The grove was in tatters as Renni sat in the circle, doing her morning prayers. She would have days of work ahead of her even if she didn’t fix the shed.

  Her eyes opened to view the chaos of shattered trees and fallen branches with leaves stuck to walls and dirt smeared on every surface. Ants picked through the remnants of berries and gourds in her smashed garden, and the goat pen sat empty where the old fir tree had finally given in to the sky’s tantrum and crushed the fence flat. She would not go hungry, of course. The forest would provide - as it always did. That didn’t make the situation any less frustrating.

  Renni stared down at the guttering candle. It was nearly time to get started anyway. Reaching into the pouch of thick, armor fish scales, she grabbed a pinch and cast them onto the stone in front of her.

  They fluttered, then landed a second later. Six in total - five color-side up - two with marks. Mako and The Toad. Good portents, overall, but Mako and Toad? Rapid action, but also contentment? Hurry up and wait. She rolled her eyes. That’s the spirits for you. She gathered the scales back up, and tucked them away in the pouch.

  “Thank you for your time.” she said to the spirits. “I must take my leave.” Renni blew out the candle, lifted the staff from her lap, and hefted herself to her feet before breaking the circle of bone coal with her reed broom.

  She cracked her knuckles, then sniffed the air. There was a tinge of smoke coming from somewhere. Thin columns of it rose from the villages a mile or so out all around her. The leader of her coven would be coming soon, if the weather hasn’t changed any plans.

  She glanced over at the road and saw that it was all but completely blocked, and decided to start there. She began by tossing the sticks onto the larger branches to drag them all together out of the way.

  She picked up her weatherstained, pieballed stag statue, and tried not to let the old horns prickle her while she stood it up straight. The antlers it was built from had been dropped over the years by young bucks trying to prove their worth, so entire generations were represented. She threw the old reed mat over the rough surface of the statue, and patted it to knock off the dirt.

  “Soon.” she whispered. “Patience.”

  By the time she had cleared away all but two of the large branches in the path, three children from the village came running up the road. Out of breath, and sputtering from exertion. She recognized them though - or at least one of them.

  “Geran Whitewater. I haven’t seen you since you were chest high to a rabbit’s ear. How have you been?”

  “Ms. Dega - my mom. It’s time.” he said between heaving breaths.

  She lifted a finger in recognition. “Your brother is on the way, is he?”

  He nodded gratuitously. “Are you going to help?”

  Renni placed two fingers in her mouth and blew out a whistle that echoed through the trees. As the call surged through the forest, the sound of hooves came beating up the trail.

  “You have a horse?” the boy asked. “Are we riding back together?”

  “No, and no. There isn’t enough room for all of us.” she said.

  Geran looked out toward the woods as his breath turned to mist, and his skin prickled with goosebumps. A cold wind blew around him, swirling up the dirt and leaves. The stag horn sculpture began to glow gold with unearthly life before it stepped off of its wooden base, and the children froze with anticipation.

  “Alright, children.” Renni said as she stepped into the ruins of her shed and pulled out the old saddle. “You will ride back. I will walk.”

  The two boys seemed terrified to be sitting on the stag statue’s back, but they did as they were bid. As the statue bounded off into the forest, Renni plucked a charred fox jaw from her staff. The creature it had belonged to had died in a wildfire six years ago. If the village needs help putting out a fire, it must be time to use it.

  She gripped the fox jaw pendant, then wrapped its ribbon around her arm before putting both of her hands on the staff and spinning it into the dirt. She twisted it back and forth like she was trying to start a fire as she pulled on the wind and sky, drawing a little piece of the world into herself. Then, when the mana was rich, she recited an incantation in Corrigg before lifting the pendant to her mouth. There was no pain as she began to change, but there was a sound like squeaking and the swishing of a bird’s wings cutting through the air. Her clothing, tools, staff, - everything - all that she carried were thrown into the astral space between the worlds as bones shifted and her body shrank.

  When the change was complete, she admired her reflection in one of the puddles that remained from the storm. She saw no extra teeth or misshapen features. The entire spell had gone off without a hitch. The only thing of note was that her weight was the same as it had been before the change. A western witch made for a very large fox. She shifted her gaze to the road, and began to run.

