They agreed to go to the nearest market town first. Kirin wanted to leave news of the miners’ deaths so it would eventually reach their families. Elinor protested the waste of time, but to the bard’s surprise, Valerien agreed.

“Such a place is where any news of strangers will arrive first. And we need a horse for the bard. He becomes all clingy when you share a saddle with him.”

Kirin growled, but decided to let it go. He wanted some answers first.

“Who are those people we are looking for?” he asked as they set off.

Kirin listened to Elinor explain about princesses, knights and a rebellion. He still didn’t quite understand what was going on, but those people seemed to have brought their own war to his realm. 

All he knew was that he had to get them back through that wall as soon as possible. And then ask the High Warlock to collapse that cave so none of these beings could come out of it again.

It felt quite hopeless. Three of them against a small army.

Still, he let his energies roam, but Valerien put a hand on his shoulder.

“There is no point in searching aimlessly. You’ll just burn out again. Let’s find a trail first.”

Kirin shook the hand off, but nodded.

“The golden one – I think the woman called him Lioren - he said something about waterfalls. But there are so many around here,” he said.  

“That’s a start. And if their plan is what I think it is, they need a large, isolated place they can defend,” Valerien replied.

“And what do you think their plan is?”

Valerien didn’t answer at once, but asked back, “How many people worked at that mining site?”

“Don’t you even know how many people you buried?” Kirin asked caustically.

“Three whole ones and four in pieces,” the demon replied calmly.

Kirin narrowed his eyes at the heartlessness, but then hope filled his heart.

“But there should have been a dozen men. That means that some have escaped!”

“That is unlikely”, the woman said with some sympathy.

Kirin stared at her, then turned to Valerien.

“It is more likely they have been taken. There were barely any tools left, too,” the demon explained.  

“Taken? You mean enslaved?” Kirin asked. 

“I don’t know what that means,” Valerien replied. 

“It is … it is when someone else claims you as property and can use you any way they want.”

Elinor frowned. “Like convicted criminals who have to serve their sentence doing hard labour?”

“Not always. Some people are born into it, and some are taken in a raid or sold. Sometimes even to lands far beyond this island”, Kirin explained.

“Savages”, Elinor muttered.

Kirin swallowed nervously and looked at Valerien again. The green eyes studied him with an unreadable expression, as if he could stare right into his soul.

“Will they take them through that wall so they can never return?” Kirin asked him.

“No. They will keep them somewhere where they can work, then kill them once they don’t need them anymore.”

Kirin flinched at the brutal honesty, and even Elinor seemed uncomfortable.

“So think, bard. Is there a place that has water close by and is good for keeping people under control?” Valerien pressed.

Kirin thought about it, then suggested, “Something like an abandoned Roman fort?”

“A fort sounds ideal. Do you know any?”

“Yes. I’ve seen one myself on my way here, and there are others in the north west. People avoid them because they think they are bad luck.”

“Good. We need a map.”

Kirin hesitated, then asked quietly, “Five workers won’t be enough, will they?”

Valerien smiled mirthlessly. “They are just the beginning.”