When he finally opened his eyes, Noah felt nauseous and disoriented. If he had the choice, he would never agree to soul-merge again. Ever! After the initial excruciating pain, he had yet to endure more than an hour of gut-wrapping, temple-splitting sensations. Still, the benefits of the hex were beyond any doubt. With Gregor’s guidance, he had established a deeper connection with the blue amulet lying in his feet.

Heart-link. That’s how the binshi called the bond between two twin-drops that made it possible for one half to sense the other. Right now, Noah could faintly feel a pulling sensation in his chest that, he knew, would grow stronger the closer he got to Lorelei. With the two amulets attracting each other and serving as a compass of sorts, they now had a real chance to find her.

Noah cracked his stiff neck. He was tempted to jump up immediately but decided it was wiser to remain sitting on the ground until his head stopped spinning. He threw Gregor a slightly worried glance, but the young binshi seemed fine, almost completely unfazed, compared to his lord. This brought the man relief but also a slight annoyance.

“Say, does it always hurt that much when you merge with your ancestral spirits?” grumbled Noah, moving a bit to loosen his stiff joints.

“Hell, no!” The other man shook his head with a dry laugh. “Merging with a dead spirit is always easier. But even then, we prefer to call them in a totem or an amulet instead of soul-merging. You know, ghosts like to snatch away bodies and such, so it is safer that way.”

“I see…”

“Still, this time it went better than expected.” The young knight gave his lord a sheepish smile in an attempt to cheer him up. “You did well for your first soul-merge. I have heard about cases of people crying for their mother and screaming their lungs out.”

“Trust me, I probably look better than I feel,” remarked Noah, and with that their attempt for cheerful small talk ended abruptly.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Gregor got up on his feet and held a hand in front of his master, who gladly accepted it. Noah steadied himself and hung the twin-drop around his neck. Gripping the pommel of his sword tightly, a resolute spark kindled in his eyes.

“Time to head out!” He could not hide the impatience in his words.

“Not so fast. You know very well that we are not ready yet.” Gregor cooled him down and turned to the twins who were patiently awaiting orders close by. “Rasha, how many elder potions did you bring? And do you have the scryer-balm?”

“I have around twelve potions. The balm is also prepared,” answered the woman curtly.

She went to one of the bags nearby and pulled out a leather roll-up case and a small jar. Noah observed his friend as the knight received the items and placed the case on one of the cots rolling it open. In each of its slots was tucked a tightly corked cylindrical vial containing some dark-red liquid. At first glance, it almost looked like blood.

Gregor quickly took out four of the cylinders and gave one to Noah and the two women.

“Bottoms up. The protective effects should last about five hours. Make sure each person that is coming with us has drunk a dose.”

With that said, he unplugged his vial and downed the liquid.

Noah quickly followed suit. As the potion burned its way down his throat, he could taste the distinct flavor of elderberries and wormwood. He tensed but it was not from the spicy bitterness. Rather, it was the flashbacks that came with it. Taking the last sip, Noah threw the vial on the ground, shattering it in pieces. He brushed the blood-like trail left by the potion from the corner of his mouth, his fingers involuntarily touching the burnt mark sprawling over his cheek. Noah gritted his teeth as the memories flooded in.

To him, the taste of elderberry and wormwood was synonymous with pain and loss. The first time he drank this potion was seven years ago. Back then he had just lost two of the most important people in his life and had to become a little girl’s father – a task that had seemed more impossible than storming a mountain castle. The last time he had to take it was six years ago. Yet again, the Red hands had tried to rob him of something precious, but he had made sure they would fail. The price had been his face. At the very least, he had managed to keep his daughter safe.

And now, history was about to repeat itself! The Cult of Pure Blood had dared to lay hand on something of his yet again! The potion’s bitter aftertaste lingered on the tip of Noah’s tongue. Elderberry and wormwood, loss and gain. But not this time! This time he was not going to let those bastards win! He had been keeping his beast in check for far too long. Today he was going to set it loose again.

To the side, Gregor pressed his lips tightly and his gem-like eyes flared with silver light. The young binshi could very well imagine what was going on in his friend’s heart. For the past fourteen years he had been by his lord’s side through thick and thin; through every battle, victory, and loss. The memories from seven years ago still kept him awake some nights. He could never forget it. Not the carnage. Not the screams. Not even the nauseating smell of burning flesh. He couldn’t forget the face of his lord – soulless, covered in dust and blood, with tear-trails crawling over his dirty cheeks. For days he had gone in something like a trance – swinging his sword and cutting down enemies without saying a word, to the point where sir Duncan had even feared that their lord had become mute.

Engulfed by the resurrected memory, Gregor squeezed the balm jar so tightly that it gave out a slight cracking noise. This time he would not allow history to repeat itself. The helpless youth from back then was no more. Today he could help his master… his friend, instead of just watching him fight alone from the side.

The knight stepped forward and dipped his thumb into the balm, carefully spreading a bit over Noah’s eyelids. His calm words betrayed nothing of his anxiousness and anger.

“This will make you see some outlines and the rough shapes of the spirits but that’s all. It can’t compare to a binshi’s sight and will only last a couple of hours.”

