“Impossible!” the marshall exclaimed, but the faces of everyone else fell and turned pale.

I looked to Florencia, who was white as a sheet and trembling. She took my hand and gripped it madly, shaking her head and muttering, “No! No!”

The scouts both looked apologetic but on the verge of collapsing.

“I’m sorry, my lord, but it’s the truth. We’ve been outmaneuvered. There’s another enemy host to the north, but we couldn’t count the size of it. They are now, at this very moment, already within our lands and advancing west! Many of us sacrificed our lives to deliver this news as quickly as possible. We rode through the vanguard of the enemy host… Acco and Miessarn didn’t make it, and the entire second squad got cut down, my lord. You must believe us!”

“What of captain Valejo?” asked captain Orsin.

The young scout’s voice quivered as he replied, “Captain Valejo made a diversion with the rest of the men for us to escape. We had the fastest horses, he said, but the last I saw, captain Valejo was surrounded… Totally surrounded.”

“The garrison at Castan—” stuttered the marshall as the realization set it.

The entire garrison in Castan was gone, leaving our entire northern flank exposed. There was nobody to defend the enemy until the city of Stirraco, deep in the heart of Lienor, hundreds of miles west. The marshall did not have to say that part out loud, we all knew, and a heavy silence fell upon us.

“In this case, my corisseri will pursue and obliterate that enemy host as well! The terrain from here to Castan is favorable for our cavalry, and the day hasn’t been overly strenuous. We can ride for many hours before needing rest. Our horses are strong and fed. We shall catch the enemy from their rear and decimate them to the last man. I promise that, lord marshall!”

Marshall de-Vilgario turned to the courageous captain Orsin and shook his hand as a father would a son. He only nodded grimly.

Meanwhile, Florencia was beside herself. Her eyes were turning red and tears were welling. “Jonas, I have a terrible feeling about this. I know you think of going with them. Please don’t!”

“I must.”

“You don’t!” We both knew that was also a lie. She closed her eyes and I kissed her hand.

“Captain Orsin, may I come along?” I asked.

“It would be a great honor, Mr. Espian, to have such a powerful sorcerer with us. However you must have a horse capable of matching our speed to ride with us,” said captain Orsin and turned to one of his honor guards, who stood as a stone statue beside him. “Fetch a horse for master Espian, one that is rested and agreeable.”

“We put our hope and trust in you again, Viccorio,” said marshall de-Vilgario, looking sternly at the bearlike captain. “With the added strength that Mr. Espian brings, I can hardly envision your failure, but you must be careful. You have the blessing of the Gods and the Crown with you. Ride fast and hard, and bring the fury of your corisseri with you!”

“Only your orders are required, my lord,” said Orsin.

He went and gathered all his cavalrymen before him.

“Men!” he said. “We have been entrusted with an honor of a most dangerous kind. This battle here today was but a feint by the Enemy and a host is marching on Stirracco as we speak. The garrison in Castan has fallen silent and it is up to us to combat the enemy again. Let this violation of our lands not go unpunished; let us cleanse our hills and forests from this foul intruder that means to pervert all that we hold dear! Accompanying us on this endeavor is the great sorcerer Mr. Espian. He is, I believe, an expert on how the Enemy does their strange magic. Now, corisseri, let us ride forth with unbridled fury!”

The men erupted in a chorus and held up their weapons. Trumpets sounded again, tired this time from the hours of fighting. Then Orsin turned to me.

“We leave very soon. Make yourself ready! I advise you to drink and eat for I don’t know when we will have time for that again. Your horse will be given shortly.”

As I went back to Florencia, a sharp pain stabbed at my bones. I almost fell to my knees, but it passed before I could make sense of it.

“I need to go. Vranik is there. Nobody can beat him but me.”

“I know, Jonas. Oh, my dear, dear Jonas. Please, promise me that you’ll be careful and come back to me. And that you won’t do anything stupid like… like—” But she couldn’t finish what she wanted to say and burst into tears. I kissed her again and looked into her eyes. I wanted to stay with her. But I also wanted to pursue Vranik. I felt deeply and unmistakably it was my duty.

