“At least it doesn’t look like anyone died from this horde. I was afraid there would be the entire herd of deer—they might have battered down a house in the night.”

Lantal shuddered. That would have been a disaster. He checked the sky.

“We can be back in an hour if all’s well. Just in time for Culin and Sasi to wake up. You’ll all be tasked with guarding them.”

The guards of House Afiele groaned. Guarding the two cooped-up children was harder than killing undead bears. Neither child was happy. The gloomy skies of Afiele grated on the mind, and the two wanted to be in the capital. Risel was from there, and they preferred the indoor magical lights, the entertainments—all the things Afiele lacked.

Lantal didn’t blame them. He just wished he could afford it. But if he wasn’t compensated, Seraphel’s visit would end up wiping out their stretched finances…

The [Lord] was resting next to his horse, wondering if he would have to reduce pay and increase taxes, when he saw Landsmecht coming to life. Villagers, hearing the undead were dead, were coming out into the fields. A group, bearing wood for a pyre, were headed towards him.

It reassured the [Lord] to see that the villagers weren’t afraid. They were clearly sleep-deprived; few people could sleep with the undead banging on their walls. But he had seen villages too afraid to leave their homes for a day after an undead horde. Landsmecht didn’t even have stone walls like some villages.

Yet their spirits seemed high. One of them—a [Blacksmith] carrying wood logs in each arm—bowed to Lantal.

“Lord Afiele? We humbly thank you for riding to our aid.”

Lantal vaguely recognized the man.

“Idelt, isn’t it?”

The man looked pleased to be recognized. He bowed as the corners of his mouth moved up.

“Yes, sire.”

“I’m glad none of Landsmecht’s people were harmed by the undead. Rest assured, we’ll hunt down any more zombies if they’re out there.”

The [Blacksmith] made to reply, then coughed and cleared his throat. His voice was raspy—had he been shouting all night? Screaming? Lantal didn’t think Idelt would, but perhaps he’d been talking. It was hard to withstand an undead walking around your doors.

Lantal lived in the keep, but he had experienced that more than…what, a hundred times over his life?

You never forgot the first time. Or finding someone who had been careless or whose doors or windows had failed to protect them.

Still, Idelt seemed in good spirits.

“No more undead we think, Lord Afiele. Our [Hunter], Rethis, downed three in the night.”

“Did he? I should offer him a small prize for his efforts.”