Edun and Bram hurtled down the hall, attempting to locate the elders. The halls were unnaturally quiet today. It was very unlike Shattermane to remain silent. As they paused at the end of the hall the Drow had pulled even with them. Edun gave him a curt nod. The human wasn’t particularly fond of elves, but this was no time to bring forth an argument over races. As Bram elaborated on the plan further Edun voiced his agreement. From there the trio had split in different directions. Eager to find the fate of the veterans Edun felt his pace increase. Upon reaching the large oak doors leading into the western wing, he took a moment to calm himself. What he saw next left him speechless.

The west wing was in shambles. A battle had clearly taken place. Edun’s heart began to race. [i]No..[/i] He found himself thinking repeatedly as a lump formed in his throat. Armor was strewn everywhere, some ripped into pieces. Had he not been so used to battle, he imagined he would have spewed his breakfast onto the stone floor. Pinned to the wall by his own bastard sword was his mentor, a man that Edun had come to be quite fond of. “Loric…” Edun’s voice rang through the halls full of grief. The man was clearly dead, blood trailing down the wall forming into a puddle on the ground. The pool of gore was congealed, indicating that the man had been lifeless for a while.

“Is anyone here?” Edun called out, but the only noise that returned was his own echoes. A sob escaped his lips, and the greenhorn dragoon was overwhelmed in his own sorrow. He walked the halls of the quarters finding evidence of more struggles. Some were killed in their own beds, while others were clearly trying to flee from Lucia. [i]That bitch. She killed my mentor. She killed the elders.[/i] The moans of his mourning became quieter. Instead replaced with a burning anger. A rage that was being fueled by the deaths of his comrades. [i]She will pay. I will make her pay.[/i] 

Turning his back on the struggle, he closed the door to the west wing once more. Their deaths would not be in vain. Without another backwards glance he returned to where the trio had departed. He wiped his face to rid himself of his tears. Of the evidence that he had a moment of weakness. The human was sure that Ant and Bram would discover the same fates of their companions in the rooms they had been charged with investigating. When he returned, he shook his head in Bram’s direction. “They clearly perished at the traitor’s hands.” Edun said bitterly. The brunette awaited Antafien's return with baited breath.