“Embers Glow In The West

  Concerning reports from merchants who have travelled from the port of New Nautica tell a story of military build up that has yet to be seen in recent times. While the people of the Dusklight Isles are no strangers to troubles, many have said that the more recent build up seemed almost hastily done, as if in anticipation of troubles to come or more dangerously, a potential intervention force. The Affairs correspondent in New Nautica wrote to us that… ”

  - Arterian Affairs, Renewal Week Edition, “Last Continental Affairs Report Of The Year - Fourth Page”

  “So what? We think there’s people still in there? Alive?!” One of Theodore’s knights scoffed indignantly.

  “I trust what Sophie saw. Sir Hermann affirmed her statement too!” Eva bit back.

  “They saw bodies, sister. Bodies impaled. Could’ve been during the siege, maybe survivors from almost a year ago, unless you’re forgetting” Theodore defended his compatriot.

  “Anyone rational would’ve left whenever they could.” Sir Janos added, “And I must add that we’ve no reports of survivors or refugees that have since fled from Eichafen between now and a month or two after your intervention.” He nodded to Sir Taurox.

  “We saved who we can.” The minotaur curtly stated, “But our time was limited and we purged most of the dead before we departed.”

  “And you didn’t think saving the city was important?” Theodore scoffed.

  “It had already mostly fallen by the time we arrived. We rescued what survivor holdouts there were and left.” Taurox calmly explained, “We caught wind of a strangely timed scientific expedition that set out to a Myndiri ruin alongside a sizable contingent of adventurers, soldiers, and staff. It was likely a coincidence, but given the… chaotic nature of the Mistveil, we did not discount the probability of a malevolent artifact accidentally activated which augmented the undead.”

  “Much like the Barren Lands.” Janos muttered under his breath.

  Taurox shot him a glance but the inquisitor brushed it off.

  “And left the city to die.” Theodore snorted.

  “Yes.” Taurox confirmed without hesitation, “After we burned all the bodies that had not been taken and dispatched what undead we could, we left in hopes of preventing a greater calamity from unfolding.”

  “Perhaps more pertinent to the issue at hand.” Janos interrupted the two, “Lady Kastiane.” He turned to face her, “What was the state of the bodies? The traps and anything else of note that your party might’ve seen?”

  Sophie tensed up. An unexpected but also expected question. One that she knew she only had unsatisfying answers one. With great reluctance, she steadied her breath and spoke.

  “No. We left without drawing closer, fearing that it could potentially be a trap or ambush.” She answered with a half truth.

  That seemed to suck the air out of the room. An expected if disappointing response. She could physically sense the disdain that came from some of them, though at least Eva and the saints didn’t seem to mind much.

  “So you didn’t even check them?” Theodore tutted.

  “No, I… I decided that it was better to be informed and ready than to be surprised. Either my party or anyone else's."

  “Great. So we don’t actually know if there are survivors.” He growled.

  A few of the knights and soldiers grumbled their own displeasure at her lackluster information. Even Taurox frowned a little. His brief expression perhaps the most damaging blow to her own esteem.

  “Whatever the case. We must now proceed with the possibility that there are… mayhap not hostile but certainly potentially aggressive survivors.” Eva stepped in.

  “On that we are agreed.” Janos tactfully offered his support.

  “Certainly a potential hindrance. And this trap of theirs, you said it was quite visible?” Sir Taurox muttered.

  “Yes, sir.” Sophie confirmed.

  “Hmm. Undoubtedly more for the undead then. But that does mean we’ll have to be extra cautious for traps. Old or rusted, it matters not. All it takes is for enough of the mechanisms to work and there could be an injury. We must be extra vigilant.”

  A murmur of agreement spread across the room. That much was common sense, at least. If there were those who would spend the effort to set up warnings and a trap. It was likely that they would have more.

  “Should we shift our advance formations then? Perhaps split into two large groups instead of three. Limit the avenues in which we could be surprised by consolidating our forces.” Sir Hermann suggested.

  The minotaur stroked his chin in deep thought before shaking his head.

  “No. I believe each segment still more than capable of handling any threat that might arise. Number, strength, or skill. However, we will need a method to signal each other should we encounter anything beyond the undead. So that we limit the risks of harming survivors… if there are any, and to beware for ambushes if they turn out to be hostile.”

  “We can’t damn well shout now, can we? We’d alert any of the dead that did remain. And everyone else too.”

  Sophie found Sophia glancing at her.

  What? She queried her sister.

  Sophia just pursed her lips in thought before joining into the conversation.

  “We all have mages, don’t we? Or at least magic users of some sort.” Sophia made her presence known.

  “Aye.” Sir Taurox answered as the room looked around, “You think some sort of magic spell?”

  “Something like that.” Sophia nodded.

  Sophie watched as Sophia’s eyes slowly danced towards Mila, the inquisitor letting off a corresponding scowl at the sudden attention that had descended upon her.

  “What?” Mila growled, “I know some simple spells.”

