Arlet joined Pheadra’s squad, leading them across the open fields to the obsidian walls, where he stacked an unpleasantly large number of statues. Jenkins tried knocking, no doubt hoping to get lucky. When no response came from within Phaedra spoke to Arlet, then to the arboreal vipers.

No one is posted at the gates? Where are the defenders? I sent a score of militia here, and Rhendal’s peeping portals showed regular patrols, with people in the streets. What is going on? Are we too late? Just like Kesky?

Since their return from the capital Rhendal had been unable to see anyone in Kesky, no statues or people or gorgon’s remained there. He had even learned some of Phaedra’s language in hopes of negotiating, yet the town laid barren. Their one remaining hope lay in Kesky’s fruitless fields, for dead men did not harvest grain. Hopefully the people of Kesky had been enslaved by some force strong enough to protect them. What a vile dream, that slavery is their best possible road… Thought Liam.

Nods of ascension passed between the vanguard commanders and the two twin gorgons, Theia –the green gorgon with red eyes–, and Thalya –the banana viper– slithered towards the wall. Theia went first, mounting the pile of statues before undulating straight up the remaining forty feet as if it were flat ground.

“Oh holy sh…” Gasped Liam.

Thalya waited until her sister disappeared over the battlements then followed. The yellow gorgon was much thinner than her sister and practically flew up the smooth obsidian wall, vanishing over the battlements in a few seconds.

“Indeed Lord Liam, they are marvelous creatures. When Phaedra said the twins were arboreal I thought she had misspoken. Now I see it was my own naivety.” Said Rhendal.

A moment later the gate swung open, revealing a long empty road that led all the way to the city’s central chapel, eerily empty. No people could be seen and nothing moved within. Liam considered mounting the horse that had carried him this far, but quickly decided against it. He was no cavalier and no matter how well Arlet trained the horse, lightning always spooked them.

“This doesn’t feel right. I’m going in, keep the gates open in case we need to beat feet outta there.” Said Liam, already jogging towards the gate with Nyota hot on his heels.

“I’ll sweep the city with the outriders, if there are survivors then we shall find them.” Said the sage, mounting one of their spare horses.

The army advanced into town with a poise that came from years of training at the academy of war. Footmen secured the gate and gatehouse, while cavalry scattered into ten man squads, half wielding pistols and half with spears. Whilst the vanguard marched directly towards the center of Mont St Michel, aiming for the church of obsidian stone that lay directly at its heart.

Mont St Michel was the oldest town in Greenwood, predating the kingdom in age. Her wall formed a perfect circle around a similarly rounded chapel. One that had been crafted from monolithic obsidian, identical to the ones in the wall and similar to Greenwood Keep.

From the chapel extended four obsidian roads, kept free of dust and feces by some eternal ward. They ran a straight course to each of the city’s four gates, echoing the cardinal directions. Immense brass doors guarded each gate and were carved with iconography that hinted at their relationship with the four cardinal elements. To Liam’s eyes, it was too much obsidian, everything within Mont St Michel reeked of arcane machinations laid ten thousand years ago. Like Pandora herself had created a death star and hid it in plain sight. Or plotted a resurrection with the too clean walls, too orderly streets, and too perfectly aligned gates. Mont St Michel had a purpose, but what that purpose was, couldn’t be guessed.

As Liam passed through the gate of fire, he couldn't help but cast a suspicious squint at the graven motifs adorning it. There was something about them that sent a tingle running down his spine. Shivering involuntarily, he hastened his steps until he caught up to Phaedra and the vanguard. Phaedra, a level ten scout, possessed an uncanny ability to perceive things that others missed. She led her daughters with a skilled hand, utilizing her vast knowledge. Liam couldn't help but smile at the paradox, realizing that the safest place in the city was right beside the most lethal creatures.

“The sstreetss are sstraight.” Said Phaedra slowly.

“Pfft, what? Of course they are straight.” Said Jenkins with a laugh.

