Ivy went back to her hovel, while Darya and I returned to the village before sunrise. We walked in silence with a heavy mood hanging over Darya. It clung to her like the fog clinging to the ground. The morning air was cold and damp. The injuries on my arms throbbed painfully with every step.

We walked through the gates and down the central village road. The place was silent, but soon we found activity in the center. Karl and others were dismantling the gallows. Chief’s body must have been moved somewhere indoors because I couldn’t see it anywhere.

Karl looked up from his work at me with narrowed eyes, then returned to what he was doing. No greeting, no questions, but no shouting threats and abuses either. What did the other villagers think? And especially Amelia? I stopped and didn’t want to take another step in the direction of the abbey. I wanted to turn back around and leave, to run away. I had started this mess, didn’t I?

Fuck.

And it wasn’t even over yet, not by a long shot. Authorities will send someone to investigate, to find out what happened to the tax collector. It’s going to escalate, isn’t it? I had a feeling it would.

I resumed walking past the gallows. The weight of the guilt I felt made every step heavier than the last. Sure, I wasn’t the one to hang the chief, but one thing led to the next, and I was the one to get the dominos falling.

A dim light shone from the window in the abbey’s kitchen. Orphans were sound asleep. We entered quietly, and found Amelia at the table, resting her head on the rough weathered surface. Candlelight illuminated her tear filled eyes.

“We did it,” Darya said.

Amelia wiped her face with her sleeve. “And the-”

“Burned it. We let the horses loose, I’m sure something will eat them before they can get far.”

“We could have used the …”

Darya sighed. “I know, but Ivy was there, you know how she can get about that.”

Amelia shifted her gaze to me. “Oh, you got hurt.” She sprung to her feet and hurried over to heal me.

This was not the reaction I had expected from her. It made me feel incredibly uncomfortable, but I didn’t say a word. I felt a soothing wave pass over me, as her [Swift Renewal] went into effect.

Amelia must have sensed my unease, standing stiff and silent as I was. “You mustn't beat yourself up over what happened,” she said. “He wasn’t the first chief to be ... to be,” Amelia started to cry, but quickly composed herself. “To be killed. There’s a reason why the oldest and sickest villager is chosen to be the chief.”

“That’s … cold,” I said.

“The lords like to show who’s in charge,” Darya added. “And especially for villages far from the capital. They use any excuse to cut us down. I’m kinda glad we could return the favor for a change.”

“Our little victory won’t come without a cost,” Amelia said. “You can be certain of that.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Only if they think we did it,” Darya said. “There’s plenty of others who would have been happy to kill that bastard.”

“Sure, but all of us can’t hide.”

Bob said.

“C’mon we have a Whispering Bog to do,” I told Darya.

She shook her head. “I can’t right now.”

“Of course,” I said.

I was tired, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Doing this void dungeon would be a perfect distraction. I turned and quietly left the kitchen out to the nave. Some of the kids weren’t actually asleep. I saw a few eyes follow me as I walked down the middle and out to the stairwell to my room. Outside my window, a faint glow of the rising sun was coming over the horizon. I opened a portal to a [Whispering Bog] and stepped through.

On the other side my feet sunk into the spongy ground, and was greeted by the sounds of croaking and buzzing of insects. The area was full of murky waters reflecting the twisted forms of ancient trees and patches of vibrant green moss.

I told Bob.

The map was perfect for the task, and I quickly located the trio. Before going I took out the Sunforged Blade from the Void Pocket. My two-handed sword was a bit too slow for the Blutleeches that inhabited this map. The sword sprung to life with flames engulfing the blade. It emitted a dim, red light, much like a torch. I swung it from side to side, hearing the whoosh of the flames.

It didn’t take long to reach the spot, and I cleared the area so I wouldn’t be interrupted while working on the riddle.

I asked him.

Bob recited it back to me, line by line.

In search of ground that’s always sealed

With tools of craft, our fate's revealed

In the realms where leeches grasp and bind

Amidst the tree, a key you’ll find.

I asked.

I told him.

I chucked the three utensils into the ponds. A moment later and without any fanfare, something small fell on my helmet with a loud clang. It bounced off, landing at my feet. I picked up the metal object. A key? It looked completely unremarkable with the numeral ‘1’ etched on the side.

I asked Bob.