Rol’s back, legs and arms were numb from carrying Kara through the night, his stomach was growling, and his lips were parched, but it was all forgotten when the forest around them turned from pitch black to a dim monochrome heralding the arrival of dawn. Next to him, Colnus fell silent midsentence and breathed a sigh of relief.

Rol looked over to see the bear of a man grinning at him. “I do believe we’ve survived the night.”

“So we have,” Rol agreed and chuckled as a metaphorical weight was lifted from his shoulders. The physical weight seemed to lift as well, but only for a moment. “Why, I do believe this is the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

Colnus blinked in surprise. “I suppose I haven’t had much to smile about of late.”

Rol felt Kara stir behind him and heaved a sigh of relief. As much as he was enjoying the feeling of her warmth against his back, the boy was ready to collapse.

“Are you awake?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied sleepily. “You can let me down.”

Gratefully, Rol did so, and the girl rubbed her eyes before giving Colnus a look. “You’re not trying to convince him to join the Order, are you?”

“So, you heard that conversation,” the old man observed. “How long have you been awake for?”

“Long enough,” she replied. “Now answer the question.”

The old man shrugged. “I was just telling him that applying his talents into worthwhile pursuits can be very fulfilling.”

“Did you also tell him of the deep class divide that exists in the Order’s militant arm?” Kara asked.

“I hadn’t gotten to that part yet,” Colnus admitted. “Do you have use of your spells again, young lady?”

Kara looked around before replying. “Yes… did you encounter any more of those… things?”

Colnus shook his head. “The last time was at our camp… We haven’t seen or heard of any signs since.”

“The forest is still silent, though,” Rol remarked as he looked around.

“Something has corrupted them,” Colnus said. “Those things we encountered last night were once woodland creatures.”

“Perhaps it was the same thing that turned those men,” Kara mused.

“Something strange is afoot in these woods,” Colnus said as began to walk again. “We need to move the Vessel quickly.”

“Do you think the servants of the Dark One are behind what is afoot here?” Kara asked as she took a sip from a skin of water.

“Could I have some, please?” Rol asked hopefully.

Kara gave him a long look of disdain before reluctantly handing it over. “Only because you carried me all night.”

“I’d use our water sparingly,” Colnus warned as Rol drank deeply. “Something has corrupted the wildlife here, and I wouldn’t rule the water out.”

“Father had venison for lunch yesterday,” Kara said worriedly as she snatched the skin out of Rol’s hands.

“The deer was killed long ago,” Colnus remarked. “Were there any signs of corruption the last time you were here?”

Kara shook her head slowly. “I don’t think so.”

“The forests were alive the last time we were here,” Rol added.

“I suppose they ought to be fine. The people in town looked well enough.” Colnus grunted. “I would dearly like to discover the source of this corruption for the sake of the good people of Goldleaf, but I fear we must prioritise the Vessel.”

The old man blinked as he used his feet to shuffle leaves aside. “I do believe we’ve reached the end of the road.”

“Most eyes can see the monastery from here,” Kara said as she looked up at the mountain through a clearing in the canopy. “The monks didn’t see a reason to maintain the road beyond this point.”

Colnus narrowed his eyes as he studied the mountain. “Do they grow their own food?”

“For the most part,” Kara replied. “Though they do come down to get provisions from the town every now and then.”

“Let us hurry,” Colnus said as he quickened his pace.

“What is it?” Rol groaned as he broke into a jog to keep up.

“Whatever has corrupted the wildlife in this forest could do the same to the monks up in the monastery, you dolt,” Kara snapped.

Rol’s face fell. “Does that mean the forest won’t provide?”

Kara rolled her eyes. “Come on, get a move on.”

“I carried you all night!” Rol cried.

“I did offer to take a turn,” Colnus called over his shoulder. “But you were quite adamant to bear that girl on your own.”

“I’m sure he was,” Kara smirked.

“Wait, does this mean that we won’t be able to eat anything once we get to the monastery?” Rol gasped.

“Now there’s a good question,” Colnus muttered to himself. “I suppose it depends on whether the brothers in the monastery are more like the wildlife we encountered last night or the people in town.”

Kara and Rol fell silent, deeply troubled by that prospect, and Colnus quickened his pace. “We should concentrate on getting there as quickly as we can.”

