Chapter 128

Caedmon stared down at the head of Ranger Birch, now finally allowed its eternal rest.

"He was my station chief. I served under him for years." His eyes looked lost and, somehow, betrayed.

Terrox drew up beside him and set her tail against the back of his knees. "He was a good man who paid on time and was not given to complications. This one will miss him."

"I'm fine," Caedmon turned away, shutting his eyes as if trying to shut out the harsh realities sinking in before looking towards Tobias.

"You aren't, and no one would expect you to be alright," Tobias set a hand on the Ranger's shoulder.

Caedmon shrugged it off, "The mission comes first. I can grieve later. It's what Birch would have wanted."

"We are the tip of the blade. We serve, and we bleed for the Ashenrealm," Tobias agreed.

He held out his hand, which was swathed in tight-wrapped fabric akin to bandages. Only his fingers were free and exposed to air, "For the Ashenrealm. I'm Caedmon, as you've heard, call sign Fir. I take it you're Rowan?"

Tobias clasped his arm. "Ranger Tobias, you're correct, and this is Ranger Riley, Greenbriar."

"Hello," Battle weary, burned, and exhausted, even the effort to sit up caused her to ache.

"I've heard tale of the four legged Ranger. Did she gain sapience, or was she born with it?" Cademon asked as the hare flattened her ears in annoyance.

"I was born with it, and I'm right here. Talk to me if you want to know about me," Riley snapped.

Caedmon shrank back, "I'm sorry, I meant no disrespect."

"You didn't. I shouldn't be so cranky, so why are you dressed like a ninja with a scimitar?" She countered.

"Nenja with a sci-ma-tur?" He mouthed the strange, untranslateable words as Terrox's reptilian eyes sparkled with interest.

"He's of the Westguard. They have a slightly different manner of dress," Tobias answered.

"Yes, I summered here in my youth. My parents worked in the embassy, but Westguard was the nearest magical academy to these lands. After my trials, I was recruited into the Rangers, and my background convinced Central I would serve well here. How did you come into the service?"

"Fished from a portal, sold as a companion, and then Tobias lucked out and got me as a Trials present." Riley summarized.

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"I see. That's quite the journey," The masked Ranger nodded in ascent.

"Excuse me, but we should not tarry. With Birch dead, contact must be made to command, and we must operate as if we are compromised. Enough time has passed for rest and the establishment of new alliances. We go." Terrox urged and, not waiting, began to trudge back the way she came through the brush.

"Harvest the tail of the lion and take the golden torc from Wigstan. I'll slow Terrox down, but she's right; we've wasted too much time as it is," Caedmon urged as Tobias nodded in agreement, setting to the grisly task.

"Shouldn't we discuss where to go first?" Riley asked.

"Not here is a start," Caedmon replied, moving agilely through the brush, staying two steps behind and to the right of the trudging Terrox. "My love, slow down. We have to take our bounties."

The massive reptile only groaned in response as Tobias yanked the golden torc from Wigstan's neck, placing it in their inventory.

"Were you aware of Birch's mission?" Tobias called up to the bushwacking duo as he and Riley scurried to catch up.

"You mean to investigate the murders or to fetch you?" Caedmon called back before tapping Terrox on the shoulder. "We hold here, for a moment,

I want to make contact before we get to the road."

"What murders?" Riley asked as Tobias narrowed his eyes.

"Desiccated victims, all with ties to humans," Terrox began as Fir held up his hand.

"Let me check in before we talk any further," Caedmon removed a crystal from a pouch on his belt.

"Fir, Birch is felled, Rowan and Greenbriar still standing. Landslide. Overrun, Scythe Moon, Compass Rose."

"Authenticator?" Came the terse reply.

"By high sun and high moon, does the light of Galdor illumine our lives, over sea, hill, and dale, upturned points like crescent moons, guide our way."

"Standby."

The crystal pulsed from amber to a familiar purple a scant thirty seconds later.

"Relay, Refuge, Milkmaid, Evergreen, Right Hand, Shadow fall."

"Acknowledged," The Ranger replied. Moments later, the crystal dimmed.

"That's a different codebook than what we use," Riley remarked.

"It's different for each station," he replied, looking to his left and right with a sigh.

"But there's been a series of murders with desiccated victims?" Riley asked.

"Later, we're on a deadline." Caedmon urged.

Tobias sighed. "What's the plan?"

"We make for the embassy in Avanagarde. A few hours down is a tavern that's friendly to us. We'll pick up cockatrice mounts and then ride hard after a bit of rest."

"Will I have a way of contacting my station chief on arrival?" Tobias asked.

"Every embassy has a relay crystal. It should be no problem. You're out of the Ashenvale, correct?" Caedmon asked.

Terrox growled low, "Talk and move humans."

She broke through the bush. The road was just ahead.

"Yes, we've been investigating the murder of desiccated victims and tracked down the culprit, but only one of them. The one that left a visible wound." Tobias replied, working to establish trust.

"Two kinds of victims, interesting. You fell through a portal skip, right? That would explain a few things, but how would the monster get back if you couldn't?" Caedmon asked, speaking in a hushed whisper.

No one was out. The night was humid and warm, in defiance of the autumnal season in the Ashenrealm.

"That seems obvious to me. Whoever owned that space was opening the door for him. There's a hidden perpetrator, maybe a whole cadre of them," Riley surmised.

"You and Birch together. If there is a mastermind and they knew that you were both investigating, that would be to good an opportunity to pass up," Caedmon looked down in shock.

"Which is why they sent such a powerful team. There's something sinister working in the shadows. It's undeniable," Tobias agreed.

"This is quickly becoming a Kingdom level threat. We need to make for Avanagarde and bring the Ranger Central up to speed," Caedmon urged.

"There isn't a moment to lose. I fear things are in motion already," Tobias blanched pale as the party quickened towards a run.