Stathis knelt and examined the ground. While she wasn’t as good a tracker as Parth, it was pretty obvious that someone had travelled this way recently, and quite a large group by the looks of it. The narrow animal track had been widened, all the branches and bushes pushed back or snapped, the ground pressed into dirt, killing all the grass.

‘You tell anything about this?’ She called Brina over, the smaller woman keeping to the shadows, hunched over awkwardly. ‘I know you’re not used to the wilderness, but I don’t think that’s how you sneak. It just looks uncomfortable.’

Brina stepped onto a twig, the dry wood loudly snapping, making her look around guiltily. ‘I prefer towns and cities! Or even villages. There’s far too much stuff out here.’ She moved next to Stathis and knelt, looking at the ground, poking at the packed earth. ‘Yup, looks like a path? Must have been quite a few people to strip everythin’ back like this, I guess? Although there’s not meant to be anyone else out here, is there? Just us, the medusa’s lot, and whatever undead are pokin’ about.’

She got down on all fours, Stathis keeping a watchful eye out. The woods were quiet – too quiet, with barely any of the usual background noises, and with every accidental sound blasting and echoing through the trees – but hopefully that would make it harder for anyone to approach unheard.

‘Yup, boot prints. And lots of ‘em. Well, lots by the standards of out here.’

Stathis squatted down next to her, looking where she was pointing – some liquid must have splashed out and soaked into the ground, enough for a boot to have squashed it down, the heel and toe clearly visible. Around it were other, softer prints.

‘Great. So, someone else? And not just one person.’ She looked up, staring at a slightly shaking cluster of branches. Then she picked up stick and lobbed it, as hard as she could, at the branches. A second later it came hurtling back at her, with enough force that she raised her arm to block it, the stick clattering off her armour.

‘Semari, get down here!’

The branches shook again, some leaves falling to the floor as Semari jumped out and grabbed hold of a tree-trunk, sliding down it towards the ground.

‘See anything up there?’

‘Not much. Still dark ‘n shit everywhere. Some flashes of lightning up over that way and that way.’ She pointed in two different directions. ‘Probably another obelisk-thingie, right? If it is, I’m not touching it! Makes me all tingly, and, like, not in a good way.’

‘Don’t worry, we’re just scouting them out. And checking there’s not any more weird creatures summoned up. Didn’t you say there were some old legends about them, Brina?’

‘Yeah, I spoke to some of the locals. You know what olds are like, give them a chance to talk and they’ll take it! And take it and take it. But they said that, back in the day, strange creatures of magic showed up, and only mighty heroes could defeat them. So whatever’s goin’ on, it’s not the first time. Maybe the pillars all help to keep somethin’ sealed away? Or a leak between worlds or somethin’? I think that’s what Hakara is sayin’. Although if we run into one of those things made of livin’ rock, I’m leavin’ that to the two of you. Not paid enough for that kind of thing!’

‘I don’t like punching rock, it hurts! I want something nice and squishy to beat up for once.’

‘I don’t get any say in the matter! At least those elementals don’t seem guided at all, so we don’t need to worry about an organised attack. We’ve not seen any sign of disruption to this area though, so nothing seems to have been called up. There’s just the issue of whoever caused this. No-one’s mentioned any other bandit groups, or a small village or anything?’ It would almost be nice if it was just something perfectly ordinary like that, and not anything more troublesome.

‘Nope, place is too barren for anyone to bother with.’ Brina stood up and looked at some of the broken branches. ‘Can’t see any bits of meat, so I’m guessin’ not undead. They tend to leave a bit of mess behind them. No goop or anythin’ here.’

‘Great, so there’s someone else out here. Hopefully it’s just a group of refugees?’

Semari jumped back up into the trees again, vanishing from view, her motion only followable via little puffs of leaves dropping down into view. Stathis sighed and started to walk in the direction Semari was moving, several more leaves drifting down through the cool air. One landed on the shoulder of her armour, wet enough that it stuck in place.

Brina leaned upwards, having to stand on tip-toes to reach, brushing the leaf away. ‘Can’t have you getting’ dirty!’

‘Thanks. I hope there aren’t any on my back?’ Stathis didn’t even try and twist around, knowing that she couldn’t bend enough to see, and that it was a nuisance to try and twist enough with her armour and gauntlets. Brina stepped around her, hands pushing against Stathis’ backplate. ‘Nah, you’re good.’ She flicked a finger against the armour. ‘This stuff is good at keepin’ you alive, but the maintenance is a pain.’

‘That’s why most knights have squires! Or an entire logistics train, if possible. Makes things a lot easier than having to do everything by yourself.’

