Moira couldn’t determine whether it was a side effect of the transformation or the deliberate work of a rune crafted by the Elder to produce such a result. Either way, her spell of communion with the dead failed to penetrate beyond the fragmented and chaotic memories following the transformation. What she could access was little more than incoherent shouts and guttural snarls. In short, the attempt yielded no meaningful insight.
The group decided to return to Kardum, bringing with them the remains of their fallen companions to deliver to their families. As they made their way back, Moira’s two ravens returned, carrying additional reports.
The situation in Lar and Gerd, the cities to the east, mirrored that of Iskev: continued eradication of the undead and no apparent movements of forces from the north. However, these cities were seeing an influx of more refugees. From the north, the raven’s vision of Kaarv revealed it to be sheltering almost as many refugees as Kardum, though no evidence of troop concentration was observed. Instead, bands of about fifty soldiers were roving the region around the two captured northern cities, moving from village to village and town to town. These forces seemed to be “persuading” the local populace to accept the new order. While the exact number of such bands across the northern territories remained unclear, their presence was a significant piece of intelligence.
The group’s mood was grim. On their first night back, a storm broke, drenching them in cold, unrelenting rain. Moira found herself especially grateful for the presence of her companion sharing the tent. The warmth and proximity of another human being provided not just physical comfort, but also a much-needed emotional balm.
In the end, not all of them returned to Kardum. Moira, Ashan, and Tex chose to remain in the ruins of the fort where her journey into the northern territories had begun—the very place where she had freed the spirits bound by the Elder of the Last Tribe. A small spring ran through the area, making it a convenient spot for a temporary encampment.
The remaining five riders carried the bodies of their fallen comrades and detailed reports of their findings back to Captain Darva in Kardum. Moira’s name and reputation, especially following the events in Iskev, were likely spreading across the north. Staying away from the city, as per the original plan, remained a prudent course of action.
All three birds kept watch over their sleep, so they didn’t set up a formal guard—at least, that was the official agreement. However, Ashan, being a light sleeper, would occasionally check the surroundings whenever a gust of wind or an unfamiliar whistle stirred his senses.
By morning, they had some time to kill. Tex took care of the horses and then worked on maintaining her weapons. Moira went for a walk around the ruins of the fort where they were camping and the nearby area, looking for herbs. Ashan offered to stretch his legs as well, so they went together.
The earth still carried a distinct scent, damp from the previous day’s rain, and the moss- and lichen-covered stones and remnants of walls were wet and slippery. They walked together in silence, while Moira occasionally bent down to pick a leaf, flower, or to uproot some plant, which she could later use as an ingredient for a meal or a medicinal concoction. Ashan could clearly see how much this relaxed her. Her recently tense expression had softened, and a faint but unmistakable smile began to play on her lips. He liked the sight of it and caught himself wanting to ensure she could keep that state. The sudden rush of emotion unsettled him slightly, and she broke through his thoughts by asking:
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“Do you think we’ll manage to rally the defensive forces in time? They have just over two moon cycles left.” Gathering herbs might calm her, but her thoughts were still focused on the pressing issue at hand. Yet she spoke in a calm, composed tone.
Ashan cleared his throat. “With the information we've gathered and what they've heard firsthand from the refugees, I don’t see another outcome. I think the Last Tribe underestimates how many of my kin were proud of what was built here,” he replied confidently.
“I hope you’re right. Only united do you stand a chance of stopping this madness—and I’m with you,” she said with determination. “The necromancer community is small, and the last thing we need is a coup led by someone who’s mistaken for one of us.” She sighed softly before continuing. “That’s why I want, when the world hears about this, for it to be a tale of a failed coup, stopped by the brave people of the North—with the help of a true necromancer.” She took a few more steps, paused, and added with a faintly softened voice and a small, corner-smile, “And of course, I see how much you’ve come to like Kardum. I’ve met so many wonderful people here. So I’m doing this for you all too.”
“I know, Moira,” he said, glancing briefly into her eyes before resuming the walk. “I know and I appreciate it. And everything you’ve done here.” He gestured broadly at the ruins. “Few people from here have done as much, and you didn’t have to.”
“But I wanted to,” she murmured lightly.
“True, but you know what I mean,” he cleared his throat again. “You’re very convincing as an herbalist and—”
She interrupted quickly, “Because I actually am an herbalist,” she chuckled softly.
“Yes, of course. But what I mean is, you could have walked away from all this and continued being an herbalist anywhere the road took you, somewhere far from any anti-necromancer sentiment. Even if the Elder conquered the entire North and turned us all into his cultists, you’d have managed just fine and—”
She interrupted again. “But I wanted to, Ashan. It’s my choice. I believe this is the right thing to do, and trust me, I’ll make sure this is the kind of story I told you about—a failed coup.” She slipped her arm through his, ostensibly for balance, but even as they kept walking, she didn’t let go. He gladly offered his support, and she added in a kind tone, “So let’s leave it at that.”
He drew in a deep breath of cold morning air and nodded. “All right. How about we check over there?” he suggested, pointing with his free hand to a promising spot.
“You’ve got a good eye. Let’s go,” she praised him, leaning in closer. They strolled like that for a while longer until Tex called out, proposing it might be time for breakfast. They both chuckled lightly and, with only a touch of awkwardness, disentangled their arms. Ashan gave her arm one last affectionate squeeze and motioned for her to go ahead. Together, they returned to fire pit and helped Tex with the cooking.