Wendell could barely breathe. Not only was the massive bulk of his own dead horse now directly on top of him, but he’d felt something snap in his chest when the animal landed on him. He sucked shallow, painful breaths as much as he could, but it was not enough.

  Even worse, the thing that slaughtered his horse was also on top of him, directly within his limited view. The creature -for that was what it was, certainly not a man- the creature squatted over the ravaged throat of the horse it had just killed.

  What did it say its name was? Wendell thought. Randy? Yes, Randy.

  He felt cold, but he also felt a burning revulsion. The creature was close, and Wendell could see the greedy slavering as it scooped up the hot, viscous blood from the horse and shoveled it into its mouth, sucking on its fingers as it did so.

  Wendell felt himself slipping away. He hoped it was only to unconsciousness, and not… something worse.

  Just as he was about to let go, Wendell saw two men slowly work their way into his finite field of vision.

  Baron Varsus… and Matthias! Wendell was in so much pain now he had almost forgotten who the two were.

  From his perspective, looking up at them, the two figures seemed powerful and heroic, yet Wendell had seen how fast this thing could move.

  He saw they were trying to sneak up on the foul monster, hoping to catch it off-guard while it had its terrible meal, but Wendell saw the creature’s eyes flit sharply in the direction of the two oncoming men.

  Blood covered the entire bottom of the creature’s face, and it licked some of that blood off of its lips.

  Wendell could see that it was gathering itself, and it was about to turn and fight.

  Having witnessed what Barnaby, the other creature that had faced, could do, he knew his companions were in for a brutal fight.

  He had to do something.

  The cold was spreading through his body. He felt he was going to pass out, but before he did, he reached down the front of his shirt and grabbed the medallion hanging there.

  It was a medallion of LaKrona’s blessings. Something that almost everyone would have. So common, and even though it was supposed to bestow the favor of the goddess on the wearer, no one had ever thought it was actual protection against physical threat.

  Randy turned away from the trapped man under the horse, but Wendell snatched the medallion out from under his shirt and thrust it toward the creature, shouting as he did so.

  “LAKRONA REBUKES YOU, FOUL CREATURE!”

  But Randy had felt the holy object as soon as it was exposed to the bare night. Hissing, he screeched an inhuman sound and tried to jump away.

  He did not get far, as Matthias had closed the distance in that moment and had his sword ready. Randy impaled himself on the blade, startling Matthias, who let go of his weapon.

  “Foolish meat! That is all you are! Meat!!”

  Randy spun around in frantic circles, trying to pull the blade out of his stomach. He screeched and growled and made sounds that human voices were not supposed to make. The blood of the downed horse flew off of him in gobs, some of it splattering Varsus and Matthias.

  They watched in stunned amazement for several moments, then Varsus rushed in and shoved his blade through Randy’s heart. He’d had to be quick about it to account for the mad thing’s constant whirling.

  Similar to Matthias, Varsus had his sword snatched from his hand by the convulsing, howling creature.

  After a mad dance-like production, Randy stopped, falling to his knees. Matthias and Varsus moved in closer as Randy gurgled and moaned.

  Matthias was about to move into reclaim his sword, now stuck in Randy’s body, but Varsus held up a hand.

  Then the gurgling turned into low chuckling, which became full blown laughter, and Randy stood. He now faced the two men even as two sword blades were ran through his body, one directly through his heart.

  Varsus was wide-eyed. How were they to defeat this thing?

  He did not have further time to think on it, as the creature was on him in the blink of an eye. Raking claws and slavering, bloody jaws full of sharp teeth filled his vision.

  Despite himself, he cried out in alarm.

  “LaKrona, preserve me!”

  He tumbled to the ground, and Randy was right there on top of him. Varsus had grabbed the creature’s wrists to keep the claws away from him, but the inhuman strength of the thing threatened to dislocate his joints.

  The thing tried to bite at him, but he managed to turn his head away at the last moment. He knew he could not do this much longer.

  Then Randy howled in agony, and Varsus felt a mild shock run through his body.

  In a heartbeat, the creature was off of him and had turned to face the source of his pain.

  It was Matthias, who had employed his own token of LaKrona, a small copper hand that had been blessed by the priests of LaKrona’s Order.

  He had pressed it to the back of Randy’s head, and Varsus could see a burned, smoking imprint of the hand there.

  “My Lord!” Matthias shouted. “The pendant! LaKrona’s device! Quickly!”

  Of course, thought Varsus, we have been fools!

  Regaining his feet, Varsus yanked out his pendant, holding it toward the creature.

  Randy sunk to his knees again, trying to hide his face from both of the symbols of LaKrona.

  Varsus could see nothing coming from the holy objects, but something was happening. Randy writhed and contorted himself, trying to get away, but it seemed he was trapped.

  “THE MASTER WILL HAVE YOUR BASTARD HEADS FOR THIS!” shouted Randy, his voice now having dropped all pretense of humanity.

  “We will have yours first, creature!” shouted Varsus.

  With that, he stepped forward, then roughly pulled his sword from Randy’s body.