An arm snaked around her waist, Stathis stopping moving and accepting the hug, although the armour meant that she could barely feel Brina pushing against her from behind.

‘Good to have you back.’

‘I’m glad to be back! And thanks for, well, everything you’ve done. This whole thing is a shitshow. I definitely didn’t expect to get stuck all the way out here in the middle of nowhere!’

‘Yeah, and I don’t think Janaxia likes me either.’

The hug released, Brina stepping away, starting to walk away down the path.

‘She’s going through a lot right now. And she’s pretty prickly at the best of times.’

‘Yeah, but it’s a little more than that, isn’t it? She’s jealous. And really doesn’t know how to deal with it, although I guess I should be glad she’s not attackin’ me!’

‘Jealous? Of what?’

Brina looked up at her, disbelief on her face. ‘You’re hot, but damn you can be dense sometimes. Of me. You know she likes you, right? Quite a lot?’

‘Well, yeah, but…’

‘Have you even kissed? Without you dyin’ afterwards?’

‘I’ve not really tried, just in case something else happens. It was hard enough getting back last time!’

‘Right. And you’re crap at talkin’ about this sort of thing. So have you asked her what she thinks about it all?’

‘I’ve tried, but she just shuts me down.’

‘Well, she clearly wants somethin’ to happen, otherwise she would have fucked off already! So she’s stickin’ around for a reason, and I don’t think it’s just so that you can help kill her family. So when I’m around, she’s not takin’ it too well. Not that I’m complainin’, but I got further with you than she has, haven’t it?’ Brina’s hand slapped against the metal over Stathis’ backside, hard enough to sound out. ‘She’s sexy, but I don’t think she’s ever had much of a proper relationship.’

‘There was that medusa back when we were looking for the Dragon’s Veil! And those vampires in the Holy City.’

‘Oh, Stathis. You’re hot, but sometimes I wonder if you were dropped on your head as a baby. Those weren’t really “relationships”, were they? She goes in, has her fun, and then leaves. And didn’t you kill those vampires? So that must have been nice and easy for her. She’s pretty damn hot herself, especially in some of those dresses she wears, but she’s never really had to work for it. Like, some of those leather-and-lace numbers? Wow!’

‘Sounds like you might be interested yourself?’

‘Hey, I like a bit of fancy, and she’s definitely that! But I try not to stick my fingers in the crazy. Especially not when she’s workin’ through all sorts of shit with you and everythin’ else. She’s clearly never had to actually deal with someone in any kind of long-term way. And you’re not really behavin’ as she probably thinks you should. Everyone else she wants to seduce gets swept off their feet and gets all loved-up.’

‘I have carried her several times! And even took her to dinner once.’

‘That’s not what I mean. She might be all spiky and dark, but she wants someone that’ll look after her. And I’m not sure what she feels about sharin’ and don’t really want to find out the hard way. So you’re goin’ to have to be the one that takes the lead. And not just be bein’ nice and shiny at her! I know it works on most people, and you do shine all pretty-like, but this is goin’ to take a lot more. Tell her what you want to do with her – she’s pretty hung up on you, near as I can tell, so I might be best if you’re plannin’ on somethin’ a little long term? If you jilt her after a night, she’s probably goin’ to be huntin’ you down.’

Stathis sighed, looking around in the desperate hope that something might charge out of the undergrowth and attack, but the woods remained mercilessly still and unmoving. ‘I have tried.’

‘Well, you’re goin’ to have to try harder! She’s pretty messed up to start with, and all this stuff with you is doin’ nothin’ to help. Pump her full of golden light, get her drunk and show her a good time.’

Laughter snickered down from above, along with several more leaves, Semari hidden somewhere amongst the branches.

‘And don’t mention me! Gods, you’ve never really had to work at this either. You ever had someone that lasted more than a few nights?’

‘Well, you…?’

‘Yeah, that was pretty much by chance though, wasn’t it? And was more like an extension of what came before, nothin’ deeper. And, hey, I’m happy to keep it goin’, just maybe not when someone that might be the Queen of the Eternal Night might take issue with it? Although if you want to put in a good word for me, I guess? So what you need to do is stop treatin’ her like someone you’ve just fought off cultists with and want to relax with after the fight, and like somethin’ a little more serious. Otherwise she’s gonna get all twisted up. Oh, and have you told her what’s goin’ on with you and Pajaran?’

‘Nothing’s going on with me and Pajaran!’

‘Exactly. Does Janaxia know that? She’s gonna assume she’s got competition, and for her, that means someone’s goin’ down. That’s why I’ve been stayin’ away – be nice to see more of you, but best not to give her any ideas. Janaxia’s going to look at you and Pajaran and think she’s going to have to fight for you.’

