They trotted past some kind of marker-post, hung with talismans of ivory and stone. There may have been an ethereal aura of chill in the air, but that was probably just the wind. She could hear something though – constant crunching and grinding, metal and stone grating and sliding. The black stub, as they approached, turned out not to be a tower, but looked more like a single massive and solid cylinder of dark stone, somehow shoved on top of the hill.

They passed a group of zombies, stood motionless, covered with a light dusting of snow. The cold was keeping them from rotting, but they still had a slightly green pallor to their drawn flesh, their fingers frozen and black. They moved faster, although the zombies didn’t seem to react at all.

With the helm on, Stathis had to keep moving her head to see properly, her vision limited to a narrow slit. The zombies were laid out in any kind of actual defensive formation – they were grouped together, but not to cover each other or provide any defence, simply left there, presumably waiting for commands.

As they started to move up the hill, Stathis slid off the horse, shivering slightly as the cold bit at her.

‘I’m guessing you wouldn’t let a hired sword ride with you?’

Of course not, there are standards to be upheld. Janaxia twisted her fingers and the dirt that Stathis had smeared onto her cloak collected itself into a ball, before dropping to the ground with a splat. As they progressed onwards, the groups of the things got thicker, the sounds getting louder, until they crested the hill and saw the source of it all. The zombies here were moving, organised into a work-gang, shovels and picks breaking apart the hard-packed and frozen soil, others taking buckets of dirt and pouring them away to the side. The excavations were centred around the base of the giant rock, steadily cutting downwards. From how tough the soil was, it must have taken quite some time to make the large gap that had been cut, a trench angled downwards into the ground.

Staked out against the giant rock was a tent, the rock forming one wall, the canvas covered with magical patterns that were painful to look at, settling uneasily into the mind. Janaxia paused, then sighed and spurred Mavrosa forward, Stathis walking by her side, one hand on her sword hilt, just in case matters turned to violence.

The runes swirled and shifted, the canvas flap parting and a man appearing there. He was wearing a dark robe, emblazoned with silver glyphs and with an intricately-carved staff in hand, one end of the staff a skeletal hand holding a dark purple crystal. His long and lank hair was tied back into a messy ponytail that looked more like he hadn’t been able to get it cut than a fashion statement.

‘Janaxia. How unexpected. You should be in Belazaan, should you not?’

‘Events have changed, brother. And so I am here.’ Janaxia made a show of looking up at the stone block. ‘I think Belazaan was rather more comfortable. And with rather better company.’

‘This is more important. And it is not your place to question your orders.’

Janaxia hunched over her horse, almost shrinking in on herself. Stathis heard a hiss from somewhere and turned to look for Skotadi, but she had vanished, a surprised-looking Sen now alone on the other horse, wearing a plain, ragged cloak and looking cold and miserable.

‘Yes, Peresperan. Of course. What is occurring here?’ Her tone was unnaturally flat and polite, and Stathis’ hand tensed on her sword, just in case.

‘Nothing such as you needs to be concerned with. There is an ancient power sealed here, that shall be claimed by the Uth Tremari. Although I have heard that you claimed the Rod of Usorc for yourself? Hand it over, so that a real wizard can make better use of it.’

‘But…’

He made a gesture and the crystal gem flared into life, a dark purple aura flaring into being, energy appearing around Janaxia. Stathis stepped forward and started to draw her sword when a figure crashed to the ground in front of her in a swirl of snow and ice. Dark armour entirely concealed their body, head hidden behind a great helm, only the barest hint of eyes visible. A huge two-handed sword was slung across their back, one of their hands gripping the hilt.

‘This is a family matter, not something for hirelings to be involved with.’

As Janaxia gasped in pain, Stathis didn’t move her hand away from her sword, assessing the newcomer – human-sized but very large; a hit from that huge sword would hurt, even through armour. And they moved lightly, despite their size – was it some form of undead, or a living person? She couldn’t tell, and with Janaxia so close, knew she wouldn’t be able to sense anything other than crushing darkness.

