Defeated and battered, the party trotted away from Manglewood. Iridia was dispirited more than she had ever been in her life. The journey behind taunted her with bitter rejection and hurt, while the journey ahead beckoned with a sinister scowl in the form of storm clouds over the crest. Elsbury’s verdant hills rolled away in all directions, calling upon free souls to frolic in the lush grass and colourful blooms that peppered the countryside, though Iridia did not hear such a call.

They jogged, not stopping to admire the picturesque land that divided the edge of Manglewood, the Imperial-controlled Wilderlands and the impenetrable wall that led into the great Port Farlow; the melting pot of the east.

“The ruins are close, now,” Kaleb called back, “If we have navigated well enough.” They had run for three hours, the humidity drained their spirits and coated them in perspiration.

“Are we sure these are the ruins?” She led the buck with the dying Flencer on its back. She daren’t look at his face or inspect his condition now, Within four days the hurt of losing two friends had caused her much suffering of the heart, losing a third might be too much.

“If we are wrong, then I am lost, and so is Flencer, I will take my blade to his throat and end the poor bastards suffering myself.” Kaleb’s stoic nature remained well intact, though deep inside he feared for Iridia’s health, he wished to keep her mental state cared for as much as her physical well-being. He had seen all too well the effects of battle fatigue upon a soldier's mind, Paladins were not immune, especially ones so young. Alas, time for lament would have to come later, though free of Manglewood’s tyrant, Flencer was not out of the woods yet.

“Do you see the botanist?”

“I see no one, They may be a day or two behind, or they may have not headed Gin-rith’s call.”

Iridia missed him so, she felt as if she had been pulled apart like him. “He will come,” she said defiantly, She pushed her legs harder and caught up to Kaleb, then passed him. “He will come!”

“Your hope is uplifting, Iridia, Gin-rith was respected, surely one of them will come as you say.”

The ruins of the well temple had a beauty that remained even in death, ancient lore swirled around the worn marble columns, engraved languages and glittering shards that glinted with magical essences. The well was more of a pool, shallow and long, running through the centre, no doubt the religious order of the Sinley would commit to their ablutions by the edge of the water. At the far end was a crumbling temple, it was modest in size, the party were blocked from its entry by destroyed marble columns so they sat out by the pool, it was shallow with rainwater that both the buck and the party could enjoy.

“How long should we wait?”

“This must be the temple, I am sure of it, We wait until Flencer decides we go.”

Iridia looked over at her friend who had been laid at the foot of the steps leading to the temple, he was breathing quietly, and his body was stiff and skin sticky to the touch. There was nothing to do but wait and look out towards the dreaded forest they had been spat from, Manglewood, a name that would burn her tongue forever.

Kaleb sat beside Iridia and brought his arm around her. “We will bury him here, at the well, if he does not come through.” he shot a glance back at the failing Flencer, he had seen too many times life fall to its mortal trappings, this world wasn’t easy to cling to, in all its fragility and shortcomings, he knew that there were worst fates than death, and a peaceful passing into the otherworld is the best any man can ask for.

“Are we failing?”

Kaleb looked back at Irida, “What brings such a question to mind?”

“Look at us, we barely made it out of a forest, How are we to defeat this demon? whatever that is.”

He stroked her back, “Failure is not something we can think about, a true Paladin stands up in the face of impossibility and lets the divine heart take the reigns.”

“So this quest is impossible?”

Kaleb offered Iridia a warm smile through his scared features, “If it wasn’t, they wouldn’t have sent a Paladin.” he winked and patted her back, “They sent two, so it must be verily impossible.”

Iridia blurted out a quick laugh, “Sure, I can barely do anything.”

“Yet here you are,”

“So you admit, I can do barely anything?”

“Barely anything is still something and a lot more than nothing, Iridia, You are learning lessons quicker than I can teach you, there may be a time when you are alone–”

“I would not continue without you.”

“You may have to, and you would because I’d demand it from you.”

Iridia looked at her worn boots. “Am I really to become a Paladin of Zale?”

“Else the house would cease, then again, we are dead if Zeth has kept his word, They have probably emptied our house by the council and replaced me with a new house and a more fitting justiciar.”

Iridia nodded, “One that serves the evil?”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“It would make sense,”

“Is that why they wanted you out of Angelspree?”

Kaleb raised an eyebrow, he had thought about this question several times, it made sense in a way, but perhaps he was putting too much worth on himself, “I do not know for sure, but…If I am talented in any way, it is seeking out corruption, having me not there is easier when it comes to maintaining Paladin compliance, there will be resistance among some houses.”

Flencer gasped out and brought the gazes of the Paladins upon him, It was clear to them both that his time was about to end, they both looked down and away, Kaleb felt deep down he would miss the Dwarf, a little.

Iridia tried to bring the subject back on track. “I guess it was lucky we met.”

