Knights rushed in and out of the main office. Some were grabbing torches and large barrels. Others carried out bundles of arrows and boxes with small glass jars filled with orange liquid. Diomede watched from around the corner from the hallway of the holding cells. He noticed the commotion wasn't as chaotic as he had thought. The knights were quickly moving throughout the office but still maintained their composure. Francisco peered out over Diomede's shoulder and saw Commander Ruffgaurd walking down the stairs that sat in the middle of the main entrance to the office, he was wiping his hands with a rag. Francisco nudged Diomede to Ruffgaurd's present. Diomede nodded and maneuvered his way closer. As Ruffgaurd reached the bottom step he dropped the rag onto the torch that a knight was holding in attendance. "Statues report." Ruffgaurd demanded. Ruffgaurd continued walking as the knight holding the torch followed close behind. Diomede and Francisco followed from a distance being sure to keep something between them and the pair. "Information about the outbreak is still being collected." Spoke the knight. "Elite Panagiot has been informed and is outside now." Ruffgaurd stopped and turned to the knight, as he did Diomede and Francisco hid behind a pillar. "What type of undead outbreak is it?" The Knight stopped in his tracks and stood straight as a board. " No Signs of bites nor infectious discharge has been found on any of the dead." Ruffgaurd fiddled with a small beaned chain on his belt, " No bio-infection. Any evidence of a cursed mark or brand?" Ruffgaurd asked. The Knight shook his head. "Elite Panagiot thinks it may be a spell of some kind, the main undead is the knights the gultonk killed sir.'' This news didn't sit well with Diomede. He felt his gut start to turn and an old feeling came rushing back, one that made him uneasy. Ruffgaurd turned and stomped toward the entrance of the office. He began shouting, "If that is the case and we are dealing with a necro-bastard then Umar's country is now under attack by unholy magic. I want all villagers here now!" Ruffgaurd shouted. "If the unholy son of a whore is here in the village then we will find them!" The pair walked through the main entrance. "Sir what of the prisoners in the cells and the Boarkar woman?" The knight asked. Ruffgaurd laughed, "I have already dealt with her." Diomede's heart sank, he needed to find her now before someone else did. If Ruffgaurd had killed her, then that may be the reason this undead business was happening. Ruffgaurd and the knight continued walking out of the office. Diomede stood up and walked from behind the pillar. Francisco poked his head out and whispered, "What are you doing? You're going to be spotted!" Diomede looked out around him and saw the motions of a few knights but no one was heading their way. He waved his hand to Francisco to follow him. Francisco slowly walked out to Diomede. "What are we going to do?" Francisco asked. "Can you cast a spell to make us look like the knights?" Diomede asked as he started up the stairs. Francisco shook his head and replied, " No nothing strong enough to trick them not without my things." A sigh escaped from Diomede's mouth. "Where is it we are going? I would think the armory was on a lower floor." Francisco muttered. "We need to get to the princess now. There is something I haven't told you about her." Francisco snapped his head toward Diomede. "And what praytel may that be my friend?" Francisco asked with a small rattle to his voice. At the top of the next floor, Diomede turned to Francisco, "She is a choice cleric of Gia." Shock rushed down Francisco's spine, his snout felt as if it were going to burst from the shock. Francisco grabbed Diomede, clenching his fist tightly. "Are you certain she is?" Francisco asked, digging his claws into DIomede's clothes. Diomede grabbed at Francisco's hands and pulled them back, "Yes, she has been granted the chosen form. And I fear whoever has unleashed the dead upon this town is after her." Francisco pushed past Diomede and began walking with determination, "I'll check this way you look there we must find her!" Gone was the fear Francisco felt, replaced was the Nesfundur bravery. "Francisco!" Diomede called out. " If you find her, do not leave without me." Francisco turned back and made a small cut on his hand. Red blood pooled in his palm. "I swear on my blood, I will return to you if I find her and ensure my aid to your quest to protect her." Diomede lifted his hands, the images of axes with ornate bear carvings shimmered in his palms. He grabbed them and the images became solid. Diomede placed one in his belt loop and used the other to cut his hand. "I accept your oath and swear the same." The two collapsed hands together and turned their separate ways. Diomede opened every door he came across, only finding personal offices and rooms