Jeze and the others traveled down the uneven ridge into the forested valley. Grifus suggested that they head into the wooded area in order to avoid being discovered by the Rock Trolls. Initially, Jeze objected because the tall pine trees obscured her view of their destination. But, she was overruled by Kalina and Grifus, who both argued that getting to her friend unnoticed was the better alternative.

  “It’s been awhile since the Guild and the Ironfist kingdom have patrolled this area. We do not know how strong and how organized the Rock Trolls have gotten,” Grifus explained.

  “I agree with Grifus. If we had a real team, I would consider traveling the higher ground. But as it stands, stealth is our best option,” Kalina said.

  Zel raised her hand. “I vote that we sit still so that I can repair Neebs.”

  The others, even Grifus, shook their heads and continued onwards, ignoring her. “Rude!” Zel muttered, but followed after them.

  Jeze scouted some distance ahead with Kalina following behind. Grifus traveled alongside Zel. Occasionally, he needed to admonish his niece to keep traveling.

  “I just need an hour!” Zel protested.

  Jeze appeared from out of the shadows. “You are too loud, are you trying to draw attention to us?”

  Zel’s lip quivered. “If you give me a moment, I can repair and improve Neebs. Enough so that I believe he would be able to fight with us. I just need to upgrade the Stoneskin runes to make him more durable.”

  “We don’t have time for that,” Kalina hissed.

  Grifus rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps when we find Jeze’s friend, this Dark Swordsman.”

  Zel wiped a stray black bang from her face. “You promise?”

  Jeze sighed and slinked back into her summoned shadows to resume scouting ahead. To her surprise, Kalina had joined her. Her stealth skills had improved!

  “I do not know for how much longer we can travel with Grifus’s niece,” she told Jeze.

  Jeze shrugged her shoulders. “She may get accustomed to the physical demands of adventuring.”

  “But she will never be able to keep pace with us,” Kalina retorted.

  Jeze chewed her lip, thinking. “She did manage to trap the Lich. What other options do we have to stop him?”

  Kalina’s pale face remained impassive as a marble statue and after a moment she replied, “I suppose.”

  The four continued on through the pine woods with Jeze in the lead. Her eyes narrowed, What is that? Jeze exited her shadows, alerting the others with a raised hand. Kalina and Grifus paused.

  “What’s happening?” Zel whispered.

  The others shushed her. Jeze crept ahead, being careful not to step on the numerous twigs and pinecones. She saw the pale gray skinned formed a Rock Troll. Was it trying to hide? The creature was lying down. Jeze, remaining still like a stone, scanned the area. There! She found another form and she waited for them to move, or to see if others were in hiding. Nothing happened. Can Rock Trolls actually turn into rocks? The situation resolved itself when Zel spoke up.

  “What are we waiting for?” She asked. Jeze wanted to strangle her, but the forms of the Rock Trolls did not stir. Curious, Jeze inched closer and discovered that the Trolls were dead. Who killed them? Viel? Jeze alerted the others.

  Kalina stormed up to Zel. “This is not a game!” Zel flinched at the sudden outburst. Kalina continued, “When we become quiet, you cannot, I repeat, cannot make a sound. Our lives depend upon it! Do you understand?”

  Zel’s mouth agape, nodded. She was stunned silent by Kalina’s fury and glanced at her uncle. Grifus did not intervene and nodded his head in agreement.

  “Kalina’s right,” He said.

  Zel’s lips quivered and for a moment Jeze worried that she was going to make a retort. Instead, Zel rubbed a pale hand through her black hair and hunched over. Grifus and Kalina examined the bodies.

  “Arrows, they were killed by arrows,” Kalina observed.

  Jeze joined the two and saw the puncture marks. “But, where are the arrows?”

  “They were removed,” Grifus replied, kneeling down by one of the trolls.

  “Removed? Why?” Jeze wondered.

  “To hide their identities,” Kalina answered.

  Jeze’s narrow eyes studied the grounds and more details became apparent to her. She spotted faint tracks. “The bodies were dragged here.”

  Grifus glanced up at Jeze. “Where were they killed?”

  Jeze pointed in the direction that was further to their east. “My guess, a few dozen meters that way. Whoever killed them covered their tracks.”

