"Conspiracy of the Dead - 02" by Timothy Pontious

"I wish I could tell you if the situation is grim or not." General Tornwater stabbed the air with a hunk of beef on the end of his knife. "I assume that it is grim indeed, but I don't have any evidence!" The general was stabbing the meat on his plate forcefully as he made his point. He was clearly irritated at the spot he was in. "I need to know where they are, how many there are, how they fight, and when we should expect them."

"I have two divisions - about a thousand men - and some 200 horses with riders. I have no idea if that's enough. I don't even know if they are headed this way." He pulled his napkin, wiped his greasy fingers, and threw it disgustedly onto his plate. This was evidently a signal for the servers to come in with fresh dishes of chilled fruit.

"This is Commandant Kers of the Third Terrim Infantry." The general pointed to a an older veteran grown heavy around the edges but still hard underneath. "Would you bring us up to date, Commandant?"

Kers stood up in his place for a moment and made a short bow. "There have been several raids into the Foal Valleys - here is a map to show you approximate locations." He unrolled a cloth map that had been inked and reinked several times to show many different things. Sitting back down he began his bad news.

"The eastern half of the Foal Valleys is wiped out. They chose to defend themselves without calling for aid, for whatever reason. They've been successful at that in the past though. This means the Dead have many horses and the potential for an absolutely huge cavalry. We've not seen anything organized yet, but it stands to reason that they're doing just that somehow, somewhere."

"They seem to have come from this western area of the Anvil Hills. Since we don't have good relations with folk from there, and information is hard to come by, we don't know if the Anvil Hills are depopulated or not. It could be that they have an army to match that potentially huge cavalry."

"They have raided as far north as the southern reaches of Jazira as of a day ago. In fact, it is only about a two-day ride from here. We've seen some refugees, but not many. We tried to send word around for them to head this way, but we're not sure how well that can get communicated right now given the circumstances."

The general interrupted again. "You'll be provided a map and instructions on the roads to take. Captain Zurn is familiar with that area. When do you think you can leave?"

The general looked pointedly at Wolfstone, who replied, "I'm ready now. It depends on the others." He looked around the table, eyes searching for information.

The priestess stood. She was tallish, with a flow of midnight curls that caressed her shoulders and cascaded over the almost gauzy white fabric she wore as a humble traveling tunic. On a necklace she wore a simple strand of some sort of woven heavy thread with three absolutely stunning stones that were pierced by the thread. These stones were marbled orange and white, and they gave off a sheen in the dim of the tent. "I can be ready at any time. My name is Laurentama. I hail from the East Havens, but have been at home among the alliance for several years. I serve Solara, not any nation."

She fondled the stones on her chest a moment. "These stones are a gift to me from the Sisterhood. They will serve us well in this journey." She sat down with sort of a melancholy resolution on her face.

A shorter man stood for a moment, nervously combing his fingers through his beard. He was a little more disheveled than was probably really necessary for the circumstances. His hair had been combed at one point, but it must have been before some rain storm or a heavy sleep or something. He also seemed painfully shy. "I'm Herman. I'm from a lot of different places, really. I'm a seeker of strange truths. That's probably why I'm a wizard. That's my kit in that bag, so I'm ready now, thankee." He pointed toward a small backpack near the door, then he sat back down with a determination to investigate the fruit bowl and a motion to a steward to bring another glass of wine.

Finally Captain Zurn stood from the end of the table where he had been listening. "It was my pleasure to welcome you all to this camp. I will be accompanying you all to your destination with a group of my men. We have a few horses on loan to us from the First Faldaen Cavalry Brigade, whose commander could not attend due to some duties elsewhere. I would assume, Mister Wolfstone, that you prefer horse over wains?"

"Aye. We may need to make a few short cuts, and military wains don't lend themselves to that." Wolfstone nodded.

"We will be changing guard duty in a couple of hours. We'll be leaving then. Someone will come get you." Captain Zurn looked briefly around the table. "Will there be anything else, General?"

"I have a question." Wolfstone leaned in with his elbows on the table. "Why the delay? Why did we not leave this morning? If they are marching is time not essential?"