  Before Randy could do more than snarl, Varsus grabbed his sword grip with two hands and swung at Randy’s neck with all the strength he had.

  Randy’s head almost flew from the body, as if, once it was separated, it had been repelled by its former host.

  The creature’s body fell to the ground, lifeless. But Varsus and Matthias were shocked when the disembodied head spoke again.

  “Mortal fools! My master is not finished with yooouuuu….”

  And then the head truly became dead.

  Varsus and Matthias stood in the dark, astonished at what had just happened. Then they snapped out of it.

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  “Wendell!” Matthias said.

  They quickly moved around the fallen horse to render aid to their companion.

  ***

  Avalaine lay on the floor, feeling worse and worse by the moment. It was only her force of will preventing her from retching right there in her bedchambers.

  I don’t want to give this monster the satisfaction, she thought, and once again gathered her strength.

  Bats and rats were the first to go. The bats swarming out of her open balcony door even faster than they came in, and the rats slinking away into unseen crevices and impossibly small holes.

  The spiders took the longest time to disappear. Avalaine shivered as they crawled all over her on their journey away from her body. The feel of the tiny legs under her dress repulsed her.

  And then they were gone. As if they had never been there. Avalaine lifted her head.

  Despite having much bigger worries, she was not sure how she would ever sleep in here again, knowing such horrors were likely living in the surrounding walls.

  “It is as you command… mistress.”

  The voice focused Avalaine’s attention. It was Tobias, still standing in her doorway.

  Except now his face was nearly expressionless. He watched her, but not with malevolence. Instead, it looked more like curiosity than anything else.

  Avalaine groaned as she pushed herself to her feet. The room was spinning a bit, and she felt wobbly.

  “Do you require assistance, mistress?”

  There was that word again. Mistress.

  Now standing, Avalaine just wanted to get away. Wanted to warn her father, warn Master Crickney and anyone else who would listen.

  Avalaine hesitantly stepped toward the door… and Tobias.

  “No… I do not,” she told him, watching his face carefully for his reaction.

  Tobias said nothing. Merely stood watching her. His face back to being a blank.

  Avalaine remembered the twisted face and sharp teeth she had seen earlier, though, so she did not advance.

  She thought she might understand at least a part of what was happening, but it was time to put it to the test.

  “Back up,” she told Tobias, again stepping forward.

  Instantly, the thing that had been Tobias took two steps backward, its eyes still tracking her.

  Avalaine moved to the door with more confidence now.

  As she readied herself to cross the threshold, she stopped.

  It had been fairly clear that Tobias could not enter the room. For what reason, she did not know. Could this be a ruse to lure her out, where he could get his hands on her? So he could take her to meet his master?

  She shivered again. Whatever was in command of a creature such as this must truly be horrible. She had no desire to see this person.

  If it actually is a person, she thought.

  But she could not wait here all night. If for no other reason than she was feeling worse by the moment. Earlier she had thought it possible, but now her conditions was deteriorating. Avalaine was certain she would require help in short order. She had to get somewhere safe.

  Avalaine forced herself to look Tobias in the eyes.

  “Why do you obey me?” she asked.

  “I- I don’t know. I must obey,” said Tobias, with none of the menacing tone from earlier.

  “Why can’t you enter this room?”

  “I do not know,” Tobias said. He was scowling now.

  “What are you?” she asked.

  “I DON’T KNOW!” Tobias growled, and his face once again took on the monstrous visage from earlier.

  Avalaine stepped back from the outburst, bracing herself for some other assault.

  But nothing came. Tobias deflated, looking almost sad now as he stared at her.

  Another wave of nausea hit her, and Avalaine almost doubled over. She couldn’t wait any longer.

  Stepping forward, she tried to be brave. Her heart was beating more rapidly than she had ever felt before, and her stomach was roiling even more violently.

  She thrust out her hand as she walked.

  “You stand back!” she said, nearly shouting. She tried to infuse her voice with authority.

  Tobias immediately fell back even further. Avalaine thought the movement was much too smooth somehow, as if he had glided backwards, instead of taking the steps.

  Avalaine walked forward, knowing that her next step might be her last.

  Then she stepped out of the room.

  Nothing happened.

  She had been prepared to leap back inside her chambers if Tobias came forward, but he did not. He remained in his position, staring at her with expressionless eyes.

  “You stay there!” she shouted, backing away from him.

  “As you command, mistress,” said Tobias.

  Avalaine was forced to take her eyes off of Tobias for a few nerve-wracking moments as she stepped over the ravaged bodies of her two guards, Lucas and Milton.

  Sorrow for the men welled up in her, but nausea and fear quickly replaced it.

  When she raised her eyes again, Tobias had not moved at all.

  That was all she needed. Avalaine turned and ran down the hall, hoping to find her father, or anyone that could deal with this horror.

  ***

  Earl Brentan Lirra had retired to his study after a fine dinner. The fire was steady and warm, and he had a most satisfactory bottle of wine to enjoy.

  He loved to take his ease and unwind after a day of toil. The burdens of statecraft and the business of the province could take a toll.

  All knew he was not to be disturbed at this hour. Even his guards were dismissed, as he did not want to hear their shuffling and pacing outside of the door.