  “Are you sure this is going to work Perrithi?” Akorthyss asked. “It seems like… quite a risk.”

  “Are you having second thoughts?” Zar Perrithi asked.

  “I am always having second thoughts. That is what it means to be in command. As soon as you know you are wrong, you need to correct your trajectory before you overcommit.”

  “So you always know that you are wrong?” Perrithi asked, but Akorthyss scowled at him as they walked down the narrow corridor.

  It was well hidden behind the basin and the regal statue. Had Perrithi not shown it to him, Akorthyss would have never found it. It made him wonder what could be so dreadful that the mage had to hide it in such a manner.

  “So what is this.. Idea you have? An untested weapon, perhaps?” Akorthyss tried.

  “In a manner of speaking, but it’s more like an untested method.”

  “A method? For what?”

  “Strengthening one’s spiritual connection - developing a level of divination.” the wizard said, putting emphasis on ‘divination’ as they reached the end of the hall. The wizard stopped short before they passed through the curtain.

  “Divination? Do you talk to spirits now, or have you just been spying on people?” Akorthyss asked.

  “No, captain. This divination only works on one type of being, and not one either of us should hold any respect for. I mean to show you how to stay one step ahead of the Scorn - not just their strategic movements, but their smaller movements as well. Every swing of the blade, every step in any direction.”

  “And how do you mean to do that?” Akorthyss asked.

  The wizard pulled the curtain to the side to reveal a dark room. Zar. Perrithi lifted his staff, and drew a sigil in the air, which flickered for a split second before an oil lamp ignited inside the room. A faint fog of chill filtered through, but stopped short a few inches through the barrier as arcane sigils pushed it back into the room. Perrithi began to cross the rough stone floor, but Akorthyss had stopped to gag. An attempt to mask the smell of the room sat heavy on the surface. Incense, ozone, and scented oil lay on top of rot like a maiden with a corpse… although, perhaps that metaphor was a bit too apt. When Perrithi turned the knob on the lamp, the room was bathed in light, and the walls smeared with blood. An abattoir arranged into a magic circle.

  Butchered corpses sat next to boiling solutions of rendering tonics of ineffable purposes. Writhing tentacles, cut from whatever creature once bore them clicked with unnatural joints. Scorn. This basement was full of butchered scorn. The watch captain grabbed the pendant of Fandarl around his neck and covered his face with his sash of office.

  “What is this? What are you showing me?”

  “The future of warfare, captain. You do not need to guess what the enemy will do if you can get inside their head.”

  “This- I cannot abide this. How- how will you explain this to the city council? How will I?”

  “We won’t. They don’t need to know.”

  “How long have you been researching this?”

  “Do you think you are the first to be here in this place? Do you think I am the first to research the topic? Of course, the Council of Nine outlawed such magic, but they are not the authority here. I am the Wizard of the Southern Court - The First Zar of Klane Levett. I get to decide what is researched and what is not. I have decided that any weapon we can use is ours to explore.”

  “I should tell the watchers.”

  Perrithi stared at him for a few seconds, gauging him, then took up one of the bottles from the rack.

  “Do you know what this is, captain?”

  “Something profane, no doubt.”

  “It is a chronotonic made from Scorn blood. It is a piece of divination that wears off like any other tonic. Your head will be clear again when it is gone, but for the time being, it will make you stronger.”

  Akorthyss wanted to run, but he wouldn’t get far with his wounds. Perrithi turned to face him, and tossed the vial toward him. Akorthyss caught it without even thinking, and held it in his hands.

  “You didn’t let it drop. Why?”

  “I - value your friendship. I don’t want this -”

  “You can lie to me, watch captain, but you cannot lie to yourself. You know that we are losing. Don’t you want to know what you can do about it? It’s perfectly safe, and it can help you win this battle.” Zar Perrithi took the other vial and uncorked it. “I will show you, watch.”

  The wizard drank the potion, a faint pain crossing his face for an instant. He blinked, then turned back to Captain Akorthyss. “There are more coming. Up Grayton’s Field Road. The next street is Calomie Way. If we run, we might be able to collapse that street there and cut them off before they get far… of course, I am not the great strategist Akorthyss. I’m sure you could make more sense of it all than I could…”

  “You can feel their movements? You just know?”

