“What’s going on?” I asked as I pushed to the front of the crowd.
Silence echoed through the hall as the crowd parted to let me through, and every face turned toward Nameless and me. The iridescent dragon trotted up the steps of the dais to greet the two queens, and after he received a couple of head scratches, he laid down at their feet. I walked to the left side of the audience chamber, and I directed my question to the two women occupying the thrones at the top of the dais, but I cast a sideways glance at the angry man who was yelling at my wives.
The man standing before the two queens had a disheveled appearance, and his long jacket was caked in mud.
His knee-high boots looked like they’d seen better days, and it was obvious he had traveled a great distance to be here. The weary eyes of a worn-down traveler gave his face a haunted expression, and I immediately felt a surge of empathy for the older gentleman.
This was a man at the end of his rope, and I wanted to make sure he wouldn’t use the rope to hang himself.
The God of Time was a god of the people, after all.
“This man has spoken his piece but refuses to forfeit his time before their majesties,” Pharen Lacy, the palace herald, said as he stepped forward. “He has been asked multiple times to step back to allow the other petitioners their moment with the queens.”
“I see.” I walked around until I stood between the thrones and the man, but I shot my two royal wives a bright smile over my shoulder.
Eva and Caelia both looked relieved to see me, but they remained silent as I gave the man an even deeper scrutinization. In addition to the dirty disrepair of his clothes, I noticed the empty sacks hanging from his belt, the empty scabbard, and the rips in his clothes indicating a recent skirmish. His eyebrows drew down to shadow his eyes as I swept my gaze up and down his person, but he kept his back straight and his expression stoic.
I heard whispered mentions of my name from the other Vallenwood residents around us, but I ignored them all as I kept the older man in the center of my attention. Whatever the rest of the petitioners needed could wait until I figured out what this man’s problem was.
“What’s your name?” I asked as I reached out a hand to shake his.
“Ralf,” the man said, and he took my hand after only a brief moment of hesitation. “Ralf Desmond.”
“You don’t feel like you’ve been properly heard by this court?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Did the queens insult you in some way? Have you been denied the chance to speak your mind?”
“No, I was able to explain my problem.” Ralf frowned.
“But I received no offers of help or instructions on how to proceed. My village needs its liege lords and ladies to come to our aid, or we won’t survive another moon cycle.”
I saw Eva and Caelia tense behind me, and I put myself in the two queens’ positions. This man came to them with a problem, but they wouldn’t have refused him aid if they knew it would fix things. If this was something they felt was beyond their ability to solve, then they would have no choice but to put the man’s concerns to the side for the moment.
However, this man was desperate enough to stand his ground in the face of their rejection, and I had to admire his gumption.
“Ralf, my name is Bash,” I said. “And the two queens before you are my wives. I know we can, and will, help you, but it might be something we have to discuss in private first.”
“That’s just an excuse to push me away,” Ralf argued. “I need a guarantee right here and right now, or I will have to be dragged away from this spot by force.”
Numerous guards along the walls of the room placed their hands on their weapons, but Eva lifted a subtle finger from the arm of her throne, and the armored men calmed. I was glad my wife had chosen to give the man another chance to be heard, and it showed strength when she remained undaunted by the solitary man.
“Okay, Ralf, this is your shot,” I said. “Tell me what’s going on, and I will tell you exactly what I will do about it.”
“This is the God of Time you’re speaking with,” Eva said in a clear voice from behind me. “His word is law.”
“Please, Mister Desmond, continue,” Caelia added as she made a flourishing motion with her hand, and I couldn’t help admiring how she’d adapted to the throne.
“Thank you, Your Majesties.” The disheveled man let out a sigh of relief, and his shoulders slumped as the tension
left his body. He turned to face me, and I saw a tinge of hope sparkle in his dark eyes. “Thank you for hearing me out, Great One. I know my people would be grateful for your assistance.”
“All part of the job.” I smirked. “But let’s get through this before we celebrate too much.”
“I come from a small village near the southern border of Sorreyal,” Ralf explained in a much calmer tone than he had when I’d first arrived. “We are herders, primarily, and trade in wool and mutton. With all our livestock dead or missing, we no longer have access to market goods. The people who remained after the first wave of disease swept through the sheep were cast into poverty, and the streets were lined with beggars.”
“I can’t magically make your sheep come back to life,”
I said. “But there may be other ways I can help you. There are other towns that can send help and take in homeless people.”
