The dragon had asked me to help keep their secrets. I had agreed, there was no reason to go out of my way to antagonize the dragons, and I had already agreed to keep the wisp’s secrets quiet. Teal had transformed once we were a distance from the city, and I clambered onto its back.

“Are you a he or a she?” I’d asked just before we took off, settling onto their back, my armour attaching itself to its scales. It had craned its head to look at me, and cocked it for a moment, before giving me a shrug. I smirked under my helm, and it took to the skies.

The chill air was countered by the warmth of the dragon itself. I had a niggling suspicion that it was for my benefit. Even so, the wind whipped at my armour, and sometimes I couldn’t breath as the air valves were forced shut.

As we cycled east a plume of smoke appeared in the distance. I squinted, this far away most of it was nearly invisible against the trees. That’s Arrgyk’s tribe. I realized, my mind ran over the possibilities, but came up with only one logical answer, and I found myself gripped by alarm. “Down there!” I shouted. “Take us down, I have to see this!” Teal turned to look at the smoke, and dived down, landing in a clearing a bit away. I took off at a dead sprint. Dammit don’t let it be him.

I arrived to see the walls burned and battered. A small army, or, I supposed, a militia, had forced its way past the gates. Frost still coated parts of the ground, and the earth in places was soft and uneven. Walking past the gates revealed corpses, gnoll corpses. Parts of the ground were stained with blood, the corpses that had made them having been moved. The attackers probably… I thought.

I gritted my teeth, several of the corpses had been violated, I didn’t care to check if they had been alive when it happened. Children had been strung up from a tree. I snarled, swinging my blade and severing the rope that held them. “Dammit!” I slammed my fist against the tree.

Teal walked up besides me, horror and no small amount of unease etched onto the female face she now wore. She retched, but kept herself from vomiting. “Who?” She gasped, staring at me. My eyes bored into the ground. I knew this would happen. I knew. I thought to myself. “Who?”

I shook my head, rooting about the burnt out husk of the tribe. I found what I was looking for under the charred remains of a collapsed building. The corpse was charred, and what fur remained was matted with blood. His head was gone, but the clothes were distinctive. Arrgyk. I grimaced.

I Delved, looking about, the corpses had lingering traces of their soul scattering into the Aether. Their deaths were recent, I ran through the village, darting around corpses as I scanned the area. As I reached the back I saw that vegetation had been trampled. Some escaped. I thought. They’d probably carry the scar with them for the rest of their lives. My was relief mixed with apprehension, perhaps they would sequester themselves away from civilization, or maybe they would bide their time…

“You know the people who did this.” Teal said flatly, catching me by the shoulder. “Who were they?” Her eyes were narrowed, and her voice was barely restrained, fury and frustration bleeding into it. I gritted my teeth, and exhaled, nodding.

“There’s a farm nearby, Haen. A separate group of gnolls had assaulted them, desecrated their friend’s corpses and besieged them for several days. When we came only a handful were left.” I sighed. “The gnolls nearby were peaceful, they disagreed with the others. Someone’s been inciting Haen, I never thought he’d gain so much leverage.” I said, my voice faint as I sat down. “Didn’t Hrothan send a scout?” I thought aloud, voice still barely above a whisper.

The dragon sat beside me, seeming to sense my distress. I shook it off, heading towards Haen itself. “You are going to confront them.” The dragon asked, scrambling to her feet and following after me. I said nothing, touching the Aen in my armour. If it came down to it, this would make the fight a one-sided slaughter. “You… aren’t. That was not meant for men.”

“If they fight me, then they will deserve it.” I snarl, but I shift my hand away from it. Could I really let it be used so freely? To take so many lives. Isn’t the first time I’ve taken one before. I frown. Maybe it’s just the first time it’s so easy. My hand trembled a little. Teal was silent.

A few minutes later she grabbed onto my elbow, halting me. I turned to look at her. Her eyes were determined, her gaze steely. “Are you certain you want to go and slaughter them?”

“I want to confirm it. Then I want the instigator.” I snarl. “He’s the real problem, and I want to know why he did it. I let it go the last time, gave him the benefit of the doubt, but this… I can’t believe that he never had an ulterior motive.”

“Then perhaps stealth might serve you better.” Teal said. “If he has an ulterior motive, if he is serving another, surely he will want to communicate with them.” I stare for a moment, thinking. They aren’t wrong… I thought. But there’s no way I’ll be able to get close enough, I’m sure he’s not stupid enough to communicate in the open…

[Unless there’s magic for communication he’s going to need to courier it out.] Page noted. [And I doubt he’d trust just anyone for that.]

