The narrow path wound along the mountain’s edge, the crisp air tinged with the fresh scent of pine, as the forest stood sentinel beside it. The trail gradually led deeper into the woods before emerging at the edge of a village. Guarding the outskirts were imposing sentries, their armored forms standing tall and vigilant. Clad in gleaming breastplates and heavy helmets, their limbs protected by stout gear, each sentinel gripped a halberd. Their green kite shields bore House Pineburry’s insignia: a majestic pine tree with shimmering golden leaves, while a short sword hung at their sides.

  In the distance, they could make out Albaras, draped in regal purple cloth around his blackened armor. Rederick rode beside him, his dull white armor, actually his white ribbons. What looked like an empty horse followed behind, its reins held by Kian, who almost seemed to vanish into the surrounding landscape.

  ’Hold there! Our lord Pineburry wishes to speak with you,’ one of the guards called out as they approached, his tone a mix of authority and respect.

  Albaras responded with a chuckle. ’Do they now?’ he quipped, sharing a knowing glance with Rederick, who sighed in return.

  ’Follow me,’ the guard said, his tone firm as he broke into their exchange. ’I’ll lead you to him.’ He left one guard behind at the gate, watching as they moved forward.

  As they passed through the gates, villagers paused to watch the unexpected visitors, their curiosity piqued. The streets, lined with quaint timber-framed houses topped with thatched roofs and chimneys gently releasing smoke, bustled with life.

  The guard led them through the village, where the chatter of market vendors and the occasional clatter of hooves created a lively atmosphere. The sense of community was strong, but the vigilant guards reminded me that they were still in House Pineburry domain, and the looming threat of the beast remained.

  The other guard guided them toward the heart of the village, where the market thrived with people. A wooden coach, adorned with gold, stood prominently in the center. People lingered behind their shops, while others strolled past, but most gathered in a circle around it.

  Suddenly, the guard called out, ’Lord Pineburry, the hunters have arrived!’ The crowd parted as the guards pushed their way through, revealing an older man with gentle eyes. His attire blended nobility with elements of nature, leaves woven into his garments. In his right hand, he carried a staff that doubled as a walking stick, the head shaped like a pine tree, the shaft carved to resemble its trunk.

  ’Welcome, welcome, dear hunters,’ Lord Pineburry greeted with a warm smile. ’I’m thrilled to have you in one of my beloved Pine villages. I take it you’ve come to inquire about the creature roaming across Cross Mountain?’ His voice remained relaxed and amiable.

  He paused as his gaze shifted to me. ’My, is that a child you’ve brought with you?’ he asked, a hint of concern in his tone.

  ’Yes, indeed,’ Albaras replied, laughing while saying it. ′He’s learning the ways of the hunt, and quite eager, I might add.′

  Pineburry’s brows furrowed slightly in thought. ′I’m not sure hunting is the best for a child,′ he remarked thoughtfully. ′Perhaps he’d be better off staying here,′ he suggested, turning his gaze toward me with an expression of gentle concern.

  I hesitated, a slight unease settling in as I stood there, meeting his gaze. The gentle lord’s presence was both reassuring and daunting. He seemed to embody the perfect balance of nobility intertwined with nature. But then, doubt crept in. Was he really just trying to fix me, or perhaps he thought he could mold me into something he could approve? As if he didn’t have enough land of his own to worry about.

  Taking a deep breath before speaking, my voice steady with a quiet determination. ′I’ve chosen my path, my lord,′ he said, meeting Pineburry’s gaze squarely. ′Whether it leads to regret or something better, remains to be seen.′

  Pineburry regarded him with a thoughtful expression, a faint murmur escaping his lips. With a slow, deliberate wave of his hand, he gestured toward a nearby path. ’Come, there’s a place where we can speak privately,′ he said, his voice carrying a calm but commanding authority. The trio followed in his wake, their steps measured, flanked by guards who watched every movement.

  They halted in front of a modest wooden building. ’This is my younger brother’s vacation home,’ Pineburry explained with a hint of pride. ’My son often visits here to assist the townsfolk. Please, come inside.’

  As they entered, the simplicity of the interior was striking. A sturdy table surrounded by luxurious chairs dominated the room, its unadorned practicality exuding quiet significance. The absence of opulent cabinets and lavish wall decorations was notable, replaced by functional furnishings that reflected a person of deliberate purpose. A surprising woodland scent lingered in the air, as if the forest itself had claimed a presence within these walls.

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  ’Please, take a seat,’ Pineburry invited warmly. ’Would any of you care for a drink before we begin?’

  Kian requested water, and Pineburry selected a clay mug, filling it with care from an earthenware pitcher. Handing it to Kian with a kind smile, he said, ’Here, my boy. Let this give you some strength.’

  Once they were all settled, Pineburry’s expression darkened, his tone turning grave. ’The monster was last seen here about a month ago. Since then, we’ve focused on rebuilding our villages and restoring paths to our neighbors across the mountain, all while keeping guards stationed to maintain safety. It’s nothing short of a miracle that our message reached you, given how precarious our situation remains.’