“There aren’t many people left, Great One.” Ralf shook his head in a sad manner. “A mysterious illness took many overnight, and those who survived are often still too sick to work. Our fields grow fallow, and children go hungry. The sickness seems unaffected by common remedies, and our own village healer died recently as well.”
“It sounds like things have gotten really bad,” I said in the most empathetic tone I could muster. “Perhaps we can locate the source of the illness. Maybe the local water source has been contaminated or food corrupted. There could be many possible answers.”
The idea that this might also be Plague came to mind, but I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions just yet.
“That is not all, Great One.” Ralf worked the muscle in his jaw. “A few people have seen vile creatures in the forest, myself included. I was lucky to escape with my life after goblins blocked my path as soon as I left my village, and I think that is what happened to the men who disappeared.”
“A mysterious illness, dangerous creatures outside town, and disappearing men.” I tapped a finger against my chin. “This certainly is a complicated situation, but I have yet to meet a challenge I couldn’t face.”
My respect for Ralf continued to grow as he gave more details about his town’s situation, and any man who could fight through goblins and still reach his destination in one piece was worthy of my respect. I was determined to help this man, but I still needed more information before I could formulate the perfect solution. I knew this was a question of
life or death not only for him, but for the rest of his village as well. They were a part of Sorreyal just as much as Bastianville, and they needed our help.
“Show me where your village is,” I instructed after Ralf told me everything he knew. “I don’t think I’ve been there before.”
“Do you have a map?” Ralf glanced from me to the queens.
“Reschain,” Eva called as she beckoned her chamberlain forward. “Fetch a map of the kingdom for my husband and Mister Desmond, please.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The chamberlain bowed stiffly before he disappeared through a side door.
I pulled Ralf to the edge of the throne room so the queens could finish listening to the other petitioners, but I continued to give him my full attention. If any other problems came to light, I would deal with them then, but for right now, the threats against Ralf’s village took precedence over everything else.
“You have to help me,” Ralf pleaded as I guided him over to the wall by his elbow. “Please, Great One, I left my
daughter behind, and she is all I have left in this world. She was too sick to travel…”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I gave the man a sympathetic look. “I’m going to do everything in my power to help your village. You have my word.”
“That is all I could ever hope for,” Ralf said with an understanding nod. “You are the most powerful man in the land, and if anyone can save my people, it’s you.”
“Who is the leader of your village?” I asked as I watched Reschain reemerge from the side door. “Are you the leader?”
“No, no, I’m a simple shepherd.” Ralf’s cheeks darkened. “I couldn’t begin to know how to lead anyone.”
“Then why send you for help?” I questioned. “Wouldn’t you have preferred to stay and take care of your sick daughter?”
“There was no one else who could make the trip,” Ralf explained. “Those who stayed behind were too weak to travel, but they’re still helping those more sick than themselves.
Everyone is doing their best to survive, so this is the least I could do.”
“I’m glad you made it here,” I said, but I turned to greet Reschain as he approached with a rolled-up map. “Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”
“My pleasure, Great One.” Reschain bowed deeply, but then he returned to his position in the eaves of the throne dais to await any further command.
I unrolled the map, and Ralf took hold of one edge while I held the other. The older man frowned as he scanned over the markings on the parchment, and after a moment, he ran his finger from the southern border up to a small dot. I squinted at the mark, and I could barely make out the print.
Meadowlark.
It was a village I had yet to visit, so I wouldn’t be able to fast travel in a single blip, but that wasn’t going to stop me from going to the people’s aid. Something about the town’s location seemed familiar to me, though, and I racked my brain for any reference to the small spot on the map. I knew it was important, I just couldn’t figure out how just yet.
“Thanks for all your information,” I said as I clapped Ralf on the shoulder. “It will be a lot faster next time.”
“Next time?” The confused tilt of the older man’s head was an expression I was well acquainted with.
I reset to my save point with a wave of my will, and the alarm tone rang in my ears as I rematerialized in the center of the throne room for the second time.
Chime.
I was back in Bastianville a moment after I’d grabbed Nameless, and I didn’t pause to discuss the situation with my women before I fast traveled to the capital with the dragon once more. Ralf’s angry voice immediately met my ears, and I wasted no time pushing my way to the front of the audience chamber.
“Ralf, my friend,” I said in a comforting voice as I approached the older man. “There is no reason to yell. Help is on the way.”
