What a terrible day.

Clark ground his staff into the ground with frustration. “So we have arrived too late to catch the child? Again?” His eyes bore into the messenger. “Where is Sopher? Why are you explaining this in his stead?”

The man bowed repeatedly.

“Stop that,” he snapped. “Answer my question.”

“Ah, yes, sir! Sorry, sir! Inquisitor Sopher is dead, sir!”

Clark clenched his jaw until his teeth ached. “So, not only were we too late to prevent their escape, but Sopher has gotten himself killed?”

That overconfident prick. Clark had never much cared for the man. Far too focused upon his own personal advancement.

He bundled his frustration up in a deep breath and let them go. “How did he die?” he asked, calmly.

The messenger almost started another bowing fit, but Clark’s gaze stopped him mid-motion. “Ah, it appears to be the work of one of Lempo’s priests.”

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Clark nodded. That made sense. It was ill-luck to run into so many strange occurrences all at once, but that was the norm when the gods meddled.

He turned to examine the corpse of the unknown outsider who had claimed to follow some upstart godling. “Not one of these…”

He gestured at the corpse with distaste. “…Dark Ravager’s people?”

The messenger glanced at the corpse. “N-no. I mean, I don’t know, sir. The method of inquisitor Sopher’s death was consistent with the followers of Lempo.” He furiously dabbed sweat from his brow with one of his sleeves. “Forgive me sir, but I am not familiar with the Dark Ravager’s methods.”

Clark waved him off. The priest from Clearbrook had slipped away from them – it wasn’t surprising for him to show up again. The Dark Ravager’s people though, keeping rabble like them out of Satrap and away from Technis’ plans was the entire purpose of the Barrier. Clark would have to look into it. Such outside influences were of even greater concern than the current play-war.

“Make a tally of all of the Dark Ravager’s people; survey our forces and record our observations of their abilities and relative strengths. Preserve this corpse and the corpse of the paladin we found for further study. And bring me that woman’s arm.

Clark smiled. “I believe that I can put it to good use.”

The assassin – that spiteful girl – she had at least done her family proud by killing the Dark Ravager’s second strongest follower in the camp. And she had even left him a small souvenir.

Such a considerate grandchild, he thought.