AA3 44 - Contact

Verdan managed to get through all of the Mhorgain thearns without too much issue. Several of the worst cases left in the same awed state as Benlen, but most of them needed less dramatic healing.

Sebastian had made all the notes he needed and had confirmed each one with the person in question, so everything was ready for when the healing process was complete. 

“So, I got a report from Padraig about earlier,” Sebastian said once the two of them were alone. “I want to be clear that personally, I approve of the Witches being present. I’ve heard enough about the Storm Witch and her actions against the Weeping Death to know how invaluable they are.”

Verdan inwardly frowned but simply nodded. He might not approve of the reasoning involved, but what mattered was that Sebastian was supporting them. “Thank you, it’s appreciated. Their presence gives us a good bit of magical strength now, hopefully enough that we can nullify what the Darjee have.”

“I hope so. They often cause terrible casualties when they appear.” Sebastian’s expression grew distant for a moment before he took a breath and focused back on Verdan. “What you’ve given us will help tremendously, but containing the Bonecallers would all but guarantee us victory.” 

“Between what I can do and the three Hex Witches we can draw on, we have the best chance possible.”

“Very well, I will leave it in your hands then. Jarn, Ciaran and I will back you with any issues stemming from the arrival of the Witches. Call on us if you need aid,” Sebastian said, rising to his feet and tucking away the notes he’d made. “I’m impressed by what you’ve done here today. Would you consider doing the same for those injured in the fighting, as well as veterans back in Glarn?”

“The injured, I will help as much as I can, but working on the freshly wounded is easier than what we’ve done here. That isn’t to say I’m not willing, but it will have to be secondary to my own priorities,” Verdan said, knowing full well that the Keeper would have him healing every injured veteran if he could.

Not that Verdan would oppose that. if anything, it was something to add to his list. No, his only concern was that he had his own priorities, and he was the only person furthering those, while there were other ways for the injured to be healed.

“I understand, and I will, of course, look for ways in which to compensate you for your time,” Sebastian said with a bland smile. “The resources of Clan Thrain are many and varied.”

“I won’t commit to anything now, but I will consider it.” Verdan returned Sebastian’s smile as the Keeper left the room.

Verdan lingered for a little while after Sebastian had left, ordering his thoughts and deciding what to do next. There was only so much he could do to prepare without either knowing more or committing to something large.

The tempation was there to make a trap similar to when he’d summoned that powerful storm, but then the problem came of making the Darjee trigger it. Sorcerers were blind to Aether for the most part, but that didn’t mean that these Bonecallers were.

All it would take was a single Darjee sensing the trap, and it would be a huge waste of Aether. Not to mention that it would likely alarm the Kranjir as well. 

It was one thing to know intellectually what a Wizard could do; it was another entirely to see it first-hand. If this healing had impressed Sebastian enough to try and tempt him to stay, seeing strategic magic in action might tempt him to try stronger tactics.

Shaking his head and casting aside his worries, Verdan got to his feet and went back to the kitchen where he’d been enchanting arrows. He’d already done more than he hoped would be needed, but he was nowhere near finishing as many as he feared they’d need.

-**-

The whole town had an expectant atmosphere as time marched on, with everyone finding what tasks they could to occupy themselves while they waited for the scouts to report in.

The plan had been for the scouts to return by noon the following day, but as the morning slowly went by and there was no sign of anyone, the air of expectant anticipation started to become strained.

It was mid-afternoon when a grim-faced pair of thearns arrived to ask Verdan to join the Keeper and the Chosen in a strategy meeting. They also specifically mentioned that he could bring anyone he wanted, which felt like an allowance from Sebastian to bring Gwen or the other Witches.

Regardless, Verdan felt that a statement was needed on that front, so he gathered Kai, Gwen, Hedda, and Dirk before heading over to the meeting. Benlen and Barb came as well but would be waiting outside for them rather than taking part in the meeting.

Neither of the thearns seemed phased by the Witches coming along, but Verdan recognised them from those that had come north from Hobson’s Point, so they had more exposure to the concept of Witches with control.

Verdan could only hope that the rest of the Kranjir grew as accustomed as they had.

“Any idea what this is about?” Gwen asked softly as they made their way through the town.

Verdan shook his head slightly, keeping his voice low as he gave his thoughts. “I imagine the scouts have made it back, but I wasn’t expecting another strategy meeting so soon. If it is the scouts that have prompted it, then hopefully, we’re about to hear something that the situation is much better than expected.”

“Or far worse,” Kai said, cutting the conversation short as they shared worried looks. The scouts’ delayed return made the second option seem more likely, and that had worrying implications.

-**-

The town hall was a hive of activity when they arrived, with thearns belonging to each of the Chosen lingering outside it, along with a good number of shieldguards.