“I know very well how the scryer-balm works, Gerash. It’s not my first time using it.” Noah sounded a bit annoyed. However, the following response made him rethink his words.

“And that’s the reason why you are ready to jump heads first in this battle against creatures you barely see?” The blue eyes of his former page squinted. “Have a bit more trust in your Shadows, lord Norden. Our purpose is to be your eyes and ears where your own can’t reach.”

Noah felt ashamed. Right now, he was indeed behaving irrationally and knew very well why, even though he still didn’t want to admit it. He chastised himself for his impatience This was not the time to act rashly. Not if he wanted the mission to succeed.

The balm stung his eyes a bit, so he blinked a couple of times to hide his embarrassment and to adjust to his newly acquired sense. The world still looked mostly the same. The only bigger change was the slight silver aura shimmering around Gregor’s body that was obviously absent around Rish and Rasha.

This was no joking matter!

“Gerash, your spirit is unstable!”

“Well, I just performed soul-merge with a certain someone.” Gregor chuckled and waved his hand, dismissing Noah’s fears. “Give me five minutes and it’ll be all gone.”

“You performed a searching hex, fought with a shaman in the Spirit Plane, made tracking talismans, and did a soul-merge with a limerian in just a day.” His friend lifted an eyebrow still not fully convinced. “Maybe it would be better if you remain here?”

“This won’t affect the mission in any way.” Gregor tightened his sword-belt and threw a leather stripe with several leaf-shaped knives attached to it over his shoulder. “Besides, if we meet a dral you will need me to subdue it. So that’s that.”

Faced with such stubbornness on top of irrefutable logic, Noah could only sigh and lead his small party outside. Right beside the tent, he saw a familiar face. An old knight was discussing something in a low voice with sir Lucas and sir Aiden with an especially grim expression.

“Duncan! I thought you went back to Ildemar with the rest of the men!” Noah was a little surprised. After rowing like crazy for hours, his people and the ship’s crew looked more dead than alive when they reached the harbor.

In response to his questioning look, Duncan only snorted.

“I ordered the boys to get some rest and followed you here as soon as I could. Honestly, these days the lads are becoming softer than women! I have to re-train them in due time, otherwise they’ll be the laughing stock of Norden.”

Looking at his mentor’s bulging muscles that could be clearly discerned even under the garments, Noah could only sigh. People who were able to row for hours without rest were considered weaklings!? His poor soldiers were soon going to face a very familiar type of hell. Noah knew that from personal experience.

“I have heard everything from these two.” Duncan suddenly changed the topic and with that his previously cheerful tone switched to a thunderous rumble. “Do we have any new leads about the lady’s whereabouts?”

“Thanks to Gregor I will now be able to roughly sense her location,” nodded Noah and turned to the three binshi. “Give Duncan a potion and some scryer-balm. Same for Aiden and Lucas. And then find me five more knights that have experience in fighting summons. If there are currently any of the Shadows still in the camp take them instead.”

“So, you are letting me tag along?” Duncan’s teeth flashed in a devilish grin as he grabbed a vial from Rasha’s hands. “Smart decision, my lord.”

“You’d come anyway, so I want to have you where I can see you, you stubborn old man.”

“You know what they say, my lord. Like master, like servant.” Duncan shrugged and downed the potion. His face stiffened for a moment and then shriveled in a disgusted grimace. “By the heavens! I’ll never get used to the taste!”

He coughed and turned to Gregor.

“Now, lad, what are we facing? Wandering ghosts? Anchored souls? A wraith summons?”

“A dral,” answered the binshi.

“A what?!”

“Very evil, big teeth, foul stench, poisons you with a single touch.”

“Bunnies…” mumbled Duncan suddenly and spat on the ground to everyone’s surprise.

“P-pardon?” Even Gregor was taken aback.

“Why can’t you damn shamans for once summon something that is not a flesh-rotting nightmare?! I would have nothing against fighting a horde of bunnies for a change. Besides, bunnies are creepy enough with them piercing red eyes…”

After a few seconds of confused silence, everyone burst into laughter. The tension from the looming fight washed away and the small group prepared to head out.

Jumping in his saddle, Noah clutched the reins. He had to subdue the urge to ride off until the whole party assembled. Sensing his master’s impatience, the horse danced a bit underneath him before calming down.

Gregor and Duncan flanked their lord, both of them mounted on their war-steeds.

“Whereto, Noah?” The old knight adjusted his weight in the saddle.

“I believe the most likely direction would be the Binshi Lands to the north,” pondered Gregor and patted his horse on the neck. “It would be the best option for the Red Hands to disappear into the wilderness and avoid our patrols.”

“Yes… and no.” Noah closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sensation coming from the twin-drop penetrate his mind. “That’s surprising! I can feel her to the north-east and rather close…”

“Damn it!” Gregor drew some air through his teeth and cursed quietly. “Don’t tell me that Will was right and they are hiding somewhere in the city?”

Noah remained silent. He squinted his eyes as his lips thinned into a line. The enemy had infiltrated his city, and dared to kidnap his people! The sword on his hip quaked slightly as if sensing his emotions. The Red Hands would pay for their crimes.

It was time for blood!