the road, said, ¡°Had a few things to think about since last night.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°The hunter fella?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯s not being honest with us?¡± ¡°He seemed to be nervous, Hy, real nervous.¡± ¡°Well he did say his boy was back at their cabin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s if he has a boy.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯s setting us up for a trap?¡± ¡°My gut¡¯s telling me something is up, and I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Hypatia asked, turning to Jeanne. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have anything to gain from it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t figure that out either, and that¡¯s bothering me more.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯ve been having trouble sleeping?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Jeanne, we¡¯ve all seen you sit up awake and just stare off into space. Or stay on watch longer than normal and not let others take over.¡± Jeanne took a heavy breath. ¡°I guess I wasn¡¯t that subtle about it, was I.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just worried.¡± ¡°I know, I know. It¡¯s just hard for me to sleep when you¡¯re worried about things going wrong, or creeping up on you when you¡¯re not expecting.¡± ¡°Be a lot better if we were dealing with vampiric charlatans.¡± ¡°You can say that again.¡± ¡°Well, we can see what the cave is like and if he¡¯s not on the up and up, we can just leave him in it.¡± Jeanne turned to Hypatia, her eyes widening. ¡°That¡¯s a sharp turn, Hy.¡± ¡°After that bitch tried doing us in back at Brenin, I¡¯m am officially done with people like that.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°I still want to repay her for that kindness.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°Why would she even do that? We tried to save her child and everything.¡± ¡°Some people are just in it for themselves, some simply see others as means to an end.¡± ¡°You ¡­ you don¡¯t think she blamed us for her child¡¯s death, do you?¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Well, we never really contacted her after the fact, make sure she was all right.¡± ¡°No ¡­ no I guess we didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Still, I could see her not wanting to talk to us. But that, I just can¡¯t get over it.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jeanne replied looking down at her feet, ¡°we were all taken aback on that one.¡± ¡°I hope she gets what¡¯s coming to her before the end.¡± ¡°You and me both, Hy, you and me both.¡± Hypatia turned to a small path across the road leading into town. ¡°Hey, I think I see someone.¡± Jeanne turned to where Hypatia was looking and saw Cillian walking up to them, she could his sweat already beading on his brow. He placed a hand on the palisade wall and took several labored breaths. Hypatia walked up to him, ¡°Are you all right?¡± she asked. He nodded, trying to wipe the sweat from his forehead as quickly as he could. ¡°Oh ¡­ oh yes,¡± Cillian said, pausing to catch his breath, ¡°just been a long night.¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to rest?¡± Jeanne asked as she walked up to him. Cillian waved the question off, saying, ¡°Oh no, wouldn¡¯t think of it. Just need to catch my breath and I¡¯ll be good to go.¡± ¡°Very well then, Hypatia, why don¡¯t you let the others know Cillian¡¯s arrived,¡± Jeanne said. Hypatia acknowledge the order and moved into the mansion. Jeanne turned back to Cillian, who was looking around the area. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°No, no,¡± Cillian said, lightly chuckling, ¡°just an old habit you get into when you¡¯ve been out in the woods for a while.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Learned to keep my head on a swivel, too, in our line of work.¡± ¡°I can imagine,¡± Cillian said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of taking on mercenary work, just the idea of joining never seemed like something I could do, no offense.¡± ¡°None taken,¡± Jeanne said, waving away the comment. ¡°This isn¡¯t a line of work for everyone.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s a service that is popular, heh,¡± he said, opening and closing his hands repeatedly as he twisted his torso. Jeanne turned as she heard the rest of The Wolves arrive to the entrance. Cid greeted them both, ¡°Good to see you¡¯re both enjoying a nice conversation.¡± ¡°Is that not a normal thing?¡± Cillian asked. ¡°Our good Jeanne¡¯s strongest suits is not in diplomatic matters,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°I can be diplomatic,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Fists don¡¯t count,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯re no fun,¡± Jeanne said, rolling her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Cid said, ¡°Good Cillian, are you ready to take us to this cave you mentioned?¡± Cillian nodded. ¡°Yes, this why,¡± he said, waving his hand for them to follow. Jeanne watched the others walk on by before she positioned herself at the very back. Following behind Leonidas, they had walked a short distance before he turned behind her, saying something she didn¡¯t hear as she looked out into the fields. ¡°Jeanne,¡± she heard him say, snapping her out of her fugue. ¡°Hmm, what?¡± ¡°I asked if you if something was wrong?¡± Leonidas asked her, ¡°You were quiet when I was saying something to you just now.¡± ¡°Oh sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not offended, just wanted to make sure you were doing all right.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just thinking.¡± ¡°Anything you want to talk about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just have a bad feeling about this whole thing.¡± ¡°You too?¡± Jeanne moved her head back slightly. ¡°You have it too?¡± ¡°I mean, all the time. But in this case, especially.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± ¡°I did, I told Cid personally and he said he was just as suspicious of the man, but also we won¡¯t know exactly what¡¯s in that cave unless we check it out.¡± Jeanne closed her eyes tightly before rubbing her forehead. ¡°I swear his no stone unturned policy can drive me crazy sometimes.¡± ¡°Can you blame him?¡± ¡°No, and that drives me crazy even more.¡± Part TBD - The Caves Mouth Cillian led The Wolves down a narrow winding path into the forest. A wall of trees drew in all around them. The shadows of the woods were such the forest-roof let in little light, as if night had come before the day had come to an end. Only the slightest slivers of light pushing their way through the thick canopy of leaves above gave any semblance of daylight around the path. Jeanne summoned a small fireball to light the way, making it easier to see before her. She noted Cillian rubbing his arm with one hand as he would stop and examine the area before continuing down. She also noted Maeryn had an arrow notched on her bowstring as they moved down the road. Leonidas was gripping the shaft of his staff and the hilt of his blade, occasionally flexing his fingers and she could hear him breathing heavy. Jeanne noticed she was looking back and forth through the denseness of the tree line. Trying to see if something or someone was lurking in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike. She wished she had the ability to see in the dark with greater clarity. Thinking Guthrem would stick to the shadows and not plot his vengeance was foolish hopes. She kept her hand on the head of her war-hammer, her fingers tapping on the night black metal. Reaching a small clearing, Cillian pointed to a cave, ¡°There, that¡¯s where I saw them go in,¡± he said to them. The cave opening was wider than Jeanne had seen before, stalactites jutted from the cave¡¯s ceiling with long and jagged stalagmites pushing up from the floor. Forming a visage of a monstrous maw opening up to engulf any who entered. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°He went in there?¡± Cid asked. Cillian shook his head. ¡°Yes, saw him walk in and everything.¡± Jeanne noticed his breathing had begun to quicken as sweat now poured from his brow. ¡°Everything well?¡± Silvius asked, ¡°you seem to be perspiring rather heavy.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s just the wind,¡± Cillian said. ¡°There¡¯s no wind blowing,¡± Maeryn said, beginning to raise her bow and arrow towards Cillian. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m telling the truth. This isn¡¯t a trap,¡± Cillian insisted. ¡°No one said it was,¡± said Benkin, unsheathing his blade. ¡°This ¡­ this isn¡¯t what it looks like,¡± Cillian insisted. ¡°Then what is it,¡± demanded Kveldulf. ¡°Please,¡± said Jeanne, lightly smacking the head of her hammer into the palm of her free hand, ¡°do enlighten us.¡± Cillian looked back and forth, breathing heavy and slowly stepping away from them. ¡°You have to believe me, I didn¡¯t want to do this!¡± ¡°Do what!¡± Cid ordered. A high screech came from the cave, the echo reverberating from the walls inside, causing everyone to turn towards the noise. ¡°The fuck was that?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°I think we need to leave,¡± Benkin said to the others, training the tip of his blade towards the cave. ¡°Agreed,¡± Cid replied, ¡°we¡¯re leaving, now.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Cillian said, grabbing Cid. Cid, tried wresting the elf from him but before he could, the terrible cry came from the cave once more, and a lone figure crawled out of the mouth of the opening. The creature was thin, with long arms and legs for limbs, covered in dirtied grey feathers over the exposed skin. The feet were blackened with soot and grime, while the fingers were caked with hues of red and brown. On its back were wings with feathers in the colors of coals, ash, earth. A crown of plumages dressed its head which carried the form of a bird more than a person. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a hard no for me, thank you very much!¡± said Hypatia as the creature let out a blood chilling scream and lunged at them. Part TBD - Ambush! ¡°Weapons out!