They push forward, checking the rooms, Zavet Killing the lesser undead they find. The armor the dagger creates out of mindless undead is much weaker than the armor he gained by killing the death knight.

Talich Had an idea, “Hey, the next mindless Undead, you see. Don't kill it. Let me control it and have it follow us so if we do find a stronger undead, you can get the armor before we fight it.”

Zavet’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he nodded in agreement. “Good idea.”

Gauge scanned the dimly lit corridor, the shadows casting an eerie gloom over the remnants of what had once been a lively keep. “Alright, that’s the last of the private quarters. Let’s check the mess hall. We might find more clues there or, at least, more of the bastards responsible for this.”

As they approached the wing leading to the mess hall, the air grew thick with the stench of decay. The once well-maintained corridors were now teeming with undead, their hollow eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. The group moved in formation, cutting through the swarming undead with practiced efficiency. Each swing of their weapons was precise, every spell cast with purpose as they steadily made their way toward the heavy oak doors of the mess hall.

When they reached the doors, they paused momentarily, catching their breath. The relentless tide of undead had taken a toll, but the real challenge awaited them on the other side. Talich, his muscles tense with readiness, reached for the door, but before he could push it open, it swung inward of its own accord, revealing the mess hall beyond.

Standing in the center of the room, surrounded by broken tables and shattered dishware, was an undead version of Hoat. Once full of life and determination, his eyes glowed with an unnatural light. One of his spears rested in his hand while the other hovered beside him, its sharp tip glinting ominously in the dim light.

Runner cursed under his breath, recognizing the deadly warrior before them. “Oh, shit. This is not good. Hoat’s going to put up one hell of a fight.”

Zavet, undeterred by the challenge, stepped forward. Without hesitation, he lunged at one of the lesser undead lingering near Talich, his dagger flashing as he drove it deep into the creature’s chest. As the undead fell, the familiar sensation of armor wrapping around his torso returned, though it only covered his chest and back this time. It was enough, a protective shell for the fight ahead.

Talich, recognizing the need to take the lead, moved forward purposefully. He raised his shield just in time as Hoat hurled his spear with deadly precision. The weapon struck the shield with a thunderous impact, but Talich stood firm, deflecting the blow; the spear attempted to return to its master, but Runner and Zavet were already on the move.

With swift coordination, they turned to intercept the spear. Runner’s two-handed sword clashed with the weapon, parrying its path, while Zavet’s quick reflexes allowed him to redirect its course. The spear, no longer able to return to Hoat, spun wildly in the air, searching for an opening.

Talich seized the opportunity. With the spear momentarily neutralized, he advanced on Hoat, his flail ready. The undead warrior, now deprived of one of his primary weapons, fought back with tooth and claw, his movements a furious mix of desperation and skill. Despite his ferocity, Hoat was outnumbered and outmatched. The group’s teamwork was impeccable, and their attacks were coordinated to exploit every opening in Hoat’s defenses.

The Sanctifier flail, imbued with holy magic, became a blur in Talich’s hands. With each swing, it chipped away at Hoat’s corrupted armor, the healing energy searing through the undead flesh beneath. Hoat tried to hold his ground, but the relentless assault was too much. Finally, with a powerful strike, Talich shattered the remnants of Hoat’s defenses, the flail crashing through his chest and sending him sprawling to the floor.

Hoat twitched once, then lay still, the magic animating him dissipating into the air. The floating spear, now without a master, clattered to the ground, its menace extinguished.

Talich breathed heavily, lowering his weapon as he surveyed the fallen warrior. “The spear wasn’t much use in these tight corners,” he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Zavet glanced down at the fading remnants of his bone armor. “We were lucky to keep him off balance. That could have gone much worse.”

Runner nodded in agreement, still catching his breath. “Yeah, but we’re not done yet. There could be more of them deeper in the keep.”

Gauge, who had been scanning the room for any lingering threats, joined them. “Let’s hope that was the worst of it. But stay sharp; we can’t afford any more surprises.”

“Gauge?” A small, trembling voice emerged from a corner of the mess hall, catching the group's attention. Talich raised his flail cautiously as they turned towards the sound. From behind a heavy wooden closet door, which creaked open slowly, stepped Scarlet, one of the members of Krimlond. Her eyes were wide, and her face was pale, but she was alive.

Gauge blinked in surprise, lowering his weapon slightly. “Scarlet? I thought you stayed in Razlond,” he said, his voice thick with confusion.

Scarlet nodded, her movements slow and deliberate as she stepped forward, her gaze flickering between the group members. “I did, but I came with the Queen. I couldn’t leave her alone and besides. Runner’s friend Alley came too.” She stepped aside, revealing another figure huddled behind her. Alley, a younger woman with a mess of brown hair and a determined look in her eyes, poked her head out and gave the group a small wave.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Alley’s presence seemed to lift the tension in the room slightly, though her appearance was far from reassuring. Her clothes were tattered, and there was a haunted look in her eyes. “Hoat’s been after us for a while,” she said, her voice hoarse as she stepped out. We got separated from Lina. Things went bad quickly. A Death Knight killed Flynn. Then, undead Flynn and that same Death Knight killed Hoat.”

