"They are getting up!!"
"Captain!!!"
"Elders help us!"
Marius awakens to a campsite overcome by panic. He jumps up, waking Jess and dragging her after him. He grabs the first private he encounters by the arm. "What is going on private!?"
"Sir! The dead ... they are standing up!"
"Get a grip private. That's not possible."
"Take a look captain! Both ours and the uprisings dead are all getting up!"
The private breaks free and heads deeper into the forest.
"Everyone stop bloody panicking!! Stand to attention! That's an order!" He shouts while moving out towards the edge of the forest. Both can't believe their eyes as the private was not lying. The dead where getting up one by one, just standing there with an empty gaze. Not only the Baldrum fallen but orcs, goblins, ... they where all getting up. Before long an army stood there, just looking with their empty gazes towards the forest. Suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder "Marius!?" He turns a little startled to see both Captain Anders and Bodrin behind him. "What in the Elders name is happening!?" He looks back at the death army, still not moving.
"I have no clue, this is ... I don't know what this is." He says worried.
"We need to do something, we can't stay her." Jess whispers in his ear.
"Right, we need to move captains. We move out in battle formation. And i want scouts to remain here, the moment those ... things move, I want to know about it. I'll send Galmeth on shadow to inform the general, he needs to know right away."
Both men run of to their troops, shaking them out of the panic that's gripping all of them and getting them on the move. Marius looks around for his men and finds Dale. "Dale! Where is Galmeth?"
"Haven't seen him since last night sir." He says, clearly shaken up.
"What?"
"I'll ask around sir, we'll find him."
"Make sure you do private, send him to me when you do."
Dale salutes and disappears between the troops.
"Wolf battalion! Move out! Sword and shield at the ready!" He shouts at his men, springing them into action behind the others already heading deeper into the forest.
"Have you ever seen something like this?" He says turning to Jess.
"No .. no ... this, this is dark magic, necromancy. I've heard tales of such practices from the time of the eclipse, hundreds of years ago. But except for us elves, most true magic has gone from this world ... at least that's what I thought." She says with a shivering voice.
"We need to move, whatever brought them back, i doubt its just for show." He replies while heading out after the army, marching with a purpose and heads constantly turning back.
An hour passes and they are deep inside the forest now with the mid day sun shimmering true the leaves. Suddenly "aaargghhhh!" Screams rise from the head of the long column. "Jess stay here!" He shouts swinging on Shadow who he had on leash and bolting of to the front. "Battle formation!!" He yells while making his way along the line and the men instantly halting and forming a long wall made out of shields and swords. Fear clearly showing on the men's faces, but non waver and all stand at the ready.
He reaches the front of the line, he halts, needing a moment to process. The dead ... they are attacking! How did they pass them? How ... how are they so fast!? They move like beasts on the hunt, his eyes barely able to follow there movements. On rushes out of the tree's, throwing itself frantically on the first private it see's. He tries to block with his shield but that thing ... it claws, bits, ... its eating him!? Fear comes washing over him, what can he do against something like this? *screeching noise* He turns to the trees. It lunges at him, frenzied eyes, Baldrum armor, an arm missing, mouth open as a cat attacking a mouse. He freezes. It hits him. He tumbles of Shadow, only his arm between him and that thing. Snapping at him like rabid dog.
*swoosh* arrows start hitting it, fazing but not killing it. *swoosh* an arrow hits, piercing true the helm its still wearing. It falls off him, twitching on the grassy floor. As he turns to look, There is Jess with a group of rangers, shooting everything that moves in the dense treeline.
Shake it off Cromwell, this is fucked up but its happening, deal with it! He says to himself as he crawls back to his feet and unsheathes his sword. "Aim for their heads!" He shouts at the men behind him desperately trying to fend of the onslaught of frenzied undead soldiers. Before he even finds his balance another one hits him, this time impaling itself on his sword. Its almost as if it does not even feel it, clawing at his armor like a wild cat. He grabs its head, twisting it in one rapid move, snapping its neck and dropping it at his feet. He pulls out his sword and decapitates an undead attacking shadow and quickly mounts him. "Go boy!" He yells, spurring shadow on as he charges true the undead attackers, swinging his sword along the way, lobbing heads and limbs off as he makes his way to the end of the line. "Cavalry! Fall in!" He shouts once there. Making the remaining horsemen fall in a wedge formation behind him and charge true the almost endless horde of dead pouring out of the treeline. The line is crumbling, his men dying all around him, some trying to flee but getting cut down before making any distance. They where doomed, he knew it, they cant fight death ... but they wont die without a fight! He keeps cutting down foe after foe but they just keep coming. He passes Jess again, locking eyes for a second, seeing desperation while she keeps drawing arrows from an almost empty quiver.
