As the two returned to the others, they spotted Gabriel standing in front of the door. “Gabriel,” Cid said, lifting his palm to her. “Anything happen while we were out?”

“Nothing much, honestly,” Gabriel replied, “though the innkeeper keeps thanking us for not having Doc’s pup from eating her.”

“We should get her a bottle of wine when this is all done,” Jeanne said.

“We’ll get her two if I don’t get too distracted,” Cid replied. “But is everyone ready to move out?”

“I’m good to go,” said Gabriel, “but I can get Kveldulf to assess you on the others.”

“We can find him easy enough,” Cid replied.

“I’ll keep an eye out here until then.”

“Good, make sure we don’t have any one waiting to surprise us with anything,” Cid said as he and Jeanne entered the inn.

Moving up the hallway as they saw Kveldulf leave his room. “Oh, good, you’re back!”

“You seem surprised,” Jeanne sid.

“I’ll just feel better when we’re no longer here anymore. No offence, Jeanne.”

“Oh I’m on the same boat as you.”

“Is everyone ready to move out?” Cid asked Kveldulf.

Kveldulf nodded. “More or less, I’ll gather everyone downstairs.”

“Actually, have them meet up in my lodgings, we’ll go over the plan and we’ll assess Gabriel when we’re moving out.”

In a few minutes, all of The Wolves had gathered in Cid’s room and gathered around a drawn map of the building the flagellants were using. “All right,” Cid said to the everyone in the room, “so tonight we’re going to be participating in a good old fashion breaking and entering. The goal is to see what, if anything, the flagellants are using the place for, or if they have any papers and the like that we can help ourselves to. Doctor, how is our patient doing?”

“I’d say Benkin is back to his old self again,” Leonidas said, “nothing that’d keep him bedridden for too long.”

“Good,” Cid replied. “Then I expect everyone should be at their best when we do this. Jeanne will go in with her group through the front door, with Gabriel, and Benkin. Kveldulf you’ll come in from the rear entrance with Maeryn. Silvius, Leonidas and I will come in after the first floor is cleared. Once that’s done we’ll take it from there, and see what we can find.”

“Should we expect any resistance?” Kveldulf asked.

“Possibly,” Cid replied. “There shouldn’t be anyone in the home. But be prepared for anyone to be lounging out there.”

“Maybe we should get them a welcome gift?” Silvius said.

“For a breaking and entering?” Gabriel asked.

“It might make the incident less traumatic.”

“I can only imagine what a vision in your mind what bring forth,” Gabriel replied.

“I’ll take the compliment,” Silvius followed.

“Ideally,” Cid continued, “Once the first floor is cleared, we’ll have someone keep an eye out for anyone so we’re not caught in a bad situation. Given most of us aren’t locals and the only one who is from here has a price on her head, I’d rather keep ourselves in the shadows and away from prying eyes.”

“And if things get hairy?” Benkin asked.

Cid bobbed his head back and forth for a moment. “I don’t have a definitive plan. But I have every confidence in our improving skills.”

“So blow something up and then be on our way,” said Kveldulf.

“More or less,” Cid replied. “Though I’d prefer less property damage if I can avoid it.”

“And there goes my fun,” Jeanne said, dropping her head in simulated disappointment.

“Oh, you will survive, you delicate little lunatic. Now, double check your gear, meet outside the entrance and let’s move out.

***

Even under star and moonlight the city streets were nearly cloaked in darkness. Following Maeryn and Gabriel down the street, the rest of The Wolves negotiated their down the street, trying to avoid running into buildings or other obstacles. Leonidas stubbed his foot against a crate, hoping on the other foot a couple of times while cursing underneath his breath, “Stupid box, shouldn’t be on the street.”

Gabriel stopped and held her hand to the others. “We’re here.”

“Good, you all know where you need to be. Jeanne, Kel, you know the drill.”

Jeanne and Kveldulf nodded. Jeanne turned to her group, nudging her head towards the front door. Taking their positions, she watched as Kveldulf and his group moved around to the back. Counting down from ten in her head, Jeanne took out her lockpicking kit and quickly unlocked the door, pushing it out of the way.