Scarlet nodded, her face grim. “It all happened so fast. We barely had time to react, and we had no choice but to run. We’ve been hiding here, hoping to find a way out. Or at least survive long enough for help to arrive.”

Zavet and Runner exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on them.

Talich tightened his grip on the flail, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. “Flynn turned undead, and then Hoat… It explains why he was so relentless.”

Gauge took a deep breath, his mind racing to piece everything together. “So, you two have been hiding here, hoping to find Lina or anyone who could help?”

Scarlet nodded again, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Yes, we didn’t know what else to do. The keep is crawling with undead, and we’ve lost so many already. But hearing your voices, knowing you’re here, gives us hope.”

Gauge stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Scarlet’s shoulder. “You’re safe now. We’ll find Lina, and we’ll get through this together. We’re not going to let them take any more of us.”

Talich glanced at the group, his face set with resolve. “Alright then, no more hiding. We move together, we find Lina, and we will reclaim the Keep.

Gauge turns to the group. “Me, Runner, and the girls will go downstairs and get the resurrection hall back in working order. I have the ritual to recreate it.”

Knowing Zavet and Talich's resilience, Gauge felt relief, especially with their necromantic abilities. They were more than capable of handling themselves, even in the darkest corners of the keep. With a quick nod, he led Scarlet and Alley down the staircase, leaving Zavet and Talich to their task.

As the two moved through the shadowy halls, the eerie silence was broken only by the occasional clatter of a distant, unseen threat. The path led them to the kitchen, a place once filled with warmth and the comforting scents of food, now cold and lonely. The flickering torchlight cast long, distorted shadows across the room, revealing a handful of undead, mindlessly wandering among the remains of shattered pots and spilled grains.

Zavet, his tail swishing silently behind him, glanced at Talich. “Let’s make this quick.”

Talich nodded, his dual maces held at the ready. The undead in the kitchen were no match for their combined might. With swift, precise strikes, they dispatched the creatures with ease. Talich’s maces crushed skulls and shattered bones while Zavet moved like a shadow, his dagger flashing out to deliver swift, lethal blows. The kitchen was cleared within moments, and the undead threat was eliminated without breaking a sweat.

With the kitchen secure, they moved toward the common room, where the barony would typically gather. The closer they got, the heavier the air seemed to become, laden with dread. The door to the common room was slightly ajar, creaking ominously as they pushed it open.

Inside, the scene was heartbreaking. The room, once filled with laughter and camaraderie, was now a twisted mockery of its former self. Lina, the formidable Baroness of Krimlond, stood at the center, her eyes glowing with the unnatural light of undeath. Around her were several undead, once loyal members of the barony, now reduced to mindless followers.

Talich’s heart sank at the sight of Lina. “Damn it, Lina,” he muttered under his breath, gripping his flail tightly.

Zavet’s eyes narrowed, taking in the scene with sorrow and determination. “We can’t leave her like this.”

Sensing their presence, Lina turned her head slowly, her undead gaze locking onto them. There was no recognition in her eyes, only the cold, empty stare of a creature no longer in control of its own will. The lesser undead around her moved in unison as if reacting to an unspoken command.

Talich took a deep breath, steeling himself. “We take them out quickly.”

Without another word, they launched their attack. Talich, leading the charge, swung his maces with brutal efficiency, smashing through the undead ranks. Zavet darted in and out of the fray, using his speed and agility to strike at weak points, his dagger flashing like a shard of darkness.

Lina, though undead, still possessed the formidable strength and combat skills she had in life. She fought back with a viciousness that made her all the more tragic. Talich, forced to defend himself against her powerful strikes, gritted his teeth, each blow a painful reminder of what had been lost.

Zavet, his heart heavy, moved in behind Lina. With a swift motion, he wrapped his tail around her legs, pulling her off balance just as Talich landed a powerful strike with one of his maces. The blow sent Lina stumbling, and in that brief moment of vulnerability, Zavet struck.

He drove his dagger into her heart, a quick, clean blow that ended her suffering. Lina’s body went still, and the light faded from her eyes as she crumpled to the ground. The undead around her, suddenly leaderless, were quickly dispatched by Talich.

As Lina lay at their feet, Zavet knelt beside her, his hand resting gently on her cold, lifeless form. “I’m sorry, we will resurrect you downstairs.”

Talich, his maces still stained from the recent battle, glanced at Zavet as they prepared to descend the staircase. "We need to find Gauge," Talich said, the weight of their recent encounters heavy in his voice. Without another word, they moved together, the echoes of their footsteps reverberating through the dimly lit corridors of the keep.

As they descended into the lower levels, the air grew colder, thick with the lingering scent of ancient magic and stone. They wound through narrow, twisting corridors, their path illuminated only by the faint, otherworldly glow emanating from the far end of the hall. The weight of the keep’s history pressed down on them, a reminder of the countless rituals that had occurred here over the centuries.

The resurrection hall loomed ahead, its grand wooden doors slightly ajar. Talich pushed them open, revealing the vast chamber within. The room was a testament to the kingdom’s deep-rooted connection to life, death, and rebirth. The walls were etched with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of resurrection and renewal, their lines glowing faintly as if imbued with a life of their own.