Albie Headed for the second-floor stairs. The second floor looked over the first. Hand carved stone rails supported a few muskets and plagued corpses of men who died on watch. Albie made his way to the front of the building. He looked over the balcony as two men in long orange coats and riding boots entered pistols and sabers drawn. They had cloth masks covering their face hoping it would protect them from the illnesses inside.
"The Stone masons guild is a large place," said the first solder. "Where should we start looking. The longer we stay here the more likely we catch something."
"Let's check the back rooms for places without bodies," said the second. "One of them may have hid in the back rooms and not gotten sick."
"Probably stashed some food," said the first. "Only way he could have stayed hidden that long. The mason's guild was under siege for a week."
"Didn't even share with his friends," Said the second.
"How very selfish," joked the first. "Didn't share his horded food with his dying mates."
Albie sat on the stone railing looking down on the men. Wondering what kind of damage, he would take if he fell. He looked at the men who were below him.
"I don't know if food would have helped doesn't seem like half of them could keep food down," declared Albie.
The two cavalrymen spun around to see Albie. He sat on the railing in his moon stone studded cloak. His walking musket was thrown over his shoulder. The two riders saw the man's one oversized transplanted eye.
Both men fired their pistols at the stranger. The hooded figure dropped from the rails. The body thudded to the floor between the shooters and the exit. The orange coats put away the pistols and approached the body.
"Weird one," said the first solder.
"Yeah," said the second. "Had that long riffle over his shoulder and didn't even shoot it."
"Nice cloak," said the second. "I thought we killed all the traitor noble's day one."
The second man grabbed the hood and pulled up to see the pail man smiling. The red compound eye held his and his mate's attention. Neither saw the pail man's hand grabbing them. Both men's legs gave out. Their life force was drained from their bodies. The men groaned as they faded to a pair of husks. The horses outside sounded whinnied and stomped.
Albie enjoyed his dinner. The horses would make an amazing second course. Albie was full for now, but he had a full day of growing spiders tomorrow. He picked up the walking musket not needing its help for now. He put it on his shoulder and walked up the stone barricade were the horses were tied. They were big beautiful horses that reminded him of the traveler's wagon horses. The horses wheeled back in fear of the young man. They new what was coming and feared the unnatural existence that was Albie. Albie pet the first one to try to ease it as he began to drain the horse's vitality.
A few minutes later both horses were husks in the street. The mage felt full.
Full of life, power whatever energy fills a being that attaches them to this world. The wounds Cat had suffered felt far away. Albie thought he could jump over the buildings but decided it would be best to save it for spider rearing.
"Father," Scabs voice entered his mind. "I have it."
Albie checked Scabs vision. From an alley he saw a row of dead men laying on the ground. Three dead men wandered around the street aimlessly. Hoof beets crashed down the street. The clopping grew louder. A rider appeared in Scabs view. The rider had raised his saber to slash one of the dead men. He rode his horse over the line of corpses.
A corpse lying on the ground reached up and grabbed the horse's front leg. The horse lost balance. The beast tripped throwing the ridder. A second rider got tripped up. Both flew a bit before hitting the cobble stone hard. The dead men got of the street. Scabs point of view ran out the alley. A group of dead men pilled on the two riders. One of the riders rolls over saber in hand. One of his arms was broken and he had blood on his face. The dead men didn't fear the man's sword and descended on him. He slashed uselessly at the dead men as they descended on him. The man screamed as he was torn apart. His buddy hit his head hard and didn't seem to notice being eaten.
Scab looked back at the horse and began eating one of the screaming horses.
Albie stopped looking through Scab to begin his walk back to the hospital. The young mage was full. He had more moonlight to burn but it was raining, and the clouds hid the moon.
"Father," Scabs mind Entered Albies again.
"What is it?" asked Albie looking through Scabs mind again.
Albie saw a group of five men in full plate armor. They all carried two handed swords.