Lances and Daggers

8. The Shaggy Knight

"So, you were trying to find the giant Aberration's nest," Reinfried said, "but instead, you found yourself surrounded by Laikos... and ghosts?"

"Yes, exactly." I nodded.

We had arrived at the barracks, and I was sitting with Reinfried in a private room. A medic had healed my wounds and wrapped me in a small blanket. As I watched the wood burning in the fireplace, I sipped Rinne tea—a drink made from an aromatic herb, which was very healthy but also rather bitter. The town guards were friendlier than I thought.

"I can't understand what happened back there," I continued. "It was as if I had walked into a den. Have you ever spotted this many Laikos in the area?"

"No, not even once." Reinfried felt his stubble pensively. "We've never seen Laikos or ghosts."

"So, something weird happened tonight."

"I'm afraid so. Someone sent these Laikos to kill you."

The words caught my attention, and I asked, "What do you mean?"

"Since you're here on behalf of the guild, I think it's all right to tell you." Reinfried sipped his tea. "Lord Faust and I have been gathering clues. There's evidence that someone might be behind these Aberrations. A human."

"What kind of evidence?"

"We found bones in the forest. Animal remains and... human sacrifices."

"Black magic?"

"Yes, the rumors... They're not baseless. Marie is innocent, but there's a witch: a lawless mage, to be exact. Someone is performing forbidden rituals to bind demons to animals and create Aberrations."

I had many questions to ask after this revelation, but one left my mouth faster than all the others: "Why didn't Lord Faust tell me anything about this?"

"Lower your voice; I don't want my men to hear us," Reinfried said. "Lord Faust hates the guild."

"What? What do you mean?"

"His firstborn was killed in a horrible accident. An adventurer fired an arrow, and it landed in her back. Lord Faust was heartbroken. He tried to arrest the adventurer, but the case was settled out of court after Master Azemir intervened."

"When did this happen?"

"Ten years ago. Few people remember the incident today."

"His daughter was killed... by a guild member?" I repeated in disbelief. This might explain his anger when I found the playroom. It explains why he was secretive about the Aberration—why he was trying to drive me away.

"The incident left a scar," Reinfried said. "Lord Faust was offered blood money, but he never accepted it. He demanded that the guild never set foot in his town again and stormed out of his meeting with Master Azemir."

I thought for a while and then said, "Are you sure he has no other motive to hide things from me?"

"He said it outright: 'The guild will bring more misery if it interferes; I will end the Blight alone.' Lord Faust is a sincere man."

"Maybe I misjudged him," I said slowly.

"But I believe that we need the guild. The town guards can't accomplish much without external help. So, what do you say, Lance? Would you work with us?"

"What's your plan?"

"Two days from now, I will divide my men into two groups. One will use the midnight lights to find the human culprits, while the other will hunt the giant Aberration. I want you to join the hunt. You killed a lot of Laikos tonight, and you seem like a formidable fighter."