She, Gabriel and Benkin moved in, their weapons now out in their tightened grips. The house had two wooden tables of simple design resting next to the other, with a bench on each side for sitting. There was a fireplace which had been long put out and pots and spices hanging over the rafters before the kitchen area. Kveldulf and his group entered from the back and spotted Jeanne. Without saying anything, they moved around the room and cleared it our before Kveldulf turned to Jeanne.

“Nothing?” he asked her.

Jeanne shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Kveldulf turned to Silvius. “Get Cid and let him know the first floor is clear.”

Silvius nodded and moved to find Cid and the rest.

Jeanne began making her way up the stairs. It was difficult for her eyes to adjust to the light. As the darkness began to ebb away slowly, she took another step up, feeling a hand grab her arm. Jeanne turned sharply to find Gabriel a step behind her. The vampyre pointed to the top step, where a thin string was stretched out along the width of the stairway. They look up and saw a contraption which would’ve dropped a rock onto Jeanne’s head.

“Nice catch,” Jeanne said, looking back at Gabriel.

“Sometimes you get luck,” Gabriel said.

They both stepped over the string and after cutting the rock down, they cleared the path on the stairs for the others to cross. Lighting a few laylight nearby, the group could see several bunk beds resting along the walls, with chests situated nearby. Jeanne looked around and noticed there was little in the room of note. Not even a carpet to dress the floors. “Is anything else a little disappointed at what’s where?” Gabriel asked.

“I was at least hoping for a slightly decaying deer’s head,” Benkin followed.

“I know, right?” Gabriel followed.

“There isn’t anything here,” Jeanne said. “This is … odd.”

“Hmm,” Benkin hummed, “maybe we should go downstairs and see how the others are doing?”

“I’ll head downstairs,” Gabriel said.

“See if Cid wants us to head back down with the rest,” Jeanne said, looking off to the side tighten her jaw shut.

“Something wrong?” Benkin asked.

“I don’t know,” Jeanne replied “just a feeling.”

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They both turned their heads as they heard a soft squeaking as a door was opened door stairs. “Wonder what they found?” Benkin asked.

“Can’t see it hurting to check it out,” Jeanne replied as they moved downstairs.

Jeanne and Ben reached the others downstairs as Maeryn knelt down and looked into a hidden doorway into the floor. “Oh good,” Jeanne said, “another one.”

Maeryn took several whiffs inside and turned back to Cid. “I can’t tell what’s down in there, but it smells foul.”

“Gods, I don’t want to go into another dark hole,” Leonidas said.

“I know, darling,” Jeanne said patting his shoulder, “things are hard on you.”

Silvius, standing by the front entrance to the door shot his head up as he spotted something in the distance. “I think we have some guests coming,” he said to the others.

“Who exactly?” Cid asked.

“Looks like a mob, with a few of the guards at the head.”

“Are they coming here?” Kveldulf asked.

“Look like it.”

Cid turned to Maeryn, “Go check the back, see if the way is out. Gabriel, head down and see if there’s anything we can use. Everyone, get ready to make a quick retreat.”

Gabriel moved down the ladder while Maeryn looked out quickly and said, “Nothing but a dead end, Cid.”

“Gabriel!” Cid called out.

“I think there’s a way out!” Gabriel shouted.

“All right, we’re going down. Move!” Cid ordered.

The Wolves scrambled down the ladder before reaching the bottom. Cid was the last person to enter and closed the opening as he went down. Reaching the dirt floor, Jeanne looked up and saw a small thin squared outline to mark where the opening was located. The muffled sounds of people moving about, thrashing the place violently could be heard.

“Gabriel, I hate to assume, but are you good at seeing in the dark?” Cid asked.

Gabriel nodded. “One of the few stereotypes of our people I’m glad is true.”

“Then if you’ll take point. Jeanne, Doc, hold off on using light spells until we’ve got some distance into this place, same thing for torches. I don’t want to risk them seeing a sliver of light before we’re safely away.”

“Gods, willing,” Kveldulf said as he used a hand to help guide himself forward.

“Everyone,” Cid said, “have your hand on someone’s shoulder before we move out.”

Jeanne put her hand on a shoulder of a shadowy form. “Please tell me I have a shoulder,” she said aloud.

“If you didn’t, Selene would be pretty perturbed,” she heard Hypatia respond.

