The woods seemed a bit cheerier as they walked.

William wondered just how long he had been in that battle, but the others had full memory of it. However, the sexual nature of the goddesses had not come to their minds. Time seemed to have flowed strange while he was in it. Jehair and Felix, and Massacre all seemed a bit dazed as well, and William did not blame them. The land sloped downward slightly, and they began to see old ruins.

Broken stone places where once buildings had stood. Many were half-covered under the earth. Leaves were falling by the will of Laevian, and there were pools of crystal clear water.

"Are we near the druid enclave?" asked William.

"Yes, very," said Jehair. "I shall be glad to reach it. Our battle with Maius and Isriath was... captivating. But it is time to go on."

And go on, they did for a little while, as the land rose up and rocks became more common. But here and there, there were dips with a lot of water in them. Several new ponds had swamped the trees from rainfall William didn't remember.

"You're all morons, you know that," said Imogen as she appeared. "All of you."

"I don't see your scythe," noted William, looking to Felix and then Jehair. "Where is it?"

"Of course, I don't have my scythe, you idiot," said Imogen. "I don't use it until days of judgment!

"Now, what is going on here? Why haven't you called me before now?"

"I wasn't aware I was supposed to be getting into contact," said William.

"Ugh, fine, whatever," said Imogen. "I should have known Elranor would keep you in the dark.

"We'll call it a mulligan. Alright, I'm going to direct you to these gnolls, heal them, talk to them, call them over to my worship."

"How do I know this is Elranor's will?" asked William. "And how exactly are you both a proxy Goddess of Healing and a Thievery?

"What is the connection?"

"I stole it," said Imogen simply. "Obviously.

"Zeya didn't want the position, so I took it. You know, you have been causing me some major problems. Anyway, I'm here to help you.

"Your friend Tanith Telus scares the hell out of me, and I've decided to try and patch things up. So I'm giving you a quest that will help advance your goals and fix things with your house.

"Ordinarily, I take on a mortal form and handle this myself. But every so often, organized crime gets really bad. Then I get a lot of power, and I have to put a lot of work in.

"The point is, Tanith is scary, and I don't want to mess with her. So I'm giving you a quest."

"I see," said William.

William turned his thoughts to Elranor and fell to one knee. Raising his hands, he prayed and focused his energies. As he did, he saw Elranor.

"Just cooperate," said Elranor. "I need you out there."

William nodded and stood up. "I've been put at your disposal."

"Finally, now let's just get this over with," said Imogen, throwing aside strands of pink hair. "I need to get a report from Serna. I swear Nagos is planning something big here."

"You are familiar with King Nagos?" asked William.

"Yes, he's an old companion," said Imogen. "I mean, under alias obvious. I don't fear Lady Zeya, but Nagos scares me. Past his nice smile is the most dangerous man alive."

"Of course," said William.

William did not understand why Nagos was so universally respected. By all accounts, he was the King of a tiny remnant. A mere phantom of the old Naminaen Empire. Perhaps it was because of Chun Xi? She seemed influential.

Imogen nodded. "Great.

"You're about to be ambushed. Talk your way out."

And she was gone in a flash.

William was beginning to feel exceptionally ill-treated. He had never volunteered his services to any of these people. Yet they seemed to take it for granted that he would do whatever they said. It was beginning to irritate him, especially since he was Imogen's nemesis in this.

And then came the gnolls from a circle, dozens of them. They held halberds in hand, and their hunched, doglike forms stunk. Their eyes were yellow. Though blue or yellow and hostile intent simmered beneath the surface. A few had huge maces. "Perceptive for a human.

"So, who are you who walks unbarred into our domain?"

"Forgive us entering unannounced," said William. "I am William Gabriel, and I am here to help you against the plague on behalf of the Goddess Imogen." He halted and considered things. Jehair was likely the common link.

She had probably worked with them, and they assumed her presence meant he was in hand. So his plan had worked.

"Plague?" asked the gnoll while some coughed.

"Yes, there has been a plague spreading throughout the land, and I've been trying to heal it," said William. "Several plagues, in fact." Wonderful, now he had to go back to do more healing. Desperately he wanted to go do something else or rush through, but this was his appointed task.

So he stayed resolute and thought about how good it was to be alive. To breathe and be strong of limb.

"You came all the way out into the darkness of the marshes to heal us?" asked the gnoll leader.

"Yes," said William. "Every person afflicted by a plague afflicts those around them. Every person healed may heal those they meet. You are as mortal as I, and so I must help you if I can.

