[b]Miriam
Chapter 24: Marspointe[/b]

The western parts of the Northern Realm is characterized, as much of the North is, by its superstition and general distrusting nature towards strangers. Perhaps moreso due to its proximity to the island nation of Valentus and the sea between them, which had once been used by the mage-Nation to drown the coastal villages and its citizens during the days of war between the two lands. Miriam had followed the path due North by North-west and she was inching on the borders of the Kingdom's lines, the sea was still miles away and she could not see it but the environment had changed as she had walked. The woodlands and curvaceous hills had slowly been replaced by more craggy mountains and sparse clusters of birch. The land was still white with snow that crunched beneath the boots of the huntress and the paws of her companion as they walked down the trodden path that led into the small township of Marspointe. The snow that lay over the ground had been beaten down by many feet and wheels before Miriam, none that she could see led the way that she had come, it seemed only the lady in the carriage and Timothy were going that way which would explain why the road she had walked had been so sparse of people. Cottages and fields had been abandoned but there was no immediate threat that would cause such retreat. Perhaps they were fearful of the dead, aswell?

Miriam found the Marspointe tavern, it lay near the town entrance, a rustic wooden building which roof was heavy with snow, icicles hung by its edges, Winter had set in unnaturally early which didn't bother the seasoned Miriam but the people of Marspointe seemed far from pleased with the weather. There was not much of a crowd inside the tavern, a few workers sat together, complaining about this or that, there was also two guardsmen, part of the militia, their only valid point of authority was the iron at their belts and they seemed far from the soldiers Miriam had been exposed to recently. The people lent their eyes up as Miriam entered, she brought in a cold wind with her into the silent tavern and it earned her a growl from an elderly man who sat closer to the door, Miriam looked at him and shrugged in lack of words before she carried on.

	"What can I do your for, traveler?" Asked the woman at the counter, her face pink and her nose sniveling. She was courteous and even smiled, if faintly.
	"I just meant to ask," Started Miriam. "Why the place is so abandoned? Haven't seen a problem with the dead." The tavern girl blinked, stared at Miriam for a while and then took a glance around the tavern, Miriam trailed it but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The girl seemed pleased as well and she spoke, although with a discreet tone of voice. 
	"The dead aren't the problem... I mean, they were. Many of the villages around here weren't prepared for the snowfall and then there was a sickness in the potatoes. It spread out among the whole area, seemed unnatural so people got to blaming the new arrivals."
	"New arrivals?" Asked Miriam.
	"Mh-mmh. They were some religious folk, we've never been much for faith here but er, they seemed alright. When things had gotten bad and people started to fall dead the guards took in their Priest for questions."
Miriam nodded along, listening to the story as the girl then continued.
	"Odd Faith too, they worshiped some Rider figure and they were always dressed in black - Anyway. It all went bad and they started fighting, don't know who struck first but them Religous and the guards got to fighting each other, even killing."
	"What happened?" Asked Miriam, she imagined there was a slim chance these Black garbed people may been the same Cultists that she'd encountered but smartly did not voice that concern. 
	"Well. With all the fighting there were bound to be Undead. We in the town were getting quite concerned..." The girl paused, looked around again and then continued. "But then they came. These Riders. Mercenaries, I think. Just Nine of them and they could rid dozens of undead. Now they're out helping villages and farms all around, trying to find the Religious folk and stop them for all of us!" The girl strained a smile.
Miriam struck a dubious face and nodded. 
	"Uhu..." She breathed. "So a group of Faithful men start a plague to create Undead... And are now fighting Nine mercenary riders?" Miriam converged the girl's story and seemed to have understood it judging by her approving reaction. 
	"They're doing more for us than the King's men ever has."
Miriam doubted that but decided not to insult the supposed heroes.
	"If you ever see them, you will know - Sir Ranyar is their leader and you will know it just by looking." The girl nodded and held a dreaming glint in her eye. "He's quite handsome."
Miriam nodded concisely and cared nothing for how handsome such a man could be.
	"Well, thanks for telling me." Miriam shoved a hand into her bag and retrieved one of the many coins she'd gotten from Freda and paid the girl with the silver. She inspected it briefly, confused as to the coin's origin and brand, but she accepted it and Miriam got some warm food for it.

She walked out of the tavern again, took the steps down from the stairs and she patted her thigh, calling Leia along, whom had waited outside. The dog barked happily and trailed her.
	"What a sorry bunch." Miriam said to Leia as they walked. "Who thinks killing people will solve an Undead problem?" She half laughed and shook her head, the two passed around the corner of the tavern, going back to the main road when something got in her way.
	"You'd be surprised." Said the voice, and a grinning smile looked down upon her. The smile belonged to a rugged looking man, he was dressed in a fur cloak and had a sword by his hip, a longbow hung by his shoulder and he smiled confidently as he stood in Miriam's way. "I have found it quite effective."