Mas Bagus

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

Knowing well Amaris could do little to help on that negotiation, she simply focused on gathering as much information as she could about their surroundings and the movements of the other soldiers. In case the negotiations failed, violence would be the only outcome and she wanted to be ready for that possibility.

@13org

If one observed the camp thoroughly, it seemed to be populated by no less than 60 soldiers, judging from the amount of tents. Its wooden fortification was two and a half meters high, made of logs with pointed ends, and no wall-walk at all. The sentries in the tower had focused all of their attention on the parleying party, but no weapons were raised yet.

Curiously, nearly half of the soldiers stationed there did not look as combat-ready as the rest of their peers. They were poorly armed, seemed physically less sturdy, and some could be seen doing menial tasks like unloading the rotten grains and cleaning swords and boots, all while the better-equipped soldiers busied themselves with dinner or recreational activity. Though some of the common grunts could be seen observing the party from the distance, they could only go as far as the three bloodied logs at the center of the garrison, where the poor ealdorman was shackled, waiting for his cruel executioner.

And when the lashing began, the number of spectators multiplied. Apparently, the news about the subtraction of their provision was a bigger issue than a bunch of nobles causing troubles in their governed land.

So, if one worried that the negotiation would turn sour, safe to say that it would take a while for the red stripes to completely swarm them. However, the sentries in the towers might need some sophisticated work to take out, and regarding the commander, none of us knew what he was capable of yet.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

The spider drone started to move on as the entrance guards have their attention to the Carmen’s parley team. It crossed on the different side of the road with ease and was unnoticeable due to its crystallized structure camouflaging the area heading through, kept crawling under the lower part of the wall for a blind spot. Once it arrived on the first target spot. It dropped the bomb like it was laying an egg, sticking on the wooden wall. Same thing on the second target spot. The explosive bomb was placed into two sides of the northern wall. Both sides, on between the edge and the center of the northern wall. Simulating both side breaching spots. The spider drone stood by at the center of northern wall. The spider drone was waiting for the signal. Once it gets breached by the two bombs, it will go to two valuable facilities to sabotage with incendiary bombs. Bombs are still inactive and will be active once Linceleste cast an activation on it, for now it still those are still in standby.

@Soldat Elf

The mechanical spider managed to slip past the distracted soldiers unnoticed and planted the grenade with no difficulties. However, returning back seemed to be a tall order. As the Captain's group entered the premises, the patrolling soldiers immediately resumed their duty.

_________

Meanwhile, Carmen desperately fought a sense of uneasiness when the gate was closed behind him, trying to dismiss it as the usual conduct every military in the world accustomed to. How long has be been? He wondered. They said once you were already part of the hierarchy, you could never get out, apparently his faithful allegiance to the order proved it otherwise.

By the grace of Kolya the soldier, the party was led toward the eastern part of the camp, there parked the two enclosed carriages they saw earlier. Next to that carriage, stood two men; One officer wearing a worn-out breastplate painted red, and the other was a monocled officer that seemed to be their quartermaster.

In front of those officers, a man dressed only slightly better than common peasantries could be seen prostrating. Even from this distance, it was clear that the two officers didn't seem very happy.

"You take me for a blind or a fool?! Half of this week's shipment is ROTTEN!"

The officer's outburst made even the deadpanned Kolya stop dead in his tracks, gesturing the party to halt and wait as well.

"No one's interrupting Commander Melnik if they know better," he said.

It was hard to tell what the other, especially the peasant said in defense, but the keywords were 'mercy' 'thievery' and the rebels pillaging their crops. It seemed Menik wasn't convinced and he dismissed it as the fault of the peasantry, all wrapped in lousy lies.

"Carve this in your filthy head. We are here to bestow you yokels security and order, and I and my men are already doing our part, ain't that fair of you to do yours too by obeying the acquisition order? Damn it! Do you want to play that way?! Fine! Soldiers! Give this man twenty-five lashes! A punishment for sabotage by delivering defective goods. Your food will be halved this week. Make sure you say your thanks to our dear Ealdorman. Do it now!"

It was after four soldiers dragged the Ealdorman away, and his cry for mercy resounded in that camp, Kolya then allowed the party to move forward.

"Evening, Sir. You've got some guests. They are nobles from Westernant."

Melnik squinted, while the appearance of the strangers did not betray the image of the so-called 'nobles', Westernant and the red stripes were hardly allies, and it was the fact that both field commanders knew all too well.