"Head shots only!" She yells barely coming out atop the noise. "You only fire when you have a clean shot! No wasting arrows!" She continuous to shout. He got distracted, he shouldn't have. Hitting the ground again hard, an orc with a sliced open face atop him screaming like its possessed. He just manages to put his sword in between them, the thing biting it frantically, not caring its ripping his jaw off in the process. Suddenly it halts ... they all stop dead in their tracks. Looking at them with the same empty gaze as when they first started to get up. He pushes is off him, falling back a few paces. "Back in line!" He shouts at the remaining men who are all still scared out of their minds.
The dead start getting up again! No the once they cut down but those who fell against the dead. They start rising just as before, one by one and standing there with the rest of them. Marius knew it was over, fighting a foe who feeds off the dead, its an endless army. "We shall face the Elders with honor for we held death at bay!" He shouts trying to inspire his men for one last fight and while bracing himself for whats to come. He looks for Jess but can not find her between the men and the dead.
*screeching noise* He readies himself, sword at the ready, here they come. But they don't, instead they retreat back into the forest, like the rabbit dogs that attacked them, disappearing from sight in mere minutes. Everyone looking confused, scared, shaken. No more than one third of the force that set out remained standing. Thousands dead or ... undead. He doesn't know anything anymore. Then he sees it ... her. Jess running towards him. A feeling of relief quickly filling him, transcending the dread that had gripped him for hours now.
She jumps on him, squeezing the armor around his chest. "Thank the Elders! For a second I though ..."
"I thought the same. But we made it true, I don't know how but we did." He says with a still shaky voice, holding her in a tight grip as if scared she would be taken from her if he lets go. The men start looking at the pair, feared and confused. "Time to get us out of here captain." She whispers as she crawls out of his grip.
Composing himself for a minute he turns to them. "We move out! Double time! We do not stop until we reach Baldrum!" The men all to happy to follow that order set out, hoping to see Baldrum's comforting walls sooner than later. "Jess?"
"Yes?"
"Get me 3 of your fellow rangers. You fought with them, so pick the once you trust. We need to track these things, we need to know where they are headed."
"Yes, captain." She says while turning to run towards the archers already marching of in formation. Marius remains behind a bit shocked as it was the first time she called in captain without a mocking or jesting undertone. Seems she took the enlistment more serious then he thought.
It didn't take long before 3 rangers bolted out the column heading into the direction of the dead and Jess returning to him. "All 3 where former hunters, they know how to track and fought bravely." She says falling in beside him.
"Did you see Galmeth?" He quickly asks. "I haven't seen him since ..."
"No, i'm worried about him to. I did see Dale fall in the battle and ... get up again."
"Elders be damned, Dale ..." he lets out a long sigh. "So many left Baldrum ... so little return."
"You did everything you could my love." She replies with a returning, comforting tone as the grips his shoulder with both hands while walking with him after the column.
3 days of almost non stop marching and the sun starts to set when the Baldrum walls finally appear on the horizon, invigorating the men who start to run towards its gates. Even Marius felt a feeling of relief seeing those well fortified walls.
As one of the last true the gates, panic was already breaking out among Baldrum's town folk as worth of what they fought was going around like wildfire. "I need to speak to the king right away. Walters will probably be there as well if he's back already." He says to Jess, still ever by his side.
"I will return to the barracks, if Galmeth made it he will return there with the rest of your men." She replies, giving him a loving kiss on the cheek before walking off, clearly still shaken as well while Marius makes his way true the panicking crowds towards the kings castle, towering over the whole city from its center. By the time he reaches it on Shadow night had fully fallen over Baldrum, making most of the streets run empty again and the scared people finding confort among their families.
"I need an audience with the king." He says to one of the guards at the castles outer perimeter.
"The king is asleep captain, please co ..."
"Wake him! This can not wait!"
The guard startling at his tone, runs off towards the main building with Marius dismounting shadow, tying him on one of the posts and following the man. Marius did not like the king very much, he came from a long line of rulers and was to comfortable with the crown on his head. Having never seen battle or even walk among the common people, he did not inspire respect. Instead ruling from his golden throne and the whispers of power hungry politicians who had no interests beyond furthering their own wealth. The only person in the castle he had any respect for was Daliën, the kings mage and the only person whose council he should listen to but seldom does.