Janaxia shuddered again before there was the rustle of fabric, and then a bone-carved wand floated past, supported by Janaxia’s magic. Peresperan grabbed it out of the air, greed clear on his face. It settled into his hand, the carved skeleton stirring into motion, jaw clacking a few times. Peresperan’s eyes glazed over, a pale glow shining out.

Stathis continued to eye up the warrior – the armour was all-concealing, without any trace of their flesh on display, nor any sign of breathing. No heraldry or insignia either, of course. She looked at Janaxia, who was looking small and nervous. Stathis wanted to comfort her, but that would likely be awkward and raise a lot of questions.

The rod gave a tired-sounding clatter, limbs stirring to life and twisting around, clawing at Peresperan’s arms, hard enough to draw blood. Even that wasn’t enough to shake him from his trance though, as he slowly raised it high, his eyes turning solid black. It tried to claw his face, but didn’t have arms long enough, and was moving very slowly, like someone that was exhausted.

‘It seems strangely quiescent.’ He gave it a shake, the eye sockets burning with dark flame before blinking out. A beam of energy spluttered into existence without any obvious effect. ‘Hmmm, I was expecting something rather more po…’ He suddenly cut off as the skull spun around to stare at him, rotating all the way around. He made several shallow gasps, his hand rictus-tight on the rod. It made an unearthly chatter, before the head spun back to the normal position, Peresperan’s own eyes returning to normal. ‘I am surprised a useless wretch like you has managed not to be entirely destroyed by it. Over the years, it has claimed many souls, of greater power than you. But I shall manage to make it a useful tool. Now, how did you come to be here?’

Janaxia mumbled something.

‘Speak up!’

‘I have been sent on a mission. Using my adventurer skills.’

‘Hmmm. Well, I had attempted to summon up the darkness yesterday using ancient magics, but that seemed to have no effect. So it may be easier to send you than zombies, they are not very good with traps. They’ve dug down into the old tunnels, but the defences are still present, and annoyingly potent. I have disarmed a few, but they are well-crafted and veiled. And if you should die, then, well… I doubt any tears would be shed.’ He turned to Stathis. ‘Is this one enchanted? Or another fool you’ve seduced?’

‘A hireling. Loyal to my coin, but useful in her own way. And certainly a potent fighter, should such be needed. What is this place, though? It looks ancient.’

‘If you have not been told, then you do not need to know. Nevertheless, you can use your “skills” and eliminate any traps.’

‘Yes, Peresperan.’

‘That’s “Ochre Enchanter Peresperan”, to you. Unlike you, I have progressed my magical powers significantly. Do not let a few trifling successes go to your head – you are still nothing but a stripling mage, of little worth.’

‘Yes, Ochre Enchanter.’ Her voice was flat, her head down, not meeting his eyes.

‘Good, you haven’t entirely forgotten your place. Now, into that dank, dark hole with you. Come back when you have cleared it, or die down here, either is acceptable. Chirutha, show them the way, while I continue my communion with the rod.’

Stathis managed not to snicker, but it was a challenge. The black-armoured figure regarded the pair of them before moving away, gesturing that they should follow. They moved with grace, used to their armour, trained and skilled. Sen dismounted, the horse vanishing, shortly before Janaxia dismounted and Mavrosa blinked from existence as well.

There was a winding track up the hill, loose earth frozen into place, with lots of rubble trickling down. When they reached the top, there was a work-gang of zombies, slowly working away with picks and buckets, digging downwards and enlarging a dark pit, dug straight downwards.

The figure unslung their giant sword, Stathis tensing, ready to fight. But instead, they pointed it down into the hole. ‘Ancient darkness and danger. But the sort of thing you should be used to, I imagine.’ Their voice was casually disinterested. ‘Magical traps, so keep an eye out. Peresperan says you’re a terrible wizard, but he’s got a wand up his butt about “proper” wizards. If you’ve been adventuring, then you must be pretty good. Unless you’re planning on using this one as your pawn?’ They gestured at Stathis. ‘Reeks of magic though. You must be doing well if you can afford a minion with magical armour.’

Janaxia looked at Stathis, who tried to nod without it being obvious, and Janaxia stepped forward. Sen stayed close behind Stathis as Janaxia led the way, calling up her disk and hovering just off the floor, progressing into the darkness.

