Mara gazed at him in confusion, but noticed the chancellor. Davis looked apprehensive towards the doctor’s words. People were obviously wary of the strange creation. To allow the Watcher near patients in a hospital was out of the question.
Commander White gazed at Dr. Moen and the Watcher with indifference. “Oh, is that it? I see.” He held his hands behind his back and looked at Mara. “She must answer for her crimes.”
Dr. Moen looked surprised and confused. “What?”
Ignoring the doctor, Commander White scowled at her. “She broke two seals. She must be the Cursed Herald!” He turned to Davis. “She should be handed over to the Faith for judgement.”
The doctor stared at him in anger. “Are you serious? She didn’t orchestrate this!”
The chancellor gazed at Dr. Moen. “With all due respect, she is the one who killed them.”
Dr. Moen scowled at him. “She didn’t hypnotize the commander into setting up Heru’s death. She didn’t create the situation leading to the death of Lady Isabella.”
“That’s true,” Morgan agreed.
“I also agree,” Master Harold said. “There’s undeniable evidence Lady Isabella was the mastermind. Concerning Hema’s ruler, it was an unfortunate accident.”
“No,” Alena said, pointing at Mara. “Three possessors died in her presence. And she killed two of them. She must be the Cursed Herald.”
Mara glared at the priestess. “Why should I face judgement while your commander gets a free pass?” She turned her scowl onto Commander White. “At least I didn’t turn into a beast and slaughter many innocents, including small children!”
The commander’s face turned red. Mara thought she saw smoke billowing out of his ears.
“That has nothing to do with what you’ve done! You committed a far worse crime,” he said in anger. “You placed all of Ardana in danger!”
“She does have a point,” Master Harold said calmly. “If not for your status and position, you would’ve been executed without question.” He looked at Boyd. “And you also have a suspect among your ranks. The Silver Thorns have been searching for him, but he mysteriously disappeared. Now here he is, as a member of the Holy Blades.”
Boyd frowned back at him. Commander White turned his glare onto the old master.
“He did not kill Saskia,” the commander insisted, “and he’s under the Faith’s protection. We will not hand him over to you.”
“Is that so?” Harold asked. “It is my understanding that he was an accomplice to the murder.”
“He was,” Commander White revealed, gazing at Boyd. “He was persuaded by the real murderer, who we have yet to find, to frame her. Just like the others who were bribed, Masterson was promised a bag full of gold. This was his confession.”
Mara looked at Commander White, and then to Boyd. She felt unsure if this was true, but knew that most of Boyd’s actions were for selfish gains. Financial motivation seemed believable, considering Boyd’s past.
The commander then scowled at Mara. “She, on the other hand, killed two possessors.”
He took a step towards her, but Harold approached her as well. The Silver Thorn master gazed at him through his mask. “She is not going anywhere. I declare her to be under my protection.”
Everyone glanced to each other, appearing baffled.
Commander White frowned at Harold. “How could you defend her after what she did?”
“We have our evidence. Isabella orchestrated the deaths of Saskia and Heru.” He gestured to Mara. “She just happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time.”
“And I believe him,” Morgan added, rising from her seat. “The young lady had no reason to want them dead. It was just a series of unfortunate events.”
The commander turned his spiteful gaze onto Morgan. “You as well? I think you’re both making a grave mistake.”
Morgan folded her arms. “Why do you seek this woman’s arrest? Heru was critical of Kallikratés. Lady Isabella opposed the treaty. And with her gone, the Faith will finally have a presence in Hema. To you, it should be a blessing.”
No one expected her to stand up to the members of Kallikratés. Commander White gazed at Morgan in annoyance.
“Well, at least we haven’t forgotten their roles,” the commander hissed. “They were seals to the Dark One. Two seals that she broke!”
The two glanced at him, appearing unfazed by his words.
“She will not go unpunished. I will deal with her myself.” Master Harold looked at Mara and declared, “For killing Lady Isabella and Heru, your punishment shall be… to slay all the undying in this land.”
“Excuse me?” Commander White protested. “What kind of punishment is that?”