  “You could know too. You already have the keys to victory in your hands. I have enough to keep you supplied for a month if the siege lasts that long - with more on the way if you can reclaim the southern sector of the city.”

  “What do you want for this? What price will I be paying?”

  “Price? You will be reclaiming my city - vindicating my life’s work. The only price I ask is that you advocate for me if I ever get caught.”

  Akorthyss stared at him a long while before the stomping of heavy feet sounded in the street above. An abomination that got through the fence - moving up Calomie Way to hit the barricade. Time was running out.

  “Nothing is ever gained without risks, captain. We all need you to succeed - especially me. Consider it my gift to the war effort.”

  Akorthyss looked down at the bottle, turning it in his hand. As a second abomination moved up the street, bits of grit broke loose from the ceiling, and dust rained down from above. The Captain’s eyes hardened, and he yanked out the stopper.

  Madrisi wiped his brow as he set the bushel of herbs down in the basket next to Vandasa. He was drenched with sweat. He glanced up at the horizon, but the sun was still hours from setting. He wasn’t sure how much more Kraver’s Creeper he could dig out, but he was starting to suspect he would collapse at this rate. He thought about the river by the clearing, and how much he just wanted to jump into it. He could barely swim, but anything seemed like a better idea than standing in the heat.

  Lihada stepped through the grass behind him before tossing the herbs she collected into the basket, then clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You did good today. I think we have enough.” she said.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  He studied her dirty hands, and the smears they left behind on his green vest and white shirt as her fingers dragged over the fabric. He grimaced as he looked back down at the bundle, and the mud that was caked on his supple leather riding boots. “Don’t we have to process all of this still? How long will that take?”

  Vandasa regarded him wordlessly. She was sitting on a tree trunk, bronze knife in hand, cutting the leaves and buds off the creeper vines before discarding the cordon.

  “I take it longer than it seems?” Madrisi asked, but she didn’t reply. “We’ve been at this all morning. What's this even for, anyway?” he asked.

  Her gaze sharpened. “We need it to make an essential oil for your ritual. Besides, all you've done all morning is complain.” she said, simply. “It’s not like you’ll be doing the processing. Of the five of us, only two know how.”

  He was taken aback by the sharpness of her tone. “Well, I- I’m just not used to the rigor of…”

  “Of what? Picking flowers in a meadow? Have you ever done any work with both hands? Do you have any idea how incredible the weather is right now? If it were any cooler you’d need to put your coat back on.” Vandasa said.

  “Well, I just thought we’d spend more time in the city, that’s all.” Madrisi said. “A walk on empty streets is a lot less taxing than gardening.”

  Lihada burst out laughing. Vandasa started chuckling too.

  “What?” He asked.

  Vandasa’s snicker came to a stop, and she flipped the blade in her hand before stabbing it into the trunk. Standing up to her full height, she towered over Madrisi. “Do you have any idea what waits for you in Klane Levett?” she asked, only a tiniest hint of amusement still in her voice.

  “Well, I have it on good authority that there isn’t much of anything on the surface. Especially during the day.” he said, trying with all of his might to sound sure of himself.

  “True, true.” she said, nodding. “On the streets themselves, at least. What about in the shade? Inside the buildings? What if there is something on the surface waiting for us?”

  Madrisi was still sweating, but he wasn’t sure if it was lingering exertion, or the sudden pressure he was feeling in his guts. “Well, that’s why I wanted to bring the watchers. You’re supposed to be the experts in dealing with Scorn.” he said.

  Lihada shrugged. “One on one? Absolutely. We can fight scorn two or three to one, even. The problem is that there’s usually a couple hundred of them at a time.”

  “Hundred?” Madrisi asked.

  Vandasa nodded. “That’s assuming there aren’t a thousand or more.”

  “A… Thousand?” Madrisi asked. “But the dead city has been… well, dead for nearly two millennia. There’s no way-”

  “The dead city has been buried for nearly two millenia, but it hasn’t been dormant. That is why there are watchers in the tower.” Lihada said.

  “The riftmarked are kept by the darkness within them. They do not age, and they do not need to eat. The dead are reanimated, rebuilt, and repurposed into abominations and structures while the riftmarked butcher and kidnap towns in raids to replenish their forces. Do you have any idea how many people lived in Klane Levett before it was taken by the Scorn? How many people have gone missing since the city fell?” Vandasa asked.