“Who are you?” Ralf narrowed his eyes. “How do you know I need help?”
“I know all things, Ralf.” I gave the man a friendly smile as I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You are worried for your daughter’s life, and this has caused you to act
out of character, but you shouldn’t worry. The God of Time is on the case.”
“You know of our plight?” Hope entered Ralf’s eyes.
“Can you really help us?”
“I’m a god,” I said with a dismissive wave of my hand.
“There’s nothing I can’t fix.”
“My daughter, she’s si—” Ralf started to say.
“Your daughter has contracted the same mysterious illness that has handicapped most of your village,” I interjected. “You don’t need to explain anything. Just hold tight while I tell my queens what’s going on, and then I’ll head to your village.”
Ralf swallowed hard before he nodded in silence, and I flashed him one more encouraging smile before I turned my attention to the thrones. Eva and Caelia were obviously relieved that I’d managed to deescalate the situation, and I was proud of them for remaining calm in the face of a distraught father.
They were amazing queens, but they weren’t immortal, and some things were too big for them to fix. Luckily, the people of Sorreyal had me to turn to when no one else could
solve the problem, and I was eager to get started. First, though, I needed to complete my objective for coming to Vallenwood.
There was still a war to be won, after all.
Once the other petitioners had the chance to speak their minds, the herald and guards began to clear the audience chamber. I crossed the distance to the dais, and I took the steps two at a time. Then I planted a soft kiss against the cheeks of both queens, and I smiled at them with all the pride and love I felt for them.
“Do you really think you can help that man?” Caelia asked with a worried frown. “Even you cannot heal sickness…”
“There’s probably a logical reason everyone is getting sick,” I said. “I can figure out what’s really going on, but if necessary, I will use the waters of Arajah I still have. Their other problems, the monsters and disappearances, are definitely something I can fix.”
“We believe in you, Bash,” Eva said. “We’ll help in any way we can.”
“Absolutely,” Caelia confirmed. “We cannot allow our people to suffer.”
“There’s another reason I came to Vallenwood,” I said as I transitioned the conversation onto the pertinent choices we needed to make. “I gathered a War Council to discuss strategies for facing the God of the Plague, but everyone pointed out how the capital would be more defensible.”
“Yes, Vallenwood is at the heart of the kingdom.” Eva nodded. “The location is advantageous for both defense and trade.”
“It can always be stronger,” I said. “We need to do everything we can to increase the security of our people.”
“There are other methods for defense we could put into place,” Caelia agreed. “I’ve heard of vats of hot oil being poured over gates to stop enemies from battering the entrances and climbing the walls. I’m sure other things could help as well.”
“Consider it done, Bash.” Eva flashed me a bright smile. “Caelia and I will prepare the capital for whatever Plague has in store.”
“Awesome.” I grinned. “Everyone will be looking to us for guidance, so we need to remain a center of calm and maintain a sense of control. It will put everyone more at ease if they feel they can count on us to protect them.”
“I worry for the villages and settlements outside the capital,” Caelia said in a thoughtful tone. “They have no walls or trained guardsmen to keep them safe, but I don’t think we have the numbers to sacrifice sending troops to every location.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “We shouldn’t waste energy and manpower by dividing our forces between all the smaller towns. The people will have to evacuate to Vallenwood in order to be safe behind the golden walls, but that will take some time.”
“Let us worry about getting the people to safety,” Eva said. “You have a quest ahead of you, and we can cover things in your absence.”
“I have time to spare for strategy,” I countered. “We need to be on the same page before I focus on anything else.”
“How can we help?” Caelia asked with a worried frown.
“Once you get the small towns around the capital evacuated, we will need to draft all the able-bodied fighters that we can.” I looked from one queen to the other. “Some people might not want to fight, but you’ll have to get through to them. This isn’t a fight anyone can opt out of. They’re either for us or against us.”
“We already have a sizable force of guardsmen in the capital,” Eva pointed out. “But there are many new recruits who haven’t finished their training yet. We need to give them more time to learn the skills they will need to survive this war, but they will do what is necessary to ensure the safety of the realm. You can count on it.”
“How many soldiers do you think you have altogether?”
I asked.
“The guardsmen total close to three thousand, but the palace guard adds another five hundred to that number.” Eva exchanged a look with her fellow queen to confirm her math.
“Then we have the new militia, which mostly consists of farmers and shepherds who live outside the city, but there are only a few hundred of them altogether, and they are untested.”