Tension hung in the air like a heavy blanket, reflected in the faces of the waiting Kranjir. It was looking less and less likely that this would be a positive meeting.

Heading inside, Verdan found his way to the same room as before, where Padraig and a small cluster of grizzled Kranjir were guarding the door. From their dense caelin, Verdan imagined these were the other Blades, the unofficial leaders of the thearns for each Chosen.

“Wizard Blacke, please head in.” Padraig stepped forward and motioned Verdan onward with a respectful nod.

“I will wait here for you, Apprentice Wizard Svenstan,” Benlen announced, addressing Dirk with a title for the first time. 

Verdan wasn’t quite sure what the cultural implications of Benlen’s acknowledgement were, but from the shocked expressions of the other Kranjir, it was an important moment.

Deciding to question Barb on it later, Verdan pushed on into the meeting room with the others, leaving Barb and Benlen outside.

The layout of the room was much the same as before, only this time, a chair had been brought in for an injured scout, who looked like he’d been running all day.

“Excellent timing, Wizard Blacke,” Sebastian said as Verdan entered the room. “We’d just gotten everything ready. You may begin.” The last was directed to the scout, who began to recount his trip since leaving the town.

The account began simply enough, with him leaving Dunkirn as part of a group of four. As the best archer in his quartet, he’d been given some of the new piercing arrows, but otherwise, they all had the same equipment.

After leaving Dunkirn, they headed north toward a village that had been evacuated a few weeks prior. It was half a day away, so they had plenty of time to get there, search the area for signs of Darjee activity and get back.

“And what did you find?” Ciaran asked, prompting the scout after he had been silent for a few moments.

“It’s hard to believe, even now,” the scout said, shaking his head before looking up and meeting Ciaran’s eyes. “The Darjee have occupied the village and are keeping prisoners.”

“Impossible,” Osran snapped angrily, echoed by calls of disbelief and anger from the rest of the Chosen.

“Enough!” Sebastian’s voice cut through the chaos, and he gave Osran a warning look before turning back to the scout. “How certain are you of this?”

“Very,” the scout leaned forward and rubbed his face before looking up at the Keeper. “I wish I was wrong, but we saw them bring more in from further north and drop them off. A dozen men and women, every one of them injured in some way.”

Sebastian rocked back on his feet in thought, eventually nodding. “Very well, move on from that. What happened next?”

“We tried to come back, to report in on the village, but we were spotted by a patrol. We escaped it, but they sent something to hunt us. It killed the others, but I wounded it with one of the piercing arrows, and I ran while it recovered.”

“What did it look like?” Maeve asked before anyone else could speak up.

“I never saw it clearly; it was too dark by that point,” the scout said with a shake of his head. “It was tall, though, more than a Darjee. It walked on two legs but had four arms, each ending in claws the size of my hand.”

From the frowns the Chosen were sporting, none of them recognised the description, and it wasn’t one that Verdan was familiar with either. At least they knew that one of his arrows could do enough damage to give it pause.

“Thank you for your recounting. Go and rest, but keep your story to yourself, please. We’ll act soon, but we want to avoid any worry or panic,” Sebastian said to the scout as he led him from the room. Passing orders to those outside to see to the scout’s needs before closing the door once more.

“He’s lying,” Osran spoke up first, folding his muscular arms as he glared at Sebastian. “You coddled him when you should have pushed for the truth. The Darjee do not occupy, and they never take prisoners.”

“That isn’t true,” Verdan said, not even realising he was speaking up until the whole room had turned his way. “When I first encountered them, they had taken a number of Fwyn prisoners, as well as an Airta and an Idrisyr.”

“He’s right. We were both there,” Gwen said, speaking for both herself and Kai.

“That as may be, they still don’t occupy settlements,” Osran said, his brow furrowing as he regarded Verdan.

“Nothing about this attack has been how they normally do things,” Maeve said, moving over to stand with Verdan. “I, for one, will not let even the possibility of this being the truth go unanswered.”

Sebastian cleared his throat to draw their attention before nodding to Maeve. “Chosen Barkstar has a point. We need more information, and we need to act on the assumption that what we’ve been told is the truth. This could well be a trap, though, so any force we send must be capable of defending itself.”

“My thearns and I will be proud to represent the Clan in this manner,” Maeve said with a glint of anticipation in her eyes.

“Then Clan Menteith will also take part in this search,” Osran said, his tone making it clear that he expected the whole thing to be a waste. 

“This does feel like it could be a trap,” Verdan said slowly, mulling it over for another moment before nodding to himself. “If so, then I will go as well. They can not account for what they don’t know we have. If it isn’t a trap, then I will restrain myself.”

“I agree,” Sebastian said, putting an end to the matter as he clapped his hands together. “Organise yourselves and ride out with the dawn. Govannon guide you all.”