Justin and the rest of the party reached the eastern edge of the Vault. They passed through the green shimmering veil of magic, officially exiting and stepping into the eastern edge of the pass.

He was struck by how silent it was, how empty, with no sign of the battle from a thousand years ago. The tranquility was eerie, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just endured.

The land was dark, but the skies had cleared, leaving enough moon and starlight to see the Aranthian Plain spreading below them. It was mostly empty, aside from a few small hamlets, but in the far distance, Justin spied what appeared to be a medium-sized town built on a plateau of sorts, quite high off the plain, the tallest building being, unsurprisingly, a gothic cathedral that no doubt belonged to the Church of Light. A thin river, dark in the night, ran down from the mountains and past the plateau.

By morning, if all went well, they’d be safe within its walls.

Alistair pointed it out. “That’s Highcliff. Our next stop.”

“We’re getting close, then?” Lila asked.

Alistair chuckled. “Oh, no. We're just getting started.”

Justin was absolutely exhausted. They'd been up for about two full days. “I can’t wait to get some sleep.”

“You’ll be waiting a while longer,” Eldrin said grimly. “It will take the greater part of the night to get down the pass, and we must keep walking all morning. By then, we will have made it.”

“I’m so tired I’m liable to fall,” Lila said, looking down the thin, steep trail doubtfully.

“I’ve got just the antidote for that,” Eldrin said. He reached into his pack, taking out a vial of a mysterious dark liquid. “Grimroot Extract. Made from the Grimroot plant and a few other secret ingredients. It’ll keep you wide awake. For a time, at least.”

“That concoction is unlawful in Aranthian territory,” Alistair said. “I will not partake, but I will not stop you from doing so, if you deem it best.”

Justin almost refused, but in the end, decided he probably needed it. If this would get him safely down the trail, he would quaff it gladly.

Eldrin took a shot of it first, and he handed it to Justin. “Half a mouthful. No more or less.”

Justin nodded. “Bottom’s up.”

The thick liquid tasted bitter and earthy, but it wasn’t too disagreeable.

As Lila took her own drink, the effect on Justin was almost immediate. His eyes widened as he felt strength return to his bones. His exhaustion melted away, replaced by a heightened sense of alertness and energy. His steps felt lighter, and his mind clearer.

“Hippity-hoppity, let’s go!” Justin exclaimed.

Lila giggled giddily.

“We’ve tarried too long,” Alistair said, his voice grave. “Let’s go.”

They began the treacherous climb down the rocky path, where they had to be careful not to slip. Every step was a potential hazard, and Justin constantly looked down to avoid missteps. But the increased focus of the Grimroot Extract meant his footing was sure, aided by the Cane of Valoria. They had maybe a two-hour head start on Baron Valdrik’s minions.

Alistair lit the way with his Creator’s Light spell, casting a warm, golden glow that illuminated their path. Eldrin’s Pathfinder’s Pace kept them moving swiftly and efficiently. Eventually, the land evened out into a pine forest, the dense canopy above them filtering the moonlight into faint beams.

They were heading east, making good progress, when a chilling set of howls filled the air. The sound sent a shiver down Justin’s spine, and he instinctively moved closer to Lila.

Shadowflight fluttered from the forest’s canopy, having returned from scouting. The bird landed gracefully on Eldrin’s shoulder. The Ranger inclined his head toward him.

“A pack of dire wolves,” Eldrin said, relaying the falcon’s message. “Ten in all.”

“Dire wolves!” Lila exclaimed. “Dear Gods.”

Alistair frowned deeply, concern etched on his face. “What are dire wolves doing so far south of the Seraphim Range? We need to pick up the pace.”

“No picking up of the pace can outrun a pack on the hunt,” Eldrin said grimly.

All the same, the group increased their speed, but the dire wolves were relentless, their piercing howls getting louder and closer.

“We must at least get out of these woods,” Alistair said. “I need room to maneuver my hammer.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Eldrin led them to a wide meadow. They stood in the center, awaiting the creatures that couldn’t be far. It was only half a minute before Justin spied the predators’ eyes glinting in the darkness from the trees, their forms hulking and menacing. Justin felt fear course down his spine at the sight as they stalked closer.

“Stay in the center,” Eldrin commanded, hand on the hilt of his longsword. “Lila, Justin, be prepared to defend yourselves if necessary. Alistair and I should be enough to dispatch these.”

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Lila readied her knives, while Justin gave his cane a twirl. He felt his heart rate increase. Between a dire wolf’s jaws was not the way he wanted to go, and he knew, from his size alone, they’d probably find him a decidedly delicious morsel.

The dire wolves were enormous, their fur bristling and matted, with eyes glowing an eerie yellow in the moonlight. Their growls resonated deep and guttural, a sound that seemed to vibrate in Justin’s very bones. Their teeth were sharp and white, and their breath visible in the frosty night air, coming in puffs as they circled closer.

Justin wondered why Eldrin wasn’t shooting his arrows, but perhaps it was because it would take too long for him to transition from the bow to his longsword, once battle was joined. For whatever reason, the Ranger elected to stand, blade at the ready.

Justin could feel the tension in the air, every muscle in his body coiled and ready to spring. He gripped his cane tightly, his heart pounding.

Alistair stepped forward, his war hammer raised high. “Stand firm,” he called out. “We’ll get through this.”

One of the dire wolves lunged, and Alistair met it with a powerful swing of his hammer, the blow landing with a sickening crunch. The wolf yelped and was thrown back, despite its enormous size, but the others were undeterred, closing in from all sides.