  Madrisi stared. He didn’t know what to say. What to even think. Buckland had perhaps two thousand people, and Alberek, up the road by the coast, had a few thousand more. The biggest town he’d ever seen was Arten’s Cove and Concord, but even that wasn’t as big as Klane Levett.

  “Maybe… nine thousand?” he ventured.

  The both of them burst out laughing again. Lihada doubled over laughing. “You really have no idea, do you?” the easterner asked. “Aren’t you from Alberek? Alberek has at least thirty thousand people, probably more.” Lihada said. “You could shake down the northern highlands and get nine thousand people, Madrisi. I thought you were educated.”

  He felt his face flush as he took a step back. “Well, my- I study machines, not populations.”

  “Clearly.” Vandasa added.

  “Well- I-” he began, but couldn’t find the words.

  Vandasa pointed toward the distant, decaying, stone terraces of the dead city. “Let me enlighten you. According to Census data from the Immortal Archive, when Klane Levett was at the height of its power and influence - in the days leading up to the invasion - there were 220,000 people living in that city. That’s just residents. Do you have any idea how many foreigners came to its defense during the siege? How many Scorn came to level it?”

  Madrisi shook his head. “Probably more than I can guess.”

  “Another fifty thousand defenders. Paladins, knights, wizards, even dragons. The city nearly pushed back the hordes.” Vandasa said, before taking a step back toward the stump. She stared out at it, fixing it in her gaze. “It takes a much larger force to claim a city that size besieged. Half a million Scorn at the more conservative estimates, but probably more than that. There was no way to kill that many Scorn without the empire’s help, and even if they did, it wouldn’t have mattered. The city was still lost by the time help would have come.” she sat down on the stump, still staring at that gray dot near the edge of the horizon.

  Madrisi scratched his head as he shared the view. “...So they collapsed it to keep them all inside.” he said.

  Lihada nodded, and the wind blew gently over the meadow.

  “There’s a reason the colonel sent you with us, Madrisi.” Lihada said. “You gotta get your hands dirty so we can understand how much we can do. When you’re in the dead city, sometimes you have to run. Sometimes you have to do some heavy lifting, and always, there are complications.”

  “What are the chances we have to fight something?” Madrisi asked.

  “It’s not whether or not you’ll fight something. It’s how much you will have to fight.” Vandasa said. “Everything that dies in Klane Levett will come back eventually. Treasure hunters, explorers, wild deer, even the fucking rats. And don’t think because you’ve killed it once it will stay dead. The corpses of the undead will rise again given enough time. The only thing that keeps them down for good is dismemberment or fire… or divine magic, but I haven’t seen too many demigods lately. If you go into the city, you will need to be on your guard. You will need to be protected the whole time, and you will need to run if you have to. Fighting in Klane Levett is always a losing game. It will never run out of corpses to throw at you.”

  Her words lingered as the three of them stared out at the city. After a few seconds had passed, Constan and Noriah came walking through the clearing with more Kraver’s Creeper.

  Noriah nodded at the assembled herbs. “That’s definitely enough. I think we might even have a surplus.”

  “Fantastic.” Constan said, before dropping the bundle with the rest. “How are you feeling, Madrisi? This enough of a workout for you?” he asked.

  Madrisi wasn’t sure how to feel or what to say at that moment, so he just frowned instead.

  “Watcher stuff can be taxing sometimes. Chin up, you’ll get the hang of it.” Constan added, before patting him on the shoulder, and stepping around him to head for the stream. “I’m going to go cool off.”

  “Mind if I tag along?” Madrisi asked.

  “Be my guest, brother.” Constan said, only half turning to him.

  Lihada watched them go as they marched up the path. She got the nagging sensation that everything was about to go to shit with this whole venture. All it would take is one bad run-in with the dead, and they’d be on the hook for whatever noble family came demanding answers for this young man who has absolutely no clue what he’s in for.

  “Something on your mind, Lihada?” Vandasa asked.

  Lihada turned to look at the two of them, regarding Noriah for an instant, wondering if she should ask in front of her. When the alchemist picked up a vine and began cutting off buds with a tiny, curved knife, she ultimately decided that it was best to go ahead and ask.

