The “siege” seemed fairly desultory, with the archers on the wall shooting the occasional arrow, but Zarazonnia’s forces were largely out of reach, but without much that could attack back. They had been spared the indignity of having to climb down a rope by Janaxia’s enchanted platform, which had plummeted uncomfortably fast, but given them a little more gravitas than climbing. The small amount of fighting had stopped as they moved down, letting them walk (or, in Janaxia’s case, float) back, after having to move out of the steep ditch.

They were back in Zarazonnia’s command tent, her fingers tapping onto her sword hilt again. The leaders of some of the other groups were now here as well, casually lounging around, making themselves at ease. Janaxia was still on her disk, the flat surface having raised itself into a high-backed seat, her hands rested on sturdy arm-rests, looking somewhat regal, although her clothing was still the faux-armour, rather than anything more worryingly domineering.

Being on the platform allowed her to be on the same level as Zarazonnia, rather than having to talk upwards to her. Stathis stood to the side, looking at the other captains and commanders – there didn’t seem to be much discipline, with everyone simply lounging around, a few gambling. How many were loyal to Zarazonnia herself? Probably not many. If there wasn’t some success, then they might turn on her, or at least try to. Or strike out on their own – they were more powerful than bandit groups, and could easily take over a village or town somewhere, while if they were together than at least they were somewhat more contained.

‘Magus Ragrant seems a little overly focused on his researches. Although I was unable to tell quite what he was researching, other than it has somehow allowed him to generate that shell. It does appear to only be a shell though – although it dissipated my magic, I was able to reassert my powers when inside. It should be possible for you to cast your spells on the other side, although there will be some momentary weakness as you pass through. And, of course, the danger that Ragrant will unleash whatever spells he has – I would judge him to be a potent spellcaster, at least to judge by the barrier he has erected, and he has several apprentices or assistants as well.’

Zarazonnia nodded, a nail tapping against a pommel-gem, before turning to Stathis. ‘And what of their martial contingent?’

‘Skilled. Mercenaries, not a group I’ve worked with before, but they have a good reputation. They know what they’re doing, and noticed the lack of siege equipment. They’ve probably got a decent amount of supplies, and enough soldiers to put up a fight, especially from behind the walls. It would be a hard fight in purely physical terms, yourself excepted.’

‘Could they be bought?’

‘Perhaps. They are mercenaries. But they seemed happy enough to take Ragrant’s orders, so they’re loyal for now. They did mention that there’s nothing else out here, so a breakout seems unlikely. They’re safer inside than out. I didn’t see any horses, so we probably don’t have to worry about cavalry.’

‘Hmmm. Interesting. Numbers?’

‘Hard to say. We saw less than fifty, but the castle had quite a few buildings, so they probably have more we didn’t see. The castle itself is in good repair – not elven or dwarven make, but sturdy. The walls won’t give way easily.’

‘Janaxia?’

‘Yes, that seems a fair assessment.’ She nodded, horn-medallions tinkling. ‘Annoyingly persistent.’ She drummed her own nails against her hovering platform, as the back reshaped itself to be spikier and more throne-like. ‘A frustrating impediment. It would be easiest if they were done away with swiftly. There is power here, is there not? Ancient, but not entirely dormant.’

Zarazonnia nodded. ‘I shouldn’t be surprised that one as adept in arcane matters as yourself has worked that out. Yes, this place is old, especially by human standards, and contains power that I can use, if I can gain access. I was not expecting it to be defended by more than a rabble – in truth, I was hoping that I would find it deserted.’

‘Matters need to be resolved to our advantage swiftly. But they hold a strong position, and there seems little hope of a swift military victory. That accursed shell grants a powerful advantage! I don’t suppose there are any soldiers with the skills required to make siege weapons?’

Zarazonnia turned to Stathis. ‘Unless that is a skill you have?’

Stathis shook her head.

‘A shame. We can win via conventional means, but it will take longer than I am comfortable with. And too many forces for yourself and your guard to deal with, it sounds like.’

Janaxia’s throne was continuing to shape itself, becoming increasingly grandiose. Her clothing was shifting as well, from the ornate-but-vaguely-functional armour to an excessively ornate robe, multiple layers of silk draping themselves over her form, red and blacks alternating to form a striking, and rather melodramatic, look, her neckline deepening, dozens of thin golden chains dangling around her neck. Unfortunately, she was out of reach, so Stathis couldn’t give her a poke.