Eldrin’s blade moved swiftly, landing true and felling another of the beasts. Lila’s throwing knives flashed in the moonlight, finding their mark in a white-furred wolf. On the sixth blade, the beast fell into the grass, and Lila backed away, hands extended to retrieve her blades.

One dire wolf had eluded both the Paladin and the Ranger, and it looked mean and hungry as it readied itself to lunge at Justin. Poison Barb or Dazzling Display would do nothing against this creature.

Justin was wondering just how to attack when, faster than he would have believed possible, the dire wolf pounced, teeth flashing. By instinct, Justin raised and twirled his cane, instantly rebuffing the attack and sending the dire wolf staggering back with a pained yelp.

Gentleman’s Rebuff has shielded this attack!

Pumped full of adrenaline, Justin seized the moment, dashing forward while extending the cane’s hidden knife, stabbing the dire wolf just under the neck before it could recover. The creature gave a hot exhalation of breath as Justin twisted the blade and pulled it out, dripping red blood. The creature lay in the grass, giving a few more pained wheezes before settling into death.

Justin backed away, just in time for Eldrin, Alistair, and Lila to come to his side. Looking around, the remaining dire wolves were fleeing the scene, leaving six of their brethren scattered in the meadow.

Immediately, Alistair cast Bind Wounds on Lila, who’d somehow gotten a bite wound on her arm. The golden magic wrapped around the bloody mess, not quite erasing it, but healing it most of the way. The wound had probably been too severe to be completely cured by a Lesser Life spell.

The silence that followed was only broken by the rustling of the wind through the trees and a few chilling howls.

“We need to move,” Eldrin said, his voice steady but urgent. “There could be more of them, and the Baron’s men will not be pausing.”

With Alistair’s light guiding them once more and Eldrin’s pathfinding skills leading the way, they continued eastward toward Highcliff. The forest ended just as dawn tinged the eastern horizon. They were half-running, half-walking. The effects of the Grimroot Extract had long since dissipated, meaning Justin felt like a dead man. He didn’t even have the energy to look over his shoulder to see if they were being tailed. Thankfully, the dire wolves were sticking to the forest.

Almost as soon as they’d entered the plain beyond the trees, farms took over. They hopped stone fences, walked through fields of wheat and rye yet to be harvested, and followed the thin dirt tracks lined with hedges. They even passed through a couple of hamlets, their progress sped by narrow wagon tracks. In the early hours, they even passed a few townsfolk heading to their stores, but by far, most of them were heading out to the fields. Around a bend in the path, Justin caught sight of Highcliff, which seemed much taller now that they were out of the mountains.

“Almost there,” Lila said.

“Just…keep walking…” Justin said between breaths.

At last, the dirt road joined a stone paved road, an actual highway at least fifteen paces wide. Somehow, Justin knew it was the Queensroad mentioned by Eldrin before the Vault, and it was much more impressive than the dirt road connecting Mistwatch to Silverton. He got the feeling that they had entered the main part of Aranthia, where infrastructure was a bit more developed. Somehow or another, he was still set on getting to Belmora and seeing what opportunities the big city could offer a Socialite like him.

But, for now at least, survival took precedence. That, and the task of getting rid of this pesky Death Mark.

Justin wondered if their time in the Vault had “counted” as the first rising of the moon, or if the Vault’s magic had somehow protected him. It was a question for Alistair or Eldrin, but he was much too winded to ask.

As they approached the plateau upon which Highcliff was situated, they passed ambling carts making their way both in and out of the city. It was late morning by now, and Justin could barely keep himself from keeling over.

Unfortunately, they had a long series of switchbacks to ascend to reach the plateau above. Justin was absolutely filthy, coated in dirt, sweat, and even some blood from the fight with the dire wolves, as were the others. They got more than a few looks from the traders and farmers they passed on the way.

At last, they came before the tall iron gates of Highcliff. The guards at the gate, bearing spears and shields and dressed in maroon and silver with the sigil of a soaring eagle on their breasts, gave them curious glances but didn’t stop them from entering. Justin imagined it was not the first adventurers they had seen.

The city beyond was bustling, far busier and more crowded than any Justin had seen thus far. Most buildings were of red brick, lining a wide central avenue of cobblestone. These buildings were four or five stories tall, hinting at a prosperous city that had been developing for quite a while. Shops and stalls of various sorts lined the streets, offering everything from fresh produce, meats, and baked goods to clothing, jewelry, and books. Blacksmiths hammered away at anvils, and the scent of fresh bread wafted from bakeries. Inns and taverns beckoned travelers, and iron lampposts dotted the sidewalks, casting shadows in the brightening morning.

Justin noticed metal tracks in the center of the streets with horse-drawn trolleys serving as mass transit, adding to the sense of activity. Two of these trolleys wandered through the streets, both filled with people, some even hanging off the sides. The air was filled with the chatter of townsfolk going about their day.

They finally came to a cozy-looking inn of three stories near the center of town; its metal placard, swinging in the breeze, proclaimed it to be The Silver Stag. Its sign featured a gracefully leaping stag against a backdrop of what seemed to be pure silver. The inn had a welcoming exterior with large, clean windows, flower boxes brimming with colorful blooms, and a well-kept facade.

“Here we are,” Alistair said, his voice filled with relief. “Let’s get inside. Gregory, the innkeeper here, is a friend of the Templars of Arion. We’ll be safe.”

With that, Justin, Lila, and Eldrin followed the Paladin into the inn.