‘I’m not a prize!’

Brina tapped her ass again. ‘I dunno, you’re definitely worth winnin’, and fun to be with! But Janaxia’s not gonna like losin’, and I think she might take a harsh view of competitions, ‘specially those she doesn’t win. Her family don’t treat losers too kindly, I’m thinkin’. So tell her that she’s winnin’. Or has already won, you seem pretty keen on her yourself.’

Stathis could feel herself warming up beneath her armour, wishing that this conversation would stop, even if Brina was making an annoying amount of sense.

‘Not just a nice bottle of wine, but somethin’ to show you actually care. And you’re goin’ to have to do it yourself, because she’s all proud and stuck in a dark place, where she thinks you don’t care. Or that you just want her as a tool.’

The leaves above them rustled again, a stick getting thrown at Stathis, knocking against her breastplate. She froze in place, raising a hand, Brina going silent, both of them dropping into a crouch. They kept advancing, moving at a slow rate, hearing something close by, a soft rustling, something soft bursting.

They stepped into a clearing, the air thick with a charnel reek. Dozens of zombies were scattered around the place, or at least their body-parts, sliced into pieces and destroyed beyond any ability to move or regenerate. A raven looked up at her, black feathers fading into shadows, before dipping down to pluck out an eyeball, beak stabbing into gooey wetness. Other creatures were making the most of the carrion as well, several foxes ripping apart a torso, bowels bursting open.

Stathis poked her sword at a dismembered torso, flipping it over. It was covered with fresh wounds, but the limbs had been sliced through relatively cleanly, rather than smashed apart.

‘Disciplined work. That takes a group that can work together well, and knows what they’re doing.’

Brina nodded. ‘Can’t see any bodies other than zombies. So either no casualties, or they took them with them. Must have fought well – quite a lot of dead here. Few dozen, at least?’ She kicked a stick at a writhing cluster of ravens, driving them off whatever they were eating, revealing another pile of zombie-parts. ‘Not really an ambush point, either.’

A fox ran past, a swift blur of orange before it stuck it’s head into a distended belly, worrying at the flesh until it had torn part off.

‘Semari, can you see anything?’

There was no response, Stathis walking into the centre of the clearing, the animals not stopping their feast. It was large enough for a decent-sized fight to have occurred, but the way the bodies had fallen suggested something more organised – had the zombies been lured into the centre, or somehow herded? That the bodies hadn’t themselves been taken suggested it hadn’t been necromancers, as then the bodies would have been turned into spare parts.

An arrow shot through the air, and she turned just in time to make it pass by her, flying into the wooded darkness. She raised her shield, Brina rolling behind a pile of bodies, using it for cover.

She squinted through the darkness, trying to make anything out. Another arrow, this one sinking into her shield, as she started to advance.

‘We don’t want to fight! If you’re the ones that killed these zombies, you did a good job!’

Several figures emerged from the darkness – wearing unmarked leather armour, worn and battered. Three archers were stood behind a trio of swordman, both holding their weapons and shields. They moved easily, accustomed to their gear – not green recruits to whatever group they were with. And clearly trained – bandits probably wouldn’t be moving with this much discipline.

Stathis kept one hand on her own sword but didn’t draw it, trying to sound reasonable and hoping that Semari wouldn’t do anything stupid. ‘We’re just scouting out the area, we’re from the nearby town. I didn’t know there were any other groups out here.’

They were only lightly armoured, so she might be able to take them if she had to, but having three arrows aimed at her wasn’t a good start.

‘Neither were we.’ They conferred briefly – none of them had any rank-markings or seemed to be in charge, their conversation inaudible under the sounds of the carrion feast. ‘Come with us. Without any sudden movements! Hand over your sword.’

‘I’ll come with you, but will keep my weapon. There’s no need to fight, but you’re clearly organised, aren’t you? Take me to your leaders and we can discuss this. There’s no need for violence.’ The bows stayed drawn, but the fighters relaxed slightly. ‘Brina, stand up. I’m going to approach, nice and slow, just like you said. Agreed? None of us want to fight.’

They were tense, but not on the verge of panic – good discipline. They definitely weren’t just some bandits.

‘Very well. No sudden movements, come this way.’

They parted, allowing her to walk through the middle of their group, Brina jogging to catch up.

‘Keep walking.’

Stathis whispered to Brina. ‘You stay in front. My armour should protect me if they attack.’

They moved into the darker woods, the leaves rustling above as Semari stayed out of sight.