"Wait here captain, I will wake the king." The guard says once they reach the main reception area with a big table in the center with loads of golden trim and a few ornate chairs around it. "If he doesn't have me hanged." The guard whispers to himself as he disappears true a door.
As almost an hour go's by, Marius grows impatient and agitated. When suddenly a door swings open and a cloaked figure walks true it. A well groomed ginger beard, long wavy brown hair and shiny blue eyes "Captain Cromwell. It's been to long." His velvet voice says.
"Dalien? Where is the bloody king?" He says making no effort hiding his frustration.
"Returned to his slumber no doubt. The guard was ordered to fetch me instead."
"That babbling, ignorant, id ..."
"Mind your words captain. He is still your king."
"Some king ... Fine."
"Now what is the matter that has you in such an agitated state captain."
"If you get attack by your own fallen men you would be agitated to Dalien."
"What!?"
"Yes indeed what ... we fought the uprising, many gave their lives for the kings brilliant plan, only to have them resurrected hours later and attack us before we could make our escape."
"The dead rose? I've heard tales of dark magic like this but far from our time."
"Well think again, this is happening now. We would have all died, but they suddenly stopped and retreated."
"To where? Where did they go captain?" Daliens says, clearly worried and grasping the severity of it all.
"I don't know, I send rangers after them and am waiting on them to report back ... if they report back. These ... things, where savage, mindless beasts attacking their prey."
"Coming from you, that worries me even more captain." He says, clearly referring something he should not have known, but Marius was to frustrated at the moment to care.
"Has the general reported back? He should have been back by now?"
"I'm afraid not, might be he turned in after a tiring journey and will report tomorrow."
Marius lets his head hang down, smashing his fist on the table. "If those things crossed his path ..."
"Don't assume the worst captain. Get some rest yourself, you more than earned it. I will talk to the king in the morning."
"Fine ... i'll send word if my rangers should return."
"Thank you captain. You did Baldrum proud."
Marius does not reply and walks out swearing and growling all the way to his quarters. It takes him a good while to reach them and he cools off significantly before entering, finding Jessalie already passed out on the bed. He smiles at the sight. She lays on her back, mouth open, a few strands of hair in her mouth, legs and arms spread. As if she fell asleep where she dropped. Even asleep she brought a smile to his face. With everything that has happened in the days passed that's quit the achievement. He undo's himself from his armor and nestles alongside Jess in the little room she left for him and falls asleep looking at her now shewing her hair in her sleep.
The next morning both are awoken by heavy tumping on the door. "Captain! Captain! The rangers are back!" Marius without pause jumps out of bed, only his pants on and bolts out the doors, leaving Jess in an half awake daze. "Where are they private!?" He yells at the soldier at the door.
"Follow me sir."
Both men rush out of the barracks to find 2 rangers just outside, surrounded by curious soldiers. "Move! Move! Give these me some space!" He yells eager to reach them and hear them out. The soldiers start to dispersing and the captain pushes away the remainder till he reaches them. A young fawn girl and a man his own age, clearly exhausted. "Tell me what you saw!" He says nervous and impatiently."
"Deadsea." The girl says, still breathing heavily. "They went into the deadsea, we followed them as far as we could into the mountains but when Clide went on ahead he was killed by a pack of them ... we didn't even see them coming. We ... we ran back after that."
"You both did good. Eat, rest."
"There is more sir." The girl continuous. "We found the general and his men ... the dead washed over them after our battle ... there was no one left alive."
Marius face turns grim. "Walters." He mutters, clearly saddened by the news. "Go, rest up, you both earned it." He continuous as both stumble into the barracks. Marius remains outside for a moment, turning in circles, looking up at the sky as if the Elders where speaking to him. Suddenly he feels something from behind. Jess puts his shirt over his shoulders. "I heard" she says. "i'm sorry love, i know you and the general where ... "
He quickly turns and hugs her, burying his face in her loose hair. "Walters took me under his wing when i got to Baldrum all those years ago. He was a soldier true and true ... to be killed by those ... things. He deserved more than that." He says with an almost whispering voice.
She does not speak, she knows well enough there is nothing she could say that would lift his spirits right now. The only thing she can do is be there for the man she loves. "I ... i need to speak to Daliën. We need to take action against those things as soon as possible."
