The caravan ended up staying three nights in Wysten. They''d explored the small town while they were there, but there was little of note. They''d bought some small foodstuffs at the market, and the entire group had bathed on the second day in the bathhouse, but those were the highlights of Wysten. Though he didn''t know if he''d ever need to return, he made sure to tie to the teleportation seal there as a precaution. It couldn''t hurt.


    Luckily, the relationship between him, Zethari, and the party had improved since their argument in the wagon. Firtz had gone out of his way to be pleasant, the ever-quiet Kjormur had come out of his shell a little, and En-In had struck up an unlikely friendship with Zethari, who inexplicably enjoyed his company. The sisters had remained open with Abad as well, sharing many elements of their life back home as they explored the town. Abad was relieved. If they were going to travel together for a time, he''d much rather them all get along than not.


    On the third morning, the wagons were loaded and ready to travel. By afternoon, the caravan was many miles east of the small town. The weather had improved significantly, so they were finally making good time. The sky was a deep blue, and the light of the Great Tower seemed to him half as bright as it was just a month prior. The air was cooler, and he noticed in the early morning that many of the puddles had turned to ice overnight. Some small part of him had resisted the idea that the world would actually change, but the evidence was undeniable. The light was fading.


    Looking toward the Great Tower, it seemed as if the orb of light was shrinking and pulling in on itself. As a result, darkness seemed to pool in the corners of buildings and underneath trees. The days were becoming shorter and the nights longer. Abad could feel it. The world around him felt... tired. Drained. The darkness called out to him. The shadows that filled the world, the ones that seemed so much deeper and more numerous now, seemed like old friends welcoming him home. While nearly every other being he saw seemed to draw into itself more and more as the days went on, he felt empowered. That thought troubled him.


    ***


    By noon the next day, they had ridden many miles to the northeast, following all the while a small river that ran in the same direction as the road. The caravan had settled into a comfortable rhythm, and with this road, whose name he''d not yet learned, being more open and dry than the Old King''s Road had been, the pace had been more steady.


    Zethari also seemed to get her bearings for the first time since they''d begun traveling, due in no small part to En-In''s entertainment. The man had taken to showing her all of his tricks, and she made an excellent audience. While the others rolled their eyes and scowled at his antics, the wolf girl seemed glued to his performances.


    "Again. I wish to see it again." Zethari was staring intently at the deck of cards in the scoundrel''s hands. He''d been performing card tricks for the woman since they''d started moving that morning, and she''d been amazed with his skill and speed. At first, he''d simply shuffled them from one hand to the other and done other similar basic tricks, but when he saw how much they excited her, he began showing her a dozen different ways to shuffle, all while keeping up a steady stream of banter. She was mesmerized.


    "You know," Abad said, watching En-In perform yet another card trick for the wolf woman. "If I didn''t know any better, I''d think you''re an entertainer." The half-elf''s hands moved with the fluidity of a performer. He wondered if En-In''s skills had a practical application beyond mere showmanship.


    "My friend, I am more than an entertainer. I am a magician. A savant. An artiste." He fanned the deck out again and presented it to Zethari. She reached out, her fingers hovering over each card as he smiled at her. She chose a card. "Keep that card, and don''t let me see it." He folded the deck of cards and placed them on a crate that he''d been using as a makeshift table. "Did you read it?" She nodded. "Good, now place it in your pocket."


    She did so, turning away from him as she did.


    "Excellent, now watch as the deep magic takes hold! "He spoke some nonsense words and gestured dramatically. "Now, you might ask yourself, how did he know which card I pulled? Furthermore, you may ask yourself how he ended up with the very card that''s in my pocket?" He lifted up his cap and pulled out a card. Waving his hands over it, he dramatically flipped it over, and Abad watched as Zethari''s eyes grew wide.


    "How did you..." She trailed off.


    En-In grinned." Is this your card?"


    She nodded furiously and snatched it from his hand. Abad could see her mind churning. The man wasn''t using magic, at least as far as Abad could tell. He simply was a master of his craft, using sleight of hand and pageantry to wow and beguile. While he''d seen similar performances over the years, he knew Zethari had never experienced anything like this, and the wide smile that lit up her face warmed his black heart. After her rocky start with the others, he was glad she could have a little fun, and he was grateful to En-In for reaching out to her.


    "Now, my good woman. Please remove the card you so carefully placed in your pocket."


    She reached into her pocket, then pulled the card out. Her jaw dropped as she flipped it over. The card was blank. "How?" she whispered.


    "A magician never tells his secrets." He took the card back from her and, with a flick of his wrist, made it disappear. With another flick of his wrist, the card had returned, but the numbers had changed. "That, my fabulous fey''ra friend, is true magic, and I am its master. Do not be deceived. My ways are not the petty magecrafts of these plebians." He smirked as he pointed at Abad and Kjormur. The dwarf rolled his eyes, and the warlock smiled. The man could have this one. "It''s connected to the old ways, of which I am well-versed"


    She laughed, a full, unrestrained sound that filled the wagon. "That was amazing. Do you have more?" Her eyes sparkled.


