Jeanne looked out from the parapet of the Kolville’s keep facing the ruins of Teeg-Upon-Avon. Memories of a life spent in service of lords and nobles, the actions taken to earn an extra coin to sleep off of the cold hard ground coming back. She wondered how many of the survivors would be swearing their own oaths of vengeance on those who they felt responsible? How many lives would be dedicated not in the building of their society, but gnawing and slashing away at each other’s throats?

She heard footsteps coming up behind her, turning to see Kveldulf emerging from the shadows of the nearby tower, each hand holding a cup of coffee. He gave her one, she could feel the warmth from the cup in her fingers and palms. Blowing away the steam she looked back out the village, hearing the faint noise of shovels digging away into the earth and gravediggers went to work.

“Cid said once everyone is up and ready to move, we’ll try and make our way north after Bellem.”

“Hmm?” Jeanne hummed inquisitively.

“Given he still has the artifact and that was a job we were paid for, it only makes sense.”

“Yeah,” Jeanne said, still looking out.

“I won’t even insult you by saying I can only imagine what you’re feeling,” he said, shaking his head slowly.

“I honestly don’t know what to think,” she said, taking a sip.

“Well, there’s still five Kolvilles left to hunt.”

“Sheperd’s guidance, if this is what two of them will be like, I don’t want to know what the rest will be.”

“Things can get chaotic on the campaign,” Kel said. “Ambushes are known to happen all the time. And accidents are as plentiful in these situations as flies are to a dung heap.”

“Yeah,” Jeanne said, her lips softly shaking.

Kveldulf walked over, put his cup down and wrapped his arm around and patting her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jeanne.”

“I just want this all the end. Why does it just keep getting worse?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t.”

“I just want this all behind me. So, I can finally move on with my life.”

“I know.”

“What would you do?”

Kveldulf took a deep breath, lifting an eyebrow as he pondered the thought over. “I don’t know if I’m the best for that one. Given how long I let such harsh passions guide me hand for so long.”

“You came out the other side in one piece.”

“I don’t know if that was more than a lucky fluke.”

“Kel, I’m not in the damn mood.”

“Sorry, I just don’t want to give you bad advice.”

Jeanne ran her hand through her hair as she tried to focus her thoughts on the matter.

“For what it’s worth, Jeanne, I’d say we’re already knee deep into the big muddy, and if there’s no going back, there’s only moving forward or waiting for the swamp to claim you.”

“I know,” Jeanne said, her head hanging low in defeat.

“And we’ve gotten two of them already, which is a good start.”

“Yeah,” Jeanne said, rubbing the back of her neck. “That’s something.”

“And we’ll be going after the rest of them when we’re ready to move out.”

“I guess that counts for something.”

“And, when chances are, you can smack a few of them with your hammer.”

Jeanne looked at her hammer. “That’s a good point.”

“Plus, once we’re done with all this, we can get the hell out of here and pretend this was all a bad dream.”

“I plan on drinking this memory away, Kel.”

“That’s the spirit!” Kveldulf said, patting her on the back.

From the darkness of the tower emerged Leonidas, looking a little worse for wear and leaning against the stone wall as he let the cold air chill his sweated skin. “You all right, Doc?” Kveldulf asked.

“Been better,” the doctor said. “Been a lot better, if I’m being honest.”

“How’s Stefan?” Jeanne asked.

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“If he makes it through the night, it’ll be a miracle.”

Kveldulf nodded, both men noticing Jeanne silent, looking at her hands as they opened and closed slowly.

“Something the matter Jeanne?” Leonidas asked.

“It’s the strangest thing,” she said, her gaze still on her hands. “All this time I wanted nothing more than to end each of the whole Kolville line. And now … now that one is nearing closer to the end of their life … I feel nothing but sadness for him. Pity even. Moreso for his brother. As if there was never a feud between us. No violence, no hatred. As if, we were just people again.”

Leonidas and Kveldulf exchanged glances, saying nothing as Jeanne spoke.

“It’s like I finally get to have something of a revenge … and I feel horrible. There’s no sense of satisfaction for everything I’ve had to go through.”

“Maybe you recognize this isn’t revenge,” Leonidas said. “Gareth, from what we’ve seen, is trying to do right to his people. And Stefan, while his religious views are more than what most would call comfortable, seemed to be wanting to turn over a new leaf.”

“Yeah, a far cry from the monsters you first thought they were.”

“What do you plan to do, Jeanne?” Leonidas asked.

“I doubt all of their kin have tried to change their ways,” Jeanne said, getting to her feet, “and we still have a job to finish with the vampyre sarcophagus.” She then took drink in hand and made her way to the staircase in the tower.

“Where are you going?” Kveldulf asked.

“I don’t know,” Jeanne said.

“Stefan was hoping to speak with you,” Leonidas said to her.

“I figured he would,” she said, letting out a heavy sigh before negotiating her way down the stairs.

