The morning dew clung to the forest undergrowth, transforming spider webs and vines into scenes from a painting. Val crouched at the edge of the clearing, studying the tracks that cut across the muddy path. Three sets, two deer and something following them. The ranger ran his fingertips along the edge of the deeper impression, feeling the distinctive four-toed pad mark with claw indentations at the tips.

  "Wolf," he murmured, assessing the depth and spacing. "Lone hunter, fully grown. Passed through maybe two or three hours ago."

  Behind him, Aric knelt to examine the tracks himself. "How can you tell it's alone? Wolves usually hunt in packs, yeah?"

  "Stride pattern," Val explained, pointing to the spacing between prints. "It's moving cautiously, taking its time. Pack hunters move more confidently, with less concern for stealth." He stood, wiping the mud from his fingers onto the side of his leathers. "It's good news. Normal predators mean normal prey, which means no unusual activity nearby."

  The eastern sky had lightened to pale gold, though the sun remained hidden behind the distant mountains. Around them, the remnants of their camp were being efficiently packed away by the other rangers. Captain Alfen moved among them, speaking briefly with each squad leader.

  Val returned to where Elara and Lian were securing their gear. Rhalla sat nearby on a fallen log, meticulously organizing what appeared to be a collection of small glass vials in a padded case.

  The camp dissolved quickly, rangers settling into marching formation as they prepared to continue toward Clearwater. Captain Alfen approached Val's squad as they made their final preparations.

  "Hearne," he acknowledged with a nod. "Your squad will take point today. Scout the road ahead, look for signs of activity. The rest of us will follow one mile back. I want updates every hour or immediately if you find anything concerning."

  Val nodded. "Yes, Captain."

  "The trading road narrows as it passes through Raven's Gorge about five miles ahead. It's a natural chokepoint that could be exploited by intelligent opposition. I want a thorough assessment before the main force behind us approaches."

  "Understood." Val glanced at his squad. "We'll move out immediately."

  Alfen's weathered face remained impassive, but his next words carried an undercurrent of concern. "Unta said there's been no word from Clearwater in three days. The messenger hawks only take a day to travel between the two cities. It may be nothing but proceed with caution."

  The implication hung heavy in the morning air. After what had happened at Willow Creek and Stonebridge, communications silence raised immediate alarm.

  "We'll find out what's happening," Val assured him. "If there's trouble, you'll know before you reach the gorge."

  Alfen nodded once, then turned to continue his rounds. Val faced his squad, Elara, Aric, and Lian, now joined by Rhalla. The mage had traded his academic robes for more practical traveling attire, though his collection of vials and pouches marked him clearly as something other than a ranger.

  Val instructed. "Lian, take the left flank. Elara, right. Aric and I will center, with Rhalla between us. Maintain visual contact at all times." He checked the position of the sun. "We move in two minutes."

  As the others made their final preparations, Val took a moment to center himself, focusing on maintaining the internal circulation of aether that Rhalla had taught him. The technique required constant attention, like balancing on a narrow beam, but grew marginally easier with practice. He could feel his core pulsing with contained power, ready to be channeled if needed but no longer broadcasting his presence to everything around him.

  The forest welcomed them as they set out, the main road wide enough for comfortable travel but narrow enough that the canopy above created a dappled tunnel of light and shadow. Birds called from the branches overhead, and occasionally small animals scurried across their path.

  They moved at a steady pace, fast enough to maintain good distance ahead of the main column but slow enough to thoroughly scan their surroundings. Val and Elara walked side by side down the center of the road, with Rhalla between and slightly behind them. Lian and Aric paralleled their progress from the woods on either side, visible as occasional flashes of movement among the trees.

  For the first hour, they traveled in near silence, alert for any sign of trouble. But as the morning wore on and the forest continued to display only normal activity, the tension gradually eased. By mid-morning, they had fallen into a comfortable rhythm, and conversation began to flow more freely.

  "So, Master Rhalla," Aric called from his position among the trees to their right, "what exactly do you do at the academy when you're not babysitting rangers?"

  Val shot him a sharp look, but Rhalla seemed amused rather than offended.

