Chapter 28

Year 163 – Summer – Quartus Mensis – 43rd day

Velika road, Velika Forest, northern Vale

The Kalator soldiers were storing their supplies in the third fort. They were cutting trees around the area to build a small barricade around the camp. Their lord was inside his tent, wearing his armour, when Ludger, the priest of Aya, came to answer his call.

Ludger – “I read the entire sacred book of Aya and the sacred book of Nocna Mora twice.”

Egmond – “What do they say?”

Ludger – “The shadow of Nocna Mora can be harmed and blinded by light and fire. Your dream is just a nightmare. Nocna Mora could be feeding himself from your fears, but no shadow is after you.”

Egmond – “What about the trials of the cursed?”

Ludger – “The mark of the chosen is a birthmark. You share none of it.”

Egmond – “What if someone among my army had it? I’ve seen the same nightmare four times now.”

Ludger – “There was a blood moon earlier this year. There won’t be another one this year. At worst, it will happen by the end of winter, and at best, it will be in a full year from now. We have time.”

Egmond – “I hope so.”

At that moment, a soldier came to the tent and announced the arrival of Atilos and Mundric. When the three of them left the tent and went to their encounter, they saw tens of soldiers completely exhausted.

Egmond – “Why are you here? What happened?”

Atilos – “We walked yesterday through the night until this morning.”

Mundric – “We have bad news.”

Egmond – “Ludger, assemble the council inside the fort.”

Ludger – “It will be done, my lord.”

Egmond – “Mundric. Atilos. Your men can sleep, but both of you need to come to the council and tell us all what happened.”