"You do have people afflicted by the plague?"

"A few of them, yes," asked the gnoll. "You can heal them?"

"I can try," said William.

"Maybe we should listen to em, master. We've got a lot of-" said a gnoll.

"I'm the one giving the orders!" said another gnoll, apparently the leader. "...You, follow me."

"Of course," said William.

And so they walked, and William quickly went up to the gnoll who had spoken. "Forgive me if I presume, but I would guess by your terrible visage that you are gnolls. The race of humanoid wolves who struck terror into so many households in ancient days."

"No talking!" said the leader.

"As you wish," said William.

"This is a mistake," said Jehair. "We do not know these creatures will not kill us once we are in their den."

"Bah," said Massacre, unnerving the satyrs.

"Massacre is correct," said William. "We need not fear them so long as we are increasing their fighting power."

"And why are we increasing their fighting power?" asked Jehair hurriedly. "They're enemies of the druids, of House Gabriel? Helping them could be disastrous." Was she unaware William was on to her? It seemed possible.

Did she seek redemption?

She'd have to do something wrong to be redeemed. This was a legal matter. There was some panic in her tone.

"That remains to be seen," said William, trying to be ambiguous.

Then they came to a filthy series of shacks that could be generously called a village. Gnoll women were sewing and performing other day-to-day affairs. Filth was all over the ground, and the stench was horrific. Instead of a cesspit, they had a place where many gnolls were groaning. They were lying in the filth of a pit, disease.

"...This is where you keep your sick and injured?" asked William, horrified.

"Yeah, we throw 'em down there to rot," said the gnoll he'd spoken to before. "Most are probably dead by now. You want to go down there, be my guest.

"Let's see how the knight fights the plague."

William nodded and scaled down a crude set of steps made from increasingly smaller logs. Eventually, he came to the gnolls, smelling rotting flesh. "Don't be afraid.

"I am here to save you."

And he began his work. It was miserable and hot, and the air was filled with flies, and plague spirits fought against him. Every bit of flesh he healed seemed like it took a lifetime to work at, and when he finished the first gnoll, he was tired. But as he rose up and clambered out, William did it again.

And again, harder each time.

"You..." said a spirit. "You will rot..."

"Rise and be healed," said William. "Elranor has freed you." Then he saw one standing up and staying to watch him work. "You, check the others; help me find the ones that are still alive. If you find any who are dead, move them to where they were. We'll see about their burial."

And it continued, with Jehair soon coming to help. It soon became clear that many gnolls were here, and several were already dead. It all became horrible, but William looked to his new companion. "What's your name, friend?"

"I'm Asan," said the gnoll. "I was a warrior for Arraxia before I went to fight in Khasmir. But I was sold into slavery by my own brethren. I escaped, only to be plagued."

"Tell me, did you fight with any professional armies?" asked William.

"Quite a few," said Asan. "Calishans at one point."

"Did you learn their methods of their organization?" asked William.

Asan nodded.

William healed another gnoll. "Right.

"Well, help me get the others.

"Your Chieftain doesn't seem to like me."

"He'll kill you as soon as you outlive your usefulness," said Asan. "Rigis hates humans, and so do most of them. And elves he hates the most."

"I'm quite sure he'll try," said William.

"You think you can kill him and his men?" asked Jehair, laying her hands on an injured gnoll.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"It wouldn't matter if I couldn't," said William. "These people have to be healed."

But, ultimately, they finished it and went up into the town. There they were somewhat ungraciously given more people to heal. William did so with Jehair while Massacre watched, licking her cat heads chops."

"Is it finished?" asked Rigis.

"Not yet, I'm afraid," said William. "There are many bodies down there from those who died before I arrived. They must be piled and burned, or they could infect you all again. It is a shame they were put down there; many others may have lived."

"I don't need the opinion of a simpering human!" said Rigis. "You lot, you've been taking it easy down there and know the place; get the corpses out of there!"

"While they are working, Chieftain, there are some other matters," said William. He remembered his lessons under Raynald in creating a proper camp. "I'm afraid that this settlement has become unsanitary.

"I can find no sign of a cesspit.

"Where is one?"

"Why the hell should I care about that?" asked Rigis.

"The lack of cleanliness in this area is a source of flies and plague," said William. "The filth that has filled your streets must be cleansed and quickly, or any one of you could suffer from it. It could destroy your entire army in a few weeks."

"It's true; I've seen it happen on campaign in Khasmir," said Asan.

"You've been on a campaign to Khasmir?" asked Jehair.

