AA3 61 - Fallout III

Sebastian arrived early the next morning, early enough that Verdan was sure he’d set out at the crack of dawn, perhaps even slightly beforehand.

The Fwyn and Brecan had worked hard to create a temporary camp for the Kranjir, and their efforts had been both well-received and much admired.

The single doctor trying to keep everything together had been overjoyed at the prospect of getting the injured out and away from the elements.

A sentiment shared by everyone else, especially as it didn’t involve using anything that the Darjee or Gormagyr had lived in.

The Fwyn had made loamy mounds of dirt for the Kranjir to sleep on, which wasn’t exactly what they were used to, but more than one appreciated having a smooth surface to set their bedrolls on.

Verdan was quite pleased by how it had gone, and he’d found the smooth mound the Fwyn had made for him somewhat comfortable. Of course, it did help that he’d slept like this before and knew how to make the most of it.

The Brecan had created a series of firepits lined with smooth stone blocks, which became immensely popular with the troops as the assigned cooks got to work with what supplies they had.

Sebastian arrived just after everyone had finished eating, and a whirlwind of activity descended on the camp, ending with Verdan, Ciaran and Sebastian heading up to look at the catalogued supplies.

A dozen shieldguards were stationed around the Darjee camp, keeping watch for any survivors or attempts to remove the captured supplies, but nothing had happened so far.

Verdan was quietly confident that they’d caught all of the Darjee in the camp, with the few outside of it launching the delaying attacks on them.

Looking back on it all, those attacks seemed disjointed with the rest of the Darjee response. When they’d arrived, the Darjee had been waiting, but not all of them.

If the Darjee had been arrayed and ready for them, then the fight might well have gone worse, but at the same time, it would have been easier for Verdan and Gwen to target large groups.

Verdan wasn’t sure if it was overconfidence or some other factor that had made the Darjee response so disjointed, but he was thankful that it had.

Turning his focus to Sebastian, Verdan watched as the Keeper looked through a few of the sample boxes that had been brought forward for him.

“Is it all like this?” Sebastian asked, lifting out a long, jagged blade with a metal cuff that had a number of inwards facing spikes. Verdan recognised it from a number of the Bone Thralls they’d fought, it seemed those spikes helped give the whole thing purchase in the Thrall’s arm.

“That is a particularly savage piece, but yes, weapons, armour, crafting supplies, even dried food and barrels of water.” Ciaran’s voice was neutral, but Verdan could see how much it bothered him.

“Osran said that all this was from a raided supply convoy,” Sebastian said after a moment of thought. “What do you think?”

“It is possible,” Ciaran said somewhat hesitantly.

“But you don’t think that’s the case?”

Ciaran took a deep breath before shaking his head. “No. There is no reason for a blade like that to be made by any sane blacksmith. This was made to order and provided to the enemy.”

Sebastian nodded sharply and tossed the jagged blade back into the box. “Agreed. I have a feeling that this explains the strange behaviour we’ve seen as well. What are your thoughts, Wizard Blacke?”

Sebastian’s formal tone made Verdan pause for a moment and consider the question carefully. “I think that there is a question here that we’re missing. I agree that all of this is the result of someone deliberately supplying them, but the supplies are for both Darjee and Gormagyr.”

“What’s your point?” Ciaran asked in a curious tone.

“We don’t know what order all this happened in yet. Did the Darjee and Gormagyr work together and then find this contact, or were they brought together by them?”

“I was assuming that whoever was supplying them didn’t know who they were truly dealing with,” Ciaran said with a nauseous look. “Surely its not possible that someone would knowingly deal with creatures like this?”

“I’m afraid so,” Verdan said gently, knowing full well the depths of darkness to which people could sink in their pursuit of what they wanted. “There’s nothing we can say for certain at this point, but we need to be aware of the possibility.”

“Agreed, we can ill afford to overlook anything right now, no matter how unlikely,” Sebastian said, though Verdan could tell that he was downplaying things for Ciaran’s benefit. “I will launch an investigation on our return to the Clan. We will find the truth of the matter.”

“What should our next steps be?” Ciaran asked, looking to his father for guidance.

“We will task the shieldguard with transporting everything back to a secure location in Dunkirn, but we will not linger. The bulk of the threat has been dealt with, and I wish to return swiftly to report back. The wounded will be left with the shieldguard, but I wish for all Chosen and able-bodied thearns to be ready to move by midday.”

“Understood, I will see to it,” Ciaran said, bracing to attention before hurrying off to start the process.

Sebastian watched Ciaran leave in silence for a few moments before taking a deep breath and turning to Verdan. “I have a request to ask of you, Wizard.”

“I will hear it, but I give no promises,” Verdan said, his attention fully on the Keeper. There was something in the other man’s voice; it was almost a mixture of resignation and dread.

“There are too many coincidences at play here,” Sebastian said softly, moving closer to Verdan as he pitched his voice low to keep his words between them. “Too many strange events and odd decisions. I dislike all of it, and I’m starting to have the horrible feeling that it is all related.”