Mara gazed back at Harold. She wondered the same thing as well, but the commander took the words right out of her mouth.
Harold looked at him. “I believe she’ll be of greater use here, rather than rotting in a prison cell.” He gestured to Mara. “She’s the only one who can kill them permanently and demonstrated her worth by slaying the White Lady.”
The commander snapped his gaze onto Mara. She noted the hint of surprise, as if it were his first time learning of the White Lady’s permanent death. He stared at her in silence before his face fell back to the classic glare.
The Silver Thorn master addressed Davis. “What do you think? Is this acceptable?”
The chancellor cleared his throat and gazed at Mara. “Yes, I agree, as long as it means less dangerous monsters to deal with.”
Commander White glanced at the two men. “As Commander of the Holy Blades, I express my disappointment in your decision to let this… creature roam about. It’ll be a matter of time before another seal fails.”
Mara frowned at him for calling her a creature. She had a name.
Harold chuckled. “It seems you’re concerned the Dark One will awaken.”
“The prophecy forewarned this,” Commander White claimed.
“Doesn’t the prophecy also tell of the return of Kratés and Kallisto? That they’ll vanquish the Dark One and save the world? If so, then why worry?” Harold asked.
“We don’t know what sort of chaos the Dark One will bring once it awakens,” the commander admitted. “Or if it is possible to stop it.”
“Perhaps we should seek a way to stop it for good?” Master Harold suggested. “We can reopen an alliance with Thoron. Their sages possess more knowledge on the Dark One than anyone in the world.”
“Out of the question,” High Priestess Alena said sharply. Everyone looked at the old woman. Some were stunned by her sudden outburst. “Thoron is a land ruled by demons. As long as I draw breath, I’ll not allow the slaves of those pretenders to step foot on Ardana!”
Mara gazed at the priestess in confusion.
The commander nodded. “Yes, we’ll not make amendments to the laws our gods placed to protect us,” Commander White added.
The chancellor sighed. “What else can we do?” Davis asked, glancing back at Master Harold.
“There is another way,” Harold said. Everyone gazed at him, expressing interest. “The Dark One is an entity of pure magical energy. It is kept alive by a core, its heart. This core contains its life force. Severing or destroying the heart will kill the leviathan. We can send someone inside to do this.”
Harold was greeted by surprised expressions and incredulous looks. Mara looked at the old master, noticing his gaze on her. It sounded like he was addressing her.
“Kill the Dark One?” Davis asked.
“In theory it could work,” Dr. Moen said, “but it’s never been done before.”
“Impossible!” Commander White exclaimed. “Lord Kratés fought the Dark One and died.”
“And last I recalled, Lord Kratés was unable to kill the Dark One for good. What do you think will happen when it awakens?” Harold questioned. “With Godstruck, there may still be hope.”
The chancellor looked at Dr. Moen and said, “If it is possible, then maybe we should
consider this as a course of action?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes, but getting inside and destroying its heart won’t be easy, let alone finding someone who can pull it off.”
Mara stepped forward. “I can do it,” she said, “I can destroy its heart.” Everyone looked at her as if she was daft. She ignored their stares and looked at Harold. “You said you needed someone who can do this. I can.”
“Please, what a delusional girl,” Commander White hissed. He gave a mocking smirk. “She thinks she can kill the Dark One?” Mara looked at the commander as he continued to berate her. “The Great Lord Kratés fought the Dark One and died. What makes you think you can do it?”
She glared at him. “I’ve been pushed off a cliff, hanged, slashed open, mauled, and impaled!” Mara glanced at everyone. “Can any of you say the same?”
Master Harold shook his head. “No, I’ll not hear any more of this,” he said. “Do not think ill of me for saying these words. It’s true you’re an undying, but there’s no way of knowing if you’ll succeed. The Dark One must not be underestimated.” He changed the topic. “We shall conclude this meeting. Before we part ways, there is one more thing I must address.” Everyone gazed at him, anticipating what he had to say. “It is with regret I announce the disbandment of the Silver Thorns.”
Some expressed surprise. Davis gave a questioning glance.