¡± Cid ordered as he pushed Cillian off him. The creature landed a short distance from them, standing on its feet and roaring at them. Benkin slashed at the creature, landing two strikes that cut into its fleshed. It let out a cry of pain as it swung wildly at the warrior. The others spread out and took their weapons out. Maeryn landed two arrows into the creature¡¯s torso as Cid landed several hits before the creature lashed out at him. Cid barely missed the attack as the creature turned its hateful gaze towards Maeryn. From its mouth it shot out a long tongue, forked and spiked towards the archer. Maeryn tried to dodge but was struck in the shoulder, yelling in pain as the creature began dragging her towards it. Silvius ran over and pulled out the organ from Maeryn. ¡°What is this thing?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s a striga,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°it¡¯s undead, unfriendly, and hates fire.¡± ¡°I can do fire!¡± said Jeanne as she summoned a fireball. She threw the projectile towards the striga who dodged the attack, Cid having to roll out to avoid being hit. ¡°I¡¯d like my fur singed, please,¡± he said to Jeanne. ¡°I am trying!¡± she replied. Hypatia spun her blades beside her, causing the striga to shake and hiss before pressing its hands together and shrieking in pain. Gabriel lunged forward and sunk the tip of her spear into the striga¡¯s stomach cause blood to begin seeping out of its mouth as it snapped at her. Kveldulf cleaved the striga from its shoulder and into its chest and struck its side with such force it knocked the creature down. Leonidas summoned a fireball himself and threw it towards the creature, setting it on fire, the feathers beginning to burn away as it swung wildly at anyone nearby. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Benkin struck the striga along its back with his blade. Maeryn, struggling with her bow to steady her aim, landed two arrows into the creature¡¯s neck and mouth. Before it could lash out, Cid struck its head with his blade. The striga slashed at his stomach and pierced his stomach with its tongue as a crossbolt struck the fiend in the middle of its forehead. It landed to the ground with a thud as the others raced to their leader. ¡°Cid!¡± Kveldulf yelled as he reached his friend. ¡°I think it¡¯s not bad,¡± Cid said. Leonidas quickly summoned a red transparent circle with a crimson stone and looked through it intently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look bad, but I need to remove it now.¡± Jeanne turned to find Cillian slowly trying to make his escape. ¡°Get back here!¡± she shouted. She bolted after the man, who dodged her as she tried to tackle him. But before he could disappear into the woods a crossbolt struck his shoulder and he landed to the ground, grabbing his wound, and crying in pain. Jeanne got to her feet, her blood racing and all thoughts were of what horrors she could put the man through. She walked over and rolled the elf over and grabbed the bleeding wound tightly, causing the man to scream. ¡°What was that all about, you son of a whore!¡± ¡°Please, I didn¡¯t know that thing was there,¡± Cillian pleaded. Jeanne squeezed harder. ¡°Bullshit, you didn¡¯t know!¡± Kveldulf came over, a knife out and holding it over to the elf¡¯s eye. ¡°You¡¯d better talk talking before I start cutting.¡± ¡°I ¡­ I had to,¡± Cillian said to them. ¡°Why!¡± Jeanne demanded. ¡°He has my boy!¡± Cillian confessed. Part TBD - Complications ¡°What?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°He came day before yesterday, he asked me if I knew backroads around here. A few people like to take them to get around the big roads what with all the fighting, so I didn¡¯t think anything of it. So I told him me and I boy both knew them, he then asked if I knew where this cave was, which I did and he said to find a group of mercenaries and lead them there. I asked him why and he said that if I didn¡¯t he¡¯d kill me and my son. I didn¡¯t know what to do, so I said I would.¡± ¡°What about your son?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°He took him to the southern path, said he had to meet some people there.¡± Both Kveldulf and Jeanne exchanged glances as Jeanne felt a shiver crawl up her spine. ¡°Oh no,¡± she whispered. She turned back to the others. ¡°Doc! How¡¯s Cid? We need to move!¡± ¡°We got the tongue out, finally, but he¡¯s going to need some time to rest for the wounds to heal,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Cid asked in a strained voice. ¡°You need to ¡­¡± Leonidas said before Cid interrupted him. ¡°I am still in charge of this outfit, doctor,¡± Cid said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°This was a diversion,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°He¡¯s going after Cyneswith and the others,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°All right,¡± said Cid. ¡°Doctor, I think you and I can handle the manor while the rest go after them.¡± ¡°Right,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Let¡¯s get you up then.¡± ¡°Good luck,¡± Jeanne said to them. ¡°Same to you¡¯ll,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I think you¡¯ll need it more than we will.¡± ¡°What about him?¡± Benkin asked, training the tip of his long sword towards Cillian. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Bring him with us,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°He wants us to find his boy, he¡¯ll help us move through the lands faster.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll need to be patched up first,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°Get him mobile, then we head out,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°You think that might be ¡­¡± Silvius asked before Jeanne cut him off. ¡°He led us into a trap and our leader is seriously wounded. I¡¯d want to do worse, but we don¡¯t have time for the fun stuff. Doc, get him walking and let¡¯s move!¡± ¡°Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf said, putting his hand on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood, Kel,¡± Jeanne snapped. ¡°And we can¡¯t afford him not moving,¡± Kveldulf. ¡°I want to cleave the man into two, but right now we have other matter to prioritize.¡± Jeanne snarled, turning to Leonidas and said, ¡°Just get moving, then get Cid back to that mansion.¡± Jeanne turned her gaze into the dark forest, great shadows casting their shade, forcing out the light in this kingdom of eternal night. From within she could see a figure standing tall. A familiar silhouette looking out from the cloak of shadows towards her. She could feel a growing sense of remorse, her fist tightening and lips pressed together. ¡°What would you have me do?¡± she whispered softly. What if it was Sabine? She heard within her thoughts. Her muscles began to loosen, her hand rubbing her forehead as she turned to Leonidas and said, ¡°Make sure he doesn¡¯t have any major health concerns,¡± feeling a slight heaviness in her stomach. She turned back to the forest, ¡°Happy?¡± she mouthed. Remember, she heard the voice speak, such things rarely linger in the realm of black and white, much reside in the kingdom of the grey. Jeanne half closed her eyes. ¡°And now we¡¯re getting philosophical, outstanding.¡± ¡°You say something?¡± Benkin asked her. Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Just thinking out loud, sorry.¡± ¡°Well, can¡¯t say I¡¯m a stranger to that trend.¡± ¡°That helps a little,¡± Jeanne said, turning to the doctor. ¡°How much longer before he¡¯s mobile?¡± ¡°Oh, a few more stitches to close the wound up and he should be good as new,¡± said Leonidas. ¡°Very good,¡± said Kveldulf, ¡°the sooner we¡¯re on the march, the better.¡± ¡°How long is it going to take us to get across this path?¡± Maeryn asked Cillian. ¡°About half a day if we¡¯re lucky,¡± Cillian said, wincing for a moment as the doctor back bandaging up the wound. ¡°And the bastard is probably that far ahead already,¡± Benkin said. ¡°He still might be nursing that wound Jeanne gave him,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°The man did have a hole blown into his torso.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised he was still standing after that,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Vampyres can take a lot more damage than most people,¡± Gabriel replied. ¡°Comes in handy when things get a little crazy.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not dally anymore than needed,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°You can say that again,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°Try and get better soon, Cid, or I¡¯m gonna turn your fur into violin strings.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Cid said, holding his arm over the wound, grunting as he spoke. ¡°But I make no promises. ¡°I thought that was an insult to a Felidan,¡± Silvius said, sinking his head into his shoulders. ¡°She can say that, you can¡¯t,¡± Cid replied. Silvius shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s a fair one.¡± Part TBD - The Massacre Jeanne stepped first into the clearing and saw one of the bounty hunters lying on the ground dead. His throat ripped out and his torso opened in full. His organs and visceral resting nearby with deep claw marks all over his flesh and innards. In one hand was a sword partially unpulled. ¡°He didn¡¯t even get a slash in,¡± Benkin said, shaking his head. ¡°His friend didn¡¯t even get that far,¡± said Maeryn, looking at the corpse of the other bounty hunter laying nearby. Th other bounty hunter was missing his head and clothing torn to shreds. His weapon was tossed aside into the bushes near the corpse. Guthrum unleashed his wrath onto this poor soul, much of muscles and tendons were barely hanging onto the bones. ¡°By Ordo¡¯s justice,¡± Silvius said softly, ¡°this is simply a butchering.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Cyneswith?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Or her child?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± Benkin said. ¡°Hopefully Guthrum showed them some mercy.