Adder motioned for everyone to get closer as he gave out his instructions on how to investigate this village.
"Since Sharanga has been here, she will go into the village together with Thyrsus. I think six hours should be enough time for you two to look around, while Jinggu and I will check out the surrounding area."
Sharanga and Thyrsus nodded and prepared themselves to go into Poludnie. They called for their falcons and asked them to stay perched on their shoulders.
On their way to the village entrance they spotted two Human Cavalry Knights on top of dirus wolves from behind them. The Knights were also headed to the village.
"Good day, travelers. We've just returned from our patrol and my friend here pointed out that it's weird we didn't see you on our way out. He seems to think that you might be bandits. If you don't mind can you tell us where you two came from?"
Thyrsus answered posthaste.
"Oh, that must have been because we were still sleeping inside our tents."
The second Cavalry Knight spoke up.
"Tent? I didn't see any tents on our way out to patrol."
Sharanga unwittingly followed Thyrsus' lead.
"Did you check the forest fragment about two kilometers southeast of here? We built our tents inside the forest. I guess it's just my WoodElf nature. Also our falcons have taken a liking to us sleeping in an area where there is an abundance of trees. Although, my friend Thyrsus has been complaining about it, saying it's dangerous. I didn't think it would cause any trouble to you, kind sirs."
The young huntress gave a long winded answer. She was unsure whether she had convinced them or not.
The Cavalry Knight's dirus wolf started to sniff them. Their falcons instinctively flew away as the massive beast's breath drew near.
"Hmm, you WoodElves have a very strange sleeping preference. You should know that it's much safer to sleep in the plains right? Can I have your names and your place of origin? Also state your business in Poludnie?"
Sharanga dragged on to entertain the Cavalry Knight's questions.
"Wow, when did this place become so strict?"
The Cavalry Knight questioningly looked at Sharanga.
"That's all thanks to those no good Brandal bandits. What? You haven't heard of the Brandal bandits? I guess, that's understandable. They did arrive only three months ago."
"So that's the reason why the Cavalry Knights are out here patrolling the village?"
"Yes, Duke Burmistrz ordered us to protect the villages outside the walls of Coatl. But before anything else, you forgot to mention your place of origin and the purpose of your visit to Poludnie."
"Right, we came from Coatl. We're here on a quest to look for the manjur recurve bow."
"Ha! Good luck with that. We've heard of that story as well. I don't think you will find any lead here. But you're welcome to try."
This time it was Thyrsus who added on his own musings.
"Thank you. About these bandits, it was very thoughtful of the Duke to send you guys here, considering how costly it is to send out a detachment let alone, Cavalry Knights."
"My lord Duke Burmistrz is truly generous. I'm very honored to serve such a righteous man."
A few seconds passed as the Cavalry Knights continued to stare down at Thyrsus and Sharanga.
"Umm, can we proceed to Poludnie now?"
"Of course, of course. Go right ahead. Remember to keep your falcons leashed within the village."
The Hunters nodded and called for their falcons to return. As they walked a couple of steps, they distinctly heard the laughter of the Cavalry Knights. Both of them wondered what made the Cavalry Knights laugh.
Poludnie was a craftsman village. The total land area of the village was about thirteen acres. The residential area was at four acres, while the rest were for the shops and business of Poludnie. Its total population was only 537.
The majority of the people that lived in the village were Humans at 78%, WoodElves at 11%, Lioumereans at 5%, Dwarves were at 4%, and Gnomes at 2%. The village only had two main gates and a high wall that encased the whole village.
Sharanga let out a whistle as she observed the changes in the village.
"Looks like those bandits really did a number on this village. The walls weren't this tall when I came here before."
"I wonder if Adder and Jinggu ran into any of the patrolling Cavalry Knights."
"I hope not. Those two might kill the Cavalry Knights just because they looked at them funny."
After they searched the entire village, both Thyrsus and Sharanga reached the same conclusion. This wasn't the village that they were after.
There was a large white building, but the residents there said that it was used by the Cavalry Knights as their sleeping quarters and stable.
The two Hunters decided to head out and report their findings to their commander. It was almost night time when they arrived.
Adder and Jinggu stayed hidden inside the forest. When they finally saw the Hunters, they went out of their hiding place and greeted them.
Jinggu had made a camouflaged shelter, he used the vines and the branches in the forest. Inside they had grilled some aromatic blood pheasants.
Their one armed commander looked up as they got closer.
"How was it? Did you find the mausoleum?"
Thyrsus was the first one to answer Adder's question.
"Sorry, it wasn't there. Although, there was a large building, but it was in the center of the village. If Mitleid did pass there, he would have caused a large commotion, but he said he was able to escape quietly."
Sharanga added her findings of the village.
"I'd just like to point out that the residents of the village felt weird. They had tired eyes, and the way they looked at the Cavalry Knights... it's almost like they were wary of them."
Adder let out a deep breath.
"Thank you both. I guess this means we proceed to Nisko. I'll call Sierra and give her our updates about this village."
While Adder spoke with Sierra, Jinggu quietly asked Thyrsus and Sharanga.
"Did you guys see any OrkElves in that village?"
Sharanga sadly looked at the OrkElf and answered his question.