It angled steeply downward, unevenly cut into the ground, looking as though it joined up a sequence of pre-existing caverns and caves, before opening into a larger passageway, the floor suddenly smooth-cut and even.

Stathis reached out and grabbed Janaxia by her belt, pulling her backwards. A barely visible mark on the floor erupted into silvery light, spectral blades flashing into sight for a moment. ‘Be careful!’ As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see the dismembered bodies of zombies, sliced apart into chunks.

‘Thank you.’ Janaxia pulled herself away from Stathis. ‘Hmm. For once, Semari would be useful.’

‘Yeah, having someone to run into traps is handy. They must reset themselves though, or Peresperan would have kept sending zombies down. Anyway, you feeling OK?’

Merely… tired. Peresperan is hard to deal with.

‘You don’t have to go along with what he says, should you have given him that wand-thingie? I guess it’s powerful?’

It seems of little use; for a vaunted artefact, the thing seems to do little. Although perhaps it might devour his soul? That would be pleasant. The thought seemed to perk her up a little.

‘Well, I suppose. At least he’s not asking any questions about me.’

He is likely to be rather dismissive of common fighters. Although you are far from common.

‘Was that a compliment?’ Stathis smiled as Janaxia stalked away, all stiff-necked again. ‘Any idea where Skotadi has gone? Sen, did she say anything to you?’

‘No, Lady Stathis. She melted away into shadows.’

‘Well, stay close and be careful.’ Stathis poked her sword at a pattern cut into the ground, a small explosion peppering her armour with shrapnel. Ahead of her, Janaxia flicked a hand, and there was a soft rumpling sound as other spells triggered, painful-looking effects shimmering into being before fading away.

‘This place seems pretty well defended, for somewhere out in the sticks.’

Yes, most curious. Some leaving of an ancient war, I would surmise? Maybe a barrow-grave to an ancient king? Quite what Peresperan is after, I don’t know. Some lost treasure seems likely.

They made slow and steady progress, evading traps and wards, Janaxia’s spells obliterating the rock they were carved into, or Stathis having to trigger them by herself, trusting her armour to deal with the impacts. The passageway continued to wind down and around in a wide spiral, the walls turning from simple, dull rock to bright obsidian. When Stathis conjured up a mote of light, the effect was unsettling, an infinity of muted reflections stretching away on either side of herself.

‘You sure you don’t know anything about this place? The aesthetic is very, well, you. Not as elegant, but very dark and shiny.’

Janaxia didn’t respond, although the next cascade of bolts she fired seemed to be with greater vehemence.

Eventually, they made it to an end, where a large stone doorway was in their path. Swirling and crazed patterns covered it, lines of gold and red etched into the deep black, and it was open a crack. Stathis cautiously went to investigate, first tapping her sword against the door, without effect, before looking through the open crack.

Inside it looked like a circular pit, descending downwards. On the wall opposite were huge nails, hammered directly into the bare rock, chains dangling loosely downwards. There was no sign of anything else – no treasure, no wardens, there didn’t even seem to be any traps present.

Stathis gestured Janaxia over. ‘You see anything special or magical? Looks empty to me.’

She refused to approach until Stathis had moved out of the way, gingerly approaching, her lash starting to throb with colour again, the red glow making Stathis feel queasy as it cast a vague light over the surroundings.

It must have been looted in the past, I suppose. Or rumours of any treasure were simply myths.

It was easier heading back upwards, the traps and wards all angled to catch people coming in, not out. As they emerged back into the chill sunlight, Stathis saw that the fighter was still there, although had sheathed his sword again.

‘You survived. Did you find Karakonivia the Bound?’

Stathis had to nudge Janaxia to get her to speak, elbowing her in the ribs. ‘The place is empty. Well-warded, to be sure, but whatever once lay in the heart of it is gone now.’

Stathis wanted to ask who or what “Karakonivia the Bound” was, a sudden sinking feeling that there should have been a demon trapped here rising up in her mind. She tried nudging Janaxia again, hoping to prompt the question, but a magical aura turned aside her elbow without effect.

