The clink of armored plates and the thud of heavy metal grieves have become a rhythmic echo in Thorpe's small cottage as Ethel paces back and forth. Her face is marred with tight wrinkles from the grimace that has molded into her features and hasn't left.
Thorpe and I have stayed at the table. The old man already has two empty ale bottles in front of him and is currently working on a third. At the same time, I couldn't really stomach the tea anymore. The last few minutes have been spent filling the [Knight] in on our findings and what Thorpe is pretty certain is going on.
And she did NOT take it well.
Ethel and Steppan were already fairly certain that it was [Bandits] who had at least carried out the caravan attack. But the Brigand raids have substantial evidence as well, so it wasn't ruled out immediately, even if the caravan didn't match up.
Mercenaries who turn to Brigandry RARELY kill people. It would be far more trouble than it's worth, especially in the central and northern regions. Robbing and extorting people can certainly run the risk of casualties, but the caravan attack was an absolute slaughter. Even Lord Felix highly doubts it was brigands, but doesn't want to narrow his options yet.
But what Thorpe and I told her was obviously far worse than anything they had been considering…
Ethel halts her pacing and firmly sinks her face into the leather palms of her gauntleted hands. Releasing a groan that vibrates the wood beneath her feet. "I can't…" She huffs through gritted teeth. "I can't just take all this at face value. It's far too overwhelming."
Thorpe nods solemnly. "I don't expect you to. It's a lot to take in, and I haven't exactly been able to confirm most of it." He admits. "I'm working off my experience and pure intuition here. A lot of it makes sense to me after what we've been through the last several years. And they had no reason to lie about it. At least to my estimation."
The [Knight] roughly rubs her hands down her face, stretching her cheeks and eyelids down with them. "This is way above my pay grade. Do you…have ANY evidence at all that I can present to Lord Felix?" She asks with quite the irritation, but at least it doesn't seem directed at us exactly.
The old man lets out a long sigh. "As stated, we have their [Cook]. He knows the group that attacked the caravan intimately. But regarding the Urka, he can confirm the state of Whital and their journey up here. I also have some of their flash pipes stored in our armory." He takes the last swig of his third ale before pushing the bottles away from himself. "I can also mark the area where their camp is if you promise not to kill the Sovereign Crane out there. It's as much a part of our defenses as I am."
Ethel approaches the table again to look seriously at Old Guard. "I swear it on my honor." She assures him, even though her face sinks right afterwards. "But we'll still likely need more than that. I am certain it will convince Lord Felix, but we need enough to convince the Margrave to get the Scout Corps involved."
Thorpe groans, leaning far back against his chair until it creaks. "But they HAVE to be noticing something's wrong at this point. If Whital has been invaded, then the teleportation gate in Berxley shouldn't be getting anything from them."
My eyes widen at that. I hadn't considered that at all until now, actually. But I guess I don't really know how frequently the teleport gates are used. They are super expensive, according to Mama. Usually upwards of a Gold Tenth, depending on how many people or how much cargo.
The [Knight] frowns. "That is partly why I can't just accept this so easily, nor why anyone would. As far as I remember, the gates were opening just fine through the main cities. And the Southern Capitals are a large portion of its use." She admits somewhat sternly. "I trust your intuition, and I am taking this information seriously. But the court in Berxley will not be so easily swayed."
A twitch flares across my cheek as frustration rises in my gut. "So after all of that, it's not even enough to get us help?!" I snap out at the [Knight]. The woman flinches and stares back with surprise. Thorpe appears a bit shocked as well.
Their stares make my chest feel like it's tightening up. My head lowers as all the vigor that spiked up vanishes. "I'm sorry…"
The [Knights] face softens, and she gives me a dismissive wave of her hand. "No need, Liore. I understand the frustration. Grandian bureaucracy can be a pain. But the continent is gargantuan, and things can't be easily moved around as much as we'd like. So checks and balances have to apply, or else it'd be a waste of resources if we're wrong. And the Grand Kingdom despises wasting resources." She explains, focused on me entirely. "Your village claims that the whole Grand is about to be invaded by an enemy that has been weakened and thwarted for centuries. And that they are being led by, essentially, a newly minted demigod…"
My lips purse at that. And I'm starting to see what she means.
Shifting my attention over to Thorpe, who is now grimacing quite considerably.
The old man lets out a long, drawn-out sigh before he leans forward sharply to glare at the woman. "Alright! I get your point." He grumbles a bit under his breath before shaking his head. "I think we can get better confirmation straight from the source, MAYBE. But we are going to need your help to do it."
Ethel nods curtly before moving to sit back down in her chair at the table. Giving Thorpe her full attention. "What do you have in mind?"
