Seraphel was horrified. Even Lady Risel was surprised. She had never heard this tale. Lantal shook his head.

“No. And yes. The Tombwarden was the guardian of the crypts. The counterpart to the living. He would keep the crypt. I suppose he was a ghost. And when need came, he would fight for Afiele. That—must have been Ser Dalius.”

“But he thought the Tombwarden was gone.”

Cara argued. Dalius had been certain of that. Lantal shook his head tiredly.

“Perhaps he forgot. Miss Cara, the last time the tombs were open was four thousand years ago. Your

[Knight] friend—he thought it had only been three hundred years?”

“Yes. He…he was desperate. He said he’d never seen any ghosts.”

“Then he forgot. The legend has it that a [Lord] may call for aid and break the seal. But it seems that the only product of that is this.”

Lantal felt sick. He stood straighter.

“Grishen. You’re right. We have to fortify the keep. Princess Seraphel—any aid Calanfer can send would be appreciated.”

“My father is far away. But I am sure he will do what he can. And we will stand here, with Afiele.”

Dalimont opened his mouth to protest. Seraphel looked at him.

“With Afiele, Dalimont. I very much doubt we would survive an exodus if we tried to flee and ran into the undead, anyways.”

The Thronebearer closed his mouth and bowed. Cara looked around.

“What about me?”

“By rights, we should put you to death.”

Grishen reached for her mace’s handle. She relented at Risel’s horrified look.

“Oh, very well. Do with you? If it was an ‘accident,’ we’ll sort you out later. Just get out of our sight and don’t try to run. We don’t need any more bodies besieging us.”

She dismissed Cara with a wave. The [Singer] found herself exiled from the room. She stood there, helpless, as the nobility conferred.

Afiele was full to the brim with its people, but the harvest had enough food for at least a week or two if stretched. The walls were short…but people were digging outside the walls to form a moat. They were creating palisades, arming themselves. Getting ready for a siege. Cara didn’t know what to do.

Violetta avoided her like the plague. Idelt as well. Word had spread after Cara had demanded to be taken to Lord Lantal. And frankly, there was too much to do.

Word kept coming in. The Hunter’s Guild was sending its standing forces. Menorome had two forces on the march and was moving their entire army towards Afiele. The Twins of Ovela had abandoned their fighting and were marching on Afiele.

Too late. The undead arrived by midday.

——