The smoldering village reminded me of Lomi’s. Yet this one had far more than a single pile of burnt bodies.

Blood marred the streets. Bodies with spears and arrows were littered everywhere, men and women alike. Half of the buildings were burning, the other half already burnt down.

I couldn’t hear the sounds of anyone still alive. No screams. No whimpers… but I also wasn’t really searching for them. I stood outside the village limits, just past a broken fence. One that had been likely something of an animal pen. Although no animals were around to prove it, the mud and hoof-prints all around the fence answered its purpose.

“Vim… the war surely hasn’t progressed this far north has it?” Herra asked worriedly from behind me.

“Seems it might have,” I said.

Flags were staked around the edge of the city. Large banners of red and black flapped in the wind and drafts made by the burning buildings. I didn’t recognize the symbol on the banners, but it was obvious this wasn’t just the work of typical bandits. This was a message, of some kind.

They didn’t take the women and children. Odds are the only reason they took the animals was for food, if it was a large band such a thing was common.

If bandits, then they weren’t very good at their job. So assuming it was an actual army made more sense. They were cruel enough to slaughter everyone, but wouldn’t partake in the more despicable acts commonly found with such barbarity.

“Should we check if anyone needs help?” Renn asked.

“No. There’s a group of men on the other side of the village. I think they’re scouts,” I said. We couldn’t see them anymore, thanks to where we had stopped our horses, but I had seen them on our approach. They had been going in and out of the village… they might not be scouts at all, but rather simple looters taking advantage of the situation. Or maybe even the survivors of the village. But they had all been dressed in the same yellowish colors, implying they were members of a legion of some kind. Either a military or otherwise.

I was in no mood to get involved with such a thing. Far from it.

“Scouts?” Renn asked.

“Either the ones who did this, or the enemies of them. Neither are people we want to get involved with,” Herra said.

I nodded, and sighed. If the war really has reached this far north… then that meant there was now danger to our Society and its members.

Just great. First Lumen, then this. It really never ends.

“Let’s round it. I want to see if they really burnt it the way I think they did,” I said as I guided my horse to the right, as to circle the village a little. Not entirely of course, as to avoid the people on the other side of it… but I wanted to verify something.

“The way they did?” Herra asked. My horse trotted away upon my guidance… but did so slowly. And stiffly, as if worried about something. Maybe it was concerned over the fires. They weren’t necessarily close, but the air was thick of the smoke.

“This is worse than a simple pillaging,” I said.

“Worse? What could be worse than pillaging and burning down a whole village?” Renn asked.

“This is not just the sacking of a village… this is a containment burn. See how the outside buildings are already burnt down and embering? They set the village on fire from the outside, not from within,” I explained as we headed up a small hill.

The two women were silent as we rounded the village. There was a small river nearby, but we were heading away from it. I wanted to avoid water, since I knew from experience those involved in burning buildings usually ran to water whether they were the victims or the perpetrators.

As we rounded the village, I confirmed my suspicions.

The outer layer of the village had been set aflame first. The fires spread from there, heading inward… which was where the fires were now raging.

And even more so, I was able to get a better picture of how it had happened. All the bodies scattered around, most with arrow or spear wounds, had all fallen in an obvious way.

They had been running. And not just from their attackers. They had been running from the fires.

The people of the village had been forced into the fires. Into the center of the village. And when they tried to flee, they were culled.

A typical thing to happen during an attack on this scale… but…

Finally finding a section of the burning buildings and fires I could see through, I confirmed my suspicions even more.

Deep within the village, nearly out of sight thanks to the smoke and flames… was a giant pile of animal corpses. Large beasts, piled nearly as high as a nearby building that had almost collapsed entirely into itself.

They hadn’t taken the animals. Not even for food.

“That’s not the banner of war,” I said after coming to understand what happened.

Sighing, I gestured for Herra to guide her horse away with me. To leave the stricken village behind.

“What do you mean, Vim?” Renn asked worriedly. Hopefully she wouldn’t argue with my decision. She had a large heart, and always felt the need to help people. I needed to get her away before she heard the cries of someone injured… or even worse a child.

“That village was burnt because it was infected. A cruel method, but it’s what the humans do once it becomes this bad. Those banners are not warnings to their enemies, but warnings to everyone else. To not enter, because the village contains disease,” I said.