¡± ¡°I doubt that man knows the meaning of the word,¡± said Kveldulf. Jeanne turned as she heard Cillian moving around the encampment. ¡°Where¡¯s my boy?¡± he asked with increasing panic. ¡°Where¡¯s my son?¡± Jeanne looked towards Kveldulf who was saying nothing as the others moved around the scene. He caught her glance and gave her a quick shaking of his head before returning to look for the others. ¡°Anyone check the northern edge of the camp?¡± he asked. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that,¡± Gabriel said, moving towards the brush, using the spear head to move the brush out of the way. ¡°You think we should wait to get Cid and Doc?¡± Hypatia asked. Jeanne and Kveldulf shook their heads. ¡°Cid would want us to canvas the place for anything before we head back to grab him. And ¡­ I don¡¯t think the doctor¡¯s skills would do them any good at this point.¡± Gabriel called out to the others. ¡°I found something,¡± she said. Kveldulf went over to Gabriel, and after a long moment, walked out to the others. Cillian took two step back as Kveldulf came up to him. ¡°No,¡± he said sharply as his eyes began watering up. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°No!¡± Cillian said weakly. ¡°No no no no!¡± he pleaded, the last one turning into a cry of pain. As he let out his agony, he screamed, ¡°Kill me! I don¡¯t want to live anymore. Kill me!¡± ¡°Come now,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°We need to find the bastard and get for ¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t bring back my boy!¡± Cillian cried out. ¡°He killed my son! Why in the Shepherd¡¯s name did he do this! Tell me!¡± Kveldulf held Cillian tightly as the man gave into his sorrow while Maeryn lifted her nose into the air and gave two short sniffs. Her eyes widening and a look of horror on her face. ¡°Oh no,¡± she said as she walked off away from the campsite. Jeanne and Benkin saw the elven archer moving towards the edge of the camp and quickly followed her. ¡°Maeryn!¡± Kveldulf called out. The elf said nothing only walking straight to a destination no one else could see. It wasn¡¯t long before Jeanne could see a tree with a giant stain of red and bark broken from the trunk of the tree. There were other bits and pieces she could not recognize at first but with each succeeding step, the uneasy sensation she felt before began to stir into a frenzy within her. Maeryn stopped, her shoulders dropping before she feel to her knees. Kveldulf rushed over, shirking back before he could regain his composure. ¡°What is it?¡± Jeanne asked. Kveldulf turned to her, tears running down his face and his mouth shaking. As he spoke, his voice quivered and a faint as a whisper. ¡°We found the child.¡± Part TBD - Interrogations Jeanne placed the final stone on the four cairns. She stopped trying to hold back the tears well into burying the victims, though she was not the only one to do so. She looked over to Silvius, weeping heavily as Hypatia tried to comfort him, barely keeping herself from giving into her own heartache. Maeryn stood by the edge of the forest, singing a mourning song while Gabriel recited a prayer as she stood watch near the pathway. Benkin sat near the campfire, looking into the pit with an emotionless stare. Jeanne then turned to find Kveldulf standing by the forest¡¯s edge. He was silent, his head hanging down and avoiding eye contact with anyone. She had seen him like this before at the end of a battle, when the slaughter had reached a terrible pitch and they had lost many in their ranks. Even when the other sung songs of mirth and revelry, he would stare off into the distance, unable to speak or move for hours on end. Jeanne wondered what thoughts lingered in his mind as he tried to process what they went through, the horrors they survived. But thought best to leave those questions unanswered. She turned back to the grave of little Denin. The pain of looking at it reminded her of when she first saw the headstone of Sabine¡¯s put up for the first time. Before she could tell herself she was dreaming, this wasn¡¯t real, she could escape the nightmare and everything would be fine. But here was the marker, here was the final piece to undo all those hopes and longings for everything to be all right. To go back to where they were and never think of the new sadness this loss would bring. Jeanne gently placed her hand on Denin¡¯s cairn and walked away. Choking up as she fought to keep herself standing upright. She took several breaths to steady herself, wiping the tears from her eyes. As she looked at the others she turned back to the cairns and single want came to her; revenge. *** The moon softly lit the town with a hue of azure as the stars slowly moved across the night sky. The houses throughout the village held little to no light from the windows as thin streams of smoke rose from homes and into the sky. There was one home in the center of town, larger than the others. Two stories, made of dark wood and a sturdy roof. All but one room was dark, and from the alley where they watched in the shadows, Jeanne could see a lone figure move about in the room. She turned to Cid, resting against a wall as he looked out to the building. ¡°You think she¡¯s in there?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°I¡¯d bet very good money on it, Jeanne,¡± he said. ¡°Are we sure this is a good idea?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°We¡¯ve got enough pressure on our heads already, and this going to make it worse.¡± ¡°Guthrum had to have had someone tell him where Cyneswith and the others were going,¡± Cid replied. ¡°And that could mean she knows where we can finally get him.¡± ¡°But this doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Silvius said. ¡°Neither was what happened to those four at the camp,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And I¡¯m tired of playing this blasted game of cat and mouse.¡± ¡°Silvius does have a point about what this might do,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°We can handle that on when we need to,¡± said Cid, ¡°for now, let¡¯s just try not to get caught. You all know the plan?¡± The Wolves nodded, slowly readying their weapons. ¡°Good, Maer, you and Silvius go and get the door opened. Jeanne, once they have that taken care of, head up to the room, and secure our guest.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll make sure we have a fast way out when we get out,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Excellent,¡± Cid said. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get this done, I don¡¯t want to risk someone walking in on us before we¡¯re done.¡± Silvius, Maeryn and Jeanne moved to the house, calmly moving down the roadway towards the door which was covered by a slight jutting overhang from the second floor. Maeryn knelt down and worked on unlocking the door as Silvius and Jeanne kept watch. With a few swift movements, Maeryn locked the entryway to the home. There was a soft click of the lock coming loose and the door hinges creaked lightly as Maeryn pushed the slab inside. Jeanne signaled for the others to follow. The rest met them at the door, Kveldulf¡¯s boots clomping as he neared. Light stepper, Jeanne gestured to him. Oh ha ha, he gestured back, before shaking his head. Jeanne looked around the first room, covered in darkness, with hardly any light revealing any sign to move about the inside of the building. Hypatia gave two quick clicks of her tongue and pointed to a set of stairs. Cid nodded, gesturing, Let¡¯s move, Ben take point. Benkin nodded, moving up the stairs, each step made with great care before moving up to the next one. As he reached the top landing, he moved down to a room with a sliver of light coming from the bottom threshold. He stopped short of the door and waved the others up to him. Once in position, Cid turned to Jeanne and gave her a single nod. Jeanne took a deep breath and standing at the center of the door, kicking it down with a single strike. As the slab hit the ground, a woman inside the room turned around, gasping and standing up from a chair she was sitting in by a small desk. Jeanne marched into the room, striking the woman in the face and slamming her head against the desk repeatedly as the others entered the chamber. Cid walked to Jeanne and the woman, ¡°Greetings, Judith, I hope we¡¯re not intruding?¡± Part TBD - No Mercy ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Judith demanded. ¡°Do you have any ¨C¡± Jeanne slammed Judith¡¯s head against the desk again. ¡°I¡¯d remember the situation as it is and not how you¡¯re dreaming it.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± Judith asked. ¡°We just dealt with a gift from the good Guthrum and found his work on the bounty hunters you released, a local boy and Cyneswith¡¯s child.¡± ¡°The fuck would I have to do with it?¡± Judith challenged. Jeanne slammed her head against the desk again. ¡°The only people who knew where they were going were us, Cyneswith and the hunters and you. Guthrum tried to kill us, he killed most of the others, and take a guess where that leaves you,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Not a time to be you,¡± Benkin said, pulling out a long knife. Judith saw the others beginning to take out their smaller weapons. ¡°Y-you can¡¯t do this!¡± ¡°Sure we can!¡± Jeanne said. ¡°It¡¯s just one person who can stop it before it starts. I hope you¡¯re as dumb as you look.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t prove anything!¡± Judith shouted. ¡°No, but that¡¯s not a denial,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Who should start first?¡± Maeryn asked. ¡°Doctor? I don¡¯t want to put you on the spot but ¡­¡± Cid said before the doctor stepped forward. ¡°¡­ No worries, I¡¯ve been wanting to do this,¡± Leonidas said, rolling up his sleeves and unsheathing a small knife. ¡°Is there a bucket anywhere?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a chamber pot,¡± Hypatia said. Leonidas walked over, looking inside. He picked it up, while nodding quickly, ¡°this¡¯ll work,¡± he said confidently, ¡°I¡¯ll need her tied to a chair.