The ground was boggy and soggy underfoot, sucking at Stathis’ feet, making her fight for every footstep, sapping her energy. In the darkness, it was impossible to see more than a few paces, even the enchanted light-stone dangling from her shield just illuminating a random patch of ground. She could hear others around her, struggling their own way through the marsh, every movement accompanied by gulping slurps and wet slaps from the mud.

Where was Janaxia? It would be helpful to hitch a lift on her throne! But seeing the dark shape amidst mostly pitch-darkness was impossible, and of course it made no sound. How much further was there to go? It seemed as though they’d been staggering through the marsh for hours, although even that was a guess, with there being nothing to tell the time from. They could have been going in circles for hours, for all she knew!

Wood creaked somewhere above her, making her look up, only barely able to see the suggestion of movement, before she angled her shield upwards.

Semari cursed at her, raising a hand to cover her eyes, stood on the moss-covered branches of a tree, the thing looking dead, trunk swallowed up in a sickly yellow mould. Her legs were splattered with lumps of claggy mud, wet with swamp-water.

‘Find anything?’

‘There’s, like, an old building. Or I think it’s old – everything here is shitty and falling apart, it might have been abandoned a few months back, for all I can tell! But it’s, like, raised up and less soggy. Not far, that way.’

She pointed, Stathis turning to follow her finger, hearing several other curses as her light flashed over them. Through the deep darkness, she could just about make out a dull-grey block, looming up out of the marsh. Stathis began heading for it, the mud pulling back at her, dragging at her with every step.

It was a relief to reach it, and be able to pull herself out of the mire, the stuff trying to pull her back in, settling back with a grotesque slobbering noise. Free of the muck, she could move freely now! Although her trousers and the padding beneath her armour were thick and heavy with muddy water.

Up on the raised stone there was a rickety wooden building, rotting wood falling apart – like Semari had said, it was impossible to tell if that was recent or not. The raised platform looked larger than she had first thought, with several outhouses. Maybe it had been an attempt at a farm?

It took some time for everyone else to drag themselves out of the mire, everyone covered with the horrible stuff, except for Janaxia, Skotadi and Armoniki, the latter two sharing a double throne, although the seats and backs kept changing, the two of them not-so-subtly jostling for position.

‘Any idea where we are, Janaxia?’ Even with the slighter higher viewpoint, there was still nothing to see, except the all-encompassing darkness, heavy and oppressive.

‘Hmmm. I think this might be the Makarny Farm. Although it appears a little more rotted than I recall, but if this pall is siphoning away magic, then the preservative spells will likely have faded to nothing. And given how old the structure is, the ravages of time would have been swift. If so, then that means we are not far from Saltstone.’

‘And your manor?’

‘The rear wall should be a few miles that way.’

‘Eugh, we gotta go over the walls? I’ve seen your gardens, and they’re filled with, like, death plants and stuff. Plus whatever undead beasties! And all kinds of other stuff. And it’s too wet to burn down!’

‘You mentioned the defences – how dangerous is going over the back wall?’

‘Some of the plants are rather unfriendly, at least if still alive. I don’t know if there will be much in the way of active defences – whichever of my siblings has assumed command is unlikely to be military-minded.’

‘And this darkness means that any guards are going to be useless. So apart from whatever we happen to stumble into, we should be safe. What’s the quickest way into the place you last saw the Blade? You said the walls were too thick to break through?’

‘Heavily reinforced, yes.’

‘But you can guide us through the house? And lower any protections you know of?’

‘I imagine the wards will have been altered, but I will do what I can to eliminate the rest. The passage to the area requires going through Mother’s chambers though – even with her hopefully final passing, that is where the most powerful protections will be. And of course the Blade itself will likely be protected.’

‘We’ll deal with that when we get there. And you two can do whatever to try and patch the Blade up, or make them manifest or something?’

Skotadi pouted, her horn-chains clinking.

‘It’s to stop everything being destroyed! Don’t whine.’

‘Hmph. I suppose I can lend some of my power, in such a scenario. Although it really is…’

‘Don’t blame them! Just don’t back out at the last minute, because this is probably going to be pretty tough. If there’s more of those shapeshifters, we should watch out – I guess we all know each other well enough not to fall for a duplicate? And the three of you can draw out whatever powers them, can’t you?’

