The Memory of Darkness (on hold until October)

36 - Tormented Souls

A thick veil of fog had settled over Kyrvell as Coren and Father Dominic approached the city. The towers of the castle were obscured by the low cloud, as if the world had ceased to exist beyond that point.

Coren shivered, pulling his cloak tighter around him. "This place has never looked so uninviting," he remarked.

"This weather could make anywhere look foreboding," said Dominic. "Grey cloud, grey stone buildings, and our grey moods. As much as I'm glad to be back, I wish the circumstances were different."

"Admitting that you've failed is never easy," said Coren.

"Failed?" queried the Priest. "Have we? I wouldn't admit defeat until all possible options have been exhausted. I'd wager that Felix and Miss Gretchen would have agreed."

"Will Prince Anton agree?" wondered Coren.

"That's another matter entirely," admitted Dominic. "I wish you luck with that one."

The two men parted ways for the time being, and Coren made his way to the castle, finding it more of a hive of activity than usual. He made his way to Prince Anton's rooms, only to be turned away and informed that the Prince wasn't receiving any visitors.

Perplexed, he tried Prince Sebastian, and was relieved to be granted an audience. He found Sebastian alone, rather dishevelled, and apparently intoxicated.

The Prince smiled as his visitor was shown into the room. "Coren! By the Gods, it's good to see you!"

"What's happening?" asked the Knight. "It's chaos out there."

"We're returning to Alsenberg." His voice dropped, although they were alone in the room. "Anton is... unwell. He's constantly exhausted, and the nosebleeds... Keep things to yourself. Speculating on the health of the heir to the throne could land you in a lot of trouble."

"You think it's that serious?" asked Coren, the Prince's words only echoing concerns he'd had weeks ago.

Sebastian gave a nod, filling a goblet with wine from a jug. "If anything happens, that leaves Jared, and he is... a problem."

"I'm sure it's something that will pass," said Coren, unconvinced by his own words.

The Prince let out a bitter chuckle. "Pass, yes, one way or another." He took a large drink. "Moving on to other matters, I've heard some rather disturbing things from Estenfold."

"I fear you've heard the truth," said Coren.

"He raised the dead and used them to attack our men?"

The Knight nodded. "Sadly, yes."

"Should we have expected that?" asked Sebastian, his voice strained. "He's a bloody Necromancer, raising the dead is his speciality. Did we really think he'd just ask us politely to leave?"

"He did ask us to leave."

"Did you see him?" gasped the Prince.

"I did," said Coren. "I'd expected something hideous, but you could walk past him in the street and not think there was anything odd about him."

"That makes him even more dangerous," remarked Sebastian. "Then what happened?"

"Lord Hallan refused, as you would expect."

"And things turned unpleasant," sighed Sebastian. "What happened to Hallan? I haven't had word of him yet."

"It isn't good news," said Coren.

"No, I didn't expect it would be. This is a wretched mess, isn't it?" His hands shook a little as he lifted his goblet for another drink. "We underestimated him, severely. What about your Priest friend, and the old Mage? Did they achieve anything?"