Mark of the Fool

Chapter 776: Returning to the Homefront

Cedric of Clan Duncan was tired.

Tired in ways he didn't know were even possible.

Around the time his fellow Heroand friendAlex Roth had gone, looking for the sanctum of that ancient Fool as well as trying to keep the threat of the secret church away from all that was dear to him in Generasi and Thameland, things had grown more desperate with every day that had passed.

As the Chosen, he, his fellow Heroes and the Thameish army were constantly on the move, fighting Ravener-spawn day and night.

For some reason, the monsters had turned more aggressive, were better organised and even more powerful. There was a time when the fiercer leaders of their hordescreatures like behemoths, hive-queens and gibbering legionswerent seen very often, usually waiting in dungeons, guarding their cores.

Things were different now, it seemed that every pack of Ravener-spawn was always accompanied by two or three of the more powerful beasts, and they acted strategically, striking at specific targets. They werent just waiting in the wilderness anymore, slowly building their numbers until they were ready to launch attacks on Thamelands armies. Nowadays, dungeon cores seemed to be springing up almost as fast as mushrooms in the fall, and growing entire hordes of monsters in mere hours.

These armies of monsters werent just content to simply rampage haphazardly through the countryside; now they were also purposeful in their actions, attacking supply lines, seeking out the injured and the vulnerable. They were setting ambushes at river crossings, burning bridges and even attacking water supplies.

But more importantly, they werent stopping.

There were no more quiet periods; every waking moment saw Ravener-spawn testing the armys defences or descending on their camps. Cedrics days were now a constant waking blur of blood and battle, punctuated by sleepless nights filled with more blood and battle.

He doubted this night would be any different.

Under the light of the full moon, the Heroes and their soldiers had made camp in the ruin of an old fort at the top of Aldershots Cliff. On one side of the fort, a dark forest of snow covered pines stood; the ground beneath the canopy was wet and mucky, suggesting the first promise of spring.

Ravener-spawn tracks were everywhere.

On the other side of the fort was the cliffs edge leading to a sheer drop of at least two hundred feet into a river and hilly landscape below. Cedric currently stood atop that cliff, gripping his weaponformed into a spearfighting to keep his eyes open as he stood guard, watching the countryside from above.

Spread across the fields below him, were the ruins of thousands of dead Ravener-spawn, staining the snows black and red. Great fires blazed among the dead, as priests and soldiers went about the business of gathering up the monsters bodies, and burning them on massive pyres.

In silence, Cedric watched the flames dancing above the snow.

The woods were quiet behind him, with most of the campincluding Drestra and Merzhingetting some rest for as long as they could. Hart was out somewhere in the woods, patrolling.

He hardly slept these days, but seemed no worse for wear.

Gotta keep up, Cedric told himself. Don't want tbe fallin behind everyone else. Ach, can't wait til Alex gets back, hope, hell be bringin some good news.

I cannot wait either, a familiar voice said from behind him.

His heart skipped a beat as he turned to find the beautiful Isolde floating down from the forts wall.

Evenin, he said, when she landed near him. Didn' expect yto be up so late.

I fell asleep early, she said, looking over the cliff. The trouble I have these days is staying asleep. The young noblewoman looked at him closely. How are you? We did not have a chance to talk when I arrived earlier. You look tired.

Aye, sbecause Im tired. He smiled weakly. Been a drudge, lately.

I have heard it has become quite terrible on the front lines. Some of the soldiers were telling stories while you were out earlier. It appears things are far worse than I could have ever imagined, she said.

Snot been no bed o roses, Ill give ythat, Cedric admitted. But whod want to sleep on roses, anyway? Theyre all full o thorns.

She smiled at that, which made him very happy indeed. I suppose you are right. It seems the beds we lie in are all thorns lately, considering how destructive the monsters are these days.

How goes the material gatherin anyway? Cedric asked. And whatre ygathering? By the time I got back from patrolling, you and Professor Jules had already turned in. I was curious.

