Rory thought they’d get through most of the day without any big troubles. Maybe the war was going to pass them by without bothering them. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

As the afternoon wore on and the sky turned from blue to the first tatters of gold, the Wraiths reappeared. Jerome spotted them first. He had taken over Mikey’s lookout duty with near religious fervour, honouring his fallen friend’s greatest contribution by doubling his watch.

Rory wasn’t sure if that was a good coping mechanism, but he wasn’t about to go arguing. Everyone had their own ways of dealing with trauma and grief.

“They look different,” Jerome said, after he had informed Rory of the Wraiths slowly approaching the palace gates and joined him to accost them.

Rory glanced at him in slight concern. Sure, he had expected the Sigil of Learning he had gifted them to have tangible effects in their bearing as they absorbed more knowledge. But physiological changes weren’t something he had accounted for. “Different how?”

“Well, it’s less a matter of looking different and more just, like, a mannerism about them, you know? They feel hesitant, I guess. Scared. Like they aren’t bringing good news.”

That just made Rory feel more concerned. The Wraiths had never showed any emotions regarding whatever message they’d had to bear. Were they learning the ability to feel via the Sigil of Learning too? That seemed a strange thing to pick up.

Not that he faulted or begrudged them that if it was the case. The Wraiths deserved to feel just like everyone else. Well, they were about to find out everything soon enough.

“Let’s see what they have to say before jumping to conclusions,” Viv said.

She and some of the others had joined Rory and Jerome as well. Rory appreciated the company. If It was something serious enough to make generally emotionless monsters scared, then he wanted everyone to be ready to respond as needed.

They met the Wraiths under their new storefront. The two monsters were both staring up at the large sign, engrossed by it like young children observing a strange, new contraption. If they had been scared as Jerome had said, they showed no sign of it now.

“Can you tell what it says?” Rory asked, curious if they could read.

“Sigil Services,” the left Wraith said. He had raspy voice, like a flag made of sandpaper flitting over the breeze.

“Looking for solutions to you Sigil problems?” the second Wraith read. Her voice sounded like a dry paper bag crinkling and crunching. “Look no further.”

Rory laughed. “That’s right. And that’s great, I didn’t know you’d learned to read too. Well done.” The Wraiths showed no reaction at Rory’s praise. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“We bring dire news,” the first Wraith said.

Jerome stiffened beside him. The Wraiths demeanours had changed instantly. Rory tried his best not to grimace. He had shifted the mood of the meeting. There was an urgency vibrating in the air now, and he could feel the others tensing in anxious expectation.

“What sort of news?” Rory asked.

“The Homeworlders are near, and they seek help,” the second Wraith said. “We believe they are approaching even as we speak.”

“How do you know this?”

“How do they know?” Viv asked. “How did they find out they can get help here?”

The Wraiths shuffled and didn’t answer for a while. Rory found his eyes screwing on their own. He had been suspicious since the moment Jerome had told him that the Wraiths had been acting frightened and hesitant. Maybe it wasn’t the situation they were really scared of. Not from the Homeworlders, at least.

Maybe they were scared of Rory.

“Answer Viv,” he said. “How do they know about us?”

“We cannot say for certain,” the Wraith said. “But they may have learned about it from another Wraith, or perhaps a Ghoul, they came into contact with.”

Trish gasped. “What?”

Several of the others had mirrored her reactions. Rory tried to parse through the sudden feeling of betrayal rising like serpent with its fangs bared. The Wraith had put a significant emphasis on “learning”. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but he suspected there was more going on here than any of them knew.

“There is much going on beyond the borders of your palace and your Safe Zone,” the second Wraith said. “Many factions are interacting with each other, not just the Homeworlders and the Otherworlders. These differing interactions create a convoluted web of information that makes many assumptions of who might know what baseless.”

“What exactly are you talking about?” Trish asked, nearly shouting.

Viv nearly matched her volume. “That’s supposed to be your excuse for betraying us?”

“No,” Rory said, raising his voice. “We need to get to the bottom of what we need to do right now. Tell us about the Homeworlders. Where are they right now? Who are they, what’s their condition? Tell us everything you know about them.”

“We know little,” the second Wraith said.

Was there a note of gratitude at Rory’s deflection from the suspicions heaved upon them? He couldn’t tell. At the moment, he didn’t really care. He had greater priorities.

“But there are not many of them,” she continued. “We spotted three humans approaching the palace up the hill, and they are injured. They do not seem to be approaching with any ill intentions. Perhaps all they seek is help. However, it would be in your best interests to remain wary.”

“You assume we’d help them,” Viv said.

“Will you not?”

No one had an immediate answer. There was no easy response. Rory wanted to help anyone who needed it, especially if their condition was something life-threatening. He didn’t want to discriminate. Didn’t matter if they were Homeworlder or Otherworlder, didn’t matter what side of the war they were on.

But things weren’t that simple for him and his group. Anyone they helped, anyone who benefited without him being an actual merchant, could be seen as a beneficiary. He could be implicated in their silly conflict, accused of actively supporting a side.