"Yes," said Asan. "The Alpha drew me there to battle demons with my comrades. Our pikes claimed many lives in the name of Fortenex. But he was not our god."

"Fine then, you lot, go clean it up," said Rigis to some of the newly healed people.

This was an unpopular statement, to say the least.

"You want us to-," began one.

Rigis struck him dead with a blow from his pike and the others fled to perform their duties. "That's how I deal with those who defy me! Go! Clean it up!"

"Tell me, do any of you have longstanding injuries or scars?" asked William. "And are there any who have been seriously injured in this place?"

And there were many, and he tended to each one as best he could. The labor was long and hard, and he watched as the gnolls tore down their nasty dwellings. It happened with little difficulty.

Flames were put to them, and new ones dug in the sand.

William had the feeling they had done this before. But the gnolls were starting to gather with Rigis near Massacre.

"Bah," said Massacre threateningly.

"I should avoid standing in front of her dragon head. Her breath can reduce flesh to char in seconds," said William as he worked. "Asan, you are familiar with the standard procedure for camp making?"

"The Calishans drilled it into us every time we stopped," said Asan. "Dig a cesspit, set up a fence, that sort of thing."

"I thought you served Fortenex," said William in surprise.

"I changed sides to the Calishans when the village I defended was overrun," said Asan. "We killed many raishans before they came, but we had few priests.

"Many were cut down as they tried to dispel the curses on the bodies, or worse."

"I remember Khasmir," said William. "I was tasked with breaking those spells. That was nasty; I remember Tanith cut down hundreds of them. And Raynald even more than that, while I was stuck harping."

"Bad luck," laughed Asan.

"So tell me of this Alpha," said William.

"Once, ages ago, the predators of the world were dumb and witless," said Asan. "For the elves did not want wolves and lions and others to have power. Only their horses and deer were allowed because they submitted to them.

"We could not reason, for the Alpha was imprisoned in the domain of Feanor, now called Castle Blackfear. Now it took the form of a human girl, yet she broke free of her constraints and went out into the wilderness.

"There, the Alpha gave forth its own flesh and blood to the wolves beneath the sight of Tamar. And as it died, it returned to the domain of Feanor and ran forth alone again. So it went, over and over. Each time, it submitted its flesh to be devoured beneath the sight of Tamar. And over many ages, we gained the power of speech.

"There were five wolves which the Alpha chose to receive its gifts. There was Yamas, the cunning, who went and became a great friend of Baltoth. His daughter bred with Baltoth and created Telix, and inherited great intellect. They are always in one form, wolf or hybrid. Then there was Malice, the beautiful blonde wolf who created the werewolves. She has reincarnated in the form of Larxe, who resides in Castle Blackfear. She inherited the bloodlust of the world. They change shape between wolf and human.

"Then there was also..." He sighed. "Snooky."

"I'm sorry, what?" said William.

"He was named that by the elves," said Asan. "He and his kind are quite dangerous, but they serve the elves of Qor'dana. They are always in the form of wolves and dedicate themselves to the service of Alchara. It was by their hand that Qor'Dana was never taken when the elves were at their weakest.

"Last of all, there was Asan, who I am named for. He took on a form that was a mix between beast and man. We have no place, though Anoa saw to it we were spared and taught us to forge and fight. We learned well the ways of survival from him, but he always told us we could not count on him."

"You know a great deal," noted William.

"We tell stories," said Asan. "Or at least we did until Faras ordered we stop. We owe him fealty and rely on him for shelter, but we speak them outside the wood."

"Interesting," said William, wondering if he would meet Faras was as he drew out his notes. "Would you mind if I wrote all this down? I'd love to tell the story."

"No," said Asan. "Why the interest?"

"Someday, I hope to compile a detailed history of Anoa the Bright," said William, writing quickly. "To do that, I must hear all sides of the tale, to make as complete a guess as I can. One moment." And he finished. "Well then, Chieftain Rigis, I believe it would be best for a cesspit to be built in this village. I ask that you put Asan in charge of several men to do so. All waste should be thrown in there henceforth."

"Fine then, do it immediately. And you two, get on the sides of that chimera," said Rigis.

"But-" began a gnoll.

"Now!" said Rigis.

"Jehair, would the druids object to the building of a palisade?" asked William.

"Of course," said Jehair. "It would require the felling of many trees."

"I see," said William, before looking to Asan. "What sort of alternative defenses would you be able to raise without trouble? To keep out wild animals and the like?"

"We could raise a hill of sand," said Asan.