  To him, this time was almost sacred. He needed to be away from the squawking peasants, the grasping nobles and merchants, and even the womanly worrying and nagging of his own good wife.

  The burdens of rule are indeed heavy, he thought, as he swirled his wine in his glass, sitting before the fire.

  He was also slightly annoyed that Master Crickney had not reappeared, as he had been commanded to. Still, he could deal with that later, he supposed.

  His train of thought was to be interrupted, however, when his eldest daughter burst into the room without announcement.

  “Father!!” shouted Avalaine. “You must assemble the guard! There is something terrible happening!”

  The Earl was most displeased by her interruption of his alone time.

  “Avalaine! You know better than this, girl! Take yourself away from here—”

  He never finished his sentence, because Avalaine bent over and retched right before him.

  Gouts of ropey, viscous, white-green fluid erupted from Avalaine. Some of the mess splattered onto the Earl, and he stepped back hastily.

  “By the Gods!! You have the flux!” he shouted.

  Avalaine collapsed to her knees, directly into the pool of putrid mess.

  “Father…” she croaked. Her voice was thin now. “There was a monster… a creature… it killed my guards.”

  “What?!” shouted the Earl. He still had not moved to aid his daughter, who now laid down in the mess she had made.

  Instead, he turned and stepped over to the wall, pulling a red cord. This cord would bring his own personal guard captain at once.

  Indeed, the man appeared at a run, mere moments later. This was Claud, a season veteran of many border skirmishes. The tall, slender man was slightly older than middle-aged, but in excellent shape and quick with his rapier.

  “My Lord, how may I be of—” he saw Avalaine sprawled on the floor then and broke off.

  “Lady Avalaine!” Claud shouted. He bent down and reached for her.

  “No!” shouted the Earl. “She has a sickness! I will contact the physician, but you must look for her guards! She claims they are dead, but is she in her right mind? Go and see now, man!”

  Claud looked as if he still wanted to help Avalaine, but he had his orders, and so he ran swiftly from the room.

  Earl Brentan also moved swiftly. He stepped over to his desk and snatched up a heavy linen handkerchief that was folded up there. He placed it over his nose and mouth, then walked across the room.

  There against this wall was another rope, this one white, which would summon his personal physician. He would help his daughter if anyone could.

  Just as he was about to pull the rope, arm bells sounded.

  Whirling in anger, the Earl nearly shouted. That alarm was to be sounded at his order only!

  The only way anyone would sound them without his express command was if…

  … if we were under direct attack, he thought.

  Looking down at his daughter, the Earl felt a cold, sinking feeling come over him.

  He pulled the white rope.

  ***

  Avalaine heard bells ringing.

  Someone is getting married, she thought. She wondered if it was her. Her and Garrick.

  She was moving. No, she was being carried.

  Are they carrying me to the altar? I am a mess. They should at least let me change.

  Something was wrong with the bells. They did not sound like wedding bells.

  Also, people were moving, but not in an orderly fashion. People were moving through the halls. They were frantic. Not happy. Not joyous.

  “What…?” she croaked out. “What is—?”

  “Do not speak, my Lady,” said a kind voice. It was the person carrying her. A guard?

  “We are under attack, Lady Avalaine!! We go to the women’s shelter!” shouted a female voice close to her. Too loud. She recognized it. Lady Somaly, one of her ladies. The youngest one, in fact.

  Somaly was just a year or two older than her own sister and was easily the most excitable of ladies. The petite, freckled, blonde-haired lady, girl really, was always vibrating with energy. Avalaine always found it to be a bit much to deal with.

  “Lady Somaly! Do not speak to her of such things, now!” said a stern, commanding voice.

  Avalaine’s thought drifted away then. She was aware that she was being carried, but not aware of much else.

  Eventually, she was deposited on a soft couch. Everything was spinning. A great void was opening. A dark void.

  “Ladies, remain here until we deal with the situation! I assure you there is nothing to fear!” said the voice that had been carrying her. Avalaine opened her eye and saw one guardsman standing there.

  “We will post a man outside, so fear not!” the guard said, then strode from the room without a backwards glance.

  Avalaine looked about the room. That was as much motion as she could manage. She saw many other ladies and female servants from Mount Lirra had been brought here.

  Then the couch shook as a weight dropped itself next to her.

  “I swear, Avalaine!” said Lady Somaly. “This is the most excitement I have seen in ages! Ooooh, I hope we get to see some fighting. Is this what it was like at Wademount? You should have taken me with you!”

  “Somaly, get up!” snapped another voice. “I’ll not have you pester her when she is obviously feeling ill!”

  “But I can—” Lady Somaly began.

  “No! Go on with you!”

  Avalaine felt the couch shudder as Lady Somaly launched herself from it in frustrated, youthful fashion.

  Then another weight settled on the couch, and Avalaine felt fingers stroking her hair.

  “Do not worry, Avvy,” said a voice. “I’m here to take care of you.”

  Avalaine looked up. Despite the nausea, which was worse than ever, she felt some relief wash over her.

  She had never been so happy to see Myria in her life.