On the third day of their march northwards, The Wolves moved down a winding road, cutting its way through wide fields of grasslands. With sprinklings of trees here and there to break the softly waving rolls of the landscape. Crossing horizon after horizon, the land itself rising and falling in a gentle sway.

Jeanne felt a sense of relief to have some time to simply exert the growing anxiety from something other than trying to kill something killing to kill her or her friends. It was also a welcomed change to look on the land of her birth and feel a sense of pride in herself. Perhaps the years when such attachments would have taken their fuller form were arrested when she fled for other shores.

But while she was off in other kingdoms, fighting for barons, dukes, kings, pretenders, or anyone with the deep pockets to pay for sell-swords for hire, she had never felt a full longing to come home. Not like Kveldulf, who pined to return to Orumus and settled the old score with his house. There were the occasional moment of wanting, but never to the point of desire to return home. For Jeanne, it was more of a flight of fancy than a full yearning.

However, looking out in these fields, she felt a change in her perspective. Being with the people of The Meadowlands, she felt a connection with the people. She felt as if this was something she was a part of. Not as merely where her parents sired and her mother bore her, but as if the land and those living here were a part of an extended family. And while not all who are called kin are looked on in admiration, it was hard for her not to feel some bond with them.

Looking out at the tall lades of green grass she felt as if she was a part of this region. As if the affairs of this realm meant more than a trivial annoyance to her current situation. There was a weight to it beyond any measurement in this world. And though she did not know what influence she could have in bringing some semblance of peace back to these lands, she wished she could do it.

To leave these shores knowing hundred, maybe thousands of those still tasting life for the first time, or whose stories had not begun, could never know the hardships that once existed and could simply enjoy the thrills of the world without a care of ruin the wonderous experience. This gave her a renewal of strength as they moved down the road to find this Kolville and end his wanton violence without a chance of him coming back.

“You seem to be in a better mood,” she heard Leonidas say to her.

“I think I’ve had time to consider a few things.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Leonidas smiling at her. “I know things have been getting hard the last few days.”

Jeanne nodded. “It’s been good to have a few days of just the simple sights and sounds of nature.”

“It was a mercy from Sol back in the Outlands when Parfros’s madness was at an all time high.”

“You’d think that’d whole place would be his realm.”

“I think it is, if I’m going to be honest.”

“But it is nice to just relax.”

“Yeah, get a moment to catch your breath and just process everything.”

Leonidas and Jeanne heard Benkin, who was on point, call out to the others, “Someone coming, a rider.”

Cid gestured, Hands at the ready. Jeanne rested her hand on the head of her hammer as she saw a man riding his horse at a trot making his way to them. The man spotted The Wolves on the road and lifted his hand to them, a warm smile on his face.

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“Why hello!” he said to them. “Shepherd’s peace be with you.”

“And with you,” Benkin said. “I hope we’re not interrupting.”

“Not at all,” the man said. “I was making my way to Coltonshire, had some business with some acquaintances to take care of. But I’m usually eager for a good ride when I can get it.”

“Fair enough,” Benkin replied.

“You lot looking to get somewhere particular?”

“We’re looking for someone, actually,” Cid replied.

“Oh! Bounty hunters?” the man asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“When it’s needed, we’re freelancers, The Wolf Company specifically,” Cid replied. “I’m Cid, and these are the rest of my cadre.” The rest bowing their heads forward to the rider.

The rider returned the gesture. “Good to meet you all. Silas Tomps, is my name. Don’t meet a lot of friendly lancers around these parts.”

“We try to maintain a certain professionalism as much as we can.”

“You do,” Jeanne replied.

“Shush,” Cid followed.

“Interesting crew you have,” Silas said, chuckling.

“Helps keep the moments of boredom at bay.”

“Fair, fair.”

“Do you live around these parts?” Hypatia asked.

“Aye, I do,” Silas said, pointing to a small pillar of smoke rising out of the trees. “Got a little homestead in the woods with my wife and newborn babe.”

All The Wolves trained their gaze at the man with concern, causing him to shirk back in his saddle. “Is something wrong?” he asked them.

“Just been a few hard days,” Cid said. “But you wouldn’t happened to have come across anyone wandering down this path recently, have you?”

“Well, I’ve been seeing a few people on the road as of late. A bit of an increase, what with the war and all. But I might’ve seen the person you’re looking for.”

“He’s in his thirties, pale skin, red eyes, and a rather intense temperament,” Cid said.

“Well, we did have a pale fellow come up to our homestead and had him rest up in the barn loft with our other guest, was that—”. Before Silas could finish, The Wolves raced down the path and towards the homestead. Jeanne could hear Silas calling out to them before she could him turn his horse around.

As he caught up with the others, he called out, “What’s wrong?”

“You might have one of the Kolvilles at your house!” Jeanne replied.

“Shepherd no!” Silas said before he had his horse go into a full gallop towards his home.

Jeanne saw Silas outpace them before the small single-story homestead and barn came into sight. Silas dismounted his horse and ran inside, screaming “Lisabe! Lisabe! No!” Benkin, Hypatia, Kveldulf and Cid went into the homestead while Jeanne and the rest went into the barn. Inside the animals were rearing up on their hind legs, bellowing in fear from where they were tied and cooped in the building.

As Jeanne moved to the back of the barn, she found one of the sheep in a stall in a state of panic as a dead male dwarf laid there with it. “I found the guest,” Jeanne said to the others.

Leonidas and Gabriel walked up to the stall and looked inside. “Oh Caeltru, poor bastard was brained,” said the doctor.

“And in one fell swoop, too,” said Gabriel.

“Let’s go form a perimeter, then I’ll go see what happened in the house,” Jeanne said, leading them out of the barn. Once they were positioned around the property, Jeanne went inside to see Cid placing a sheet over the body of Silas’s wife, Silas sitting next to her, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jeanne turned to see Kveldulf rolling a bloodied blanket on something inside a baby’s crib. She walked up to her friend. “Tell me he didn’t,” she said.

Kveldulf took a long breath before saying, “He slit both their throats,” Kveldulf said to her.

“This is setting out of hand,” she said.

“He’s not even trying to cover his tracks before the next victim.”

“If he was here when Silas left, do you think he’s nearby?”

“I don’t know, why?” Kveldulf asked.

“I’ll be right back,” Jeanne said.

“What are you doing?”

“Something within my particular realm of dumb decision,” Jeanne said as she left the farmhouse. Walking outside she barked to the others, “Everyone get inside.”

“What?” Gabriel said, turning back to Jeanne.

“I said get inside,” Jeanne replied with a cold glare.

“What are you doing?” Silvius asked.

“Ending this,” Jeanne replied. “And I don’t want anyone getting in the middle of this.”

“Jeanne!” said Leonidas.

Jeanne turned to Leonidas. “If he’s near, I know what’ll bring his sordid hide out here.”

Leonidas looked at Jeanne with increasing concern.

“I’ve got this,” Jeanne said.

“You sure?” Leonidas replied.

“Pretty sure,” she replied.

Leonidas frowned before walking back inside.