"Who are you talking to!" said Rigis.

"I am simply trying to help your people turn this place into a greater stronghold," said William. "If you do not want a wall built, I will no longer pursue the matter."

"I've heard enough of this! Kill them! Kill them now!" said Rigis.

Massacre roared, and the gnolls scattered. Asan's supporters stood by watching, now armed.

"Let he who is most bloodthirsty come against us first," said Jehair. No one moved. "Hmm, it seems there is little enthusiasm for an attack now, isn't there? Perhaps we could arrange for combat by champion?

"With your permission, of course, William."

"As you wish," said William. She was asserting control here.

Then she and Rigis went at it. Pike and scythe clashed again and again as they circled. A smooth dance-like striking countered Rigis' jabbing motions by Jehair. William watched with interest. Rigis' blows were fast and lethal, and he attacked with brutal fury. One Jehair matched with careful footwork.

Back and forth they went, with Rigis' stabs being outmaneuvered. When it became clear Jehair would not fall quickly, he slowed his assault. Jehair launched her own attack, striking with flurries. She seemed to move to and fro, and for a moment, her hair seemed like rose petals as she shot past Rigis, then again.

Yet Rigis predicted her attacks and defended. A slight wound was on the one hand, and Jehair seemed frustrated, though she hid it well. In the light, her hair seemed almost golden.

"Rigis is quite good, isn't he?" asked William. He thought Jehair very beautiful as she fought, for she seemed almost three people. The brown-haired druid, and the golden-haired one, younger somehow, and also the one with hair of pink.

She spun the scythe tirelessly as Rigis met each blow. Marks appeared on his pike. But he stabbed and cut one of the braids on Jehair's hair, causing it to flow around her in the light. Leaping back, she smiled in an almost girlish fashion as though many years had fallen from her. Was this a spirit?

Or was it the elvish lifecycle in action? The old Jehair falling away, and the new one coming about.

"He has to be," said Asan, crossing his arms. "One always has to be able to fight for dominance, or you lose it."

"Harlenorians have a similar approach," said William. "Though I confess, yours has greater purity."

"We're proud of that," said Asan. "You Harlenorians ought to go back to the old ways."

"Well, as much as we would like to, it isn't possible," said William.

"Do you serve Imogen," asked Asan.

"For the present, I am here on behalf," said William. "But, in truth, I wonder if she did not have some part to play in the chaos I have come to this place for."

"Yes, we did notice the suicide pact of the Lords of Antion," said Asan.

"Indeed, I hope it does not stick," said William. "A few messages in the wrong place and the entire nation falls to bits, and rightly so.

"Amazing, isn't it? The power of ink on a page?"

Jehair slid backward, defending rapid strikes from Rigis. Her hair flew around her as she caught his halberd. Now they were locked together, and her strength was failing her. She looked a bit worried.

"Is this woman your lover?" asked Asan.

"No," said William. "She's a guide and much stronger than me. I'd hate to fight her in some dark place. But she's well-connected and knows these lands.

"I rather think I've taken her off her right road.

"I think she was hoping to take the road straight to Gel Carn.

"She had some notion of the mess that was unfolding and wanted to get away from it. One can hardly blame her; Jehair is connected to everyone. Everyone, and yet she's not associated with any faction.

"If what I've heard is true, she was fighting and leading back when House Gabriel were minor nobility."

Jehair suddenly turned the halberd and threw it from Rigis' hands. Then her scythe lashed out, and he flinched. She stepped back, and a moment later, Rigis head fell from his shoulders. The golden-haired one faded, and Jehair looked suddenly old. Cleaning her scythe, she bowed the body of the fallen.

"Jehair is victorious!" said Asan. "The elf has won!

"I now rule this pack, and any who oppose me shall suffer for it!"

"You are a puppet of the elves-" began one.

And that was how Asan started knocking off heads. There was a full fight, and several were killed before the end, and at last, he had established dominance. "If any gnoll dares cross me, let him face me in single combat like Rigis! Come forward any who would challenge me!"

But no one did by now, so much the better.

"Well, it appears that matter is concluded. However, I should hazard that you have taken after all the aspects of the Alpha," said William. "Now then, I have no designs on ruling or conquering you. However, with all your permission, I would like to finish operations here."

"You may make suggestions," said Asan. "We need to rebuild the settlement from the ground up. Tear down the structures and dig new holes. We'll make the cesspit and do as he said; I've been saying for years we needed to get organized! And I had to call in humans to get rid of Rigis!"

William let this pass.

