True Soul Part 22: Troubles and Disappearances

Running through the uneven, rocky terrain at night was stupidly dangerous. A single displaced rock could twist your ankle or cause you to fall and hit your head or plenty of other things. The point was that only the very careless or very desperate would do it. The latter fit the person that was hurrying down the hill towards the ruins that had been turned into a temporary shelter.

Even though he knew the path perfectly from having lived his all life in the mountains he still slipped a few times in the dark. It was a miracle that by the time he reached the bottom of the valley he was only bruised.

Of course with all the noise he had been making it was obvious that his approach had been noticed. As he stumbled to a halt and stood hunched, steadying his breath, a voice called out: ”Who goes there?”

The sentry was standing just outside the area illuminated by the camp fires. By his stance it was also apparent that he was pointing a crossbow at the newcomer.

”Just me, Kevos” the newcomer breathed out. ”I have news! Important ones!”

”Well I am not waking up the boss unless you manage to convince me that’s true.” The sentry lowered his crossbow.

”Paladins! Two of them.”

The sentry took a step back, dismayed. ”Damn. I better go wake him up then. Come.”

Only the stone walls remained of the buildings the expedition was camped in. Canvases were pulled over where the roofs had been to provide some cover from the elements. The buildings had originally been filled with rubble but the few of them that housed the expedition had been cleared.

The two men walked inside the biggest one. By the time the sentry had shaken awake his boss the news that something had happened had traveled around the camp and the people who had been asleep were waking up and making their way to that building. With all twenty of them there, the building was cramped indeed. Thankfully they had no need for a proper campfire as one of them knew a spell that would turn make a single log give out as much heat and light while lasting all night.

”What has happened?” The boss asked. He was by far the oldest member of the expedition, over seventy years old. He was bald and his frame was thin. It was a miracle he could walk at all on his own. Much less take part in expeditions to the mountains.

Yet there he was. Sleeping less than anyone else. Eating less than anyone else. Suffering from the cold less than anyone else.

”The villager's call was answered already, boss,” the sentry answered. ”Paladins. Two of them.”

The boss took a deep breath through his nose. ”Nothing but setbacks lately. We should have been ready weeks ago!”

”Can't we turn this to our advantage? Let them deal with the curse-wraith?” Someone asked.

The boss shook his head. ”And what if they TALK to it? No Olwos, we can't take the risk. We have to eliminate them.”
Olwos looked like he tried to form a counter argument but couldn't.

”So how are we going to do it boss? Rush them while they sleep?” A question came from another crossbow wielding sentry who had been guarding the other side of the camp.

”If we show our strength openly the response will be much bigger.” Someone else countered.

”We could just eliminate the whole village. Make sure no word gets out.”

”No. We do not have enough people to stop everyone from escaping. I know these people, I have lived with them for twenty years. They know these lands. If even a little boy escapes then we won't be catching him in the wilderness.” Kevos said and looked a little horrified by the idea itself.

“He is right,” the boss said. “We will try to ambush them when they go out to investigate. Make sure no one knows what happened to them.”



Shouting woke up Nearin. She rubbed her eyes and groaned before hurrying to get herself dressed. After pulling her jacket over her mail shirt she grabbed her cloak and sword and followed Selesta outside.

“What happened?” Selesta asked. Sleepy villagers were starting to gather around even though the sky was only beginning to lighten.

“My daughter! She is gone!” A woman cried. Her husband placed his hand on her shoulder to steady her.

“Has anyone seen her?” Selesta demanded. “How old is she?”

“Jeanin is eight.”

“So she is the first child victim, right?” Selesta turned to the elder who nodded. “Send a search party downslope just in case. Nearin and I are going to search the way to Phoenix’s fall. We need a guide.”

“Selvos.” A young man, around Nearin’s age, nodded.

“Let’s go,” Selesta said to Nearin.

“What about armor?” Nearin asked and gestured towards where the horses were stabled and the bulk of their gear stored.

Selesta hesitated for a moment. “No time. Every minute could matter.”

Nearin nodded and they left the village as the first rays of sunlight shone to the valley.


Kevos watched the paladins leave. His legs hurt from to the camp and back again, and his bruises constantly reminded him of their existence. But they might not get another change as good as this. So he grimaced and started jogging towards the camp.