A faint, damp chill lingered in the early morning air as John strode through the silent halls of the citadel. The previous night's battle against the Blood Wolves weighed heavily on his mind, each howl and clash of steel echoing as he recalled the brutal fight. He knew Kael was now resting in the catacombs, recovering from the night's ordeal, but John had little time to dwell on it.
"John," a voice called softly from down the corridor. He turned to see James approaching, his expression as fatigued as John felt.
"What news?" John asked, noting the stack of reports James carried.
James sighed, handing over a report. "Scout report, ordered by the Captain. There's reason to believe the scent that drew the wolves didn't come from our ranks. Someone may have led them here intentionally."
John's brows furrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "An attack on the Lord's forces?" he murmured. "Or a message from the monarchs?"
"It's unclear," James replied, "but if the wolves were only the first wave, we can't ignore what they might mean. The Lord will demand answers, and quickly."
They shared a heavy silence before continuing to the Castellan's office. Inside, they found Norman seated at the desk, looking up expectantly as they entered.
"Good morning," Norman greeted them. "I heard last night was eventful, all because of a lumberjack's wolf sighting, yes?" He gestured for them to sit.
After exchanging greetings, James placed the reports on Norman's desk and began recounting what he had told John moments earlier. When he finished, Norman rubbed the bridge of his nose. "This is going to be a pain. The Lord won't like hearing this, and I suppose I'll be reading a lot more about these findings, right?"
James nodded, frustration evident in his tone. "Undoubtedly. Blood Wolves are typically confined to the Envy Monarch's desert domain, thousands of miles away. Finding over twenty of them here? That's unheard of."
Norman's gaze sharpened as he scanned the reports. "Strange, indeed. I can't even imagine what could cause this."
John, lost in thought, then asked, "James, what's happening with the carcasses?"
"Captain Kalrick is organizing a team to retrieve them as we speak," James replied.
Norman's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait… they were left in the forest unattended?"
"Yes," James confirmed.
Norman ran a hand over his face, sighing. "James, time is of the essence. Tell Kalrick to hurry the last thing we need is for some animal to feed on the wolves' blood and turn into an abomination that we'll have to deal with."
"Understood," James replied, rising to his feet. "Once I've given the orders, I'll be off shift." He started to leave but paused at the door.
"Norman, John, how many of the pigs are left?" he asked, not turning around.
Norman glanced at John, who shared a knowing look. "Four," Norman replied. "Why do you ask?"
"It's been almost a month since the Lord last fed. It won't be long before he needs to again." James's tone turned sharp. "I hope you've kept them well-fed. Undesirable as they are, they must be prepared."
He slowly turned to face them, an edge of malice in his voice. "When it's time to lead them to slaughter, let me know." With that, he exited, the door clicking shut behind him.
Norman and John both exhaled after he left. "That bloodthirsty Vice Captain," John muttered, settling into a chair. "Whatever will the Lord do to calm his nature?"
Norman leaned against his desk, his gaze thoughtful. "James's mention of the Lord reminded me of something I wanted to discuss with you," he said, prompting John to meet his eyes.
"I think we should persuade the Lord to add an estate to the expansion plans."
John tilted his head. "An estate? Why now?"
Norman straightened, his tone confident. "Think of it this way: every time we battle marauders or highwaymen, we kill them and move on. But if we had an estate, we could conquer their castles, station castellans to govern them, and create outposts to store resources and prison cells for feeding the Lord."
John considered this, nodding slowly. "So, you're suggesting capturing the Marauders instead of killing them, to use them as… provisions?"
"Precisely. It would secure lands that would otherwise fall back into enemy hands. And the Lord would benefit from the arrangement."
After a moment of thought, John nodded. "It's a good plan. But convincing the Lord…"
"Leave that to me," Norman said. "I'll draft the proposal by this evening. You can present it when your shift begins."
John gave a final nod, then bid Norman farewell, heading to his chambers for a much-needed rest.
John left Norman's office with the weight of the conversation settling on his shoulders. The early morning light was beginning to filter through the narrow windows of the citadel, casting long shadows across the stone walls. He felt the familiar, almost comforting ache of exhaustion, yet he knew rest would only offer reprieve.
As he strode down the hall, he considered Norman's plan. It was daring and unconventional, but perhaps it was what they needed to finally maintain control of their territory. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that their troubles had only just begun and that the appearance of the Blood Wolves was more than a coincidence, a harbinger of something darker and more calculated.
John paused at the staircase leading down to the catacombs and greeted the guards who stood watch, a chill snaking down his spine as he thought of Kael resting in the depths. How long could their forces withstand such attacks if they continued? And would they have the strength to stand against whatever force had sent the wolves?
He took a steadying breath. Tonight, he would speak to the Lord. If there was any hope of securing their future, they would need to act soon. No matter the risks.
With that, John turned and continued down the hallway, his steps steady and determined, as if with each footfall he reaffirmed the silent vow he had made long ago: to defend this citadel, this place his Lord called home, at any cost.