  Zel approached them, hugging her arms. “They have been dead for two, maybe three days now.”

  Grifus, his eyes sparkling, asked, “Anything else you can tell us?”

  “Perhaps, let me find out.” Zel fumbled with the assorted channeling tools at her waist.

  Jeze recognized that she was tapping into the Spirit aspect, but didn’t know the pattern. Zel, eyes closed, gritted her teeth with effort. Was she summoning the spirits of the dead rock trolls?

  “Tell me who killed you and I will let you go,” Zel ordered, her face grimacing.

  Jeze felt the air grow colder. Was it getting darker too? For a moment it felt like storm clouds were blocking the sun, but when Jeze looked up the sky was normal. That was odd.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Zel nodded her head as if she was listening to something. After a moment she opened her eyes and the chill vanished. “Humans with feathers in their hair. That is all I was able to glean from their spirits.”

  “Feathers?” Grifus wondered. “Hunters from the Tribal Council? What are they doing here?”

  “They are after Jeze,” Kalina stated.

  Zel snorted. “Really? Why?”

  “Hunting Hawk wants the Hold Core,” Grifus said, rising up from the ground.

  “Who is he?” Zel asked.

  “One of the Elites,” Kalina replied, rubbing her face. “I forgot about them! We were so caught up with the Lich.”

  “How did they find us here?” Jeze wondered.

  “Can they commune with the Spirit aspect? If yes, that was how,” Zel answered.

  Grifus stroked his goatee. “The information they would get would be very vague. They know the general vicinity. If they killed these Rock Trolls a few days ago, it could mean that they are close to us, or are long gone.”

  Zel’s lips pulled back in a snarling grin. “If they are relying on the Spirit aspect, we could provide a little misdirection.”

  Jeze chewed her lip. “How do we do that?”

  “Well by we, I truly meant me.” Zel motioned toward herself with a delicate hand.

  Kalina rolled her eyes. Jeze cleared her throat and growled, “How would YOU do it, huh?”

  Zel scoffed. “Don’t have to be upset. I would summon spirits and convince them to share innocent lies about us to anyone who would ask them.”

  Jeze’s eyes went wide. “You could do that?”

  Grifus smiled like a proud teacher or parent. Zel exclaimed, “Of course I can! I’m very talented, especially when it comes to the Spirit aspect.” She tapped her chin. “All aspects actually.”

  Kalina snorted. “So modest.”

  “That type of spell takes time. Let’s find Jeze’s friend first,” Grifus suggested.

  Zel scoffed. “I will just an hour or two.”

  Kalina glanced around and shook her head. “We should not be out here that long. I agree with Grifus, we should head out.”

  It was decided and the four resumed their walking toward the ancient ruins. Fortunately, they arrived at the edge of the ruins without incident. It was rows upon rows of crumbled walls. Only stone and rock survived the ages, all things made from wood and other materials have long ago rotted away. Jeze marveled at the size and how far the ruins went. This was a town? Or a small city?

  Zel whispered, “Did the dragon destroy this city?”

  Grifus nodded. “It looks like it. The wrath of,” he glanced up nervously at the enormous mountain that stood just before them like an ominous god. “Eclipse was legendary. He cursed this valley where none have come since in over three hundred years.”

  Kalina shuddered. “Even I can feel the since of dread here.”

  “It is fantastic!” Zel cried.

  The others turned on her with shock on their faces. Zel blushed.

  “Sorry, I got excited for a moment,” she said and then elbowed her uncle. “I shouldn’t have listened to you. If only I traveled further into this valley, I could have discovered this Affliction rich environment.”

  “You would have been killed and eaten by Rock Trolls,” Jeze growled.

  Zel smirked but conceded the point. “I suppose. If I could have a year to do my research here.”

  “We don’t have a year, and we should move now. I do not like us being in the open,” Grifus observed, turning toward Jeze. “Where is your friend? Does he live in these ruins?”

  “Not in, he told me there is trail that climbs up,” Jeze answered.

  Grifus’s eyes went wide. “He lives up the mountain?”

  “Not all the way. I don’t think,” Jeze said.

  “This is a bad idea. I regret this decision,” Grifus muttered.

  Kalina chuckled. “I don’t believe my eyes. The great Grifus unnerved.”

  “I admit it freely that I am scared,” he replied.

