Justin slid the window open. “Alistair? What are you doing here?”

There was a moment’s pause as Alistair stared up at him in shock and disbelief. His white robes over his armor made him stick out like a sore thumb. “Justin? That you, lad?”

“Yes. Are you following me?”

Lila joined him at the window, and Alistair looked at each of them.

"I take it you know him?" Lila asked.

Before Justin could answer, Alistair cut him off. “Listen. Something’s amiss. Can we meet in the tavern below?”

“Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

“I’m afraid not. Your life is in question, boy. I won’t say anything more. Hurry!”

Alistair headed out of the alley and toward the entrance of the alehouse.

“Your life?” Lila asked. “Sounds serious.”

“He must be confused,” Justin said. “I need to go down there.”

“I’m coming with you,” Lila said.

“Sure. What about Eldrin?”

“Ah, just let him sleep. From tonight, it seems like he’s ready to go his own way.”

The duo left the room and headed down to the tavern. There, it was mostly empty, with Alistair sitting alone in a corner. Justin and Lila joined him.

“So,” Justin said, “what’s this about me dying?”

“Careful what you say,” Alistair said, his eyes scanning their surroundings with trained vigilance. “You never know who might be listening.”

“Okay then,” Justin said, quieter. “Why are you following me? It’s been a long day, and I would like to rest.”

“I wouldn’t be speaking to you if it weren’t important, so I’ll cut to the chase. I’m on a quest, bestowed by the Templars of Arion themselves.”

“The Templars,” Lila said. “Sounds serious."

“Aye, very much so. A necromancer is wreaking havoc in the County of Silverton. And I have tracked down an agent of the necromancer to this very inn.”

As his piercing blue eyes settled on Justin, a palpable accusation hung in the still air.

But before fear could fully grip him, Lila’s voice rang out, assertive and piercing through the growing tension. “What, are you accusing Justin? Justin, the Level 1 Socialite?”

“Indeed, my Paladin’s Sense detects an agent of darkness sitting at this very table. The Dark Aura is emanating from you, Justin."

“You must be mistaken,” Justin said. “And you are leveling a very heavy accusation. Besides, if you can detect this Dark Aura, then why didn’t you notice it before, when you helped me at Mistwatch?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

“I don’t have time for this. I really need to get to sleep. I have a level-up to process.”

Justin rose, but Alistair’s arm shot out, keeping him seated with iron strength. He wasn’t going anywhere tonight until he’d answered some questions.

“You must tell me everything that’s happened since we last parted, Justin,” Alistair said. “You must do so if you wish to prove your innocence.”

“Where I come from, you have to prove that I’m guilty.”

Alistair gave an amused smile. “That is not how things are done by the Templars of Arion.”

“Is that a threat?” Lila asked.

“Nay,” Alistair said. “But my sense has never failed me, and it's led me right to your window. There is more to you than meets the eye, Justin Talemaker.”

Justin locked eyes with him and sighed. “You want to know what’s happened with me? Well, I’ll tell you, and you’ll see I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Justin caught him up on everything. It took half an hour or so, but soon, Alistair was up to date with everything. But Justin couldn’t help but notice that the Paladin’s disposition had darkened when they’d gotten to their interaction with Baron Valdrik.

Once done, Alistair seemed to think deeply, taking a deep draught from his mug.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“The puzzle is coming together.”

“What puzzle?” Justin asked.

“It must be the Baron of Silverton,” Alistair said. “He is among my top suspects. You mentioned him uttering words in the Foundation Language of Vranthillis. What were those words, again?”

“I have no idea.”

“What does Vranthillis have to do with anything?” Lila asked.

“Could be nothing. Could be everything. The language is mysterious, and there are very few Lexicants. But what few Lexicants do exist are somewhat known for dabbling in the darker arts, and some have even been known to take on the Aspect of Necromancy. It’s a path open to Lexicants, given the right conditions.”

“Okay, but what does this have to do with me?” Justin asked.

“You mentioned that the Baron spoke in Vranthillis. My suspicion is he placed a death mark upon you. A mark that would make you his to command upon your death.”

Justin’s eyes went wide. “Upon my death? Is he trying to murder me?”

“Well, there would be little other reason to place the death mark. It takes time to mature. Three risings of the moon, to be precise. If he did this today, then this would be your first night.”

“I’m going to die in three days?” Justin asked, feeling as if he was going to pass out.

“Not from the mark itself,” Alistair clarified. “It merely means that once you do die, the mark will make you controllable by the Baron. Bound to him in undead thralldom.”

Lila looked at Justin nervously. “He did mention wanting you to work for him...”

“That’s worse than dying!” Justin said. “There must be some way to stop it!”

“There is,” Alistair said, “but it requires you to pay very close attention to me. Now, I came here to root out the evil in this town that’s been festering. On the surface, it might seem a busy and prosperous place. But there has been a string of murders stretching back years, and the local government doesn’t seem to want to investigate them adequately. The Sheriff, unfortunately, has been bribed to look the other way.”