Breaking an awkward silence, Melnik glared at his subordinate to continue. "Well, and their names?"

"Carmen Andario Friston, son of Duque Galvez Andario Friston, these are my companions, Miss Amaris, Baron Carnathia De Valmont, and Inquisitor Mirielle. We come to you to parley."

"They were the assailants... sir. Sergeant Tarin let them in, and said they might have information that might interest you."

The commander sighed in disbelief. Both amused and cautious. "I will be damned! You are dismissed soldier, and Sir Quartermaster, gather some conscripts to unload those grains. I want everything inventoried!"

Then he turned again to Carmen. "Long way from Castediar, Captain Friston. Or should say the Prince in shining armor? You've caused us a great deal of confusion this morning, and now you approached my camp as if nothing happened! What a noble attitude, and we received you with open arms and friendly greetings! I don't remember Westernant Border Guards acting that amicably to those poor refugees seven years ago."

"I don't think that was our purpose of this parley." It was Carmen's turn to observe the commander; he seemed like a man in his late fifty, with a tall and stocky figure, common characteristics of Native Tretagorian. His nails were clean, and his face was cleanly shaved with hair trimmed neatly. He looked like someone who hailed from an educated background, and somehow, his face wasn't all too unfamiliar.

"Westernant shot those poor hicks without a second thought!"" Rasped Melnik glancing cautiously at Carmen and his companions with an intimidating gaze. The next words came out of him in a bitter scowl "That's something to ponder, ain't that true, Captain Frston? And there is more; today you and your groupies had cost me two men. How could I act like nothing has ever happened? How could WE approach this parley with cordial intent?"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

The party did not waste any time. After getting on their horses again and making a turn so their approach wouldn't raise suspicion, they slowed down.

"Let me be your outrider and observe. If they show any sign of hostility after seeing us, we retreat. Do not wait for me, yeah?"

Spacing himself some 4 meters away from his companion, Carmen squinted his eyes to do his part: keeping an eye on the patrolling soldiers. They had now seen him, and his heart skipped a beat when they announced their presence to their friends. Red stripes, it had been five years since his latest encounter with them at the border. The memory was unpleasant at best but, somehow it played in his head like some sort of survival reminder.


"Peace!" he shouted, raising his hand as he steered his horse in a slow and careful approach toward the right side of the road. The soldiers did not react as drastic as he expected, and glancing to the left side of the road, it seemed the sentries on the towers hadn't readied their weapons yet.

"Stop!" said the patroller, diverting Carmen's attention back to the red stripes blocking the road. Only one of them was armed with a musket; the other had a crossbow and was seen reloading it as they approached their sergeant. "The road is closed." Said their sergeant, unsheathing his sword. What he said surprised Carmen for a bit, even if this sergeant was a different specimen from one they encountered this morning, his lack of alertness was concerning. The accident this morning should have made the entire base aware of their presence.

"You look suspicious! Where are you from and what business do you have riding in the night like some sort of fairytale?"

The sergeant walked closer as Carmen dismounted from his horse, placing his hand on his chest as he introduced himself.
"My name is Carmen Andario Friston, son of Duque Galvez Andario Friston, these are my companions, Miss Amaris, Baron Carnathia De Valmont, and last but not least, Inquisitor Mirielle."

The sergeant spat before smiling at the ladies, showing his partially yellowed teeth in his rather unsettling attempt to show courtesy.

"That's a pretty serious name you brought in this 'umble land. Prince Friston." said the sergeant sarcastically. "And your business here?"

"That would be to parlay with your Garrison commander."

The sergeant paused, tilted his head sideways, and looked at them up and down as if examining an antique. Meanwhile, it seemed his friends had already surrounded them as the talk took place, watching them carefully from a respectable distance.

"Wait, this rings a bell!" exclaimed the sergeant. "You are not the scoundrels who beat Yarkut and his ilks this morning, are you? Oh yes, it has to be you, alright! Aint no peasant here rides horses, and rebels and traitors don't dress as fancy!"

The moment he said that the entire group seemed more alert, but only the arbalest and musketeers aimed their weapons, the rest remained at their place, watching in anticipation.

"I assure you we come in peace." Said Carmen, glancing wildly at the sergeant. "We approached you with cordial intent, you said know who we are and the crest of my clan is pinned on my hat. All we wish is to talk with your captain, harm any us, and you shall instigate war with Westernant, are you ready to bear that burden?!"

