Chapter 8: Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye

Kosh

Up ahead Kosh sees Elion and some others he recognizes from the village. The group catches their breath as Elion approaches.

Kosh breathes heavily. "What's going on? How did you guys manage to escape?"

Elion wipes at his face. "Scouts reported that there was suspicious activity. We were able to start evacuating some of the people, then explosions rang out. We really didn't know what to expect." Elion looks around, "I certainly did not think this. I was able to save," He points to the people behind him. " only this small amount." Elion's face is grim and he looks as if he has aged 20 years in the short time the group had last seen him.

Kosh looks around. Some of the people have burns and blisters and are being tended to. The ones not helping were holding themselves or loved ones weeping or mumbling to themselves. So much hurt and pain. It reminds Kosh of the night he was taken and thrown into a slave carriage. He watched from the window as his friends and family members were either executed or loaded into other carriages. His town was burned to the ground. All that he loved, gone in a single moment. He knew all too well how these people felt. The village is down to only 15 people. Their loved ones are gone but they still walk, undead now. If the remaining people didn't know this already it would only devastate them even more.

"Gather our people. We need to move southeast. There is a city a day from here. Hopefully, it remains untouched. They should be able to help us". Elion issues his four remaining soldiers.

Kosh

The rest of the day is uneventful. They will arrive in Lingard later tonight. Kosh's back hurt and his body sore. His heart hurt too. Kosh closes his eyes and tries to settle his thoughts.

"Are you alright?" Kith asks Kosh strolling up beside him.

I know what it's like to be them. Kosh says quietly. "It will be a long time before they recover."

"This may just be the beginning." Kith replies.

Kosh nods his head. "Once we get to Lingard, we should send word to Queen Anastasia."

Kith shrugs. "What do we even say?"

"We are at war."

Kith scoffs, "More bad news. I wonder if she will even be surprised."

Kosh ponders a moment. "We need to get to Belkzen stronghold."

"We can't take on Belkzen itself without an army," Kith says.

Kosh nods his head in agreement. "We need to get word to our allies, as well. They need to know they may all be in danger."

"We can take out the footholds they have along the borders. Kith replies. "We still have the Runelords to deal with as well.

Kosh looks out over the hill they are standing on. Down below in the distance is Lingard. The last big city before they head into the Whispering Tyrant's domain. The sun was starting to go down and the air is growing chilly. The light in the city begins to flicker on. Kosh's heartfelt heavy and knew that what Kith said was true. It was only the beginning. And for the first time in a long time, Kosh felt helpless.

Ren

They finally arrive in Lingard. As they walk towards its vast sand-colored gates, four armed guards approach, and Elion steps up to meet them.

"Sir Elion!" One of the guards says and greets him with a small salute. She is another elf dark-skinned, with formal soldier attire. She looks past Elion and to the group behind him and her eyes widen. Ren didn't have to guess what she saw. He felt it himself. Anger, shock, heartbreak. The adventurers decide to tell, at least Elion, what had become of the villagers that hadn't made it. Arix, you bastard. Ren thinks to himself.

Elion clears his throat. "Narrlin was attacked. They are what is left of our town."

Tears well in the dark-skinned elf's eyes and she turns away for a brief moment. She takes a deep breath. "My brother?"

Elion grabs her shoulders gently and puts his head to hers. "I'm sorry Kylinndra."

Kylinndra stumbles a bit and Elion steadies her. Speaking in Elvish, he tells her that her brother saved a few of the townspeople. That he was brave and honorable. Tears are now pouring down her face as she trembles in Elion's arm.

The group and villagers watch in sadness. Most of them had lost someone. Most of them start to cry themselves, some never had stopped.

A dwarf woman dressed in fine silks and fabrics walks towards them from inside the gate. She touches Kylinndra's shoulder and whispers something to her and Kylinndra excuses herself and walks quickly back into the city gates.

"Let's help move these people into the city." She says gesturing towards the remaining guards. She turns towards Elion. "Follow me."

