Aedon flinched as another blast of thunder, rattled the house. He wanted to be out working with Martin, but the storm would not allow it. It came on quickly and seemingly from nowhere. That was the way with flash storms. He sat by the fire and listened to the deluge. He had only just managed to get the shudders up before the worst of it began to fall, and he was soaked.

“You could’ve helped.” He said.

Reka sat in the chair opposite him, engrossed in the journal. He didn’t respond.

“I said you could’ve helped,” Aedon said again.

Reka looked up. “Do you mind? I am busy.”

Alexis came into the room carrying two mugs. He looked longingly at the steam rising from the liquid. Their wagon was not equipped to handle the amount of rain that was falling, so he grudgingly allowed them to stay in the house. He took the mug with a grateful nod.

“Thank you,” he said.

“It’s the least I can do,” Alexis said.

Aedon sipped the tea. “Where are the others?”

Alexis looked back at the kitchen. “Ulf is teaching Martin some scam involving a stone and three cups. Mika is still in her room.”

“That man is a bad influence,” Aedon said.

“Not really,” Alexis said. “You’d have to know him to understand, but he is a good man.”

“A little rough around the edges, though,” Aedon said.

Reka laughed. “You would be an expert on that.”

“I thought you were busy,” Aedon snapped.

Reka set the book aside. “I was. Now I am not.”

“Have you finished the journal already?” Alexis asked.

“I have,” Reka said.

Aedon waited for him to continue. The silence stretched, and Reka seemed perfectly content to let it. His smile was infuriating. Aedon knew how much he loved to have information begged from him. He wasn’t going to play along. The fire was warm, and the tea tasted good. That was all he needed.

“What made you think to add mint?” He said. “It is delicious.”

“That’s how my father liked it,” Alexis said. “It wasn’t until after he died I learned most people drink tea plain.”

“Then, most people are missing out,” Aedon said.

Reka cleared his throat.

“Would you like some tea too?” Alexis asked. “It’ll help with your throat.”

Reka grunted. “Are you not even curious about the journal?”

Aedon smiled at Alexis, and she smiled back. “You’ll tell us when you’re ready,” he said.

Ulf stomped into the room. “That boy’s a damn cheat.”

Martin followed him in jingling a few coins. “It ain't my fault you’re no good at your own game.”

Reka sighed and picked the journal back up.

“You still reading that thing?” Ulf asked.

“Not anymore,” Reka said. “I have finished.”

“Anything good in there?” Ulf said.

Aedon groaned just as Alexis spoke. “Good job, Ulf.”

“What’d I do now?” Ulf said.

“You,” Reka said, “have just interrupted a childish display perpetrated by those who should know better.”

“Huh?” Ulf said.

“Oh, get on with it,” Alexis said.

Aedon took another sip of tea. Reka loved his lectures, and the look on his face promised a long one. Another clap of thunder shook the front door, and he flinched again. The door shook again, and Aedon realized it wasn’t thunder at all. Someone was beating on his door.

Reka jumped to his feet and pulled a stone out. Ulf moved to the door and grabbed his club, and Martin seemed frozen between moving toward the door and fleeing. Alexis, alone of all them, seemed unperturbed.

“Are you expecting company Aedon?” She asked.

“No one in their right mind would be out in a storm like this,” Aedon said.

The door shook again under another furious assault.

“It is not someone in his right mind I am worried about,” Reka said.

“Whoever it is,” Alexis said, “they are sure to be drenched.”

No in the room moved.

“For the gods’ sake.” She said. “I’ll open it.”

As soon as she opened the door, she dodged to her left. A hand flew past her, and an off-balance man followed it into the room. He struggled to remain upright, drops of water flying off his flailing arms.

“It’s about time!” The man said.

He recovered his balance and stared at the people around him.

“It isn’t polite to keep a man at your doorstep in this weather. I thought you country folk were supposed to be welcoming and kind.”

Aedon followed the man’s eyes as he surveyed the room. There seemed to be a slight pause when he looked in Reka’s direction.

“No less polite than to beat a man’s door down,” Aedon said. “As for welcoming…not so much. Who are you?”

The man turned from Aedon and faced Reka. “Thiocfaidh mé ar ghnó an t-ordú ar.”

“That’s a long name,” Aedon said, irritated. “How about I call you, Thio?”

“He wasn’t saying his name, idiot,” Reka said. “But he did tell us who he is.”

“Would you like to let the rest of us know?” Aedon said.

“He said he comes on the Order’s business,” Alexis supplied.

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“Hold your tongue!” Reka snapped.

Aedon threw up his hands. “Another one of you order people! You’d think my home was your official meeting place!”

“Anywhere I am is an official meeting place,” Reka said. “Now leave the room. This does not concern you.”

