Stathis shivered, feeling a sudden chill overcome her, shifting uncomfortably in her armour, her limbs stiff and weary. The fire had died down to a low glow, but the room had been warmed now, both from the fire and their bodies. Janaxia was drawn up beneath her own cloak, Sen just as bundled up, Skotadi nowhere to be seen. She had probably faded into the shadows again, hidden away somewhere close by. Janaxia stirred, her green eyes catching the light as she managed a half-doze.

A hand, pale and silvery, appeared, coming up from the floor, swiftly followed by an arm, and a head. Stathis stood up and drew her sword, Janaxia’s hands emerging from beneath her cloak, broiling with darkness.

The spectral shape hovered there – it was a person, but formed of pale grey light, the details vague and blurry, but it looked like a middle-aged man, dressed in plain clothing, but torn and ripped as if from violence, with ugly rents, wounds visible beneath. His eyes were dark and empty, staring into nothingness, but his head slowly turned from side to side as though seeking something. He stared towards Janaxia, his mouth flapping several times before a sound emerged.

It was a man’s voice, but it was distant and quiet, the words fading away and blurring into each other.

‘You have been called, little sister. You are commanded to attend the Grand Magus.’

Janaxia narrowed her eyes, looking somewhat bleary-eyed still. ‘Guh? Bhassup?’

A spectral hand reached out towards Janaxia before Stathis could move to stop it, passing through her cloak. She arched her entire body as it touched her, shivering in a chill.

The figure spoke again, louder and more slowly this time, as though to a young child. ‘You have been summoned! Attend your betters, or suffer the consequences.’

Janaxia sat up, makeup forming on her face, her cloak rippling as clothing rearranged itself out of sight, her eyes still glassy with sleep. ‘Perasperan. What an… unexpected event.’ Her neckline plunged upwards into sight, dull and dark fabric appearing.

‘You have an annoying tendency to move.’ The ghost’s expression didn’t change from the pained look, but the voice sounded annoyed. ‘Fortunately, you are close by – I am a day to the north. I assume you can manage that much without dying?’

Janaxia put on her best “affronted” look, managing the trick of looking down her nose at something standing above her. ‘I can manage. Now, some more precise directions would be appreciated, as the area is rather desolate.’

‘The main road should be obvious, even to you. Then travel towards the monolith on top of the hill. That should be sufficient even for your limited capabilities. Grand Magus Poratia will also want to know what you’ve been doing, and how you ended up here. This is a long way from Belazaan.’

Janaxia tilted her head and gave what was probably intended to be an enigmatic smile. ‘You need not concern yourself with such things, Perasperan. Events have come to pass, but that is nothing I need to explain.’ It might have been more convincing if her foot wasn’t obviously twitching against the cloak, making it twitch and deform. ‘I will travel along the main road then, once I have finished my dealings here. I trust that you have eliminated any dangers?’

‘This is scarcely a place for fancy dresses and fripperies! I have eliminated most, but there are wolves and trolls, not worth my time to destroy. Should you die on the road, then you will not be the first lost while travelling.’

‘Then I shall travel carefully. Now, unless there is anything else, I have business to be about.’ Janaxia stared at the ghost, its expression suddenly changing and becoming more animated, filled with intensely-focused pain and suffering. Then it faded away into nothingness, the spectral image vanishing. Once it had gone, Janaxia sighed, her makeup fading for a moment before she saw Stathis and it surged back, along with a pale flush.

‘What was that?’

‘Oh, Perasperan. Quite what he is doing here, or even where here is, I am still somewhat uncertain of. I imagine sent on some task up here.’ A hand emerged from beneath the cloak, feeling the air, and then withdrew. ‘The spectral messenger, you mean? Rather crass, but a way of binding a soul to a task. Perasperan likes to keep a number of them on hand, for any eventualities he may encounter.’

‘Right. So he’s probably in charge of the zombie army that attacked this place?’

‘That would seem likely, yes.’

‘OK. He’s your brother, right - one of the powerful ones? Do you think we can deal with him?’

Janaxia looked away, looking suddenly queasy. ‘He is a powerful spellcaster, yes. And invariably with his bound spirits, as well as whatever other servants he may have acquired. Fighting him is likely… unwise.’ She burrowed deeper into her cloak.

Skotadi suddenly appeared, stepping out of a shadowy corner, her thick bundles of clothing now dissipated away to her ragged dress. ‘If he stands in your way, he should be destroyed! Left as nothing but dust and ashes.’ She grinned, showing her fangs.

‘How’s he going to react to me? I can’t imagine that ending well.’

Hmm, that may be somewhat problematic, yes.

Stathis rolled her eyes as Janaxia reverted to her telepathic voice. ‘Well, I’ve not got any heraldry on, so I suppose I can be a knight of fortune you’ve hired? Any idea what he might be doing up here?’