  Sophia grinned as if she just got an idea. “Something simple then. A... spell to the sky, maybe a firebolt to the sky. It’ll be noticeable to people but I doubt the dead have much need to stare at clouds or fog.”

  “It’ll alert any other hostiles.” Sir Hermann stated.

  “So would anything else. This way only people know that err, well, people are here.”

  “A reasonable solution.” Janos clamped down on further protestations, “Lady Rosengart?”

  “Miyuki can do it.” Eva declared proudly.

  The saintess in question quietly bobbed her head but did not speak up.

  Before he even needed to ask, a few of the templars simply shifted their positions. Ostensibly to redistribute their weight after standing around in armor for so long. But whatever subtle message they sent, both Taurox and Janos understood it.

  Mila let out a tired grunt and rolled her eyes but showed no additional displeasure at the notion.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  With their makeshift attempt at a signal established, Sir Taurox seemed to relax a little. The minotaur now instead chooses to redirect everyone’s focus back to the map of Eichafen.

  “Then we’ll carry on the same as planned. Only that we exercise more caution. Does anyone take issue with that?” He asked.

  A few shakes of their heads and the impromptu meeting grew closer to a resolution.

  “Good. Keep your wits about you. We’ll double the watch given the new information that we have. We cannot afford to let our guard down here.”

  More nods and grunts.

  “Advance teams, get some rest. We’ll hold here for the coming night. You know where you're posted. Arrange your own watch orders. Let no formation be surprised should any problems arise.”

  As he searched for any disagreements only to find none. He pushed himself away from the map table, the signal that discussions were over.

  After a few moments of inquiring glances shared between the others, everyone slowly started to disperse.

  Sophie and the Lily Knights made their way to the ‘distribution’ center that had been set up near the sturdiest of the broken houses. Though it was time for their evening meal, there was little excitement shared between them. Due to the mission parameters for this expedition being so limited and defined. The procurement of supplies had been far more bare than even her own journeys with the party, or so she had been informed.

  Good company, therefore, was at a premium for moments like these. Alongside them, Eva and the saints merged themselves into the group. The two squads exchanged a few pleasantries before arriving together to meet with the two templar officers in charge of supplies. There, they were each given a healthy portion of jerky and dried fruits, rations that were quick enough to pack and store for this journey. To their surprise however, it would seem the church had also included a generous helping of dough which in turn led to fresh bread. A strange but much appreciated gesture however simple it might’ve been. With the addition of a few herbs and spices from Eva’s household to be shared amongst them, it proved a far more welcome meal than Sophie had expected out in the Mistveil.

  Small fires in each building also offered the occupants some warmth. A small mercy given the invasive dampness of the Mistveil. For even next to fire, she could feel that cloying stickiness on her skin that permeated from the moisture of the mists. Not even here, were they completely free from the influence of the forest.

  “Ugh, a far cry from the estate.” Sophia grumbled.

  “Hah. Missing it already?” Eva teased.

  “Mmm. I think I know why Sophie was so eager to find her way back to it.”

  “It is certainly more comfortable than the cots we’ve been given.” Suzuki joined them.

  “Agreed.” Emi grinned.

  “Huh? Cots?” Sophia widened her eyes.

  Sophia leaned a little closer, hiding her own amusement in between bites of overly hardy jerky. Flavorful, but tough. Perhaps too tough.

  The saints and Eva had, to none of their surprise, been given the best of accommodations that they could muster in this scenario. Emergency cots and sheets from the church’s own expense, the same that their templars would use for domestic assignments in distant parishes and churches. Sophie and the Lily Knights meanwhile, had to make due with thick quilts, burlap headrests, and the walls of the wagon and its roof as protection.

  “So that’s what they were setting up for here?” Sophia mumbled with exaggerated unhappiness.

  “What did you expect?” Elaria chortled, the bard taking great joy in this new performance.

  “I don’t know.” The girl growled, “Didn’t expect them to bring much else beyond food and supplies.”

  “You can take mine if you want.” Eva offered, “I don’t mind cuddling with Sophie once more, like old times.” She tittered.

  Sophie quickly blushed and looked away as Eva winked at her, shrinking away with half mock, half real embarrassment. With what vigor she could muster, she quickly stuck out her hand in protest like some aggressive pigeon flapping its wings. Her sudden sheepish behavior elicited playful laughter from the others and she found herself smiling along, enjoying the brief moment of levity given the seriousness of the expedition.

  “A tempting offer.” Sophia mused.

  “Hey, hey. Why do I stay in the wagon?” Sophie took the opportunity to joke and save some face.

  “Because you’d never ask in the first place.” Sophia stuck her tongue out.

  "Only because I'm being considerate."

  "Exactly."

  “I wouldn’t mind switching if… if you really wanted.” A diminutive voice perked up from the saints.

  “I think she’s joking, Miyuki. Right?” Suzuki turned towards her.

  “Only a little.” Sophie giggled before noticing a chance.