Her brow creased. We are presently seeking more samples of Ravener-spawn and living dungeon cores. So far, we have deciphered enough of Uldars notes to determine certain things about the Ravener, but in order to test certain hypotheses we have developed, we need more dungeon cores.

An what hipophypehippie Cedric stuttered.

Hypothesis? Isolde asked, her tone warm.

Aye, that big, fat word! he said.

She gave him a sweet laugh. Well, what we are thinking is that Uldars construct can somehow take pure mana and certain other energies, and use them to create matter from nothing. To create living matter from nothing; that is a feat of wizardry and alchemy that very few can accomplish. Usually, it is the domain of deities alonewe think that ability might have something to do with how the Ravener can reconstitute itself from nothing. Making matter from nothing, reconstituting ones self from nothing. Those things are not that different.

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I'll take yer word fer it, Cedric said. So ya need tget a better look at more livin dungeon coresan do more tests. He smiled. By the Traveller, youre smart.

She blushed. I get that quite a bit The young woman paused, then winced. I did not mean that arrogantly, it is simply that I perform well academicallymy intelligence is a commonly known traitbut that is not to brag, or to insinuate that your mind is in anyway dull

Aye, I know Im as sharp as the smoothest rock at the bottom of a river, he said.

Yeswait, smooth rocks are not in the least bit sharp, she said, looking puzzled.

Aye, that was the jest.

Oh, stop that! she said. You are far brighter than you admit, Cedric.

Aye, bout as bright as a muddy footprint at midnight when theres no moon.

Yes, er no! Cedric! she protested.

He laughed, then. He didn't remember the last time hed had a good long laugh. Im just makin sport wit ya, dont cha worry at all. Besides, I know me own strengths an weaknesses. Yerself, Alex, Khalik, Thundarall oya got these big fancy minds, full o big fancy thoughts, filled wit big fancy book learnin from yer big fancy school. He smiled, his eyes lit up under the moonlight. Isolde took a long slow breath, and exhaled, touching her lips.

That ain't me, an we both know it. Cedric continued. Swhy I miss Alex, were doin all this fightin, an lots o the soldiers want me tdo the leadin an thinkin...but that aint what Im best at. Sjust a fact.

Cedric, knowing your own strengths and weaknesses makes you smarter than half the people I have met at that big fancy school, she scoffed. It is a place full of those who puff themselves up beyond their station, trying to shout to the world that they are brilliant and have talents that they in no way have. Instead, they have the meanest, most cur-like of ambition. And, little to back it.

Maybe thats so, but I wouldn' mind havin someone else tthink o plans an helpin tguide us, Cedric said. What were doin aint workin, its like were just treadin water on some days. Itd be nice thave Alex ttalk wit about all this. An Baelin too.

Is there no one? Isolde asked. Is there no one to advise you?

Cedric tilted his head, thinking about that. Eh, advise is a bit of a strange word to use. The priests give advice, but they aren't our guides. Sdifferent, yknow? Theyre no mentors or equals. Wish we had that now. Instead, theyre lookin tme fer leadership, butI dunno, leadin so many feels like a coat thats shrunktoo tight round the shoulders, and not fittin quite right.

Alex is a good leader, she said.

An a good friend, Cedric said. All o yous are. Big regret o mine is that we didn get thchance to know each other better. Be nice just tbe together yknow. All o yous. Specially you, though.

I wish we could spend more time together as well, she said softly. Perhaps, when all of this is done

Aye, butbefore that He looked at Isolde closely. There's something I gots ttell you. I

Something snapped in the trees.

Isolde and Cedric turned toward the woods. Dont like the soun o that.

Me neither, she said. On the other side

Suddenly a bell began ringing.

Ravener-spawn! To your posts! a guards voice joined the clanging bell.

Grey beams of light lanced out from the trees, cutting through the darkness. The alarm abruptly stopped.

