Well, there were multiple kingdoms with an undead problem, or who had used the power of the unliving, sometimes to great benefit like Khelt in Chandrar. But Terandria, the northern Human continent, was notoriously not at home with the undead. They had suffered the Necromancer, Az’kerash’s century-long crusade against the living.

But Noelictus had always been…like this. Death magic ran through the earth and sky. Where a corpse might reanimate in days, or even weeks left unburied—in Noelictus, it took minutes. An hour at most.

Few people knew why that was. To most, it was just a curse, a function of geography—after all, the undead rose from bodies not attended to the world over.

But few knew that Noelictus had…encouraged the phenomenon, if only as a side effect. They had interred their dead under the grounds of their lands for countless generations. As a result, the magic collected by the dead permeated the land. It meant bountiful harvests.

And dark skies. By the time Lord Lantal of Afiele returned home, it was already dusk. A phenomenon that dismayed the [Princess], Seraphel of Calanfer.

“Does it always grow dark so quickly?”

They were riding through the gates of the only town in Afiele, and home of the noble family who owned the region. Seraphel saw reasonably high wood walls; nothing fancy, but very sensible against monster attacks. Not all of Calanfer’s towns had them, in fact. Only ones near the border or wilder areas.

Everywhere in Noelictus has walls, of course. Seraphel saw the guards at the gate calling out greetings to Lord Lantal and the group of Afiele’s people—and staring at the golden, battered Thronebearers and the carriage. The [Princess] saw the [Lord] calling back to them, smiling, at his ease.

His wife replied as the gates closed behind them.

“This is the fall, Your Highness. We have three hours. In the winter—two.”

Lady Risel rode next to Seraphel’s repaired carriage with the small guard, nearly half of the retainers of Afiele’s [Lord] and [Lady].

“Six hours of daylight at most? In Calanfer, it can be nineteen hours on the solstice…”

The [Princess] couldn’t contain her dismay. Lantal heard that as he came riding back to join them. The

[Lord] ducked his head.

“It is a function of our nation, Your Highness. Death magic runs strongly here. Hence our insistence. I apologize again—”

He was bowing to Ser Dalius. The [Knight] bowed stiffly, and Seraphel waved a hand, although her face was pale.

“One does what one must, Lord Lantal. I quite understand the—the necessity. We are on Noelictus’

lands, and so long as the dead are transported to Calanfer…”

“We shall arrange it, of course, milady.”