  “Why did the Colonel want to make Madrisi a watcher? Why would he even agree to bring Madrisi into the city at all? He must know that that man is going to die if he sets foot through those walls.”

  Vandasa huffed. “Honestly, I was wondering the same thing until a little while ago. It doesn’t make any sense on the surface - Then I got to thinking. The colonel only wants him as a Consultant. In that role, he might actually be useful, since he does have contacts beyond his own circle. As for the city, you just have to remember what we’re actually going into the city to do. The colonel isn’t planning on going underground. A quick in and out just to show this lordling what he’s really asking for.”

  Noriah lifted her eyes to the two of them, suddenly curious. “What are you going into the city to do?”

  Lihada met her gaze. There was a tense moment where two watchers considered whether or not to include someone else in their conversation. Then, Lihada looked up to the sky.

  “It’s not official watcher business, so I suppose it couldn’t hurt to tell you.” she said.

  Vandasa nodded, but added nothing.

  Lihada glanced at Noriah before her gaze shifted back to the sky. “I never knew how to fight until I joined the Watchers. That’s how it is with most people. Almost every watcher needs to meet with a retainer and learn how to hold a sword. How to stand, even. Gjeron’s watch had its own retainer for years. It had two once Seigmoor joined up…” Lihada paused before taking a deep breath.

  “Over a month ago now, we lost our first retainer in the city. Verner. We were exploring the North Gap after seeing some… odd lights for a few days.”

  “I take it the city is normally dark?” Noriah asked.

  “Always. Even at night.” Lihada said.

  “Especially at night.” Vandasa corrected. “I have seen true dark, and the city is darker than that.

  “What was it? The lights, I mean.” Noriah asked.

  “We weren’t sure when we went out, but we had our suspicions. Normally lights like those are treasure hunters going to look for wealth. Obviously, we can’t let them just wander in unsupervised. They might disturb something in the city. We were just supposed to go in, explain to them the situation, then escort them out… but that isn’t what it turned out to be. Not this time…”

  Vandasa blinked, then shook her head. “Watchers have a special connection. We were spread out at the time. We didn’t know Verner was in trouble until we felt it. We even felt it when he died. We went to see what had happened, and we found a Scorn mage raising an army of the dead and the damned. We would have, at least… had Verner not killed it first. I set the body ablaze. The least I could do was make sure it did not rise again… but the dead chased us away before we could get to Verner.”

  Lihada nodded. “Verner served the watchers for forty years. Almost everyone at Gjeron’s watch learned the ropes from that old man… He got to turn gray with a bronze dagger in his hand. The least we can do is bring him home. I know how crazy that sounds. In a city full of corpses, that might seem impossible, but somehow, against all odds, we found him… We found him in an inn near the west gate, so we locked the doors to keep him and all the other ghouls where they are. All that’s left now is to go in and clear it out.”

  “You suspect it will be easier than most ventures into the city, since it’s just through the gate. You intend to give him a taste, then let him realize how bitter the drink.” Noriah asked.

  “Exactly.” Vandasa replied.

  “What about his venture? Didn’t the colonel say he would take Madrisi to the foundry if he became a watcher?” Noriah asked.

  “You are assuming Madrisi will still want to go. Once you become a watcher, you tend to get… a more complete picture of the world. Small minded ventures like this one… they just don’t matter as much anymore.” Lihada said. “Madirisi will most likely want to go home after he becomes a watcher. By that point though, the order will have a useful asset in the north.”

  Noriah finally seemed like she understood, and a blanket of melancholy descended on the clearing.

  Constan sniffed the icy water in his hands. There was no odd smell to it, and it was remarkably clear for the day after a storm. He shrugged, then splashed it on his face. After a few more handfuls, he sipped it. Slipping off his boots and socks, he pushed his feet into the water before sitting back, and lying down in the grass.

  “Aren’t you afraid of getting ticks on you?” Madrisi asked.

  “There aren’t any ticks in these woods. Not many, anyway.” Constan said, before stretching. “Take that vest off, at least. You’re making me sweat just looking at you.”

  Madrisi regarded his vest before unfastening the buttons. He was nearly as sweaty as Constan was underneath it.

