We walked along treacherous path and above unhallowed earth, looming threats all around. The six of us kept our eyes and ears peeled as potatoes, though for me it only helped in spiking my heartbeat whenever the group turned towards rustling at the side of the road, or a distant chittering and gnashing.

Fff–rick this is scary. Every time I turn away and think one side is clear, there’s that tingle at the back of my mind that maybe I overlooked something.

Behind me!

Left?

Right.

Definitely left!

Nope.

“S-so, where are you all from?” I asked in the vain hope that maybe talking would make me less jumpy.

Moggen was the first to speak up.

“From our empire. Small town called Errin some ways away from Loften. We have good vineyards and some sheep. Had.”

“Perhaps add a date to that, mister hamlet knight.” Said Ritz. That earned him a scowl, which he just laughed off. “I know Vinesse is from a few hundred years after my time. I’m from the empire as well, eighth century of wan. Grew up in… Loften, I think? Our capital. Nice place, if a bit constrictive.”

“Seventh century of wan.” Moggen added. "And I am not a knight."

“Hey, me too!” I said. “Seventh century. Though I don’t remember where I grew up. Some big farmstead out near the ocean.”

People started talking more and the mood started lifting.

“Krah is ninth of wan. Place is... west of empire. Far.”

So far, we were three out of four from our own great empire. While I didn’t remember much about it, that fact alone was enough to engender a small sense of belonging and comradery with the others. We all silently stared at the two remaining members, Avice and Vinesse.

Vinesse spoke up before Avice. “If you must know, I am from Yorivale.”

Murmurs went about.

“What’s Yorivale?” I asked and reaped a few looks of incredulity.

Yeah, ok, sue me, I don’t know. Or I forgot.

“Last I heard, the city of magic was officially merged with Loften, and thereafter named Yorivale no more.” Said Moggen to no one in particular. Besides Vinesse.

She sighed. “It is irrelevant. I am from Yorivale. As for the age?”

She paused dramatically and I got the vague impression most of the people present already knew what she was going to drop. “Twelfth century of wan.”

Twelfth? That’s like five hundred years in the future! For me at least. Wow. I wonder if at that point they’ve finished abolishing the heritable nobility. Da’ always said that if the power was placed into the hands of someone born stupid, there should at least be a way to take that power away again without causing a minor war. Maybe they found nonperishable apples? Ooh, maybe they found another continent. Maybe, maybe...

While I was contemplating all the things I’d like to ask her, eyes turned to the last remaining group member.

Avice looked nervous, even with her mask on. “I-I hail from Viln. Just a humble merchant from Viln.”

I’d at least heard of Viln before. We had some pots, porcelain plates and a vase from there. Mum never allowed us to touch them but as all children, we didn’t listen. A vase broke, Max was blamed and spanked with a bundle of twigs. He cried.

I stopped walking for a heartbeat.

Not… not the kind of memory I was hoping for.

“What century?” I heard Moggen ask.

She didn’t look much like she’d want to admit it. But eventually, group pressure made her cave.

“Third.”

“Third century?” I asked.

She nodded.

Four centuries before me. Or nine before Vinesse.

The sudden gap in experiences and cultures became quite apparent. Four hundred years ago, our new empire wasn’t even whole. As far as I learned in my studies, it was just a bunch of smaller kingdoms, dukedoms, counties and baronies all claiming their neighbor’s lands, rights given by the gods or their ancestors and in general being quite the unruly heap of war-loving and not so nice folk.

Totally unlike us, of course. Our new empire was cool. Praise the empire blessed by eternal sun!

I wouldn’t judge Avice by that picture of course. I knew her well enough. Still. Four centuries before me, Avice had a life. I wonder what it was like?

Before I could wonder more, a hand grabbed me by the shoulder and shook me.

“Boo!”

“ACK!”

Whoever was trying to scare me succeeded. I was shaken, nay, shooketh to the extreme. A light laughter like a cackling bird came from the offending jokester.