It was almost midday when they arrived at the base of the mountain, and Rol’s legs were on fire. He and Kara collapsed in a heap to catch their breath, and the boy looked over at Colnus, who looked as though he had just completed a leisurely stroll. The monastery was perched on a sheer cliff face hundreds of feet above them, having seemingly been carved into the mountain’s living stone.

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“You’re not even breathing hard,” he panted when he was able to speak.

“I wish I could say it was because I keep fit, but I am well aware that isn’t the case,” the old man frowned and felt his neck. “Something has changed me. Is it this?”

“There will be time to worry about it later,” Kara said as she struggled to her feet. “You didn’t turn on us when those creatures attacked, so I assume you are in full control of your faculties.”

“I suppose you have a point there,” Colnus allowed.

“We’ve been through a lot to get here as quickly as we did, and it was out your worry for the Vessel,” Kara continued. “Let’s not put our efforts to waste by dawdling here, shall we?”

“I was just waiting for you to catch your breathes,” the old man pointed out. “Where do we go from here?”

“And now we have,” Kara said as she walked over to an innocuous looking hole in the slate grey rock of the mountain face.

“I believe that’s a bird’s nest,” Colnus remarked as she scooped handfuls of dead leaves and twigs from the hole.

“I don’t hear any birds,” Kara replied as she continued clearing out the hole. “Whatever made this nest is long dead.”

“Or worse,” Rol breathed.

Once the hole was clear, Kara peered inside and took a deep breath. “Hello?”

Colnus raised an eyebrow and glanced at Rol, who shrugged. “I’m not sure how it works, but it does.”

“Hello, is anyone there?” Kara called into the hole.

There was a short pause and a faint reply came. “Who is it?”

“It’s Kara. I was here last month with my father,” she replied, unable to keep herself from smiling with relief. “Send the basket down.”

“Kara?” the disembodied voice perked up. “I’ll send it right down. How many of you are there?”

“Myself and two men,” she replied.

There was another silence, and when the voice spoke again, it was remarkably less upbeat now. “Oh, is he with you?”

“I am,” Rol insisted. “You took a vow of celibacy, so I don’t see what you’re so upset about.”

“Tell your father that the abbot isn’t here,” the voice said.

“We know,” Kara said.

“Here comes our ride,” Rol said as he craned his neck to look up.

Colnus followed the boy's gaze and let out an impressed grunt. “Ingenious.”

The basket was actually a wooden platform with waist high rails on each side and a gate to permit access. It was just large enough for five to stand inside. Once all three were on board, Kara looked up and held up an arm. There was a jolt as the basket rose around half a foot into the air. It sat at an awkward angle, dipping towards Colnus, and the other two repositioned themselves until the basket was balanced. Kara raised both arms, and the basket began to rise again.

Colnus looked up at the boom that had been extended from a hidden door that was built into the side of the mountain just below the monastery proper and shook his head. “Incredible. I wonder how the monks got up here before that was built.”

“Oh monks aren’t permitted to use this,” Kara said. “They have to make the climb. It’s a ritual of sorts for them. This is only for goods and important visitors.”

Colnus raised an eyebrow. “Do we qualify as the latter?”

“We don’t,” Kara said, giving Rol a pointed look. “But my father does.”

Colnus grunted. “Does he now… How did he wrangle that privilege, I wonder?”

Kara shrugged.

“The boss is well connected,” Rol shrugged. “You have to be to make it in his field.”

“And what field is that?” Colnus ventured.

“Oh, you know,” Rol said with a wry smile. “Helping people.”

“Regardless of things like laws and common decency, I’m sure,” Colnus remarked dryly. The old man paused and shook his head. “I apologize. After spending a week with you and your crew, I have come to realize that not everyone was born fortunate enough to choose to live their lives with honour.”

Kara’s eyes widened in surprise. “How very open minded of you.”

The old man chuckled as he rubbed his neck. “Maybe it’s due to this mark…”

“Or maybe what happened at Port Daralin changed you,” Rol offered.

A dark look crossed Colnus’ face and Rol shrank back, breaking the balance in the basket and causing it to sway.

“I’m sorry!” the boy gasped as he struggled to adjust himself.

“No, don’t be,” Colnus said as he shifted himself ever so slightly, causing the swaying to stop. “Your assessment wasn’t wrong. I broke several oaths that night.”

“Necessary for the greater good,” Kara offered cautiously.

“Before the events of that night, I thought the greater good was no reason to break a holy oath,” Colnus said softly.

