“My village is east, on the road towards the Academy,” she said as she pointed on a map. “It is a place called Halstead.”

After she was sure that they would come and the defenders started their journey, the woman took of in a flash. In no time, she was gone, into the crowds of the city.

"I wouldn't be in such a hurry to get back if I were her," Aiden said as they watched her go.

"I bet she has people to protect," Cynthia said. "It is amazing what people will risk for family."

The morning dragged on as the company reluctantly traveled further from their home.

“Hey Graham, will you enchant some of my arrows? I ran out on our last mission and I think these regular, wooden shafts would not do much good against a spirit,” Aiden said as he rifled through his gear.

Graham did not answer. He only gripped his satchel as he stared off over the rolling fields.

“Hey Graham!” Aiden shouted.

Graham shook back to the present as he said, “Desmond and Maeve can help you. They have come a long way.”

Maeve was also staring off into the expanse of the lands. She did not even flinch at the call of her name.

“What is the matter with everyone?” Aiden shouted in frustration. “We need to talk about what that thing you found is before someone loses focus on a job and someone gets hurt.”

“Or worse,” Cynthia added from the font of the wagon.

“Bring them over here,” Desmond said to break the silence.

The paladin took Aiden’s quiver and took out a handful of arrows. He gripped them tightly as he closed his eyes.

“Incarno holista,” Desmond commanded as the arrows started to glow a faint gold.

“Thanks,” Aiden said with a smile. “Now I can take it to those undead bastards. The quicker we take care of this, the quicker we will be home.”

***

It was a little while after midday when the group finally made it to the small village. The sun was high in the air as is streamed down hot rays on the travelers below. As they traveled along, they saw an old, faded sign that had the name they were looking for, Halstead.

“I do not might riding east,” Cynthia said as they pulled closer to the village. “The beautiful, rolling hills and forests are a calming sight. The breeze envelops you in fresh air. This is the kind of place I would like to settle down.”

“There is not rest for people like us,” Aiden said with a sigh. “I will say, these forests have a better feel about them than those southwest of the capital.”

The defenders pulled into the village square, but all was quiet and they could not see anyone walking around. It was as if the place was deserted.

“The village is not very big. There are only about ten buildings in all. I wonder how many people live here?” Desmond asked.

“Start counting,” Aiden said as people started to file into the square.

“Hello,” Desmond said after it was clear Graham would not speak. “We are the Defenders of Soul. A woman from your village came for our help against the spirits that plague your people.”

“What woman?” another woman stepped forward. “We did not send anyone. What did she look like?”

Desmond looked back at his party who all looked confused at this remark.

“She did not give us a name. She was a Kuinan,” Desmond answered.

The people all looked at each other. Murmurs passed between them as it was clear they too were confused.

“There are no kuinan that live in these parts. Those folk live in the caves of the southern mountains. Some in the big cities, but we have never had any come through these parts,” the woman said with a shake of her head.

“So this was a trick?” Aiden said in frustration. “There are no spirits that plague your city?”

The woman looked around cautiously, as if her words would summon the creatures.

Then, she spoke, “They come out at night. At first, there would be only sightings of these things floating out in the forests, but then they got aggressive. Two nights ago, they attacked and killed four of our people. Since then, we have all been living in the town hall to keep each other safe.”

The group of about thirty people looked to all be afraid and huddled close in the square. The defenders filed out of their wagon and bagged to organize their gear.

“Do you know where they are coming from? Any specific direction?” Desmond asked as he strapped on his golden chestplate.

She shook her head, “No, they seem to be coming from everywhere. The spirits come from the forests and circle the town. They prey on the people that traveled alone or in small groups.”

“What did the attacks look like? Aiden asked. “How were the people killed?”

The woman was silent. Her head bowed and tears fell from her face.Finally, another spoke.

“They take their souls,” he said with a shaky voice.