  "I wouldn't characterize this assignment as 'babysitting,'" the mage replied good naturedly. "Field research is an essential component of aether studies, particularly when examining the interactions between life aether and natural environments." He nimbly stepped over a fallen branch. "But to answer your question, my primary role at the academy involves both teaching and research."

  "What do you teach?" Aric asked.

  "Growth manipulation primarily, with supplementary courses in botanical aether applications," Rhalla explained. "I work mostly with intermediate students who have already mastered basic life aether cycling but are ready to specialize."

  "And the research?" Aric again prompted.

  Rhalla's face lit with enthusiasm. "My current work focuses on accelerated adaptation, or helping plants evolve quickly to thrive in challenging environments." He gestured toward the forest around them. "Consider how long it normally takes for a plant species to adapt to changing conditions, generations, sometimes centuries. But with careful application of aether, we can guide that process, helping plants develop resistance to disease, drought or even caustic aether.

  "That could help reclaim land near the Deadlands," Val observed, seeing the practical application immediately.

  "Precisely," Rhalla agreed. "One of my most promising projects involves creating a barrier of specially adapted plants that can resist and eventually neutralize death aether in the soil. If successful, we could potentially establish a living boundary that gradually pushes back the corruption."

  "How close are you to actually doing that?" Aric asked, sounding genuinely interested despite his earlier flippancy.

  Rhalla's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "Years away, unfortunately. The theory is sound, but the practical application requires refinement. Each plant species responds differently to aetheric manipulation, and creating a sustainable ecosystem rather than just isolated specimens presents additional challenges. Until we can freely use aether away from Oakspire it will remain a theory."

  They continued their discussion as they walked, with Rhalla explaining various aspects of his research in terms that even those without academic backgrounds could understand. Val found himself increasingly impressed by the mage.

  "Have you always been at the academy?" Aric asked during a brief pause in the conversation.

  Rhalla shook his head. "I spent my early years in my family's orchard west of Oakspire. My parents are fruit cultivators, apples primarily, though they've expanded to pears and cherries in recent years." A fond smile crossed his face. "My interest in plant life began there, though my parents were initially disappointed when I chose academic study over continuing the family business."

  "They must be proud now, though," Elara suggested. "Having a master at the academy isn't a small achievement."

  "They've come around," Rhalla agreed with a chuckle. "Especially since I've helped develop several new fruit varieties that have significantly improved their yields. Academic knowledge is all well and good, but in my family, practical results speak louder."

  Val found himself warming to the mage. Despite his scholarly background, Rhalla seemed refreshingly grounded, lacking the condescension that Val had encountered in other academics. He asked intelligent questions about ranger work, showing genuine interest in their methods and experiences.

  The conversation shifted to Clearwater as they continued their march, with Val describing the lake village to Rhalla, who had never visited.

  "It's built right into the eastern shore," Val explained, "with many houses standing on stilts over the water itself. The lake's so clear you can see straight to the bottom in most places, fish swimming beneath the walkways, underwater plants swaying with the currents."

  "The shipwrights are the heart of the town," Elara added. "They build vessels unlike any others in the valley, using timber recovered from the lake bottom. The wood is preserved by the cold water, and when properly treated, produces boats that are both lightweight and extraordinarily durable."

  "I've heard they have unusual preservation techniques involving the lake water itself," Rhalla said. "Something to do with mineral content that naturally resists decay."

  Val nodded. "The locals call it 'crystal salt' it's harvested from specific shallows where mineral-rich springs enter the lake. They use it for preserving food, treating leather, even medicinal applications." He smiled at a memory. "My first ranger captain swore by crystal salt poultices for treating wounds."

  "I'd be interested in obtaining samples," Rhalla mused. "Those properties could have relevance to my research on countering corruption."

  They fell into a comfortable rhythm of conversation and vigilance, with Rhalla asking about local plants and animals while the rangers maintained their awareness of their surroundings. The day warmed as the sun climbed higher, and they shed their outer layers, storing them in their packs.

  Around midday, the forest began to thin slightly, giving way to occasional clearings where wildflowers bloomed in vibrant patches. The road itself showed signs of regular use; wheel ruts from trading carts, horseshoe prints, boot marks, all encouraging signs that traffic to and from Clearwater had continued until recently.