Old Guard reaches up to scratch into the stubble growing on his cheeks. "From what it sounds like, our fields are faring quite a bit better than the other villages. Likely for the same reason our crops are somehow resistant to the plague in town." He begins as the lines on his face become more pronounced. "Even if the salt sand they're using to poison our fields is enchanted in some way, we still refresh and buff the fields from the Village Hall after each crop rotation. The other villages do the same thing as well. Not to mention all the rain we get out here…"
The [Knights] gaze hardens as it seems she realizes where he's going with this. "So they would have to be resetting it pretty regularly. Especially here."
I nod slowly, frowning at the implication that has been bothering me since the meeting last night. "Which means they would have to be close by."
Ethel leans forward, propping up her elbows and clutching her hands together. A pensive expression set into her features. "The Meld forest is difficult to search through. But if this salt sand is turning the soil white, then that could be a good indicator to look for." She muses aloud. "They've been doing it for years and have to do it frequently. So they must either have a lot of it…or a close enough way to get more."
Thorpe gives a low hum. "Most likely, they have a lot of it. No easy route anywhere around here. We have an entire mountain range between the Doncaster Region and us. And since it's in the Meld, they're probably hidden in a crag or cave beneath the root floor." He surmises. "It stains the crops white too…and even if they have it stored in easy-to-move containers like sacks or casks, they'd definitely have at least some leakage." The old man slowly shakes his head. "But it'd be like finding a needle in a haystack…"
The [Knight] is quiet for a moment. Tapping one of her metal digits against the knuckle of her other hand. "Agreed…and for such a long period of time, they'd have to have a [Cook] with them. Which means fire…"
My eyes narrow as a thought occurs to me as well. "The root floor would disperse the smoke like a vent. But depending on how long they stay in one spot, it'd probably blacken the roots. And the smell would still draw predators. Not to mention, they would be hunting in the area."
A chill rolls down my spine as a sinking realization settles into my stomach. And my face must look pretty shocked because Thorpe notices instantly.
The old man cracks a grin in my direction. "Liore…you figured it out, didn't you?"
Ethel lifts a brow at Thorpe's reaction before shifting her attention to me as well.
My attention flickers between the two of them, getting a bit more nervous. But after taking a deep breath, I look towards Old Guard. "The horned wolves…"
And like a cold wind rushes in, the old man flinches and his eyes widen. "Liore…you are brilliant."
Ethel keeps a brow raised but she sits up straighter. "What is she talking about? I didn't think Horned Wolves were native to the Meld."
I shake my head at her, clearing my throat while the sinking dread still lurks in my mind. "They aren't. But a few years ago, before I came of age, a large pack of Horned Wolves showed up and were raiding our pastures for weeks."
Thorpe stands up from his seat, looking quite shaken. Continuing where I leave off, he paces over to the window in his kitchen area. "Their fur was orange with white manes. Northern packs. Traders from Berxley have issues with them all the time." He notes, narrowing his eyes as one of the Villagers outside sprints past the window down the road. He returns his attention to us while unsealing a fresh bottle of ale that he gets from the cupboard under the window. "We managed to route them to the south and then Liore's older brother killed the last of them. And I was going to check up north to see what might have sent them down here but…well…it was a stressful time for us and I kind of forgot." The old man chuckles a little awkwardly.
'Stressful time', meaning I got sick and almost died. Which I can't blame him for forgetting something during that whole debacle. It's pretty hazy to me even now.
The [Knight] is slowly nodding along. "And the Horned Wolves usually have multiple dens and move further south as the year goes on to escape winter and have a better chance of game."
Thorpe grimaces, a dark expression shifting on his face. "Something, or someONE, kicked them out of their southern den right before winter."
We all nod in unison as Ethel takes a sip of her tea that has likely gone cold by now. "Then I think we have an accord."
"CAPTAIN!!!!"
We all flinch at the yell that echoes from outside and down the road. Followed by the sharp ringing of the [Village Halls] bell that continues to ring repeatedly.
Thorpe rushes up to his door just as several hard knocks rap against it. Old Guard swinging it open fast enough that the [Guard] on the other side knocks a couple more times just on the air before he realizes.
Thorpe's face screws up in confusion. "Report! What the hell is going on?!"
The [Guard] catches his breath, already looking sweaty and ragged. "Not good Captain. Jackelopes. A whole mess of them. Full-grown adults with them. They're swarming towards the fields!"
Color drains from my face. And focusing just a bit, I can hear lots of shouting off in the distance.
But a shock runs through my body, sending me to my feet and hurdling me into a sprint. Knocking past Thorpe and the [Guard] at breakneck speed. Dread sinking into every fiber of my being. "MAMA!!"
I can hear Thorpe and Ethel yelling at me from behind, but I can't understand them. I can't stop myself. My mind is already instinctively using [Leap Stride] as the village blurs around me.
My heart pounding like a drum as my right hand reaches for the hilt on my back.