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Jeanne said, throwing the woman back into the chair and grabbed a sheet from her bed. ¡°Look at this, fancy aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an heirloom from my mother,¡± Judith said, gritting her teeth. ¡°Sure it is,¡± Jeanne said as she ripped it into strips and tied Judith to the chair. ¡°Much obliged,¡± Leonidas said as he knelt down and looked at Judith. ¡°Now I¡¯m not going to lie, what I¡¯m about to do, is going to hurt well beyond the worst you¡¯ve ever felt before. Now we can do this the easy, or not.¡± Judith shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want me to say,¡± Judith replied. ¡°How did Guthrum know where Cyneswith and the others were at?¡± Cid asked as Leonidas placed the chamber pot behind Judith¡¯s chair. Judith looked up to the ceiling. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this,¡± she pleaded, tears running down her cheeks. ¡°That¡¯s a good start,¡± Leonidas said as he walked behind Judith and cut her left hand, placing the chamber pot underneath her hands. As he moved back in front of the woman, he held a hand out, black ooze begin to pour from his skin and his eyes beginning to darken out before disappearing entirely. ¡°Last chance,¡± the doctor said, voice taking on a deep and gravelly quality. ¡°Shepherd help me,¡± Judith cried out weakly. Jeanne felt a tinge in the back of her mind. She turned, expecting to find The Stranger standing in some shadowy part of the room, but found nothing. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Let¡¯s see what one break will do,¡± Leonidas said as with a few movements of his fingers, there was a loud snap and Judith screamed in pain. Gabriel placed her hand on the reeve¡¯s mouth. ¡°No need to frighten the neighbors now, is there?¡± she said. ¡°How did Guthrum know?¡± Cid asked. Gabriel lifted her hand from Judith¡¯s mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you,¡± she said, trying to catch her breath. ¡°Break another,¡± Cid said to Leonidas. Leonidas nodded as he snapped another part of Judith¡¯s arm. Gabriel stifled Judith¡¯s screams, now turning into cries. ¡°How did he find out?¡± Cid demanded. ¡°This is getting a little out of hand,¡± Silvius said, turning away. ¡°How much more are we going to do this?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Until she starts singing,¡± Leonidas said. ¡°How did he know!¡± Judith said nothing, only crying from the pain as she breathed heavy. ¡°Break another,¡± Cid said. ¡°I¡¯ll talk,¡± Judith said breathlessly. Leonidas kept his hand up. Causing the tendrils to keep tightening and Judith to scream, ¡°I¡¯ll talk!¡± louder. ¡°Doctor!¡± Cid called out, but the physician said nothing. Jeanne grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him. ¡°Leonidas!¡± He shook his head, blinking at her before regaining his senses. ¡°What?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°She¡¯s ready to talk now,¡± Jeanne said, pointing to the reeve. ¡°I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk. Just don¡¯t keeping hurting me, please,¡± she said, beginning to break down. Leonidas retracted the dark substance and his eyes returned as he turned to Cid. ¡°I think we¡¯re in business.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Cid said. ¡°So how did Guthrum learn where the group as going?¡± ¡°I told him,¡± Judith said. ¡°He visited here a few hours after you all left and I told him.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°Because his brothers have been paying me to keep an eye on the two while they were in The Meadowlands.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been giving them protection!¡± Jeanne yelled, grabbing Judith¡¯s nightdress by the collar. Benkin pulled Jeanne off of her, ¡°We¡¯re not getting anything out of her if you¡¯re roughing her up.¡± ¡°I was about to say that,¡± Cid followed. ¡°But that is a good thing to discuss. Why have you been giving them protection?¡± ¡°They brothers are both close with Lord Bellem, who is well connected with Empress Adelize. And if I kept them happy, then they would raid the area and they could keep Aethewulf¡¯s supporters.¡± ¡°So you allowed two murders to run wild?¡± Cid retorted. ¡°Two men are a pittance to dozens of bands running throughout the countryside laying waste to everything they see. There¡¯s been rumors of the northern borders being raided by the Albans since this damned thing started with an invasion force not far behind. People look to me for some semblance of safety and I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°And how many of your people have died because of this deal?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Let alone whoever these monsters came across while passing through this region.¡± ¡°Or the towns they¡¯ve burned to the ground in their wake,¡± said Hypatia. ¡°Or are they not a part of your jurisdiction,¡± Silvius said venomously. ¡°What would have done?¡± Judith said, defending herself. ¡°Not what you did,¡± Cid said. ¡°And I¡¯ve had my fair share of blood on my hands. There are towns now empty because of you. Families wiped off the face of this world, because of you. Stories now silent, because of you. And what makes me sick, is you have no sense of remorse for your actions. And if you did, you¡¯d find a hole to throw yourself in to rid us of your stupidity.¡± Judith sat in her chair, unable to speak as her eyes began sinking down to the floor. Cid then stepped closer grabbing her chin with his fingers. ¡°Now, where can we find this Kolville?¡± he asked her. ¡°I don¡¯t know where he is,¡± she said weakly. Cid¡¯s claws began to come out and press against her skin. Her eyes opened widely as she began breathing quickly again. ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth, I swear!¡± His claws began pressing deeper, beginning to draw blood. ¡°Where is he going?¡± ¡°U-up north, I think, to rejoin his brothers.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I think he said something about being needed up there. He didn¡¯t say much on it.¡± Cid released his grip, stood himself up and said to the others. ¡°We have what we came for. Let¡¯s move out.¡± Making their way out Jeanne heard Judith call out. ¡°You¡¯ll pay, and for what? Two pitiful bounty hunters and a half-bred bastard!¡± Jeanne felt the old anger come back with a burning fury. She turned around, marching back into the room. Summoning her stone scales, she slammed a clenched fist against Judith¡¯s face. Several teeth flew out from the reeve¡¯s mouth and onto the floor with blood splattering near them. ¡°His name was Denin. He was an infant who couldn¡¯t even walk yet. And be thankful to the Shepherd I am in a merciful mood, you fucking quim,¡± Jeanne growled, she raised her hand to strike the woman again. From the corner of her eye she saw The Stranger looking at her, his gaze unyielding. Jeanne let out a sharp exhale and lowered her hand, she looked at the bloodied reeve before shaking her head and walking out of the room. ¡°What was that ¡­¡± Leonidas asked before Jeanne cut him off. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± she said bluntly as she walked out of the home. ¡°Jeanne!¡± Leonidas said. Jeanne turned back to Leonidas, tears rolling down her face. ¡°Please, I do not want to talk about it,¡± she said with her voice breaking. Leonidas nodded softly. ¡°All right, let¡¯s ¡­ let¡¯s get back then.¡± Part TBD - Second Thoughts Jeanne sat in front of the flames crackling in the fireplace back at the manor. She sat in a chair, slump forward, staring into the flames silently lost in a maelstrom of woeful thoughts. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting out a heavy sigh, trying not to break down into tears once more. She felt her chest tightening up as she thought back to the small child and the burials earlier in the day. She tried to find some semblance of comfort in the situation, but nothing came to her. There was the faint thought of finding Guthrum and putting him down, but what good would it do? He may not have the chance to find and harm another soul, but the child was dead. His own child, his flesh and blood. He murdered the child with a barbarity she had only seen at the end of sieges when the besiegers laid waste to the city, putting many to the sword without a thought to those harmed. Jeanne thought back those years, wondered when her blade and wrath struck down those whose fates were unjustly wrought. Perhaps this was some form of justice being brought out on her, to see the pain she inflicted on others, and feel their pain intimately. Maybe this was some penance for a sin she had committed so long ago that the faintest of memories had long since gone away. Looking out of the window she saw the night sky still covering the world and rose from her seat to get some air. The echoes of her footsteps bounced lightly off the walls as she made her way down. Reaching the entrance of the manor, she leaned back against the doorframe. Looking up at the stars and wonder if Sabine could see any of this? Was she free from the all this turmoil and woes, soaring the heavens above? Or was she stuck here, unable to leave the bounds of this world even now? Then there was Denin. She had known the boy for only a short while. Hardly more than a few hours. Yet thinking of him tore at his heart more than the horrors of the worst battles she had survived. She began choking up remember how the poor thing was found in the forest, brained against a tree and left alone, without any marker to his name. Even the other three were grouped together when they fell. ¡°Rough night,¡± she heard The Stranger say to her, leaning against the other side of the doorframe. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡± ¡°Your doctor friend has an interesting way of getting information.¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably vomiting up a lung from doing it, too.¡± ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°With Judith?¡± The Stranger nodded. ¡°Do you think it was right?¡± Jeanne shrugged. ¡°Right now, I honestly don¡¯t know. Part of me thinks it was. Part of me is wondering how did we come to needing torture to get this done.