“So we’ve heard,” Lila said.

“That’s where I come in,” Alistair said. “The Church of Light sent me here to figure out just what’s going on. And now, I’ve discovered that things are a bit too much for a single Paladin to handle.”

“Well, what can I do?” Justin asked.

“Now, this death mark can be cured,” Alistair said. “But the paths to doing so are far from easy.”

Justin was filled with many conflicting emotions. Fear. Confusion. Skepticism. He wanted to trust Alistair, and yet he didn’t feel any different.

The only thing that had felt strange was that sense of coldness when Baron Valdrik had spoken those words. If what Alistair was saying was true, then it meant the Baron was keeping tabs on him right now and was determined to finish what he had started. He suddenly felt exposed and unsafe, despite the comfortable aura of the inn.

“We need to wake up Eldrin,” Justin decided. “If I’m really in danger, then he is, too.”

“Eldrin?” Alistair asked.

“A Ranger we met in Whispering Pines,” Justin said. “We sort of fell in together.”

“I can go get him,” Lila said.

She went off, leaving Justin alone with the Paladin.

Alistair leaned forward. “If those two aren’t to be trusted, simply say the word and we’ll be off.”

“I trust them.”

The Paladin eyed him closely, then nodded. Justin’s words would have to be good enough.

Eldrin joined them at the table, surprisingly alert for the late hour. “What’s this about Justin being in danger?”

“I have a death mark on me, apparently. Courtesy of Baron Valdrik.”

Eldrin’s eyes widened at that. He looked at Alistair. “You can confirm this, Master Paladin?”

“Aye. I cannot determine the nature of the mark but given the certainty of there being a necromancer in this town, it can be nothing else.”

“And what is your suggestion? I suppose I must be in danger, too?”

“All of us are,” Alistair said. “There are only two ways for Justin to rid himself of this mark. The first is a near-impossibility, taking down the Baron himself, who uttered the incantation. But if the disappearances of the past few years are any indication, it’s not only the Baron we’d have to contend with, but those working for him.”

“You think he has a small undead army within his halls?” Eldrin asked.

“I’m certain of it,” Alistair said. “And in fact, I suspect that army might not be small. Worse, Valdrik's level far exceeds anyone sitting at this table. There is no record, but he had to be at least level twenty to have access to the Lexicant class, and it’s likely, given the bloody work in this town and its environs, he must be much higher than that. More than a match for even me.”

“Then why did you come here thinking you could take him down?” Lila asked.

“I didn’t. I came to learn more.”

“But how do I get rid of the mark?” Justin pressed. “You said there is a way.”

“Yes,” Alistair said. “You must come with me to the Templar Chapter House at Mont Elea. There, the High Priest of Arion can remove the mark. He's the only one I know who for sure out-levels the Baron and has access to the right kind of magic. It’s a couple days’ journey north of Belmora.”

“That far?” Lila asked. “We can't cover such a distance in three days!”

“It is possible,” Alistair said. “But not easy. I will be with you every step of the way, protecting you from any and all pursuit. Remember, the mark becomes active in three days, and it won't kill Justin outright. But it will allow the Baron to know exactly where Justin is. We need to be well ahead of them when that time comes. What’s more, once the Baron realizes I’m here, he will act immediately.”

“Then we must leave now,” Eldrin said. “Although, if all this is true, then surely the gates will mark our passing.”

“There is a hidden way,” Alistair said. “The way by which I entered the city. It's a mountain path located on the eastern side of town, by the silver mines. That way will be little watched, and if you’re coming with us, all the better. Your Pathfinder’s Pace will be vital to our escape.”

“Wait a second,” Lila said. “What do you think was in the parcel? Does it have anything to do with this?”

“Perhaps,” Alistair said. “Or maybe it was just a coincidence that Justin was the one who happened to make the delivery.”

“Maybe the Baron uses these parcels to lure new victims into his manor,” Eldrin suggested.

“That is also possible. But the point is, Eldrin is right. We must leave immediately. For whatever reason, he wants to enthrall Justin.”

The only question Justin was left with was "why?" However, he doubted that question could be answered by anyone at this table.

“I just need to gather my things,” Justin said.

“Let’s reconvene in five minutes,” Alistair said. “Try to hurry.”

Justin and Lila rushed to their room. The darkness of the hallway seemed altogether threatening as he fumbled for the room key and unlocked the door. But everything inside was undisturbed, awaiting their arrival.

It only took a minute for Justin to pack, along with Lila. They both shared a look, slightly unbelieving the situation, before they rejoined Alistair and Eldrin in the alehouse below.

But as soon as Justin came forward, he reached for the dagger on his belt.

Alistair and Eldrin were no longer alone.