The banners weren’t the best in their purpose. The symbol on it was likely the one of the church in this region, but usually such a thing wasn’t an outright bad thing. Usually seeing the symbol of a religion on a flag wasn’t something that instilled fear, for normal people.

Right now though, that was what it was being used for. The church had erected the banners to inform everyone who saw the carnage, as to say this was the holy thing to do. That this was done by those who knew best.

At least, that was likely their intention.

“You mean that plague, don’t you? The one the sailors talked about,” Herra said as she understood.

“Likely. They even culled and burnt the animals,” I said.

“Ah… that’s definitely what that smell is,” Herra complained.

Yes. The smell of burning horses. It also explained why our horses were walking stiffly.

“How bad is a plague, for a whole village to be burnt because of it?” Renn asked worriedly.

“It could be very bad. The stories I heard weren’t good. Lots of blood and it spreads like crazy,” Herra said.

I nodded. Plagues were bad indeed.

I’d rather war than a plague… but one usually never was far behind the other, so I suppose that didn’t matter.

Sighing, I glanced back one last time to the smoldering village. I memorized the banner, and the symbol upon it.

Before I turned back around, Renn caught my eye. She frowned at me, and I noticed the deep and troubled concern on her face.

“Let it be Renn. Disease is one thing that can hurt our kind just as easily as it does the humans,” I warned her.

“It’s that bad?” she asked.

“It is. Imagine a sickness that kills you, painfully, and no one is safe from it. I’ve heard from Merit and others, that part of the reason their kingdom didn’t succeed was because of a plague,” Herra said.

“That was a major component, yes,” I said. I didn’t feel the need to tell her the truth, but there was no harm in admitting it was one of the reasons that kingdom fell.

“And it hurts us too? Not just humans?” Renn asked.

“Sometimes even more so. Humans can survive those diseases because of their numbers. We don’t have the numbers to bounce back from such things,” I said.

“Ah…” Renn didn’t sound too happy to hear that. But it was to be expected.

“Yes. It’s not good at all. If it’s here already, that means it’s in Lumen too. What will we do Vim?” Herra asked.

“Not sure yet,” I said honestly.

Not just Lumen, it would be everywhere… though…

“If those in power here are already going to such extremes, it actually might not spread too far. It’s a horrible method, but it’s an effective one,” I said lightly.

“Killing everyone?” Renn asked sharply.

“Yes. As I said, a horrible method. But it stops the spread,” I said.

Renn mumbled something behind Herra, who chuckled lightly. “She really is a gentle one, Vim,” she said.

Wonder what she had said. I hadn’t really paid attention… “She is,” I agreed.

“Would you have burnt that village Vim?” Renn asked me.

I had expected such a question from her, so I was ready to answer it.

“I’ve done it before myself,” I told her the truth.

She didn’t make a noise or mumble this time.

How else did she think I could recognize the pattern of it so quickly?

“If my family is fine, we’ll be able to learn what’s going on from them,” Herra said.

And you are a cold one, Herra. You actually sounded a little hopeful. She really did hold very little love for them, didn’t she?

The horses’ hooves were noisy against the hard stone we trudged upon. There were large rocks and boulders all around, some big enough to block out the flat land that surrounded us. I intentionally led the horses through some of the larger boulders and their clusters, as to keep us hidden just in case.

“Plagues come every so often. I suppose it was about time for another,” I said as I thought of it. The last real one was indeed the same one that Herra spoke of. The one that started in that one nation, and ended up nearly destroying the kingdom Merit and her friends had tried to create.

It hadn’t honestly been that bad of a disease. It killed the elderly, and infirm, but it hadn’t wiped out entire populations. The main reason it had done so much damage to Merit’s kingdom was the simple fact that they hadn’t been ready for it.

They didn’t have enough food stores. So once the disease wrought its cruel damage, they hadn’t the manpower to farm and distribute enough food throughout the lands. Then of course, the many dead bodies drew out the Monarch from its slumber.

Like a spreading fire, jumping from tree to tree. The disasters had simply sprouted more, and there had been too many at once.

“I wonder if it will stop the war, if it’s really that bad,” I said as I pondered aloud.