"Sorry, no OrkElf. I know Madam Dawny said that she saw an OrkElf traveling between the villages but she did say that it was years ago and she wasn't a hundred percent sure it was an OrkElf."
Jinggu looked depressed when he heard Sharanga, but he forced a smile as he looked at his friends.
"I know, but I can't give up. I'm sure someday we will find other OrkElves."
Adder had just finished his conversation with Sierra.
"Okay, Sierra told me that they were also done with Salah and they found nothing there that fits the description of the exit. Let's take a quick meal break before we head out."
Sharanga and Thyrsus prepared the meals for their pets. They gave the chopped blood pheasant's meat to their respective falcons Thyr and Ranga.
While they ate Jinggu spoke his mind about something that had bothered him for some time.
"Adder, I know that you respect Smoke and that you respect his decision of putting Sierra in charge after him, but don't you think that decision is wrong? You were the first member of his private army. Heck, you even gave up a limb for him."
"What's wrong with Smoke's decision? Isn't Sierra stronger than me? She has greater life and defense, and I'm sure if she was there in that murlock's hidden cave we would definitely have won against them. Smoke did still give me the title commander. I don't have any problem at all. Believe me when I say, I feel nothing but respect for Sierra. Her bravery and her thirst for battle reminds me of my wife, Maxine."
Adder stared quietly into the camp fire as he took a bite out of his grilled blood pheasant. While he remembered the abruptly taken life of his beloved, it left a bitter aftertaste...
* * * * * *
Vijaya and Ichaival came back from Salah. It used to be a busy trading village, with a land area of eight acres. Its shops catered to almost all kinds of jobs. The owners were happy with their earned one percent out of their sold items.
Sadly, the Brandals laid waste to the village. It was now a rundown version of its former self. The population of 682 was reduced to 91.
The prominent shops were burnt to the ground. Only the burnt wooden beams were left. Most of Salah's residents migrated to Coatl or other nearby villages with a better financial and security situation.
Vijaya and Ichaival sat down before Sierra and Sharur who waited for them besides their campfire.
Sierra intentively watched Sharur prepare a blood pheasant. She asked each specific procedure and the exact amount of ingredient that he used.
"And what do you use next?"
"Next, we sprinkle some salt, black pepper, and paprika. Then we brush the melted butter over the pheasant meat and put it on the grill."
"And how long should we grill it?"
"It depends on your preference if you want it a bit raw, twenty minutes should be fine. Normally, it takes about thirty minutes for a well cooked pheasant."
Vijaya and Ichaival laughed at the sight of an OrkElf teaching a Werebear how to cook. It's not everyday that you see such a rare event.
Sierra looked up as she heard laughter.
"What's so funny?"
With no delay, Vijaya and Ichaival straightened their faces. The female WoodElf was the first one to defend their laughter.
"Sorry, we didn't mean anything by that. Its just the two of you look really menacing, and here you are cooking. It's just something you wouldn't expect to see."
Sierra and Sharur exchange glances and looked around their campfire area. It was true that they looked like they were on some kind of cooking show rather than on a mission. All four of them laughed as they realized how ridiculous the scene must look like.
The red Werebear tried to hold her chuckle in and spoke in a serious voice.
"Wait, wait. Let's get back to the real reason why we're here. Give us your findings on Salah."
Ichaival gave their report about the village.
"Right, we didn't find any mausoleum, let alone a white building. Aside from that, I'd also like to inform you of the changes in the village. It has been reduced to almost 14% of its former population. There are barely any goods inside that village. All they have left are food and other basic necessities. Also, the shop that offered the special treatment for my hair closed."
"Why? What happened?"
"It looks like some bandit group called the Brandal ransacked the village. Most shops were pillaged, establishments burnt to the ground. Looks like Sharanga will really get mad at me. I've once again failed to get the hair color she wanted."
Vijaya shoved Ichaival because he strayed out of the correct report. Sierra didn't mind Ichaival's comments about Sharanga. She knew he really loved her. He just had a weird way of showing it.
"Weren't there any of the patrolling Cavalry Knights guarding Salah?"
Vijaya answered in a dejected voice.
"One of the elders told us that, there used to be Cavalry Knights defending them. Back when they could still pay for the patrol tax that the Duke imposed. Unfortunately, the trade industry in the last few months were not so great. They eventually ran out of money to pay the patrol tax. Immediately, the Cavalry Knights left."
Ichaival finished their report and said.
"I think that the Brandals were keeping tabs on the village. Because the day the Cavalry Knights stopped protecting the village was the same day that the Brandals came and stole every precious thing in Salah."
"Hmm. I just finished talking with Adder earlier. He said that Poludnie had become much stricter because of the presence of the Cavalry Knights. Both of these villages have undergone major changes. We better watch out for these Brandal bandits."
Sierra and her group ate their barbecued blood pheasants when Smoke called them. She got up and got some distance away from the group to have a private conversation with him.
"..."
"Smoke! You better be joking, Don't forget that I have most of your private army here with me."
"I'm joking, I'm joking. Jeez, anyway you better take care and make sure to keep everyone safe and intact. I don't want to have one of my men having a missing limb."
"You don't have to worry about that, I'm better than you remember? How could you have let Adder lose his arm in the first place? Tsk tsk tsk."
