The manhunt 2

But when hunger turned into greed and greed turned into megalomania, they became presumptuous where they had been careful and wicked before, wishing to challenge and test their skills on the finest of the Ashlandic fighters. They carried out robberies more openly, some even ventured into circumjacent villages, yet Persilaus and other magistrates abstained, an action that caused great wonder in the assembly at that time. Only when the bandits interfered with the Inaeids and killed one of their pupils during his surmounting the Forest of Trials did the assembly of Ashrain decide to eradicate them and declared one of their top officials as leader of the chase. Thus Persilaus of Creteia refrained from avenging his countryman and chose to band together with Crod’s Lot.

A crime such as this was heavy and it would have to be punished by death, however, it did not explain the involvement of the priestesses.

Homage paid and spirits collected, they descended the northern slope where the temple of Sevara was crowning the proliferating Forest of Trials. As the evening glare varnished the fire spruces, which overgrew the hang to both sides, Daria sent out two of her to look out for a sheltered place. It didn’t take long for them to return and report on possible hiding places both in the north west and north east. Daria decided for the latter.

Once the hill was a mere bump in the horizon, the terrain they passed became scruffier and drier with more rocks than weeds. Hatched out the bleak plain, there was a small cave, too small to fit all of them, but it was their best shot at remaining unseen and so they built up camp in between the rocks of a jet black while others lit a fire.

It was little to no surprise that Varion was ordered to sleep outside while also being scheduled to take up the middle watch and tend to their dinner. He did it all with quiet resolution and served the priestesses first when they had settled.

Around the campfire they enjoyed herbal stew with mushrooms, sausage and onions while the High Priestess urged them to attain a poise between frenzy and focus, where they would still be able to strike like wolves and think like women.

“Remember. We are not fighting some poor peasant or valiant villager, who has decided a life on the exploits of others is more convenient. This is not just a free citizen of Ashrain but an officer of the Inaeids.”

“How did you even get permission to chase someone like that, Daria?” asked the grave priestess. She was right, admitted Varion. Citizens of Ashrain enjoyed superb status in the Ashlands. Where regulars could be struck down for pretense––Varion should know––a statesman could not be charged until after a fair trial before a court that treated each citizen as equal, regardless the purity of breeding. But this assignment was not waged to retrieve an outlaw and bring them in front of the court, for the verdict had already fallen. The question that remained was how a well-respected officer had lost his entire authority.