"If you ride the afternoon and through the night, you should be close to the area where we suspect they are massing, by dawn."

"Ah, but I thought your esteemed commandant told us it was a two day ride? How is there such a big difference? Because it seems that half a day and a night is not the same as two days, unless you know they are moving that quickly."

"More likely, Wolfstone, it is because we're simply not sure. You'll be our eyes starting tomorrow. Now then, see to your preparations. Thank you all. I must take my leave now. Stay and enjoy your lunch if you can." The general and his officers stood up and abruptly left leaving Wolfstone, Laurentama, and Herman to themselves.

"Well, I guess we should get to know each other." Wolfstone stuck out a hand in greeting toward Herman. Herman took it only briefly. "If we're going to work together it would be best if we knew what each other is good at."

"Aye." Herman shifted a little uneasily. "I am a master in three spell schools."

"Three? That's quite a feat." Laurentama was instantly intrigued.

"Well, perhaps it just comes with the family line. As I was saying, I am a master of Ramparts, which is a variety of defensive spells. I have mastered Magnetism, which is like gravity and forces. And I have much skill on sorcery, which is the changing of matter. I suspect I have been volunteered because I can also cast the fire-portal that these soldiers are so fond of."

"Would be convenient for a quick move should we need it. Good to know, Herman." Wolfstone looked toward the priestess. "Laurentama, I suspect those are not mere baubles you wear."

The priestess demurred. "I have not yet used their power, but if I understand correctly these sunstones will be quite useful. Each one has a different power."

"Have you any experience with walking dead?" Herman was eyeing the baubles, or perhaps the rest of the priestess.

"Not with walking dead like these. I have had some dealings with spirits though, poltergeists and haunts. Nothing too dramatic and certainly not an army of them." She seemed calm enough but uneasy talking about herself or the walking dead.

"Well, I'm a ranger, and we're easy enough to spot and figure out." Wolfstone shrugged and nobody pressed for more information yet.

"I've not seen armor like that." Herman poked Wolfstone's woven leather braids.

"It's from Tairoe. We had more leather than anything else to work with, and when you weave it it gives you a lot of protection without being heavy like metal armor."

"It must have taken somebody a long time to weave all of that leather like that, and interwoven onto the base." Laurentama was also tracing the path of the braids with her eyes.

"I made it myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I think we've not long before the guard changes."

Wolfstone's Journal 23 Kronos. afternoon

Lunch was... interesting. A nice bit of beef that nobody was in the mood to enjoy. Didn't know a soul there. Got introduced around to the alleged "team". There's a healer, which is good. Besides, she's fairly attractive! On the other hand, I don't need that distraction. And a wizard. Always heard about those kind, but never adventured with one before. Not much time to get to know them before we hit the trail. Last night's captain and some of his crew are coming along. Can't wait. I have absolutely NO idea what I've gotten myself into, and I'm not sure it bodes well.

"Saddle up then." Captain Zurn was already mounted high on his heavy war horse. "We'll set a good pace and eat as much distance as we can before dark."

The priestess had provided her own ride, a gentle-looking cream colored mare. Her ornate staff was upright in a heavy leather case like a tube, that was carefully tied into the saddle tack behind her saddle and to one side. It waved as the horse moved, almost begging for a pennant or a flag.

Herman was awkwardly hanging onto the neck of his pony. He seemed to know what to do once he got in the saddle but the getting there was a worry. If he was an accomplished rider, he must have been hiding his skills. Perhaps it was because he was short?

Wolfstone slid onto a chestnut stallion and made sure his gear was secure. A bow was strung, a large swordhilt showed, and he had a nice axe as well.

Captain Zurn lead the group down to the river, where they picked up five more men including Rort and Kit. Their armor was shined to a nice bronze glow, and the spears and swords they carried looked to be freshly sharpened and in good shape.

With a nudge to his ride's flanks Zurn edged down to the river, and into the flow toward the south with the others close behind.

#

It was a somber quiet ride. The party stopped just before sunset for a brief cold dinner of whatever the soldiers had brought with them, and to refill the water skins. There was enough food to last a week - at the most.