Janaxia, Skotadi and Armoniki all nodded, Skotadi and Armoniki baring their teeth, looking hungry.

‘If you do wake the Blade, then make sure it doesn’t try and kill us all.’

The two of them telepathically mumbled vaguely until Stathis glared at them, and their sound moved closer to assent.

We will have to sacrifice some measure of our energy. Although I’m sure Skotadi will happily contribute.

‘Stop fighting! Both of you can donate some, or whatever you have to do.’ They turned from glaring at each other to glare at Stathis. ‘Is there anything else you’ll need? Will we have to do something, or protect you while you go into trances or something?’

‘There may be a certain amount of that, yes.’ Skotadi sighed, fluttering her hair out ostentatiously. ‘They could be rather unreasonable.’

‘Well, we want to do it fast. In, out, we don’t want a stand-up fight.’

‘Yeah, I bet Janaxia’s family has, like, all sorts of weird, creepy shit! Just staying in the stables was freaky enough, and the weird caves and stuff underneath. Hey, isn’t there, like, a secret tunnel we can use to get in or something? Stathis had those.’

‘This is a marsh. While my knowledge of geology is limited, what is beneath us is mostly wet soil – so, sadly, no – there are no secret passages to grant us such easy access, at least not that extend outside of the grounds proper. Regrettably, we are going to have to pass over, or through, the walls. However, unless they have been reinforced, that should be eminently possible, as they are largely old brick, with the mortar largely corroded. Vrintar, I suspect this would be task most suitable for yourself?’

‘Before that, which of your siblings have we still got to get through? You’ve got so many I’ve lost track. And any other weird relatives or ancient guardian aunts or whatever else.’

Is it really that hard? Considering our relationship, the least you could do is try and recall my own kin! I can at least remember Carissia, and Chief Commander Iochia. ‘There is Greganx, who I sincerely hope is still languishing in a dungeon. Peresperan, whose soul was claimed by a fragment of the Blade, a fate which it is unlikely he will escape. Kivata, who has been surprisingly useful. So that leave Ophexia, Trakatha and Shamuth – Shamuth is the least dangerous, although does have an impressive command of enchantment magic. Given that you have previously shown a high level of perseverance against such powers, perhaps you would be the most suitable against him? Also his wife, who seemed a touch peculiar when last we met – I would presume she has some level of prowess herself, but she did seem a little… strange.’

‘That’s very vague.’

‘I don’t know much about her. She was rather stand-offish. I believe she tried to poison me several times? That seems unlikely to be a danger in the current circumstances, although it would probably be best for Semari to avoid eating any random food she finds. Ophexia and Trakatha are rather greater threats – Ophexia is on par with Peresperan in personal power, and rather less easy to goad. It is likely that she has secured many of Mother’s personal effects, at least those that she can get her hands on. Semari, you briefly fought her before, when all of this started.’

‘Oh, her! Yeah, she’s annoying. Wriggly and stuff, ran away up a wall.’

‘Precisely. She has some skill at combat. If we encounter her, then I would recommend she be the immediate focus – against multiple combatants, she will, I hope, struggle. Of course, be wary of whatever effects she may produce, as they are likely to be potent and dangerous. Perhaps we should send Semari ahead to scout? When we hear her screaming, then we know to either investigate or to avoid that area.’

‘Hey! I think you should go in, you, like, know the place.’

‘Stop squabbling, we’re going in together! What about the other one, Trakatha? You don’t mention her much.’

‘She is… something of a recluse. A talented researcher and suchlike. I imagine that many of the creatures we have fought have been her creations – it is entirely likely that she did a lot of the work to sunder the Blade. But she is neither politically minded, nor particularly ambitious. I have never had the measure of her in personal combat – I doubt she is that potent, but she will have guardians and other items. I would hope that she doesn’t attack personally though – by the standards of my family, she is relatively inoffensive. If there is a chance for conversation, then Hakara would probably enjoy discussion of magical theory with her. At least once we have put this affair behind us.’

‘Right. So she’s going to have loads of weird stuff then? And probably lots of undead? Do you think you can talk her down?’