I would imagine sent on some mission of Mother’s. To acquire ancient artefacts or some-such would be my first guess.

‘So how are you going to explain yourself, and what are we going to do about him?’

Skotadi hissed, her hair rippling. ‘Those that oppose you shall die!’ Janaxia reached out and patted her on the head, somewhat absent-mindedly.

That would be pleasant but may be somewhat hard to achieve. He is a potent wizard in his own right and has sufficient knowledge of combat that I doubt he would be an easy mark. Perhaps if we were to poison him? Although he is likely protected against such things. Or perhaps I can distract him and you cut him down from behind. That seems safest.

‘I’m not stabbing your brother in the back! Even if it might be easier. Any idea what he’s doing here?’

Probably after some magical artefact or similar. Mother does seem rather intent on collecting a number of them, for some purpose or other.

‘Maybe you should find out what’s going on? She’s clearly doing something big, and I’d rather not find out first-hand. Especially as she has it in for me personally!’

Yes, she did praise me for killing you. Janaxia actually looked proud until she caught Stathis’ expression and made herself look serious. Which was deeply unfortunate, and I hope won’t happen again.

‘Yeah, tell me about it - dying sucks, I wouldn’t recommend it. Sen, you OK?’

At some point, Sen had woken up, staying warm and bundled up.

‘It is colder here than I am accustomed to, Lady Stathis.’

‘I guess you take after snakes? Well, stay bundled up, and make sure to get some good shoes. Both of you can summon up horses, so we can ride doubled up. Skotadi, you mind riding with Sen?’

‘She is of lowly birth, and untutored in magical arts!’ Skotadi seethed again, hair rippling in indignation.

‘Yeah, but it’ll be quicker than walking. And the two of you can huddle together for warmth.’

‘I do not need warmth, I am a being of utmost power! The world itself shall bend itself to my will. But I am generous to my servants, and will deign to share my steed with her.’

Janaxia nodded. Very good, Skotadi. You should show benevolence to your followers, to help ensure their loyalty. And the wind is very bitter. Stathis, I do hope you will shield me from the wind?

‘You can just summon a thicker cloak; I’m going to need warmth more than you. Once armour gets cold, it stays that way, it can get bloody freezing! We should get some food and I’ll try and make this armour look a little less shiny.’

Perhaps you could be my enchanted servant? Fallen prey to my sorcery, dependent on me for every action? Janaxia’s tone was wistful, a dreamy smile on her face.

‘How about we just go for me being a hireling? A lot easier, and it doesn’t involve you pretending to have magical abilities you absolutely don’t have. Except for that iron crown thing, which is sort of worse than most regular enchantment magic, and a lot more obvious. Just pretend that I’m a disgraced knight.’

Not much of a pretence, then. A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips as she stared imperiously at Stathis.

‘There’s no need to be rude! Anyway, let’s get moving. There’s not much happening here. Sen, could you prepare some food, I’ll go get everything else.’

‘If course, Lady Stathis.’

‘You two help her and summon up your horses. Don’t just laze around.’

Janaxia and Skotadi both sniffed in unison, as Stathis left the room. Outside, it was bitterly cold, the chill having seeped deep into the stone. Whatever had happened here, it had been fast, and relatively tidy. Some signs of violence, some of the doors destroyed or ripped off hinges, a few signs of scuffles, decorations knocked off walls or rugs trodden and dirtied. But no bodies anywhere.

She went down into the lowest level, the inevitable messy basement, used her more for storage rather than as a dungeon, puddles of dank water pooled on the muddy ground. She sighed, then started to roll around, wincing as the icy water seeped into her armour and the padding beneath it, chilling her further. But it made the armour less gleaming and bright. Mercifully, there were no plumes or cloaks attached, or any excessively-bright heraldry or other ornamentation. It did feel a bit of a shame to dirty it, but it should be easy enough to pass as a sell-sword. Amongst the junk, she managed to find a battered, closed-face helm, and some rags for padding it.

Stathis bundled her hair up into a bun, then put the helm on. It was bitterly cold, and the vision slit closed off her vision to a narrow band, but it should work, and fit tightly enough she could fight in it.

Outside in the courtyard, twin circles of dark had appeared, as jet-black steeds started to materialise. Sen was rubbing her herself and trying to stay warm but offered Stathis a bowl of some thick broth. It wasn’t the best tasting, but it was warm and filling.

Janaxia managed to jump back as Mavrosa tried to lick her, circling around to stay out of reach, moving with surprising speed and jumping out of reach. Stathis took Mavrosa’s bridle, patting her head, stroking the strong and warm flesh. ‘Good girl. Good girl.’

