First Nickolaus, now Sapphire. The group members dwindling to half within a week. It did not bode well for the foreseeable future, considering the recent events. Things seemed to be in play that even informed individuals like Joshua were unaware of.

As dusk was setting, with the sun just barely visible on the horizon, Alex and Imgor were two thirds of the way to Kiruth, having made good time with the horses they acquired not too long ago. They might have made it to the town by now, however Larion was having difficulties maintaining the pace. It wasn’t clear yet if those were signs of the plague or simply fatigue due to the injuries sustained, however he was definitely not in top condition.

Imgor tried to find Joshua or Sapphire using his spell along the way, with little success unfortunately. Another attempt to locate hot-spots of plague infection was inconclusive as well, with a lack of any remarkable high or low density plague zones. The fact that he did such a broad search also limited his range considerably.

Provided they decided not to camp out for the night, they would likely arrive in Kiruth just after midnight, not too long after one other horseman with similar goals. A comparable view would await them, namely that of an unexplained crowd at the center of the town.

[hr]

In Castle Bloodleaves the struggle of another one continued.

Willo was indeed fast, and her Flitter aided that even further. This creature however, was beyond human. By the time she flung her body around in order to strike the beasts back, it was already facing her. The glaive cut deep into what used to be a hand of sorts and Willos fears became reality. The glaive did not really stick to the creature. Instead it grabbed the glaive. It then spun it around in a semicircle in a mindless attempt to get it out of the way. This flung Willo into the wall behind it.

A metallic clink dwarfed the thud Willos body made against the wall, as the glaive lodged itself into the wall not too far from her head.
Willo collapsed to the ground dazed, the room seemingly spinning around her, after the hard impact with the wall.

[color=a187be]"Willo!"[/color] Lazarus said her name again to try and get her to focus. She could barely hear it, obscured by a ringing in her ears. [color=a187be]"Use the barrier!"[/color] He then added.

Within moments the creature was once more right in front of her, stood on its hind limbs and preparing to hack at her with the same arm she wounded with the glaive, greenish liquid dripping onto the marble below.