‘I doubt she has any personal commitment to the cause, but it is likely that she is under some level of mental influence. The shards give some level of control – Ophexia was under the control of Mother, although that has likely ceased with her death. Assuming she is truly dead, of course. It would be rather inconvenient if she were to have returned!’ She shivered, Stathis stepping forward to give her a pat on the shoulder, the touch seeming to comfort her, Janaxia leaning into the contact.

‘Right. So Ophexia is probably the biggest threat. Trakatha we can maybe talk down, and Shamuth is weaker and kind of creepy. Any conventional forces?’

‘Probably some undead, ghosts and suchlike. Oh, and there were some mercenaries here before – it would seem likely that they are still here, or possibly have been augmented into undead.’

‘I’m… not sure that’s the best term, all things considered. Oh, and some shapeshifters as well, I guess? Can the three of you deal with them?’

Armoniki crunched their teeth together and grinned. I shall feast!

‘Just don’t make it weird. So, Janaxia, which way are we going from here?’

Hmmm. Janaxia looked around, trying to orientate herself. ‘That way is eastwards, I believe. So it should be a short distance that way. There was the remnants of a road, atop the marsh. There used to be other buildings out here, although I believe that an ancestor took offence to them intruding upon the sightlines from the manor, and destroyed them, in order to make the view more aesthetic. The ruins certainly did have a wistful romance on a moonlit night!’ She leaned in closer to Stathis, eyes bright.

‘Uh, OK. So, that way? It’s probably not worth trying to scout far ahead in this visibility, but do you want to try and go a bit ahead, Vrintar? Let us know if you reach the wall, or any guards, and we’ll try and support you.’

‘I like not this place, nor the darkness upon the world. Let us put an end to this swiftly, and then we can be done with this! And then the light will return.’ Vrintar swung her axe through the air. ‘Flame to cleanse this place from the earth.’ There was a flash-flare of heat from her.

‘I appreciate the thought, but there is some architectural merit here! Some light destruction, rather than a full-blooded ravaging, if you would be so kind. And that goes for you as well, Semari. Just because there are likely bottles and vials of preservative reagents that are prone to explosions, does not mean that you have licence to cause any mass damage! You should strive to be a good example to these two.’ She gestured at Skotadi and Armoniki.

Semari rolled her eyes, before leaping away, vanishing into the darkness. Vrintar moved to follow her, the heat-haze moving with her, the air turning muggy and clammy in her absence.

‘Everyone else ready? Parth, you got everything?’

‘The Darkness shall be purged. To bring the new dawn and the promise of tomorrow, I shall bring fury and flame.’

‘I do not wish to be annoying, but I would like to reiterate my previous point, regarding a general preference that the place not be gutted entirely? While some of the extensions and expansions are rather crude, the core building is sound and rather elegant. You can destroy the east wing, and much of the outbuildings, but I would rather prefer if you were able to keep the central building intact and unburned.’

‘Flame to purge, steel to slay.’

‘That is understandable, but not entirely comforting! Although I suppose I trust your judgement. Kindly give me warning if I am near the area, at least, as I would prefer to remain unscorched.’

‘If feasible.’ Parth ghosted away into the darkness, vanishing from sight.

‘Right, let’s get to it then. You two, try and stay out of direct combat? What happens if someone does stab you?’

Skotadi and Armoniki both looked at each other, before turning to look at Stathis in eerie synchronicity, giving the same jagged-tooth grin, Skotadi speaking. ‘Matters shall become unpleasant.’

‘You’re not actually invulnrable or indestructible though, are you? So try to avoid anything too risky. Just drain out the life from any of the shapeshifters, and try and guide us through. And blow up any traps or whatever. And if I tell you to do something, then do it, it’s for you own good.’

Skotadi hissed, before Janaxia glared at her, the visible spiky-ripples in her hair fading away.

‘Hmph. I suppose you have greater experience at this sort of thing. I far prefer being in a more senior position, where there is rather less risk.’

‘Let’s get through this first!’

Stathis drew her sword, heading in the way that Janaxia had indicated. Even at close range, she had to peer at the ground to see the soggy, muddy path, but there was a light dusting of gravel, somewhat easier to walk on than the soggy, claggy swamp. Up ahead, there was just darkness, not even the moons visible.