As we walked out of the hall, Captain Sweetling signaled to the militiawoman who had gathered the town council for us to meet. “Bessie! Our guests are going to be helping out with our little wolf problem, but first they need to go and talk with Old Lady Magdalin, and see what she can tell them.”

Turning to look up at us, the halfling said, “Bessie Tanner is one of the hunters who joined up with the militia because of the wolves. She’s learned a bit of herb-craft as well, which helps in creating salves and other, less pleasant things. Taught by the witch herself when she was my height. She’s the best one to go making the introductions.”

“Now, I know you are good on rations, and your weapons and armor are maintained, but there’s still some things we can do to help you out. Seems to me you still need a place to sleep through the night while you’re in town, even if they won’t be able to provide meals with the roof over your heads, and you’re likely to be needing a map if you’re going to have any chance of navigating the woods. While you’re out visiting Magdalin, I’ll be having a word with a couple people, and see if we can’t get those needs taken care of. And if you can think of anything else that you might be needing, you let us know.”

Bessie Tanner was young, probably only three or four winters older than I was, but she carried herself like someone far older. Well, children didn’t get to be naïve youngsters long in this world, especially when you didn’t have any kind of modern conveniences. That went double when you had to face down monsters night after night. Still, she seemed pleased to be accompanying us.

As we trekked through the forest on a simple path worn in the undergrowth, she told us a little about her life. She’d been born in the village, as they’d all been, but she’d always been drawn to the forests. Which is how she started getting tutored in herbcraft by Magdalin, if only so her parents could rest easy knowing that she’d be able to tell helpful herbs from poisonous plants while wandering in the woods. It wasn’t as dangerous in those days, if you kept near the town or the lake.

“I actually had hopes to be taught more from Magdalin, when I came of age and got my class. But seems the gods had other ideas. Didn’t get the Sorcerer or even Hedge-witch class, but Ranger. Still, better than most of my friends, who all got less impressive classes like Warrior, Expert, or Commoner. I couldn’t learn too much more from Magdalin than I already had, but I have abilities that some of the rest don’t.”

“Even if it took you long enough to learn to count your blessings, instead of cursing the Will of the World and the gods.” We were all surprised to hear a new voice. Stepping out from behind a tree was a woman, clad in animal hides and homespun fabric, but there was quality in the craftsmanship. And from a glance with my ability to detect magic, I could tell that her clothes, and the gnarled staff she carried in one hand were all heavily enchanted. The woman looked as though she’d seen no more than thirty winters, but everything about her screamed that the number was likely higher. How much higher, though?

“Oh, drat! Don’t go frightening me like that, Miss Magdalin! But what are you doing so far out? I thought we still had a while yet until we reached your home?”

“Hah! You must have been eager to talk about little old me, to have missed that you passed into my domain five minutes ago. Don’t worry, dearie, I’ve kept the path clear of traps, save for those affected by the lycan curse, just in case. The rest of the forest in my domain, however, is not so forgiving.”

I took a moment to look the witch over. She wasn’t from the northlands, that much was certain. People in this northern land were, mostly, fair-skinned, though there were exceptions. Magdalin, on the other hand, looked to be Asian, or that is what I’d have said if we were on Earth. Perhaps there was a similar region on this world? Either way, her hair was dark, but streaked with green, in a way that was clearly unnatural. But perhaps that had something to do with the binding people talked about, linking her to her land?

I smiled at her, and said, “Hello, Miss Magdalin. I hope that we did not interrupt you? We’re adventurers from Northport, hired to help deal with the werewolves in the forest.”

“Yes, yes. I know you are. Oh, don’t look so surprised. Scrying magic isn’t unheard of, you know? And yes, I can do a scrying. I’m a Hedge-Witch, not a simple crazy old lady who lives in the woods, you know.”

I nodded slowly. “Well, that helps, I guess. I am Melinda Eriksdaughter, Twiceborn of Auril. I’m afraid I’ve never heard of Hedge-Witches, are they some variant of the Witch class?”

“Well met, Melinda. I am Magdalin Harrowsoul. And yes, they are. Or, more specifically, a prestige class for the Witch class. As with all such things, you gain power by taking the class, but you give up something else, as well. In my case, I expanded the arcane magics I already had, and gained the ability to cast some spells normally known to Druids. More than that, but a form of immortality as well. But to gain this power, I gave up my freedom. I can only leave my land for a few hours at a time, enough to go to town and do some shopping, perhaps, but not much more. However, within domain, I am as powerful as a druid in their grove, or a wizard in his sanctum. Moreso, perhaps, like a dragon in their den. And I’ve had many years to develop the wards and defenses on this place.”

I nodded slowly. “I see. I had wondered, of course, how you had managed to survive outside the city walls without being attacked. The people of Moonwater seem to trust you, at least as much as they trust anyone these days, but the thought of werewolves simply leaving someone alone did not ring true to me. A powerful spellcaster who becomes more powerful within their territory makes far more sense. That you’re also bound to that territory explains why you haven’t simply taken care of this yourself.”

