The chateau of Malethrax is quiet when morning comes. Only the fine warhorse is evidence that Gilabert, the Talik knight, and the young girl he rescued have ever been here. The priest of Malakar, Nyrond, rises late to see Oasmedrain Windsheer building a grove in one of the large fields at the ten acre chateau. Meanwhile Malethrax and his two friends Danat Peres and Hujal have taken a cart and headed into Dros Goran to replenish supplies.

Dros Goran is crowded. All of its four markets are full and the three men move quickly about their task. The most notable change from their last visit is the quiet mobilisation that seems to be happening in the citadel. Hundreds of soldiers are visible, on every spare piece of open land drill sergeants bully the Drenai soldiers into shape. Malethrax buys wine and foodstuffs along with a number of sheep for his fields. His last purchase is one he is most proud of…from a local sign maker her has a sign constructed to display the name of his house – Chateau Malethrax.

On the way back to the chateau the three men come upon a mixed bunch of travellers. Twenty five men of various races led by a Drenai called Fillitch. They are pilgrims. "We are on our way to the Unholy Land," Fillitch says brightly, "to see for ourselves the splendour of the realm of god." Malethrax tells them of the shrine and of Nyrond, the resident priest, and the pilgrims are eager to spend the night at the chateau before heading out to Rosen.

They are greeted by Nyrond who observed the usual religious rites on them. The priest is alert to a shifty Drenai amongst the pilgrims, an unremarkable man called Boorst, and he is convinced – through instinct or divine inspiration – that the man is a spy. He smiles grimly as he wonders what lies ahead for the spy.

At an evening meal in honour of the pilgrims Nyrond discusses the spy with his companions. Aware that the priest has designs for sacrifice Malethrax, Danat, Hujal and Osmedrain cover all the exits, the thooligans act as back up outside. Boorst is an astute man. He knows that he has been spotted but it is too late. Every exit is sealed and he can feel the priest bearing down on him. As Nyrond moves in the spy tries to run for it. Like a frightened squirrel he darts this way and that but escape is impossible.

Nyrond casts a Fear upon the spy and Boorst collapses to the floor in tears. The pilgrims haul him up and force him down onto a makeshift altar as Nyrond the Malakarian prepares the dread dagger of Asgar.

Osmedrain is outside. As the commotion inside reaches fever pitch he spots a movement in the shadows. Stood before him is a robed and cowelled figure. "Do not be alarmed, I am Ulthor, my task here is to protect the priest."

"Does he need protecting?" Osmedrain says.

"We will see…"

There is horror within the chateau. The well-practised strokes of the sacrificial dagger have wrenched another beating heart from a victim. But today is different. Within the room the chants and songs for Malakar resound menacingly around the hall. Nyrond tries to eat the beating heart! It is quickly obvious that something is wrong…a surge of power erupts. The priest chokes as he tries to consume the soul of the spy. Osmedrain rushes into the scene of carnage and casts the only curing spell he knows. With good fortune – or more divine intervention – Nyrond stops choking. He clasps a grateful hand on the shoulder of the druid. "My thanks friend."

As the night progresses the pilgrims continue their observances to Malakar under the watchful eye of the priest. Osmedrain decides to head for his grove, where he slips easily into the shape of a tree…it affords him solace and rest.

The pilgrims are gone by first light. The summer sun beats furiously down on chateau Malethrax and the air is thick and humid. It promises to be a hot day…

At mid morning Nyrond spots flames coming from the far barn and he immediately goes to investigate. When he is only yards from the small fire he realises it was started deliberately. He has walked into a trap. Two outlaws – a common sight in the borderlands – spring out of cover with longbows. Two others flank him and make their way towards the chateau where they believe there are rich pickings.

Nyrond instinctively casts a Prayer and his companions are instantly alerted. Malethrax climbs to the roof where his height advantage gives him a clear field of view for the oncoming fight. Danat Peres slinks into the undergrowth to track the two oncoming outlaws whilst Osmedrain knocks an arrow into his longbow.

The druid sees the priest in trouble and instinctively aims to shoot the outlaw who is preparing to fire at him. But Osmedrain misjudges the distances and his first arrow goes astray. There is a deep thud and the party stare in horror as Nyrond has been shot through the head…the wound so bad he falls dead instantly.

Osmedrain is rocked by his error though he keeps firing at the outlaws who smell victory in the air. The druid trades shots with the outlaw archers but his fate is at hand…an arrow punctures his left eye and the druid falls dead in his grove. Danat leaps with knife and fist at one of the outlaws. Vicious hand-to-hand fighting ensues and the martial artist takes a severe cut to the stomach. Through the pain and blood he continues, his great tenacity soon has the outlaw on the floor where a deadly strike disembowels his victim.

From the roof Malethrax pins down the remaining archer whilst Hujaj hurls magic missiles at the other one. A combination of his sorcery and Danat’s unarmed skills puts the third outlaw down. A vicious shot by Malethrax (who is concealed by phantasmal force) puts down the last outlaw and Hujal and the other sorcerer go to the aid of Danat who bleeds profusely from a stomach wound. Malethrax is able to staunch the flow with a few carefully placed bandages and the three men go about the grim task of burying their companions.

Hujal Nazan picks up the dagger of Asgar and secretes it in the folds of his robes.

Malethrax stakes out the heads of the outlaws and places them where any others will see – to deter more outlaws from attacking them. Barely has the ceremony to bury Osmedrain and Nyrond finished when a long line of Drenai soldiers come down the road. They number more than a thousand, mainly foot soldiers, they move by without much trouble. One of their number – a captain on a large horse – crosses into the chateau grounds to speak with Malethrax. It is an old friend. Drusor Luckwarden advises them to leave the borderlands. He explains that tensions are high due to the massacre at Karsus; his men have been dispatched to bring order to the borderlands and counter any possible Rosen threat.

When the captain leaves – after sampling much of Malethrax’s wine – more soldiers enter the chateau grounds. These are Rosen scouts; twenty in all, led by a well-camouflaged soldier called Nayken. He accepts water from Malethrax and attempts to give the nobleman the same advice that Drusor did.

At that point in the evening Drusor Luckwarden returns. The Rosen scouts melt into the undergrowth except for their leader, Nayken. With Malethrax in between them the two leaders can barely be civilised to each other. The Menelothian casts an ESP and manages to learn that Nayken, the Rosen, has heard of Drusor (he is a legendary figure in the borderlands) whilst Drusor is calm.

Malethrax is careful not to stir the uneasy atmosphere between the two men. Eventually Drusor gets on his horse and departs, followed by the Rosen scout…Malethrax sighs with relief at what could have been a tricky diplomatic incident…

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