Days 317-318 (295-296)

Day 317 (295)
It was dawn as we crossed out of the Faerie door. We consulted our maps, got our bearings, and headed to Snathdubh. The boots and cloaks were much appreciated each time the wind blew or we crunched through an ice-covered puddle. Dawn, Set, and Echo stayed airborne as much as they could while Bo huddled under Lisa's cloak, sending his displeasure at each gust of cold, wet wind. Outwardly, we remained silent. Inwardly, we shared all the impressions we sensed: where someone was hurt, a successful hunt, lovers meeting in secret, alliances formed and broken, plus hundreds of other small stories.
Around mid-day, we stopped in a shielded grove to rest and eat. Our fliers reported all the smells and sounds they could receive that was beyond our perceptions. We left a portion of our rations to the trees (or any inhabitants) as thanks for the hospitable rest area.
The path, which had been one-to two-people wide, opened up to a fairly well-traveled road wagon- or carriage-wide. Our path, it seemed, was the least used branch as the road fanned out in several directions. Snathdubh, according to the maps and sign, was about two days east of where we stood. Perhaps the weather kept travelers close to home or the problems here decreased travel. No one had been on this road for nearly a week. Fortunately, this better road made our journey easier and allowed Set to walk beside me. Echo rode on Callie, uneasy with the openness of the road, radiating feelings of exposure and vulnerability. Dawn kept up her scouting, reporting an empty road for miles in both directions.
Near sunset, we found a shack, perhaps a place travelers stay while on the road. Dusty and long unused, it was stocked with dry wood and kept the cold winds away. A fire was quickly started, which allowed us all to dry out and warm up. By its light, and Dawn's at times, we looked over the shack. No personal items were there nor any external evidence of who used it last. Only our perceptions gave us that information. It became obvious it was a traveler's trail shack, a place to stay out of the weather. By tradition, we found wood to replace what we burned, setting it apart to dry and cure. The swords bid us good-night as they settled near the doors and single window. With the mats and new blankets, the hard, cold floor was as soft, warm, and dry as any bed in any palace.

Day 318 (296)
With the window facing east, the sun woke us fairly early. We put out the dying fire after heating up a ration breakfast. We removed all trace of our presence before we began our cold journey once again.
Dawn took to the air to resume scouting. Echo hid under Callie's cloak, bad-mouthing the cold and bright sunshine. Lisa wore Bo, who also disliked the cold and let it be known. Set's high body heat and thick scales let him shrug off the cold and biting winds.
The sun, even near its zenith, seemed made of ice, providing no warmth to us nor where we walked. Ice hung like crystal fruit from almost every tree. Our foot falls sounded loud as we crunched over rocks, ice, and frozen dirt.
After mid-day, Dawn returned, frantic and stammering. She let us know someone ahead was in trouble. We sent our companions ahead, knowing they could reach whomever it was much faster than we could. Fortunately, the two people were not far and we joined our companions rather quickly. Set was between them and their attackers. We seven were stunned by what was attacking them: moths. Very large moths, as wide as a human's head, swarmed in a fluttering cloud, attempting to get around Set. Bo, Dawn, and Echo, who was barely bigger than a single moth, circled around and around the swarm, keeping them contained. Something felt odd about these insects. A palpable feeling of evil radiated from them.
Mentally, I called to our companions to keep back. The moment they were away, I froze the moths. They fell into a multicolored heap at Set's feet. He sniffed them and shook his head.
"They smell wrong. Like rotten blood or meat. I don't like them."
Sarah went to the two people to check for injuries. The rest of us inspected the moths. Echo, as our insect expert, told us moths did not like cold and would not be out in winter. She picked one out.
"These are not natural. No moths or butterflies have patterns that move. Even frozen, their marks move."
She held it up. We watched the brilliant color shift, forming monstrous faces and other horrid things. She flung it back on the pile. Sarah called us over. The pair were unconscious.
"This is so odd. I think those moths were biting these people. They are covered in tiny holes," she told us.