“No, they are too perfect. They make my eyess tingle and itch. Humanss cannot have laid them.” She corrected.

“Of course humans didn’t make this city. Pandora did, but Perun Taloc killed her so her malice faded.” Said Nyota matter of factly, as if that was the legend everyone knew and not a complete divergence.

That’s not the legend in Green’s memories or the legend Rhendal told me… Thought Liam.

“Where did you hear that?” He Asked.

“Cody told me.” She said, referring to the Teutonic codex she carried.

Liam glanced at the strange book, suspicious of the sentient book that was spending more time with his wife than he was. Since their announcement at court she had been inseparable from the book, often talking to it directly. Of course it was Cody. That book has an alternative story to everything.

“Pandora? If sshe made this road then our gorgon eyess may not function here.” Said Phaedra.

“Close ranks! We might have to slay these bitches the old fashioned way.” Barked Jenkins.

“I ssee ssomething behind the chapel.” Blurted Phaedra.

Dead ahead lay the monolithic dome of obsidian they had come to see. Marble embellishments and portals had been added to the structure, marking the four entrances and running up the dome until they met at the peak, merging into a single capstone that held a golden lightning bolt. One that was stylized to represent the holy Fulminonimbus. Once Liam beheld it new shivers reverberated up and down his spine, screaming of awful wrongness.

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On the far side of the chapel a figure could be partially seen, standing taller than the doors of the building. Its hue and body was unclear, but what little they could see did not fit within the confines of a human silhouette.

“Sssshield bug. Phaedra, eyesssss open in ssshadowsss.” Hissed Theia.

Positioned on the far left of their column she had a better angle around the edge of the chapel. Phaedra raised a hand to stop the vanguard, Jenkins mirrored her order, bringing his men to a stop. Phaedra hissed something in their native tongue and Theia responded, using their own language to convey her meaning with greater speed and accuracy.

“Her gorgon eyess do not sslay the sshield hulk.” Warned Phaedra.

Liam experimentally channeled his mana into his hand, surrounding it with an orb of dark mana.

“That’s a relief.” Muttered Arlet.

“Aye, thought the mages might have gone soft.” Said Jenkins.

“Lord Liam, let us be your shield.” Called Arlet.

“Very well. Arlet, lead on. Oh and Jenkins, guard our helpless maidens.” Teased Liam.

“Yes sir!” Said the commanders.

Orders were issued and the gorgons slithered onto nearby rooftops, allowing their human allies to pass by. Arlet formed the knights into a U formation, A rank of three men stood in front, spreading out to occupy most of the street, three men followed after them, standing in a staggered rank so the front knights could retreat if the need arose. Then Arlet ordered the remaining knights to split in half and form two lines, sending them to the far edges of the street and protecting Liam and Nyota from any flank attacks. While half of the Sintrans fell in behind the elite formation, enclosing the knights hard U with a sloppy mob.

“Forward ho!” Shouted Arlet, commanding the march.

Liam advanced toward the chapel, raising his right hand and right finger. Nyota mimicked the action, holding her finger gun at the ready. Forget Charlie’s Angels, we have Charlie’s Catgirls, mused Liam. As they rounded the chapel the monster came into view along with a sight that stunned the knights into inaction.

On the other side of the chapel stood dozens of the insectoid hulks. Every single one of the hulks remained motionless, staring at the chapel with every facet of their insectoid eyes. Antennae pointed forward and their facial pincers hung at ease. Liam leveled his finger gun at the nearest one, advancing until it was twenty feet away. It never moved, in fact, not a single one of the hulks moved, as if they had been petrified.

Should I be this close? Isn’t there some rule cops came up with about staying more than twenty one feet away. Nutz, too late now.

“Hey… Hulk bug… Hellooooo?” Said Liam, trying to get the hulk to move.

“Shoot them already! There are enough of these beasts to tear us apart!” Growled Arlet.

