With Vanessa's disappearance, the statue lost part of its glow. Looking at it, Relma felt it looked a bit sad there, all on its own. Upon further examination, she saw that vines were growing up. A crown of flowers was upon her head.

"Well, this sounds like a jolly good quest we've set out on now," said Wrynncurth ruefully. "Still, I'd best first send a message to King Tyus. He'll need to know the details of this place."

"I'm going to start a fire, Relma; come with me," said Estela. "Jomas, guard here."

Relma nodded and turned from the statue to follow Estela. Together, they began to make their way out of the cathedral, looking for wood. Estela, however, seemed bothered by something, and her eyes kept darting around as if expecting an attack.

"So, things seem to be going well here," said Relma after a moment.

"How are they going well?" asked Estela bitterly. "We'll have to go to find this Conquista of Anoa. It's going to be even more work."

"Well, at least we'll be able to learn more about this region. It could help future missions," said Relma.

"Not really," said Estela. "Queen Vanessa is sending us on this mission to eliminate us. She just doesn't want to give Wrynncurth a flat refusal. This is what we call an impossible task."

"Well we just need to achieve it," said Relma with a shrug. "Then it won't be impossible anymore."

"Yes, you do that," said Estela as they came to the city's edge. The wood stood far below them. "We're not going to find any wood here, are we?"

"We could head into the woods over there?" said Relma, motioning to them.

"And risk the undead?" asked Estela.

Everything was getting colder. Relma shifted. "I guess, but it's getting cold. We do need wood.

"Want to get Jomas-"

"No," said Estela flatly. "The less he's involved, the better. Now let's go."

"Estela, he is your fiancee," said Relma. "Maybe-"

"Don't say it," said Estela. "My only hope is that he dies on this mission as quickly as possible."

And they began to walk down.

"That's a horrible thing to say, Estela," said Relma after a moment.

"Maybe, but it's the only honorable way I'm getting out of this mess," said Estela. "Come on."

They made their way down the slope toward the trees. As they did, Relma kept a hand on Lightning Trail, the sword of her ancestors. She didn't expect it would be of much use, but Relma wasn't very good at fighting. Mostly, she'd used the thing as a symbol and divine channel, which was pretty good.

The trees rose around them, and Estela halted and leaned against a tree. "There's the sticks.

"Relma, gather them. I'll stand watch."

"Right," said Relma.

Estela didn't like manual labor, and somebody needed to play guard. So Relma began picking up sticks wherever they had fallen. As she did, she noticed the air was very dry, and the ground was the same.

"Hmm..." said Estela.

"What is it?" asked Relma.

"These trees are very dry," said Estela. "It's like this forest hasn't seen any rain in a long time. A lot of these trees are dead.

"Some sort of curse, no doubt."

"Maybe we can break it," mused Relma.

Then she saw a walking corpse coming around the tree, hands outstretched. The mouth of the creature was open in a silent moan as mottled hands stretched out. "Estela!" cried Relma. "Look out!"

Estela darted away, drew her sword, and cleaved the thing's head in half with one, swift movement. "Undead, wonderful. Keep gathering the sticks; we might freeze to death without them."

More of them came out of the woods, and Estela started hacking. She moved this way and that, cleaving them down as they went. Relma quickly started picking up as many sticks as she could and bundling them together with a rope. One of the creatures came out of the underbrush, grasping for her, only to take a knife to the forehead.

"Estela, let's make a run for it," said Relma, grabbed the dagger and retrieving it.

"Right, don't drop the firewood!" said Estela, slashing down two more.

Then Relma noticed something. Many of the bodies were pulling themselves towards them on cut limbs. Estela motioned for her to run, and Relma did, ducking under a dead man's arms. Scaling up the hill, she glanced back to see Estela scaling up behind her, cloak billowing in the wind.

She hacked and slashed as waves of undead came at her, beating a fighting retreat. And behind her fell a trail of limbs, hewn bodies, and smashed faces. These undead creatures had no semblance of humanity Relma could see. Their flesh was dried and mummified, and their bones brittle.