A surprise attack would be advantageous, but we lack the forces. Could you, perhaps, force the gate?

She glanced down at Stathis, eyes bright, emerald green. It was hard, wearing a full-face helm, to give a subtle shake of the head! But that gate was definitely not a one-man job, even without not wanting to really conquer the place. Janaxia’s nails had changed as well, lengthening and sharpening into wicked-looking crimson points, tapping against the now-spiked arms of her hovering throne. Her mental voice was colder now, more vicious-sounding. A direct attack would be the swiftest resolution, would it not? And then the matter would be over with! Those that stand in our way should be dealt with in the swiftest manner possible, so that we may move onto greater victories.

‘You certainly seem to be adjusting to army life better than I expected. Although this is rather frustrating.’ Zarazonnia shifted, her serpentine rear stretching out as she moved towards the table of maps, looking over the maps and charts. The drawings had been updated while they had been gone, with more of the surrounding terrain filled in – it looked empty of anything useful, with some small patches of woodland amongst the mountains and ravines. Some streams were marked, so they should have some water at least. ‘The wizard sounds like he could be reasoned with, to some degree?’

‘Magus Ragrant appears to be rather… distracted. But inconveniently powerful.’ Janaxia’s nails managed to scratch over her throne with a painful sound. ‘Perhaps his researches could be used to help persuade him? He appears a scholar of prophecy, a stargazer and so forth. If he could be made to believe that your victory is mandated, than perhaps that could be used to persuade him to acquiesce? Not quite as simple as victory in strength, but easier than a direct assault.’

‘That may be more fruitful than wasting strength on breaking the siege directly. And the longer we stay here, then the more likely we will be noticed and found by some other power. This needs to be resolved and swiftly. Is prophecy something you have studied?’

Bright green eyes turned to stare down at Stathis, Janaxia’s lips now bright, crimson red, matching her nails and half her silks. This is an area that you have studied somewhat, is it not?

It was hard not to answer when directly addressed. ‘A bit. They mostly seem very vague and not very applicable, and people mostly just apply them to whatever they want. Lots of vagueness about “the darkness and the light”. There’s loads that might apply to a random castle in the middle of nowhere, but without knowing what bits Tounvar thinks are relevant, then it’s hard to say. He doesn’t seem very concerned about our presence, so I would imagine he thinks himself safe. And he hasn’t just left, so either can’t teleport himself, or thinks he’s safe and that his researches are more important.’

Stathis heard a low mental growl from Janaxia, her nails tapping harder now, frustration obvious. ‘Zarazonnia, do you know anything of such matters?’

With a scaly slither, Zarazonnia moved backwards, resting atop her coils. ‘Less a prophecy, more a promise. That our exile would not be forever, that our dominion would be restored, and that we would rule once again.’

‘Your exile? To Setha-in-the-Ash?’

‘From somewhere rather more distant than there! But that place is dust and stone, abandoned to all but memories and the defeated. This place is far more hospitable. Even after being bound into stone myself, I still prefer here. Although there will be a certain amount of strife in convincing the rest of the world of our primacy! A time will come, when there shall be a battle to determine the final fate of all who dwell upon this world. The spirit that bound us all those years ago will doubtless seek to thwart this conquest, and so must be destroyed for all time.’

Stathis wanted to ask a lot more questions, but was interrupted by Janaxia, her eyes sparking, a deep and shining emerald. ‘Matters should be bought to a head swiftly! We cannot dawdle on account of one doddering magus and his retinue, no matter how stout their walls.’

Zarazonnia chuckled. ‘I admire your courage, Janaxia. But forcing a confrontation without the strength to enforce it will only cause further problems. This will be a case for a little less directness, I feel.’

Shouts sounded from outside, the sudden clamour of violence. Zarazonnia reacted immediately, drawing two of her swords and slithering outside, ducking to get beneath the tent-flap. Janaxia spun on her floating thrown, eyes blazing as she moved after immediately. Stathis drew her own blade and went outside, staying close to Janaxia.

Several groups of Sethans were engaged in combat, a series of individual fights occuring. Skeletons had appeared from somewhere, moss-covered bones held together with magical energy, splintering into shards as they were attacked by the Sethans. They moved faster than most undead Stathis had seen before, and their weapons looked relatively new, rather than being old and rusted.