  Val called a brief halt at a small stream that crossed the road, allowing everyone to refill their waterskins and rest for a few minutes. As the others attended to their needs, he and Lian scouted a short distance ahead, checking for any signs of disturbance.

  "The wildlife patterns are normal," Lian observed quietly as they examined the soft earth near the stream. "Drinking trails from deer and smaller animals, predator tracks following game paths rather than random movement."

  Val nodded his agreement. "No carrion birds circling, no unexplained silences in the forest song." He glanced back toward where the others waited.

  "You don't trust it," Lian finished for him. It wasn't a question.

  "I don't trust anything right now," Val admitted.

  They rejoined the others, and Val signaled for them to continue their journey. The road began a gentle descent toward what Val knew would eventually open into Raven's Gorge. The terrain grew rockier, with outcroppings of gray stone pushing through the soil like the bones of the earth itself.

  "We're approaching the gorge," Val announced as the trees began to thin further. "About half a mile ahead, the road narrows significantly, with cliff faces on both sides. It's the most vulnerable point on the route to Clearwater."

  "Perfect ambush territory," Aric observed from his new position on the right flank.

  Val nodded grimly. "Exactly why we need to scout it thoroughly before the main column arrives. When we reach the entrance to the gorge, we'll take up observation positions and watch for at least thirty minutes before proceeding."

  "Engagement rules?" Elara asked, her hand unconsciously moving to the hilt of her sword.

  "We don't engage unless absolutely necessary," Val replied firmly. "Our mission is intelligence gathering. If we find significant undead presence, one of us returns to warn the rest while the others maintain observation from secure positions."

  They continued forward with increased caution, their earlier casual conversation replaced by focused vigilance. The road curved gently to the right, and Val knew that around that bend, the entrance to Raven's Gorge would come into view.

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  He held up a closed fist, the signal to halt, as they approached the bend. "Lian, scout ahead. Just to the curve, visual assessment only."

  Lian nodded and moved forward silently, his lean form blending into the dappled shadows at the edge of the road. The others waited, weapons loosened in their sheaths, bodies tense with anticipation. Val focused on maintaining his aether containment while simultaneously preparing to channel it if needed.

  After a few minutes that seemed much longer, Lian reappeared, moving quickly but without obvious alarm.

  "The gorge entrance is clear," he reported quietly. "No movement, no obvious signs of disturbance. The road shows normal traffic patterns."

  Val nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Good. We'll proceed to the entrance and establish observation posts as planned."

  They rounded the bend together, and the landscape opened up before them. The forest fell away on either side as the road approached a natural cleft in a line of rocky hills. Raven's Gorge earned its name from both the dark stone of its walls and the large ravens that nested in the higher crevices, their harsh calls echoing in the confined space.

  The gorge itself stretched for nearly a mile, never more than thirty feet wide, with walls rising forty to sixty feet on either side. The road narrowed to accommodate the confined space, though it remained wide enough for two carts to pass each other if carefully driven. Sunlight penetrated directly only when the sun was at its zenith; at all other times, the gorge lay in partial shadow.

  "Aric, take the left side, find a position with good visibility into the gorge," Val instructed. "Lian, right side, same objective. Elara, Rhalla, and I will maintain position here and establish the fallback point. We'll observe for a few minutes before proceeding further."

  The two rangers moved off to take up their positions, scaling the rocky slopes with practiced ease until they found suitable vantage points overlooking the gorge entrance. Val, Elara, and Rhalla remained at the road level, finding a cluster of boulders that provided both cover and a clear view into the gorge.

  "What do you sense?" Val asked Rhalla quietly as they settled into position, noticing a frown on the mans face.

  Rhalla's frown deepened as he closed his eyes, his fingers pressed against the rocky ground. "There's a... disruption in the natural flow. Like ripples in a pond, but wrong somehow." He opened his eyes, frustration evident in his expression. "It's subtle, barely there. I can't pinpoint the source."

  Val's hand tightened on his sword hilt. He studied the gorge entrance, noting how the shadows played across the weathered stone. Nothing seemed immediately amiss, no obvious signs of combat or passage that shouldn't be there. Yet, something prickled at the edge of his awareness, a soldier's instinct honed by years of ranger work.