The sergeant winced and grunted. "Ah, true what you say, Prince. But we can't overlook what you did back then. Nobody here likes Yarkut and his squad, a bunch of snobs they are, but still, order is order."

"We are not here to get arrested." Carmen's hand crept closer to the pommel of his sabre.

"Not like that. Now you are here, the Commander will decide what to do with you, saving me from the trouble that way. We will grant you a pass, but only you and Miss Baron. Had you come here with only yours truly and that lady with carrot hair, we shall have no problem. But your other aides? One looked like she could eat me like a striga and the other? I could see it from here Gal is itching to bust some head open. You can get in, but they will stay here!"

"I will not go in there unless all of my friends go with me," said Carmen resolutely. "It is a perilous journey from Dragon's Maw to Sielse one should be pardoned if he brought with him a few stern friends. Besides, that's very ungentlemanly of you to insult them when they have done no offense."

"Don't be too hesitant, Prince! The accident this morning happened." the sergeant snorted. "But, that's true what you said. What message to the commander you wish to relay?"

"That is confidential."

"Gotta do better than that."

"The situation in the border."

Pausing again, the sergeant turned to his deputies, talking to one who shook his head in doubt. "Easy, there are only four of them and dozens of us inside. Even if they are lying bastards, what chance do they have?"

Returning back to Carmen, the sergeant chuckled dryly. "Sorry for that, old hate toward the old royals, you see. Fine, you can go in, but your horses stay outside. Kolya! Take this prince and princess to Commander Melnik!"

The soldier Kolya nodded, and with a deadpan expression gestured the party to follow him. "Open the gate! Envoy's coming!"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"Still, If you really think it would be a good idea... I can still go." Amaris said, acquiescing as she sighed.

"I am sure Osric is more than confident enough on his aim to land a surprise shot in the guards should things start to get ugly. Some explosions to stop, or at least delay reinforcements would be interesting as well, should the situation calls for it. I am sure you will both take care of our backs, right?" Amaris finished, nodding towards Osric as she noticed him checking his gun and Linceleste.

"You will always be needed on whatever front you choose. But the question is do you want to?" Carmen asked teasingly, chuckling. "It is not an order this time, Amaris. You are a free woman and I have promised that I shall not compel you on anything against your will. Far be it from me to force my friends to take a risk they don't want to."

After saying that Carnathia interjected.

"I think Lady Amaris' assessment is correct. No offence intended, but I suspect your Sarkazian lineage would only arouse suspicion. Especially if they are with the red stripes. I've heard rumours of them holding on to backwater pseudo-arcane belief that magic inherently is evil and warps the mind. Who knows what sort of superstition they have for Sarkaz. I will go with Lady Mirielle and Captain Carmen. I am a noble and as a daughter of a Ducal Household, I am somewhat versed in diplomacy. I am not sure how much I can help, but at the very least, I think I can contribute more than were I to stay here."

"Well, having Amaris with us is still a huge advantage if we approach this parley with low optimism that the other party would acquiesce to our request. So that would depend on her, Amaris has the final say on this."

Carmen gestured toward the Sarkaz woman before bowing at Carnathia. "Thank you for trusting me."

To Osric he added. "The Lord Creator shall protect us, but to be safe I think a briefing would be appropriate, we shall approach their post slowly by horse, at that moment, please cover our approach. You don't have to focus on the sentries by the towers, even if each of them was armed with muskets. Either muskets or bows or crossbows, the limitation of such arms are apparent in the great distance, instead, focus on the guarding soldiers near the blockades."

"Well, friends. If we are done with our small arrangement, let us go."

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"I understand your concern, Amaris, but I must try this. I know how their military operates, and as a field commander to another, I am optimistic we might be able to see eye to eye."

To that word, the sarkaz woman shrugged.

"Should we decide to talk to them, we should be ready to at least trying to run away... Maybe a well placed explosion could make it much easier... Regardless, an escape plan is definitely needed." Amaris finished as she looked to the rest of the group.

"That's why I need some of you to stay here, If they don't play nice, we shall unleash hell on them to break free."

When the party was in the process of arranging their plan, a carriage suddenly emerged from the darkness and rode toward the garrison at a rather hasty speed. Carmen paused to spy on the incoming actor, who stopped near the gate for security checks. From this distance, they could hear the sentries gloating loudly.

"You are dead meat, Ealdorman! The captain hates to deal with latecomers! Hahahaha!"

