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CHAPTER 3: LIGHT AND SHADOW

"Bryce, you're starting to look like a monster yourself. Calm down."

Bryce looked up, startled, as Brewan strolled towards him. Only then did he realize that his teeth were clenched so tightly together than they ached, and he loosened his jaw with effort. Then he sighed, nodding to his friend, and looked out over the garrison wall.

For the past ten days, Bryce had been trying vainly to figure out how serious the Fair Folk threat was. While he had convinced the locals that the area was still in danger, and that there might be a serious force in the area, they hadn't sent off for any Realm assistance, nor had he managed to track down any fae. Instead of seeking him out for revenge, they appeared to be avoiding him, and he was hard-pressed to track them down. He'd ranged up and down the valleys, searching, with no luck.

And then there was the fox.

Bryce wasn't certain, but it seemed like whenever he turned around in the valleys there was a fox watching him, with large brown eyes. He could have sworn it was the same fox that had attacked the Fair Folk, and he couldn't think of a reason for it to be following him. Once, feeling foolish, he had quietly called a greeting to it, but it had immediately jumped and fled; he hadn't seen it for the rest of the day.

He brought himself back to the present, and smiled ruefully at Brewan. "Just thoughtful. We're in a stressful situation right now, and I'm trying to help out where I can."

"Hey, it can't be that bad." Brewan sat down next to Bryce, with a broad smile. "You've survived them twice now, one way or the other, and gotten that big pigsticker from 'em. Maybe they ran away this time."

"Maybe..." Bryce stopped talking, looking up. Abruptly, he stood. "You hear that?"

"Yeah. Something's up." Brewan joined Bryce, and the two jogged towards the garrison gate, where they could hear a commotion. Along the way, they were joined by other guards, hurrying to meet them. Bryce tapped one, Terwyne Gerald, on the shoulder. "Hey, Gerald, what's going on?"

"One of the guard patrols was attacked. Another patrol found them, in a clearing that was scorched clean." Gerald was a hunter with a decent knowledge of herbology; he often acted as physician when Master Yuran was busy. "They say they're not reacting to anything. Like... like Adar."

Bryce and Brewan looked at each other, and Brewan swallowed. Adar was still in his coma; soup and water could be fed to him, but he otherwise failed to react to anything. After a moment of jogging, Bryce spoke. "The Fair Folk. It has to be."

The garrison gates were open, and guards milled everywhere, and Bryce and Brewan were forced to push their way through, opening a gap for Gerald to pass. They found four soldiers standing around, with four more lying on the ground. Bryce recognized Redman among the standing soldiers, and nodded to him, glancing down at the fallen soldiers with a lurch in his stomach. Sana, Termen, Rosh, and Wesley. All friends, or at least friendly acquaintances. None moving. Captain Garamond was off to one side, interviewing one of the soldiers.

"What happened?"

Redman shook his head. "I don't know. I found them like this when we were on patrol." He shook his head. "There were more of those marks, like the ones you said the serpent left. I think maybe it's doing this."

Brewan nodded slowly, as Gerald set to work checking the fallen. "Poor Mrs. Felder."

"Hm?" Redman glanced over at him, clearly distracted.

"Losing her husband to the sickness last winter, and now both her children." Brewan sighed, gesturing to Termen and Rosh, and looked back at his friends. Sudden understanding showed in Redman's eyes, and he whistled softly.

"Didn't even think of that. Maybe they'll recover alright." His voice sounded dubious, belying his words, and Bryce clenched his fists tightly.

"Patrols will be stepped up." The captain's voice rang out, and the square fell silent. "Patrols will be ten people at a time. All guardsmen are on duty full-time until further notice. Our guards will be split between the garrisons and the town." He paused. "And we're calling for backup. I need two fast riders to travel to Greyfalls and request Realm support."

A murmur ran through the yard. Redman looked to his friends, and then saluted. "I volunteer, sir. I'm one of the best you've got."

"As do I." Theron Markus pushed forwards, standing next to Redman. "We'll move fast and split up early, just in case; the fae won't know we've left until we're back."

"Right. Dragons preserve you." Captain Garamond turned to look at the fallen soldiers, and sighed quietly. "Dragons preserve us all."

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