One of them was attacked from multiple sides at once, weapons smashing apart the legs and ribcage. As the rest of the bones fell to the floor, a vague and shadowy slip remained in the air, two red dots where eyes would be. It hovered in mid-air, before reaching around and lunging for one of the Sethans, as they tried to raise their maul to protect themselves. It passed straight through them, before passing into the fighter.

Zarazonnia had plunged into combat, an attack scraping harmlessly off her scaled body, her answering strikes bisecting a skeleton, then a thrust skewering into the smoky shadow that came out, the mistiness fading away, enchanted steel gleaming brightly.

The fighter was stood rigidly, eyes blank and glazed, before suddenly turning around and attacking one of their allies, maul smashing into armoured flesh and crushing an arm. As they dropped to the floor, the other Sethans reacted, all starting to target the one that had attacked them. As Stathis surveyed the battlefield, she saw similar things happening – the skeletons seemed weak and easy to defeat, but whatever was possessing them could move into other bodies. There were only a few clusters of combat, but the different groups were starting to eye each other warily, some trying to restrain their allies rather than kill them.

A barrage of bolts shot out from Janaxia as Stathis charged forward. A skeleton was in her way, and she sliced it down. When shadowy smoke boiled out of it, she thrust and cut at that, her sword meeting resistance, sliding through greasy-feeling nothingness. The darkness flickered, then blinked out of existence.

Where Janaxia’s bolts found targets, they were quickly destroyed as well, bone shattering and crunching before the shadow-forms were shredded into nothingness by a follow-up barrage. Janaxia had stood up and dismissed the “throne” part, her clothing billowing around her, stiff-backed and proud as she fought, albeit from a safe distance.

‘Use magic!’

A swift flurry of fire-bolts shot out from a group that hadn’t yet engaged in combat themselves, bone melting into ash. The shadow melted like wax, the flames somehow finding purchase in the air, a humanoid figure appearing outlined in flame for a second before fading away to nothing. Zarazonnia was moving around swiftly now, three swords out, each glowing with magical power, swift strikes flicking out to efficiently destroy the physical forms, then swinging back to eliminate the shadowy remnants.

Stathis looked around again – the place hadn’t looked like a burial ground, and the weapons were clearly new. Someone must have raised these things – but who, and where were they? Amidst the swirling chaos of the battlefield, she couldn’t see far, and there was a lot to hide behind, even before invisibility spells and the like.

As several Sethans gathered around one of their own, an unnaturally darkness overtaking their own eyes, Stathis stepped forward and lunged. Holy fire shone along her blade, that would hopefully be taken for a flash of sunlight. She stabbed into their shoulder, penetrating through their light armour and into their skin. They shuddered, the darkness fading from their eyes, to display an unnatural-looking yellow colour. Stathis struck out with her shield, knocking back another Sethan as they tried to attack.

‘They’ve driven it off!’

The one that had been possessed still looked dazed, giving Stathis the chance to slap their weapon from their hand.

‘Try and restrain those that are attacking weirdly! It’s better than killing them!’ She spun and slashed through enough skeleton, before Janaxia’s bolts shredded the mist. There didn’t seem to be many of the things, but where they attacked a group that couldn’t deal with the spirit-ghost, infighting was getting vicious, the spirit hopping between bodies as each was defeated. Fortunately, a lot of the Sethans seemed to know minor magical attacks, bolts and bursts of magical elements breaking apart the smoky shapes as they emerged.

Stathis ran between engagements, trying to keep the violence down by punching people with her shield or knocking weapons out of hands. Trying to keep aware of everything, with her vision limited by the helm, was frustrating! And there seemed to be more of the shadow-skeletons than she had thought, more coming from another angle behind the encampment. As they fought, a few more arrows shot out from within the castle, targeting any Sethans that made the mistake of getting too close, adding another danger. The gate stayed shut, fortunately, and they didn’t seem to have anything longer range.

Having to continually sprint between fights was exhausting, Stathis’ legs starting to ache, sweat building up inside her armour. But the number of fights was going down, and she could see a number of Sethans holding their comrades down. As the clamour and violence faded away, she let herself relax, although kept vigilant, in case of another attack.