It was easy to tell which of the soldiers were fresh recruits, simply because they didn’t immediately salute her as she passed, needing a nudge from their colleagues first. She recognised a good number of the soldiers, and most of the officers, having to resist the urge to chat and catch up with them. The news of her arrival her certainly spread fast, with everyone suddenly cleaning their barracks, armour getting polished, some not-particularly-impressive attempts at faking interest in sword drill going on. There were even a few people in dress uniform, the blues looking far too bright and out of place compared to the battered and well-worn armour and uniforms of everyone else.

The castle was old and had definitely seen better days, but seemed pretty sturdy still. It was only a central keep, some attached buildings and a single outer wall, some tents in the courtyard for soldiers that couldn’t squeeze into the buildings. The central keep was in the best repair and looked sturdy enough to endure attack, but was showing signs of it’s long abandonment and lack of maintenance. There had been recent work at cleaning the ivy and moss away, the stones clean where it had been scraped away, the worst of the holes patched up. She walked up a narrow spiral staircase, emerging onto the roof. The winged sword of the Iristari snapped and flapped above her in a slightly chill breeze, but it was obvious why the place had been built here – it was on a rise, with a commanding view over an elven road, controlling the valley it was in.

There were a few tattered ruins outside the walls, too small to use for anything other than a source of pre-cut stone, and it looked as though that was being done, stacks of ancient bricks in neat piles. The road cut between the surrounding valleys, straight as an arrow, ancient magic keeping the surface clear, even though the land around it was cracked and had fallen away, resulting in a raised strip of land through the valley. The only other buildings she could see were some ruins higher up, above the snowline, clearly artificial shapes beneath the white fuzz.

An undead horde? Hopefully just a few necromancers dicking around in the wilderness, hoping to conquer some villages, and unprepared for trained resistance. Of course, even if that was true, then hundreds of zombies would be troublesome to deal with, and the summoners would probably stay at a safe distance, meaning the horde would need dealing with first. And where the bodies had come from was a worrying question – there were hunters and trappers up here, a few villages, but nothing capable of supplying that many bodies.

‘A seeing-glass, High Colonel Stathis?’ One of the soldiers on the roof had managed to summon up the courage to speak to her, after some awkwardly whispered conversation to his partner.

‘Thanks. Guessing you’ve not seen anything yet?’

‘Undead? Only a few skeletons and zombies so far, easy enough to deal with. But marked with symbols, so it looks like someone’s making them by the batch, rather than something natural. There’s flying monsters of some kind around that peak as well, every morning.’ He pointed at a mountain, covered with ancient ruins. ‘Too small to be dragons, praise the gods, but might be wyverns, drakes or something else. There’s strange lights at night as well – we’ve not had the time or men to send anyone up to check, but my money’s on elven ghosts.’

Stathis nodded. ‘Seems likely. That or old spells flaring off. But nothing down here?’

‘Some plant monster had taken up in the basement of one of the ruins. Damn near took Trevik’s leg off, but we dragged her out and then lobbed fire in there. Once it died down, we made sure it was destroyed, burnt down to earth and ash.’

‘Good job. Nothing else?’

‘Some odd howling at night, but it sounds like wolves, fairly normal. Oh, and scouts have reported harpy nests several valleys over, but it’s their breeding season, so they’re staying quiet for now. We’ll have to clear them out in a few months. Assuming we get through this.’

‘It’ll be fine. Just an undead horde, right? How bad can it be?’

He smiled, although didn’t look very relieved. ‘Heard you killed a dragon when you were just a kid, guess this is normal for you?’ He looked around nervously, as though checking for eavesdroppers. ‘So when are the reinforcements coming, High Colonel Iristari?’

Stathis winced. ‘It was a wyvern, and just a baby one. And I wouldn’t say “normal”. I’m hoping it’s just a few necromancers that need dealing with. I’m not a High Colonel, I’m here as support from the Knights of the Sun. So just “Stathis” is fine.’ She looked through the eyeglass again, seeing if there was anything else to see. ‘I heard the 42nd is expected?’

‘Yes, ma’am. Dispatched, but held up on the road. We could do with the scouts, truth be told. It’s like being blind. There’s a squad at the pass.’ He pointed at the entrance to the valley, where a raised wooden platform had been erected. ‘But the damn thing snakes like a whore’s tongue, so can’t see anything until it’s on top of you. Uh, pardon my language, ma’am.’

‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve heard worse. I’ve got an elven scout, she should pick up if there’s anything around. How were they spotted?’

‘Ninkai of the 8th went off on his own. Shouldn’t have, but said he’d seen some treasure up in the ruins. We thought he’d gone died in some ruins, but he found some old tunnels and went exploring. There’s a bounty on elven gold, so can be worth having a dig, if the officers don’t notice. He went through and says he saw an entire army of the dead. Hundreds of them, filling the pass. He bolted, but something followed him back. Managed to drag himself back, but whatever it was chewed him up pretty bad, he’s got blackrot all over him. Surprised he’s held out this long, but Jamara’s been keeping him together, just about. Since then, we’ve been seeing small groups of the things, but we don’t have the numbers to scout in force, and small groups will probably get ambushed. They’re starting to gather up, or that’s what scuttlebutt says.’