“For over a millennia, we’ve protected mankind from monsters,” Harold revealed, “but over the years, other organizations and independent hunters emerged.” He gestured to the priestess and the commander. “The Faith also specializes in monster hunting with the Holy Blades.”
Alena nodded. “That is true. It’s our creed to rid the world of all monsters. Once this task is fulfilled, Ardana will be one step closer to returning to the Golden Age. The gods shall return to their rightful place as rulers, and peace and prosperity shall reign.”
Mara noticed Commander White looking at Alena with absolute devotion. She felt jealous that an old woman could get so much admiration from him. All she got was a scowl at best. She then thought about the memories retrieved. So far, she remembered her parents and their arguments, working for and being trained by her father, and some parts of her time in college. Knowing where they lived, she hoped to see them soon in Mirahyll.
The meeting came to an end, but Commander White had one more announcement to make.
“We’re always looking for more recruits. To any men who are no longer Silver Thorns, you’re welcome to join the Holy Blades.” After making his announcement, the commander approached two female Silver Thorns. He gazed at them dismissively with his hands behind his back. “I’m afraid you two are unsuitable to join,” he said to them.
Mara witnessed this and raised an eyebrow. ‘What makes him think they want to join?’
“Women have no place in the Holy Blades. The Silver Thorns and the Guardsmen allow them to join, though not many survive,” the commander stated. “They don’t belong on the battlefield or the monster-hunting profession. I hope you… ladies consider my advice.”
The two women looked unhappy when he said those words. Commander White stood there, not caring if he offended them. His face was devoid of an apology.
His words hit pretty close to home, reminding Mara of her mother. Mom was always so dead set against her becoming a hunter. The scars received from hunting always set her off and it created a schism between them. Mara glanced up and saw the commander glaring back at her. He walked towards her.
Sighing, she folded her arms. “Let me guess—you’re going to give me the same lecture? Even though I’m the reason why you’re still alive.”
Commander White’s face remained frozen in a scowl. He stopped before her, holding his hands behind his back. “I still believe you’re the Cursed Herald. You being around when three possessors died is no mere coincidence.”
“So what?” Mara asked. “You have no proof.”
The commander gave a dark gaze. He took another step, invading her personal space. “Make one wrong move and I’ll end you.”
She looked down and saw his left hand tightening around the grip of his sword. She gazed up at him. He was very serious. Mara never expected to be threatened. He kept his eyes on her.
“I’ll be watching you.” He turned around and left. She watched him join his father and the priestess. Mara sighed as the tension lifted. She felt she could finally breathe. While watching them leave, Harold approached her.
“You can stay here, but we won’t have as much as before,” the former master said.
She looked back at him. “Heard the Silver Thorns were struggling.”
Harold nodded. “Over time, we lost some of our own to other guilds, some were killed during hunts, and the loss of Saskia was a fatal blow. I intended for her to be the next leader. However, things changed that night.”
She gave a grim look. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, that is fine. There was not much you could do to change that. Before long, I’ll be all that remains in these empty halls.”
Mara’s expression lightened up. “I suppose I should get a start on finding these undying?”
“Yes, I’ll help you. With whatever knowledge I can gather, I believe killing them and absorbing their souls is the key.” Harold handed her a piece of paper—a work order to slay a monster. It had the name of the creature and the location.
“The Siren?” Mara read the work order.
“That is correct,” he told her. “This creature existed for over one hundred fifty years. She’s responsible for the deaths of many men and women in the waters around Har’ Yhan. The Silver Thorns had dealt with the creature before, but returned every time she was slain. It’s my belief she’s an undying.” He then advised, “You should leave as soon as possible. Not only will it take some time to get to the town, but the Siren only appears at night. Meet with Har’ Yhan’s alderman, Jonathan. He was the one who put out the contract.”
Mara gazed at him. “So, that whole punishment speech was an act?”
“Perhaps,” Harold replied. “After you slay the creature, please return to me. I’ll search for the next one.”
She nodded. Mara headed to her room to gather her things. Before returning to her quarters, she went to the crates in the far corner to take some provisions. It was far less than before. Mara wasn’t surprised considering that the deliveries would likely cease.