Kit and Rort were seated together on a large boulder not far from a small creek. For once Kit was not doing his good-natured teasing of his brother. The approach of night had put an edge on everybody's mood. The other three of Zurn's men were Tork, Granid, and Feaboen. They were informally watching the perimeter of the small camp area, nervously making sure there was nothing dead out there that was moving.

"We'll have to go a little slower after sundown. Shift your weapons to the ready." Captain Zurn was pacing among his men, making sure they prepared.

"No, we won't have to go slower." Herman rummaged through one of his sacks and pulled out a scrollcase. He grinned as he handed it to Wolfstone. "Try this out."

Wolfstone took it gingerly and looked it over by the dim light. There was a cap on both ends of it.

"There is a square pattern carved on one end and a rounded pattern on the other. I think you'll want to check out the rounded end first."

"What is this?" Wolfstone didn't seem too eager to open something handed to him from a wizard.

"My own invention. I should say I invented it with an alchemist friend of mine since I don't know the light and dark magics." Herman shrugged and gave a disarming grin. "I call it the 'Darklight'."

Wolfstone found the rounded pattern and unscrewed the cap from that end. From the scrollcase came a beam of light that was quite enough to see by. "Well, that's a good use for magics." He shined it around the resting spot and could easily make out the priestess, the wizard, the other men, and the trees beyond. "Very nice. Why do you call it the Darklight?"

"Open the other side if you'd like." Herman seemed to be enjoying guiding the ranger through a discovery.

Wolfstone opened the squared side of the scrollcase, and a beam of darkness shone the opposite direction from the beam of light. "Equally handy. Thankee, Herman. Do you mind if I hold this invention of yours tonight?"

"Not at all. I suggest you recap the dark end."

Wolfstone was already putting the squared cap back on. "How is it made, and how long will it last?"

"It will last long enough and then some. No worries there." Herman was digging around in his pack again, and resorting his stuff. "It is made with two crystals, each enchanted the opposite of each other, and encased in the tube. Simple, really."

Herman tore a couple of small bits of meat, and began carefully stuffing them into his loose-fitting shirt. Wolfstone nibbled on his food and watched for a minute as a small mouth came to the seam of the shirt, open and begging.

"What have you got in your shirt, Herman?" The muzzle was a dull gray color with a quick, forked tongue.

"This is an old friend of mine. I think he can help us in the morning. You can meet him when he is ready to come out for a hunt."

"He's not going to slow us down, is he?"

"Ah, no, not at all. In fact he should be able to help us do reconnaissance and stuff. Very helpful friend."

It was hard to tell what it looked like at this rate, so Wolfstone decided not to spend more time persuing the matter. Besides, you never knew what strange bedfellows a wizard might have in his pouches.

"So he flies?" Herman smiled at Wolfstone's guess. "Fine. Then if Captain Zurn is ready?" Wolfstone waited for a nod from the captain. "Let's saddle back up."

They rode off at a steady distance-eating pace into the evening with Wolfstone and Captain Zurn leading, the darklight jabbing into the deep twilight on either side of the road. Laurentama followed close behind and sang her song of evening farewell to the sun, the quarterstaff waving behind her. Herman and the rest of Zurn's men solemnly followed.

"Oy! Psst! Kit!" Rort whispered a bit loudly to his brother as they rode side by side. "Did ya see that badger or sommin in that wizard's shirt?"

"The wizard doesn't have a badger, Rort." Kit didn't know what it was, but a badger would have been too big for that bulge. "We'll see what it is in the morning, maybe."

"Aye. I thinks its a badger. I ain't seen no badgers before, Kit. Is it a badger?"

"If it is not a badger, how about a bet? You going to care for my horse till we get back to the camp?"

"Oh." Rort thought a moment. "Maybe its not a badger but if it is, maybe you'll care for my horse then?"

"Deal." Kit spurred his horse on a little more quickly to make sure they did not lag behind that tiny beam from the darklight, which poked its way into the trees from Wolfstone's saddle.