a voice that could stop someone in their tracks — this was it. “You’ve got a visitor outside.”
Said visitor turned out to be her father, half-soaked in melted snow and overcome with joy at the sight of her. He rushed towards her and hugged tight, his grip like a vice.
“Easy. Less bear hugs please.”
“Sorry.” His laughter high-pitched and fraught with nerves. “Just worried that’s all. If anything had happened to you I—”
“--I’m alright.” She looked up into his big worried chestnut-brown eyes as he wiped them. “It looks worse than it is.”
“What happened? Last I heard you went off after that wolverine and next thing I know you’re fighting dragons.” Jorge grinned, his face beaming with pride.
“I’ll tell you all about it.”
Upstairs on the highest floor, the Captains congregated in the meeting room discussing the events of that afternoon and bickering amongst themselves. With the temple purged of all intruders and the bodies being identified and processed some semblance of normalcy returned. Many lives both civilian and within the priesthood had been lost, including Captain Carmine. Captain Falkner was presumed dead until they could find his body. Several areas were damaged heavily during the fighting and would require repairs and craftsman to be shipped in from the mainland. The mortuary was under heavy guard at all times, once cleared of undead it became apparent some of the cultists had burrowed into the mortuary using the ancient network of mine shafts and caverns burrowed beneath the mountain range.
“What I want to know is how they got through the enchantments.” Olivia demanded. “I checked those yesterday and they were all intact. Anyone coming through the walls should have been vaporised.”
“You’re sure?” Reiner asked, steepling his fingers as he listened to the Captains bickering. The Commander watched with interest, mild irritation flickering on her face, whenever tensions flared.
“Yes I’m sure Soranus. I went through all hundred and twenty-eight of the rites and rituals. I’d remember something like that.” She glared at him.
He’d learnt since their last meeting that her younger brother had died in the assault, her grief was raw and tangible. They’d only found out upon returning from the burial tombs. He moderated his tone with care.
“I am not blaming or accusing you Olivia. I wish to be sure. Inquisitor Haures and his cultists made a grave error coming here.” He cursed himself internally at his poor choice of words, though no one seemed to have noticed. Too wrapped up in their own thoughts.
“I’ll second that.” Captain Lewis spoke up. Offering a dour nod to Reiner before slumping back into his chair. His grizzled face scrunched up in focus and a fresh set of cuts marked his left cheeks.
“It’s my understanding.” Amelia cut in, her fingers skimming through a dusty tome on her desk. “That all underground passage ways beneath the stronghold were flooded or collapsed. Well over a hundred years ago in fact.”
“Flooding wouldn’t have deterred any undead but the cultists and the Inquisitor seemed alive to me. Perhaps they found a way to drain it?” Reiner asked, feeling very self-conscious as the commander and the other captains turned towards him.
“They’d have to know about them first.” Laelia replied after several uncomfortable seconds. “I suppose they could have used old mining records and maps from the abandoned Spellstone mines. They run close by.”
“That hasn’t answered my question.” Olivia shouted, slamming a gauntleted fist upon the table drawing their attention. “Even if they knew about the mining tunnels we’ve still prepared for that with defensive enchantments. None of which activated.”
“Captain Stavros, calm yourself please. We will get to the bottom of this, I assure you.” Amelia replied, her voice steady. Olivia shrunk back down into her chair and avoided eye-contact.
“This
Said visitor turned out to be her father, half-soaked in melted snow and overcome with joy at the sight of her. He rushed towards her and hugged tight, his grip like a vice.
“Easy. Less bear hugs please.”
“Sorry.” His laughter high-pitched and fraught with nerves. “Just worried that’s all. If anything had happened to you I—”
“--I’m alright.” She looked up into his big worried chestnut-brown eyes as he wiped them. “It looks worse than it is.”
“What happened? Last I heard you went off after that wolverine and next thing I know you’re fighting dragons.” Jorge grinned, his face beaming with pride.
“I’ll tell you all about it.”
Upstairs on the highest floor, the Captains congregated in the meeting room discussing the events of that afternoon and bickering amongst themselves. With the temple purged of all intruders and the bodies being identified and processed some semblance of normalcy returned. Many lives both civilian and within the priesthood had been lost, including Captain Carmine. Captain Falkner was presumed dead until they could find his body. Several areas were damaged heavily during the fighting and would require repairs and craftsman to be shipped in from the mainland. The mortuary was under heavy guard at all times, once cleared of undead it became apparent some of the cultists had burrowed into the mortuary using the ancient network of mine shafts and caverns burrowed beneath the mountain range.
“What I want to know is how they got through the enchantments.” Olivia demanded. “I checked those yesterday and they were all intact. Anyone coming through the walls should have been vaporised.”
“You’re sure?” Reiner asked, steepling his fingers as he listened to the Captains bickering. The Commander watched with interest, mild irritation flickering on her face, whenever tensions flared.
“Yes I’m sure Soranus. I went through all hundred and twenty-eight of the rites and rituals. I’d remember something like that.” She glared at him.
He’d learnt since their last meeting that her younger brother had died in the assault, her grief was raw and tangible. They’d only found out upon returning from the burial tombs. He moderated his tone with care.
“I am not blaming or accusing you Olivia. I wish to be sure. Inquisitor Haures and his cultists made a grave error coming here.” He cursed himself internally at his poor choice of words, though no one seemed to have noticed. Too wrapped up in their own thoughts.
“I’ll second that.” Captain Lewis spoke up. Offering a dour nod to Reiner before slumping back into his chair. His grizzled face scrunched up in focus and a fresh set of cuts marked his left cheeks.
“It’s my understanding.” Amelia cut in, her fingers skimming through a dusty tome on her desk. “That all underground passage ways beneath the stronghold were flooded or collapsed. Well over a hundred years ago in fact.”
“Flooding wouldn’t have deterred any undead but the cultists and the Inquisitor seemed alive to me. Perhaps they found a way to drain it?” Reiner asked, feeling very self-conscious as the commander and the other captains turned towards him.
“They’d have to know about them first.” Laelia replied after several uncomfortable seconds. “I suppose they could have used old mining records and maps from the abandoned Spellstone mines. They run close by.”
“That hasn’t answered my question.” Olivia shouted, slamming a gauntleted fist upon the table drawing their attention. “Even if they knew about the mining tunnels we’ve still prepared for that with defensive enchantments. None of which activated.”
“Captain Stavros, calm yourself please. We will get to the bottom of this, I assure you.” Amelia replied, her voice steady. Olivia shrunk back down into her chair and avoided eye-contact.
“This
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