¡± ¡°I thought you knew a spell to compel someone to speak the truth?¡± The Stranger asked. ¡°It helps when the person doesn¡¯t know that one¡¯s been cast. And ¡­ I wanted her to hurt. I wanted her to hurt badly.¡± ¡°And you think that¡¯s how you achieve justice for the victims? By breaking someone who think is holding such information?¡± ¡°If you want me to go into some philosophical discourse about this, I¡¯m in no mood. That woman had information we needed, and ever since we¡¯ve dealt with her she was giving us some trouble or another. Was there a nice way to get that information, maybe. Did we have the luxury of time to get it, no. Did I enjoy watching her squirm and finally get what she had coming, you can bet your ass I did. She let two monster ravage the countryside and didn¡¯t give a shit about the victims. Where¡¯s the justice for them! Where¡¯s the justice for the people who she could¡¯ve save? And even if we get Guthrum, she¡¯ll never see a day before whoever becomes the king here to answer for what she did. Would it be better for it to be done through the courts, maybe, I¡¯m not a damned lawyer. But as far as I¡¯m concerned, the woman got what she deserved.¡± The Stranger pulled back at the response. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back, Lady Marais.¡± ¡°I am just sick of these people letting brigands do their worst and not pay some price for their actions. A child is dead. Where¡¯s the justice for him? That woman showed her care for him, looking at him as nothing more than a half-bred dog. Now ¡­ now he¡¯s gone before he had a chance to experience the world. Where¡¯s the justice in that?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m surprised you were as restrained as you were with the reeve.¡± ¡°Really, restrained?¡± ¡°I thought you would¡¯ve ended the reeve after her comment.¡± Jeanne shook her head. ¡°Damn I was tempted, and that¡¯s putting it lightly.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you, then?¡± ¡°Because it wouldn¡¯t have brought Denin or the others back. It wouldn¡¯t have done anything to help us in what we¡¯re doing. And ¡­ this isn¡¯t about me anymore. This is about stopping these curs now, before anyone else winds up going through this. And as much as I wanted to put that bitch in the dirt. Killing her won¡¯t end this. But tonight might make her see past her arrogance and perhaps do her damn job.¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s going to have more than a few things to consider when the morning comes,¡± The Stranger said, moving away from the doorframe and towards the road. ¡°Be weary, good Marais. The road ahead will be fraught with many more challenges before you¡¯re done here. Many difficult choices to make, that you will need to live with, for good or ill.¡± ¡°I figured this mess is far from over,¡± Jeanne said looking out into the woods. ¡°Oh, this isn¡¯t even the beginning of the deluge. And many will see a spring of blood before the coming winter. But as a man I knew once said, ¡®The cold born sorrow will melt in the warm sun, if one does not forsaken themselves from the light.¡¯¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± Jeanne asked, letting out a heavy sigh before looking up, seeing The Stranger had vanished. ¡°I need to stop being surprised by that,¡± she said to herself. Part TBD - More Woe On the third day of their march northwards, The Wolves moved down a winding road, cutting its way through wide fields of grasslands. With sprinklings of trees here and there to break the softly waving rolls of the landscape. Crossing horizon after horizon, the land itself rising and falling in a gentle sway. Jeanne felt a sense of relief to have some time to simply exert the growing anxiety from something other than trying to kill something killing to kill her or her friends. It was also a welcomed change to look on the land of her birth and feel a sense of pride in herself. Perhaps the years when such attachments would have taken their fuller form were arrested when she fled for other shores. But while she was off in other kingdoms, fighting for barons, dukes, kings, pretenders, or anyone with the deep pockets to pay for sell-swords for hire, she had never felt a full longing to come home. Not like Kveldulf, who pined to return to Orumus and settled the old score with his house. There were the occasional moment of wanting, but never to the point of desire to return home. For Jeanne, it was more of a flight of fancy than a full yearning. However, looking out in these fields, she felt a change in her perspective. Being with the people of The Meadowlands, she felt a connection with the people. She felt as if this was something she was a part of. Not as merely where her parents sired and her mother bore her, but as if the land and those living here were a part of an extended family. And while not all who are called kin are looked on in admiration, it was hard for her not to feel some bond with them. Looking out at the tall lades of green grass she felt as if she was a part of this region. As if the affairs of this realm meant more than a trivial annoyance to her current situation. There was a weight to it beyond any measurement in this world. And though she did not know what influence she could have in bringing some semblance of peace back to these lands, she wished she could do it. To leave these shores knowing hundred, maybe thousands of those still tasting life for the first time, or whose stories had not begun, could never know the hardships that once existed and could simply enjoy the thrills of the world without a care of ruin the wonderous experience. This gave her a renewal of strength as they moved down the road to find this Kolville and end his wanton violence without a chance of him coming back. ¡°You seem to be in a better mood,¡± she heard Leonidas say to her. ¡°I think I¡¯ve had time to consider a few things.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good,¡± Leonidas smiling at her. ¡°I know things have been getting hard the last few days.¡± Jeanne nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been good to have a few days of just the simple sights and sounds of nature.¡± ¡°It was a mercy from Sol back in the Outlands when Parfros¡¯s madness was at an all time high.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think that¡¯d whole place would be his realm.¡± ¡°I think it is, if I¡¯m going to be honest.¡± ¡°But it is nice to just relax.¡± ¡°Yeah, get a moment to catch your breath and just process everything.¡± Leonidas and Jeanne heard Benkin, who was on point, call out to the others, ¡°Someone coming, a rider.¡± Cid gestured, Hands at the ready. Jeanne rested her hand on the head of her hammer as she saw a man riding his horse at a trot making his way to them. The man spotted The Wolves on the road and lifted his hand to them, a warm smile on his face. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Why hello!¡± he said to them. ¡°Shepherd¡¯s peace be with you.¡± ¡°And with you,¡± Benkin said. ¡°I hope we¡¯re not interrupting.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± the man said. ¡°I was making my way to Coltonshire, had some business with some acquaintances to take care of. But I¡¯m usually eager for a good ride when I can get it.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°You lot looking to get somewhere particular?¡± ¡°We¡¯re looking for someone, actually,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Oh! Bounty hunters?¡± the man asked, lifting an eyebrow. ¡°When it¡¯s needed, we¡¯re freelancers, The Wolf Company specifically,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯m Cid, and these are the rest of my cadre.¡± The rest bowing their heads forward to the rider. The rider returned the gesture. ¡°Good to meet you all. Silas Tomps, is my name. Don¡¯t meet a lot of friendly lancers around these parts.¡± ¡°We try to maintain a certain professionalism as much as we can.¡± ¡°You do,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Shush,¡± Cid followed. ¡°Interesting crew you have,¡± Silas said, chuckling. ¡°Helps keep the moments of boredom at bay.¡± ¡°Fair, fair.¡± ¡°Do you live around these parts?¡± Hypatia asked. ¡°Aye, I do,¡± Silas said, pointing to a small pillar of smoke rising out of the trees. ¡°Got a little homestead in the woods with my wife and newborn babe.¡± All The Wolves trained their gaze at the man with concern, causing him to shirk back in his saddle. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked them. ¡°Just been a few hard days,¡± Cid said. ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t happened to have come across anyone wandering down this path recently, have you?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been seeing a few people on the road as of late. A bit of an increase, what with the war and all. But I might¡¯ve seen the person you¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in his thirties, pale skin, red eyes, and a rather intense temperament,¡± Cid said. ¡°Well, we did have a pale fellow come up to our homestead and had him rest up in the barn loft with our other guest, was that¡ª¡±. Before Silas could finish, The Wolves raced down the path and towards the homestead. Jeanne could hear Silas calling out to them before she could him turn his horse around. As he caught up with the others, he called out, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You might have one of the Kolvilles at your house!¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Shepherd no!¡± Silas said before he had his horse go into a full gallop towards his home. Jeanne saw Silas outpace them before the small single-story homestead and barn came into sight. Silas dismounted his horse and ran inside, screaming ¡°Lisabe! Lisabe! No!