Marianne climbed the stairs to the tower. The conversation with the magician had given her a rough impression of what had happened in Auenfries. She had sent 20 knights behind the first Keepers division. The devastation in the city was enormous. And apparently the place was empty now. The magician had only seen dead people in his vision. Nobody was on the streets. In order to completely enslave such a place, a whole tribe must have fallen over Auenfries. Twenty keepers would certainly not have been enough to chase after them and bring the kidnapped home. Despite the terrible incidents in Auenfries, Marianne was more concerned with the other matter. Usually her instinct razor-sharp led her to where she should be. But it was different here. She felt she had to be here in Uhlheim. She felt a great terror, but it was not in one place. It was inaccurate, like a fog, like looking through the wrong side of the binoculars. She couldn't say where to go in Uhlheim. So, she climbed the stairs to the bell tower to get an overview of the city. She hoped Torqua would show her from above where she'd find the evil. Uhlheim was a big city. If her inspiration did not give her the exact location, she had to start turning the city upside down. Sure, Uhlheim had an order castle and a section of imperial bowmen guards, in addition to the ducal knights, but it would take a long time to comb through the whole city even with 250 men. She had just sent 40 of them to Auenfries. Neither did she know what her men should look for. So there were only men to use that made sense. So again only the higher keepers and the priests and consecrated of the Torqua temple came into question. That would be a total of maybe 80 people. It made no sense. She had to rely on HIM. And so, at the end of the stairs, she went through the arch to the roof of the tower. From here, at a height of about 15 meters, she had a good view of the entire city. The religious house was located in the western part of the city, surrounded by farm buildings and its own wall 3 meters high. Like the ducal garrison, the area of the order formed a self-sufficient and self-contained area. Uhlheim was the bulwark of the sand marches and not just one attack by the desert tribes or the seven cities had come to a standstill here, because even if the enormous city walls of Uhlheim were overcome, the garrison and the castle of the keepers were 2 further heavily fortified fortresses within the city that could hardly be overcome.
The order complex could easily accommodate 2,000 citizens of the city and the garrison was certainly twice as many. If the garrison was besieged, the keepers could come for their aid. If the Order Castle withstood an attack, help came from the garrison. Marianne looked over the city and prayed:
"Show me where to go."
But everywhere she looked around searching, there was no clue, no building that caught her attention.. She started to look at every single building. Was there something there? Should she search there? No. Next one. How did it look in this building? A dealer. Had he maybe bought the jar? The house didn't invoke an emotion in her. Nothing told her it was there. So on. And so, she occupied herself for quite a while exploring the city with her strict gaze.
Katlin grinned evil at her sisters. "Be ready, that will be a rough ride." Lenesti showed a pout: "This is so weird. Can we not just fly? You know I can command a complete village with just my voice. What are you two capable off? I hate this shadow jumping. And", facing Katlin, "I hate that you drag on my fine cloth. You could be soft or somehow caring. I am your sister by blood. I am also not very sure about the safety of this kind of travel. Maybe we end up in a shadow of a large bonfire." The two others sighed and looked annoyed at Lenesti. "Come on Sister not again. Is it possible to do anything that was not your plan, without listening to your complains?" ,Marie replied upset. "Yes of course, I knew that especially you could not understand me. I am getting sick with each jump. I am totally disoriented. I just feel very unsafe, plopping up somewhere." "But you won´t start crying now do you?" Katlin said amused. "Maybe we can…", Katlin wanted to go on, but Marie cut her words off. "NO! We will not fall for her tricks this time. We don´t have time. Lenesti, I am sorry that you have to suffer so severely by these shadow jumps but you will endure it, at least this time. I will protect you. Don´t be afraid." "Like you protected me when Raderak beat me up?" Lenesti said accusing. "No one of us three is able to protect you from Raderak. He can easily defeat the three of us. It is not fair to accuse Marie", answered Katlin. With a poisoned voice Marie said: "It is so wonderful how weak and in need of protection you can demonstrate yourself. By the Seven, Lenesti had broken a fingernail. The whole castle should cry one weak for the torture that you had. But when it comes up to others you are just a cruel beast. Everyone is just there for you to be ordered around and if someone gets hurt doing your biddings you do not even feel sorry for him." Lenesti again showed her best pout: "That´s not true! I care, especially for you, my sisters. This is really unfair. You are mean. I will tell father." She turned her face away. Katlin and Marie were not sure if they should slap her or laugh, then Marie saw that Lenesti was trying hard to suppress her laughter. She started to laugh and then Lenesti also had to laugh out loud. Katlin exhaled loudly:" Come on girls, there is no time for this." "Hey I need to be in training, we visit humans." Lenesti said with a grin raised her hands high and swayed her hips. Marie rolled her eyes. Katlin counted silently with her fingers shown to Marie from three backwards. When she closed her hand to a fist she grabbed Marie and Lenesti. The three women vanished from the walls of the castle.
Lenesti´s eyes went black. Then she sawed branches through the clearing blur.
"Kat...."
and again she got dragged by her sister and her eyes went black. Again, trees and some mountain. It was cold.
"Not so...."
The next jump occured. She heard water.
".....fast. Wait! "
But her sister didn´t know any grace and jumped onwards with them. Lenesti´s stomach start to feel bad. She got dizzy and a bit sleepy. Then finally Katlin stopped. Lenesti still felt the grip of Katlin. "Do not move. We are on top of a tower." The three women cuddled in a small shadow on top of a tower and looked down at a city. Lenesti made a face and hold with both hands on Katlin. "I thought it would be best if you memorze the city a little before you go down and start the search." "What do you mean ´we go down and search´`?", asked Lenesti. "I have decided to stay here on the tower. We do not know how the search will go on. You need to spread out, and one of us should keep the city in her eyes to warn or inform you. Maybe one of you", she looked meaningful at Lenesti, "gets in trouble. Then it is important to know where you are and what exactly is happening at you place. Dawn will come soon and then I can travel to every place in the city in an instant." "Yeah I know you do not like humans. There is no need to think about a good excuse sister heart. Don´t fall asleep up here" Katlin smiled, I will go on top of the tower then you can always see me."
"Now something serious girls. Do you see this building?", Katlin pointed at a large area, surrounded by walls. Her sisters looked in the direction. Marie squeezed her eyes and said: "Is it the house of the keepers of Majagoth?`" "Exactly. Don´t get close to it. They can feel our presence and suppress our powers. I guess they also can guess the power of the heart. Father said it is here, but I can not feel it. Also my arcane sight can not see it. It is somehow hidden. Maybe therefore it is still calm here. But when it gets unraveled the hell will break loose. Believe me. The keepers will swarm the city and not stop until they have it." It was obvious that Lenesti felt not good about what Katlin said. She had heard about the keepers, of course. But know, here in the city, it seemed like a suicide mission. What could she do if a keeper suppresses her power? Then she was a common woman, just like those down below her. Katlin stroke her hair softly: "We will care for each other. This is why father sent us all."