Ride out to the next village

"You're right Colonel" You say with heavy heart "Our safety increases with each step between us and that monstrous place. Let's move; hopefully the next village isn't too far away." Taking a deep breath, you marshall your horse forward, along with Dilancia and Xandria, along the road, hoping for solace and fearing the worst. You steadily track the descent of the sun as you push forward, giving your steeds as little rest you have. You feel bad for pressing them this hard, but know that there's little choice at this point. Giving it more thought, you're glad to have this creature at your side; thinking just how far back you would still be if you all had to travel on foot.

There was scarcely more than an hour of sunlight left by the time you arrived at another settlement, and one you were very glad to come across. It was a larger town by far, meaning you could use numbers to help hide yourselves in. A wall of heavy, thick wooden trees had been put up around the perimeter, with guardposts. Also, even from a distance, you could see women and children, either tending to the farms outside or playing near their homes. This gives you a strong warm feeling inside, given that the other village you stopped in before never had any signs of either; just the haggard pale men that kidnapped you. With a last gallop, you make your way into the town, your companions following shortly behind you. You hear a shout behind you as you clear the gate, but don't stop until you reach a tavern, a large establishment by the looks of it, with a humorous title of The Inn and Out. A group of armed soldiers hurried to the three of you as you were hitching your tired horses to the covered stables. They all looked ready to attack, but relented on their first sight.

"Oh, Forgive us miladies, and friend" the leader of the group said. "Being two noble paladins as yourselves, you couldn't have been what we thought."

"We're far from noble blood" The Colonel corrected, but with a gentle smile "But we greatly appreciate the warm welcome. It's been some time since we've seen friendly faces."

"One can scarcely imagine the dangers you lot see on a daily basis. Where do you come from, if I may ask?"

"Letia, actually. We're trying to rescue a Phoenician ArchDeacon, and were grossly intercepted."

The soldiers turn to one another, nodding silently.

"It's a terrible shame. No doubt you were taken hostage by that dreadful Baroness. We've heard stories, but you are the first we've heard of being able to escape."

"What do you know about her?" The Colonel asks directly "It would seem that she's been in power for some time."

"Indeed. We've been one of the few settlements that has resisted her cruel and tyrannical rule. This will take time to explain. I'll send for the Captain of the Guard to join you. Please, go inside and make yourselves comfortable."

The soldiers leave in a hurry, giving you all a sense of calm. Xandria especially. "Well, I think this is working out about as well as can be hoped. Enemy of your enemy, and all that."

"It works out to our benefit, yes, but I'm afraid we may have made these people a target by harboring us." Dilancia responds.

"Always glad to have your optimistic spirit Colonel" he retorts with a smirk "You may be right, but it also sounds like this place was already a target. We can at least enjoy some food and a warm bed. That's a victory enough for all of us."

There was no argument on that account, now having gone days without food. No sooner do you find yourselves places to sit inside the Inn, are you visited by the Captain. An grizzled, haggared man with a long graying beard, a heavy build, and a black patch for his right eye. He took a seat next to you without question or comment, turning first to the owner.

"Jocha, let's get some hearty food for my new friends! They've been through the Ten Hells just go get here, they deserve to eat"

You don't hear a response, but see the lady in the back begin to scurry around preparing items. he Captain turns back to you.

"Not the most formal way to begin an introduction, but I'm sure the three of you must be starving, and from what I'm told, it's the least we could do."

"Thank you Very Much" You reply, getting words in before the Colonel for once "We weren't looking for any trouble."

"They never do. Baronness Milyna seems to delight in torturing and humiliating the innocent and the unsuspecting. There is no joy in that dreadful kingdom but hers."

"Was she always like this?" Xandria asked

The Captain nodded grimly "That vampiric touch upon her hasn't helped, clearly, but there's always been cruelty in that one. Have to be for her to take that curse by choice"

"You mean, this is something she wanted, but why?"

"Vanity, ****, the lure of eternal life, even a cursed one. She found that her husband had plotted to abandon her for a younger woman, after never being able to produce an heir. Noone knows how she became a vampire, but she readily admits the why."

Jocha comes in with three plates of food, full to the brim. Perfectly timed, as the desire to eat tempers your rage at this vampiric noblewoman. After beginning to stuff your face, you get a short jab from Dilancia's elbow, silent reminder to keep your decorum.

"We greatly appreciate the food Captain, and the information." She began "With some rest, we should be well on our way to continuing our mission."

"Yes, about that" The Captain grimaced, slowly working to his true motives "Something about a missing priest?"

"An old friend, who disappeared in the middle of the night, around the same time as this curious incursion of werewolves we've heard about."

"The Lycanthropes have been an unusual sight, but incredibly welcome."

"You want them here?"

"By the God's yes. We'd give them our entire livestocks if it would make them stay" The captain chuckled "They terrify the Baronness, and it's kept her ghouls at bay. They seem to know evil on sight. They can smell it, maybe. They've left us all alone, but they go after anyone belonging to that kingdom. If they could be reasoned with, I'd bet we could put together a **** to take that castle."

The captain leaned forward "Which is why I'm here, actually. Werewolves or no werewolves, as holy paladins and on your crusade to rid the world of evil, we need you."

You and Dilancia look at each other for a moment, unsure of how to answer "This isn't just a matter of purging evil. You're tasking us with leading a war" Dilancia speaks up.

"I am." He said unblinkingly "And a necessary one. With word of you staying here to lead us, the neighboring communities will rally behind you, but they won't without you."

The Captain stood up, and gave a slight bow "I know I'm asking much from the three of you. Please, take the night to think it over. In the meantime, please enjoy our hospitality."

The three of you remain quiet until he walks out, you and Dilancia take another long look each other and sigh, being in a difficult position.

Xandria spoke up first "This isn't my fight either way, and I'll follow the two of you no matter what."

"The Captain is right" Dilancia spoke up "We have an obligation to address this threat, more so than the cruelty in that prison."

"But what about the mission? What about Fearghus?"

"We were never certain that the ArchDeacon was still alive Demetria. If we're chasing werewolves along the way, that doesn't help our chances much."

It hurts you inside to hear that Dilancia doesn't have the same faith as you that he's still alive, but you recognize that there's some truth to it.

"But there's still a chance," You counter back "And how much less of a chance is there if we get bogged down in this? We could be engaged in this fight a very long time."

"And how many more people will have suffer from that monster if we wait until our mission is complete before we help? Or if we do nothing at all?"

There is a slight pause, with nothing said, as Dilancia speaks up again. "You are a paladin of the Knights of the Sacred Flame, Demetria, and I am your mentor in this order. But, this is your mission, we are all out here because of you. We got this far because of you. So, I abdicate my choice as well. I have said my peace, and leave you to make the decision by the morning."

"You put a lot of trust in me, both of you, and I appreciate that. I'm still unsure of what to do, but I would at least like to have full belly and a long night's rest before making a decision."

"Of course, and we can talk more about that as we go to sleep, if you'd like."

The conversation finished, the three of you continue to eat quietly. With what is behind you and still in front of you, there isn't much to talk about.