“Oh thank the Shepherd,” Jeanne said as she felt Hypatia slowly move forward.

Taking small steps onward down the corridor. As Jeanne felt the wall with her other hand to steady herself, she noted how this was much dryer than the last underground tunnel she was in. The air was less humid around her. There was less of an ominous atmosphere around her, giving her less of a reason to look behind her constantly.

As her eyes finally began adjusting to the light, she could see the walls seemed to be hewed out differently from the last series of underground paths. This path was circular in nature, possibly naturally formed long before being used.

There was not physical marks along the stone similar to where a pickaxe would land. It was smooth, exceptionally smooth. Not too dissimilar from a piece of the earth given to a sculpture before being turned into a brilliant work of art. Jeanne wondered what might’ve caused this tunnel to form, and if such a thing was around to hinder their progress?

After a few minutes into the corridor, Cid said in a hushed voice. “All right, I think we can risk a little light.”

Jeanne, Leonidas, Kveldulf, Silvius and Hypatia conjured a light spell or lit a torch to illuminate the interior of the corridor. Everyone looked around and allowed their eyes to bask in the sight of path before them. “Oh that is so nice,” Kveldulf said, blinking quickly before seeing clearly.

“How are you two doing, Maer, Gabriel?” Cid asked.

Both women nodded. “I’m good,” Maeryn replied.

“It’s not that bad, thankfully,” Gabriel replied.

“Good,” Cid said, “let’s move out and see where this take use.”

Journeying further into the tunnel, The Wolves stepped with great care. Jeanne pressed her lips together, taking time to breath to make as little noise as she could. She remembered lessons Cid taught her when she was first going on scouting missions with him. Breath in on one step and out on the next.

Despite the walls not closing in, she hate how limited of space the corridors afforded her. This reminded her why she preferred fighting in larger spaces, even the inside of a castle keep was better than a space of a few feet. She was thankful that there was enough space for her to stand upright. Even Benkin didn’t need to stoop for himself.

Gabriel stopped, lifting her hand up and held a finger to the others. She pressed herself against the wall and gestured the others to do the same. Shimmying down the wall they began to see a light come out of a rounding end of the tunnel. Gabriel slowly peered her head before pulling her head back and turning to the others. “So …” she said with a wide eyes, “I think we found something.”

Jeanne followed the rest of The Wolves into an expansive cavern, with wide paths hugging both sides of the circumference of the interior. Stalagmites and stalactites dotting the roof and the deeper levels. The niches dotting the pathways were converted into cells, some with closed gates, others still opened.

Looking inside some, Jeanne saw wet and moldy hay resting on the bottom. Within the opened cells, there was nothing inside. But in the closed ones, there were remains of skeletons, all of them long dead and in varying states of decay.

“So much for ‘love of the world and love of thy brother,’” Silvius said, wincing back at the sight.

“They must’ve been doing this for years, more even,” said Maeryn.

“And my people are the ones called monsters,” Gabriel said, spitting to the earth.

“This certainly adds a morbid element to these flagellants,” Silvius said.

“And hopes up a lot more questions to what they’re doing,” said Leonidas.

“Everyone keep your eyes sharps,” said Cid, “I don’t think we’re in a safe territory right now.”

As The Wolves reach halfway across the cavern the sounds of shuffled feet filled the air, the warriors unsheathed their weapons as the flagellants arrived, one of them, with a hood over his head with a hand missing as he held up a torch with the other.

“What are you infidels doing here?” the hooded man demanded.

“Oh can we not,” Kveldulf, “we’ve got enough on our plate as it is.”

“You come in here, into our sanctum…” the man continued.

“This is a far cry from a sanctum,” Leonidas interjected.

“… and you have desecrated this place with your presence.”

Jeanne took a deep breath and walked towards the man. The hooded man looked at Jeanne in confusion as she grabbed him by the throat, dragged him into a cage, threw him in and then slammed the door shut. And the man was thrown to the ground, his hood was thrown back and Jeanne perked her head up. “Well, Galbert, so lovely to find you again,” she said before punching him on his temple. The man’s head struck the iron bars hard, and he began wincing from the pain.

Jeanne grabbed his collar and pulled him in close. “Come, you lot enjoy pain, don’t you,” she said with barred teeth, “now where is your good leader?”