‘Peresperan the Ochre will be displeased.’

Was that sarcasm in their tone? The helmet flattened their voice, making it hard to tell. Without another word, the armoured figure gestured at them to return down the hill – he was making sure to stay behind them, a position of strength in case a fight did break out.

As predicted, Peresperan wasn’t happy. As he started to rant, Janaxia shrank in on herself again, Stathis moving behind her and trying to seem supportive without saying anything. The wand was still in his hand, the skeleton slowly moving, hands clawing at air. ‘There should be great and ancient power sealed here! Karakonivia, one of the great generals under the Black Triad, had their body bound here, beneath the black rock! Such power cannot simply have vanished!’

Stathis reached forward and gently touched Janaxia’s back, hoping to comfort her. It seemed to help a little, as she stiffened her spine, her head coming up. ‘As there is nothing of use here, then transportation elsewhere would be very much appreciated.’

‘I have sensed it! Something lay buried here, and I will find it!’ It looked like he was about to break into a rant, but managed to get himself under control. ‘You have been called for elsewhere. It seems a waste of my power to use it for such things, but I shall have to transport you and your minions.’ He glared at Janaxia, then twisted the fingers of one hand, the other dipping beneath his robe and pulling out a gleaming powder, sprinkling it into the air. It produced a gleaming, prismatic effect, an enchantment trying to pull on Stathis’ will, easily ignored. Janaxia and Sen both went slack-jawed and dull-eyed. ‘I think it would be useful if you were obedient to me in the future, don’t you?’

Janaxia uttered a low, wordless sigh. Before Stathis could move to try and break her out of the effect, a sudden nimbus of darkness appeared around her. From somewhere nearby, Stathis heard Skotadi’s hiss, the sun suddenly dimming beneath a shadowy pall. Janaxia shook her head, focus returning to her eyes, looking like she was waking from a dazed confusion.

Stathis moved a hand slowly down to her sword, just in case, as Janaxia tensed her body, the black-armoured figure also moving a hand to their blade, forming an uneasy standoff.

‘What were you saying, brother? I was thinking on other matters.’

Stathis stared at the armoured figure, both of them watching the other for any sign of movement, ready to draw. If that blade came hurtling towards her, she’d have to try and dodge – the sheer size of it would make blocking hard, especially if it was magical as well! Janaxia and Peresperan also stared at each other, their hands out, fingers spread and ready to cast, but neither making any movement. He was supposed to be powerful, but wizards were generally weak against close-up attacks. She’d have to try and get around the guard and attack him directly, before he started casting anything too powerful. And keep Sen from danger! This could get bad, and fast.

The aura of darkness around Janaxia intensified, her entire body rigid and tense. ‘I think it best I be on my way, do you not? As I am apparently required elsewhere, then kindly send me there. And it will be taken ill, I would imagine if the spell were to be miscast.’ Despite her words, her voice wasn’t that confident, and her gaze appeared to be fixed on a point somewhere to Peresperan’s side. ‘You may keep the rod. Consider it a gift.’ Her voice was wheedling now. ‘Should I acquire any other items of power, then I shall consider their utility to you.’ She dropped her hands slightly, fingers shifting from a spell-casting gesture.

The figure shifted slightly, and Stathis’ hand gripped her sword, easing it slightly from the sheath, but his blade remained on his back, as he looked at Peresperan for guidance.

‘It seems you have improved more than I expected. But do not forget your place – you are still far, far beneath me, and would do well to remember that. I shall investigate this place and seek out the power that was bound here. It cannot simply have gone!’

‘As you wish, Magus Peresperan.’

‘Very well. We shall discuss this later, then. Mother has a task for you.’

He started to cast a spell and Janaxia tensed for a moment, before relaxing as she presumably recognised the spell. Stathis moved next to her, one hand still ready on her blade, then gestured at Sen to join them. A gleaming, silvery portal appeared, impossible to see through but Stathis could see the nearby frost and snow starting to melt from the heat coming through.

Janaxia stepped through, the silvery surface reaching out towards her, and she vanished from sight. Stathis moved through as well, just in case there was something on the other side, hearing Sen move behind her.