¡± Benkin, Hypatia, Kveldulf and Cid went into the homestead while Jeanne and the rest went into the barn. Inside the animals were rearing up on their hind legs, bellowing in fear from where they were tied and cooped in the building. As Jeanne moved to the back of the barn, she found one of the sheep in a stall in a state of panic as a dead male dwarf laid there with it. ¡°I found the guest,¡± Jeanne said to the others. Leonidas and Gabriel walked up to the stall and looked inside. ¡°Oh Caeltru, poor bastard was brained,¡± said the doctor. ¡°And in one fell swoop, too,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°Let¡¯s go form a perimeter, then I¡¯ll go see what happened in the house,¡± Jeanne said, leading them out of the barn. Once they were positioned around the property, Jeanne went inside to see Cid placing a sheet over the body of Silas¡¯s wife, Silas sitting next to her, sobbing uncontrollably. Jeanne turned to see Kveldulf rolling a bloodied blanket on something inside a baby¡¯s crib. She walked up to her friend. ¡°Tell me he didn¡¯t,¡± she said. Kveldulf took a long breath before saying, ¡°He slit both their throats,¡± Kveldulf said to her. ¡°This is setting out of hand,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s not even trying to cover his tracks before the next victim.¡± ¡°If he was here when Silas left, do you think he¡¯s nearby?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, why?¡± Kveldulf asked. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Something within my particular realm of dumb decision,¡± Jeanne said as she left the farmhouse. Walking outside she barked to the others, ¡°Everyone get inside.¡± ¡°What?¡± Gabriel said, turning back to Jeanne. ¡°I said get inside,¡± Jeanne replied with a cold glare. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Ending this,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°And I don¡¯t want anyone getting in the middle of this.¡± ¡°Jeanne!¡± said Leonidas. Jeanne turned to Leonidas. ¡°If he¡¯s near, I know what¡¯ll bring his sordid hide out here.¡± Leonidas looked at Jeanne with increasing concern. ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°You sure?¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Pretty sure,¡± she replied. Leonidas frowned before walking back inside. Part TBD - The Duel ¡°Guthrum!¡± Jeanne bellowed. ¡°I know you¡¯re out there. I know you can hear me. I know that excuse of a brain can¡¯t remember your left foot from the shit pile you¡¯d mistake for one of your stolen wives. So let me remind you who I am. I am Jeanne Marais! I come from Teeg-Upon-Avon. Your brother, Ealric, murdered my sister. So I repaid him that kindness. You want to know how I killed him? You want to know how I made him regret your mother shitting him into existence? ¡°I waited for him on that path you all took to get to the whorehouse at Inwuda, the one winding down the Dawlu Creek. He was taking a piss on the side of the road when I came up and knocked him out with a tree branch, smashed his shoulders and knees so he couldn¡¯t go anywhere even if he wanted. I took him to a cave and when he came to, demanded to know where he was and who was I to attack him. Like the pompous pigdog he was. ¡°He still thought your father¡¯s name meant anything to me when he said there was nothing I could do to convict him in court. Then, when I broke the knife out, he learned ¡­ he learned there wasn¡¯t going to be a day in court for him. I started cutting into him, just to see where it¡¯d hurt the worst before I really had fun. And let me tell you. He would squeal like a pig when got the blade in just the right spot. ¡°And he was hitting some beautiful notes when I took his manhood, and made him eat it ¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fucking kill you!¡± Guthrum roared as he rushed out of the bushes towards Jeanne. She dodged out of the way, the others racing out with the weapons unsheathed. ¡°Stay out of this!¡± Jeanne roared, ¡°This one¡¯s mine.¡± Guthrum, roaring with murderous fury rushed towards Jeanne, he slashed at her chest. She dodged and swung her hammer towards his head. He ducked beneath the hammer and tried to hit her torso. She stepped off to the side, landing a blow against the vampire¡¯s shoulder. She could see his eyes try to steady on her as he swung he gangly clawed at towards her face. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Moving back, she loosed a fireball into his face. Guthrum screaming in pain as he stepped back. The skin burning away to reveal the rotting flesh underneath. Another swipe saw his claws grip through her gambeson and into her flesh. Jeanne screamed before pressing her hand against his chest and igniting fireball into his chest, hurling them both back and onto the ground. Guthrum rose to his feet first, leaping into the air to pounce on Jeanne. She rolled out of the way, training the head of her hammer towards the vampire and unleashed a terrible beam of light unto his body. Seering more of his wretched flesh away. He unleashed a deafening shriek, summoning a dark cloud to rise from the trees and beginning to bolt towards Jeanne. Within less than a thought, she found herself surrounded by a swarm of bats, biting through her armor and into her skin. As the swarm became thicker, Jeanne cleared her mind and unleashed a storm of lightening, annihilating the swarm and shocking Guthrum, the smoke rising from his now worn form. Before she could react, he slammed against her face with his fists clasped together. She struck his temple, with a thunderous crack snapping loudly as she made contact. He returned the gesture in kind with another strike of his own. Guthrum tried to land another strike but Jeanne caught his arm mid-swing and headbutted his nose, causing him to fall onto the ground. As he tried to steady himself he looked up to see her standing above him. ¡°Any last words?¡± she asked, gripping her weapon tightly. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in the fucking Hellhound¡¯s Den,¡± he said, spitting blood to her feet. ¡°Not much of an insult to a member of Wolf company, but you never were a bright one,¡± she said as she raised her weapon on high. The clouds began swirling above her, darkening and thundering and crackling with veins of lightening. Guthrum¡¯s eyes widened and mouth dropped as he saw the heavens turn into night before sending a constant electric column of light to Jeanne¡¯s weapons. ¡°For Denin!¡± she roared as she swung her hammer down. The last thing she heard was the terrified scream of Guthrum before she was enveloped by light. Part TBD - Recovery As her vision returned she saw Leonidas kneeling next to her. ¡°You with us Jeanne?¡± he asked her. ¡°Still ¡­ still figuring that out, honestly,¡± she said with a slur. She opened and closed her eyes independent from the other. She saw Cid lean over her, blocking out some of the sun. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said slowly. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± he said, ¡°that was quite a show you put on.¡± ¡°Was that a compliment or sarcasm? I having a hard time telling right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say more former than the latter in this case.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Can you stand?¡± ¡°I could use some help,¡± she said, straining as she tried lifting herself from the ground. Both Leonidas and Cid helped Jeanne to her feet, and after a moment of swaying she could steady herself enough to stand on her own. She turned to a large scorch mark that had burned the ground nearby. ¡°Did I do that?¡± she asked hesitantly. ¡°You did,¡± Cid answered. ¡°And turned Guthrum into a crisp corpse.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ wow,¡± she said. ¡°You feeling all right?¡± Leonidas asked. ¡°Normally you¡¯re more eager about this.¡± ¡°I just relived a lot of things I¡¯d rather not remember, Doc,¡± she said. ¡°And I wasn¡¯t wanting any of you to know how that went down.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than fair enough,¡± Leonidas replied. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Jeanne asked looking around. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Kel, Ben, and Gabriel are helping Silas bury his family and the dwarf while the others are getting the barn ready for us to rest for the night,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Silas is letting us rest here?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°He figured it¡¯s the least he can do for us getting the man who killed his family,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯ll thank the Shepherd for small favors,¡± Jeanne said as she gradually made her way to the barn. When it was Jeanne¡¯s turn at watch for the night, she sat with her back leaning against the barn door. She looked up at the silver moon as it shone brighter than it had in many a night since she and the others had been hunting the two brothers down. She heard the soft footsteps approaching her, already recognizing who it was before she looked up. The Stranger sat next to her, leaning his crooked staff on his left shoulder. ¡°That was an interesting way to improvise getting him to reveal his location.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m so thrilled,¡± Jeanne said unenthusiastically. ¡°You don¡¯t think so?¡± ¡°I wanted to finish this damned exercise in masochism. I wasn¡¯t trying to put myself at the center of the situation.¡± ¡°One could get the impression you were?¡± ¡°None of the others killed his youngest brother. And those who know what I did, didn¡¯t know the details.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sound proud with what you did.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she said shamefully. ¡°Most would find pride in punishing their sister¡¯s killer.¡± ¡°I used to think that too. But it didn¡¯t really make much of a difference. He was dead, yes, but it didn¡¯t bring Sabine back, it didn¡¯t get rid of the other Kolvilles. It didn¡¯t stop whatever mess turned out coming out to bring this land into the chaos it¡¯s in now. It¡¯s like it didn¡¯t do anything but give me a bloodlust that wasn¡¯t mine to take. And now all I feel is shame. Just ¡­ shame.¡± ¡°Why shame?¡± ¡°Because I know Sabine would never speak to me again if she knew what I had done. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the others started treating me the same after what they heard.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so hard on yourself, though I think you learned something important.