Aedon puffed out his chest. “I will not be ordered around in my own home!”

Reka took a step toward him, and Alexis moved to intercede.

“Will the two of you please stop acting like children?” She said.

“I am not acting like a child. I will not be told what to do in my home!” Aedon said.

“You will do as you are told so long as I am doing the telling!” Reka said.

A loud crash filled the room, and Aedon covered his ears. He looked in the direction of the sound. Ulf was standing before the ruins of one of his chairs. His club rested in the middle of the rubble.

“I’m getting’ awful tired of your bickering! If ya can’t stop acting like children, I’m gonna put ya both in the corner.”

He pulled the club to his shoulder.

“And I dare ya to try and stop me.”

“Please!” The newcomer shouted. “You don’t have time for this.”

“Why not?” Aedon challenged.

“Because Alec is marching on your town as we speak.” The man said. “You don’t want to be here when he arrives.”

Reka replaced his stone. “How do you know this?”

The man shifted his feet. “Because I was marching with him.”

The declaration took the air out of the room. Aedon didn’t know how to respond. Neither did anyone else, it seemed. Reka broke the silence.

“I would suggest you have a seat and explain yourself,” he said with a gesture toward the ruined chair. “As that is not an option, you can explain standing up.”

The man swayed, and, now that Aedon focused on him, he looked exhausted.

“My name is Jonathon,” he said. “Until two days ago, I was part of a force sent by Taian to destroy this town. Alec is in command of that force.”

Reka regained his seat, and Aedon did not try to stop him. He was trying to process what he just heard. It seemed Reka was not exaggerating the threat after all.

“How is it that you learned of Taian, and came to be in his employ? I did not know of his existence until a few months ago.” Reka said.

“I have been in his employ for over a year,” Jonathon said. “Gregory placed me there. He said it was important to have someone on the inside.”

“I find it difficult to believe he would not tell me,” Reka said.

Jonathon glanced at the door. “He said you moved around too much. You might be compromised.”

“Compromised,” Reka mused.

“Tell us about Alec,” Aedon said.

Reka held up a hand. “That can wait a moment. Have you been in communication with Gregory?”

“Not for a while,” Jonathon said.

“What were his last orders to you?” Reka said.

Jonathon fidgeted. “I was ordered to recover the stone and deliver it to him.”

“That traitorous bastard!” Alexis yelled.

“Be quiet!” Reka shouted. “If you are supposed to give him the stone, why are you here?”

Jonathon bowed his head. “I have been with Taian for a long time. The things I’ve done, I just can't do it anymore. He is determined to claim Domhain for himself, and Alec…he is nearly as insane as Taian.”

“Where is Alec now?” Aedon asked.

“I left him in Boughten,” Jonathon said. “I don’t think he will be coming on as hard as I did, but he could be two days behind me. Maybe less.”

“What do you mean you left him in Boughten?” Alexis asked.

“We opted to come by the West Bridge, Boughten needed to be pacified,” Jonathon said.

“By pacified, you mean destroyed,” Reka said.

“Yes,” Jonathon said.

“Alexis,” Aedon said. “You and Martin get Mika and start packing food, water, and blankets. Ulf go out and get the wagons ready. I’ll be out shortly to help hitch the horses.”

“Yes,” Jonathon said, “you need to flee.”

“Flee?” Aedon said. “I have no intention of fleeing. We are going to town.”

Reka nodded. “I will join you, Aedon.”

“No!” Jonathon said. “You don’t understand. I didn’t come here to watch another town get slaughtered. Your only option is to run.”

“I have faced Alec before,” Reka said. “I imagine I can do it again. If he has a few more men with him this time, I think I can handle that. With Aedon’s help, of course.”

“He doesn’t have just a few men with him,” Jonathon said. “Taian has created some kind of super warrior. He calls them Zombi. Believe me, you can’t beat them.”

“What makes them so special,” Reka asked.

“As far as I can tell,” Jonathon said, “They can’t be killed. I don’t understand it, but Taian says they are linked to him somehow. He claims nothing short of an instantly fatal wound can finish them.”

“Do you believe him?” Reka said.

“Yes,” Jonathon said. “I saw those creatures take wounds that would kill any man; they just got up and kept going. You need to run.”

“I am not leaving my home to that man!” Aedon said. He turned to see Ulf and Alexis standing still. “I gave you instructions.”

“Please do as he asks,” Reka said.

They moved to obey, and it annoyed Aedon. “You,” he said, pointing to Jonathon, “tell me everything you know about the Zombi.”

Aedon’s resolve wavered as Jonathon told him about the Zombi’s ruthlessness. The story of their attack on the outpost was particularly disheartening. Those had been trained soldiers in a defensible position, and they were defeated with terrifying ease. Maybe running was the only option. Of course, he knew he would never convince the townsfolk of that.