“F-fuck, Ritz, that is not funny.” I said.

“L-language.” I heard Avice’ muffled voice mumble. I turned to her but her stone-faced mask hid any sense of involvement.

He kept on laughing, though politeness deigned he hold a hand in front of his mouth.

“Ahahaa-, you should have seen yourself jump. Easily a foot and a half, maybe two. Two!” He said

I tried to communicate to my best ability that the last thing I appreciated while out and about in the wandering darkness was having to keep an eye out for his antics in addition to all kinds of horrible noises. Though with my breath unsteady and heart hammering my chest, I only got to get a good glare in. It wasn’t very effective as he cackled on.

“People, get a grip and focus. We’re almost there.” I heard Vinesse say from the front.

“Yes ma’am.” Ritz and I said almost simultaneously, though I did so with considerable grumbling.

It’s fine, it’s just a prank. Just a stupid prank. It’s nothing personal. Treat him like one of your brothers and let it wash off. Ignore him. You can’t keep him from doing that again, you can only make it less rewarding for him.

“Sh-eeek!” Ritz cried and twirled in place, patting and grasping at his nape. I immediately turned to face him, expecting that during all that goofing around, something had gotten the drop on us.

Maybe a spider bit his butt.

But there was nothing there. The rest of the party turned to look at the man who had just let out the most undignified, unmanly shriek I’d ever heard.

“There was – shit – I swear there was something on the back of my neck.” He said, trying to sound all innocent. But we found nothing and continued on our vigilant march. I kept an eye out on Ritz, just in case he was gonna try something again.

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Instead, I got to see the butt of Avice’ long spear silently inch forward towards his back. I turned to Avice and gave her a questioning look. Her gasping stone mask looked back at impassively me as she held the spear with her two right hands. The shaft barely shook at all as it gently brushed along Ritz’s back and then retracted with remarkable speed and control.

Ritz yelled again and I failed to stifle a giggle. Evidently, it wasn’t the quietest of giggles, nor did it sound all that innocent as Vinnesse bore a look at my face that said I was about to be roasted.

“One more disruption and I am sending the offending person to walk back alone. Capiche?” she said.

“But–“

“No buts. Do I hear an ‘alright’ or is someone leaving of their own volition?” For whatever reason, she chose to stare at me of all people.

It wasn’t fair! Ritz started it. And Avice did the poking.

“…alright.” I said, because I was a good obedient egg.

I was feeling oddly pulled back into my childhood, taking the blame for young and younger siblings. It wasn’t supposed to be fair. But that’s just how it was. I let the indignant mood swell a bit before swallowing it down and hopefully letting it die within my bowels.

“That’s alright ma’am. And Ritz?”

“Yes ma’am?” he answered a bit too quickly.

“You scream like a little girl. Now get to it. We’ll be there soon.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

“…sorry.” Avice said at some point on our journey.

“Hm?”

“I said ‘Sorry’. For getting you in trouble.”

I had already stomached most of the bad vibes of on the passed march, but that she even bothered to speak about it was nice.

“Oh, it’s fine.” I said, deflecting. “Just a bit surprised. Vinesse runs quite the… tight ship.”

Avice nodded. “Her presence is… commandeering. I hesitate to talk around her. More than around most.”

“Huh. Is she that bad?”

She looked at me and shook her head. “No. She is a fine leader. I had trouble at first, but wait until we start exploring the ruins. She makes up for her demeanor.”

“Well, that sure would be nice.”

After an hour that stretched way too long, we finally arrived at the first signs of civilization that wasn’t an endlessly stretching road of stone. The large broken arch of a wall greeted us, two equally tall stone doors cracked open just far enough to let a human pass by. Rocks lay scattered in mounds and heaps aside the crumbling cobblestone walls and as far as we could see past the entryway, darkness was all that greeted us.

“We’re here.” Moggen said.

