4.01 - Crimson Wash

Anneleigh blinked and looked around before realizing where she had been transported.  Grateful she did not have to reveal her secret to Gwyddon, she looked up the road to the inn, the thought of a decent sleep in her mind.  Instead she saw Marshal Oakheart coming to her side.

“The shadows are falling away.  The unnatural darkness is lifting.  If I had to guess I’d say you had something to do with it.”  Oakheart said with a smile, something she had never seen him do.

Anneleigh nodded.  “The hag is dead and Gloamwood’s curse is over.”

Oakheart blinked a few times but continued to smile.  “Just like that?  Just like that, it’s over?” He asked.

Anneleigh nodded again and smiled.   “The Hag is dead.” Anneleigh said again.

“You did a good job, a good thing!” Oakheart said, putting his arm around her shoulder in a joyful hug, but Anneleigh squirmed out from under his praise.

“It was Gwyddon.  I did nothing.   I was unconscious.  If you want to praise anyone, it’s Gwyddon who deserves your accolades.”

Oakheart removed his arm and looked around Anneleigh as if expecting to see Gwyddon standing behind her.  “Where is he now?”

“With the Messenger of the Vigil.” Anneleigh said matter of fact without any further clarification.  If Gwyddon wanted to elaborate further when he returned, he could.  Until then, it was not her place to say.

Still smiling, but raising one eyebrow, Oakheart stuck out his hand to shake Anneleigh’s.  “In any case, the people of Gloamwood Pines thank you.  You should really go tell the mayor before settling in.  I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

Anneleigh frowned as she walked past the inn, its lights turned down, and its patrons already asleep for the evening.  Once more she climbed the winding pathway to the treetop office of the mayor.  She knocked on the door but did not wait to be asked inside.

“The Hag is dead.”  She said simply.

His reaction was similar to Oakheart’s.  Eyes wide, mouth open in a smile.   “I should have known.  It feels as if a weight has been lifted from our shoulders.  The people of Gloamwood are in your debt, and the name of Anneleigh shall not be forgotten.”  Anneleigh tried to interrupt, to tell him he should be thanking Gwyddon, but Mayor Dragomir continued without pause.  “We can finally start rebuilding our lives here in Gloamwood.” He said with a cheer, then frowned and paced the room.  “Anneleigh, I have no doubt that there will be those who seek to exploit our wood now that the threat of the Hag is no more.  I could certainly use someone like you on my council in the days to come.  What do you say?”

Anneleigh was taken aback.  She did not expect a job offer.  Another fireworks display or a hearty handshake, but not this.  She shook her head and made to leave.

“Waite!”  Dragomir called.  “Your heroic deeds deserve praise, Anneleigh.  Please take this Gloam Bell and ring it from my balcony here on the top of the Barrel Vault Tree.  Let the citizens of Gloamwood Pines know that their curse has been lifted and that you are to thank.”

“I didn’t.....” She began to say, but he shoved the bell into her hands and propelled her onto the balcony.  She rang the bell once and re-entered the office.  “Really, I didn’t do anything.”

“Tut tut,” He said, confusing her meaning, “No need to be modest.  You deserve to rest after your recent trials,” Anneleigh smiled at this and turned to leave again, but he continued, "but as they say, a hero’s duty is never done.”

Anneleigh sighed and slumped down into the chair against the wall, waving her hand, motioning for him to continue.  “The Messenger told me as much.”

“I just received word from Scarlet Gorge that the Guardians there are under assault by the Endless Court.  I know that no hero can stand by when people are in trouble.”

“What do you mean assault?”  Anneleigh asked.

“That’s the entire missive.  Perhaps the knowledge you have gained here in Gloamwood can help in their defense. “

Anneleigh sighed and stood to leave.  I’ll head there straight away – in the morning.” Anneleigh said with what she hoped was a note of finality.  She left the office, stumbled down the ramp and all but fell into bed in the inn.   Her dreams were troubled with images of skeletal miners, wide open skies and dusty clay pillars.  She tossed and turned most of the night.

The next day she was awoken by the smell of fried bacon and slightly burnt toast, but was surprised to find she had slept half the day.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day sweetie, even if you did sleep ‘till three.”  The barmaid said with a smile.

Anneleigh jumped out of bed.  “Is it really that late?”

The barmaid nodded and smiled.  “I didn’t want to wake you.  You were calling out in your sleep, made the bedclothes into terrible knots.  I thought it best to let you sleep.  Here dear.” She handed her the breakfast tray.  “Eat this, and then I’ll suppose you’ll be on your way.  I’ve prepared a bag for you of food.  Now, leave gloamwood by the path that travels by the Mathosian Mill, you know where that is, don’t you sweetie.  Take the path downwards; it’ll slope down and to the left.  At the end there is a lift.  Down the lift, across the river and you’ve found yourself in Crimson Wash.”

Anneleigh tried to follow the directions but was overwhelmed by the smell of the bacon and the taste of the fresh juice.

Scarlet Gorge looked errily similar to her dreams the night before.  Anneleigh wondered if the Vigil had specifically placed those images, or if the mere mention of the place brought on images from the vision they had given her during her time away from Telara.  Without too much trouble she found her way to Crimson Wash.  The bright sunlight of Scarlet Gorge stung her eyes after so many days in Gloamwood, her pale skin looked unnaturally pale in among all the darkly tanned villagers.

“Anneleigh, thank the Vigil you’ve arrived!”  Said the General when she approached.  “Sir Gred Armex, pleased to be acquainted.”  He shook her hand and quickly continued.  “The Endless Court has already killed most of the people in Scarlet Gorge in their quest for sourcestone.” 

Anneleigh nodded and one of the priestesses continued.  “The cultists of Regulos have murdered the people of Stonecrest with their foul poisons.  Now, they desecrate their bodies by using them as undead laborers to mine sourcestone.”

“We must stop them, else they’ll be one step closer to setting Regulos loose upon Telara.”  Sir Armex finished.

“Then we have no time to lose.  Tell me, what should I do?”