“Clever girl. And quite right, not trusting rumors without taking a look for yourself. Always look to what people are doing, or not doing, and wonder why it is so. The same applies to the targets you’re hunting, of course. Did you know that, until these attacks started, there had not been a case of Lycanthropy in Moonwood since the Great Troubles? It is true. Selune’s grace upon Moonwater has kept that affliction from finding root here, until now.”

Vestele frowned. “But why now, of all times? We were told that the barrier around the temple to Selune in the forest was weakening, but that had been continuing on for thirteen years, now. So, what else has changed, more recently, to start this strife?”

Magdalin sighed, and said, “It is little known in these days and these lands, but it was not just the gods who were cast down during the Great Troubles. Demigods and the children of gods who had yet to take on a portfolio and divine realm of their own were also cast into the world and left to fend for themselves. Malar, being a more primal god, and one who has no issue in taking what he wishes, at some point sired several children. One of these, named Ran Frothclash, appeared in the Moonwood at the same time as Selune, and rallied his father’s supporters against her.”

“He faced Selune in single combat, and was struck down by the mortal goddess during an intense battle. It is said that she still wears the scars from that battle upon her back, such was the ferocity of the fighting, despite the existence of divine healing. The spot where Frothclash fell was turned into a shrine to the Beastlord, though few worshipped there openly.”

“During the Second Orc War, the warband under the orc warrior Guzhuk Bladeblood, a lieutenant of the orc known only as the Beast, attacked the Moonwood. Their path led them past the shrine to Malar, and a frenzy fell upon them. Not prone to rigid organization or disciplined formations at the best of times, the warband became a feral tide of green flesh, destroying all that came across their path.”

“The temple of Selune likes to say that the orcs never reached the Temple of the Moonmaiden’s Glory. They might even believe it, since none who witnessed the events firsthand survived to speak of it. But the truth is that Bladeblood and his forces reached the temple, and invaded it. The barrier around the temple was not made to keep the orcs out, but to seal what they had become in.”

“And for all that time since that day and this, it has worked. But the ripples from beyond, as a Twiceborn came to our world, disrupted the flow of energy into the barrier. Not greatly, but enough that it began to decay, and allowed a hint of what was sealed inside to leak out. It is my belief that the power in the temple called out to those who would listen, and Malar’s forces answered, waiting until the barrier was near to breaking entirely to make their move.”

The witch sighed. “That, however, is the limit of what I can divine from my magics. The Wolves refuse to enter my domain, not after I caught their scouts, but I cannot hunt them down and force answers from them, and we need answers. Without knowing how they intend to break the barrier, even if they were all dead, their work might carry on, as magic can be like that at times. And that would lead to disaster.”

Siora nodded slowly. “In that case, we will have to find the werewolves, and make them talk. I can only imagine how much ‘fun’ that will be. Do you know where we might start looking for them, Miss Magdalin?”

“Not for certain, or I would have directed the militia there before now. With Sweetling and Celaena there, I have little doubt that the wolves would have been dealt with in short order. However, searching out the possible hiding spots in force would leave the town undefended, and single scouts would simply be food for the wolves.”

Bessie took that moment to speak up. “The Captain said she’s going to work on getting these adventurers a map of the forest.”

Magdalin nodded. “Good. Good. Then, Bessie, I’ll ask you to ensure that several places are marked for them. Oh, don’t give me that look. You know the forest as well as anyone, so you’ll know where to make the marks. The first is the old wolf dens that the wolves of Moonwood lived in before now. I doubt that the Malarite forces would stay there, but it is on the way to some of the other sites, and may be worth checking all the same.”

“Second is the ruins of the ancient elven outpost of Esyh Serin. Not much is known of the ruins, save that they are elven, and they were ancient, passing out of living memory even of the elves long before I was a child, to say nothing of the centuries since. The ruins have long since been stripped clean of artifacts, but it has been shelter to many animals and monsters in the ensuing ages, so the wolves may seek to make it a base for their operations.”

“Third, then, would be the Shrine of Malar on the forest’s eastern edge. I doubt they would be so stupid as to shelter in the first place they might be sought, but religious fanaticism can make even the most stable and logical mind become insane. Even if it is not their base, attacking the shrine may be enough to draw out the leader of the wolves.”

“Fourth, there are a set of abandoned mines to the north of Moonwater Lake. They are primarily copper or iron, but they were never the largest producers, and it has been quite some time since anyone manned the mine. If I had to guess, this would be where wolves are based, as it provides both structure, and an environment that would suit the wolves that are following these werewolves.”

“And finally, you’ll want to mark the Temple on the map, as well. Just to ensure that they know where it is. My divinations suggest that the answer to all these mysteries might be found if you breach the temple, and discover the truth within. I just wish I could offer more aid than that.”

Frostmane chuffed. “Better a couple places to sniff through and find the wolves than trying to go through an entire forest that smells of wolf. These wolves will be a great chance to prove my skill when we catch up to them.”