“There's a certain beauty in darkness. An equality. Oh Morgash, who else in this wretched world strives for such freedom?”

  - The Scarred Lady, a cult leader of Morgash

  Leo trailed behind Avella, his regiment rushing to keep pace as she took to flight halfway through the order.

  “Come on, men! Hurry up!” Leo hid his apprehension. This was new, even for him. Never had he gotten so close to a dread-wasp hive.

  He wished it had stayed that way.

  The group was hit by an ungodly smell as they approached—a mix of rotting flesh and burning honey. There was an aura coming off the gnarly honeycombs that made Leo nauseous. He struggled not to gag, and he wasn’t alone. If Avella felt sick or afraid, she didn’t show it, though; she pressed ahead, glowing eyes fixated on the hive.

  They approached the hive wall. Leo squinted as he looked over the structure. It was impossible to tell where the foul edifice began and wooded building ended. And with the lingering flames, the whole thing was melting; red slime and gruel dripped onto the ground.

  She placed her hand on the hive wall. Her eyes glowed, and she began to chant another spell. Grime and filth melted away at her touch, rippling out until the whole wall shook. Cracks appeared, and in moments, they broke into pieces. The fragments fell, causing the group to scatter. Leo hit the ground, his armor soiled in the mud as he rolled. Michael coughed as he barely dodged a large piece of timber, dust still clouding his face.

  Leo rushed to his feet. He was about to call for Avella until he saw her glowing eyes in the dark. The luminous blue barrier protected her, the debris sliding off her harmlessly. She wasn’t kidding when she said she could handle herself. Leo could respect that.

  The town opened up like a giant rotting cadaver. Guardie covered their mouths so as not to vomit from the disgusting odor. The ruins were shrouded in darkness, only lit up by the distant yellow glow of the fires. The original buildings were halfway into the mud, pressed down by the heavier hive structures.

  Leo turned to his regiment. “Whatever you do, do not touch anything,” his voice struggled to maintain the facade of bravery. “Tread carefully, and tread lightly.” Taking a deep breath, the group entered the hive.

  They waded through the mire, plopping on the damp cobblestone. Leo looked around. It may have been a market square. Rotting storefronts lined the area like tombstones, their shelves caked in dust.

  In the back, a great stone fountain stood. The water within was poisoned and black. A large dread-wasp was atop it in a parody of a statue. It was much bigger than any of the others they’d encountered and folded into a ball. Large swathes of its flesh were blackened, and ichor bled into the pool. Terror turned to relief when they realized it was dead.

  As they turned the corner, one of the market stalls stood out to Michael. It was small and relatively modest; some of the paint on the sign had chipped off, and only part of the lettering could be made out: Negozio di fiori.

  A body lay on the floor. Michael’s eyes widened, and he rushed toward it.

  Leo grumbled as he saw the young man break ranks. He was about to chastise him. A hand on his shoulder gently stopped him. He turned to see Avella, her face softer than before.

  “Wait.”

  Michael knelt and examined the body. It had been decaying for some time, flies were buzzing about, and the ribcage and thigh bones were exposed. Stinger wounds had penetrated the back and neck. Michael broke down into tears, not caring if anyone was watching him. Leo tilted his head; what would cause him to break down so? He would never do that; it’s unprofessional. The only time he cracked was ten years ago. In the village of Venci, when he and his broth— Oh.

  He was Michael’s brother.

  The storefront was his family’s—a lost brother. Leo took off his hat. He saw more and more of himself in the ragazzo by the minute. At least this ended better than Venci. Leo suppressed a shudder.

  Michael looked up at Leo with tear-stained eyes, expecting him to yell or reprimand him.

  Leo sighed. He couldn’t bring himself to do that. He gestured for him to get back in line. Michael gently laid the body down and rejoined the others. It was misery being here; such a mess was indeed beyond saving. No doubt, Avella wanted this place to turn into ash. It would be better to build from scratch.

  “What are we looking for, Maga Avalon?” asked Leo, his voice worn to exhaustion.

  She eyed him curiously. “Something’s off. There’s a presence here that makes little sense.”

  “How so?”

  “I can’t explain it; it’s not something you can feel.” She gestured to her eyes. “Soulsight. I can see, know, and feel things other mortals wouldn’t be able to. And no, you cannot help me more than you are.” Leo grumbled. “Patience Capitano, surely you are capable of that with the . . .” Her stare intensified for a moment. “. . . three years of service?”

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  Leo raised an eyebrow. “That’s right. How did you—”

  “Soulsight.” Avella dragged her hand by the hive wall. “We will be done here shortly; do not fret.” Her spell caused the bastion to tremble. Pieces broke off, the fallen honeycombs bouncing off her barrier. “Something’s very wrong. It’s on the wall; I just need to pinpoint it.”

  At last, her hand stilled. A piece of the hive wall broke off, hovering in her hand. She dragged it closer. Leo couldn’t see what she was looking at; he could only hear her gasp as she jumped back. “Impossible!”

  “Everything alright?” asked Leo.

  “Signore! Over there!” A soldier whimpered, white-faced as he pointed in the distance. Leo followed his finger right to the dread-wasp on the fountain. Its many limbs were twitching. The burnt flesh was beginning to heal; the open wounds now closed.

  The creature stood up and flexed its wings before they draped over its shoulders like a robe. It turned to face them, four times the height of a man. Its face was more humanoid, with solid black eyes glittering with malice and feral rage. Its teeth gritted in anger. A subtle stubble of horns formed a mockery of a crown upon its head.

