Calen felt that he heard the term before, so he asked Isara if it meant something specific. She thought for a bit and shook her head:
"Ashbound is just an old term for people who are doomed, I don't think it's tied to any specific fate or situation."
It was already getting late, so they said goodnight to each other, and went towards their respective bedrooms - tomorrow was going to be a long day, so they should rest as much as they can.
______________________
Tharosk was tired.
He hasn't slept since he left the fortress for the livestock check almost two days ago. It wasn't an abnormal amount of time during an invasion, but he has to admit that being stationed on this backwater world has made him soft.
It was almost dusk when they reached their next stop - another building marked by dustling sorcery.
"Kaerith, prepare a gate." Ordered Tharosk
"Right away, sir."
The Mindcarver took out a very long needle and a bottle of black viscous liquid out of his saddle bag. He dipped the the sharp end of the needle in the bottle, and stabbed the the stone wall of the building. Instead of stopping, it went through the brick, and Kaerith started drawing the shape of a door.
A few seconds later the building had a new, pitch black entrance.
The gates were a rudimentary application of the power that allowed them to invade other worlds, and they could only penetrate inanimate matter in a limited area. What made them useful was that unlike Worldbridges, they could be created by any Serakhiin with right tools, not just specialised Pathseekers.
"We should enter quickly, sir, the night is almost here and the gate won't hold long with the dustling sorcery all over the building."
There were many things lurking in the dark that were too much for just two hunters, so they quickly entered the building, taking their mounts with them.
"It smells like death in here." Commented Tharosk. "Very pleasant."
"I shall take the first watch, sir" announced Kaerith.
Normally Tharosk would admonish his subordinate for indirectly insinuating that he was weak and needed sleep, but the young soldier was right so he would let it slide this one time.
He assumed a meditative position in the corner, and entered a deep trance, leaving his second-in-command with his own thoughts.
Kaerith was quite young, going by this world's cycles he would be only fifty years old - for comparison his commander had over five hundred years of experience.
He was assigned to the blood battalion after their last Mindcarver was accused of conspiring against Tharosk. The fate of his predecessor wasn't spelled out to him, but it was clear that he was executed.
After taking over Kaerith learned a lot about Tharosk from the notes the previous Mindcarver has left him. He immediately understood that there was no mutiny, his commander simply hated his predecessor.
The Invasion of this world was the start of Tharosk's career, it was here that he managed to climb from a simple foot soldier to a mighty Ravager. Back then his commander burned with pride and ambition, so when the blood battalion was ordered to remain and guard the already conquered world Tharosk was outraged.
One would think that centuries of a glorified patrol duty would mellow his commander out, but no - Tharosk was just as proud and ambitious as when he joined the army.
Kaerith considered his predecessor to be foolish - The Ravager was a great warrior, but his mind was rather simple, and it didn't take much to keep him satisfied.
In truth he didn't need to keep watch, as the building was sealed by dustling sorcery, but he knew better than to suggest going against protocol. So, with practically nothing to do he took out a piece of bone and started carving it with his knife.
As the hours slow crawled by, the ivory shard in his hand slowly started taking the shape of a whistle. If he made it correctly it would produce a sound that can scare off most of the corrupted beasts.
They would need it once they leave the reach of the creeping veil - beyond the vines, the true horrors roamed.
Exactly six hours later Tharosk stood up, signaling that it was Mindcarver's turn to rest.
"Nothing unusual happened, sir." Stated Kaerith.
The report was pointless, but it made the commander happy.
"Rest well soldier, we set off at dawn."
Kaerith nodded and sat quietly in the corner, and closed his eyes.
_______________________
Calen and his companions were standing on the balcony of the same room as yesterday, discussing the landmark they should walk towards.
"I'm telling you Cass, we should go to the giant tree, it's the most notable landmark and the druids who lived there might be still alive" Said Calen.
"You're not thinking logically, the hills are a better vantage point, and we could potentially spot the next temple from there. If the tree is inhabited we'll see the signs from there as well." Argued Cassian.
"You're forgetting that we have to reach the next safe spot before it gets dark, and we have a much better chance to hide near a giant tree."
"Or we'll find a great abomination waiting there waiting between the roots, and we'll all die."
"And how does going to a hill fix that?!"
Calen and Cassian glared at each other, but before they could start arguing again Isara interrupted them:
"Guys, this argument is pointless. If we go to the tree, we can go to the hill next day, and if we go to the hill we'll have enough time to reach the tree before it gets dark."
"What do you suggest then?" Asked Cassian.
"Let's do a coin flip."
Calen and Cassian both agreed.
Since they didn't have an actual coin, Isara found a roughly circular and flat stone in the atrium, and scratched two symbols on the opposite sides.
"Okay, Cal you'll be the sun, and Cass will be the sword. Ready?"
They both nodded, and she tossed the stone in the air. It rotated a few times in the air, and finally landed, displaying two crossed lines, one shorter than the other.
It was the sword.
Calen sighed and said:
"I guess we're going for the hill then, check if you have everything and we're leaving."
They went to the underground chamber to make sure they didn't leave something behind, but the shelves and desks were empty.
"Where's Auren?" asked Isara.
"In the atrium, I'm going to get him." Answered Calen.
As he entered the the slowly blooming garden, he started yelling the for the wyrm. Auren started responding to his name the same day they have given it to him, and Calen was half convinced that the beast could actually understand them.
A moment later something heavy fell on him, almost toppling him over.
The wyrm was once again perched on his shoulder, staring at him with its big golden eyes. Calen could have sworn that Auren was a little bigger than before.
Now that they had everything, they covered themselves in an illusion once more, and stepped out of the temple.
They had a long road ahead of them, and Calen had a feeling that finding the next temples was going te be much, much more difficult.
_______________________
When Kaerith finished his meditation, Tharosk was already pacing impatiently, waiting to depart.
"You're up, good. I saw you made a Shriekbone, it will be useful later. Now open the gate, there's no time to waste."
"Of course, sir."
The Mindcarver quickly created another passage and they left the building.
The crimson sun has just started rising, bit the most powerful predators were already asleep - they were ready to set off.
Suddenly, a loud crack came from behind them, and they turned around to face the potential threat.
In front of them stood another Serakhiin, dressed in an elegant gray robe, nonchalantly dusting him self off. On his breast a black pin in the shape of a bleeding eye glistened.
An imperial Pathseeker.
"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Asked pleasantly Tharosk, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Silence, you worm." The Pathseeker's voice was low and sharp. "I bring orders directly from the Korratoth of the Seventh imperial army, and you're going to listen."
Orders from the Dreadmarshal himself? Why was he interested in this pile of ash?
"Once you're done with your current task, you're to investigate the reports of a dustling settlement to the west. I am currently hosted by your Blightwarden, when you're finished report directly to me. Here are the detailed orders."
The Pathseeker handed Tharosk a yellowed scroll with an imperial seal, and disappeared.
Tharosk was even more confused now - why in Her name would Lord Korratoth concern himself with a group of worms?
He opened the scroll, and his eyes started tracing the text. As he got further into the text his lips twisted into a smile, and his eyes glowed with savage happiness.
"What is it, sir?" Asked Kaerith.
"It seems like we're about to step up in the world." He tucked the scroll behind his belt "Come, the sooner we set off the sooner we will taste glory."