“It might? Though that war is likely the very reason there even is a disease to catch,” Herra said.

“War and pestilence,” Renn quoted.

Herra nodded, agreeing with her.

Religious in nature? Likely not. Though the church here would definitely utilize it in such a way.

I shifted upon the horse, and decided to not criticize the church too much. After all, its methods… although vile, was likely going to be what saved the many surrounding nations. If they didn’t utilize such barbaric tactics, the disease would simply spread and spread unchecked until either herd immunity came into play, or it simply killed so many that there weren’t enough people to spread the disease anymore.

“Still, we…” I was about to warn the two, as to watch out if we met anyone or entered another village… but I went quiet as I turned my head to look at the sound of something scraping stone.

Hidden behind some boulders, between a crevice, trying to hide in the shadows and stay out of sight… was a pair of eyes staring back at my own.

And they weren’t reflective.

Humans.

A family.

Staring into the eyes of the man who was shielding those behind him, I studied him for just a moment.

I tried to tell if his skin had spots, beneath the stain of ash and dirt. I tried to see any strange markings, or tattoos to tell me where he was from or his clan. I checked those he shielded, for proof they were his and not those he had captured. I checked for wounds and injuries.

“Vim…” Renn whispered at the sight of them, but I ignored her as I kept my eyes locked onto the man’s. My horse had come to a stop, since it had sensed something was off.

There looked to be two small children behind the woman who hid behind the man. He was broad shouldered, and had the look of a laborer. Yet even with his muscles, and solid body… he looked as terrified as the children who hid behind their parents. Their little eyes were wide, huge plates of worry and awe, as they stared at us from around their parents.

They were simple victims. There were no chains upon them. No marks or brands seared onto their skin. No obvious signs of disease, which I could see or smell. They were not a threat to me, those I guided, or the Society in any shape or form.

Just a simple family, trying to hide from the destruction that had just occurred nearby. They might have been hiding in that little crevice since their home had been razed.

Rather the only threat they could possibly provide… is if we got involved with them. Either by associating with those who might be infected, or if we got seen by their pursuers and became similar victims by helping them.

I made a clicking noise, to draw the horse away. Herra made sure to keep her horse at pace with my own, and we left the family behind.

The man breathed out a deep sigh of relief as we left them behind, and I wondered if them hiding here meant whatever group had done the ransacking and burning of that village had gone the other way. We were heading more west than south, so maybe they had gone east or north.

If so that meant they were rounding the lakes and rivers. Which wasn’t surprising, since the vast majority of the villages and towns in this area were all located on said rivers and lakes.

People needed water to survive, after all.

“Vim…” Renn groaned after a few minutes.

“Let it be Renn. They’re alive. Unharmed, by the looks of it too. They’ll be fine. Once they feel it’s safe they’ll return to their homes, gather supplies and leave. They don’t need help,” I said.

“I… I understand… but…” Renn tried to complain, and I kept myself from glancing over at her. Herra had ushered her horse a little, so we were now riding side by side. She did it often when Renn and I were talking. A kind act.

“Let it be. For many reasons. The main one, we don’t know for sure if they’re sick or not. You may be willing to risk yourself, or me, but Herra and her family are not as stout as we are. There are several members at Herra’s home that are already old and ill, do not threaten their lives anymore than necessary,” I said.

“Hmph.” Herra made a noise, but I ignored her.

“Right… sorry Herra, I hadn’t thought of that,” Renn said gently.

“Oh don’t mind me. I wouldn’t lose a moment of sleep if you got those idiots killed, Renn. But I’d rather not get sick, honestly. Vim wouldn’t let me return to Lumen if I got sick, and I really don’t want to be stuck at home for years because of it,” Herra said.

Glancing over at the two finally, I noted the wry smile on Renn’s face as Herra nodded at herself. “Stuck quarantined with your family. Quite an idea,” I teased.

Herra shivered, which made her horse tilt its head and huff. It hadn’t liked that.

Renn turned around, to look at those we had left behind. She frowned at them, and I wondered if they had hid away somewhere else. Another crevice, possibly.

“We could ask them about what happened,” Renn suggested.