  Avella’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a dread-wasp princess.”

  “Fall back!” ordered Leo. The dread-wasp leaped into the air and flew at them at breakneck speed. In moments it caught up to them. Blood splattered everywhere as guardie disappeared into red mist. Two guardie were impaled and dragged up into the air. They screamed in terror as many twisted limbs grabbed hold of them before ripping them to pieces.

  “We got to get to camp!” shouted Leo.

  Michael trembled. “We’ll never get there in time, Capitano. The creature’s too fast.” Leo hated that he was right.

  Avella rushed ahead. “I can get there quicker. You need to keep her busy. I’ll be back.”

  Leo was incredulous. “What?”

  She muttered an incantation before hovering into the air and flying away. Leo had no time even to ponder what she had just done.

  “She’s coming around again!” shouted a soldier. The dread-wasp princess dived at them.

  “Hit the deck!” ordered Leo.

  They hit the ground hard. Mud splashed everywhere, turning the black and gold livery of the guardsmen brown. Chitinous limbs and stingers hovered over them, inches away from their prone forms. As quick as she came, she was gone.

  “On your feet,” barked Leo. “Move!” He could see the opening. Light and clean air awaited them.

  “Look out!” shouted Michael. Leo turned to see the princess swooping by again. She was moving quicker than before. Time slowed down, and Leo could see himself reflected in her wicked black eyes.

  A stab in the side broke off her attack. Michael’s sword hit home, bleeding fresh fluids as she retreated into the air, squeaking in pain.

  Michael smirked. “Glad I got to return the favor, Capitano.”

  Leo’s stern demeanor wrapped around his gratefulness like a cloak. “Don’t get cocky, ragazzo. We’re almost there. Keep going!”

  With a final effort, they pushed out of the hive. The light blinded them, and they nearly tripped over each other. Leo slipped in the mud, nearly toppling over. They stopped to catch their breath, their lungs welcoming the clean air.

  A loud shriek violated the air, and the princess broke through the hive roof in a cloud of dust, surging down toward them. Leo dodged the attack just in time, slicing off one of her insectoid limbs. The monster’s stinger-like tail lashed like a whip, whistling as it hit Leo in the chest. The wind was knocked out of him as he hit the ground. Leo gasped; his chest felt like it was burning. He looked up, vision blurry as the massive stinger reeled over him, ready to strike.

  A loud screech gave the creature pause. Augustino landed right next to him. Leo had never been happier to see that griffon. Michael pulled Leo to his feet. Avella landed nearby, and she gestured them to her.

  Augustino pointed his weapon at the beast. “Your fight is with me!” The twisted creature shrieked loudly in reply. The two clashed. The impact sent a shockwave that would have knocked Leo off his feet if he hadn’t been under Avella’s barrier.

  Augustino bludgeoned the chitinous form over and over, breaking off more limbs. The dread-wasp princess kicked in desperation, only to have her movements blocked by the shield, the impact causing Augustino to wince. The griffon’s beak locked with the monster’s long mandibles. Its long talons tried to get purchase with her chitinous form. But even wounded, the creature dodged the swipes with ease. As her stinger attempted to pierce the griffon, pieces of metal broke off with every stab, the armor denting more and more.

  Augustino whispered to the griffon, and it pulled away. The princess was quick to follow. Muttering a brief prayer, Augustino leapt off the saddle and latched onto the neck and shoulders of the monster.

  Mace in hand, Augustino slammed the weapon into the creature’s neck repeatedly, causing ichor to spill everywhere. The long stinger tried to stab him, but Augustino quickly dodged every jab. He smirked, preparing for the final blow, placing himself right in front of her neck. He would need to be quick.

  With a final desperate attack, the creature shoved its stinger with all its might. Augustino dodged just in time, the wind blowing in his face as he jumped off and back onto the waiting griffon below. The princess wailed in agony, convulsing violently, her stinger jabbing into her neck. She fell to the earth in an explosion of dirt, dead for good.

  Everyone cheered. Michael stood in wide-eyed admiration. Leo smirked, remembering when he’d first seen their generale kill some great beast. Many things become numb or lose appeal after a while, but seeing their generale in action never got old. Indeed, he was one of the greatest warriors the Cradlelands had ever known, up there with the imperial commanders of old or the greatest of the Godshards.

  Avella examined the body. Her eyes narrowed. “I sense the same anomaly.” She grasped one of the limbs. “Indeed, it is as I feared.”

  Leo couldn’t see what she was doing. He was still trying to catch his breath. By the Gods, did that blow hurt. He looked down at his armor; a significant dent was arrayed on it that wasn’t there before. He groaned; he was definitely going to have to see Julia. All the guardie knew Mama Julia had the best remedies.

  Avella looked up. “Emilio, could you assist me?” Augustino tilted his head and dismounted. She gestured to the leg. “I need this detached.” He snapped the leg off with a sickening crack.

  The yellow flames around the hive grew brighter, rekindling seemingly on their own. Leo could feel the heat. They had to get out of there fast and fell back without a word. He turned around to see Avella staring at the encroaching blaze. The flames outlined her black-robed form. She shook her head and followed them, the severed leg of the princess in hand.

  Leo didn’t understand why she was so worried. But after Avella basically abandoned them, he didn’t even care that she wasn’t happy. She did come back, but there was no way to know if she would have been back in time. Things could have gone differently and such poor communication was sloppy and dangerous. Nevertheless, Leo knew one thing for sure.

  They had broken the foul power over the town. That would suffice.