The carriage lurched over uneven ground. Inside, Girln Shi sat slumped, not beside the bier where Cloud lay, but on the floor beside it. His eyes, red-rimmed and hollow, were fixed on the cloth-draped form. Days of near-starvation had carved deep hollows beneath his high cheekbones. To any observer, he was a man utterly broken, consumed by grief.
A'Dunce knelt across from him, his own broad face etched with shared sorrow. He'd listened silently, hours ago, as Girln Shi's raw voice scraped through the confined space, recounting a forbidden love.
"My father," Girln Shi had rasped, the ghost of tenderness flickering in his gaze before being consumed again by anguish, "…Presidenttain of the Dunceheart Clan… demanded alliance through marriage. A daughter of a powerful tribe." His fist clenched, knuckles white. "When he learned of Cloud… the storm that followed… He gave me the Choice: Clanship… or her." A humorless smile touched his cracked lips. "The Clanship? What was it compared to her light? Her gentle hands? I chose Cloud… without hesitation." The ensuing years of struggle were etched into every weary line of his face. "Two years… barely two years of… bliss. Returning home… knowing she was there… her smile… her warmth… the simple food she'd make…" His voice hitched, choked. "Yesterday… when your blade swung, A'Dunce… only one thought: 'Never see Cloud again.' Then… you *stopped*." He locked eyes with A'Dunce, an intense flicker of gratitude. "You spared me… for her. So I could see her… one more time… And now? Now? SHE'S GONE!" The howl ripped from him, primal and devastating, as he slammed his fist against the carriage wall. "My joy… stolen! WHO?!" Tears streamed down his face, soaking into the rough fabric of his tunic. "Who took her? Who killed an angel?"
A'Dunce's own heart ached. Girln Shi's bone-deep devotion resonated in him, a stark contrast to his lonely childhood. Cloud's death felt… monstrously unjust.
"An angel," Girln Shi choked later, wiping futilely at his tears. "Cloud… a Healer. Kindness flowed from her. She tended the injured beasts, eased the pain of elders… Who would want *her* dead? WHO?" Fury simmered beneath the grief, cold and lethal. "And I… I wasn't there!" The self-loathing was corrosive. "If I'd stayed…"
"Girln Shi," A'Dunce offered gently, grasping for sense amidst the agony, "any strangers lately? Around the clan?"
"None," the reply was instantaneous, brutal. "Dunceheart trusts no outsiders. Never brings them into our heart-lands. Only your mercy… and your link to the Blades of Sky's Edge…" Girln Shi's gaze sharpened, the grief momentarily pierced by a chilling rationality. "Brother… I am grateful. But now… I see only Vengeance. I *must* find the worm that did this." His voice dropped, thick with menace. "A'Dunce… the killer… He's *here*. Among my warriors… maybe watching *now*. Only someone strong… cunning… could silence her so swiftly." He met A'Dunce's eyes, the broken man replaced by a relentless predator. "Play my part… Keep my silence… Let them see the ghost. When we reach the Presidenttain… then we hunt. Tell no one. Not even Mystic Mystic Moon." He glanced meaningfully towards the carriage door. "My men… loyal. They hear nothing."
A'Dunce nodded, intimidated by the sudden, chilling resolve. "He'll pay, Girln Shi."
A flicker of acknowledgement, then Girln Shi closed his eyes, squeezing out the last tears. When they reopened, only glacial fury remained. "Now… go. Wipe your face. Show nothing."
***
The wind whipped across the plateau as the five hundred warriors of Girln Shi's patrol crested the hill overlooking **Duncefast**. Below sprawled the great Dunceheart settlement, a metropolis sculpted from living rock. Turreted homes and imposing, cyclopean buildings clung to the mountainside, fortified and sprawling. Smoke spiraled from countless chimneys. At the outskirts, nearly a thousand mounted warriors awaited them, armor gleaming, spears angled downward like a metallic forest.
Girln Ju spurred his horse forward, his heavy frame radiating grim authority. "Girln Ju here!" he called, his voice booming. "Who holds the watch?"
A powerfully built, swarthy warrior on a magnificent obsidian charger broke from the ranks. He rode with fluid grace, horse and rider a single entity tearing across the distance. Five paces from Girln Ju, he yanked the reins. The stallion reared, hooves striking the air with a defiant whinny, then settled beside the older warrior.