And not a sound was made from them as they fell.

Eventually, Relma and Estela had retreated into the aura provided by Alchara's statue. Mentally, Relma wondered why Alchara would help the likes of Wrynncurth. Perhaps she was trying to help Estela or Relma. Or perhaps the aura was maintained for everyone.

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Wrynncurth met them at the top of the ridge. He was sitting on a rock, smoking a pipe and scratching runes in the dirt. "Ah, Estela, Relma, off gathering firewood, are you?"

"Something like that," said Estela, wiping her blade off on the grass.

"Might want to tell us where you're going next time, old girl, no sense in taking risks," said Wrynncurth. "Hmm, that's rather a lot of undead, isn't it?"

"The shield should stop them," said Estela, looking down.

Sure enough, on came the undead. Now they were coming in far greater numbers, and even as they pushed, they were burned away. Yet more were always coming as hordes of the corpses shambled out. If anything, their numbers were increasing.

"...They aren't turning back, are they?" asked Relma.

"No, they're not," mused Wrynncurth. "Some jolly old chap has it in his mind to get his undead up here. He must want one of you quite a bit."

"Where's Jomas?" asked Estela.

"At the cathedral, I think," said Wrynncurth. "You shan't need him. I'll take care of this right quick. Hold my pipe, will you!"

Estela took the pipe. "Right."

And then Wrynncurth spurred out into the air. As he did, the golems went with him, souring out over the hordes. The three went with lightning speed, and as they did, they spat acid. Or Relma assumed they were spitting acid; she could hardly follow it.

Wrynncurth and his golems with swoop down, and then lines of the things would be melted. They did it with practiced ease, and with every passing moment, more undead were burned away. In what had to have been less than a minute, his acid had destroyed...

Relma wasn't really sure.

Tanith Telus had killed two black dragons Wrynncurth sent after her. How had she done that? She should have been melted in five seconds.

"...I've next seen Wrynncurth in action like this," said Relma. "He's always seemed so nice before, but this is..."

"Lethal," said Estela, biting her lip. "They're so fast and maneuverable."

Then Wrynncurth and his golems started swooping down to grab undead. As they pulled them up, their jaws snapped to devour the living corpses. They snapped up limbs and bodies in an instant, while Wrynncurth came back. He was presently munching on the skull of an undead as he took back his pipe.

"Well, I must say, this is quite a show today," said Wrynncurth. "I've spent quite a lot of acid on these chaps. I'll need to eat a lot when this is over. Fortunately, the undead are an ideal meal."

"You eat undead?" asked Estela, looking a bit green.

"Of course, old girl," said Wrynncurth. "Not safe for either of you, but we Black Dragons are undead after a fashion. The energies within allow us to restore ourselves easily enough.

"Well, why not go out there with all your golems?"

"Oh, I could, not mistake, but just one is keeping them at bay," said Wrynncurth. "I think it best to vary our time spent out there. This way, I can keep it up nonstop."

"How many more are coming out of those woods?" asked Estela, watching the horde grow.

"Rather more than I can kill alone, I think," said Wrynncurth. "Not to worry, I'll..." And then there was a horn call. "Oh, dear."

"What is it?" asked Relma.

"That's the horn of Stormstrike," said Estela. "Come on!" Drawing her sword, she raced out, and Relma followed. The horn calls continued, growing louder as they moved through decaying streets. Suddenly, they came out and found Jomas fighting what seemed a legion.

The huge man was swinging around his hammer repeatedly. Wherever it fell, lines of undead were shattered to dust. He blew his horn, even as he did, and more fell to him.

"Damn it, come on, Relma!" said Estela. "We've got to stop them!"

"I thought you wanted Jomas to die," said Relma.

"That doesn't mean I'll abandon him to be eaten by these things," said Estela. "If Wrynncurth is worried, then that means-"

Jomas continued to swing, and the undead began to be destroyed even faster. Relma suddenly realized that the undead horde was not advancing at all. If anything, it seemed to be slowing down.