Before I could say anything, Herra did. “If Vim says we should let them be, that’s what we should do Renn. He likely assessed them in those few moments, and decided against doing any of that. He knows what he’s doing.”

Turning a little, to look at the two women, I watched Renn tilt her head at Herra… though Herra obviously couldn’t see her do so, what with Renn sitting behind her. “I… understand. I was just offering an idea,” she said.

“A good one, under other circumstances. Though… I suppose you being the way you are is far better than the alternative. Now that I think about it, you being so gentle is actually a far better option, isn’t it Vim? Usually you predators are cold-hearted and ruthless,” Herra said as she thought about it.

Renn’s face contorted into an odd look of confusion and annoyance. She didn’t seem to like the topic Herra had stumbled upon.

“If I didn’t expect disease Renn… I might have at least talked to them for a moment. Or if I had been alone. But I’m your protector, not theirs,” I said, to keep the topic from straying too far into the territory that obviously seemed to bother Renn.

Herra nodded, agreeing with me. “Exactly. Did you see any disease on them, Vim? I didn’t,” Herra asked.

“No. But there are plagues that either don’t show well or take a long time to do so,” I said.

“Great. I need a bath,” Herra mumbled.

Sighing, I wondered if I should prepare some kind of mask for Renn. And Herra, if we didn’t drop her off at her home here in a few days.

I’d be fine… but Renn…

Another danger for her. Just by being at my side.

Wonderful.

“If something happens, we encounter people… go to a town, or we get separated, be mindful. Don’t eat or drink anything you don’t prepare yourselves. Don’t share utensils or cups and bowls, or clothes, from anyone. Don’t touch blood, for any reason, unless it’s your own. Just in case,” I warned the two.

“A good excuse to use on my family. Thank you Vim,” Herra smirked at me.

I ignored Herra and stared into Renn’s worried eyes. “Okay,” was all she said… but I could see she understood me.

She’d obey, at least to a degree.

Just great. Hopefully whatever was happening was only in this region, and not to the west where we’ll be going next.

“Vim, a horse,” Renn’s voice drew my eyes to my right. Sure enough off in the distance was a single horse. It was riding hard, and its rider looked focused. They were leaned forward a little, as if to better usher the horse.

They were headed past us, towards the village.

“News will spread,” I said.

“Oh for sure. The humans do not take kindly to their families and friends being burnt like that,” Herra said.

“Neither do we,” I reminded her.

She nodded in a way that told me she had forgotten we too were often burnt at the stake.

“Let’s go. Before I need to kill someone just because we were around when this happened,” I said, and ushered my horse into a faster trot.

“Right,” Herra agreed.

Heading not far from where the sun would be setting towards soon. I knew a few miles away was a large river. One we’d have to cross over, to reach Herra’s home.

We’d need to cross that river quickly less they’ll be able to track us by the horses’ prints. And I couldn’t allow that. If I found anyone following us, trailing us… tracking us…

I’d need to kill them all. Brutally. So that no one would follow after them.

Herra’s home was hidden, for good reason. And not just because of the wealth of gems beneath their beds.

Wars and plagues.

History loved repeating itself.

Hopefully this time I didn’t have to be the one to put an end to all the chaos. The only method I had, that was proven to be effective… was a similar method to what had caused that smoldering village behind us.

I only knew how to put a stop to such things violently. And half the time those methods didn’t work.

Glancing behind me, to make sure Herra and Renn were fine, I was glad to see they were doing fine. Renn was getting used to riding a horse, and Herra was adept enough to not be bothered by Renn’s swaying or movements.

Which meant I could pick up the pace a little more.

Doing so, I pushed the horse into a run. A light one, but it seemed happy to finally be allowed to break out into more than just a simple trot.

Keeping the horse in check, to keep it from going too fast, I guided those with me towards the river. The setting sun eventually started to blind us, but it was nothing to worry over. I knew this path well. Had traveled it hundreds of times. And thanks to the desolate landscape and the fact that the people who lived on this land were no longer nomadic… nothing had changed. Rocks and stacks of boulders that had been there hundreds of years ago, still remained. Untouched. And hopefully would for hundreds of years more.

We left the billowing smoke from the village behind… and continued on our journey.

Ever onward, even while the world around us burnt and fell apart.

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