“A feeling I share,” Verdan said, not quite sure where the Keeper was going with this. “What exactly are you worrying about?”

Sebastian turned and looked out in the direction of their camp, saying nothing for almost a full minute before turning back to Verdan. “Even explaining my fears will drag you into all of this, and you deserve the choice to avoid that. So, knowing that, do you want me to explain further?”

“What exactly would I be dragged into?” Verdan asked cautiously.

“Clan politics,” Sebastian said with a mirthless grin. “The worst kind as well. I know you’ve tried to keep out of things, and I’d rather not involve you now, but I’m running short of options.”

Verdan considered saying no, of keeping out of it all and wiping his hands of the situation, but he couldn’t. This might involve clan politics, but it was more than that; the Darjee and Gormagyr working together proved that much.

“I’ll listen,” Verdan said eventually. “What coincidences are you talking about?

Sebastian began to answer before shaking his head. “Actually, let me direct your thoughts and see if you end up at the same conclusions I do. Firstly, we had no information come our way about the presence of the Gormagyr, only of the Darjee.”

“Perhaps those that encountered them didn’t survive?”

“Perhaps, and that is supported by our heavy losses with our scouts, but still, I would have thought we’d get at least a rumour. I was paying attention to every report I could get, and there was nothing. Yet, as soon as we reached Dunkirn, there were Thralls everywhere.”

Verdan nodded and gestured for the Keeper to continue.

“Next, we have the fact that Dunkirn was left untouched until our arrival. Yes, we investigated that village and triggered an ambush, but there was no sign of them until then, and what prompted them to even lay that ambush?”

“You think they knew we were coming,” Verdan said, seeing where Sebastian was going with it all.

“From the reports you all gave, there was a considerable force there. They were well-prepared and ready; there is a possibility that there were other ambushes laid that we didn’t see, but why commit so much to them?”

“They must have known a military response was coming.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it, but we were late arriving. Normally, Chosen would have driven them back far earlier, so why still set up these ambushes?”

“We were not exactly subtle about our arrival,” Verdan said, wondering just where Sebastian was going with this.

“No, but was there enough time for them to set up an ambush like that?” Sebastian asked pointedly. “And don’t forget that they surrounded Dunkirn, but only once we arrived.”

“Perhaps, but I see what you’re saying,” Verdan said, not entirely convinced by Sebastian’s point. “You think someone let them know we’re coming.”

“Perhaps, or perhaps I’m seeing threats in shadows where none exist,” Sebastian said tiredly, rubbing a hand over his face. “You’re lacking some key information, though. You see, there would have been no response if it wasn’t for my actions. All the official reports I had access to claimed that there was no real threat here, which was clearly not the case.”

“Now that is suspicious,” Verdan said with a frown. “I didn’t realise that was why there was no official response.”

“Yes, and I was rejected out of hand when I tried to bring it up,” Sebastian said, pausing for a moment before continuing. “You should also know that my father, Donal Macstan, was Thane of our Clan up until this year. My brother, Dordan, has stepped in since our father became ill.”

“Ah,” Verdan said, remembering the confrontation with the Thane outside of Sebastian’s home back in Glarn. “And your relationship hasn’t improved since then, I take it.”

“You could say that,” Sebastian said with a thin smile. “My brother seems to think that I am trying to usurp the Clan from him. Even my efforts to fight back against this raid have become twisted to him. I believe he likely felt the same about your presence.”

“You think your brother is colluding with them and that this is some elaborate attempt to kill you,” Verdan said, shaking his head in astonishment.

“I hope that isn’t the case, that I’m clutching at straws, but without your aid or that of the Witches, I would have died here. My brother must know the extent of all this, too many people are involved for no word to reach him. Yet, the official reports show no threat, and I was forced to act.”

“I hate to say it, but that is all circumstantial at best,” Verdan said with a shake of his head. “You have no evidence to speak of.”

“No, and I pray to Govannon that I’m wrong, but even if I am, something is seriously wrong, and I intend to find out what.”

Verdan took in Sebastian’s fierce expression and nodded. He believed that he would. “You began all this by asking for my aid with a request. Now that I understand what you’re facing, what is it that you need?

“My father is ill; he is bedridden and barely awake these days. Dordan’s claim to the Clan is based on that, but my brother has grown increasingly paranoid since he took control of the Clan. I worry that if I act, it might well cause the Clan to fracture; there is too much pressure and too much division between us. I know you can heal. Will you try and help him?”

Verdan understood the warnings now. If he did this, he would be entering into their politics with no hope of going back.

Yet, Sebastian was right that something was wrong, and if Verdan could avert more chaos by healing one man, he’d do his best.

“I will try, but you must temper your expectations. I am not a specialist.”

“My father is dying,” Sebastian said, waving aside Verdan’s words. “Any help is welcome, and I will hold no failures against you.”

“Very well, then how do we proceed?” Verdan asked, mentally realigning his expectations for the next few days.

“We continue as discussed. Glarn will hold our answers.”