"You are clear, just get in, and don't forget to beg for leniency!"

Now back to the party, Carmen produced two metal compasses from his pocket and handed one to Leinceleste.

"Press this button to speak. This button to listen, I will keep mine ready so everyone can hear what is going on. I will ask you to stay here, Miss Lynx. You are our trump card when everything goes south. We will go with your plan as our countermeasures, you know what to do!"

After saying that, Carmen removed his cloak and wrapped it around the teenager's shoulder. It will keep you warm. This will be a long night.

"Who's going with me?" Carmen asked again.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"I have bombs that can divert the attention of the military troops. I'll mount them on my drone, drop them, and set them off to detonate at a key location, allowing us to pass through while the military perceives it as a siege from the opposite side.

Wat'cha think, Skipper?"Linceleste suggested to the party and looked on Carmen on last.

Carmen did not reply immediately. His eyes were glued on the outpost and the sentries. The question was left hung until Carnathia spoke about the importance of not starting another trouble before asking Lenceleste about the nature of her bomb.

Meanwhile, Osric seemed to agree with Lynx's plan. However, it was his question that made the Capitan twitch.

"This is... honestly maddening," said Carmen. "I don't think they had no inkling about the execution of our brethren, and if they were After Thomas, they should know his whereabouts. I know we had a plan to go straight to Sielse, but I am also afraid that we might miss an important clue if we just leave them be.

"Miss Carnathia, may I implore you to where and what route we must take should we refrain from crossing through their barricades? Assuming we follow your proposal and if our map is to be trusted, do we know the end of every alternative path and road? Is our supply of provisions enough for such a lengthy journey?"

The captain shook his head and looked again at the fortification with a twinkle of fire in his eyes.

"If none of us here know, and the distraction plan is doubting, I will head there and demand to speak with their captain. Some of us may stay here if you want. If all is well and we somehow reached an understanding, we could continue our investigation without being hounded by their faction, or at least we know that they were not the ones responsible. Who shall be my companion in this parlay?"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

There was no objection to the proposed plan. Silently, all of them left the site, returning to the main road and the shortest path leading to the Province's Capital City.

Halfway through their journey, the party made a small detour toward the forest, away from the main road, to rest and prepare for lunch. After their foul fare with the soldiers, someone had to be on guard duty this time. Ludvig volunteered to be one.

The party did not waste much time. The fire was lit and kept low but steady so it wouldn't produce too much smoke. Stale bread, sausage, and omelet were on the menu today, prepared hastily and eaten equally so, as not to be savored but to nourish the exhausted bodies and minds. The frugality was generally understood by everyone.

When it was time for them to pack up and leave, Ludvig was nowhere to be seen.

Carmen could have sworn he saw the redhead do his escape trick as soon as he was given the clearance for guard duty, after that the guy disappeared like a phantom. To where? Nobody knew. The party tried to search for him and went as far as returning to the main road just to locate his whereabouts. Hours passed, and still no avail.

"We are running out of time." Carmen looked up to the reddish-yellow sky above and huffed. "I am afraid we will have to leave him. It's dangerous to continue searching in the dark. Whatever his intention might be, may God keep him safe. Let us move."

Carmen couldn't quite fathom why would he leave so abruptly and randomly. Was there something that he didn't know? A less noble motive perhaps? The captain tried to get rid of that distasteful guesswork, after all, he was hired by Sauniere, and if there were ill intention, as an inquisitor he and Mirielle would have noticed before they entered Sielse. All he could say was the man was as enigmatic as the dark sky above.

The party continued trotting through the unpaved country road, that hopefully led to Katwiz. As they rode back to the site where their previous standoff with the soldiers occurred, they slowed down and kept themselves alerted. It seemed the Soldiers had concluded their business in this settlement; a hamlet called Kardag from the noticeboard on the side of the road. The town looked as if it was devoid of life, doors barred shut, streets were empty, and only a handful of houses were seen with meager lighting inside.

Not far from the settlement, they could see a fortified installation built on the left side of the road. The outpost had two watch towers and walled by two-meter-high wooden palisades surrounding the emplacement. Two soldiers could be seen manning each tower, meanwhile, in the distance, no less than seven soldiers were guarding a roadblock. Two stood directly behind the blockade. Two soldiers guarded the garrison entrance, once sat near the fireplace, while the remaining two patrolled the at road and the edge of the forest.