‘Jamara, that would be Cleric of the Iron Shield Jamara Nirenda? I’ll go and check with her, I might be able to help. How large are the groups?’

‘Typically small, but specialist Kelnara did his stuff, found there was something blocking his spells, so we’ve not got much else to rely on other than eyeballs. When he found out that we couldn’t call for help, he got the other chantlings to help, guess he managed to punch through. Wasn’t expecting someone like you to come though, thought we’d get some knights.’

‘I am a knight! But it was rather unexpected for me as well. We’ll get through it, don’t worry. Time for everyone to earn the black, I guess.’

‘Hah, that’d be a nice boost to my pension! Think this’ll be enough?’

‘Four troops against an undead horde? Yeah, I’d say that counts. People have got it for less.’ She twisted the eyeglass, managing to bring it into focus. Yes, there had definitely been movement in the clouds around the mountains, something flying amongst the haze, size hard to judge. Hopefully not a dragon, although if it was, maybe it could be talked to and bargained with? Although whites were most common in snowy, cold places, and they were meant to be very territorial and greedy.

‘Have you got everything you need? Swords, armour, arrows?’

‘Yeah, we got fresh-forged gear before setting out. Advantages of being furthest from home, I guess – going to be the longest until we get it replaced, so we get the newest to start with. If we make it that long, at least.’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll make it through.’ She looked at the sides of the pass – they seemed climbable, at least for Semari, so maybe she could hide up there, then drop down on the necromancers and attack them without having to wade through all of the undead first. Parth could use her bow to full advantage as well, hide in cover and try and take out some of the commanders. That would even the odds somewhat. ‘Which way’s the infirmary? I need to talk to Ninkai.’ She was given directions, then passed the eyeglass back.

She headed back downstairs, following the directions, coming to a room that had been wiped stringently clean, every trace of moss scraped of, the walls whitewashed. One of the beds was occupied, a young man sweating and feverish, half his body covered in mottled black bruises, the sickly-sweet smell of rot heavy in the air. The attendant, a stocky young woman wearing chain despite being in the infirmary, looked up from preparing a herbal poultice. Recognition came over her face as she looked at Stathis, easing her neck.

‘Rumours are true then? Thought it must be a confusion, but it’s you.’

‘Yeah. I didn’t entirely plan for this to happen.’

‘So, pretty standard for you, then? You going to pull a miracle out of your hat for Ninkai? I’m doing all I can, but he’s pretty far gone – it’s not far off his heart and guts, and then it’s a slow and painful death, be a mercy to…’ She flicked a finger over her throat.

‘I’m going to try, at least.’ She sighed, then asked the question. ‘How’s Pajaran?’

‘Bloody cold, most likely. No-one can get that stuff un-frozen, I’m told she’s alive in there. If you can call being frozen solid “alive”. Found anything that can get her out?’ Her tone was very carefully neutral, somehow worse than active hostility would be.

‘Not yet, I’m afraid. Although I know someone that might be able to help, at least when he’s awake. But nothing definite. Is she doing OK?’

‘She’s frozen solid in bloody ice! She’s not moved or changed since she was bought back. The ice is slowly growing, and fire magic does nothing to get through.’

‘I’m sorry. I’m going to find a way to get her out, I swear.’

‘So you say. But deeds would be better than words. Shouldn’t you be helping to run everything to avoid things like this happening, rather than showing up to stab some monsters?’

Stathis didn’t answer the question, instead going to the infected Ninkai. He was in bad shape, laying in a puddle of black-tinted sweat, his flesh waxy and shiny where it wasn’t mottled black-green. She softly touched his forehead, golden light flaring out, the scent of rot momentarily vanishing. He groaned, eyelids fluttering, and she focused, feeling the light within her diminish as she manifested her power, warm sunlight illuminating the room. The rot started to fade, normal flesh tones appearing from beneath. He stirred, shaking in his slumber, shifting towards consciousness as the effects of the disease faded.

Stathis stepped away, feeling suddenly cold and drained. ‘That should help.’

Jamara checked him over until she was satisfied, rolling him over to check him all over, feeling his skin, checking where the mottling had been. ‘Damn, that’s a useful trick. Anything you can teach?’

‘Sorry, it’s innate. But if anyone else gets infected, I’ll do what I can to patch them up.’ She looked around, taking in the neatly-labelled bottles, the pots of herbs and pre-made poultices, stacks of vials of holy water. Ninkai gasped, dragging himself into consciousness, one eye still solid black.

‘Undead! Thousands of them! We have to prepare the camp!’