The villagers walk in with the guards and Elion and the group follows the dwarf woman. She is an average-looking and size dwarf with loose, wavy blonde hair. She leads them through the town. It is as bustling as Narrlin had been a day ago. The town is much bigger and more populated. On one side, are markets with apartments on the top parts, on the other side were houses scattered between an inn and a tavern. Everyone looks happy and joyful. The opposite of all they felt. Ren sighs. He is tired and worried. The group hadn't really talked too much. There is much more at stake than his vengeance. That has always been what fueled him. Now, he isn't sure how to feel. He knows he has to stop the Tyrant but it wasn't just about himself anymore. The dwarf woman led them into a tall building beside an open yard that men and women are training on.

She leads them into a room with a large oak table and points to it. "Have a seat". She says sitting down herself. To the group, she says, "I'm Recca. Tell me what happened."

She looks ridged sitting in the seat, no emotions playing out on her face. After everything they had just gone through, felt, and done, it was hard not to think her a cold heartless-

Elion's voice breaks his thoughts as he and the group begin to tell her of the events that took place in Narrlin Hamlet.

Ren

It's been two weeks since they had arrived in Lingard. Kosh had sent a message to Queen Anastacia, who has yet to respond. Ren walks out of his room and down the hall of the inn where he and his group are staying. Everyone is nice and kind. Even to Kith, much to his surprise. To no surprise, Kith was usually on the training grounds sparing with others as he has done the whole time they have been here. Kosh was usually found with Elion and Recca. Ren could be found in the library and Eris was usually in the temple or helping the folks around the city. This day is different though. Recca and Elion asked for them to all go to the room they had been escorted to when they had first gotten here. It is the same as last time, a huge table in the center but this time it is crowded with a least twenty people. He recognizes some of them from around town.

After a few moments, Recca speaks up. "As you all have heard Narrlin was attacked a few weeks ago. After some thought and consideration, my people," she indicates the twenty, "have decided to help fight back in however you need. These are the leaders of other various villages and towns thought the region." She opens up her shirt just enough to see a pendant on her undershirt. Ren recognizes it: The Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye.

Kosh nods his head and walks over to the table to stretch out a map he has been holding. " If we can get an army together. My group and I can infiltrate the orc footholds along our route." He points to the map and marks Belkzen. "This will reduce their numbers, ability to flank us and provide the army with enough time to get through and closer to Urgir.

Just then a knock sounds at the door and in walks a gnome girl.

"Apologies for the interruption, she says with a clear and confident voice. "Sir Kosh?"

Kosh indicates himself by raising his hand. She extends a rolled missive to him and excuses herself.

After a few moments of reading, Kosh enlightens the rest of the people with its contents. "The queen has sent out another team to come in from the south of the Gravelands. They will clear out footholds along the way as well. We will approach from the north, northwest position. We engage in one month."

Ren whistles. "Is that enough time? We have to travel across Belkzen while crippling them along the way."

Kosh shrugs. "We have no choice."

One of the men at the table speak up. "How do you know that the group Anastacia sent out will be there at that time."

"As Kosh said, we have no choice and must hope for the best," Eris responds with a flip of the hand.

Kosh continues with the information given on the missive. "The other team will be in charge of recruiting others as well. We will infiltrate Belkzen and meet in Urgir."

"This might be a lot for just the 4 of us," Kith interjected. He is leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Ren would have never guessed he would have befriended an orc given his past.

Kosh gives Kith a look and doesn't answer. "The queen said to recruit too. They don't have many in number but we can send word to Heg Town.

Another male dwarf stands to speak. We are a village a few days from here and closer to the Hold. I can gather at least 30 and meet you at the border of Belkzen.

"The dwarves would love to get their hands on the people of Urgir. And take back one of their homes." Eris says.

The man nods.

"We need all the help we can get" Recca agrees.

"I will draft up something then," Eris says. She proceeds to grab loose parchment off the table and sets about writing to Heg Town.

They all continue to set up destinations for scouts and other miscellaneous excursions needed before the battle that is to take place in one month.

As Ren walks to the apothecary, he can't help but feel a sense of unease at this lack of control and the gamble they are all taking. A cold sweat broke out over his body and he trembles slightly. No choice is right. Ren thinks. This mission is going to be hard. One that many may not live to see the end of, himself included.