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Though many would see the two as mostly one and the same. There is a fine, but distinct line between justice and vengeance.¡± ¡°And how does that relate to me?¡± ¡°Because you took care of the two brothers for what they did to others, not you. There was no personal aspect at play, though there used to be. No vindictiveness, no subjective bias. They¡¯ve been attacking other people, and they needed to be stopped. Simple as that. And understanding that difference is crucial for what you will need to face.¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s good to know,¡± Jeanne said. She turned to see The Stranger gone from where he was sitting. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I figured.¡± Part TBD - Finding Light Jeanne woke up from her makeshift bed to see Kel, Ben, Sil, Maer, and Gab sitting by the fire as Cid, Hy, and Doc were going over a map. Jeanne walked over to the campfire, the others seeing her walk up and waving to her. ¡°Hey Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf said, ¡°good to see you¡¯re up. Sleep well?¡± ¡°As well as you¡¯d expect,¡± she said, rubbing the back of her head. ¡°We figured you¡¯d need some extra sleep after that fight yesterday,¡± Silvius said, handing her a plate of fired bacon and eggs. Jeann took the plate and started eating the contents. ¡°Thanks, how is ¡­ everyone doing?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been feeling better, knowing that the two vampires we¡¯ve been hunting are finally taken care of,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°It¡¯s been nice not to wake up in the middle of the night not knowing if someone was sneaking up into the camp to kill us in our sleep,¡± said Benkin. ¡°You can say that again,¡± said Maeryn. ¡°I could but I forgot what I said,¡± Benkin replied. ¡°Of course, you did,¡± Maeryn replied, shaking her head. ¡°So ¡­,¡± Jeanne hesitantly, ¡°What did you all talk about?¡± ¡°Well we¡¯ve been mostly debating about the air speed velocity of bird to carry coconuts to this part of the world,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°Really?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Not really,¡± Kveldulf replied, ¡°We¡¯ve mostly been enjoying a nice quiet breakfast.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said, her cheeks beginning to feel warm as she sat down and ate her breakfast. ¡°Are ¡­ you¡¯re concerned about what went down yesterday, aren¡¯t you?¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°I mean, I said a lot of stuff before Guthrum finally decided to step out and do something,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°How much of it was true?¡± Silvius asked. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t get a chance to finish. There was a lot more I did to him before he finally ¡­ expired,¡± Jeanne said. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say I would have been as merciful if it had been any of my relatives,¡± said Silvius, ¡°Though I don¡¯t think I would¡¯ve gone as intense as you had, but that¡¯s just me.¡± ¡°We know I feel about family,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°And I¡¯ve said what I did to the people who took my sister,¡± said Gabriel. ¡°I threatened a man who asked my sister to a walk in a city garden,¡± said Maeryn. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Really?¡± asked Silvius. ¡°I just wanted to make sure boundaries were respected,¡± Maeryn replied. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± said Silvius. ¡°But we¡¯ve known you long enough,¡± said Maeryn, ¡°to know why you did what you did.¡± ¡°How long did it take you to get to this conclusion?¡± Jeanne asked. ¡°Jeanne,¡± Kveldulf said candidly, ¡°this conversation that we¡¯re having right now, lasted than the conversation we had about yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jeanne said surprised. ¡°That was a fast one.¡± ¡°Like we said, we¡¯ve known you for a while, we know about what happened to your sister. And it¡¯d be hypocritical if we were judging you,¡± said Kveldulf. Jeanne, put her plater of food aside and walked up to Kveldulf and without a word embraced him tightly. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, choking up as Kveldulf returned the embrace. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Kveldulf said, patting her back comfortingly. Cid, Leonidas, and Hypatia walked up to the campfire, ¡°Is everything all right here?¡± Cid asked. ¡°Jeanne is getting some support,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Ah,¡± Cid replied. ¡°Jeanne,¡± said Leonidas, ¡°you want to go for a quick walk while Cid figures out our next move?¡± ¡°I thought we need ¡­,¡± Hypatia began to say before Cid calmly put his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Oh ¡­ oh ¡­ got it,¡± she said nodding quickly. ¡°So what is our plan of attack?¡± Benkin asked. ¡°First, we need to locate where the rest of the wives are at,¡± said Cid, ¡°and I think getting them to a safe location would be a top priority.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯ll be hard to find?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± Cid replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if they are camped in any cave system nearby, or by some camp out there in the woods.¡± Silas walked up, with two buckets of water in each hand. ¡°The man who call Guthrum said he was resting in a gave a couple of miles west of here, called the Devil¡¯s Maw. If he had anyone waiting for him, I¡¯d say it was there.¡± ¡°We are much obliged for the help,¡± Cid said to Silas, ¡°given everything that has happened.¡± ¡°My heart aches as I cannot begin to find the proper words, but if I can keep another soul from suffering the same fate as myself and my family, I will do what I can,¡± Silas said with a trembling voice. Jeanne walked over to Silas and without saying a word gave him a comforting hug. The man, beginning to tremble, slowly embraced Jeanne and began to weep without reservation for his terrible loss. By midday, The Wolves had reached a large cave opening situated into the side of a tall rock wall. It was as monstrous as the last two they had come upon, but they still had their weapons already prepared to engage any threat their way. Kveldulf, neared the opening and called out, ¡°Hello! Is there anyone there?¡± They were met with a silent pause. ¡°If there¡¯s anyone in there, we¡¯ve come to get you out,¡± Kveldulf called out once more. Still they were met with an uneasy silence. ¡°Guthrum is dead,¡± Cid followed. ¡°He can¡¯t do anything to you anymore.¡± Maeryn leaned forward with her eyes squinting. ¡°I think someone¡¯s coming out.¡± Slowly a figure emerged from the cave, a lone woman. Her fists clutching over her chest before The Wolves could recognize her. ¡°Oh gods, that Cyneswith,¡± said Silvius. ¡°Come on,¡± said Cid, ¡°let¡¯s get them out of there.¡± As they moved towards the cave, three other women and a half dozen children emerged from the open. Many holding each other tightly and looking at the mercenaries as if they were moments from being put to the sword. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± said Cid, ¡°we¡¯re taking you away from here.¡± ¡°Is it true?¡± Cyneswith asked them. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Jeanne saw to the task herself,¡± said Benkin. Cyneswith and the others looked to Jeanne, stunned. ¡°You did it?¡± Cyneswith asked. Jeanne nodded. ¡°He¡¯s dead, for good.¡± Cyneswith began shaking and trembling as Jeanne wrapped her cloak around her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you out of here.¡± ¡°He killed my son,¡± Cyneswith said, her voice breaking. ¡°He killed my little Denin.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jeanne said to her, wrapping her arm around Cyneswith¡¯s shoulder, ¡°and we made sure he paid for all of it. But let¡¯s get you all to somewhere safe.¡± ¡°Where are we taking them, anyway?¡± Kveldulf asked. Cid shrugged. ¡°I can only think of one place where they might actually be safe before we go back out on the march.¡± Part TBD - The Bloody Road Goes On As The Wolves arrived to Teeg-Upon Avon, they found the town in the midst of rebuilding many of the structures burnt down during the raid occurring shortly before their last departure. Soldiers manned the walls of the Kolville Keep, many now well armed and armored, regularly patrolling the parapets. Some of the villagers looked at The Wolves with passing interest, return back to the previous tasks without issue. The women and children looked at the flags flying over the castle walls with color draining from their faces. ¡°Cid I think this might not have been the best place to bring them,¡± Jeanne said out of the corner of her mouth. ¡°And I still don¡¯t know where to drop them off, since Inwuda is entirely off limits to us. And we can¡¯t bring them with us for when new get back on the road again.¡± ¡°They had the same symbol on their tunics,¡± Cyneswith said breathlessly. ¡°The lord here is a good and noble man,¡± Cid said. ¡°He¡¯ll be more than eager to help you all get back on your feet.¡± Reaching the main gatehouse, one of the group guards addressed the group of freelancers. ¡°Hail, and be seen, friend,¡± the guard said to them. ¡°Hail,¡± said Cid. ¡°We came to speak with your lord of master.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± the guard said, ¡°he¡¯s been expecting you. I¡¯ll alert him to your arrival.¡± The guard left and quickly returned with the captain, Sigismund in tow. ¡°Ah,¡± the captain said, ¡°good to see you all are still with us.¡± The captain stopped in his speech and examined the members while slowly leaning back. ¡°I see the recent weeks have been rougher than anticipated.¡± ¡°That is putting it lightly,¡± said Cid. ¡°Is Gareth available for an audience?¡± ¡°Absolutely, come, he¡¯s been wanting to speak with you,¡± Sigismund said. ¡°He wanted to speak with the officers directly. And who are the others?¡± ¡°They were those two of Gareth¡¯s brothers kidnapped,¡± Cid said to the captain. ¡°I see, I think my lord will want to speak with one of them at least for the time being.