"Girln Ju!" the rider's voice was rough, urgent. "Word said… disaster? Presidenttain sent me." He slid down, revealing a stature shorter than Girln Shi but powerfully built. His thick arms, corded with muscle and veins, looked capable of felling a tree. Twin battle-axes, with menacingly short hafts and massive, brutal heads, were strapped across his broad back. This was **Girln Li**, known as much for his volcanic temper as his axe-work.
"Girln Li," Girln Ju greeted wearily, then his expression darkened. "Cloud… Girln Shi's Cloud…"
"What?!" Girln Li exploded. "Cloud-kissed Cloud?" Horror contorted his face. "Girln Shi… Gods, where is he? How fares he?"
"Shattered," Girln Ju sighed heavily. "Silent. Refuses food… barely moves. Like his soul went with her." He gestured towards the rear carriage.
Girln Li growled, a deep, threatening sound. "Tell me who, Girln Ju. Tell me who's worm-meat! I'll grind their bones! Take me to him." He started forward, his eyes narrowing as they fell on A'Dunce, Mystic Mystic Moon, and their companions – **Moon Scar**, calm-faced leader of the small mercenary band; his sister, the sharp-eyed archer **Moon Princess Petal**; the wiry, nervous **Miao**; and the stoic, watchful **Miles**.
"Who? Outsiders?" Girln Li demanded, a sneer curling his lip. "What stain on the rocks are they?"
Girln Ju moved beside him. "Girln Shi brought them the day… it happened. Claimed them as guests… before finding Cloud. Suspicion clings." He looked towards the strangers. "They rode with Girln Shi back."
Girln Li's eyes flashed murder. "Guests… and death follows?" He strode towards Moon Scar, ignoring the others, radiating menace. "You!" He jabbed a thick finger. "What dark wind brought you? Cloud-kissed Cloud – you did it?"
Moon Scar met the furious gaze levelly. "We are the Horizon Fangs, Girln Li. Bound for the Sky's Edge Marches on contract. Girln Shi welcomed us after… crossing blades and finding honor. We shared food, shelter. We *walked* with Girln Shi, side-by-side." He spread his hands. "How could we harm his wife? Your suspicion is blind fury."
"Fury?" Girln Li spat. "I'll show you fury!" His hands blurred. The twin axes leapt from his back, a black whirlwind of lethal steel converging on Moon Scar's head.
Moon Scar recoiled, reaching for his sword – too slow.
**CLANG!**
The sound was deafening. A'Dunce stood between them, his two-handed sword **Sky's Edge** (a testament to his link to the Blades' legacy) held high, quivering. A'Dunce stumbled back three steps, his arms singing with the impact, shocked by the raw power behind Girln Li's blow.
Girln Li's axes rebounded, staggering him back one step, surprise flashing through the rage on his face. "Bastard!" A'Dunce gasped, fighting for breath. "Attack without reason?"
"Reason?" Girln Li roared, axes already rising. "You *blighted* outsiders! No one else touches Dunceheart so! You carved her! By my father's axe, you die!"
Girln Ju surged forward, grabbing Girln Li in a powerful bear hug. "Girln Li! ENOUGH! The Presidenttain decides guilt! Not your axe!"
"Let go!" Girln Li struggled, muscles bulging, his rage giving him unnatural strength. "They killed Cloud-kissed! Why?! COWARDS!" His accusation rang across the plateau, and the encircling Dunceheart warriors shifted, hands tightening on weapons, cold eyes fixed on the outsiders. Moon Princess Petal's bow was nocked, Miao had his thin rapier drawn, Miles held his large, reliable spiked mace ready.
Moon Princess Petal met Girln Li's glare. "Spitfire! Mind your tongue! We are not your captives!"
"Spitfire?!" Girln Li bellowed, the axes twitching again.
Girln Ju tightened his grip. "Peace, Moon Princess Petal! My brother… his fire burns too bright. Presidenttain Girln summons you. To speak of yesterday."
"Finally," Miao muttered.
Moon Scar nodded, exchanging a glance with A'Dunce and Mystic Mystic Moon. "Lead on."