  For exposing her to a moment of weakness, she glanced over towards Eva, a mischievous grin now likely plastered all over her face. Eva narrowed her eyes before widening as she slowly came to realize what Sophie might say.

  “Soph…”

  “After all,” Sophie continued smugly, “who else will wake milady up on time, or fix her hair up properly for the day, especially with this accursed humidity.” She threw a gentle but reserved growl at the Mistveil.

  “Sophie!” Eva let out an indignant shriek, “I’ll have the rest of you know that it wasn’t a common occurrence.”

  “Sure, sure. That’s why I’d often have to be the one to wake you up if you didn’t want one of the other maids screaming at you. Or to help you get dressed for formal occasions.”

  Emi the saintess let out a delighted little giggle, the girl propping herself atop Suzuki’s shoulder as she leaned in towards the duo.

  “Sensei, is that really true?” The girl asked, batting her eyelids playfully, "I can't imagine."

  Eva threw Sophie a murderous glance before quickly jumping to put out the fire that had now started amongst the saints.

  “Only when I was younger.” She hissed.

  “But did you really need to be dressed by another?” Suzuki asked with a certain measure of obliviousness.

  Though Sophie did recall chatting with her about Eva before. As if to confirm the very thoughts that now ran across her mind, the saintess grinned at her. She’s absolutely riling Eva up, Sophie almost smirked.

  With the room now either in mock outrage or light hearted teasing, Elaria took this moment to channel the exuberant energy towards herself and Raylani. The two quietly but calmly passed around a Carradorian herbal tea with chamomile, linden flower, and a few other soothing herbs. For a moment, it stalled the raucousness that was building as a chorus of thank yous and chitter took its place. But Eva quickly found herself on the backfoot as her students and peers now prodded even more into her past. Which, despite the mock outrage she was showing to everyone and in particular, Sophie. She was also smiling a little and having fun. For that, Sophie was glad.

  Tonight she reasoned, it would be a good night. A calm before the storm, but a calm nonetheless.

  The second day of the expedition advanced far more rapidly through the outskirts of down. The paths from yesterday were no longer exploratory and the barren land outside the city limits seemed to be guiding them back towards the breach.

  After a quick meal at the first crack of what was presumably dawn, something Sophie was hard pressed to distinguish against the foggy grey skies. The expedition set forth once more, though this time with their objectives of reaching the different critical locations at the center of town clearly in their minds and with a far more lenient timetable to boot.

  They reached the shattered walls without much trouble, though scouts did report that the forest was coming alive once more. Unfortunately for them all, with sounds more akin to the undead rather than wildlife. Still, with none within visual range yet, there was little they could do beyond continue with their mission.

  It took them just under a half hour to go from the Grunwald farmstead to the exact alley they had been yesterday. However, the moment they reached the intersection that led onto the main road. Both the Lily Knights and the Red Hawks slowed their advance drastically.

  Sophie once again was the first to peer out onto the road. Taking the burden of exposing herself to any hostile forces first instead of the others. Only when there was silence and no sounds of the dead did she then beckon for the rest to follow. One by one, they filtered forward with the knights in the rear, acting as the armored bulwark should anything try to surprise them.

  Slowly but surely, she moved towards where the bodies had been impaled, taking great care to scan the ground after each step, making sure no traps would impede their path.

  As she got closer, the unmistakable scent of rot invaded her nostrils. Faint as it was, covered by the Mistveil’s own stuffy dampness, the corpses were seemingly being devoured by the mist itself. Evidently, their alarm had been a little too hasty, the decay becoming more evident the closer they got.

  A half dozen bodies were impaled upon makeshift wooden spikes, some of which were already showing signs of wear due to the untreated nature of the timber simply absorbing the moisture within the fog. The bodies themselves were in even worse shape. Bits of blackened necrotic flesh dangled listlessly from fog worn bones. Though the shoulders looked noticeably larger, as if someone had stuffed something underneath the torn cloth to enhance their silhouette.

  Sophie traded a glance with the others. Now there would be no doubt. These were warnings sentient creatures, not the undead. The impaled corpses could’ve potentially been a venting of frustration against the dead by the final survivors of the dead city. But knowing that they seemed to have been actively tampered with, it meant warnings for those who would show caution at what looked to be a fresh body from a distance.

  The group took one cursory examination of the bodies before continuing on. Sophie charted a path on one of the side roads to avoid the spike trap between the main road’s signs.

  Utilizing a few overturned supply carts near a splintered barricade as a landmark, Sophie brought the party to a halt. She waited until even the knights were gathered around before gesturing down the road.

  “I recognize this place. One of the lanes that crafters used, if I recall correctly. We’re close to Saint Rosendorf square and the intersection. The Guild’s not too far from it, if it’s still standing. Stick together, alright?” She tried to imitate Sir Taurox’s more confident demeanour but floundered at the end.

  Still, the message had gotten across. They would be wandering close to where the main defence effort was spent within the walls. Therefore where the undead would’ve found ample feeding or corpse building material. If there were any outside the Golden Quarter, they would be here.