It had been exactly six months and six days since I left Belen, my home town, in search of a cure for the Black Plague. This disease, which consumed the body and mind of its victim, was taking countless lives along the eastern front and there was no sign of stopping. No one really knew its origin, but word began to spread that it was being purposefully spread from town to town. During this time, I received word that someone very dear to me was involved in the spreading of this plague, someone I had not seen for many years. Had I done something different knowing that I would soon be dead? I don´t believe so.
I was riding my horse under a gray layer of clouds that covered the sky, through some god forsaken swamp which received the name of The Shimmering Morass. It was filled with vegetation, twisted weeping willows and small ponds with dark water. In the background one could hear a symphony of wild life noises, some of which I had never heard before. It was a place without order, without laws, a place that did not suit me. However, it was my duty to carry on no matter the circumstances and so I did.
It was getting dark so I began to search for a shelter to spend the night, although I did not have high hopes of finding something decent in such place. Suddenly something caught my attention. It wasn't the noise of some distant insect, no, it was the sound of a human voice. I halted my mount for a moment trying to make out the meaning of the words but the voice was too distant. I decided to inspect further so I advanced towards it, slowly and cautiously. As I reached closer, I could start to recognize what was being said… but it did not sound very encouraging.