“We have information that associates the Vedykar Lancers with a secret undead development project,” Haldin continued. “Initially their mission was to provide security, but it seems that they became subjects in some of the experiments. Regrettably, the project cut off communications with the Ministry shortly before the end of the War, despite our best efforts to locate them.”
“We also have a witness,” Tarrel interjected, “who saw necromantic experiments this renegade unit carried out on live prisoners from Thrane, in direct violation of the Articles of War.”
“So as you can see, Captain,” Haldin said, “it is of the utmost importance that we trace last night’s attackers and bring those responsible to justice—and on behalf of the Ministry, I can assure you of our full cooperation. I shall make it clear in my own report that the attack could not possibly have been foreseen, and that the fort’s garrison acted with great heroism in the face of enormous danger.”
The Captain of Corpses stopped pacing for a moment and cast a critical eye over Mordan and Tarrel.
“And these two?” he asked.
“They are independent consultants,” the gnome replied, “assisting the Ministry with the investigation. There is one other—a young lady, formerly of the army of Thrane—who is
“Ripping off heads and throwing horses to the ground?” said the Captain. “Yes, they mentioned her. They said she’s a vampire.”
“Quite so,” said Haldin. “A most unfortunate victim of illegal experimentation, as my associate from Breland pointed out. As you can appreciate, it is absolutely vital that these miscreants are found and brought to account—not only for their deeds here, but also in the interests of maintaining the peace between Karrnath and Thrane. This matter must be handled with great care or it could result in a serious international incident.”
The Captain thought about this for a while.
“I can’t spare any troops,” he said, “if that’s what you’re driving at.”
“Not at all, my dear Captain,” replied Haldin. “The Ministry would not dream of further draining your resources at this most unfortunate time. All we ask is to impose upon your hospitality for another day or two—perhaps less. With the help of your troops, my associates managed to capture one of last night’s attackers, and we wish to question him. We shall, of course, be happy to share all relevant information with you.”
“Are you sure you’re really a gnome?” Tarrel asked later. “I thought sharing information for nothing was against your principles.”
“Quite sure, my dear Tarrel,” Haldin chuckled. “Although I begin to wonder whether you are really a Medani inquisitive. Surely you noticed how I limited the offer to
“Without defining what is and isn’t relevant,” Tarrel said. “You’ll have to excuse me; I had a long night.”
They made their way across the courtyard, where burial details were taking away the bodies of the slain. Carts piled with the dead—attacker and defender alike—were being loaded onto carts drawn by skeletal horses. From the fort they went to the lightning rail station, where they were stacked like cordwood in covered, windowless carts painted black and bearing the insignia of the fort. Normally used for moving active zombies rather than corpses, they would convey the dead to Atur, along with a request for replacement zombies and bone knights.
Mordan saw two troopers picking up the body of his brother, and he wandered over to watch. Gali’s eyes were closed, and he looked almost peaceful. One arm hung over the edge of the cart, and Mordan folded it across his chest.
“Have you decided what you’ll tell your family yet?”
Mordan jumped. He hadn’t heard Tarrel approaching.
He shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “Have you decided what you’ll tell your client?”
“Why?” asked the Brelander. “So we can tell the same story? Don’t worry. My guess is, your government will want to keep this very quiet. It might be easiest to let the family go on thinking that he died in Cyre.”
Still looking at Gali’s body, Mordan made no reply.
Haldin came over to them. “I’d like to examine this one,” he said to the soldiers. They hesitated for a moment, and then unloaded Gali’s body from the cart. Following the gnome, they laid him on a bunk in the barracks. Dismissing the soldiers with a gesture, Haldin began to examine the body.
“Interesting,” he said. “Have you seen tattoos like these before?”
Mordan didn’t answer, but Tarrel pulled out the diagram he had taken from the workroom beneath the ruined fort. Haldin took it eagerly.
“Fascinating,” he said. “You found this in the Mournland, I take it?”
“That’s right,” said Tarrel. “There were a few works in progress, too. Brey said the spell-casting zombies that captured her were tattooed as well.”
“Ah,” said Haldin, “of course!”
Tarrel looked at him quizzically.