***

It was not long before night fell on the village. The watchful darkness crept in close as the villagers lit a perimeter of torches around the town hall. They huddled inside the building as they cooked an evening meal.

“There is a strange feeling in the air,” Cynthia said as she finished assembling her gear. “There is an odd power around here.”

The night dragged on as the five defenders sat in silence. The forests that peppered the hills around them remained dark, devoid of any spirits.

“Alright, where are they?” Aiden asked impatiently as he notched his bow with an arrow that glowed a faint gold.

As if to answer him, an ominous voice carried through the air. It seemed to hold some command and authority and carried from every direction.

“There it is, there is the voice of the spirits,” the woman from the town came up from behind them. “They are coming for us.”

The group looked at each other knowingly.

“Do the spirits always come after the voice calls?” Desmond asked.

“Yes, we figured that was them coming to hunt for souls. Why, have you hear these voices before?” the woman asked.

Desmond looked at the woman as he said with a low voice, “The spirits might be haunting you, but is no accident. Someone is conjuring them."

“What do you mean? What power could summon spirits?” she asked anxiously.

“Necromancy,” Graham said with his deep voice as the defenders started for the forest.

***

The five companions left the warm embrace of the village light as they ventured into the rolling countryside hills of Hailgalad. The trees started to grow and close around them as they stepped forward into the dark abyss of night.

The voice continued it’s chant, but there were no signs of spirits as they continued on.

“Are the countryside guards really this incompetent that they couldn't handle a simple necromancer?” Aiden asked.

“The royal army has lost much of its magic and with it, the ability to defend against it,” Graham said.

Desmond looked at Graham who seemed to be reinvigorated by the new task. He was seeming a bit more himself the more he spoke.

Graham continued, “Many years ago, armies would have a sizable number of mages within their ranks. They would be used to support the front lines, heal the wounded, and use their elements to strike devastating offensives. Now, there are few that can cast spells of great power. Many simply use their magic to heal or bolster their own strength. Against a singular necromancer or other sorcerer that was proficient in their craft, a local garrison would be outmatched.”

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“Quiet,” Cynthia said. “Look up ahead.”

Through darkness, there were strange floating shapes. They seemed to have a black veil or cloak, and their faces glowed with a faint grey aura as they darted between the trees.

“Ready yourselves,” Desmond said as he unsheathed his sword and raised his shield, his sister did the same as she held up her mace.

Then, a gray bolt came flying at the defenders. Without hesitation, Maeve and Desmond raised their shields and stepped in front of their companions. The bolt was stifled by the golden barriers that their shields had produced.

Chorus of hisses answered the block of their attacks. Before another grey bolt came, countless figures peered around the surrounding trees. They had strange, skeletal faces that were illuminated with grey light.

“We are surrounded,” Aiden said in a nervous tone.

“Steady,” Cynthia called as she held up her warhammer in a defensive stance.

“Oh good,” a terrible voice echoed from the woods.

The spirits wheeled around a hissed with delight as woman revealed herself. There was a woman who approached. She had blue skin and white hair. A heavy, gray cloak covered her black leather armor. The woman walked forward with a strange confidence as if she held a great power within her being.

“The kuinan,” Graham sneered, “So you are the one behind the attacks?”

“Oh scaring these villagers?” the woman said with a smile. “That was all in good fun, but it had its purpose. I needed to draw you out.”

“Why come to our home? If you wanted us, you had us there,” Aiden shot back. “You do not seem to be the sharpest weapon in the armory.”

“Again, don’t you appreciate the performance of it all, the fun of it?” the woman laughed. “I wanted to see how you are with those who come to you in need. Anyway, I could not trust those villagers to get you, even after I killed their guards. I needed you far away from your precious city so we could have a nice chat.”

“A chat about what?” Graham asked. “What do you want with us?”

“It is not your group in particular that interests me. Rather, it is what you carry,” she said.

Desmond saw Graham grip his satchel which made the woman give a wry smile.