She held Mavrosa in place until Janaxia had mounted up. Skotadi disappeared in a blink of darkness, reappearing on the back of her own steed, trotting over to Sen. It took her a few attempts before she mounted herself, and then thick fabric peeled around the two of them, bundling them together, some kind of weird cloak with two head-holes to keep them both warm. It did have the side effect of making them look like some strange beast, two heads coming from the centre of four legs, the horse’s head bobbing up and down like normal.

Stathis mounted up behind Janaxia. A heavy cloak spun itself out of Janaxia’s back, pushing Stathis back. And pointedly not including Stathis inside itself. The cloak she had scavenged from the keep was a ragged and tatty thing in comparison.

It didn’t take much riding for her to become acutely aware of every hole and rent in the thin and worn material. The area they were passing through was cold and mostly barren – what farmsteads they passed were small and ragged-looking things. Still no signs of life, not even any animals.

‘Hey, Janaxia? Can your brother turn animals into undead?’

‘Perasperan? Yes, he has sufficient skill to do so. They do make good draught animals, at least until they fall apart. Not the most terrifying of foes, but useful. And he has sufficient skill to maintain them for some time.’

‘Anything to watch out for? Is he prone to violence, how well do you think he’ll react to you suddenly showing up?’ Even through the heavy cloak, Stathis could feel Janaxia shiver. ‘Guessing you don’t have the best relationship?’

He was… mercifully distant. His cruelties were more of lack of care than focused attention. Her mind-speech was distant and reserved. Very skilled at the necromantic arts though, and he earned Mother’s praise.

‘It sounds like you had a rough time of it. You don’t have to go back, you know? You don’t seem to like them very much.’

Skotadi trotted close, her voice hissing out from the misshapen double-lump that was her and Sen. ‘Yes! Overthrow that wretch, cast her down! Destroy her and take her place.’

Ah, well… I fear that I would be overmatched in a direct confrontation, and… Her voice trailed off, her body seemed to shrink in on itself.

‘You’re going to have to do something about her. Ideally before she tries to destroy or conquer the world. Or tries to kill me!’

‘Yes, the world shall be mine. All shall worship and adore me!’ Skotadi smiled, then sneezed as a cold wind blew, strong enough to cut through her cloak.

Stathis ignored her. ‘She might be a more powerful wizard, but you can always do that thing with wooden sticks you do. Most wizards don’t like being smacked in the face.’

Her power is such that closing to that range might be a challenge. I have seen her disintegrate foes to dust with a single spell.

‘Uh, could you actually talk to me? I’ve no idea where everyone else is, but just using your mind-voice is a bit… awkward to deal with.’

Hmph. Her clothing shifted again, fabric getting more rigid, her back stiffening as well. Mavrosa moved into a faster trot, Skotadi’s horse following. Stathis kept her grip and turned to face the girl.

‘So, does your horse have a name?’

Skotadi hissed at her, pulling her robes closer. Sen was sat close to her, head up and looking around with interest, although her entire body was hidden from view. She smiled at Stathis. ‘I have never seen such a cold land before. I sincerely hope we will not be here for long.’

‘Well, I hope we can get out of here soon. Maybe Janaxia’s brother can transport us out of here? Reckon you might be able to talk him into that?’

Our relationship has never been… cordial. It is unlikely he would lend his aid more without some inducement being offered. He has rarely been friendly – it is to be hoped that I am required elsewhere and he will accommodate such a request.

‘Yes, you shall be a viper in their midst, striking when they think themselves secure.’ Skotadi made a hissing sound, then went silent as Sen made a fair more realistic version of the same noise, forked tongue flicking out. Although Stathis couldn’t see Skotadi’s hands, she got the distinct idea that fingers were being steepled ominously, safely warm beneath the thick cloak.

‘I feel I shouldn’t be encouraging fratricide and matricide, but she does have a point. If nothing else, you’re going to have to deal with them somehow.’ She could feel Janaxia stiffening against her. ‘It’s not like I can force you to talk about it or anything, but the problem isn’t going away.’

‘Yes, revel in murder and bloodlust!’ Skotadi’s eyes were gleaming brightly.

‘Maybe not quite that? And without the bloodlust. And maybe without the murder?’

I believe that may be our destination. Emerging from behind low hills, they could now see a chunky black tower stretching upwards, atop a hill of its own. The land around it was frozen and utterly barren, bare of even the scrubby growth common in the rest of the area. Stathis could see movement, figures walking in regular patterns.

‘Looks old. And I’m guessing more zombies? No sign of any tents or anything.’

Indeed. Let us proceed. And you may wish to assume your persona of a faceless, and silent, mercenary.

Stathis put the helmet back on with a sigh, the metal leeching away her heat, only slowly warming up.