The Wildlands were even more strange and wonderful then Dea had promised and Erin couldn't have been more happy with her decision to follow the spirit. Even as the girl's body grew weaker, she thought that this was only a fair price to pay for the adventure Dea was taking her on. The Elder Spirit told no lies; it protected Erin from whatever harm may have befallen her, but it could do nothing against the Wildlands magic, nor strengthen the fragile tether which bound Erin's soul.

*****

The Horde would wait upon the carrion birds to finish their meal, a potion may even partake of it themselves; no need to waste good human flesh. It was substandard fair, but so were most things in the mortal lands, they would have to make do lest their strength fade even faster.

These lands were dead and dying; desolate. No demon desired to claim them, no demon would stand aside to see them grow. Not as humans would so like it. Better they die and follow the lands they stood on. Let their flesh and blood mix with the soil and bring new life.

Perhaps one day the killing would end. The pantheon may not be defeated, but left with nothing more to protect and fight for they would not live. Maybe then there would be a stop to the senseless violence, pain, and bloodshed. No more need for Dea'Ammat. It was a nice dream and it came from deep within the heart of every Kin. Or was it the Demon Lord's?

Was there ever a difference?

*****

Maya had closed the shop early but other than running home and spreading the happy news there wasn't much left for her to do. She arrived at her small home with a light and cheerful step that could almost have been called skipping.

Kyle noticed and initially upon her rare cheer, "What's got you so happy?"

“Erin finally got the hint that Noa likes her.”

“Hint? It was right out there in the open.”

“And I still had to tell it to her straight in the face.”

“I thought she was ignoring Noa on purpose,” said Kyle chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief.

“So did I, and I wasn’t going to interfere until Noa pulled that stupid prank.” Maya scowled recalling Erin’s hair plastered to her scalp. That was no minor inconvenience; it was dangerous.

“I heard about that, you’d think he’d have more sense than a twelve-year-old.” Both Maya and Kyle laughed at this. Everyone knew Noa could act with the maturity of a child. It was part of why they loved him, and why he infuriated them all the same. “I’ll prepare something special for dinner tonight. I assume Erin will be coming?”

"I’ll let the Ma and Pops know to come as well. They’ve been worrying about her ever settling down, this might get them to ease up on Erin.”

“Or it could make things worse. Mrs. Shale has been going off about grandchildren ever since Sheena gave birth to her first.”

“Leave it to the baker’s daughter to have a bun in the oven so quickly.” Maya sighed.

“It doesn’t hurt that she has nice buns herself.” Kyle jested, and Maya slapped him on the shoulder. “Ouch! What was that for?”

“You may like to gossip like a housewife but you’re still a bachelor with his head in the gutter. I’ll let Mrs. Shale know to set you up with a wife when I see her.”

"No, you won't! I'll go and invite them over; I need to find and talk with Noa anyway."

"What about?"

"Manly stuff. You go and do whatever it is you do when you're not working, or sleep—you look exhausted." He didn't wait for Maya to reply and immediately set off in the direction of the Shale residence.

Maya knew she wasn't in the best of conditions; she'd been out of sorts ever since the heroes had arrived and unable to get much sleep. Now she was too giddy with excitement to sleep, never mind that small knot of dread in her gut that she had been trying her best to ignore. Maya spent the afternoon in her mother's glade communing with her through sword forms and whispered words. Her mother wasn't there. Maya knew this. Her spirit had long since departed and been reclaimed by the void. There was no pantheon to safeguard and return their departed souls to Vos. That honour belonged only to humans.

It was only human souls who lingered and watched over their loved ones. Only human souls that existed in a cycle of death and rebirth, withheld from Mort, withheld from the Voids embrace. Maya's mother was dead and gone. Still, Maya spent this time as though with her mother. Same as she had all those years ago when mother had taught her the forms and led her through them each day.

Maya was calm and clear headed when she returned for dinner. The small home was packed with both her and Erin’s families. Erin and Noa were red-faced and giggling; trying and failing to ward off Mrs. Shale's love advice and Mr. Shale's fatherly warnings. It looked like Noa’s afternoon had gone very well considering whose hand he was now holding. Maya didn’t know if she should be amused or annoyed that his idiotic antics worked. She settled on the former considering how miserably his previous attempts failed.

True to Kyle’s word, dinner was a decadent affair with roasted pheasant and an extra dose of cheer. They’d all stayed up late, yet when it was time for Erin to leave, she nearly dragged Noa out the door with her to 'watch the stars'.

What had happened in one afternoon to make the girl become so attached, Maya didn’t know. She noted Kyle's knowing grin and made a mental note to get details from Erin in the morning. Her father was showing signs of exhaustion, it was time to rest.

“Father, I think it’s about time for you to turn-in,” she said as she helped him out of his seat. He grumbled something weakly in defiance but allowed her to return him to his room. The remainder of the evening was quiet. Kyle had dragged Noa off somewhere to continue their chat between ‘men’ and Maya was left on her own. The exhaustion of the past week's stress finally caught up to her, so she elected to go to bed early for a change. Her mood had been poor ever since the heroes had shown up in Cairn, but it looked like things were going well, despite those strangers.

******

Over the next few days, a new routine formed. Fewer heroes showed up and more left, allowing Maya to relax somewhat. Erin was spending more time with Noa, and hearing her brother described through love-addled vision was a unique experience, to say the least. This combined into Maya spending more time in solitude without her outgoing friend to drag her into social interaction outside the confines of the shop. Maya was fine with that; she appreciated the peace. She enjoyed the calm of her shop without customers on the morning of Kirnsday—it figured that it would be the morn of the god of war that brought them.

There was no notice of their arrival. Maya didn't notice anything amiss even as the ever-present sounds of village life came to a halt. Her head perked up from her reading when she heard an unusually loud commotion from the square. Then there was a scream and Maya didn't need to think. With her mother's sword in hand, Maya was out the door as fast as she could manage. That was the sound of terror in the voice of her dearest friend.

There was a part of her, Maya was sure, that took in the sight of a small company of soldiers, that saw that they were well equipped and from their postures could tell that they were well trained, could see her family and neighbours beaten back and helpless. That was only a distant part.

All that mattered was what was happening just down the road from her shop where a man she'd never seen was dragging Erin down the road. Her red hair was tangled in the shining gauntlet that held it, her hands bloodied as they clawed ineffectually at the plated steel. Screams of fear were made with a voice gone hoarse, her eyes wide with fear and brimming with tears, her body bloody, scraped and bruised. Still, Erin did not cease her struggling, her painfully desperate attempts to free herself did not falter. Erin was a fighter—always was.

There was no hesitation, no fear of reprisal, only well-forged determination as Maya ran forward blade in hand. She called out to Erin, her friend, her sister. She swore to the Void that this time she would save her. Maya would kill the evil man and save her friend. Maya would not be helpless. Never again. This time would be different.

Harsh iron met soft skin.

The world turned on its head.