  “What is the big deal? Affliction energy is no different than Water, Earth, or Fire. It is one of the foundation Aspects,” Zel explained.

  “How is that? I always thought Affliction came from the Abyssal plane,” Jeze wondered.

  “It is rare, but some areas in our realm can also be rich with Affliction energy. Especially areas that have suffered great violence or tragedy,” Grifus explained. “The sooner we leave here the better.”

  Interesting, Jeze nodded and led them into the ruins. They traveled through the destroyed streets of a once majestic town. Rocks and rubble were everywhere and on more than a dozen occasions they needed to drag Zel away as she stopped to study the skeletal remains of the town's murdered inhabitants.

  “I don’t think it was fire that killed them,” Zel pointed out.

  “Of course it was! How else would this city have been destroyed?” Grifus asked.

  “Oh there are many ways. One guess I have is from siege enginues. Some of the rocks here are of a different kind which hints at catapults. Plus, there are many offensive magics that could destroy buildings,” Zel answered.

  Grifus scoffed at his niece’s answer. Kalina, however, agreed. “I think the negative energy of this place has clouded your judgement. But, what Zel says has some merit.”

  “Thank you,” Zel beamed.

  “Please don’t encourage her,” Jeze muttered.

  The reached the edge of the town and were at the base of Mount Dragon. Jeze found a trail that winded upwards. Fortunately, it didn’t climb very high and led to a pair of double steel doors. They were ancient, but intact, and engraved on the doors were depictions of dragons.

  “Incredible,” Grifus noted. “Is this a temple?” He ran his hand along the steel inscriptions.

  “The town worshipped dragons,” Jeze guessed. But, what the others didn’t know was that it was an educated guess. She knew Viel’s true identity.

  Kalina used her enhanced undead strength and opened the door. The metal hinges groaned with a loud squeak, but other than that, nothing else happened. It was dark inside.

  “Ooh,” Zel muttered, summoning a ball of light.

  Inside was an immaculate hall of worship with a golden altar at the far end in the shape of a resting dragon. Rows of pews with red velvet cushions formed a semi circle before it. It was all maintained in perfect condition, a complete contrast to the destruction below. It was clear that someone lived here.

  “Hello?” Jeze called out, her voice echoing.

  “Dark Swordsman! We seek an audience,” Grifus announced.

  Nothing.

  “Perhaps he is not home,” Zel suggested.

  “We did not travel all this way for nothing. Let’s go search for him,” Kalina suggested, marching inside before Jeze could protest. Would it be rude for us to come into Viels home without his permission? But, it was too late. Kalina was across the hall and by the altar.

  “Stairs,” she said, pointing.

  Stone steps circled upwards into the mountain wall. Kalina climbed up them.

  “Viel?” Jeze called out again, her voice echoing.

  They followed Kalina up the stone steps that led to an opulent circular chamber with an enormous bed in the middle. On the bed were lush blankets and thick pillows. Zel’s eyes went wide.

  “I don’t think I have ever seen a more comfortable bed in my entire life!” She exclaimed.

  Jeze and the others nodded in agreement. The blankets were crumbled, which was evidence that someone was sleeping in it until recently. Viel was not joking about sleeping for hundreds of years! They tentatively entered the chamber and upon exiting the stairwell they were able to see an enormous stone fireplace that crackled with flame before the bed.

  “Your friend sure knows how to enjoy sleep,” Grifus observed.

  “Should we continue further?” Kalina asked.

  Jeze nodded. She was starting to get worried why they had not encountered Viel yet. Did the Tribal Council hunters find him first? With dread Jeze led the way past the bed along the smooth rock floor. Past the fireplace was a short hallway that led to a large pantry stocked with food supplies. She stopped in shock at what greeted her.

  “Jeze?” Viel asked. He was wearing opulent red robes and plush sandals. His bare chest and legs were visible through the folds. In his hands was a steaming cup of tea.

  “Hi Viel,” she replied.

  He glanced at the others with his red eyes. “Well, I was not expecting guests. If you give me a moment, I can make breakfast.”

  “Breakfast? It’s nearly dusk!” Zel exclaimed.

  Viel raised an eyebrow. “Is it now? I must have overslept.” He took a sip from his tea. “So, what do I owe this pleasure?”