“So, less than four thousand fighters.” I frowned.
“That’s helpful, but I don’t want to chance it. We need to at least double those numbers before I’ll feel secure in our forces, and anyone capable of carrying arms needs to chip in. Women, teens, business owners, everyone.”
“We’ve already petitioned the work of several tradesmen,” Caelia pointed out. “Blacksmiths, enchanters, and
leatherworkers are all working nonstop to provide equipment and gear to the guardsmen.”
“That’s a good start,” I said. “Aren’t there bowyers and fletchers, as well? Anyone and everyone has a role to play, so we can’t leave any stone unturned.”
“Consider it done.” Eva nodded decisively. “Now, you need to figure out what’s going on at the southern edge of the realm. Whatever is happening in that village could happen to others if we’re not careful.”
“Be safe, my love,” Caelia urged. “We need you now more than ever before.”
“You can count on me,” I promised. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
I left the queens to find a map, and it only took me a moment to locate Meadowlark among the marks on the parchment. I pondered why it seemed so familiar for a moment, but then it struck me like a ton of bricks in a cartoon.
It was Plague’s hideout village.
Tiff had told me where our enemy had been hiding as he built up his operation, but it hadn’t registered immediately when Ralf explained his people’s predicament. The issues they
faced made a lot more sense when the presence of the God of the Plague was taken into account, and the importance of my new quest increased drastically.
This could be my chance to gain valuable knowledge about Plague’s whereabouts and troop movements, but even if all I accomplished was helping the village residents, I would still consider it a win over the infectious immortal.
I had to check it out.
The closest town to Meadowlark I’d already visited was Lake Balerno, and it had been quite a while since I visited the lakeside town. It was still within the territory of the Duke of Bullard, but I knew my father-in-law wouldn’t mind me snooping around his holdings if it meant gaining leverage in the war ahead.
Nameless peered up at me like he could read my thoughts, and I flashed the star-eyed dragon a smile before I rolled the map back up and stuck it in one of my hip pouches.
Having the flying lizard by my side meant I could handle anything that lay in store for us, and I was glad my women had suggested I bring him along.
“Alright,” I said as I returned to give the two queens a farewell kiss. “Hold down the fort. I’ll be back soon.”
“Take me with you,” Ralf requested as he hurried to catch up to me in the throne room. “I can show you the way.”
“You’re obviously exhausted from the journey here,” I pointed out. “I’ll come back for you once I fix the problem, but just know your people are in good hands.”
I made a new save point before I reached down to touch the dragon’s head, and then I blipped across the map to Lake Balerno. I focused on my memory of the road leading into the town, and I could hear the lapping waves of the lake before I even opened my eyes.
There were several stark differences between the town I now gazed at and my memories of the same place during my first visit. The lake was the most obvious, and the crystal blue waters reflected the shimmering rays of sunlight that struck the surface. Birds of all kinds flew over the waves, and I even spotted a couple splashes of fish leaping toward the sky.
Lake Balerno was once cursed when a group of teenage ruffians had disturbed an ancient burial ground, and the lake the people relied on for a way of life had all but dried up when I’d first arrived. The murky green-brown sludge remaining in the lake’s location heralded the shroud of despair hanging over
the people residing near the shore, but it didn’t take me long to turn things around.
Mahini, Elissa, and I had ventured into the burial crypt to face the ancient spirit who cast the curse over the lakeside town, and we managed to save Lake Balerno from ruin. It hadn’t been easy, but nothing worthwhile ever was.
My thoughts were nostalgic as I covered the rest of the distance to the town, and I was pleasantly surprised by the bustling market street. Things had improved more than I first thought, and I was sure Bullard was grateful to have one of his holdings become profitable again. Helping the neighboring duke wasn’t my only motivation, and seeing the happy faces around me was more than enough reward for a job well done.
Nameless and I received several shocked and curious glances from the people we passed by, but I paid them no mind as I made my way to the stables. I would need a horse if I wanted to reach the village any time soon, and if I was lucky, I’d find a mount as fast as Goliath. The tall white warhorse was above comparison, but lacking his strength and speed, I’d settle for any horse capable of going the distance.
I was surprised to see Atticus, the mayor of Lake Balerno, brushing down a dusky mare inside the stables, and
he didn’t hear me approaching until I was right behind him.
The leader jumped, but as soon as he recognized me, his face split into a grin.