The old man had fallen into a pensive silence as the basket reached the top of the line. The crane was retracted into the side of the mountain, bringing the basket into a small storeroom. Half a dozen bald men who were stripped to the waist had collapsed around a large winch that powered the crane. Meanwhile, another bald man rushed over to the basket and opened the gate. He looked older than the others and wore an orange robe.

“Kara,” he beamed. “It’s a pleasure to see you.”

He looked at Rol and his demeanour turned icy. “Rol.”

“Dilwyn,” Rol’s greeting was equally cool.

The monk blinked when he saw Colnus. “Ah.”

“My father waiting for the abbot back in Goldleaf,” Kara said as she took her shoes off and placed them on a nearby rack. “This is…”

“Lord Colnus,” Dilwyn bowed so low that his torso was perpendicular to his legs. “I am Brother Dilwyn. It is my honour to welcome you to the Jerthan Monastery.”

Colnus nodded awkwardly. “Brother Dilwyn.”

The monk then whirled around and scowled at Rol. “I wish you had mentioned a lord of the Sentinel’s stature was coming. We are woefully unprepared for the arrival of such a distinguished guest.”

“But Kara was the one…” Rol began to protest.

“Lord Colnus, come with me, please,” Dilwyn said without waiting for Rol to finish. “I am sure you are very tired after your long journey. Brother Vinicus has been placed in charge in the abbot’s absence. You can speak with him while enjoying refreshments in the refectory.”

“No one likes a snitch, Rol,” Kara whispered with a grin before following Dilwyn up a steep flight of stairs.

“Did you see the fire in the woods last night, Lord Colnus?” Dilwyn asked as they climbed.

“We did,” Colnus said and gave the monk a brief summary of their ordeal.

Dilwyn’s eyes widened. “Why, two men claiming to be from town tried to talk their way up a few days ago, but we refused. They seemed very suspicious, and the abbot’s orders were quite clear. I shudder to think what would have happened if we let them in.”

“Do you have any way to signal the town?” Colnus asked. “We would like to warn our companions.”

“I’m afraid not, Lord Colnus,” Dilwyn replied. “We are quite isolated up here…”

“Has anything strange happened up here in the monastery lately?” Kara ventured.

The monk shook his head slowly. “I can’t say there has. We’ve heard strange sounds from the forest below, but no one has permission to go investigate. The abbot told us no one was to venture down into the forest until he returned.”

“Wise advice,” Colnus nodded. “How much food do you have?”

“Enough to last us through winter,” Dilwyn replied. “This monastery is mostly self-sufficient. There are fields on the opposite face of the mountain and streams for water.”

“An ideal place to secret away a Vessel,” Colwyn observed.

“That was the plan,” Dilwyn said. “We feared that men were divulging her location to the… Enemy, but it seems that was not the case.”

“That might not be true,” Colnus pointed out.

“You may be right,” Dilwyn conceded. “But each brother here was carefully vetted by the abbot before the Vessel was brought here.”

“And yet the Dark One has found her all the same,” Colnus remarked. “We need to discover how, or it will be futile however many times we move her.”

“We have eighteen years to figure this out,” Dilwyn said as they emerged from the stairs and into a kitchen.

Pots were bubbling, and a tantalizing aroma caused Rol’s stomach to rumble, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since the day before. He grabbed a loaf of freshly baked bread from a nearby table and winked at the stunned chef before taking a large mouthful.

“That’s for the Vessel!” a monk cried. He then noticed Colnus staring at him and blinked. “Who are you?”

“That man, he has a cloud around his head,” Colnus whispered. “Just like the two men we encountered down in the forest.”

Still clutching his bread in one hand, Rol drew his sword and charged after the man who yelped and bolted towards another flight of stairs.

“What’s going on?” Dilwyn demanded.

As Rol darted past, a monk who had been slaving over the bubbling pot stuck a leg out and tripped the boy, sending him crashing to the ground. Another two monks pounced on him and wrestled the sword out of his hands.

“After him!” Colnus roared, lending to the pandemonium. “He has been corrupted by the enemy!”

Dilwyn’s eyes widened. “Release him! Brother Parthis must be caught!”

The monks who had been grappling with Rol abruptly released him. The boy cursed as he scrambled to his feet and charged towards the stairs.

“What’s up these stairs?” Colnus demanded as he followed after Rol with his weapon in his hand.

“The Vessel’s quarters,” Dilwyn replied, ashen faced.