Mog was a quiet fellow as far as I could tell, but whether it was due to a lack of interest on his behalf to talk with others or he was simply saving his strength and maintaining discipline, I could not say.

“So… how do we do this?” I asked as everyone fastened and checked the straps of their gear.

Ritz was massaging his feet and adjusting his shoes. Krah was hopping from one foot to the other, impatient and jittery with energy. Moggen casually took the round shield off his back and fastened it to his left while Vinesse seemed as ready as ever, copper staff in hand and keeping an eye out for the group.

Hey, even if she’s a bit rough and demanding, at least she’s dedicated and focused. Though, I don’t think I should bother asking her how she does it. It’s probably just how she is. How she has to be. She is the leader after all. I know I wouldn’t feel comfortable having that much responsibility over people’s fates.

Not until I feel a bit more confident in myself. Not until I have the power to take responsibility over not just my own, but everyone else’s actions. Thoughts for another day. Into the box.

Vinesse had a look of restrained intensity on her face as she looked around with eagle-like eyes. When her pupils suddenly grew to five time their previous size, I realized that with boons being a thing she probably had actual eagle’s eyes.

Or she was Bekki as well. Part Bekki at least. Does it work like that? No clue, but better keep an eye out myself.

Stay frisky. Stay confident.

“Something is not right.” She said.

That does not inspire confidence.

Moggen gazed around as well with a disapproving look on his face that disappeared as soon as he flapped down the visor on his helmet. I cannot understate how much he was absolutely decked in plate and mail. It covered just about everywhere except the inner thighs and neck, which instead boasted with fine mail above plenty padding.

Now there’s someone with a good sense for armor. He’s even got elbow and knee-protector-fan thingies. Oh, wait, the name is on the tip of my tongue. Ran-, rin-, ron? Rondel! They’re called rondels because they are… rond? Round. They are round mini shields for important joints. Bless my memory for not failing me now. And bless armor. I want some like it.

“I sense nothing.” He said. “Miss Vinesse, do we proceed as planned?”

“Krah feels nothing too!”

After a moment of silence, the black of her eyes shrunk again and her gaze panned back to us.

“Whatever is out there, we will handle it. I expect you all to do your best and work together. As before, form up, groups of two. Avice and Moggen, group one. Rye and Krah, group two. Ritz, you’re with me. Group three.”

“Yesss!” Ritz said.

“You will be my frontliner.” She added and his joyful face fell with all the grace of a ball of grug dung from a barn wall.

I think he's acting like that on purpose. Keeping the mood up. Or he was just born an honest fool.

I was somewhat miffed that I wasn’t assigned together with Avice. I trusted her, not with combat (I didn’t even know how well she did with that), but as a friend. With her spear and my shield, I could probably hold the enemy’s attention while she poked over my head with her long stick of death.

I turned to the squatting Bekki man and saw him not hiding his scowl at all. The sharp-toothed frown of a Bekki was still quite the frightening sight for me. I knew what those teeth could do. Though, he either had enough sense or fear of Vinesse to keep from speaking up about his dissatisfaction.

How does she keep him reigned in? With snacks and scritches? With threats of violence? With a contract? No, he doesn’t look like he’d listen to a contract. He’s even more uncivilized than the barbarians.

Still, I had to at least try and make an attempt at working together. Even if getting all too close to him made me almost violently uncomfortable. He felt like an animal on an invisible leash. If there even was a leash at all.

“So…” I ventured, squatting down to meet his height. “You’ve got a sword.”

The assumption was as bold as it was foolproof. There was no way he could deny it. A guaranteed conversation starter.

“No. Krah has Sha-shik.” He said.

Shashik? What’s a shashik?

“Shashik. That’s… a nice name for your sword.”

He looked at me as if between the both of us, I was the dunce.

“Sha-shik.” He said with particular emphasis.

“Sha-shik?”

He nodded vigorously and bared his teeth in a neutral smile of maybe approval, maybe bestial threat.