“Well, if it isn’t our returning hero,” the leader of the lakeside town said as he clasped my forearm firmly. “Here for business or pleasure?”
“Business, I’m afraid.” I pressed my lips together.
“There’s a town that needs my help, but this is the closest I could get without a horse.”
“Take my mare,” Atticus urged without hesitation. “It’s the least I could do after everything you have done for Lake Balerno.”
“I appreciate it.” I stepped up to let the mare snuff her muzzle against the palm of my hand. “She’s beautiful.”
“Her name is Leaf,” Atticus said with obvious pride in his voice. “She is faster than a leaf on the wind.”
“I hope so.” I glanced around in search of tack. “The less time I spend on the road, the better.”
Atticus followed my gaze until he realized what I was after, and he quickly pulled out a saddle and bridle from a rack in the corner. With the mayor’s help, Leaf was saddled and
ready to go in a matter of minutes, and I clasped Lake Balerno’s leader’s forearm warmly before I mounted up.
“I’ll bring Leaf back soon,” I promised.
“Take care of her,” Atticus said. “And she will take care of you in return.”
I flashed the mayor one more smile before I nudged my heels against Leaf’s flanks, and a few moments later, I was galloping out of Lake Balerno with Nameless soaring overhead. According to the map, Meadowlark was roughly a day’s ride from the lakeside town, but the sky directly overhead showed how little time I had remaining. I urged Leaf on even faster, and I gave her plenty of slack in the reins. The mare chomped her bit as she bunched her muscles even faster, and clumps of dirt sprayed in our wake as her hooves tore into the ground.
Keeping up with Nameless proved to be a challenge the sturdy mare was up for, and the way the horse glanced skyward every few moments showed her competitive energy. I didn’t hold Leaf back, and we ate away at the distance between us and Meadowlark.
I watched the sun’s descent closely, but the fading light only urged me on even faster. Once I arrived at the village, I
would be able to fast travel anywhere else I needed to go, but getting there would take some time.
After a few hours of hard riding, the sweat on Leaf’s chest had worked into a foamy lather, and her chest heaved with each breath. The poor mare was in desperate need of a break and some fresh water, so I scanned our surroundings in search of a river or stream. Once I located our next drink, I dismounted and led Leaf over to the edge of the stream.
“Good girl,” I murmured to Leaf as she gulped down some water. “We still have a ways to go, but you’re doing good so far.”
Nameless cast me a curious glance as I talked to the horse, and he took a few graceful sips from the stream. The dragon grew more dignified with each passing day, and the puppy-like energy he was born with was giving way to confidence and strength. I was glad he was by my side, but I hoped I wouldn’t need his firepower for this mission.
“You’re a good boy, too,” I said to the dragon once the mare had drunk her fill, and I flashed the silvery dragon a smile as we headed back to the road. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
Nameless strutted forward with his head lifted in pride at my words, and I chuckled to myself as I mounted Atticus’
mare once more. Then the dragon took to the sky with a few rapid pumps of his wings, and he carved a path through the air.
I followed his flying form in a southward direction, but I increased our pace as the light continued to fade below the western horizon.
I didn’t want to have to camp since I hadn’t brought any gear with me, but I was still a good distance from the village. I needed to reach the small town before it grew too dark to see the road ahead, and I leaned forward to encourage Leaf into an even faster gait.
As the shadows beneath the trees grew deeper, the sounds of the forest grew louder in my ears. Bugs chirped and buzzed around my head, and the faint calls of birds faded as the feathered critters nested for the night. The echoing shuffling of leaves alerted me to the presence of some other kind of animal, but it didn’t sound loud enough to pose a real threat.
Anything short of mythical creatures were a walk in the park for me at this point.
Nameless kept closer to Leaf and me as the sky flushed brilliant shades of orange and pink, and the dying rays of light shining off his iridescent scales turned him into a flying disco ball above my head. Leaf tossed her head and hurried after the dragon, and I chuckled to myself as I gave the mare more slack.
She really thought she was just as fast as the flying lizard, but who was I to prove her wrong?
We pushed forward even as the darkness began to surround us, and I peered into the shadows with narrowed eyes. There was more than one occasion where I didn’t see a pothole or rock until the very last moment, but Leaf was attentive and sensitive to my every move, so she easily dodged all obstacles. I wondered if the dragon had better night vision than the horse and me, but I had no way of knowing.