  They sat in tense silence, watching and waiting. Val divided his attention between scanning the gorge and checking the positions where Aric and Lian maintained their vigil. Elara's steady presence beside him provided some comfort, though he noticed her hand hadn't left her bow since they'd taken position.

  Rhalla's hand touched his arm, so lightly he might have imagined it. The mage's voice came in barely a whisper, his lips barely moving. "The ravens, in the tree about a hundred feet ahead. Look, but don't make it obvious."

  Val kept his head position neutral, letting his eyes drift naturally to the old oak. Three ravens perched there, black shapes against the gray sky. At first glance, nothing seemed unusual, ravens were common enough in the gorge. But as he continued his casual observation, ice formed in his gut.

  The birds weren't moving. Not shifting weight, not preening feathers, not even the slight motion of breathing that all living things displayed. They sat as still as carved stone, perfect imitations of life that somehow missed the most fundamental aspect of being alive.

  His mind raced, connecting pieces of a puzzle he hadn't known he was solving. The missing messenger birds from Clearwater. The way undead forces seemed to appear without warning, striking settlements that should have had advance notice. The unexplained gaps in ranger patrols' surveillance.

  They'd all assumed they were looking for undead on the ground. No one had thought to watch the sky.

  Val forced himself to continue his casual scan of the surroundings, fighting the urge to stare at the dead ravens. His whisper was barely audible. "How many others do you see?"

  "At least six more in various trees," Rhalla breathed. "All exactly the same. No movement, no life aether signature at all."

  The implications were staggering. If the undead had aerial scouts, invisible to casual observation unless you knew exactly what to look for... Val's mind spun through memories of recent battles, remembering birds he'd dismissed as normal wildlife. How long had they been watched? How much did the enemy know about their movements?

  A subtle movement caught his eye, Elara had noticed their whispered exchange. Her eyes asked the question she couldn't voice. Val gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, warning her to maintain her casual pose. They needed to alert Aric and Lian without revealing their discovery to their unseen observers.

  The dead ravens maintained their perfect stillness, dark sentinels watching the gorge with sightless eyes. Val wondered how many messages they'd intercepted, how many warnings had been silenced before reaching their destination.

  After a few minutes had passed without incident, Val signaled for Aric and Lian to rejoin them.

  "We'll proceed through the gorge," he decided once they had gathered. "Lian, report back to Captain Alfen. Let him know to meet us on the other side of the gorge." Val leaned in close to him while he pretended to tie his boot, "dead ravens in the trees, they are watching us, let the Captain know to proceed as normal. Be careful, move quickly."

  The rest of the squad moved forward into the shadow of the gorge, the temperature dropping noticeably as the sun disappeared behind the high walls. Their footsteps echoed slightly on the hard-packed earth of the road, the sound bouncing between the stone faces that rose on either side.

  Val found the enclosure unsettling despite the absence of any other obvious threats. Years of ranger experience had taught him to be wary of confined spaces. The gorge offered few escape routes and limited visibility ahead due to its winding nature. A determined force could trap them easily, cutting off retreat while blocking forward progress.

  "The road widens on the other side," he said quietly to Rhalla, who walked beside him. "Opens into a broad valley that leads directly to Clearwater. Once we're through, we'll have better visibility and more room to maneuver."

  Rhalla nodded, his eyes constantly scanning the cliff walls above them. "The stone here is interesting, volcanic in origin, I believe. It has unusual aether absorption properties."

  "Meaning what, exactly?" Elara asked from Val's other side.

  "It might dampen aether signatures," Rhalla explained. "Make them more difficult to detect. It's why I couldn't sense farther into the gorge earlier, the stone itself interferes with perception."

  Val frowned at this new information. "So we could have undead waiting around any of these bends, and you wouldn't sense them until we were nearly upon them?"

  "Unfortunately, yes," Rhalla confirmed. "Though the same limitation would apply to any death aether practitioners trying to sense us."

  "Small comfort," Val muttered, his hand moving to rest on his sword hilt.

