Mark of the Fool

Chapter 303: Aftermaths

Could you be any more vague, man? Hart raked his fingers through his long brown hair. Come on, this isnt some bards tale where everythings gotta be all mysterious and told by candle and campfire, Cedric.

Well the Chosen began.

Can we talk while we ride? Drestra interrupted, scanning the surrounding trees. We lost time back at the encampment and gained most back thanks to Baelin. Lets not lose it again.

Yeah, lets ride. Dont feel like standing here all day anyway, Hart agreed.

Cedric remembered the harmony hed seen between the expedition teams, both during the battle and after. The Heroes never worked like that, not even in the beginning. How much better would things be if we did? He wondered, but kept his thoughts to himself.

Right, then. Well talk an ride. An Ill try not ta be too vague for ya Hart. Cedric climbed up on his horse, his irritation plain. Within seconds, the trio was mounted and on their way down the road. A gust of wind rustled the changing leaves: each Hero scanned the trees lining the road.

Things seemed peaceful enough, but theyd been ambushed on peaceful roads before. That comfortable feeling from being in the encampment began to fade, too quickly for Cedrics liking.

Once the horses got up to a good trot, he continued talking.

Right, so. Heres what Im talkin about. Remember when I said the dungeon core really went after Alex in the chitterer dungeon?

Yes, I remember, and I remember you asking him about it too, Drestra said, her reptilian eyes tracking from one side of the road to the other. You all said that it was similar to how the cores focus on Merzhin and me when were left undefended. What about it?

Well, somethin about that dont seem quite right ta me. Harts right, that golems nasty, but Im nasty too. The resta their team werent no slouch either: lots o wizards and that bigun Grimloch an all the rest of em. Seems a might strange that itd just needle-focus on one wizard. I could see it, if

You feeling neglected? Hart interrupted, laughing. Youre acting like someones lover that aint getting enough attention.

Cedric grunted. Look, Im bein serious here. You heard what the big goat wizard was sayin: in battle you focus on the biggest threat and break it down.

Well, sometimes thats true, Drestra said. But sometimes its better to cull the weak. Theyre more easily hunted and they fall faster.

Not the point Im tryna make: the Ravener focuses on us. Were always the biggest threat to it. Shalf the reason why we even matter in this whole fight. We break cores and smash dungeons, so they focus on us first instead o tryin ta kill everyone in Thameland an raze it.

True, Hart said. But the spawn went after everyone pretty equally out on the hills.

Thats true, Drestra said. It even seemed like they went after the Generasians more than they go for our knights and priests.

Thats what Im sayin. They focused on individuals down in the dungeon, but not outside. So, what happened down in the blood-drak dungeon? Whod the core focus on when you all were tryin ta break it?

Me, Drestra said. Then it split its attention between me and Hart when he got there.

A lot of the monsterswere concentrating on me too. Hart said. I got there a little after Drestra, so she was already good and stuck in.

And it didnt go after any of them wizards with ya? Cedric asked. Didnt focus on any o them?

No, it focused on me, Drestra said, after a moments thought. But Hart and I were the main targets. Ah, no wait, Im lying. Now that I think about it, it targeted some of the Watchers more than the other Generasians.

Yeah, I remember now, Hart said. It took some of the heat off me.

Aye, so it spread its focus around, but with that wizard Alexit was mostly bent on killin him. Cedrics forehead creased between red eyebrows. Even ta where it was ignorin me.

Why are you going on about this? Drestra asked, with a surprising amount of firmness in her voice. Alex and all the Generasians have been nothing but good to us. You sound like an inquisitor on a bad day.

Yeah, why does it matter if it was hunting him? Hart asked. Maybe he stinks or something.

Both Heroes stared at Hart. Only the sound of horse hooves drumming along the path, the rustling of leaves,and distant birdsong broke the judging silence.

Well I dont mean literally! He tried to explain himself. I dunno, likemaybe hes got some kinda stink that only Ravener-spawn can smell?

They continued staring at him.

Fine! Its just a theory, Im not the one being crazy here, Cedric is!

Im not being crazy! the Chosen snapped. Im jus curious, is all.