What a stupid quagmire.

“You didn’t answer how far away they were,” Viv said.

The second Wraith nodded. “They will arrive in a few moments.”

The others made disagreeable noises, which Rory understood. He was frustrated and a little frightened about it all too. But they still needed to make a decision.

“We’ll see what they’re like when they arrive here,” Rory said. He turned around to everyone who had accompanied them. “Not all of us need to be a part of the welcoming committee. I want most of you to get back into the palace and prepare yourselves for anything that might happen. Be ready, remain vigilant, keep your eyes and ears peeled. I don’t want any surprises. Understood?”

“Will you stay here to greet them all by yourself?” Allen asked.

“Of course, not,” Viv said. “I’ll be here as backup. And some of you can hang around nearby—but out of sight—for the same reason. That should be safe enough.”

They parted. Rory could feel the vice grip of tension upon their backs and shoulders as they left. He felt the same too. That feeling itself made him feel… rather put off, in a strange way. One terrifying incident with the Thunderclaw and now they couldn’t even bring themselves to trust their fellow humans.

“Give your master my thanks for posting you as lookouts and advance guards,” Rory told the Wraiths once only he, Viv, and the two monsters were the only ones in the vicinity. “We appreciate the heads-up. Though I suspect a lot of what you said wasn’t something your master knows, was it?”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Viv said. “You Wraiths have learned a lot over a short time. We’re going to need to talk about how the Homeworlders know about us from you specifically, because I suspect your master either doesn’t know, or doesn’t approve. It’s your fault, not your master’s.”

Neither Wraith answered them for a while. But then they both bowed their heads.

“We will depart to a safe, but nearby distance,” the first Wraith said. “If any great trouble occurs, we will provide assistance, summon reinforcements, and inform our master.”

“And yes,” the second Wraith continued where the first left off. “Much of these matters are beyond our master’s immediate purview, though not for long. He will want to hear of it all. We have simply informed you earlier as you are more immediately affected by it.”

“We appreciate that,” Rory said. He didn’t waste time reminding them what he didn’t appreciate.

Once the Wraiths left, Rory started to feel more anxious than ever. He was glad he had Viv by his side. But it was still strange that he harboured so much consternation towards people who likely just needed some help. He had a bad feeling they weren’t in any state that could be dangerous.

Rory was proven right when their potential guests finally appeared in their line of sight. Even from the distance he was afforded, he could tell that at least two of the three people weren’t doing well.

One of them had his arm in a makeshift sling, blood darkening the faded grey shirt he wore. He was dragging his feet and being supported by a young woman, the only person in the ragtag group who seemed somewhat fine to the naked eye. The third wasn’t even standing. A makeshift sled had been constructed and tied to the middle woman’s waist, and upon it, the third person lay bleeding and unconscious.

“They don’t look like they’re here to burn the palace down,” Rory said.

“True.” Viv pressed her lips together. “But it never hurts to be careful.”

“Also true.”

Once they had arrived about another couple of dozen yards closer, Rory took a few steps forward to greet them.

“Hello, there,” he said, making sure his voice was loud enough to carry over the driveway to the newcomers. “Before you come any closer, I need you to pause and state your origin and intentions.”

The trio did pause. Points to them for complying with simple requests.

“We’re Homeworlders,” the woman in the middle said. Her voice sounded older and heavier than her looks suggested. “Just like you. And we came here because we need your help. My companions are dying and there is nothing I can do to save them. Please, can you help?”

Rory’s heart squeezed itself in his chest. More than sincerity, the woman had delivered her last line with such feeling, there was no way Rory could refuse her. After all, it was only yesterday he had burned away a third of his group.

“Come on in, then,” Rory said. “Please be aware that there are people here who are keeping watch. No surprise movements or anything of the sort, please.”

The woman resumed moving, dragging her injured companions towards the palace. “We don’t mean anyone any harm here. Not at all. We just need a place to rest for a moment and heal up, if possible.”

No one said anything further as the group approached.

They didn’t look much better closer up. If anything, the wounds looked worse. The man with the broken arm and the bleeding side looked barely conscious, his eyes glazed over and not registering anything he saw. Up close, even the woman looked dead on her feet. What consternation Rory had been feeling started to melt into his boots.

Both and he and Viv approached and helped pull the injured within the gates. The others appeared, several of them working together to carry the wounded to Evelyn’s infirmary.

While her companions were carried away, the woman paused in front of the broken staircase before the palace’s main hall doors. “You have a big place here, don’t you? Never thought it was possible for other people to exist big groups like this outside of Mirrorend.”

Rory smiled. “You’d be surprised. But then, I’m amazed you all have worked together to the point you’re fighting the Otherworlders.”

The woman looked at him sharply. “Sounds like you know a lot more than you let on, old man.”

“Sounds more like there’s a lot we should talk about.” Viv took the woman’s arm in a friendly fashion, though her smile was a little too fierce to be amicable. “Let’s go inside and talk, shall we?”