And so the labors began, and they did not end there. Asan soon led them to several other villages, and there William worked while he conquered. It wasn't long before the gnolls were all busy cleansing their old haunts.

But in one village, William found many cages of humans and other races enslaved. All in terrible conditions. They were filthy and desperate, had not been eating, and looked to have been made sick.

"Who are these people you've been keeping caged?" asked Jehair, taking charge. William stood to one side, looking at their injuries and desperate eyes. It made him sick to the stomach, but he refused to throw up.

"They are prisoners. We're storing them on behalf of someone to sell," said a gnoll.

"Sell to who?" asked Jehair.

"Someone named Cirithil," said Asus. "We go out into the lands of Blackfear and seize people, take 'em back here. Then he sells them to the Plantations out in Sorn. We've been doing it for months.

"His agent comes down here every few days after ministering. He says he is saving their souls and does a ritual. Actually, his armor was like his."

"What was his name?" asked William.

"Lamech," said Asus. "He enjoys his work."

"Lamech is doing work as a minister?" asked William. Lilas and Cirithil were bad enough, but Lamech was as well. He wore black skull armor?! What was he doing in the church?!

"He's the Bishop of Blackfear," said Asus. "I heard he was the lowest bidder for the position. But all the people who bid higher fell off tall towers, which all had excellent railings, which they had to bend out of shape to get over.

"Anyway, after all of them died, Lamech got a position as a Bishop of Blackfear. Now that's some smart business."

Wiliam put his face in his hands. "Who is running this country?"

"Is this done with the knowledge of the local Lord?" asked Jehair, putting a hand on his shoulder sympathetically. Evidently, she had heard of this sort of thing before.

Even the gnolls knew about it.

"Don't know, don't care," said the gnoll. "Atravain controls more land than she can administer. There some paperwork over there with the authorization." He pointed to a shack where a case of simple leather was inside.

"Take it or not, last we heard Cirithil is on his way out. What do we care?"

William went over to it and opened the case with Jehair behind him. Drawing it out, read it on a desk in a tent before shuddering in horror. They were many requests and authorization for the shipment of slaves. Names and dates, and accounts of their race, age, and gender. And on it was a similar marking. All in a very beautiful hand.

"...This bears the sigil of the High Priest," said William. "And the ink is smudged, as though he stamped it without looking at it.

"In the meantime, these people have been sent to you as a trap."

"What do you mean?" asked Asan.

"Their purpose here is to give your enemies a justification to invade you," said Jehair. "Let me heal these, see them fed and send them on your way. To keep them here invites the wrath of Harlenor.

"I have already seen such tactics used before.

"And also tell House Gabriel what is happening."

"Why should we?" asked Asan.

"Tavish has fallen from power, or very nearly," said Jehair. "Even if you find a buyer for this, the High Priest is gone. So you might get stiffed on your payment, and whoever did it might use them as an excuse to kill you."

"Let them come; we'd prefer a straight fight to test the walls," said Asan to laughter.

"I'd rather fight it out with you when you had rather a larger army," said William, trying to keep his composure.

"Really?" asked Asan. He must have succeeded.

"We like a challenge," said William.

"And what do you suggest?" asked Asan.

"Send word to my Uncle Arthur Gabriel in Brisgald and offer to ransom these to him," said William. "Say that they were intruders in your domain. I'll write a letter to him explaining the true nature of things, and you can get a profit for their release. And send all of these documents to him undamaged.

"House Gabriel doesn't believe in slavery or reckless invasions. They will respect your claims. It could be a powerful political tool if you also send them this documentation."

Asan nodded. "Very well.

"We don't have any use for the filthy things. We'll play things your way, but this had better be worth it."

"Of course," said William. "And don't talk to anyone about this. We don't know who Cirithil has corrupted. Anyone you talk to could be an agent." And he put the papers back in the case. "Burn this place.

"And tell as much to anyone who comes looking. I'll take these to King Faras."

Asus nodded.

William did as done before, and the people were given a meal and some rations and guided out toward the villages. From there, William wondered how many of these slaves had already been sold. What fate would befall them? That of the Furbearers?

"Elranor," said William. "Guide these people to freedom and good fortune.

"I cannot go with them. Massacre, protect them to the edge of the wood, then come right back." Then he halted and realized how much he needed her. "...You know, Massacre. I don't think you get nearly enough credit. So many problems are easily solved when a chimera is at your back."

"Bah," said Massacre.

Imogen did not show up, however, no matter how many villages visited. But, perhaps he had earned that.