“I don’t know, witch,” Galbert said.

Jeanne punched him again. “Keep this up, and I’m going to start having fun.”

“Jeanne,” Benkin said, “remember what we worked on before.”

“To hell with that!” she barked. “They butcher their own and themselves, they spread fear like a flood over the low counties, and you work for a Kolville. I want to know where he is! Tell me!”

“I don’t know!” Galbert said loudly.

Jeanne punched him again. “Tell me!”

“I don’t know” Galbert screamed.

She grabbed his head and slammed it against iron bars. “Where’s Stefan!”

“I don’t know,” Galbert said, breaking down.

“Jeanne!” Cid said, moving into the cell, “That is enough!”

“This shit know where their master lies, and I want his head piked!”

“He doesn’t tell us where he is,” a flagellant called out.

The Wolves turned to find a young man pushed his way to the front and Jeanne immediately recognized the man. Jeanne now felt herself catching her breath and standing up. “Fancy seeing you back on your feet,” she said, fighting the urger to throttle the man.

“Well, your doctor was very good at what he does,” the flagellant said, looking at Jeanne with a frightened gaze.

“Thank you,” Leonidas replied.

Jeanne turned back to Leonidas then to the young man. “And what exactly is going on here?” She demanded.

“This is a place of reflective contemplation,” the young man insisted.

“And the dead bodies?” Jeanne returned with, as she pointed behind her.

“Those were never there?” the young man insisted.

“All right pull the other one!” Jeanne said, grabbing the young man by the collar, “Just because I saved your life doesn’t mean I won’t end it.”

“Jeanne,” said Cid, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps I should handle the questioning.”

“Be quick,” Jeanne replied, “I’ve been wanting to break some heads since we found Edmund.”

“What do you mean?” the flagellant asked.

“We saw what you did to your own. Flayed him alive by turning his skin into thread.”

The flagellants recoiled. “Is … is that what happened?”

Cid turned to the flagellant. “You mean you didn’t know?”

The flagellant shook his head quickly. “No! We thought he was still not recovered from his earlier illness. We never knew that he was … dead.”

Jeanne felt a pit in her stomach, turning away from the flagellants.

“Well, that raises more questions than answers,” Kveldulf said. “Given the traitor sign hanging on his neck.”

“It could’ve still been someone within the group,” Silvius said.

“Not unheard of for someone to go out of their way to take care of a purported problem when none existed,” said Leonidas.

“But it couldn’t have been us,” said the young flagellant. “His mother never let us into her home, ever.”

“Hmm,” Cid said. “That’s rather disconcerting. And none of you know how to get into contact with your leader?”

The flagellants shook their heads. “We’ve never known where to meet him. He always come to us.”

Jeanne growled before letting the young man go and stepping back. Cid brushed the ruffled robes of the young man down and took a short breath. “All right, so this was a place for introspection, yes?”

The young man nodded quickly. “Yes, the place is far from the surface and quiet so we could meditate in peace.”

“And you never saw these bodies before?”

“No! None of us had,” the young man said, the others behind him shaking their heads.

“Then was what why you lot came down here?” Jeanne asked.

“We heard there was a ruckus at one of our houses and we wanted to investigate,” the hooded man replied from his cage.

“I’d avoid that course of action,” Cid replied. “There’s a mob up there and they’re none too happy with your group.”

“It’s the damned cardinal,” one of the flagellant spat. “He’s unleashing his minions against us.”

“That can be hashed out later,” said Kveldulf. “I think we’re about to have company!”

“Damn!” Cid snapped. “Never a moment to think.”

“I can buy us some time, Cid,” Leonidas said.

“Should I ask?” Cid followed.

“Maybe not.”

Cid shook his head. “Just don’t go raising the dead, and I’m happy.”

Leonidas gave Cid a thumbs up. “This should be quick.”

Leonidas then quickly wrote out a series of sigils on the ground in a circular pattern and then poured out some water from his flask. Holding his fingers into an esoteric manner before reciting an incantation. As he spoke, a rounded head shape popped up from the ground, two sunken eyes opened and looked at the doctor. A wide smile came across the creature’s face as it spotted Leonidas.

“Hi Bob,” Leonidas said to the creature.