“In my meditations, I sensed the awakening of a power. It was the power of my master. I know that you found something that belonged to his servants many years ago,” she explained as she circled the group. “I have brought you here to collect the artifact.”

Desmond looked over to Maeve and then to Graham as his heartbeat and breath quickened. The spirits continued to hiss and dart ever which way.

“I do not know who your master is,” Graham started to say with his commanding voice, "but neither you or your master will ever get the artifact. It is something that only brings evil and should not should not be used in this world.”

The woman stepped forward and extended a hand, “We do not need to be adversaries old man. You can join me. Help me bring my master back and you will be blessed with untold riches when he returns.”

Graham stepped forward to match her. He held out his staff and slammed it into the ground. The connection gave out a thunderclap as wind whipped up throughout the forest. Even his companions where taken aback as a fire left up in his eyes.

“You shall never have this artifact. Go now to whatever hole your master calls you to and leave these people in peace,” the old man shouted. “If you do as he instruct, we will let you walk free.”

After the mage as done speaking, the winds died down and all was again silent.

“Very well,” the woman said as she regained her confident stance and stepped forward.

The woman shot a bolt of grey energy at them and it struck Cynthia. In an instant, the spirits circled the defenders and crashed down onto them.

Maeve helped Cynthia to her feet and Desmond and Aiden tried their best to fend off the seemly countless numbers of the wispy attackers.

“Infiero,” Graham shouted and thrusted a fireball towards his opponent.

A gray shield protected her from the attack, and the spirits charged in with all the more ferocity wheeling around and slicing at the defenders. Maeve and Desmond stood with their shields high while Cynthia and Aiden stood behind them. Aiden shot arrow after arrow. Each that met its mark gave out a flash of golden light. Cynthia gritted through the pain of the wound that burned at her side as she waved her enchanted hammer around. Blue sparks flew from it as she struck down a few spirits.

Graham and the woman were locked in a fierce battle. The old man held out his staff that radiated with energy as he channeled another attack. The woman conquered a staff of her own that glow grey as they traded blows.

To the other defenders, the two mages seemed to be a while of colors, but they had not time to marvel as they fended off wave after wave of the relentless spirits.

“Give me the artifact,” the woman shouted as she grabbed Graham’s satchel.

“No,” he yelled in return and threw her off.

She managed to wrap the satchel strap around her wrist and when she was thrown off, it was tossed into the air. The bag hit a tree and fell to the ground. As it hit the tree, the pyramid artifact flew out.

As soon as the artifact was exposed, ominous power oozed from it and into the minds of all who were there. All eyes were fixed upon and time seemed to freeze for a moment. After a moment, there was a dash to the pyramid. The defenders and the woman ran towards the object with all haste.

Just before the woman grasped it, Graham picked up the pyramid with his bare hand. An oppressive energy gushed from him, throwing everyone to the ground. The remaining spirits screeched in terror as they grew brighter and bright, in until they exploded into nothing. Then, everything went black.

***

Desmond was the first to wake. Every part of his body ached as he tried to stagger to his feet. The young man looked around and saw the woman, Graham, Cynthia, Aiden, and Maeve all unconscious. Their bodies seemed to be lifeless as they laid on the ground.

As he peered out into the surrounding forest, he felt a strange aura around him. It almost seemed as if they were caught in an orb of darkness. There was not light, not even ay from the moon or stars as he stepped forward. His footstep made a strange muffled sound. Then, he saw the artifact.

Something pulled at him as he crept closer to it. He stepped again and again, closer and closer to the artifact that laid exposed next to Graham’s body.

Then, he heard a harsh voice that ran his blood cold. His bones shivered and his heart quaked as a deep, guttural sound called him.

“Give me my artifact. Give it to me, and I will bless you with gifts beyond your wildest imagination,” it beckoned.