    "More? More, she asks!" He affected an air of injured pride. "I always have more, but I cannot spoil my audience too much... Perhaps I will show you later—if the fates will it!" He picked up his cards, clapped his hands, and they vanished. "However, you''ve been quite the delightful audience." He placed a hand over his heart, then stood up and bowed dramatically. "Until next time, take this gift from me to you, my lady." Another card appeared in his hand. He held it out to her, but as she took it, it turned into a blue flower.


    She chuckled as she looked it over. "I will cherish it always, master of true magic."


    Abad smiled and shook his head. Of anyone to strike up a friendship, he never would have guessed it would have been those two. The others, too, had been warming up to her, but they were still tense and awkward at times. It wasn''t entirely their fault. She had a sharp tongue, but it seemed to be getting less sharp with each passing day.


    After stowing away his cards, En-In began playing his lute. Listening to his soft music, Abad looked out over the land. A moment later, Zethari made her way to the back of the wagon and sat next to him, gazing at the flower with a smile on her face.


    "Did you have fun?" Abad met her smiling eyes.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Yes, Nightstalker. While weak, the bard is very entertaining."


    "Hey!" En-In shouted from the front of the wagon, and Firtz began cackling.


    ***


    Abad had much time to examine the land as they traveled. A short distance to the south were the forests of Nolei, separated from them by the river that never drifted far from the road. They had been riding through long rolling hills that were dotted with small homesteads, but those were infrequent and scattered. In the distance, he could make out some cattle and sheep from time to time, but there weren''t many people to be seen outside of the occasional shepherd or farmer. As nightfall approached, a soft fog settled in over the land. It wasn''t thick enough to be troublesome, but the dampness in the air was chilling.


    He yawned. The wagons were making their way up a rather steep hill. He assumed they''d camp out at the top, which is what they''d done the night before. However, he saw Zethari sit up. Looking toward her, he saw her nose twitch.


    "Smoke." She sat up and looked to the front of the wagon. "That way."


    "Smoke? I don''t smell anything." Shani stood up and climbed onto the riding bench.


    A few minutes later, A-Nis popped her head through the canvas flap. "I think there''s a fire ahead. Good nose, Zethari."


    The fey''ra puffed up with pride.


    "We should be ready," Shani said as she climbed back into the wagon''s interior and began digging through her gear. She handed A-Nis her bow and a quiver, then began strapping on her sword and dagger. The elder sister belted on the quiver and gripped her bow, nocking an arrow as she did, ready to let loose at the first sign of trouble. A minute later, Shani crawled back up and took the reins from her sister''s teeth. Kjormur and Firtz were strapping on their heavy armor and drew their weapons, and En-In was belting daggers to his wrists. Abad simply readied his mind, focusing on the sigils within his spirit and preparing himself to cast. He was fully rested and would be able to cast many times before running out of steam.


    The caravan made its way over the crest of the hill and began to descend down the other side.


    "There''s definitely fire up ahead," Shani called out.


    The smell of smoke and fire grew more intense. Along with the smoke, Abad smelled another familiar smell. Death.


    Zethari looked at Abad. She smelled it too. He nodded to her.


    The caravan rolled a short distance further before stopping. He could hear Ulrich shouting, giving commands for the wagons to circle up. Being in a relatively open space, the wagons were able to do so with ease, and mintues later, the wagons had formed a defensive perimeter. As Shani parked their wagon, he and the others exited and made their way to Ulrich, who had a small group gathered around him. He was giving commands, and the other merchants obeyed him with little fuss. Abad could see several crossbows and the like being readied, and several personal guards, hired by the merchants individually, were loading their charges into the wagons and readying themselves.


    After the last of the merchants received their orders, Ulrich turned to Abad and the others. "My friends, it seems we will have to make use of your talents after all." The man turned and pointed down the hill. In the valley, Abad could make out a burning village. He couldn''t see movement within it, but his excellent vision revealed numerous bodies lying in the streets.


    "The village of Sythric." He pointed to the village. "Good, simple folk down there." Ulrich spat on the ground and cursed. "Were, by the look of it." He frowned. "I was hoping to stay here for a day. Got friends." He cursed again. "We''ll be walling up here. Go down and see if it''s safe. If not, we''ll need to know what we''re dealing with." The man turned and began giving more commands as he shooed away the few remaining stragglers back to their wagons. Several of the wagon windows opened as he shouted, and crossbows appeared in each.


    "Come on then, let''s get this grim work done." Firtz brandished his axe and marched down the hill.


