When she had been elected Captain of Dawn, Helena did not realize how much of her time would be spent looking over supply lists. Checking numbers. Reading over missives to be sent and received.
Out:
Two horses, questing rations for eight pairs. Supplies for Gwinholm - poultices, seeds, blankets.
In:
Two wagons of food supplies - Ten sacks of grain, slabs of cured meat, fresh produce from neighboring settlements (1 week's worth). Salt. Spices. Drink.
Someone had gotten lazy. But she could not say she blamed them. She sighed, and put the paper down, forefinger and thumb raised to her temples and she messaged the ache that formed there beneath her skull. "I'll have to remind everyone of the importance of clear and precise note taking at the next meeting of the council,"
There came a knock at the door of her office chamber. "Captain Helena,"
"Come in," she said as she grabbed up the stray pieces of parchment and put them together with a tap on her desk.
In entered a young human woman, dark of hair and clad in black armor. She stopped before the captain. "Ma'am," she pressed her fist to her chest in salute, and bowed her head. Helena nodded in recognition. The younger knight rose and spoke. "A village elder has come from Kirktu seeking aid, normally I would take such news to a Pursuant..."
"We are spread thin these days." She smiled wistful, rose from her seat. "No matter. I grew tired of paperwork, come, let me meet with this elder."
The younger knight bowed her head once more. "Yes ma'am, they wait in the Knoll. I've word that a Knight is attending them,"
Gathered about a solid old table, the Knight Captain sat with her knight and their guest. A squire brought hot venison stew, spiced with black pepper and aromatics, along with some fresh rounds of bread, and a plate with butter to spread. It was simple fare, but hearty and well made.
Helena gestured with an open palm, and invited them to the food. "Please, eat your fill, and speak your tidings."
Belduun made small noises, as if he quibbled in his mind if he should eat first, or begin telling the tale. But the road had been long, and his old bones ached. He snatched up a piece of bread, tore into it, and ate. A few big bites and spoonfuls of stew later, and he nod. Ready.
"Th-thank you, Syr, I," he laughed nervously, and he seemed to struggle to find the right words. "The road was hard, but I am glad we've found our way here," his head bobbed as he closed his eyes and tried to gather his courage. "You see, Kirktu has been, well..." he licked his lips to find the words. "We've been cut off from the wagon roads," there was a sadness in his froggy voice. "A foul creature has taken roost near to our Kirktu, and has taken lives of many a 'van horse and oxen. Not to mention our livestock."
"What manner of creature?" Helena asked, eyebrow raised with interest.
"At first we thought it no more than some mad bear, turned monster by the fiends, or that mess that still lingers in the woods, and we hoped our hunters could be rid of it, but..." his eyes grew hard and distant, and he shook his head in dismay. "No, the survivors described it as the forest come to life, the trees turned to vengeance," he sighed and looked down at the food. "We think it may be a spirit gone mad," he looked up at the two knights. "We fear it may be Okkos, turned demon by the corruption."
Helena's face betrayed none of her own fears. Her eyes steeled, and her look distant. "Okkos is thought to be one of the few spirits that still walk the wilds of the Vayden," she said, and turned her head to look out through one of the windows, from which golden light of day did pour. "If he is turned, then the corruption is recent," She looked back to Alduun. "Why and how matter a great deal."
The old man shook his head in defeat. "I, I don't know anything about that, Lady Captain, I, I just know our small village can't go much longer with it still lurkin about the roads," He took another hunk of bread, and plopped it into his mouth.
A nod came from the Knight Captain. "Yes, rest assured, we will do what we can to remedy that situation," her eyes turned to her fellow knight. "What of you, Syr? Have you heard any news of Okkos the Wildheart? May-chance you've heard of some sightings that might disprove this dark possibility?"