  They proceeded cautiously through the winding gorge, the walls occasionally closing in further before widening again. In some places, the cliff face had partially collapsed, creating piles of rubble that narrowed the road even more. These rockfall areas required particular vigilance, as they provided potential hiding places for ambushers.

  About halfway through the gorge, Val called another halt. "We'll rest for five minutes," he decided. "Catch our breath, refresh ourselves for the second half."

  They found a relatively wide section where a rock slide had created a sloped area that allowed easier access to the higher portions of the gorge wall. Val ordered Aric to climb to a vantage point and survey as much of their remaining route as possible.

  While they waited, Val took the opportunity to check with Rhalla about his aether containment. "Am I still maintaining it properly?" he asked quietly. "It requires constant attention, like balancing something that wants to fall."

  Rhalla studied him with an evaluative gaze. "You're doing remarkably well for someone with no formal training. The containment is holding, though I can sense occasional... ripples, I suppose you could call them. Moments when your concentration wavers and more aether escapes than you intend. To an observer you would appear as nothing more than a deer moving in and out of range."

  Val nodded. "It happens when I focus intensely on something else, like checking for tracks or listening for movement. The balancing act slips to the background."

  "That's natural," Rhalla assured him. "Multitasking with aether control is an advanced skill that typically takes years to master. Even experienced practitioners struggle to maintain perfect containment when their attention is divided."

  "How do I improve?" Val asked, genuinely interested despite the circumstances.

  "Practice, primarily. The technique becomes more instinctive with repetition." Rhalla considered for a moment. "There are also mental exercises that can help, creating a separate track in your mind that maintains the containment automatically while your conscious attention focuses elsewhere. But those are typically taught much later in traditional training."

  Val was about to ask for more details when Aric returned from his scouting position above.

  "The gorge continues to wind for another quarter mile," he reported, "then straightens for the final stretch. I can see the exit from up there, and it looks clear. No movement, no obvious signs of disturbance."

  "Good," Val acknowledged. "Let's keep moving."

  They resumed their journey, the tension in Val's shoulders easing slightly with the confirmation that the exit appeared clear. The gorge continued its serpentine path, sometimes narrowing to barely twenty feet across, other times widening enough that sunlight reached the road below.

  Finally, the walls began to lower and pull back, and the exit came into view, a widening funnel of stone that opened onto a broad, sunny valley. Val could see forests in the distance and, beyond them, the faint glimmer that he knew was Lake Clarity reflecting the midday sun.

  "We made it through," Elara said quietly, relief evident in her tone.

  They emerged from the gorge into the warmth of direct sunlight, the road widening comfortably before them. To their right, a small clearing with a fire pit marked a traditional resting spot for travelers, one of the designated checkpoints where rangers often met to exchange information.

  "We'll wait here for the rest of the company," Val decided.

  They set about making the area ready, checking for any signs of recent use or disturbance. The fire pit showed evidence of use within the past week, ash and partially burned logs remained, but nothing more recent than that.

  "How long until they arrive?" Rhalla asked, setting down his pack and stretching his back.

  "At least half an hour," Val estimated. "They're moving at a more deliberate pace, spreading out through the forest. We need this forest clear for the army."

  "Enough time for a meal, then," Elara suggested. She began unpacking provisions from her satchel, including some of the food Baret had provided. "We should eat while we have the chance. Who knows when we'll next have the opportunity."

  Val nodded his agreement. "Elara and Rhalla, handle the food. Aric, and I will set up a proper perimeter and do some sparring to stay loose. We've been walking all morning, good to keep our combat reflexes sharp."

  The others nodded, and they separated to their assigned tasks. Val and Aric moved to a flat, grassy area at the edge of the clearing, where they could train while maintaining good visibility of their surroundings.

  "Light contact only," Val instructed as they drew their practice weapons—wooden replicas weighted to match their actual swords. "Remember, this is about reflexes and positioning, not power."

  They began with basic warm up routines, moving through familiar patterns that loosened muscles and sharpened focus. Val found the exercise helped with his aether containment rather than hindering it, the rhythmic movements provided a structure that made it easier to maintain the internal circulation Rhalla had taught him.