“Luck?” Kaleb chuckled, “Luck was far from it, Iridia, when I was sent to judge Paladin Grush it wasn’t for his crimes I am sure, I believe it was to save you.”

Iridia blinked, “Save?”

Kaleb stretched his legs out and watched the buck trot around the shallow pool. “Indeed, you are a rare breed, strong is your connection to the Divine.” he played with the skin of his fresh scar, wondering if it would ever heal. “When I saw Grush through the eyes of truth, the artery which connected him was so twisted and blackened that his crimes here could not do that, I paid it no mind honestly…I should have been more aware.”

“Aware of what?”

Kaleb shrugged, “I figured he had many hidden crimes, No, he was corrupted by a greater evil and I believe he was sent to kill you.”

“Kill me? What for?”

“As I told you, your connection to the divine is strong, a purge is happening to those who resist corruption.”

Iridia’s eyes flashed wildly at the theory Kaleb had shared.

“When we returned to Angelspree we were rushed away, I felt the looming evil and was driven to leave that place as soon as possible, Something revealed itself that day and it, I am shamed to say, brought a fear into me.”

Iridia stood up slowly and walked to Flencer, looking over him a few times then going to explore the ruins before the day gave way, she had much to think about and a friend to bury no doubt. Kaleb was right about something, they were more alone than ever before.

***

They waited patiently by their dying friend for two days, by the second, hope had faded amongst the Paladins. Night came for the third time, and once again, dawn brought no visiting botanist. Iridia didn’t sleep much, the night sky was visited by both moons and their beauty helped her forget for fleeting moments.

The morning was bright with a light summer shower, it made the hills of Elsbury glisten with a magical whimsy, the grey cloud that carried the rain was cast for the mourning of their lost friend Flencer.

Flencer lay at the foot of the steps, green-skinned and barely breathing, if the botanist was coming, he would not be in time. Kaleb had found a patch of soft soil just outside the temple and was digging with his hands, the grave would be shallow but better than nothing. “We will place marble over the spot,” he called to Iridia, “We can come back and give him a proper burial.”

Iridia didn’t reply, she sat by her dying friend and played with the whisper stone Morgan had given her, In a way she was thankful that Morgan hadn’t followed, he’d be surely deadened by the evils in that wood. She walked to the far end of the pool, away from Flencer and looked out into Manglewood, The trees climbed high and their leaves brushed the clouds, She wondered if Gin-rith was watching from the roots, if perhaps he would feel her footsteps if she walked on that cursed soil once more.

Kaleb had almost finished the hole for Flencer, he had ripped his nails up several times during the process and made his way to the ruins to fetch a few slabs of broken marble, he paused to watch his forlorn neophyte before continuing, he wouldn’t ask her for help with this.

Iridia moved her thumb over her whisper stone, inspecting the detail like she first did when it was gifted. She brought the stone to her lips, “I miss you.” The stone glowed dimly, attempting to carry the message to Morgans, Of course, it would fail, he was too far away now, living his life with the Half-Elves.

“Iridia?”

She looked back at Kaleb, but he was busy carrying a chunk of marble towards Flencer’s grave that would soon be filled with the Dwarfs body. She frowned and looked around.

“Iridia.”

The sound came from her stone, She bit her lip in confusion and worry, thinking perhaps someone stole the stone from Morgan. “Who is this?”

“It’s Morgan, I’m coming.”

She looked over at Kaleb, “Morgan is coming!”

He turned his head and raised his top lip in utter confusion. “I do not follow.” He called back, shaking his head, thinking perhaps sleep deprivation had taken her mind for a moment.

Iridia brought the stone to her lips. “Where are you? Why? How?” She couldn’t get her questions out quickly enough.

“The village botanist takes me upon his fleet-footed stag, We are to the end of the forest, and we have the message, Flencer is still breathing?”

Iridia jumped and dashed to Flencer, Kaleb was watching her giddy explosion of glee, scratching his head.

“Morgan comes, the botanist is on his way! They are close!”

Kaleb looked out to the forest, “I fear Flencer has left us.”

Iridia darted past Kaleb and to Flencer, She pressed her ear to his chest, listening for a heartbeat or a faint rasp of air in his clogged lungs. She closed her eyes tightly, no sound came forth.

“I see them!” Kaleb pointed out towards the hill west, a stag with two men riding at great speed and with fleet foot, for them to arrive so quickly they must have ridden hard and long without stopping, he did not envy their pain, nor did he look forward to the smell of saddle rot they would most likely bring. He waved his arms above his head, beckoning them to keep the pace, urging them on.

They rode up towards the temple, the botanist wore a great robe of blue and brown that draped over each side of the stag, atop his head was a tall hat with antlers protruding each side and reems of fabric blowing back.

Iridia squeezed her stone tightly, Morgan had returned, and Flencer may be saved, For just a moment a hope rolled through her body that perhaps the impossible was possible.