Elle explained she could get them all back in half the time since she knows where the village is in reference to this forest. Considering they no longer need to sneak around looking for an encampment it should be quick. While she explained this Deacon was looking at the piles of bodies trying to figure out why some still had soul energy and the others didn’t. He kneeled over the corpse of the dead mage intent on siphoning out his soul. As he did so he noticed there were circles on the rug beneath him leading out to all the piles. Deacon thought that was strange. He proceeded to the other piles to drink up that energy. Armand was urging him to hurry up not understanding what he was doing. Once he drained the last one there was an audible pop and a horrendous smell battered all their nostrils.

  “What did you do? That smell is foul.” Armand asked.

  “Didn’t you think it was weird, all these bodies piled up in here and no smell?” Deacon replied.

  “Do we really have time for this?” Elle asked through a series of gag sounds.

  “The mage was feeding this diagram in a ghoulish homage to hellraiser.” Deacon said.

  “No idea what that means.” Typhus scowled.

  That’s when Elle started paying attention to the patterns on the rug. Her head popped up the second they all heard a familiar bellow. Deacon turned his head and said,

  “The spirit of the forest. He was keeping the spirit out of the camp in case something happened to the binding. That plus the warding at the entrance of the tent flap made him a very cautious person.”

  They decided to beat feet in the direction of town. Surprisingly there were still some marauders around but as they closed in, they were suddenly pounced on by a Jaguar with antlers. The group looked at each other and just kept running. Trees and shrubbery parted in their path. It was as if the forest wanted them out. Twenty minutes later they were running through a wheat field on a B line back to the town. Armand relayed to everyone on their journey that some of those bodies looked like they were King's Patrol forces. That would explain why there has been no sign of them. Deacon made it clear that everyone should stay away from Lao if he enters the fight, he has something special for him. Elle noticed that Deacon was favoring his left shoulder but when she asked about it all he said was he was fine.

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  They slowed around the outskirts of Everhart. The sounds of battle could be heard. They weren’t going out without a fight. Armand told Elle to get up high and help anyone in trouble. She cast a spell at her feet and vines lifted her to the second story of the nearest structure. He turned to Typhus, but he was already gone. Mumbling something about being done with this horrible night. Robert said he’d go find his family and help them. Armand turned to Deacon who had his hands in his bag and was clearly reviewing his slate. He shook him to jar him back to the here and now.

  “Stay with me, no time to zone out now.” Armand told him.

   “Oh, I was just planning something for that bastard Lao.” Deacon replied.

  “Ok I’ll cover the left side of the road and you cover the right. If we take him together, the fight should go quicker.” Armand said.

  “Not a chance in hell, Son of a bitch must pay!” Deacon sprinted down the main road to steam coming off his hands and eyes glittering with soul energy. Like expected some very haggard looking marauders started charging at Deacon. Without even stopping his stride he ducked under one slash coming up to his chin with the heel of his palm snapping his head back viciously. As his momentum was halted, his opponent fell back like a plank of wood. Still moving Deacon jump kicked the next one right into his companion who ended up skewering him with his own sword. Not willing to let it sink in that he just killed his buddy, Deacon pounced on him with a flurry of limb snapping grapples. Deacon felt three thuds on his back turning to see three more eager riders of the pain train. What they saw was an eerily glowing man with an ever-growing area of cold air.

  “If you run and tell Lao that I’m here, I’ll let you live.” Deacon said.

  “NO you won’t.” Came a voice from inside Deacon’s head. What was that? Deacon got a little freaked out, but it only served to sell his intimidating threat. The three men almost pissed themselves but only one dropped his sword and ran. The other two thought they could do this. One slashed at Deacon who decided a demonstration was in order. He used spectral dodge leaving his ghostly image in the path of the sword. Deacon grabbed him by the back of the head and started smashing his face into a nearby wall till he stopped moving. That was the point the other one turned tail and ran. Deacon being much faster caught up swiftly only to see an arrow sprout from his targets neck. Deacon looked up and Elle waved at him just before she was shoved off the two-story building by none other than Qie Lao. Deacon ran to catch her, but she managed to grow vines from her sleeve and lower herself to safety.

  “I heard you were looking for me?” Lao said.

  “Yea, come down here so I can rip off your head and fuck the neck hole!” Deacon replied.