The party quickly veered off the road, toward the treelines on the right side of the road so they would be out of the sentry's line of sight. The situation now called for careful consideration, but one thing was clear; they would have to ride past them to get to Katwiz quickly, or turn back and find another unknown road.

Map

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

May I suggest that we make approaching the 'traitors' or witch they mentioned our next priority instead? Our mission, first and foremost, is information gathering, making contact with major factions in this land is paramount, we've unfortunately has likely missed out on our chance to do just that with those soldiers, but perhaps their enemies would be more amicable."

Carmen looked a bit calmer now, and he maintained that by not glancing at the freshly made graves or the stakes beside them.

"I agree, we should gather information first, and to that end, I think the best course of action we should take next is to find a major settlement. Katwiz is a day or two from here according to our map."

Glancing at Amaris, he continued, "True, we have no business in their power struggle, but if their interests jeopardize our mission and our well-being, we will not back down. Whether this witch is responsible or whoever, all will be revealed in time. We will go to Katwiz, there will be more people to ask there, and not any less important, we need to restock our provisions."

Carmen remembered Lyxn's assessment this morning reporting their food supply was only enough for a week. It was still plenty, but along the journey, they had the luxury of hunting to preserve their reserve, but in this land, he feared there would be no more prairie hare on a skewer.

After checking his saddlebags, the Captain grabbed the rein and mounted on his steed.

"So the plan: We will go to Katwiz and gather enough clues. Do not engage the Red Stripes unless they fired on us first. Any questions or objections?"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"...show courage in righteousness, to bear pain in the suffering of others. Pray that we forget not the mercy for the downtrodden, and grant us the strength to prevail over the wicked-"

To that prayer, Carment silently whispered the word "amen"

Carmen has seen enough, and now, heard enough. Between the dispersing shadows and Carnathia's other long speeches, Captain Friston seeks a distraction by showing his stained hands to Ludvig and asking him to do one of his sanitizing tricks.

"Do your magic, amigo, Por Pavor."

"Huh? Ah, sure. Remove your gloves for me."

"I see, well. Give me a moment."

Carmen carefully removed his leather gloves. Giving it to Ludvig to be cleaned instantly with his magic. It was a pleasant change to relieve his hands of awful and damp sensation. A moment later, Ludvig returned his glove, fully cleaned through

"Here you go, two clean gloves"

"Gracias."

Smiling as he put back his gloves, Carmen at least found a small consolation to ease his bottled anger. However, distracted as he may, he remained aware of Carnathia's lecturings.

"Don't think too much about it." He said to Ludvig as the man himself spoke about his dilemma of identifying the so-called loyalist and the merit of sparing the soldiers they encountered a few hours ago.

And then, he returned, to her, right when his name was being mentioned.

"This neutral mindset you spoke of... and boundaries, I can understand the importance of it. I respect your effort to make us reconsider, Senorita Carnathia, although it seemed a lot for a party that hasn't made a uniform decision yet. For that, I thank you. Your second opinion is valuable for us."

Carmen paused to listen to Ludvig again who expressed his desire to not kill the Loyalists if they were somehow less stern in their methods. To this, he sighed and continued.

"But who they really are is way less important than the action we must take when dealing with them. Our investigation is far from over, and if they have the lordship of this land, our chance to run into them is unavoidable. I care not who their true allegiance is, and finding it out is an unrealistic task, so, let me ask you this: what is the best course of action we must take when they force our hands?"

@Randomguy

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"As much as it annoys me to say so, there isn't much information to gather here other than what Dromele knows, or claims to know and the bodies themselves. According to what little we know about this region, this Ealdorman and his forces seem to hold the most influence around here. Enough to have his militia run around executing anyone they want to. They would definitely be the only ones capable of staging such an execution... Unless there is another group with similar influence... Maybe this witch and the traitors they speak about? Although It wouldn't make much sense for them to do this to members of the Order..."

After all was said and done, and a bit of Mirielle's blessing, Dromele started to leave. It was Carmen now who offered his hypothesis.

"I fought the red stripes for years in Dragon's maw, " said Carmen, stabbing Rezello's shovel into the blackened soil with great vengeance. "The Loyalist, Those who were still loyal to the Fredrin Dynasty should be their nemesis, but we never heard about them being mentioned. If the traitors they spoke of are the people who took arms, then You are right. Paladin Thomas's group was here to help, and if there were factions that didn't like a congregation of pious clergymen gaining favors from the locals, it should be the red stripes."

