“What happened?” Harruq asked, dreading the answer. He felt distant memories crushing in upon him.
“Man-flesh,” Aurelia said, her face pale. “They butchered everything, Harruq. The goats, the pigs, the cows… and the rest.”
Harruq turned and fled. His swords were in his hands, yet he never remembered drawing them. He struck broken boards and nearly collapsed walls. Gray sky hung above him, but in his mind it was filled with stars. The village was empty, but in his mind it was full of fleeing men and women. This village had no name he knew, but the one of memory was called Cornrows. In years past, while still serving Velixar, he and Qurrah had destroyed the entire village, leaving not a single survivor.
Harruq stumbled over a broken sword and fell to one knee. He knelt there, his vision blurred. Aurelia called out to him, but he didn’t hear. He didn’t want to hear. The weight of a hundred murders crushed his shoulders and choked the breath from his lungs. Harruq dropped his swords. Amid his red vision he found a cornhusk doll, half of it burned away. When he picked it up, he felt tears well in his eyes.
“Harruq?”
The half-orc looked up. He felt naked and confused. A slender hand touched his shoulder, and he flinched as if struck. Another looped around his neck, and then Aurelia’s hair fell across his face, and within its privacy Harruq sobbed.
“No better,” he said when he could to speak. “I’m no better. How could I have done something like this? How could I… how could…?”
“Shush,” Aurelia whispered, but Harruq would not listen.
“I’m a monster,” he said. “Just a monster.”
Haern approached. his sabers swing at his hip.
“The orcs went west,” he said quietly. “They must have attacked here on the way. Wouldn’t be surprised if they had run low on supplies. When Sir Kull and Lord Sully arrive, they’ll have to be men of stone to ignore this carnage.”
“Thank you, Haern,” Aurelia said, still clutching her husband. “Please, go to Seleven. We’ll be with you soon.”
Haern nodded and left. Harruq’s sobs had turned to soft, shuddering breaths. He seemed almost embarrassed by his outburst. Aurelia used her fingers to wipe his face, and when he looked to her, she smiled.
“What?” he asked.
In response, she kissed his forehead.
“Not a monster,” she told him. “Maybe once, but not now. And not ever again. Do you remember when Aullienna was born? You tried to flee me, flee her. Do you remember?”
Harruq nodded.
“You were scared out of your mind,” Aurelia said, and she smiled again. “But you stayed. You changed. Don’t punish yourself over what you’ve done. No matter what, I love you. And no matter what Qurrah does, I’ll love you. And no matter what happens to this whole blasted world, I’m still going to love you.”
Harruq chuckled, embarrassed and ashamed and tired. He held her tight, his hands lost in her hair, his wet cheeks pressed against her neck.
“I think that’ll be enough,” he said. “Just don’t leave me, all right?”
“How could I leave such a mopey half-orc?” Aurelia said, kissing him once more. “Now let’s go. We need to make sure those two stupid lords and knights get the right message out of here.”
They returned to Haern, who stood waiting by Seleven. He watched the south, and when they neared, he pointed.
“I believe that’s Sir Kull,” he said. “They’re moving like someone’s lashing their backs with whips, so Lord Sully must not be too far behind.”
“Are they heading this way?” Harruq asked.
“Looks like it,” Haern said. “The smoke has drawn their attention.”
“Let’s wait for them,” Aurelia said. “But away from here. The smell turns my stomach.”
They rode Seleven a quarter mile south and waited. When Sir Kull’s army neared, the three Eschaton expected their customary greeting. They weren’t disappointed. Soldiers surrounded them, weapons drawn.
“You’ve led us on a merry chase,” Sir Kull said once he arrived. “Lord Sully stalks us even now, and the northern hills are still days away. And what of the smoke in the distance? Do you play games with us, elf?”
Aurelia shook her head, clearly having no patience for such banter.
“You’ll see it with your own eyes,” she said. “Your land is in dire peril. But my words will mean nothing. Go see. Ride ahead on a horse if you must.”
“I will not flee into an ambush,” the knight said.
“Then bring the whole army,” Harruq said. “Hope they have strong stomachs.”
Sir Kull glared but did not respond.
“Come with us,” he said. “Let us see what game you play.”
Aurelia glanced to the others, who merely shrugged.
“Very well,” she said. “Lead on.”
They traveled in relative silence, talking only when asked a question pertaining to what they knew of Lord Sully and his movements. Seleven trotted behind them, and Harruq figured the horse glad to stretch his legs instead of his wings. All around them, soldiers in armor huffed and puffed, their eyes drooping and their faces ragged. If it came to battle, he doubted they’d be up for a fight. Slowly the smoke cloud neared, until those in the front could see its source.
“Auchby’s been attacked!” shouted one of the soldiers. The cry traveled through the army.
“Auchby?” they shouted. “Auchby burns!”
Sir Kull grabbed Aurelia’s wrist and yanked her close.
“What part did you play in this?” he asked. Harruq was there immediately, ignoring the swords that pointed toward his neck.
“Let go or lose the hand,” the half-orc growled.
The knight paused a moment, then let go.
“I would never have part in something so vile,” Aurelia said. “We’re here to help, but to do that, you people of the Hillock must first open your eyes.”
The men marched on, a bit of urgency returning to their step. The path they took led them between two thick hills, and at the end of its curve they arrived at the massacred town of Auchby. The Eschaton remained on the outskirts as, wide-eyed and horrified, Sir Kull’s army slowly spread throughout the remains.
“Watch your tongues,” Aurelia told them as they waited. “We’re walking on thin branches.”
“Above hungry lions,” Harruq added.
“The analogy worked well enough without your help,” Haern said.
The half-orc shrugged.
After ten minutes, Sir Kull returned, flanked by six of his men.
“Orcs did this,” he said. “How long have you known?”
“We came to warn Lord Sully,” Aurelia said, watching the knight closely. “He would hear none of our warning. When we came to you, we doubted any better a result. So we’ve brought you both north. As for this village, we found out only this morning.”
Sir Kull’s hand drifted down to his sword, and Harruq tensed in case he drew it from its sheath. Haern was already swaying, his hands hidden underneath his cloaks.
“Who loosed the orcs upon the east?” Sir Kull asked. “When did this happen? We’ve heard only outlandish rumors of Veldaren’s fall at their hand. Never once did we take them seriously.”
“They’re real,” Aurelia said. “The orcs crossed the Bone Ditch, and will do so again. They must have a bridge. If we can destroy it, there might be a chance to protect your Hillock, for a time.”
Sir Kull looked south.
“Richard will be here soon. We’ll set up formations beside the village. If he wants to fight amid his own people’s dead, then so be it. The Hillock will be better without him.”
Sir Kull saluted and left.
“Aren’t we messengers of doom,” Haern said, throwing back his cloaks and halting his rhythmic swaying.
“Not much good news to spread lately,” Harruq muttered.
“Let’s go,” Aurelia said. “I’d be shocked if Lord Sully desires to fight after seeing this. We have a bridge to find.”