𝙳𝚊𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚣: 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝙴𝚒𝚗𝚜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐

The carriage traveled the winding paths for three more days. The travelers now find themselves on the hillside road down to the village of Hieb. There is something foreboding in its quiet stillness, with no movement among the pale wooden buildings.

The setting sun's glow shines on the group as it makes its way into the village, then, it becomes clear why there are no gawking bystanders to greet the newcomers. On the muddy main road through Hieb, lie ashen bodies. Down side roads and alleyways lay more, men, women and children, on porches, in doorways and with them are horses, cattle and dogs all sharing the same fate. Pecked by vultures and scavenged by four legged predators, but whatever creatures were the cause of death were nothing belonging to Earth.

Among the dark brown mud and pale wood frames and bodies, the only rich color is in puddles by the dead and splashed on the walls of homes and wafting curtains from broken windows, it is the color red. Cautious and pitiful glances shift from place to place as the travelers continue through, bound for the church that's steeple bearing a long, slim cross that can be seen over the tattered rooftops.

The coach stops at the holy asylum's front door where Kasimir and Biagio disembark followed after a moment by Lorelei. After dismounting, Eber ties Cerny's reins onto the back of the coach and orders Thayer to find the livery and stable the horses. Koza fastens his horse and waves Thayer on and the carriage rattles as it goes. "Ermanno." The called steps forward to his Commander, Eber, who

still feels the soreness in his body do to its further transformation from the rigor mortis. "Circle the perimeter of the village, if they return tell me."

The Second Lieutenant raises a brow, "They?"

"The soldiers that took our mortality, that made us untoten." Eber drifts his gaze over the devastation still not passing a glance to his men. "Their aftermath looked like this."

With a concerned breath, Koza asks, "You think it was the same untoten that attacked Hieb?"

"Possibly."

"Do you really believe they might come back?"

"As the Gypsy says, we are predators and predators always return to where they know they found food."

With a smile, Ermanno swings his battle axe free of its brown leather sheath like bindings on his back. "It sounds like we might have some fun tonight."

Ermanno makes his way out of sight as Kasimir and Biagio venture onto the yard of the church. As Kasimir reaches the door in a state of eagerness, he stops to consider the potential danger within. "Would it not be a good idea to have the protection of a soldier?" Kasimir barks back at Eber. The Commander turns his gaze to Koza who then steps from his leader's side and aims for the church door. He passes a brief glance to the wooden fence posts that signify the threshold of Holy ground. There's no feeling of fire in his blood, no sense of burning on his skin as he passes without harm. As Koza reaches Kasimir, the Head of the Church calls out to Eber again, "The more protection for me General, the better." The remark sends knowing stares from Koza and the Gypsy to Eber and unknowing glances from Kasimir and Biagio the same way. Eber lowers his eyes from Kasimir to the threshold in thought of what it means to set foot on Hallowed ground. Koza and Lorelei watch as Eber walks up to the fence posts, then with arms still folded and a slow motion he steps onto the Blessed dirt. The pain is slight and bearable and to all others unnoticeable. Eber takes his eyes from the ground and sets them once again on Kasimir. "How amazing you have not burst into flames," Kasimir chortles. Koza turns to the laughing man thinking the worst has happened and he knows of the Commander's damnation, then he realizes Kasimir jokes of the average damnation of a Der Vorfahr soldier and takes a relieving breath. "Open the door," Kasimir orders and Koza does so with Eber following up behind the Head of the Church and his devotee Biagio.