Pausing, Carmen might be a bit too drastic with his guesswork, but it was not all without reason. Paladin Thomas and his wife were powerful, and you could exert massive influence when you are both powerful and compassionate.

“I don’t think I can add any more to what has been said. But I’m sorry they ended up this way. I can understand losing someone important. At such a horrid way at that.”

Said Osric, Carmen could only look back and nodded, smiling weakly before returning to his duty.

Using his cloak as a stretcher, Captain Friston buried his first corpse, and it was such a grim irony that they were his brother or in faith. He gripped his shovel tightly and promised to the ones buried, the soil, the sky, and himself that they would be remembered. They would be remembered and their sacrifice would not be in vain. He would make sure of it.

And with Leinceleste's suggestion and everyone's help, they buried the five, all two meters under. All prayers had been said, and grief, expressed. Only the five charred logs, the evidence of the cruelty, now remained.

Carmen looked up to the sky and wondered what the Revered Areston would do in his situation. He uttered prayers, first for himself to be granted wisdom for days to come. The second prayer uttered when he picked up his lantern and held it steadily, he would pray to be shown the way.

And as if to answer his plea, the lantern glowed with a soft purple light that somehow outshined the clear sun above. Shillouete of shadow started to materialize around him. The logs were occupied again, but this time by moving, seemingly living people. Some moved weakly, others resentfully.

Then in front of the victim, materialized silhouette of a dozen people. With three standing right in front of the doomed priests. The spectators did not seem to be coming from soldiery sorts, but some of them were armed.

Meanwhile, the three executioners stood up with commanding poses. One of them had a bulky, muscular build with long hair and a sword on his back. The second executioner looked way more skinny, he wore a coat, and his face was covered by a mask resembling the beak of a bird. Finally, the last executioner was a stocky man who seemed to be coming from a more disciplined regiment. And curiously he wore a helmet that silhouette was identical to what the beaten-up Sergeant wore in Kardag.

A moment later, the silhouette started to speak in echo.

----

"Well well well, aren't you the tough one?" said the bulky executioner in a thick baritone as he walked toward the priest who tried to wiggle free. "The spell's already worn off I see. I pity for you, son, or maybe not, your friends will be in one hell of a rude awakening soon, so don't worry we, don't discriminate."

"Animals! All of you. All of this for what? Your sick experiments? May the Lord Creator put you in the deepest pit of hell!"

"Hey! Stop toying with the prisoner." said the skinny man with a bird mask. He was seen holding a parchment in his one hand, and a seemingly open metal container on the other. "We are told to make this quick, but I want to see the effectiveness of the new formulae. Gloves! Don't forget gloves. Put one in his mouth! I want to see how it reacts to proteins in saliva. Tired of hearing him blathering about Lord this and lord that anyway."

The bulky executioner said nothing and did what instructed, only quipping 'enjoy' when he stuffed something resembling a piece of rock into the priest's mouth and tied a rope around it. In a few seconds, smoke trailed from the priest's head, and he squirmed in a muffled pain.

"And next, its reaction to the proteins in the blood. Well, chop-chop! Do it to the others too. I want to see if it reacts differently."

The bulky executioner and a few people from the crowd moved forth and started to hack the remaining priest with swords and hatched. Some awoke with screams of agony while some others seemed too weakened to even sound a cry. And then, more of those rocks were shoved into their wounds, mouths, torn-open chest cavities, freshly gouged eye sockets, and all orifices the savages could find. Smokes engulfed the victims and spread out to irritate nearby onlookers and executioners so much that they couldn't take it anymore.

"Fine. Neutralize it!" commanded the masked man.

With a torch, the soldier ignited the smoke burning the priests in a colored flame of black. No oil, timber, or straw was needed, it quickly caught fire like an earth gas being ignited, and the executioners watched with awe from the moment when the screaming started until there was no movement the bending of immolated muscle and fat.

"Seems this batch's good and ready to be shipped." Said the masked man in a monotone, adding a checklist in his parchment.

"What about the rest of em? And their leader? The shiny arsehole and his brood?" Asked the bulky executioner.

"I don't know. Isn't that your job to find them?"

"Yeah, but I mean. Are you gonna do your experiment on them?"

"No... the General has a plan for the rest."

----

When those silhouettes started moving away from the scene and no words were uttered but their opinion about the gruesome spectacle, Carmen whispered the word of magic into his lantern and the scene unfolded before them suddenly froze.