Stathis held his shoulders down, Jamara taking his legs, stopping him injuring himself. She tried to sooth him, speaking in soft tones. ‘Calm down, you’re safe. Tell us what you saw, and I’ll tell Herith.’

His one working eyes managed to focus, relaxing slightly when he saw Jamara. ‘An angel!’

She sighed. ‘Just because that line worked once, you don’t need to use it every time damn you wake up in the infirmary.’

He shivered, as she pulled the blanket around him. ‘It’s a damn good line. Almost worked once as well. Shit.’ He groaned in pain. ‘Something got me good. Shit.’ He looked past Jamara, seeing Stathis, eye going wide. ‘Holy shit! Uh, pardon my language, ma’am.’

‘Don’t worry about it. What happened, what did you see? And don’t try to salute or anything stupid.’

He managed to pull himself up in the bed. ‘I find an old passageway, sealed shut. Standard elven stuff, so I was able to open it up. Was hoping for some treasure, you know the drill.’

Stathis gestured at him to continue.

‘There’s tunnels down there, properly-made ones, wide as a road. Guess the elves didn’t like the weather up here, so dug in? Walls still looked painted and stuff, don’t think anyone had been done there since whenever the elves left. Nice and warm too, and some lights. Went exploring, heard sounds. There was a large chamber, filled with statues, and there were wizards in there. Undead, a huge number of them, wizards summoning them up and binding them.’

He was staring into space, lost in the memory. ‘I fled, but something must have seen me. It came through the wall, grabbed at me. I managed to run, somehow lost the thing in the tunnels. After that, I don’t remember. Guess the other soldiers must have found me, and dragged me back.’

He sank back down, clearly drained, Jamara soothing him, as he fell into a stupor, before she looked at Stathis. ‘Everything you need, High Colonel Stathis.’ She gave a salute so precise it was practically an insult.

‘That’s “Knight Stathis”. I’m not here as an Iristari, just as a Knight of the Sun. Nothing special.’

‘You teleported here, walk in and heal blackrot, and you say “nothing special”? This castle is yours already, or will be one day.’ Jamara’s look was hard to read – not dislike or hatred, but certainly negative, and looking like there was more she wanted to say. ‘Showing up to beat back an undead horde, just in the nick of time? Bullshit that’s a coincidence. Not that I think you would tell me, but something else is going on. I sincerely hope there’s reinforcements coming – if half of what Ninkai has been mumbling is true, then there’s thousands of the things coming for us, and worse than zombies along with them. I’ve made a load of holy water, but if something starts coming through the walls, we’re screwed.’

‘I’m here just as a knight – no more, no less. I’ve not even seen Carissia for months now, and Mother for even longer. I have no idea what’s going on, I just heard that somewhere needed help, and no-one else was close enough to do it. So here I am. No tricks, no politics, I’m just here to deal with a problem.’ Jamara didn’t look particularly believing but kept tending to her patient. ‘I’m sorry for what happened to Pajaran, and if we could swap places, I would. I didn’t know it would end like that, and I truly wish it hadn’t.’

‘But it wouldn’t happen to you, would it?’ Her tone was conversational, despite her barbed words. ‘You’re the golden child, blessed and protected. But she was just a kid from the rough end of town, scraped for years to get her holy symbol and armour. And her first time out in the world, she’s frozen in ice. For ever, or until a god or something else feels like freeing her!’

‘I will get her out. I promise.’ Stathis sighed. ‘It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right, or just, or anything more than a stupid mistake. But I will do everything I can to get her out.’

Jamara’s look was still hostile, but she let Ninkai settle into place. ‘See that you do, High Colonel Stathis. I’m sure one of your rank and position wouldn’t want a lowly cleric of the Iron Shield on their conscience.’

‘She was a friend, not someone I ordered to do it! Just let me know when Ninkai’s recovered, OK, and if he says anything else useful?’ Stathis retreated before things could get any more awkward, continuing her exploration of the castle, assessing its defences.

As she walked, she tried extending her senses, but all she could detect was the usual blistering ice-storm of Janaxia, no trace of anything else. Hopefully that meant these were just normal necromancers, and not some remnant of the Black Triad or some other ancient danger. Why the elves couldn’t have dealt with it at the time? Well, OK, the bulk of the population had been slain and they’d had to retreat to what strongholds had been left, but they’d had centuries to try and tidy up the problems they’d left behind.

She kept patrolling, finding the place in generally good standing, at least given the raw materials. The soldiers seemed to be in decent morale, although that could be faking for her benefit, their gear was in decent order, and the place had been patched as much as possible, but it wasn’t a good matchup. Swords and bows were of limited use, just splatting against meat. Explosives or blasts were the way to go, but that took powerful wizards – Janaxia and Hakara would do what they could, but whether that would be enough remained to be seen. Wherever Semari was, she hadn’t caused any problems yet, and Janaxia had managed to avoid seducing anyone just yet, so this might turn out to be fairly mundane.