“I will come back safely, and Vranik will be dead. I promise. But now, please do and rest. Take a bath in Lottie, and eat something sweet, I’m sure you’ll find some toffee pastries that you love so much. And be happy until I return.” I glanced at the weary soldiers gathered around us and lowered my voice. “But stay careful as well. I fear that those who have weaker hearts and minds, those who lost their loved ones, are susceptible to the poisonous whisperings of the demons. Some are still around.”

But Florencia was in no mood to talk about that and didn’t reply. She only kissed me again with a desperation, but then turned and rank back to the stables. She couldn’t even watch me leave. I almost understood.

I sought out Jace, finding him standing alongside Iskander, but the fire in his eyes was waning. His gaze appeared distant and tired. Nonetheless, I gave him the same warning about the soldiers.

“Very well. I’ll keep my eyes open and my ears alert for anything unusual,” he said, breathing out heavily and I saw his lower lip tremble. “But I need a moment for myself. This… battle was a challenge. I need to rest.” He forced a smile but fooled neither of us. “Good luck, Jonas. And even though you don’t have faith, I will have enough for the both of us.”

Jace then turned and followed Florencia and as he went, his stride faltered and he stumbled. I turned to Iskander, my heart growing heavy with worry.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“You have to stay here!” I told him and looked at his stone-hard face. He had also noticed Jace and Florencia falter. “I fear Jace is more shaken by what happened here than he lets on. His heart is not yet as hardened as it has to be. You need to talk to him and calm him down. And Florencia… she’ll be devastated. She will need someone beside her for comfort. Iskander, I need someone strong and dependable, whom I can trust while I’m away. Can I count on you for that?”

“Someone strong to count on?” repeated Iskander with a heavy tone of uncertainty. It was only three days ago that he broke down because of his unresolved grief, and I had very little hope for his help. But the very next moment, his eyes shifted and his demeanor changed utterly. There was a quiet calm inside him now.

“Alright. You can count on me. I see what you’re saying about Jace. He is still too optimistic about the world, and all this death took its toll. I’ll make sure he’s alright. And Florencia loves you, Jonas. Her heart will ache for you until you come back. I’ll make sure they’re both fine when you come back.”

I smiled and shook his hand. It was firm and yielded very little. That was comforting.

“Just be gentle with Florencia. Don’t push her too much, and don’t let her plunge too deep into dark thoughts. And keep your eyes open. I still feel a lingering demonic presence. They are cowardly, and I fear our soldiers might hear their dark whispers, and take them to heart. You have the skill to see them now. Stay together, and stay cautious.”

“I will,” said Iskander, now more reserved with his words. “And if you kill Vranik, I want you to spit on his corpse.”

“I will avenge your family, Iskander. You have my word. I’ll see you soon.”

Iskander only offered a weak nod in reply and left towards the stables. Jaxine was already running out into the fields to meet him, with tears in her eyes.

I quickly gathered some bread and water from a gracious soldier. He said he saw how I fought, and was more than happy to share bread with me. Soon, an injured corisseri brought me my horse. He was a robust beast, massive and larger than Velluta, yet when I ran my hand along his mane and whispered comforting words, he was rather agreeable.

Sooner than I thought, all the corisseri were assembled in a large column, and captain Orsin rode to the front, his long mace drawn. “Ride forth, corisseri of Lottie!”

With the trumpets again sounding in the evening air, the cavalry of the City of Flowers rode north, in pursuit of the Enemy once again.

We rode out in a long and loose formation, spread out over a wide stretch of land, without any celebration or cheers.

Many of the corisseri hid a gloom and dread in their hearts—it was easy to sense, all were blunts—but wore their proud and unwavering faces in front of the men-at-arms who stayed behind. Those who rode out were numerous, perhaps shy of a thousand, but I couldn’t be sure.

Their polished armor shone brilliantly in the evening sun, courageous red and royal blue plumes dancing in the breeze. Some bore dents upon their cuirasses, while others had splotches of mud and blood from the recent battle. A few dozen corisseri stayed behind—those who were injured or maimed.

As we left the fields of Poscale behind, the corisseri merged into two columns, and captain Orsin dispatched scouts to venture further ahead. These men, unburdened by heavy armor, wore only the distinctive plumed helmets of the Lottie Corisseri, and dark-green gambesons, adorned with their heraldry embroidered on their sleeves.

