Surrounded by a mass of exposed graves, a pale woman swam in the moonlight. Her crimson hooped skirt and black bodice was a strange mixture of elegance contrasting with the abandoned graveyard. Her bored crimson eyes drifted listlessly across the graveyard, as her hand rested on her sheathed rapier.

"She's been here, hasn't she?" The woman asked.

"Yes, my lady." A woman dressed in sheer black mourning clothes responded. Her voice, a cutting whisper, carried through the still night. The cloudless skies above twinkled with an endless expanse of bright stars. Looking upwards, the crimson dressed woman closed her eyes in concentration. Her majestic ruby necklace, glittered within the pale light.

"It stinks of dark magic, the necromancer has been busy. But there's something else. Something strange was here. I cannot place it."

"Lady Lilly, can you not sense it?" The veiled woman asked. Behind the two, near the tree line, a windowless carriage sat waiting. Six, winged skeletal steeds stood like statues waiting to take to the skies.

"Hannah, what is it? Tell me." Lilly commanded.

"The goddess's magic has been here. She has sent a champion. Just like our seer has predicted." Hannah said.

"Has that deranged necromancer gotten to them first?" Lilly asked.

"It is doubtful, there is no sign of conflict. The necromancer most likely stopped here to collect corpses, and did not engage the champion directly." Lilly remained silent, as her eyes glanced over the glade.

"Do we know anything about this champion?"

"Very little. Shall I recite the lich's words?" The veiled woman asked.

"Do."

"A stranger walks among them. Weak as the mouse, blessed though they be. The goddess' magic does not flow within." Lilly harrumphed. "That was most unlady-like. Your mother hates it when you do that."

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"Why summon a new champion but not bestow them a gift. It makes little sense. Why summon them in the middle of nowhere? Is she expecting them to die immediately?"

"Possibly. Freyes is not known for her benevolence. Her followers must struggle, and survive. Those that fail were not worthy of her attention."

"Very clinical." Lilly observed grumpily.

"Do not fret, they are weak, we shall kill them and be back within the Erwenhest estate shortly." Lilly scowled. "Your mother must be worried about you."

"I will be fine. She worries regardless."

"It was not necessary for you to come here. Gris could handle this champion with ease if they posed a threat."

"If they could ever agree on anything. Which way did they go?" Lilly asked. "I will kill them quickly, and return triumphant."

"I shall find out shortly, my lady."

With her hands clasped before her. The woman in mourning clothes walked throughout the graveyard. Her veiled face watched the ground as she walked serenely through the exhumed dead. Lilly ambled aimlessly throughout the graveyard. Her crimson eyes wandered over the weathered tombstones with boredom. Winged buzzing reached her ears, as she caught sight of a large wasp. The wasp was moving towards her. Its compound eyes fixated on the noble woman. Her sheathed sword swam outwards slicing the offending insect in half. Its split bodies hit the ground with a barely perceptible plop, as she re-sheathed her rapier.

"Lady Lilly. I have spotted tracks." Hannah called out from the tree line.

"Good. Which way?" Lilly asked striding through the graveyard confidently. Her black heels sunk slightly into the soft ground.

"North. The strides indicate they were in a hurry." Hannah answered.

"Are they trying to contact the elves? Perhaps they already know they are pursued?" Lilly asked.

"Most likely."

"We will investigate the border towns. They will need to stop for supplies before pushing into their domain proper."

"A wise observation." The veiled assented. Lilly moved towards the carriage.

"Come, Hannah." She said while looking back. The veiled woman instantly appeared next to the carriage. An inky black darkness radiated from her body. Hannah opened the thick carriage doors, extending out a set of bronze carriage steps. Offering her hand to the other, Lilly confidently strode inside. The velvet interior was filled with strapped bottles. Within the center, a majestic coffin sat nailed to the floor. Opening the coffin, Lilly laid down within the plush interior. Hannah, with a tendril of dark magic, closed it.

After locking the carriage doors, Hannah took her place on the box seat. Grabbing the reins, she directed the skeletal horses to the sky. Thick leather wings flapped as the carriage gained height. The carriage sailed through the night in direct defiance of gravity.