Reaching Stefan’s room, she opened the door gingerly, peering her head inside. Stefan was laying on the bed. Bandages wrapped around his chest and shoulder, his exposed skin covered in sweat and his breathing was slow and labored. She closed the door quietly behind her.

She found a chair nearby and pulled it over next to him. Taking a seat, she rubbed her forehead as she tried to release the growing tension in her head. “What am I doing?” she asked herself softly as she looked up at the ceiling.

“That’s a common question,” she heard Stefan say weakly. “One I found myself asking many times.”

Jeanne put her hand on his shoulder. “You need to rest, Stefan.”

He put his hand over hers. “We both know where this is going to end. Whether what remains of my strength in this body is used for speech or some other action is irrelevant now.”

“Still, no need to shorten what time you have left if you don’t have to.”

“Lady Marais, I came to terms with my death a long time ago. And the chance of me dying from natural causes or reaching old age were rather long. Especially with the life I choose for myself,” Stefan turned his gaze up, looking at the gilded design of the ceiling displayed above him. “So many years I could’ve been doing something, anything worth remembering. Aiding those I was bound to protect, instead of robbing them, ravaging them, sending them into the void long before their time. How many would be here to make the world better, if only I had never been in their lives? That questions weighed heavy on me as the years passed on and my youth slowly ebbed away and the mind begins to reflect on one’s actions.”

He turned back to Jeanne, with tears running down his face.

“I know this doesn’t make the pain any better, or lessens the hate. But I never forgave myself for what happened to your sister.”

Jeanne closed her eyes as the words released a wave of emotions she could not fully process. “I do not hold you responsible for what happened to her,” she said with effort and a breaking voice. “And I should’ve never have done that with all—”

Stefan grabbed her hand firmly. “No!” he said resolutely. “We were are not good men, we are not men worthy of mercy. We took what we wanted with little care. Burned and sundered for the fun of others pain. And stole lives to make the Sheperd send us to the wolves as punishment. The only one who kept something of himself was Gareth, and we mocked, we insulted, even our father disowned him until his kids brought madness and death to this land.

“We are a blight, and should never be seen other than that. And if there is any sense of justice, of decency, of righteousness in you; find my brothers, and end them. End them before they ruin more lives. Promise me that,” he said. Jeanne could feel the strength in his grip waning.

“I promise,” she said. “I promise.”

Stefan laid back in bed. His breathing getting heavier than before. Gareth entered the room, looking at his brother and then turning to Jeanne. “How has he been?”

“About as well as can be expected,” she said somberly.

“Is there anything I can get you, brother,” Gareth asked Stefan.

Stefan kept his eyes closed as he said, “I think now is the right moment to begin the funeral rites, brother."

Gareth nodded slowly. “I’ll get the priest,” he said before taking his leave.

Jeanne began rising from her seat, “I should take my leave then,” she said as Stefan reached out for her.

“Would you stay, please?” he asked her, “until the end?”

Jeanne looked at him and for the first time in a long while, she felt no hatred towards a Kolville. “Yes,” she said, sitting back down, “I’ll stay with you.”

***

It was morning when Jeanne found the others in the courtyard before the main gate, they were mounting new steeds and looking only a little better than when they had rested the night before. Cid called out to her, “Anything happen?”

Jeanne wiped the tears from her eyes as she said, “His suffering is over.”

“Well, I guess that’s that then for one of our bounties,” Kveldulf said.

“What does that make, five more we need to find?” Maeryn asked.

“And Bellem,” said Hypatia.

“And the sarcophagus,” followed Gabriel.

“It might be prudent to keep our heads down giving Bellem’s bounty on us,” said Silvius.

“Plus, we’re getting a little strapped for coins for lodging and a ship back home,” said Benkin.

“So, let’s start making our way up north, see what jobs we can get before we can pay the good Bellem and repay him the kindness,” said Cid.

Kveldulf pointed off behind them. “The Lord Kolville is here to see of off,” he said.

“Yes,” Gareth said. “I thought it best to give you some words of good fortune before you’re all on your way.”

“I think we can use as much as we can,” said Leonidas.

Gareth turned to Jeanne and handed her a sash, ebony colored and made of tightly connected mail when examined closer. Along the widest part rested a metal pin made in the shape of a golden dragon’s head roaring fire from its maw. “What’s this?” Jeanne asked Gareth.

“An heirloom from a time long gone, and few care to remember. It was carried by the founder of my house, and was a symbol of hope, and a future better than the present we living in. I think it would be poignant if it was worn by you in this endeavor.”

“How come you didn’t give it to her before?” Maeryn asked.

“I was considering it before, but when you brought my brother home alive so he could die here in peace, I lost all the lingering doubt I had. And I hope it brings you whatever fortune you need in your endeavors. And may the Sheperd guide your path, Wolves of Tonaslyon.”

“And yours as well, Lord Kolville,” Jeanne replied.

Mounting their steeds, The Wolves rode off along the Northern Road, ready to pursue the Lord Bellem and the Kolvilles to whatever end.