[color=gold]“Wait.” Tobias took hold of Amelia's arm as she turned to leave, his face scrunched in pain. “Let me cauterize our wounds.” They stepped away from the gate into the shadows. He took out one of his blades and placed the flat tip into the flame of a torch. It blushed white quickly letting off a gold fume, sparks spitting outward warning it was ready. “Grip the bars.” He said. She turned toward an empty cell away from the dead and steeled herself as he lifted the back of her shirt up. 

Amelia bit into her sleeve as the metal pressed against her skin, shaking as it was held in place. She would have fallen to her knees the second he took it away if the bars hadn't held her. Quickly, he did the same to the round hole on his stomach while grinding his teeth. His tightened face spoke of a familiarity with the pain, being something that he had done many times before. Satisfied, he paused to catch his breath and motioned for her to take the lead. 

As they trekked through the camp, Tobias watched as shadows similar to the one in the prison jumped from tent to tent. He could hear the faint grunts and gasp as they overcame their prey. Feeling an ethereal bite, he sensed the spirit of the place shaking like a gust through the trees as men died or embraced its corruption. The ghostly hounds were waking from their sleep, hoping to catch their scent. He hoped the torch would not betray them.

[color=white]“I have no problem killing you if the situation calls. I do not know what ‘contract’ you have, but I am hoping it includes being noble.”[/color] Tobias looked into her eyes.
“To break the contract would be the greatest of ignoble heresies.  I am bound to its law. To trust or to not trust, it matters not. We are bound to its fate.” Her brow furrowed in reply, uncertain of such consequences. With a snap, she turned back to the mission.
[color=white]“We must run for the tree line to the north. There,” she pointed. “There should be a wooden door covered by a thick brush. We will have to dig for it quickly before a guard crosses out path or they find Antoine in your cell.”[/color] Tobias nodded and soon followed after her as they snuck past the guard. 

After a moment of searching, they entered the tunnel and soon found a ladder that must of led to a forest far north of the castle. With some distance between them now, he watched as the grief finally overtook her. He could only look at the sky as he listened to her sorrow flow freely. Finally, she sat up and turned toward him.

[color=white]"You said...you were sent out to find where the first attack would be. You found it. Now, what? What is your objective?"[/color] He sighed and walked over to her, placing his bag between them.
“For the past ten years, I have been following a man, and wherever he has gone has summoned spirits here or there and left many dead,” he said while pulling out a cylinder-shaped case, opening it to reveal a map. “From what we have gathered, all of it points to signs of the Enemy waking up...troops.” The map was a detailed etch of England and had several lines tracing in sharp triangles between towns and villages. “Roars of ancient beast have been heard bellowing from caves that reach to the center of the earth. Draugs and wights have been seen among old forest. War is coming.” He stuck the torch into the ground as he spoke, using both hands to hold the map close to it. 

“Now, we must seek sanctuary, though from no church; be the first place they'll search for.” Roaming a finger across the map, he stopped. “Here will be a nunnery near Old Sarum. A monastery is close as well, so that I may speak to my brothers.” Rolling the map up and putting it away, Tobias caught the earliest flutters of the North star. “East and then south is our path.” He kicked the torch to the ground and smothered it with dirt to put it out. “Let's create some distance and then find a place to rest for the night. Dusk is upon us.”

Once Amelia centered herself they moved along through the forest until it opened into open hills. From there it descended into a plateau that went on for a few leagues. Well into midnight they journeyed until they found the edge of a dark forest, its branches reaching out as to welcome them. The trees were thick and gnarled of age, casting ancient shapes of forgotten ages from the bright moonlight. In the silence, you could hear it breathe through the wind dancing along its sylvan bones and bristle manes. And with a loud moan it swallowed them into its bowels.

Far inside the forest, they found a small enclave of ridged stone muddled with dirt and dozens of roots hanging from its short ceiling. Not being able to build a fire, it was the best they could do to stay out of the gale's cold song. Just as they were settling inside though, Tobias pulled out a specific knife that was thicker than the rest, and began dug deep lines into several circles just inside the opening. He ended it with a prayer and finally sat himself just inside the maw of their shelter. 

“If there is anything else you wish to know, ask me now before you rest. I will be taking the first watch.”

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