¡± Cid turned to women and children. ¡°Would any be comfortable with speaking with Lord Gareth?¡± Cyneswith took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll come.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready then,¡± said Cid. ¡°Please lead the way.¡± Arriving to the study of the keep, they found Gareth sitting at his desk, several attendants holding parchments and other pieces official documents in their hands. ¡°My lord,¡± Sigismund said, ¡°The Wolves have arrived.¡± Gareth¡¯s head lifted up as he saw Cid and the others. ¡°Indeed they have, a nice surprise with everything going on.¡± ¡°Something we should be aware of?¡± Cid asked, reaching out to the Lord Kolville. Gareth took the Felidan¡¯s forearms in kind and shook it enthusiastically. ¡°In due time, good sir. I can see you all had a long few weeks as of late.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Your brothers, Ollen and Guthrum, were ¡­ not as kind as Stefan,¡± Cid replied. Gareth grabbed a bottle of wine and began pouring four glasses of wine for them all. ¡°I am almost afraid to ask.¡± ¡°The village of Sunbrook was nearly wiped out entirely and Barney was about to suffer the same when we arrived,¡± Kveldulf said, taking the glass of wine. ¡°By the Shepherd,¡± Gareth said, ¡°of course it would be those two. Anything else I should know?¡± ¡°They kidnapped several women to be their wives, and ¡­ sired children with them,¡± Kveldulf said. ¡°This is Cyneswith, one of the women your brothers took with them,¡± said Cid. ¡°I see,¡± said Gareth. He walked over to Cyneswith and reached out to take her hand before pulling it back after a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°I cannot begin to fathom what my brothers did to you and the others, nor will make excuses for their actions. And from the bottom of my heart, I cannot express my sorrow and regret in full. Thus for as long as you wish it, you are more than welcomed to stay here in our village where we will keep you and the rest as safe and comfortable as we possibly can. And I will whatever is in my power to help get you all reunited with whoever you¡¯d consider family.¡± ¡°Your words are most kind,¡± Cyneswith said, placing her hand over Gareth¡¯s. ¡°It is good to know there is someone who still has some honor within this family.¡± ¡°I believe your words are kind as well, but please inform my captain to have you and the others get some food and whatever you need to rest from your journey,¡± Gareth said to Cyneswith, ¡°but if I need to speak with Master Cid and the others on a couple of matters.¡± ¡°I cannot imagine my brothers did not bring them along willingly?¡± Gareth asked remorsefully. ¡°I think we both know the answer that one,¡± Jeanne replied. ¡°Sadly, we do,¡± Gareth said. ¡°Another sin our house will need to live with until the Shepherd decides it is the time to call the flock home.¡± ¡°We ¡­,¡± Cid said, with some hesitation as he placed a canvas bag before Gareth, ¡°we brought the proof of their ¡­ I¡¯d prefer not say.¡± Gareth nodded. ¡°Same. But it is good to know they¡¯re now accounted for. This leaves only Theobald and ¡­ Eustace.¡± ¡°Eustace,¡± Jeanne said, surprised. ¡°I thought that was your father?¡± ¡°Aye, he was named after him, and had things not turned out the way they did, he would the lord of these lands and not I.¡± ¡°Is that why¡¯d he sided with Bellem?¡± Cid asked. ¡°To reclaim his birthright?¡± ¡°Partly that,¡± said Gareth, ¡°and Bellem has been a patron of sorts to my brothers activities prior to the this age of strife.¡± ¡°So ¡­,¡± Cid said, ¡°that is where our road lies.¡± ¡°In more ways than one,¡± Gareth said, holding two parchments with one sealed with the symbol of a centaur firing a bow with clawed lions feet, and the other with the symbol of a tower and a white X on the background. ¡°The war has started.¡± ¡°I thought that was already the case,¡± said Cid. ¡°No,¡± said Gareth, ¡°this was but a temperate period. Neither side preparing for the season unending. Only lords acting on their own accord were the cause of death and desecration of all we hold dear. But now both Aethelwulf and Adelize are summoning those who will flock to their sides. And before the coming of winter, we will be seeing whole fields of this land watered with the blood of our kin, fed with the flesh of the dead, and haunted with the memory of horrors no scribe can put to words to justify what we will do to each other.¡± ¡°Well, this will make our job a lot harder than in there¡¯s are armies in the way,¡± said Kveldulf. ¡°It gets better,¡± said Gareth, supposedly Empress Adelize is bringing the sarcophagus you were looking for with her personal entourage. And Lord Bellem and the last of my brothers are a part of her inner circle.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just wonderful,¡± said Jeanne. ¡°You will certainly have your work cut out for you,¡± Gareth said to them. ¡°But, there is one positive but of news for you all.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cid said, ¡°don¡¯t hold us in suspense. What is it?¡± ¡°Another of a series bounties came in, one particularly reminded of what you told me about your time in Inwuda,¡± Gareth said, handing a folded parchment to Cid. Cid read the paper before handing it to Kveldulf and Jeanne. ¡°Take a look.¡± Jeanne and Kveldulf read the parchment before looking at each other. ¡°Well, no shit,¡± Jeanne said, a smile coming to her face. Series Update Hey guys, So, I know the story has been on hiatus for a while. And I wanted to take a moment to explain why that happened and what to expect for the future. To keep a few long stories short I had some personal things to take care of (thankfully nothing dire, but they did require my focus and attention). And when you''ve drummed out three and a half manuscripts, you can (and I did) hit a massive wall of burnout with aplomb. Thankfully, I had another writing project that I took to, so the writing muscles didn''t go bad, and slowly but surely, the burnout for The Chronicle of The Wolves started to ebb away. The other thing that led to the hiatus was when a friend of mine, who''s also my go-to editor, suggested for significant changes to the story which would require a near rewrite of the first book. And usually when it comes to rewrite I need a bit of time to figure out the logistics on that. Added to that, I wasn''t certain how much the new version would change what I already written. And after some thought I figured it was better to stop working on the fourth book since I honestly didn''t know how much that story would be changed once the two versions were consolidated. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Thankfully, I do have that plot ... plotted out, more or less. And I know where things need to be once we get there. But I do have some good news. And unlike Prof. Farnsworth, this isn''t going to put any of you in harm''s way. I certainly hope not. That being said ... I will be posting the new material for the current work in progress starting March 21, just in time for the start of spring. I figured this would be a nice way to begin the season, and it''ll give me a little more time to build a backlog of material in case I need a break or if something else comes up. The schedule will be just on Fridays at midnight. So set your alarms for then. Now I do have about 31k words already written. So this isn''t a just started project, and I''m going to leave the current stuff up, so you guys can have a nice time comparing the original version to the current stuff. Either way, I hope you guys are all doing well. And I hope you will all enjoy the new stuff about to come out. Until then take care and I''ll see you all soon. Series Update II Hey guys, just a quick update on what''s going before the rewrites go live. So firstly, the rewrites have official hit 40k+ words. Which is allowing a really nice bit of a backlog for when things get going. My hope is to have it at 50 to 60k just so there''s plenty to work with before the rough draft is done. Second, when the rewrites do go up, it''ll probably be in a whole new series. Since I think that''d be the fairest thing to do to not manipulate algorithms and all that. So be on the lookout for that. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Thirdly, I''ll be using bluesky to promote the series when new posts come out and other similar news. If you want to follow that so you don''t miss anything, I''ll post a link in the after note, since I''m not sure I can do that here. But otherwise that''s it. I hope you''re all doing well, and I''m looking forward to showing you guys the new stuff being drummed up for the series. Series Update III Hey guys, so I quick bit of news on what''s happening. Firstly, I am happy to say the new series is given the okay by the powers that be and is on schedule to start on March 21st. Second, we are knocking on the door of 50k and with any luck should be on our way to 60 in no time. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. I want to thank everyone who''s been with this thing since the beginning. I know it''s been a hot minute since the last part was truly out. And I hope you''ll all enjoy the new adventures that wait our intrepid heroes. But that''s about it. And I''m looking forward to seeing you all for the new stuff coming out. Series Update IV Hey guys, so this will be officially the last post for this version of the series. The new one is up and ready for everyone to read and enjoy, and so this will be on permanent hiatus. If you enjoyed the story so far and want to see what will be coming down the pipeline, be sure to check out the new and updated version out now under the same title, so it should be easy to locate in the search. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I really cannot say enough how much your support has been, just getting this far has been something of a surreal experience. Lemme know what you think of the new material, of the changes and things that stayed in from the original version. Make sure to follow the story for you don''t miss new updates and look forward to a new post every Friday from here on out. Cheers!