    "Goddess shelter us in your light," Kjormur chanted in his strong, gentle voice, and a wave of light descended upon them as they were blessed. Abad could see Zethari bristle as the spell took root. It seemed like the Goddess''s magic felt similar to her as it did to him.


    They followed the old dwarf down the hill. As they did, the details of the village became clear.


    The sight made his heart sink.


    There was carnage everywhere. Doors were ripped from their hinges, windows were smashed in, and dozens of corpses littered the ground. The smell of death was heavy in the air, but there was something else in the air too.


    "What in the Goddess''s green world is that smell?" Kjormur''s face had screwed up as he looked around. His face was pale.


    "The undead," Abad said as the scent triggered his memories. "Be wary." The party had made their way into the edge of the village, careful to move from shadow to shadow as they did. However, outside of one building that was only just starting to catch fire, everything on the way to the village center was burned and broken, and no living thing remained.


    As they entered an alley between two homes, Shani covered her mouth, and En-In heaved. There were dozens of corpses piled in between two houses.


    "There are children..." A-Nis''s voice was filled with a mixture of rage and grief.


    "That smell..." Kjormur gagged.


    "They''ll raise soon." Abad lifted his hand.


    [Candlelight]


    He threw a ball of fire into the center of the pile. As soon as the flames touched the corpses, the smell of burning clothes and scorched flesh filled the air as the bodies began to smolder.


    A-Nis looked at him with a furrowed brow. "You can smell the difference?"


    "I''ve seen more than my fair share of the undead. I''ve learned the scent." The undead smelled like rot like any other dead thing, but they also had a distinct scent, like ash and bile.


    "It''s disgusting." Firtz spat on the ground.


    "We need to purify them, lest their souls never be reunited with the Goddess. There are rites..." Kjormur looked around at the corpses. He was turning a shade of green. "I''ll have to..."


    "Do it." Abad looked at the party. While the mortals were in various states of distress, he could see that Zethari was looking at each of the bodies with an unreadable look on her face. He followed her eyes and saw what had captivated her. A small human child lay at the edge of the pile. Large claw marks split her skin, opening her up from collarbone to navel. The girl''s unseeing blue eyes gazed into Zethari''s. He walked forward and touched her shoulder. She jumped, then pulled her eyes away.


    "I think... Her wounds..." He covered his lips with his finger. They''d deal with that knowledge later.


    He walked around the house, making sure to stay in the shadows. She followed. As they stepped around the house and into a village square, the scene was grisly. There were bodies everywhere. While many littered the ground, some where impaled on spears, while others were torn apart.


    "What kind of monster does this..." En-In said in a hushed tone.


    Zethari shuffled at his words. Looking down at the nearest corpse, Abad could see why. More claw marks were visible on it. "Nightstalker..." Her eyes, glowing in the fire, met his.


    He shook his head. Scanning the square, he saw movement on the far side of the square. "There." He pointed. A group of shambling figures were marking in an alley across the square. Abad motioned for them to be still. As they watched, the corpses began to twitch and move. The bones of one cracked as it pulled itself off a spear and fell to the ground with a sickening thump. A moment later, the thing pushed itself up and staggered toward the others, the wound in its chest oozing fluids. Many others began to twitch. "They''re starting to rise. We should get back."


    They headed back to the others and found Kjormur''s magic settling upon the corpses in the alley. As the dwarf worked, he gestured for the rest to crouch behind some nearby barrels. He could hear En-In vomiting. "Within a half hour, the whole village will be crawling with the dead. We need to warn the others. This place isn''t safe."


    "I''ll go," Zethari said.


    He shook his head. "I need you with me. En-In will go."


    "Shouldn''t we send Zethari? She''s faster." The ranger asked.


    "En-In can cast [Invisibility]." He remembered the man watching his fight with Kasimir from the shadows. "He''ll be safe." Wiping his mouth as he stood up, the half-elf nodded and disappeared. Soft footsteps faded into the night, and he was gone.


    Abad turned to Kjormur. "Are there any spells you know to protect us from them?"


    The man nodded. "There are. Give me a moment to pray." The man pulled a small booklet out of his pocket and began flipping through the pages. His lips were moving silently as he read.


    "Nightstalker." Zethari whispered to him. "Shouldn''t we destroy the undead before they rise?"


    He shook his head. "If we had arrived earlier, we might have had the chance to destroy them before they had did, but I don''t want to get caught in a fight only to end up surrounded." The smell of the burning corpses increased. They''d need to leave their spot soon.


    "We can take them," Firtz whispered. He pointed his axe. "I say we rush in there, take them out, and head back to the caravan."


    He shook his head again. "I don''t trust this. Why would someone raise the dead and leave them here?" He realized the caravan was largely unguarded.


    "They''re bait," Shani breathed.