Starday, Pharast 1

The surviving members of the Black Arrows created crude funeral pyres and Takkad said his words. Then we lit the flames and watched as the fire consumed it all: the obscene house burned to the ground, and the bodies of those slain were reduced to ashes. The smoke was, I am sure, visible for many miles but miraculously we did not attract any unwanted attention. And that was that.

What came next was less pleasant, and in many ways more distasteful. That Kaven would willingly and so eagerly turn on his own, knowing the fate that lay ahead, left me in a bitter mood. There are those in our party who believe he may have been influenced by magic, in the same way that Trask had been, but what I saw was just a young man with no moral compass and a desire to live a life where riches are given and not earned. There is an obsession that comes with the influence of magic, and it is something that I have seen enough of to recognize, but what is most telling is the change in a man’s character. In Kaven I saw no such thing. Magic was not necessary to get him to betray those who put their trust in him.

That Jakardos did not see the connection between Kaven’s convenient excuses and delays and the attack on the fort is not surprising. Who among us would look at one of our own? Who would suspect a traitor? He is fortunate that we were here, not just to aid in their rescue but to also provide an objective eye.

Soon we travel to Fort Rannick, which we hope to retake form the ogres that invaded many weeks ago. While I am sure it will be dangerous, possibly even deadly, I am actually looking forward to the simplicity of battle. We know what side we are on, and what side they are on, and that is all there is to it. This will be a welcome change.