Ashlyn ‘Greenblade’ Sawrey | Christoph ‘The Bowman’ Gerd | Liudmila ‘Mila’ Stradenko | Jaelin ‘The Explorer’ Topolski

The Explorer led them across the rugged landscape, from one location to the next.

He would mutter to himself sometimes. The scout had very little to go on. The fourth barrow was depicted on the parchments they had found in the other three, the last in a line stretching northwest. The picture showed a golden sword, but barely anything of use in identifying it in the landscape. It was another mound, with a single tree on top. Though, as Jaelin said, it might look very different now. If centuries had passed since the parchment was made, the mound might now be covered in vegetation.

Mila was quiet. Ashlyn would catch her looking at Jaelin with adoration. Sometimes, he would give her a little smile back. For all his occasional outward signs of frustration, Ashlyn realised he was enjoying himself. He had a puzzle to solve, and the world they had left behind couldn’t interfere with his task.

Ashlyn was also enjoying the freedom. She didn’t even care about finding the barrow. She simply followed where Jaelin led, content to roam with an empty mind. She and Christoph would talk about pointless things, or just walk side by side in companionable silence. In the evening, the four of them would eat by the fire. They took it in turns to keep watch. When Jaelin and Mila were on duty, Ashlyn would snuggle with Christoph. She found a happiness through living in the moment that she hadn’t experienced since childhood.

Jaelin woke them from slumber. ‘Up!’ he hissed.

Wordlessly, Ashlyn got to her feet. She picked up Greenblade and tied her sword belt around her waist.

‘There are some large things moving out there,’ he whispered, peering into the darkness. ‘Bigger than any nocturnal animal I know of. They’re getting close.’

He shone a beam from the Rod of Light into the undergrowth.

A chill ran down Ashlyn’s spine. The thought of creatures out there who might be hunting them was deeply unpleasant, especially at night. She drew her sword and studied it. The green gem at the bottom of the hilt was dull.

Jaelin shrugged. ‘I don’t know. But I think we’re best off leaving.’

No one argued and they allowed The Explorer to lead them away. He kept to open ground, so that they might see any threats coming. But nothing appeared, and after a while he said he could no longer hear anything following them.

Ashlyn felt better when morning came. In the daylight, it felt like monsters didn’t exist.

Jaelin led them up a steep rise. It was rocky, and treacherous. He caught Mila when she slipped. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘But there doesn’t seem to be an easier way to get up here.’

When they reached the crest, they got their reward.

‘Look at that,’ said Christoph, pointing down into a valley below them.

There was the mound. Atop it was a single tree that looked remarkably like the picture they had.

‘So, nothing else grows there after all,’ said Jaelin.

‘That’s not normal,’ Christoph warned. ‘There is likely magic at work, just like with the other barrows.’

‘Well, are we going down to find out?’ Ashlyn asked. Now they had made it to their objective, she felt the return of purpose. She surprised herself a little in welcoming the feeling.

‘Maybe we shouldn’t,’ Mila said. ‘Remember what happened at the third barrow? I think we need a wizard with us.’

‘Shh,’ said Jaelin, with a frown. He peered down the slope before them. ‘Something doesn’t feel right.’ He took his shortbow from over his shoulder and strung it.

Ashlyn took a look. There was a patch of trees halfway between the rise they stood on and the mound below. But she couldn’t detect movement. She drew Greenblade. Just like earlier, it wasn’t warning her of monsters.

‘Down there!’ Christoph cried. He was gesturing behind them.

Two figures were part way up the slope they had climbed. They had the green skin of orcs or goblins but were much larger than the orcs they had fought against. They were a different shape, too—long, muscled arms reached to their knees, causing them to drag their massive clubs along the ground. A single blow from one of those weapons, Ashlyn realised, could be deadly.

‘Trolls,’ said Jaelin.

The two trolls looked up at them, but their stony expressions didn’t change. Their faces seemed devoid of emotion: but that didn’t stop them moving towards Ashlyn’s party at a good pace.

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‘Down there,’ said Jaelin.

Two more trolls had broken from the cover of the patch of trees Ashlyn had noticed. They carried the same massive clubs, and looked up the rise with the same impassive expressions.

‘This way,’ Jaelin said, leading them along the rise.

They had no other option, it seemed. Staying to fight would be suicidal. Christoph and Jaelin might get an arrow strike or two in before they reached them. But once they reached them, the combat would be brutal, and all too brief.

They kept to the very top of the rise, where the ground was more solid. Jaelin led them at pace, as the trolls gave chase. Ashlyn risked a look behind. The trolls were walking fast, rather than running. They had a plodding gait, which was deceptive—they moved fast, and looked like they could keep it going for as long as they needed. She realised that at least one—probably both pairs of trolls—were the same ones that had approached their camp last night. None of them called out. There was something terrifying about their silence.