Alice and Anna confirmed the moths had not only bit them, but drank their blood. Had we not arrived, they would have been drained dry and, possibly, added two more spirits to this area.
We all supported Sarah as she healed the pair, both the physical wounds and mental trauma of the attack. The male of the pair roused first. As expected, he was frightened to be surrounded by seven armed girls, two dragons, a bird, and a snake. He looked around wildly until he saw his partner. He watched her wounds heal before his eyes. To his credit, he understood where the healing was coming from and calmed considerably.
"De'n t-ainm a tha ort?" he asked no one in particular.
"Sinn tha piuthar seachd an claidhnean," Gretta answered.
The man looked shocked. I could not tell if it was by what she said or how she said it. The woman moaning brought him out of his stupor.
"Sisters? The Sisters? Your deeds have reached even to this far land. Thank you for rescuing us. Are they dead?"
"No, only magically frozen. Do you think they should be killed?" Gretta asked, looking from him to the pile of moths and back.
"Yes!" he nearly shouted, "They are dangerous. Lives have been lost, man and beast, to these blood-thirsty things."
With a nod, the seven of us encircled the moths and pointed swords at the pile, "Killers be killed. Death to those that seek death," we intoned as one.
The moths seemed to dissolve, turning into a pile of dust. Bo summoned a breeze that scattered the dust, erasing all signs of them. The woman was coming around, being consoled by the man. We sheathed the swords before returning to the couple.
"Where to now, Sisters?" the man asked.
"Snathdubh," Gretta replied, "As the largest settlement, we thought it was the best place to start."
"What luck! That is our destination as well. We ran ourselves to near exhaustion to avoid such as they. We would be honored to travel with you. I am Seoc (Sock). This is Ceit (Kate). We are both of Snathdubh. We chanced a visit to Sgurrgorm for a wedding. We headed home before the others because her parents are elderly and need care. A week away beyond the travel time was out of the question."
Understanding the urgency, we helped them to their feet. The woman, Ceit, must have gotten the worst of it as she was unsteady. Set offered to let her ride on him until she felt stronger. Leery at first, Ceit gingerly mounted Set, who bore her small weight easily. Seoc regained his strength quickly and took the lead. Dawn's scouting did not hamper him nor drain his enthusiasm as he told us his and Ceit's lives together. By nightfall, he had told us everything from the first time they met, their courtship, marriage, and life up till now.
Around the campfire, we asked the couple about the troubles in the area. This caused both to fall silent. They exchanged panicked looks before Seoc, quietly, began.
"To any others, I would not speak of such things. For you, I shall. After the Baalocs landed on these shores, conquered the villages, and crossed the dwarf's mountains, they left a 'council' to 'govern' this area. Incompetent lot, they were. No sooner was the main body of Baalocs out of sight than all the 'conquered' people resumed their former lives. The 'governor' and his crew tried reconquering us, but they were laughed out of every settlement. He, this Governor, determined his lord had taken his powers and began hunting for new powers. They holed themselves up in the 'palace' and were not heard from nor seen again. At least, we thought so. Six months ago, roughly, travelers passing his forgotten 'palace' noticed lights and movement. Several groups went to investigate. Only two people have returned. Both had gone mad, spouting nonsense and gibberish. Others who heard their words began doing the same. Before it was stopped, over three hundred people had gone mad with them. Were it not for a deaf wizard, we would all be so addled. Since then, the dead and undead alike have gone from being a mere inconvenience to outright dangerous. Between them and this ghastly weather, winter travel is a life-threatening activity."
"Is it your belief this governor or his men still live and are mustering these being?" Gretta asked.
The couple shrugged, uncertain of what to believe. Quick calculations put the time of this reappearance near the time of Maalicus' death. Could some of his power have back-lashed to the body of his servant, giving life to a corpse? Could some of the demon's power be at work?
We settled in for sleep with the questions fluttering around our heads. Hopefully, in Snathdubh, we could find the answers.