***
On the way back to her room, she noticed Talon packing up his stuff. Mara approached him with curiosity.
“What’s going on? Where are you going?”
The old blacksmith gazed at her. “Didn’t you hear the master? The Silver Thorns are no more! There is no reason for me to stay in Greyward Hold.”
She now realized what Harold meant by not having as much as before. They were also losing the blacksmith. “Where will you go?”
Talon shrugged. “I plan to open up shop in Mirahyll, though it’ll be tough since the city already has a blacksmith.” He watched her. “I’ll see you there?”
She nodded in response.
“Good, great to know I’ll be getting a return customer.” With that, he laughed for a while. Mara decided to use his services one more time. After he repaired and upgraded her gear, Talon packed up his bags and left.
The fort became empty, save for the former master and the undying. Mara headed to her room, preparing for the hunt tonight. She spotted a mirror. Walking up to her reflection, Mara removed her mask. She still looked human. After a moment, her tanned skin began to pale. Her cheeks grew sunken as dark circles formed underneath her eyes. Her lips turned dark grey and scars formed on her face. She was horrified to see her human form decaying before her eyes.
Fighting back her tears, Mara placed her mask back on with a shaky hand. She couldn’t face her parents like this. The commander’s blood offered temporary relief. Her only hope was the soul of the undying. She turned around to make her preparations.
When ready, Mara left Greyw
ard Hold and headed for Har’ Yhan.
Chapter Twelve
The Siren
Mara traveled down the mountain, moving away from Greyward Hold. Fortunately, she didn’t encounter any snow beasts. Walking down the snowy path, she realized she hadn’t seen Talon, who left not too long ago. She thought she could catch up, but it seemed she underestimated him. For an old man, the blacksmith could cover long distances in a short amount of time. She reached the foot of the mountain and began to travel south. Mara could see someone in the distance. It looked like Talon.
With her hand to her mouth, Mara shouted out to him. “Hey!”
However, the person in the distance didn’t respond. Mara felt disappointed they didn’t hear her. Then again, she was a long distance away.
She continued to travel south for much of the day. It would be easier to travel through Mirahyll to get to Har’ Yhan, but Mara decided to go around the capital city. It might take longer, but she refused to pass through a populated area in her current state. The Guardsmen or the Holy Blades might attack her on sight.
As usual, Mara stopped and ate some food. The tree she sat under looked familiar because she was here before. The shade of the tree made her inconspicuous. Bread and dried fruit was on the menu again. The meal was tasteless as usual, but it no longer surprised her. Mara had to learn to get used to her predicament. Even though the provisions were not too filling, they held up well for travelling and it was better than nothing. While eating under the shade, Mara thought about all that happened. The vast landscape before her looked more familiar. She used to travel these roads with Dad. Mara wondered how her father was. Still forging weapons in the Ashwood Workshop, she hoped. Thinking about her parents, Mara still had to figure out how to explain her situation to them. She couldn’t exactly tell them that their daughter became an undying. But if she could find a way to lift the curse, then everything could go back to normal.
She also thought about the doctor’s words. Mara was part shadow beast. To be honest, she was unfamiliar with such a creature. In all her years of working for Dad, she had never seen one before. Mara glanced down at the bestiary, reckoning it had some information on the creature. Saskia mentioned them before. Taking the book, she opened it and flipped through the pages. Her search came to an end when she saw the image of a dark shadowy beast. It resembled a werewolf, but stood on hind legs and possessed horns on its head. The illustration looked a little disturbing because the creature was predominantly black, except for the glowing eyes. It was also surrounded by wisps of black smoke. Just as Dr. Moen mentioned, these creatures possessed regenerative abilities and could teleport. Mara could heal, but not teleport, which could have been a very useful ability. For a supernatural, she really didn’t have that many powers. Vampires could fly. Werewolves were strong. Even the White Lady could devastate an entire village. What kind of powers did Mara have? Supposed immortality? Turning into some beastly creature when she got mad or was endangered? Then again, it wasn’t like Mara had any plans to stay like this. She wanted to be human again. After finishing her small meal, Mara pressed on.
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