The rise dipped down now, towards a thicket of trees ahead of them. Wary of ambush, Jaelin veered off the rise, keeping them in the open.

No more trolls appeared. It remained four against four, and Ashlyn knew it was now a test of endurance.

***

They’d waited for him in the village. He’d made the mistake of thinking they were only villagers, and it was a mistake that had nearly cost him.

So consumed with hunger, he’d only noticed the woman’s axe at the last moment. He ran, as the trap closed on him. He ran, out of the village, and into the moors—still they chased him. They were fit, well fed, and full of life. He was a bloodless half man who was always hungry and never satisfied.

But he couldn’t give up, even if he wanted to. He hid in the heather. It was easier to hide in the moors than in a forest, because in the moors, everywhere looks the same. They tried to find him, but they gave up in the end.

He waited, lying amongst the plants, the smell of dirt in his nostrils. It could be another trap, he told himself.

It was his hunger that made Stricken move. He stood tall, but the crew who had chased him were long gone.

They were gone, but his hunger was worse than ever. He doubled over, clutching at his belly, and screamed.

***

Jaelin led them away from the chasing trolls. Little by little, they extended the gap between themselves and the club wielding greenskins.

When Ashlyn looked behind, the four trolls all shared the same, stoic expression. The lack of emotion confused her. ‘Do you think they care that they’re falling behind?’ she wondered out loud. ‘Maybe they’ll give up when they realise they can’t catch us.’

‘Maybe,’ said Jaelin. ‘Or maybe they’ll just keep coming, in the hopes we tire, or get injured. Best to keep going.’

Ashlyn certainly wasn’t going to argue with that. The trolls fell further back. When they were out of sight, she felt a lot better about things.

Jaelin pushed them on.

Ashlyn encouraged Mila to keep going. The girl was the one who began to tire first. But she was tough, and didn’t ask for rest. ‘It’s surprising,’ Mila said, ‘how far you can push your body when your life's on the line.’

‘True,’ Ashlyn said. ‘But we can’t go on forever. One of us will break down.’

Jaelin got the hint. As the sun disappeared over the horizon, he led them part way up a hill to a sheltered spot. With a steep rock face at their backs, they were protected from any attempts at another ambush.

Jaelin stood on lookout, using the Rod of Light to illuminate the route that any predators would be forced to take to reach them. The others rummaged through their packs and organised a cold meal.

‘How well can trolls see in the dark?’ Christoph asked.

‘Very well, I imagine,’ Jaelin said, still staring out from their camp. ‘But I think they will have turned back a while ago. They tried to catch us, and failed. I don’t see what would motivate them to keep pursuing us. There’s easier huntink for them than four well armed humans.’

The comment made Ashlyn relax a little. ‘For a while there, I was as carefree as a cloud. I suppose a wake up call such as this is unpleasant but necessary. Time to return my focus to what needs to be done.’

‘And what needs to be done?’ The Explorer asked her. ‘Whatever will make Lothar ‘Stiff’ Sauer rich?’

‘That’s not my main concern, no.’ Ashlyn studied each of her three companions. Perhaps it was the exhaustion, but she thought she trusted each of them. ‘That’s not the reason I came to Gal’azu.’

Christoph stared at her, wide-eyed. ‘Why, then?’ he asked quietly, as if it was a question he hadn’t dared ask out loud before.

‘My father taught me the sword. He raised me alone, after my mother died. He took work as a mercenary from time to time, to keep food on the table. Last year, Durnost descended into civil war, one group of noblemen fighting against another. My father’s company came up against the Blairs. He was killed on the battlefield.

‘The victors of the battle claimed that anyone on the opposing side had committed treason. Their property was forfeit. Sal Blair came to my village and had my home taken from me, and sold off. No one in my county stood up for me. The sheriff bought my father’s house and said I should work for him. When he said I should share his bed, I killed him.’

Ashlyn took a breath, staring at the ground. She didn’t want to see the reaction on the faces of her friends. ‘I was homeless, destitute, and an outlaw. But I had my sword. So I went south, looking for the Blairs. I burned with vengeance for how they had ruined my life. I didn’t really know where I was going, and had to work for food, but I reached the capital.

‘Only, when I got there, things had changed. The king had turned against the Blairs. He had taken their company from them, and they were banished from the kingdom. Apparently, they had gone to some land called Gal’azu. What else was there for me? I paid for a place on a ship to Gal’azu, and here I am. For all Stiff’s failings, I will fight for The Apples, so that one day I can get my revenge.’

She looked up, ready to face the response.

‘I swear. I will help you take your revenge,’ Christoph said.

She smiled at him, wondering what she had done to deserve his loyalty.

‘Me too,’ said Mila. The girl looked over at Jaelin. ‘Well?’ she demanded.

The Explorer frowned. ‘I don’t like killink. But alright. I will help.’

MISSION COMPLETE

SUCCESS: The fourth barrow was located

None of your mercs improved their stats

No mercs levelled up