The dead remained kneeling as the expedition descended into the valley.
Thousands of bodies filled the fields surrounding the monastery. Soldiers in rotted armour knelt beside farmers, priests, children, and things that had been buried long enough to lose every trace of flesh. All faced the broken bell tower at the centre of the ruins.
The bell rang again.
None of the corpses moved.
Captain Dalen stopped the column behind a low stone wall and studied the slope ahead.
"That road leads straight through them."
Jaro crouched beside him. "There used to be a pilgrim path along the eastern ridge. It joins the monastery behind the cemetery."
"Used to?"
"The hillside collapsed years ago. I don't know how much remains."
Dalen looked toward Teclos.
"Can you sense a way through?"
Teclos spread Dark Sense across the valley.