"-he won't last long," said Estela. "So, uh, should we go to his aid?

"Relma, stay back and heal us if we get injured."

Estela rushed in, hewing down the creatures. She was going to rescue someone who had the situation completely under control. Relma suspected that Estela and she were in more danger than Jomas before they arrived. The man seemed to have the strength of ten giants.

As Estela waded into the combat, Relma drew out Lightning Trail. As she did, she saw the number of undead increasing. The creatures were slow and fought with no skill, but they seemed to be gaining ground little by little. One grabbed ahold of Jomas' arm, while another threw itself at his feet. He jerked and threw on away, while Estela covered him, yet more were coming.

This wasn't good. Sooner or later, they'd be overrun.

Hang on, perhaps Relma could use Lightning Trail here. Raising the sword, she began to focus her power on it. While Relma hadn't had a lot of practice, she'd had some general principles down. Focusing her will through it, she saw the sword catch the light.

"By the power of Elranor..." murmured Relma. "Um, by the power..." She felt ridiculous. "Nevermind.

"Be banished!"

A wave of light shot from her. As it washed over the undead, they collapsed, shrieking. Soon, they were reduced to ashes. Relma felt their tortured spirits fading away to whatever life awaited them. And suddenly, she felt exhausted.

Estela and Jomas looked up. As they did, Relma collapsed to her knees.

"Relma, did you do that?" asked Estela.

"Yes, but um, I... I'm a bit tired from it," said Relma, trying to stand.

And then the undead came over the hill in still greater numbers, and there seemed to be a wall behind them. They moved faster, and they'd hardly had a chance to recover before they were fighting. Estela hauled Relma beneath an arch as Jomas fended them off.

Something had enraged the spirit behind these things, and now it was focused more against them. Even now, the undead were shambling around them, scaling over fallen pillars. Soon, they were forced to withdraw again and again.

Then, as they ran, Relma tripped over a pillar and fell. Lightning Trail was flung from her grasp. Estela and Jomas turned to aid her, only to be barred by many creatures. Hands gripped Relma, dragged her back by the hair, and as she fought, more arms stopped her struggles.

Relma heard Estela scream, and then Ajax was there.

The wolf-boy surged out of the ruins with a howl, and as he did, the Undead cowered before him. His eyes glinted red as he ripped through them systematically, smashing, crushing. Finally, he caught those who Relma was gripped by, and they dropped her and fled.

Not that they got far.

Ajax's howls were heard throughout the day as he tore through the streets, leaping off walls. Relma, however, found herself in a daze, hardly understanding what was happening around her. At last, however, she awoke and found Ajax looking down at her, his white hair on her shoulder.

"Ajax, you're here," said Relma.

"Of course I am," said Ajax, sitting up quickly. "I saw you and Wrynncurth flying, and I've been following behind for some time. What are you doing out here? This entire forest is crawling with the undead."

"We'd better check with Estela and Jomas," said Relma, looking around. She was back in the cathedral now.

Estela and Jomas came through, weapons and armor bloodied, not with their blood. Ajax looked to Estela, who came forward and wiped off her blade on some grass. "Ajax, what are you doing here?"

"Saving you," said Ajax simply, as more howls emanated.

"Why hasn't someone cleared this place out?" asked Relma. "These undead are a threat to everyone."

"From what I gather, it's usually only an occasional snatching," said Ajax. "But the wolves in this place tell me that a vast undead column spilled over the rivers. Others in surrounding areas all came to this place.

"Where's Wrynncurth."

"I don't know," said Relma. "We ran to help Jomas. Last we saw, he was holding off the undead."

"There he is!

Then Wrynncurth came in through one of the holes in the roof. The light was dying now, and in it, he looked very formidable. He landed, folding his wings, but suddenly collapsed to one knee. Relma saw that he was covered in wounds.

"Back news, chaps," said Wrynncurth. "It seems this whole city is crawling with undead. They're coming at us from all sides, and I don't wager we'll be able to stop them all."

This was going to end badly, wasn't it?