He sat by the fire listening to the storm rage beyond the walls. Reka had taken Jonathon to the kitchen, and they were talking quietly. The subject of their conversation didn’t concern him. He had a decision to make, and he did not like it.

The door opened, and Ulf came inside. He shook the water from his clothes and practically leaped to the fire. He was shivering hard.

“I thought you Northmen were supposed to be used to the cold?” He said.

Ulf barked a bitter laugh. “You ain't the first man to point that out.”

“Get used to it,” Aedon said. “We’re gonna be colder still before this is over.”

Ulf grunted.

“That means he agrees,” Alexis said, striding into the room. “We have everything packed. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“If it were only me,” Aedon said, “I would probably take Mika and run, but it isn’t. I doubt I can convince the others in the town to leave. If they stay, I stay. Like I said, I’m not leaving my town to that man.”

“Noble words,” Ulf said. “But noble or not, dead is dead.”

“I also thought Northmen were made of sterner stuff,” Aedon said. “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”

Ulf jumped to his feet. “You calling me a coward?” He shouted.

The door opened, and a woman stalked into the room. “He does not think you are a coward, Ulf. He is frightened, but not for the reasons he thinks.”

“Mira?” Alexis said.

“Hello, Alexis,” Mira said.

“Who the hell are you?” Aedon said. He turned to peer into the kitchen.

“They cannot hear us,” Mira said. She held out a small bundle to him. “I come to bring you this.”

Aedon took the bundle and tossed it on the floor. “You’ve wasted your time then.”

“You know what lies inside,” Mira said. “You’ve run from your responsibility long enough.”

“What are you doing here?” Alexis asked.

“Aedon is not the only one who has been running, Alexis,” Mira said. “You must stop. Your path to success lies with the dearest desire of your heart. If you shut it away, all will be lost.”

Ulf faced the woman. “She asked why you’re here.”

“You, barbarian,” Mira said, “have death perched upon your shoulder, and he holds a dagger to your throat. Whether it is for you, he waits, I cannot say. Take heed, for he is a fickle ally and a devious foe.”

Alexis straightened. “Have you come only to spew riddles?”

Mira turned back to Aedon. “One other piece of advice I have for you. Aid will come, but it will be neither from a place you expect nor wish. Do not turn it away.”

She left the house without another word.

“What the hell was that all about?” Ulf asked.

Aedon picked the bundle back up. “I don’t know.”

Alexis sat down. “Mira is a Prescient.”

“A what?” Ulf asked.

“A Prescient,” Alexis said. “She uses her magic to try to see the future.”

“Can she do that?” Aedon asked.

“In a way,” Alexis said.

“No,” Reka said. He was standing in the entryway to the kitchen.

“You say no, and Alexis says yes,” Aedon said. “Which is it?”

“It is both,” Alexis said before Reka could answer. “She says she gets visions about the future, but they are always vague.”

“They are useless,” Reka said.

Aedon held up the bundle. There was a paper attached to the top. “If they are useless, how do you explain this?”

“What is it?” Reka asked.

Aedon held the paper out. “It is a letter of commission. It bears Lady Jillian’s seal.”

“It seems Lady Jillian wishes you to return to the army,” Reka said.

“You love telling me when I’m naïve, now it’s you,” Aedon said. “You don’t think it’s strange that the very same night we get warning of an attack that a woman claiming to see the future brings me this?”

“You don’t believe in coincidence, Reka,” Alexis said.

“I do not,” Reka said. “But, I cannot see how this commission changes anything.”

“It changes everything,” Aedon said. “This piece of paper, along with what I suspect is in the package, is likely the only thing that will make the people of Prail listen to me. They don’t like me, but they revere Lady Jillian. They won’t go against her.”

Reka waved his hand dismissively. “And everything else she said was just as straightforward?”

“No,” Aedon admitted. “It sounded like nonsense.”

“Exactly,” Reka said. “Do not waste time trying to decipher her words. Even she does not understand what she is saying. I have told her many times to give up on reading the future. By the time we know what the future holds, it is the present, or worse, the past. Plan the best you can, and deal with events as they happen. That is how you prepare for the future. You do not do it by hanging on the nonsensical words of that woman.”

“Do you like anyone?” Ulf asked.

Reka shrugged. “I like a great many people, Ulf. I just do not allow that to shroud my judgment.”

Aedon opened the package and pulled out an elegant black tabard. Silver thread lined the edges. Embroidered in the center was a silver hawk. He pulled the tabard over his head. It felt uncomfortably heavy.

“Try to get some rest,” Aedon said to the room. “We leave as soon as the storm breaks.”