The allure of the voice seemed to trump any fear that Desmond felt. He knew it was wrong to follow it, but something deep within the young man told him to listen and to give the artifact to whatever it was that was commanding him. Then, he saw the distance a shadowy figure. It stood alone amongst the trees. Desmond could feel that the figure held a great power as it stared at him and extended his hand.

“Give it to me, give it to me,” it called once more.

Desmond came closer to the artifact. The closer be got, the more he tried to resist the urge to pick it up and hand it over.

“To me, give it to me,” the shadow figure called in a hissing whisper.

With a swift move, Desmond fell upon the artifact and covered it quickly with Graham’s satchel. Once it was completely covered up and stowed away, the darkness seem to fall. Slowly, it was as if a view was being lifted. Before long, they were back in the regular forest. Light filtered down from the moon and stars as crickets chirped. He looked over to where the figure has been, but it was gone.

The woman was first to try and get up. She was in a daze and did not act quickly first, so Desmond had the drop on her on her. She sprang over to her and put the woman onto her stomach. She was about to utter some incantation, but he put his gloved hand around her mouth. With a struggle, he produced a pair of binders that glowed with a faint, golden enchantment.

“I don't know what you are,” the paladin said as he put the binders on her. “But your days of hurting the people in this kingdom are over.”

Once she bound, he let her go. She started daggers into his soul.

“I wouldn't be so sure that,” she said with a chuckle. “You do not know what you are dealing with. These are powers beyond you or any of your companions. It will consume you before the end.”

Just then, the others were beginning to wake.

“What happened?” Aiden asked as he looked around the forest. “Where are the spirits?”

“They went away after Graham touched the artifact and sent out that blast,” Desmond explained.

“Good work Desmond,” Cynthia said as Aiden helped her to her feet. The hulking woman was bent over and held her side.

“Are you okay?” Aiden asked.

“Fine,” she said with a grunt. “I will be fine. How is the old man?”

Graham was being helped up by Maeve as he stammered, “I'm not sure. When I touched the pyramid, everything seemed to go red. I don't know what happened."

Maeve looked at him with a knowing glance. Desmond could see that her mind was in agony as she stayed silent. Aiden went over to Desmond and helped the woman to her feet.

“Who are you?” Aiden asked the kuinan with a shake.

“Astrid,” she said. It was clear that she was not interested in holding anything back.

“Well, Astrid, you're coming to Hailgalad,” Aiden said as he pushed her forward, back to the village.

The woman said nothing, but only smiled.

***

The sun was beginning to peak over the hills as the group made it back to the village.

“Where did the time go?” Cynthia asked. “There is no way we were out there all night.”

Graham shrugged, “Something about that artifact is unnatural. This trip seems to have only brought up for questions for us to answer.”

As they approached the village, the frightened people came out to find the defenders battered, but leading a captive. They looked confused that the person they had bound. Even though she had been taken, Astrid walked proudly with a grin.

“Is this the kuinan that warned you?” the woman villager asked them. “She was the one behind the spirits?”

“She spirits won't be coming back to these parts again,” Graham said. It was clear that he wanted to keep as much from them as he could.

“Why did she warn you if she was behind it all?” another asked.

Graham raised his hand to them, “That is for us to figure out. For now, you can go about your lives without fear.”

“What was she doing out there?” the woman pressed.

“Just another person causing trouble, nothing more,” Desmond said as he and Aiden hoisted her into the wagon. “But you can trust the words of Graham. She will be out of your hair now and you can go about your business.”

“How could we ever repay you? We are forever in your debt,” the woman said with a bow.

“We could use some gold,” Aiden flashed smile as he hopped into the driver’s seat of the wagon.

The woman looked uncomfortable and looked around her other villagers who also seemed uneasy. It was apparent that they did not have much in the way of money.

Graham shook his head with a smile, “Nothing is necessary, we are happy to help. We hope you never have to see us again.”

The group loaded all there gear into the wagon and started their trip back west, to the capital of Hailgalad.