And Alex gave you an explanation: one that makes sense, Drestra reminded him. Does it even matter why he was attacked? Everyone was. Come on Cedric, we actually have allies now. Powerful ones whore more than willing to help.

Well, lets be honest, Hart cut in. Theyre helping because theyre getting something out of it. Not complaining hereI know better than most what its like to fight for paybut Im just saying thats the way it is. Theyre not exactly here out of the goodness of their hearts.

Oh, so now youre on Cedrics side? Drestra glared at him.

I dont have a side, Im just askin a bloody question! Cedrics voice rose.

And Im not on anyones side either, Hart said. Look, theyre wizards: theyve probably got their own secrets. Never fought or heard of a wizard who didnt have a list of secrets at least as long as my arm. As long as those secrets dont end with me getting demons all over my ass, they can have all the secrets they want. Let it lie, man, he said to Cedric. Were Heroes, not church inquisitors.

Ayelook, its jus that what the chancellor said got me ta thinkin is all, I didnt mean no harm by it. Sjust had me curious, but Ill let it be. Last thing we need is for Heroes to be at each others

He paused.

At each others throats.

Heroes.

Who was supposed to help keep the Heroes together? The Fool. All that ungrateful talk about the Fool being useless aside, they were supposed to serve Uldar by helping to knit everyone together, both in lifeand in death.

A thought seeped into the back of his mind. Who did dungeon cores mostly focus on trying to kill? Heroes.

Which Hero was missing?

And whod been the friendly fellow whod helped ease the Chosen, Champion and Sages spirit when theyd arrived at the wizard's camp? Who happened to be therea friendly face that he already knewand made getting along with all those strangers a hell of a lot easier?

Alex.

Alex from Thameland.

The same fellow hed met a day after hed woken up with the balanced scales of the Chosen burning bright on his chest. The image of an ugly jesters statueone hed seen in town squares and fountains all over Thamelandcame to mind.

Would Alex Roth have a golden symbol of a jester glowing somewhere on his body? The Chosen rode along, his hands gripping the reins so tightly, he could feel the tension in them through the metallic glove that was his morphic weapon.

Thenhe caught himself.

Hold on now Cedric, pa always said not ta get so heated ya stop makin proper use of yer head. He remembered how his father had pulled him aside after a few bloody-nosed fights with the other boys in Clan Duncan. Dont be rushin ta judgement. Think.

The more he thought about his suspicions, the more holes he found in them.

What am I, mad? He shook his head. The Fools the least dangerous o the lot of us, so why would the bloody core be after him instead o me. Fools cant use spellcraft or fight, an Ive seen im do both more than once. Plus, he built that bloody war-machine ov a golem ov his. An its got them firing stones in its hands and head. An if they aint bloody weapons, then I dont know what is, an Fools can't even use weapons. Whatm I thinkin?

Cedric doubted he couldve ever made that golem, even with Uldars magic and divinity. He didnt have the kind of knowledge to know where to even begin.

Ach, forget it, he thought. Probably just chasin my tail like a dog thats got a damn burr in its backside. Bsides, he wasnt the only one ya got along with at their camp, aye? Theres someone else ya got along wit pretty damn well. Is she a Fool too? Course not, what wit all her smarts an that whole fancy way about er.

He smiled, remembering the walk he and Isolde took the night of the celebration.

If he could have slowed their walk down to a crawl, he wouldve done just that to get the chance to learn more about the attractive young woman and her life at that fancy university. He couldnt even picture some of things shed talked about: theyd sounded like something old Mad Kelda had dreamed up after one of her special mushroom soups. The stuff had sailed way over his head and hed kept gaping at her in silence like an idiot, feeling more and more like a bumpkin with every word shed spoken. At least when the conversation had turned to spellcasting, he could jump in a little: old grans wizardry lessons gave him a bit of knowledge, and hed learned a bit more in the early days of the cycle. The court wizards had crammed as many battle spells into his, Drestra and Merzhins heads as theyd had time for back in the capital. So, hed finally stopped gaping and actually contributed to the conversationeven though gaping at Isolde was something he wouldnt mind getting used to.

It was too bad things were cut short: shed been asking about his morphic weapon when theyd circled back to the bonfire and the walk ended.

