By midday, the crosses above Haugstad shone with their usual radiance, as three steam trucks were winding their way along the dirt road, their wheels raising dust that mingled with the settling ash.
When the trucks finally stopped at what had been the village gates, about twenty soldiers emerged, their uniforms bearing the insignia of the Divinium Kingdom's brigade. The soldiers' faces were grim. They'd already witnessed similar attacks in the past.
"Form up," the brigade commander called out. His eyes swept across the blackened ruins where homes had stood just hours before. "Search for survivors, though the Creators know I've never found any from previous attacks."
The commander turned to his lieutenant, "Third village within the bounds of Jamtara and Reitag. Each one struck without warning, each one burned to ash." He ran a hand across his face. "If they're trying to strangle the cities by cutting off village trade, they're doing a damned fine job of it. We simply don't have enough men to protect every settlement."
His eyes traced the path of destruction. "The federation ministry needs to act. The member countries of Rohana must unite their forces, even if it means emptying their adventurer guilds."
"Sir," his lieutenant's voice was carefully neutral. "Should we check for their signature?"
"Go check by the entrance. It is probably there." The commander's jaw tightened. "Let's see if they mock us with the same signature."
The commander and his lieutenant approached what remained of Haugstad's gates. The ground before them bore a pattern carved into the earth itself. It was their calling card.
"May the Creators cast them into the deepest reaches of the Abyss," the commander spat, his professional demeanor cracking as he stared at the marking. "Let their souls wander the void for eternity."
His lieutenant studied the carved symbol. "Perhaps the Abyss is exactly where they want to go, sir. These aren't common brigands we're hunting. Each attack bears the same mark, each village the same fate."
"What does the Church say about this... thing they're carving?"
"The clergy remains silent on its nature. But reports show the same face appearing across kingdom borders for cycles now. Though these are attacks are the only indicators of violence from these actors."
The search parties began returning within the hour. Two soldiers supported an elderly man between them, his legs barely able to hold him. Behind them came another pair escorting a woman who stared straight ahead, as though seeing something far beyond the ruined village. When they reached the commander, the old man collapsed to his knees.
"My son," he choked out. "My daughter-in-law... the children. Please..." His hands clutched at the commander's uniform. "Tell me someone else survived. Anyone."
The commander's face darkened, but he chose to say nothing. Then turning to one of the soldiers, he asked quietly, "Report on the sweep?"
The soldier shifted uncomfortably. "Sir, we found burial sites. Recently dug, the ashes still warm. But there are drag marks and blood across the path to the road. Some of the villagers may have been taken."
The commander's expression sombered. "Past aftermaths suggests they'll be sold to the darker corners of the federation, or worse." He caught himself, remembering that the old man is still there. "But we'll keep on searching."
"Please," the elderly man's voice cracked. "My family might still be among them. Still alive somewhere..."
The commander knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We've dispatched riders to track any large group movements. If they've taken prisoners, we'll find their trail." Then he ordered that the man is to be taken to the truck.
The commander now turned his attention to the woman.
Turning to the woman, he asked, "And you? What can you tell us of the attack?"
"Forgive me, my lord," she said, fingers twisting in her skirt. "When I heard the screams, when I saw the flames consuming the front houses, I... I ran. Through the fields, into the forest." She swallowed hard. "I heard some movement in the forest later. I think there was a man that was captured, as I heard someone yelling they found him, but I was too scared to look over. The only thing I could see as they were leaving were their dark shapes."
"Anything else," the commander pressed. "Numbers, voices—anything."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I truly don't know any more."
"Take her to the truck as well," he ordered, frustration evident in his tone.
The soldiers continued their search, horns echoing across the fields as they called for survivors. From the mill, Heron heard their shouts but huddled deeper into his hiding place. After what he'd witnessed, every voice could belong to the attackers.
Footsteps creaked on the boards above him.
"By the Creators and Kingdom of Divinium, if anyone's here, you're safe now," a soldier called out. "You have my word."
Heron's mind raced. Should I trust them? Are they truly from the kingdom?
When the footsteps retreated, Heron made his decision. He hid both of the pouches deeper into the hay. Then, carefully, he pushed open the trapdoor and crept toward the door, but as he reached it—
"Who's there?" A different soldier appeared suddenly before him.
The last thing Heron saw was the kingdom's insignia on the man's uniform before he passed out again as fear took over.
"Sir!" The soldier's call carried across the ruined village. "We found another survivor. It's a boy!"
Through the settling ash came the soldier, carrying Heron's limp form. Dirt streaked his face, and his clothes smelled of smoke and hay.
"Found him in the mill," the soldier reported.
The commander studied the boy's unconscious face. "Get him into the ambulance truck," he ordered. "Have the medic look him over." Turning to his gathered men, he raised his voice. "We move out in ten minutes. Whatever demons walked these grounds last night, they're long gone. All we can do now is take care of those who survived."
As the steam trucks rumbled their mechanical whine, they carried survivors away from the ruins. And it will take six star-cycles before Heron steps foot among those ruins again.