“No, this doesn’t feel right. It's like a hive of hornets protecting their queen. I don’t want to kick the swarm. Let’s circle, and see what they are looking at… Hey– what’s that thing around its arm?” Said Liam, adding the question as they moved behind the hulks.

“Looks like a blue ribbon, and there! Look at the others, they all have blue ribbons on their arms, or uhm, on the front arms. Or legs, feck, six appendages ain't right my lord.” Muttered Arlet.

That’s why we didn’t see the ribbons at first, we were too distracted with the legs and insectoid aspects like the eyes and pincers and too many legs.

“Hello? Is someone there?” Said a soft voice from the center of the hulk’s semicircle.

Liam nearly jumped out of his skin as he saw what all the hulks were facing. A small girl, no older than ten, sat beside a dozen neatly arrayed corpses. She held the hand of a soldier still in his armor, comforting him despite the red hole in the center of his breastplate. His wound would soon claim his life, if he wasn’t already dead. His chest rose weakly, and the man hacked out a ragged cough.

“You are soldiers… but not watchmen, how are you here?” Asked the girl, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“I am Captain Arlet and this is Lord William Green. We intended to survey Mont St Michel for a day or two, then march onto Avignon. Girl, why do these creatures stand-”

“I need a healer! Did you bring one?” She cried, trying and failing to suppress the urgency in her voice.

Liam took a step towards the girl before stopping in his tracks.

“I am a healer, but I dare not approach these creatures…” He said, pointing towards the two nearest hulks.

“They won’t harm you. Please! He needs you.” She said, putting a hand on the wounded soldier’s shoulder.

Won’t harm me? One of these things ripped a man in half back in Petra!

“Their behavior is odd, but I cannot risk my life on the word of a girl without a name.” Said Liam.

“My name is Niana. Please!” Her lower lip quivered as she fought back tears.

The knight whose hand she was holding let go of her hand, whispering something that did not cross the distance to Liam. Her mouth formed the shape of an o and she raised one hand in Liam’s direction. Finger pointing straight at the nearest hulk. An aura of ephemeral blue mana flickered into life around her hand, vanishing just as quickly.

Silently the two nearest hulks turned and walked away from Liam, crossing the semicircle to open a path for him. Liam dashed forward, pushing through his knights. Soon he was at the man’s side, falling to his knees and examining the man’s wound. Something had punched through the man’s armor and into his ribs, snapping several of them. Liam could see at least two fragments of bone jutting through his skin, dripping blood across his breastplate.

“Lord… wounded… inside.” Gurgled the man as he spoke with broken ribs.

“Quiet, this is going to take a few moments, Arlet! Nyota! Triage those inside please.” Ordered Liam.

Activating his [Abbreviated cast] skill he skipped the chant and healed the man one rib at a time. Careful to coax the blood back into his arteries before sealing each laceration. The man ground his teeth as his ribs forcefully slurped back into his thorax. Mana flowed through him, plugging holes in his flesh and organs. Three weeks ago Liam would have run out of mana long before finishing, but Liam had never stopped healing his men or practicing with Rhendal, grinding his levels during the days of siege in Sintra, and during the march to Mont St Michel. Several skipped incantations later the man vomited chunks of brown blood, coughing his lungs free of contamination and debris.

“Sorry about that, but you aren’t fully healed, I only set the bones and plugged the biggest holes. Rest here for a bit and then slowly sit up and try walking around. Nothing more strenuous. If you reopen your wounds then I'll have to heal you again and I may not have enough healing to spare for you. Now Niana, will the hulks harm us if you show me inside?” Asked Liam, turning to examine the young girl.

“Thank you, Lord Liam.” Said the wounded soldier.

His voice sounded familiar, and after a moment, recognition struck Liam like a brick. The man in front of him was the ax wielding officer who had beheaded the orcs in Avignon. That mental scene felt like it had been a million years ago, an ancient memory. Yet it had only been a few weeks in reality.

“You’ve fought well to survive this long, thank you. Rest now. We can take it from here.” Promised Liam.