Petrifiers! Isolde cursed. They must have bypassed Harts patrol!

Cedric set his jaw. Theyll be after Drestra. Go an make sure shes awake, Merzhin an the Professor too! I'll hold em off!

Alone? Isolde asked.

He grinned at her, his golden tooth shining. I might not be all that good at thinkin, or leadin, but Is the Chosen. Protectins somethin I'm damn good at!

He cast flight magic on himself and soared over the ruin. Isolde watched him fly away, then turned, flying off to make sure the others were awake.

Cedric reached the trees, cursing.

The entire forest was alive with Ravener-spawn.

Twitching chitterers. Powerful bone-chargers. Hulking Skinless ones, and rising from their ranks, a host of more powerful monsters: behemoths, gibbering legions and even a gruesome-looking, multi-tentacled rampart crusher. Dozens of the Raveners Hunters dotted the enemy ranks andthough he could not see themCedric knew petrifiers had to be leading them.

Right, Cedric, he said, casting defensive magics over himself. Remember, yjust got ta hold them beasties off fer maybe a minute or twoby yourselfnot a problem. He drew in a deep breath. Alright, Ravener-spawn, lets da

Suddenly a monster dropped from the sky.

A creature with a draconic lower body, and six arms that wielded as many weapons, landed on a behemoth, crushing it in the mud. In a blur, she lashed out with a glowing, bladed tail, and the weapons she was holding. She pointed a strange device at the rampart crusher, there came an ear-shattering crack and a barrel sized hole blew through the beast.

All around, masses of Ravener-spawn were dying in heartbeats.

Soon, more monsters, looking nothing like Ravener-spawn, appeared.

Hulking earth elementals rose from the ground, and storming air elementals floated from the sky. Winged humanoidsblazing with holy lightlanded among the Hunters, cutting them down with flaming weapons.

In minutes, the Ravener-spawns ambush had become a slaughter.

A slaughter of Ravener-spawn.

Volleys of fireballs flew from the sky, exploding among the enemy. Hunters were turned to ash, andmore importantlypetrifiers were now outlined in flame, glowing like living targets announcing their positions.

The new monsters did not hesitate.

The towering six-armed woman levelled her weapon, releasing booming projectiles that punched massive holes through a petrifier, ripping through a line of trees behind it.

Earth elementals swarmed over the legs of another petrifier, dragging it deep into the ground as air elementals fried it with lightning. The winged beings fell on the last one, mangling it with holy lances and flaming swords.

Cedric stood, stunned, gaping at what was going on around him.

You looked like you could use a hand, a voice said from beside him.

He spun around, looking into the green eyes of a familiar, sorely missed friend. Alex? he cried.

The young wizard was floating beside him, with Theresa, Brutus, Grimloch and the two giants hed met from that northern Empire.

In the flesh, Alex laughed. I'm back.

Do ygot Baelin witcha? Cedric asked, amazed at the destruction dealt by the army of summoned monsters. Where in blazes did all these beasties come from?

Theyre with me, Alex said, pointing a finger at a Hunter, trying to escape the chaos. With a twitch of his brow, and a few muttered words, the young wizard struck the creature with a beam of magic.

It screamed, instantly turning to dust, particles floating through the air.

The Chosens eyes were close to bulging from his head. Did you justthat spelldoes that mean

Yup, Alex grinned. There is no more Fool, my friend. The Generals back.

Then, why do y'all look so grim? Cedric asked.

Well explain later, Theresa said. We should tell everyone together. Are Drestra and Merzhin here?

Aye, an Isolde, an Professor Jules an some Watchers are here too. Harts out patrollin, but after all the hells yjust raised, Im sure hes well on his way back.

Good. Thatll save time, Grimloch said.

Yeah, Alex said, then reached to shake Cedrics hand. It's good to see you again. Come on, weve got information to share and some planning to do.

At the word planning, the Chosen let out a relieved laugh. By the Traveller, did I ever miss ya!