"Then lets go see him." She says while taking his hand and pulling him towards the barracks. "But first lets get you in your uniform shall we."
Both leave for the kings castle in proper attire. Jess trying her best to cheer Marius up but to no avail. His mood only sowers the closer they draw to the castle. Once there Jess knew if the king shows up now, this was not going to end well.
"Captain Cromwell!" A guard comes running at them. "Dalien said you would be coming. Please follow me."
Marius simply nodded at the man with Jess looking more worried by the minute. When they enter the meeting room, the king and Dalien are already sitting at the center table, accompanied by a few politicians he did not know. "Now he shows." He mutters to Jess the second he sees the king with his golden crown and ornate robes.
"Calm yourself, you need him to listen, remember that." She says not sure he even heard her in the moment.
"Captain Cromwell!" The king shouts enthusiastically as he approaches the table. "The man who saved the day ... twice!" He jumps up from his chair, at the head of the table, to shake Marius hand. Marius stands there for a second, just looking at him when Jess cuts in. "An honor to meet you your majesty. The captain is still a bit shaken up from everything that has happened."
"Of course, how could you not." The king replies smiling and retracting his open hand. "And who might you be? I don't think we had the pleasure." He continuous offering his hand to her this time around.
"Jessalie Whiteleaf your grace." She says shaking his hand. "Ranger of the wolf battalion."
"Well I did not know we had some of Atruin's people in our service." He looks at his mage with a smug expression on his face. "Clearly I should visit the barracks more often Dalien."
Jess immediately turns to Marius, worried he would ignite even further. "Captain, i think its time you informed the king of what we have learned don't you think?"
Marius remains glaring at the gold cladded man in front of him till Jess gives he subtle nudge with her elbow in his side. "Yes ... " He turns his gaze towards Dalien. "The dead have retreated, if you can call it that, into the deadsea and ... "he pauses for a brief moment, struggling with what he was about to say. "General Walters is gone. On their way towards the deadsea they crossed his convoy and ... there was nothing left."
The politicians at the table start whispering among themselves when Dalien rises above their conversations. "We shall honor the general with a memorial fit for the respect he commanded from both his soldiers and the people."
Marius nods in agreement. "Yes yes of course, we shall spare no cost." The king cuts in.
"We shall, however need to investigate this undead plague captain. We can not have a threat like this looming over our region, specially one we know nothing about."
"Indeed my trusted advisor. We shall lead an expedition into the deadsea and find our answers soon enough." The king quickly follows the mage his words.
"Captain, we leave this in your capable hands. Select a team to investigate and report back as soon as you find out who are what is behind this. Meanwhile we shall bolster the cities defenses and evacuate some of the towns closest to the deadsea, just to ear on the side of caution.
"My words exactly Dalion! We shall not leave the people to fend for themselves. Not while the are under the protection of Baldrum's noble king!" The king cuts in again.
Marius' face tenses at every word spoken by the man. Now noticed by Dalien as well. "Captain, we shall not hold you from you duties any longer, but know the kingdom is indebted to you for your valiant service."
Marius salutes the room and quickly makes his exit before the king can say another word. Jess quickly follows, relieved he managed to hold his resentment at bay. "That went ..."
"I should have pushed that crown true his throat. Pompous fool." He cuts her off, loud enough for the guards posted along the way to hear. "Shhht we got what we came for. He is taking action ...
"He!? Dalien is the only one with a brain in that room. If it wasn't for him the idiot would have likely brushed it off and trow a parade for himself."
"At least he ..."
"And that little flirt towards you? ... If i see his smug face anywhere near you ..."
Jess chuckles "Is my love jealous ... of a pompous fool no less?"
"No! .. yes! ... that's not the point! Where does he get his bloody nerve."
"He is a king, he is used to getting what he want."
"He's not getting you!"
"Ow and do I have any say in this matter?"
"Of course, i just meant ... "
"I'm just teasing, i know what you meant and the sentiment is sweet." She gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
"I'm going."
"Uh!?"
"On the expedition. I'm going."
"Alright then we go."
"N ... oh whats the point ... fine. When those 2 rangers are recuperated we will leave. They know where they last encountered them, so we will have a starting point."
"Won't is be wise to bring more men, i mean those things ..."
"The more we bring, the more risk we are discovered. A small group traveling light, moves fast and silent."
"Well it is decided then."
"Reluctantly."