  There was a looming silence as the four men absorbed the gravity of the situation, each lost in their thoughts.

  Rederick was the first to break the stillness. ′Have the dead been recovered and examined?′ he asked, his tone measured, hoping for consistency with what they had found at the Von Houzen estate.

  Pineburry nodded, his expression grave. ’Yes. I’ve seen the victims myself. Their stomachs were burned, their legs pierced, and parts of their bodies... missing. One poor soul was still alive when we found him, but his suffering was beyond what any man could endure. We had no choice but to end it.’

  The words hung in the air before Albaras spoke, his voice sharp and focused. For the first time since their travels began, he sounded serious, a tone that caught the duo off guard.

  ’Yes,’ Pineburry replied, gesturing toward a corner of the room where a map lay rolled up. ’My guard will escort you to the site. If you find no leads there, we’ve identified another location where most of the attacks have occurred within our territory.’

  The guard struck his chest with his fist and spoke firmly, ′We can move whenever you’re ready.′

  The trio rose from their chairs. Albaras quipped, ′Let’s bring down this menace.′ Rederick added curtly, ′Show the way.′ Kian remained silent, lost in thought, replaying Pineburry words in his mind.

  As they rode out of the village, the scene was a study in contrasts. In the center, townspeople huddled together, their hushed conversations mingling with the faint clatter of market stalls. At the outskirts, heavily armed guards patrolled with vigilance, their eyes scanning every shadow.

  The journey ahead was somber, the silence broken only by Albaras hearty laughter and out of place jokes. His attempts at levity stood out starkly against the tense, watchful demeanor of his companions, who remained focused on the path ahead.

  It had taken only a few days of riding to reach the edge of a forest, but even from a distance, the stench of decay was unmistakable. The air hung thick with the oppressive odor of death, so pungent you could almost taste it.

  ′This is where I stop,′ the guard announced, his voice tight and low. ′I’ve seen enough already.′

  Albaras glanced at him, his tone unusually understanding. ′If you wish, you can return. We’ll take it from here.′

  The guard hesitated for a brief moment before nodding gratefully. Without another word, he turned around. The trio entered the forest the only thing that they needed to do now was follow their nose to find out where they needed to be. It was almost thick enough to taste. Clouds of flies buzzed relentlessly, drawn to the bloated carcasses of dead horses scattered along the trail. As they drew closer, the grotesque sight of writhing maggots devouring the decomposing flesh became unmistakable.

  Albaras dismounted, his movements casual despite the oppressive stench. ′I think we’ve arrived,′ he said with a chuckle, as though the scene of decay were merely an amusing inconvenience.

  Without waiting for a response, he glanced into the dense underbrush. ′I’ll scout ahead. You two inspect this area,′ he added, disappearing into the foliage with the rustle of leaves and the faint clink of his armor.

  A wave of unease swept over me as the stillness settled. The air felt heavier without Albaras presence, and my body threatened to shiver. My stomach churned at the smell, and I fought the urge to gag. Instinctively, I glanced at Rederick, seeking an anchor in the midst of my growing dread.

  Sensing my distress, perhaps I had started trembling. He nudged his horse closer, his presence steadying me. ′Don’t worry, kid. I’m still here,′ he said, his voice calm and reassuring. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder. ′Maybe we should backtrack a little and let Albaras do the trailblazing,′ he suggested with a hint of concern.

  ′No, we need to stay here to help Albaras. He may need us,′ I insisted, summoning what courage I could muster.

  Rederick nodded; his expression serious. ′Then let’s dismount and do a bit of work, it might distract us from that smell,′ he said with a faint smile, trying to lighten the moment.

  As we swung off our horses, a sharp rustling erupted from the bushes ahead. In an instant, Rederick stepped in front of me, pulling me behind him with a firm motion. ′Cover me,′ he commanded, his voice low and steady.

  He drew his sword in one fluid movement, leaving his helmet and shield behind: it was me or them. His focus now locked entirely on the unseen threat ahead.

  To our shock, it was Albaras. He emerged from the bushes, hauling a body that bore the same grotesque mutilations as the others we had seen, legs pierced, acid burns, and missing parts. His voice was as unbothered as ever.

  ′Looks like they forgot someone,′ he remarked casually, the grim trophy dangling from his hands. A putrid stench wafted over us, making my stomach churn.

  ′Good for us,′ he continued, glancing down at the remains. ′This poor soul has given me a lead.′

  Rederick exhaled heavily in relief, and I followed suit, breathing in slowly before exhaling just as slowly. My hands were still unsteady from the smell and the sudden action, but I gripped my longbow with one hand and an arrow in the other.

  ′So, what have you found?′ Rederick asked, his voice betraying a mix of curiosity and lingering unease.

  ′Follow me into the forest,′ Albaras replied with his usual cool demeanor, still chuckling it away as if nothing could pierce his armor to reach his heart. ′You’ll see.′ He turned and, with his confident stride, led us deeper into the woods.