  After warming up, they moved to paired exercises, with Val facing Aric first while Elara observed and offered occasional corrections. Despite his youth, Aric had developed into a competent swordsman, his movements quick and precise. He lacked the experience to anticipate his opponent's intentions reliably, but his technical execution showed the results of diligent practice.

  "You're still dropping your guard after you attack," Val pointed out, tapping Aric lightly on the ribs with his practice blade. "Follow through with your strikes, but keep your defense positioned for the counter. Your not in a shield wall anymore, there may not be anyone beside you to cover that gap."

  Aric nodded, adjusting his stance. "Like this?"

  "Better," Val confirmed. "Now try again, focus on maintaining that guard position throughout the entire sequence."

  They continued their practice, rotating partners so that each had the opportunity to work with the others. Val found the familiar routine calming, a welcome return to normalcy after the strangeness of recent events. In the discipline of swordplay, the world narrowed to action and reaction, technique and counter-technique

  After completing a particularly demanding sequence with Aric, Val paused to catch his breath. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool spring air, and his muscles hummed with the pleasant fatigue of good exercise.

  "You're still favoring your right side," Aric observed quietly.

  Val nodded, acknowledging the assessment. "Old habit from an injury years ago. The physical wound healed, but the pattern remained." He rotated his shoulder, feeling the subtle restriction in its movement. "Something to work on."

  "Your aether doesn't fix it?" Aric asked, lowering his practice blade.

  Val shook his head. "Apparently not. Current injuries, yes, but old ones that have already healed in their own way..." He shrugged. "The body remembers its history."

  "Food's ready," Elara called from beside the fire pit.

  They secured their practice weapons and moved to join the others. Elara had arranged an impressive spread considering their travel conditions: cured meats, hard cheese, dried fruits, and fresh bread that Baret had acquired before their departure. Rhalla had contributed by brewing a fragrant tea using herbs he'd collected along their route.

  "This looks better than what we eat at headquarters," Aric commented appreciatively as he accepted a filled plate from Elara.

  "Thank Val's friend Baret," she replied with a laugh. "The man knows how to prepare for a journey."

  As they ate, the conversation turned to Clearwater and what they might find there. "The lake itself provides a natural barrier on one side," Val pointed out, tracing the geography in the dirt beside the fire pit. "And the town has walls on the landward approaches, not as substantial as Oakspire's, but solid stone and timber construction."

  "How many people live there?" Rhalla asked.

  "About eighteen thousand," Elara answered. "It's the third largest settlement in the northern valley, after Oakspire and Riverbend. The population swells during trading seasons when merchants and crafters from throughout the valley gather for the seasonal fairs."

  "And they have a proper militia?" Aric asked between bites.

  Val nodded. "The Lake Guard, about two hundred full-time professionals, with a citizen militia of perhaps ten times that number for emergencies. Their captain is a former Oakspire soldier, a competent commander by all accounts."

  "So they have a fighting chance if the undead have reached them," Rhalla observed quietly.

  "Better than most," Val agreed. "And the geography works in their favor. There are only a few land approaches, which makes defense more manageable."

  As they finished their meal and began cleaning up, Val noticed Rhalla studying him with an evaluative gaze.

  "Your containment is improving," the mage observed. "It's becoming more stable, even when your attention shifts elsewhere."

  Val nodded, surprised to realize that maintaining the aether circulation had indeed become less demanding over the course of the morning. "It's starting to feel more natural, less like balancing and more like... breathing, I suppose."

  "That's excellent progress," Rhalla said, his tone genuinely impressed. "Most students take weeks to reach that level of integration."

  "I've always been a quick study," Val replied with a faint smile.

  "There's quick, and then there's unprecedented," Rhalla countered. "What you're doing defies conventional understanding of aether development patterns."

  Before Val could respond, Lian re-appeared from the gorge and gave Val a nod. Val nodded in return, rising to his feet. "Let's break camp and prepare to receive them. Captain Alfen will want our report immediately. Lian, we left you some food, eat."

  They packed away the remaining food and doused the small fire, erasing all signs of their brief rest. Val took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the gorge, savoring the memory for darker times. Captain Alfen rounded the bend and waved, Kalen and Toren just behind him. Val returned the wave and waited for the rest of the company to appear.