The shadows shrouded all details of the forest on either side of the road before the light of torches ahead signaled an end to the darkness surrounding me, and I slowed the mare to a trot as we approached the edge of the village.
I made a new save point as we stepped inside the circle of torches, but the streets beyond were all cast in shadow, and
we paused at the edge of the light as I squinted into the darkness.
The silence echoed loudly, and the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. A stillness filled the air, and an ominous feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t see any signs of life, and the buildings near the perimeter were all in various levels of disrepair.
As Leaf stepped further into the small village, the stench of human waste and decay stung my nostrils, and I pulled on memories of Akina’s aromatic pastries to trick my brain into ignoring the horrible smells all around me. The mare’s hooves sloshed and clopped through the muddy streets, and her feet were stuck more than once in the thick slop coating the road through town.
I still hadn’t seen a single soul, and I frowned in concern as I scanned over the boarded-up windows.
Spiderwebs clung to every porch post, and vermin scattered before me.
It was creepy as fuck, and I was getting a bad feeling about Meadowlark.
Maybe the town was too far gone to be saved.
I wasn’t one to give up easily, though, so I continued to ride through the town in search of any residents.
“See anything?” I asked as I cast a glance up at the dragon flying overhead.
Nameless squawked in response, but I could tell it was a negative. Leaf snorted and shifted beneath me in an anxious manner, and I reached down a hand to pat her neck. I wasn’t sure how else I could reassure the nervous horse, but her twitchy energy set my nerves on edge.
Everyone always said animals could sense danger.
I worked the muscle in my jaw as I continued to survey the town, and I passed up and down the main street more than once as I scanned over the houses and businesses along the road through the middle of the village. It couldn’t have been more than a week since Ralf left in search of help, but it seemed as though the older man was too late.
It didn’t look like there was anyone left.
As I finished another circuit of the town, I noticed a line of fresh graves dug on the edge of the village, and my heart sank at the sight. Someone had to bury the dead, though, so maybe there were survivors here after all. Someone had to
light the torches, too. I envisioned myself from the eyes of a scared, sick, and helpless villager, and I had to admit, I looked pretty intimidating in my dragonscale armor with the flying dragon by my side.
What if I’d scared everyone into hiding?
I dismounted from Leaf’s back, and my boots immediately sank into the mud. My steps squelched wetly as I led the mare to a hitching post, and I pulled off my helmet to reveal my human face just in case someone was watching from the shadows.
“Hello?” I called out in a loud voice. “Is there anyone here?”
Silence answered my words, but I wasn’t going to give up just yet. I continued to walk around the town and call out for any survivors, but after I circled the street multiple times, I decided to take a break to scarf down some calories. I returned to where Leaf was hitched, and I rifled through the saddlebags for any food. I was overjoyed to find a handful of jerky wrapped in a leather square, and I munched on the dried meat as I stared around the empty village.
I hated to return to the capital empty-handed when Ralf had traveled so far in search of aid, but I couldn’t help an
empty village. Without people willing to receive the help, there wasn’t anything I could do, but if this was Plague’s doing, he would pay for his crimes against humanity.
Not only was there no sign of villagers, but I didn’t see any signs of occupation by enemy forces, either. If Plague had been using this town as a headquarters or hiding location, then it would make sense for there to be some evidence of his presence, but so far, I hadn’t seen anything unusual. It seemed like any other town, except it was completely deserted.
I frowned as I thought about everything I knew about Plague so far, and killing off an entire village of innocents certainly seemed like his M.O.. Maybe he had forced any survivors to join his army of mutated monsters, but that meant there could still be a chance of saving them.
I could sense the answers drawing ever closer, but no obvious explanation made itself known, so I plopped myself down on the steps close to Leaf’s hitching post. I rested my elbows on my knees and propped my chin in my hands, but I was lost in thought more so than staring around.
“What do you think?” I asked the dragon overhead.
“What can we do?”
Nameless didn’t respond, and I fell back into a thoughtful silence.
The God of the Plague may have done a number on this village, but I wasn’t about to concede defeat to him. Even if the entire town was wiped out, I could still use this trip to ferret out more information about my enemy, and I decided to search the surrounding forest first thing in the morning when I had more light.
With my plan decided, I pushed myself to my feet and dusted my hands off against my pant legs, but I suddenly sensed movement in my peripheral vision and froze.
The disappearing tail of a tattered jacket slid behind the wall of a nearby building, and my breath caught in my throat.
I wasn’t alone here, after all.