“Yah, Sha-shik.”

“Ok… You have a nice Sha-shik, Krah. It’s very polished and clean. I can see you care a lot for it.”

It looked like I had hit him with club, because his entire body reeled back in a feat of acrobatics that left me thinking of an oddly proportioned cat rather than a human. His feet remained planted steadily on the ground, even at this incredibly awkward angle. I noticed the thick claws poking out of holes of the front of his thin leather slip-shoes.

“Uh… Are you ok?” I asked.

After a moment, he shrunk back forward and licked his lips, eyes darting left, right and down.

“Is good Sha-shik.” He said, much more subdued.

I nodded. “Very good Sha-shik. I don’t have a cool Sha-shik. Only a club. Or rather, a… bonk-bonk?”

He looked at me once more like I was making a fool out of myself.

“…moving on, I have a shield. And armor.”

“Very armor.” He nodded sagely. “Slowpoke.”

“Wuh – I am not slow! I can run for minutes on end in this armor without breaking much of a sweat.”

“Yah. Runner-lady. Saw with Hunter. Still slow.”

I assumed that hunter was his name for the Wolf. Which was fair, since he was mostly known to everyone besides me and Pim as the guy who brought food on the table every day. He wasn’t the most social person outside of that.

Though, now I also knew where my nickname came from. It was not because I was known for fleeing, for being a coward. It was because due to my lack of interaction with anyone outside of the people I already knew, people mostly knew me by what I did most. And with me, that boiled down to running laps around the temple five or six times a day.

“Anyhow. I have a shield and armor. I can take some hits. Maybe make the enemy focus on me? We’re hunting rats, right?”

“Big rat. Dog rat. Bite. Bad.” He said.

“So yeah, I distract them and you…”

“I sha-shik.”

“Yes. You hit them with your Sha-shik.”

That’s about as good of a plan as I can expect to get out of him. Gods, at least he can be reasoned with. Though we’ll see how much that changes once we’re actually in the thick of things. For now, I should keep my head clear and square on my shoulders. Though, with this many people around, I doubt there are gonna be any surprises.

I stood up from our small strategy session and saw that the other groups were ready and raring to go as well.

“Group one, take point. Group two, guard the back. Me 'n and Ritz will keep watch. On your toes.”

My toes were activated. I was ready. Boots steady, mind focused and sharp like a brick as we walked beneath the crumbled archway and past the outer ring of walls. As we did so, I noticed a barely perceptible sheen of gold scrawled on one of the doors that nonetheless popped into my vision like fresh fruit on a tree.

“Hey, there’s something here.” I said and gestured towards it.

Krah came closer and squinted hard. “Krah sees too! Is scribbles.”

Vinesse came forward as well and oddly enough, she too had to squint before she saw it.

“Good eyes, Rye.”

My face remained stalwart but inwardly, I beamed at the compliment.

“Doing my best, ma’am.”

“It would seem so. This looks to be one of those rumored cryptic golden hints I’ve heard about, from Moggen and others. Though, I fail to decipher anything but a few letters.”

“Krah can’t read too!” said Krah.

I looked at her, then back at the script. It seemed perfectly fine to me.

“Well, I can read it out if you want. Looks fine to me.”

She sent me a measuring stare and gave the go-ahead.

Rodent ahead. Therefore, time for child’s play.

We all stared at each other, but most of the stares were directed at me.

“Guess that means we’re in for an easy time?” Ritz asked.

But everyone shared the uncertain feeling in his voice.

“Don’t bet on it.” Vinesse said. “Let’s move.”

And thus, we walked forward into the large and dark area behind the walls.

I only hope they know what they were doing. They’ve been here a few times before already. They probably do.

I kept my eyes and ears peeled, listening for every skitter and chatter beyond our vision. Small things flitted in and out of our dim light, but nothing approached up to our bright.

They’re just rats. They’re just… giant rats. Everything will be fine. As long as they're not naked.