I nodded. The farmers were still going to pay, but I needed to see the larger picture. “Right.” I said. “Okay, I’ll watch it from afar. He has to either have a messenger or it’s possible he’ll be going to meet whomever later.” I frowned. “Can you possibly also help watch the perimeter?”

Teal bowed. “Of course.” Her body rippled and changed into that of a chimaera, I arched an eyebrow. Seriously, what the hell… “If I spot anyone that tries to leave, and I believe they are carrying an item of importance, I will take measures to ensure they do not proceed.” The chimaera said.

It carried me to the edge of the farm, and I dismounted, tracking slowly towards the edge of the forest. I settled to watch the main exit, as mobile as Teal was she could easily cover the lesser exits that dotted the edges of the farm. I settled in, my armour blending into the gloom.

The farm was strangely busy, people moving with purpose, carrying things. When I saw the cart I realized what they intended. They want to leave? Why? I watched in consternation. It would be a lot harder to pick out messengers if he travelled in that throng of people.

A rustle of noise alerted me, but it didn’t come from the farm. I gritted my teeth, it was behind me, couldn’t turn to look at it, I could only hope my Sense would be enough. I waited, my Sense active while I strained my ears to hear the slightest of sounds. One step, then two, the person was unsteady on their feet, barely standing, let alone walking. Not one of the farmers. I concluded, but stayed still.

Someone stepped into my sphere on wobbly feet. They were definitely armoured, and from the look of it, fuzzy and indistinct in my Sense, it had been shredded. They were heading towards Soren, or at least, the general direction of it. They put another foot forward, nearly tumbling to the ground. I hesitated for a moment more. Who is this? And could I abandon my post to check?

With another step, they fell down, landing face first in the ground. “Bloody hell…” I whispered under my breath, slowly turning and crawling towards them. It was definitely leather armour, arrows peeked out from the armour, and as I reached out to touch the armour my gauntlet came away slick with blood. Bloody hell. I repeated to myself.

“… Who?” A voice croaked weakly. “Tell Hrothan… Haen… Bandits…” She mumbled, and went quiet. I could still hear her breath, but she wouldn’t be long for the world. I doffed her armour to get access to the arrows. Grimacing, I pushed the arrows out from her chest. Her breathing grew more laboured, and I quickly brought out a potion. I repeated what I had done with Numen, letting the potion trickle into her mouth. Her wounds closed in spurts each time I gave it to her.

I let her be once her wounds were no longer life threatening, the potion had been expensive, and useful as it was it was better to save it for when I really needed to use it… on someone else. It’s a real shame it’s toxic to me… I thought ruefully.

As I set her into a recovery position, I scanned the horizon again, Delving a little just in case. Nothing had happened yet, which was a relief at least. The farmers had gathered at the square, they were leaving. I hissed through my teeth, could we have missed our window?

As they left I was torn between following and continuing the watch. Teal showed itself next to me, tilting its head towards the group. “I will scour the farm once they are gone.” It answered. “Go, if you see someone leave the group you can be sure it is them.” I nodded, but as I turned to leave someone darted from the farm. Their direction was perpendicular to the path of the group, and now that the group had rounded the bend, they would never have seen him.

[But we did.] Page noted with smug satisfaction. [Let’s catch them.]

Me and Teal swiftly passed through the underbrush, closing in from behind. Teal pounced, and a muffled shout came as the man thudded against the earth. I leaned down on him, drawing the dagger onto his back. “Can you shadow the group?” I asked quickly. “Just in case.” Teal darted off, leaving me with the man writhing against the ground.

“If you keep struggling I’ll take off your hand.” I said simply. “You’re going to tell me where you were going, and what you’re carrying.” He went limp, and I pulled him by the neck, bending his body upward, while my knees kept him arms locked into place.

“C-Carrying?” The man whispered. “I’m trying to get away! They’re crazy!” His back arched painfully. “I’m not making an enemy of my own country.” He started struggling again. “I swear, I didn’t do it, I never thought…” He choked for a moment, struggling at the words. “Please…”

I stared at the back of his head, jaw set as he blubbered his excuses and his regrets. I was only surprised he hadn’t shat himself. My dagger was held in my left hand, and I fingered the handle, rotating it in my hand, I wanted to just plunge it in. Regardless of what he said now, he had followed them, still chosen to stay, perhaps even participate. Everyone has a choice, and you have to live with the consequences, regardless of your intentions.

[You’ve never had as much at stake.] Page said. [And now I don’t think you really fear death.]

I gritted my teeth. Page was right of course, the worst I had ever been was ostracized, bullies learned that it wasn’t worth beating me to take a beating themselves. My fingers tightened on the handle for a few more seconds. I let out a silent exhale, and loosened my grip.

“If you want to live, tell me how this all happened.” I snarled at him, pushing him against the ground. He whimpered, and talked.