The lands north of us were beautiful, with large and wide fields of grasslands, and patches of forests here and there, and soon I saw the snow-capped peaks of the Castalmand Mountains come into view. The wind changed direction and now came from those very mountains, and it was cold.

I wrapped the woolen blanket even more around myself.

All of a sudden I found captain Orsin riding beside me, his helmet off and fastened around his belt.

“I heard from some knight that you were in Veneiea, is that true? I’ve only caught whispers that some terrible thing happened there.”

“I was there, that is true, but much of what happened there must be kept a secret. And I was only there in the end, not for the beginning.” Now was as good time as any to tell this captain about the enemy they were about to face. “But I can tell you this much—it was the same Enemy who was responsible for that destruction.”

“How?” captain Orsin exclaimed, his thick mustaches fluttering in the wind. “Does that mean they have penetrated our borders? How could they have reached that deep within our realm?”

“The Enemy infiltrated our lands from the north, captain. And the very man who might be leading this host we are about to face is the one who orchestrated what happened in Veneiea. He is also responsible for what happened in Scorro.”

Orsin was nothing short of stunned, and he rode on, looking ahead for some time.

“Are you sure of this?” When he saw my face, he continued. “Then it will be that this terrible captain will earn our righteous fury. I will make ruthless war upon this man, and if he is truly such a powerful sorcerer, then I am glad to have one such as yourself by our side. Do you intend on facing him in combat?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will make it so my corisseri clear the way for you, as before. Are you aware, Mr. Espian, that following these battles, you and your company will gain notoriety in many circles? I hold my lieutenants in line over the spread of excessive rumors—a soldier of Lienor is not to spend himself spreading base rumors—but many noble-born do not share my views. You would do well to prepare yourself.”

“I already am…”

“I must admit that roused my curiosity over what secrets you keep, especially after seeing how riled up the marshall was. However, seeing and experiencing how terrible the Enemy is, and what mastery they have over the dark powers, I’m not sure I’d sleep soundly at night if I knew what you do.”

“I don’t have the keys to the entire truth, either,” I said. “But I can tell you that sometimes, captain, it’s better to not know every secret, especially if you don’t have the means or skills to fight them.”

Orsin nodded along, and, surprisingly, didn’t seem offended.

“Indeed. I have no magical affiliations, a blunt, as you mages say.”

“I don’t like that term, but many do use it.”

“One can gauge much from what one takes offense in,” said the captain. “There are many powers in the world that I do not understand. Today I am comforted that you fill that gap in knowledge with your presence.”

“And I am honored to fight alongside the mighty corisseri of Lottie.”

“The honor is ours, Mr. Espian, the Victor of Poscale.”

“If anything, the victory was because of you, captain, not me.”

“True heroism is found in humility,” said captain Orsin, and spoke no more of this. He bowed his head to me, and rode ahead, next to his honor guards.

The fields surrounding us were wide and expansive, and a chilly wind still came from the mountains. Soon the sun had set, and another clear but cold night descended upon us. The moon was again casting its silvery light onto the damp grasslands, but the cold was growing more intense, and I could see my own breath in the frosty air.

Gradually, as we rode onward, I began to feel a dull but constant stabbing pain in my bones, and a fire coursing through my veins.

“What’s this?” I wondered.

“It is the side effects of what you call blood magic. The strength you borrow from the fading life force of the dead must be paid back in pain. But it is a passing thing if you hold off on using blood magic until the agony has abated. In the past days, when our home was made in that cave, you had a frightening mastery over transmuting that pain into a reservoir of potency.”

“So, if I just wait and suffer, it will go away?”

“Such is the case, yes. But not before growing worse, Master. It is only a matter of suffering through the worst of it.”

I hoped the pain wouldn’t grow, but that was nothing more than a fool’s hope. As the night wore on, the pain sharpened, and I felt a splitting headache form around behind my eyes and brow, and the bones of my arms hurt badly. Many of the aches I’d endured throughout my travels I knew to suppress, or even harnessed as a source of strength, but this affliction lay beyond my control. All I could do was to endure it.

When I resigned myself to that reality, the pain became bearable.

It was some time during the night when the lands around us were cast in silver light, that captain Orsin commanded the column to hold before a thick forest. There was a narrow unpaved road that went in between the massive trees. Two scouts rode back to the captain.

“We’re coming up on a village, captain” said one, and his face was pale as a phantom.