As The Wolves arrived to Teeg-Upon Avon, they found the town in the midst of rebuilding many of the structures burnt down during the raid occurring shortly before their last departure. Soldiers manned the walls of the Kolville Keep, many now well armed and armored, regularly patrolling the parapets. Some of the villagers looked at The Wolves with passing interest, return back to the previous tasks without issue.

The women and children looked at the flags flying over the castle walls with color draining from their faces. “Cid I think this might not have been the best place to bring them,” Jeanne said out of the corner of her mouth.

“And I still don’t know where to drop them off, since Inwuda is entirely off limits to us. And we can’t bring them with us for when new get back on the road again.”

“They had the same symbol on their tunics,” Cyneswith said breathlessly.

“The lord here is a good and noble man,” Cid said. “He’ll be more than eager to help you all get back on your feet.”

Reaching the main gatehouse, one of the group guards addressed the group of freelancers. “Hail, and be seen, friend,” the guard said to them.

“Hail,” said Cid. “We came to speak with your lord of master.”

“Aye,” the guard said, “he’s been expecting you. I’ll alert him to your arrival.”

The guard left and quickly returned with the captain, Sigismund in tow. “Ah,” the captain said, “good to see you all are still with us.” The captain stopped in his speech and examined the members while slowly leaning back. “I see the recent weeks have been rougher than anticipated.”

“That is putting it lightly,” said Cid. “Is Gareth available for an audience?”

“Absolutely, come, he’s been wanting to speak with you,” Sigismund said. “He wanted to speak with the officers directly. And who are the others?”

“They were those two of Gareth’s brothers kidnapped,” Cid said to the captain.

“I see, I think my lord will want to speak with one of them at least for the time being.”

Cid turned to women and children. “Would any be comfortable with speaking with Lord Gareth?”

Cyneswith took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll come.”

“We’re ready then,” said Cid. “Please lead the way.”

Arriving to the study of the keep, they found Gareth sitting at his desk, several attendants holding parchments and other pieces official documents in their hands. “My lord,” Sigismund said, “The Wolves have arrived.”

Gareth’s head lifted up as he saw Cid and the others. “Indeed they have, a nice surprise with everything going on.”

“Something we should be aware of?” Cid asked, reaching out to the Lord Kolville.

Gareth took the Felidan’s forearms in kind and shook it enthusiastically. “In due time, good sir. I can see you all had a long few weeks as of late.”

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“Your brothers, Ollen and Guthrum, were … not as kind as Stefan,” Cid replied.

Gareth grabbed a bottle of wine and began pouring four glasses of wine for them all. “I am almost afraid to ask.”

“The village of Sunbrook was nearly wiped out entirely and Barney was about to suffer the same when we arrived,” Kveldulf said, taking the glass of wine.

“By the Shepherd,” Gareth said, “of course it would be those two. Anything else I should know?”

“They kidnapped several women to be their wives, and … sired children with them,” Kveldulf said.

“This is Cyneswith, one of the women your brothers took with them,” said Cid.

“I see,” said Gareth. He walked over to Cyneswith and reached out to take her hand before pulling it back after a moment’s hesitation. “I cannot begin to fathom what my brothers did to you and the others, nor will make excuses for their actions. And from the bottom of my heart, I cannot express my sorrow and regret in full. Thus for as long as you wish it, you are more than welcomed to stay here in our village where we will keep you and the rest as safe and comfortable as we possibly can. And I will whatever is in my power to help get you all reunited with whoever you’d consider family.”

“Your words are most kind,” Cyneswith said, placing her hand over Gareth’s. “It is good to know there is someone who still has some honor within this family.”

“I believe your words are kind as well, but please inform my captain to have you and the others get some food and whatever you need to rest from your journey,” Gareth said to Cyneswith, “but if I need to speak with Master Cid and the others on a couple of matters.”

“I cannot imagine my brothers did not bring them along willingly?” Gareth asked remorsefully.

“I think we both know the answer that one,” Jeanne replied.

“Sadly, we do,” Gareth said. “Another sin our house will need to live with until the Shepherd decides it is the time to call the flock home.”

“We …,” Cid said, with some hesitation as he placed a canvas bag before Gareth, “we brought the proof of their … I’d prefer not say.”

Gareth nodded. “Same. But it is good to know they’re now accounted for. This leaves only Theobald and … Eustace.”

“Eustace,” Jeanne said, surprised. “I thought that was your father?”

“Aye, he was named after him, and had things not turned out the way they did, he would the lord of these lands and not I.”

“Is that why’d he sided with Bellem?” Cid asked. “To reclaim his birthright?”

“Partly that,” said Gareth, “and Bellem has been a patron of sorts to my brothers activities prior to the this age of strife.”

“So …,” Cid said, “that is where our road lies.”

“In more ways than one,” Gareth said, holding two parchments with one sealed with the symbol of a centaur firing a bow with clawed lions feet, and the other with the symbol of a tower and a white X on the background. “The war has started.”

“I thought that was already the case,” said Cid.

“No,” said Gareth, “this was but a temperate period. Neither side preparing for the season unending. Only lords acting on their own accord were the cause of death and desecration of all we hold dear. But now both Aethelwulf and Adelize are summoning those who will flock to their sides. And before the coming of winter, we will be seeing whole fields of this land watered with the blood of our kin, fed with the flesh of the dead, and haunted with the memory of horrors no scribe can put to words to justify what we will do to each other.”

“Well, this will make our job a lot harder than in there’s are armies in the way,” said Kveldulf.

“It gets better,” said Gareth, supposedly Empress Adelize is bringing the sarcophagus you were looking for with her personal entourage. And Lord Bellem and the last of my brothers are a part of her inner circle.”

“Oh, that’s just wonderful,” said Jeanne.

“You will certainly have your work cut out for you,” Gareth said to them. “But, there is one positive but of news for you all.”

“Well,” Cid said, “don’t hold us in suspense. What is it?”

“Another of a series bounties came in, one particularly reminded of what you told me about your time in Inwuda,” Gareth said, handing a folded parchment to Cid.

Cid read the paper before handing it to Kveldulf and Jeanne. “Take a look.”

Jeanne and Kveldulf read the parchment before looking at each other. “Well, no shit,” Jeanne said, a smile coming to her face.