Next time, he thought. Just have somethin ready ta talk about next time.

Squaring his shoulders, he let go of questions and troubled thoughts in favour of nice thoughts about a fetching blue-eyed wizard from Generasi.

Trouble had a way of coming for people when they werent expecting it.

And the three Heroes werent expecting the trouble waiting for them in Ryeford.

Hold on, Hart said, stringing his bow and peering down the road. His sharp eyes picked out the town through the trees ahead, while Cedric and Drestra were left squinting. Somethings wrong.

What is it? Cedric asked.

The roads blocked aboutId say maybe a dozen or so paces in front of the town. Theres priests around and a bunch of soldiers are standing guardoutside, not at the gates. Andyep, those are Merzhins people. I dont see anyone else, though He squinted. Theres something else too. The gates are wide open, but theres not much movement past them. Dont see any regular folks, just Merzhins soldiers and priests.

Cedric frowned, turning his weapon into a lance. Lets pick up the pace an get over there. Any sign of Merzhin?

If hes in there, hes deep inside, Hart said.

Prepare for battle then, Drestras crackling voice said. Just in casejust in case.

The horses cantered down the road with their riders prepared for a fight, but as they got closer, no sounds of conflict reached them. If anything, it was the opposite. Everything was quiet. Too quiet. Then the stink hit them.

Blood, Hart growled. Old blood. Just starting to rot.

As the town grew closer, Cedric saw soldiers raise their weapons then quickly lower them and scramble to remove the barricade, realising who was approaching.

Hail! Cedric called, waving at the soldiers and priests. Whats goin on? Wheres Merzhin?

The faces of those guarding the way were as pale as sheets.

A young woman replied with a tremor in her voice: Welcome, Heroesit might be better if you go in and see for yourselves. I hope you havent had a meal lately. A visible shudder went through her. The Saint is in the town square.

Why arent you using the gate? Hart asked.

Its been sabotaged from inside. theres been a massacre. Youll see.

The three Heroes glanced around, then rode through the damaged gateswhich looked like they'd been sawed off at the hinges. Inside the town of Ryeford, the ugly evidence of a massacre greeted them. Rust coloured stains painted the streets and spattered the buildings. Maggots wriggled along the ground. Flies feasted on bits of rot, buzzing through the air like smoke clouds.

Oh bloody hell, Cedric swore.

The Heroes slowed, riding through a cloud of stench: rot, decaying blood andsomething else. Something fouler.

Poison? Drestra sniffed the air. Venom walkers, I think.

Silence-spiders too, Hart said. Look at those big claw marks in the wood on those houses. But where the hell are the bodies?

Merzhin probably had them collected. the Sage said.

Yet, when they reached the centre of town, there werevery few bodies lying on the ground. A few of the towns residents along with a small number of the fifty warriors whod been stationed in Ryeford, were laid out in rows with bedsheets partly covering them like shrouds. The customary Heroes fountain loomed above the bodies, and the Saint and a group of priests knelt in prayer beside it.

Merzhin looked upgrim-facedwhen the trotting horses entered the square. I was too late, he said, with sadness. All were departed to Uldars side for at least a day or so before we arrived. There is nothing I could do except guide their souls to him. Most of the townspeoples and soldiers bodies are missing.

Bloody hell, Cedric said, making the sign of Uldar. What did this? Is there a dungeon around here? A double-dungeon?

No, Merzhin said. None that we could find.

Wheres the horde, then? Hart asked, looking around as though monsters would suddenly leap out from behind the empty buildings.

Thats the thing, Merzhin said. Our rangers couldnt pick up a trail. Theres silence-spider and venom walker tracks all through the woodstheyre everywhere. It was like they purposefully made a web of tracks to hide their actual trail.Which shows a level of intelligence thats worrying. We have no idea where they came fromor where theyre going, or where they went.

The hunter slipped from the trees, peering at the landscape ahead. Rough hills. Grasses. Swamps.

Moors.

And somewhere within this landscape, it could feel the strong pulse of mana.

There were wizards ahead.

And there were a lot of them.

It snorted with distasteand discomfort.