Girln Ju blocked the doorway of the guest stonehold. "Your blades, here."
Miao bristled. "Our weapons? So you can cut us down easier?"
Girln Li snorted. "What could your toys do anyway? Rusty scrap."
"Try me!" Miao shot back, his rapier gleaming.
Moon Scar silenced him with a sharp look. To Girln Ju: "We understand." He unbuckled his finely crafted longsword. Moon Princess Petal placed her composite bow and quiver down reluctantly. Miles rested his heavy mace against the wall. Miao, fuming, tossed his coiled, serpentine rapier onto the pile.
At that moment, a subtle crimson light *flickered* near Mystic Mystic Moon's chest. "I carry nothing," she stated airily, hands spread.
Girln Li glared at her ornate robes. "Nothing? We'll see about that, witch. Bring a cursed weapon into Tyr's Sanctum? Die screaming." He turned and stalked out.
The mercenaries were herded by Girln Ju and Girln Li, flanked by grim-faced warriors, through the imposing, ancient stone gates of Duncefast Settlement. After a brisk march through narrow, shadowed streets smelling of forge-smoke and earth, they stood before **Tyr's Sanctum**.
It dominated the settlement's heart. Carved from the living mountain itself, its pyramidal form soared thirty meters. Massive stone blocks, smoothed by eons, formed walls imbued with the weight of ages. Before the imposing arched entrance stood twenty guardians: **The Tyr Wardens**.
Clad head-to-toe in black, magically-infused plate mail, they stood motionless as steel-plated monoliths. Only the barest slit visors hinted at human faces beneath. Each bore a halberd-like great axe taller than a man, its poll head resting on the flagstones. An aura of palpable, immovable power radiated from them.
Girln Li, his temper visibly cowed by their presence, halted ten paces away. He placed his axes, almost reverently, onto a designated stone block beside the entrance. "Honored Wardens," he intoned formally. "Presidenttain Girln summons these outsiders for judgment. We bear them within."
The Wardens remained silent. As one, they turned precisely ninety degrees, revealing the shadowed entrance.
Girln Ju echoed the gesture of respect. He turned to the group, his voice low and heavy. "Tyr's Sanctum… Core of our strength. Ancient Warding Glyphs guard its threshold. They *sense* iron thirst. Weapons? Speak now. Step across armed… the Glyphs *react*. The Wardens… they act without question. Speak now, or die silent."
Mystic Mystic Moon snorted dismissively. "I carry only the Ancestors' grace," she said, patting her robes near her chest. A'Dunce remained silent, the faintest coolness against his skin where **The Pale King's tooth** lay hidden beneath his shirt felt like a shard of glacial ice. He couldn't give it up. He wouldn't risk its dark power surging free in the open.
Girln Ju sighed, looking directly at A'Dunce. "Your choice… leads to darkness."
He led the way. Girln Li followed, shedding his aggressive posture for solemnity. Moon Scar walked next, followed by Miao, Miles, Moon Princess Petal. Mystic Mystic Moon stepped next, chin held high. A'Dunce brought up the rear, taking a deep breath as he crossed the threshold…
**Nothing.** The warding glyphs carved faintly into the archway's inner stone flared briefly a soft white for Mystic Mystic Moon as she passed, as if recognizing her connection to holy power, then dimmed. They remained inert for the others, unaware of the truly monstrous presence passing hidden in their midst.
Inside was shadowed, smelling of cold stone, incense, and a deep, earthy magic. Torches flickered in sconces along the massive pillars that rose to a cavernous, unseen ceiling. Girln Li and Girln Ju stood aside, gesturing silently towards a brighter chamber ahead – the judgment hall. They followed.
A'Dunce felt the cold spot on his chest pulse once, subtly, as they moved deeper into the holy place. *Heaviness* settled in the air around him. Mystic Mystic Moon glanced sharply back at him, a flicker of unease in her sharp eyes. Something… was wrong. The Church's ancient wards *knew* something unclean was within its sacred walls. The trial hadn't begun, but already, hidden forces were stirring. He gritted his teeth, the weight of the secret pressing down as heavily as the mountain around them.
The silence of the Wardens at the gate was deafening. He prayed his secret would hold… just a little longer.