But right now, it seemed that someone or something was systematically driving the monsters out.
"It's not a predator. The elves must be devastating the forest," Sylas thought. Only a collective intelligence could raze a vast area while on the move. So why would the elves do something like that? While he didn't know the exact reason, he was certain that they were close enough to human territory to be actively disrupting it. And right around the same time, the Herning Count's family began supplying an increasing number of artifacts.
"It's all starting to come together."
The picture was becoming clearer, though there was still one missing piece. Count Herning's family held the final clue.
Two days after encountering the gang of thugs, Sylas and his party arrived at the estate of Count Hernig. Gazing up at the count's castle, Sylas's mouth dropped open.
"The defenses are almost paranoid," he muttered.