filled with records. "Nothing." He thought to himself. Diomede turned and started back to the staircase. The hope that Francisco found her bounced in his head. Before Diomede could reach the stairs he heard the sounds of armor clanking. Diomede stopped at the corner just before the opening of the stairs. He peered out from the corner and saw two knights marching up. They were carrying a large box, big enough for a body. "Idiots." Diomede thought. Then movement caught his eye. It was Francisco making his way back from his search. Diomede noticed a lot more blood on him, but even from the distance he could tell it was Francisco's. Diomede attempted to signal Francisco but to no avail, it was too late. The knights reached the top of the stairs and their sights caught Francisco. Diomede left the knights no time to react. He drew his axes and leaped onto them. In one motion he cut one knight's head clean from his shoulders. The head went flying through the air and smacked against the wall. The other knight dropped his end of the box and pulled his sword from its sheath. In a single motion, the knight attempted to cut Diomede but he out-maneuvered the knight and came down on the knight's arm, separating it from his body. The knight's arm still clinging to the sword flopped about as he swung at Diomede. Diomede stepped back and in an upward motion cut the knight's throat from the base of the neck to his right ear. The knight fell to his knees and collapsed over. The knight's death gurgles echoed down the stairs. Diomede turned to Francisco who even for a Nesfundur looked pale. "Come valiant Diomede she requires your help." Diomede rushed behind Francisco. The two entered a room that held a table in the middle with Kira hanging from it by chains. On the table sat an open box with sharp cadavers, all were covered in blood. The chard remains of a woman lay in the middle of the room. The smell lingered in the air only mixing with the aroma of blood. Diomede looked Kira over, she had gashes along her arms, neck, and face. Part of her left ear was missing, cut nearly off. Her nose was shattered, and teeth were stuck sticking out from her lips. Burns covered her scalp, all resembling hand prints. Francisco placed his hand on Diomede's shoulder, "I am going to go find my things, I can not aid you without them." Diomede nodded, " Quickly, I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs." Francisco speeds off. Diomede grabbed hold of the chains on the table and pulled them apart, breaking the loop that held the broken princess to it. Kira groaned and forced out a small whimper. "Water." Diomede laid her down and scanned the room, he grabbed a vase of water from the side table and placed it beside Kira. She raised her hand and signaled for aid sitting up. Diomede slowly sat her up and placed her hand in the water. A bright light began to shine from the vase. It was blinding, Diomede had to cover his eyes and the light reached out and filled the room. Even stretching to the hallway. The light faded in an instant, Diomede still straining his eyesight, could tell Kira had healed herself. Diomede stood up and afforded his hand. Kira ignored it and used the chair to stand up. Her wounds weren't completely healed. Her shattered nose and teeth were fixed and some of the cuts had healed over. The burns and deep cuts could still be visible but looked as if it had been years since she endured them. "What's going on outside?" Kira asked with a weak voice. Diomede crossed his arms. "The knights that were killed last night by the gultonk have been brought back and are attacking the village." Kira slowly moved to the door to exit the room. "Will you help?" Diomede was confused by the question. " Help the knights? No, I won't, my goal is to get you out of here and away from this place." Diomede grunted. "I also fear whoever brought them back is after you." Kira stopped, "And why would someone who could raise the dead be after me?" Their gaze met, and without a single word passing through their lips, Kira realized who it was she was talking to. "You?! You're him aren't you?" Diomede nodded his head, "Yes, I am." Kira's heart began to race and she grew short of breath, nearly falling to the floor hadn't Diomede caught her. "Breath slow princess, you aren't fully healed yet." Diomede picked Kira up in his arms and began to carry her. Kira began to give resistance, "I can walk on my own, I don't need help from a beast such as you!" Diomede, undeterred continued to carry her. "You're Not at full strength yet and we need to move now." The pair turned the corner and moved past the dead knights that lay at the top of the stairs. At the bottom stood a woman with a blanket draped over her shoulders and white hair pulled back into a ponytail, holding a bow drawn and pointing it both Francisco and Clayton. "Great." Diomede thought to himself.