  “Why are you so tuckered out? Aren’t you supposed to be some kind of outdoorsman?” Madrisi asked.

  “A southern outdoorsman, maybe. I’m used to places where the water gives you frostbite, and you’d be lucky if the wind doesn’t too.”

  “That sounds… cold” Madrisi said.

  “It is. That’s why I’m enjoying all this sun so much. Unfortunately, that means I have to sweat a little. Comes with the territory.”

  He closed his eyes, but he could still feel Madrisi regarding him. Then, he heard the ruffling of cloth as he took his pants off and splashes as he strode into the water.

  “Saint’s balls!” Madrisi cried. “It’s freezing!”

  “You get used to it. Just give it a second.” Constan said.

  He heard Madrisi splashing, and opened his eyes to see him rinsing his face. He was only up to his thighs, and he still had his undergarments on, which was somewhat amusing to Constan.

  “Fuck - this was a mistake.” Madrisi said. He stared at the water, hesitating. “I should get out.”

  “His lordship too modest to wet all of himself?” Constan asked.

  Madrisi glared at him. “I’m not a lord. My uncle might be a noble, but I don’t even really have a title. I have bathed with the other boys in a stream before.”

  “Well go on then, dip.” Constan said.

  Madrisi stared at him, even more hesitant.

  “You were all piss and vinegar yesterday. Where’s that fire right now? This is what it’s going to be like. Staying with the watchers, I mean. There’s no tubs in the tower.”

  “What? No tubs? You’re joking.” Madrisi said.

  “Wait, you mean they didn’t tell you this is the stream we bathe in? By the way you just walked in, I thought you were about to wash. What do you think they sent you out here for?” he asked, before reaching into his bag and pulling out his bar of soap.

  “Herbs.” Madrisi said, suddenly annoyed, before gazing down at the water.

  “It’s only going to get worse.” Constan said. “Dip now, and it won’t be as bad.”

  Madrisi shook his head, started counting under his breath, then fell straight in.

  Constan burst out laughing. When Madrisi came up, he yelled and clapped his hands. “Fuck me, that’s awful!” he yelled, but Constan was nearly pissing himself as he leaned back in the grass again.

  “What’s so - fucking funny?” Madrisi asked, shivering.

  Constan hefted himself back up to his elbows, still chuckling. “I’m sorry - I couldn’t pass up on it. I was just baiting your lead! We got pipes, don’t we? Of course we got tubs!”

  Madrisi scooped up a few handfuls of water and threw them at Constan, who was back on his feet in a flash.

  He was hit by the first throw, but not the second or third. He was going to keep playing along, but instead, a familiar chill ran up his spine.

  “Wait-” Constan said, the grin on his face melting away.

  “No, now you’re getting wet!” Madrisi yelled, but Constan backed away.

  “Stop!” Constan growled. “There’s something out here.”

  Madrisi looked puzzled. “Something like what?” he asked.

  “Shhh!” Constan said, glancing back and forth at the foliage. “Get out slowly, and try not to make a sound.” Constan whispered.

  “Are you serious?” Madrisi asked.

  Constan eyed him, finger to his mouth.

  “You’re fucking with me again, aren’t you?” he asked, but Constan shook his head.

  The feeling came with a much greater severity this time. An unnatural gut feeling like a static in the air.

  “Madrisi - get out right now.” Constan whispered. “I know you can’t feel it, but we’re not alone.”

  The lordling eased out of the water, one step at a time as Constan drew his sword. He couldn’t tell exactly how many there were, or of what sort, but he knew the feeling of scorn nearby when he felt it. He knew it before the chill rippled through the air, and the unnatural miasma began to creep through the bushes. They weren’t close enough to hear him whisper, but they were definitely close enough that they had to have heard something… and there were more than a few. When Madrisi had picked up his clothes, they began to ease back toward the clearing.

  “Scorn patrol. There’s no way they should be out during the day. Much less outside the city. Something has them riled up.” Constan said.

  “Wait, aren’t they weaker in the day? Can you take them?”

  “Not this many. Especially not by myself.” he said.

  Constan waved his hand until Madrisi was behind him, and just as they neared the edge of the brush, dark shapes began to edge out of the other side. First two, then five, then at least thirty more.