17th November 1102

Tiny flakes of snow swirled through the chill air netting themselves in the heavy weave of Harndall’s cloak which was already sodden with their melting bodies. Behind them the hollow shell of the ruined church loomed, blackened arches curving upwards like the ribcage of some giant rotting creature.

All around him were men, men with swords, their sharp edges menacingly slicing through the soft forms of the unfortunate snowflakes whose suicidal trajectories intersected them.

Harndall had only his hands which were trembling with the cold and the mounting fear that was thrilling his soul. His hands, and tucked away in the folds of his robe the smooth lines of a carefully carved wooden stake. They had read that one way of immobilising the dreadful creature was to plunge a stake into the depths of its chest, pinning its bloated heart in place. Harndall understood the mechanics of this process, had imagined where the point of the stake must be placed and how hard the force would need to be to drive such a thing through a ribcage. Actually doing it would be another matter.

Lochan was gazing around the armoured group a somber look on his face. Harndall knew that the Duke felt himself responsible for every life that was lost. He only hoped that today would not add weight to the burden of guilt carried on those sagging shoulders.

“Men”, he said solemnly, his eyes flicking from face to face “I want you to understand that what we seek to undertake today will be extremely dangerous. Some of us might not return”.

There was a ripple of unease through the men but they all stood their ground.

“If you choose to leave now then we will not think less of you. I release you from your duty.”

“Maybe yew won’t think the less Yer Lordship but I certainly will!”, Kelgar growled, “And think about Vance and Nelly and the poor Brackenthwaites looking down upon us. They will certainly think less of yew. Any man who doesn’t fight is a bloody coward. I am certain that we are all with yew my Lord, we want those beasts dead and gone. We want our people safe again”

There was a mutter of agreement although Harndall thought a few of them looked as nervous as he felt.

“Alright then, can I assume you are all with me then? It’s good to see we have men here and not mice.”

“Father”, he turned to Harndall, “would you do us the honour of blessing us before we go into this accursed place.”

“Lord Father in heaven”, he began solemnly, “protect these men who seek only to do your bidding on Earth. Watch over our mortal bodies and if it so happens that death comes stalking this way we entrust to you the care of our immortal souls. We go to do battle with the foul and heathen beasts that have tainted our land. We humbly ask for your blessing in this”

He briefly close his eyes, his soul crying out for the comforting presence of the Lord but finding nothing. A chill wind curled around his shivering body like an exhaled breath, as though the creature were not dead but only sleeping.

“Amen.”

He solemnly drew a cross in the air before the gathered men.

“Are you ready to fight?” Lochan snarled, the line of his sword cutting through the frigid day.

“We certainly are My Lord!” Kelgar roared, his voice echoing through the soundless chasm, reverberating off the ruined walls of the waiting church.

“Then God help us, we go down below.”

Arwaduhn, Inbar, Murchadh, Shildfrith, The Church, Ulcar