XX

“Four dead,” Sir Wynet sighed. “I heavy price.”

Sorika glanced down at the bodies. “Yes,” Sorika said in agreement. The five men had been two pole arm wielders, a crossbowman and the scout. But the trade was a good one—especially since they had killed a magicker.

“At least these adventurers won’t be about the kingdom murdering and searching for loot,” Andaloo said as he pushed back a long lock of his golden hair.

Mai nodded. “You fought well. I saw you. You wield your spells well.”

“I could barely see my own magic,” he said. “How could you see?”

Mai smiled. “I am a mage, I know magic—feel it in the air.”

“Mm,” he noised. “Thank you. But unfortunately I wasn’t good enough.” He looked at the bodies.

“If that is the truth,” Mai said, “then I and even the rest of us are at blame.”

“It’s battle,” Sir Wynet said. “People die. It’s to be expected—especially of knights.”

Sorika nodded.

“Now,” Wynet said. “We can take the extra horses and use them to carry our dead from here. We need to meet up with Sir Wexel and then with your other friends.”

Sorika nodded.

“What about the other bodies?” Mai asked.

Sir Wynet glanced at them.

There were nine in total, including the enemy mage that had nearly killed Sorika, but fortunately her party had managed to cut him down first. She had provided a distraction, though not intentionally.

“We burn them,” Sorika said.

“What?” Mai asked. “Really?”

“Yes,” she said. “And we leave ample evidence of their defeat—belongings, and anything else that might assist.”

“She’s right,” Sir Wynet said. “We want the cultists to know their agents and mercenaries in the Blue Kingdom are being pushed if we are to draw them into a confrontation.”

Andaloo nodded absently. “We are doing a fine job,” he said. “I only fear our work isn’t fast enough.”

“You may be right,” Wynet said. “We do what we can. Once we meet up with Lord Yoreno and the others, we can press on for bigger fish.”

Something scurried on the ridge above them. Sorika glanced up and found Liora looking down on them. “The rest are fled,” she said. The other crossbowman who hadn’t perished in the fighting came up beside her, his weapon in hand.

“We managed to kill one more skulking about,” he said.

“Come down,” Sorika ordered. “We are almost ready to go.”