B4 – Chapter 28: An ounce of prevention

Tristan headed through the streets to the west, while Eloise headed north, and Felicity back south. They kept in touch using the communication spells stored in their artificed items, and after a few hours, were able to track down the base of operations for the Alphinaud military. Surprisingly, the location was not unique in any way from the surrounding buildings, and Felicity only stumbled upon it because she saw something shiny in the window, had broken the glass, and saw tons of maps of the Demon Realm with markers that denoted military forces.

As they met in front, Tristan theorized. “It seems like a reasonable countermeasure to infiltration. Make all the important buildings look just like the rest.”

“It would make spying tricky,” Felicity quipped as she flew back through the now-shattered window and unlocked the door from inside. She pushed it open and then fluttered back up to Tristan’s head.

Tristan went inside and scanned the space. A two-story building, that was thirty feet wide and fifty feet deep, with a door leading further back, and a set of stairs ascending to the next level near the back door. The entire room was dominated by tables, all of which showed various maps of the Demon Realm: a full-view map, close-up maps of different regions, some with tacks or stone, carved pieces that presumably represented military forces.

Eloise walked to one of the largest tables and stood, studying it. As she stayed put, Felicity scanned the room. “Looks like they don’t have anything else except those.” She pointed with her tail to a row of silver figurines that were on a shelf alongside dozens of stone effigies. “That’s what caught my eye at first.”

Tristan walked over and examined the pieces, finding them to be uniformly carved and even had small, etched words on the bottom that said the unit they represented. Cavalry, archers, desert wardens, he thought as he mentally read off the different units. And the silver ones look like commanders.

Those were labeled with names, and each piece was slightly different from the others. Seems like there were ten in total. None of them were in the field, though. He looked back at the maps to confirm that none of the silver pieces were set out. Which means that they aren’t out and about. A thought crossed his mind. “Eloise.”

“Hmm?” she looked at him.

“There’s forces outside the Alphinaud borders if these pieces are anything to go by.”

She frowned and scanned the maps across the room. “You’re correct, if they were updated recently.” She pointed to several pieces on the largest map that provided for a whole overview of the Demon Realm. “These ones are marked as “general”, so I would assume that means just an indicator of the units being in that location.” She then moved to one of the other maps that focused on a region of the realm. “As I thought. These ones are labeled by unit type.”

“We could be expecting them to return,” Tristan replied.

Felicity frowned and her paw-claw biscuits ceased. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“What happens when they come back and don’t find their Demon Lord? A ruined city?” Tristan asked.

Eloise sighed. “They won’t form their own Demon House. If anything, they’ll scavenge, then abandon. Head to another House’s territory and pledge service.” She shook her head. “Looks like we will not be able to bring them on board with our plans.”

Tristan reached a hand up and poked Felicity’s side. “Mind flying over the town and keeping a watch for anyone coming?”

“On it!” She turned invisible and flew through the open door.

Eloise pointed to the stairs, “You go up, I’ll check the back.”

Tristan did as she asked and went up the stone steps. The upper floor was split up into officer’s quarters, and he went through each of them. All were identical in layout, with a small bookshelf that contained more personal items. Scanning different books, he found one that looked like a diary of recent events. He skipped past the minutiae and to the portions that were relevant.

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5^th of Winds Season

Some of the patrols came back and were very haggard. The commanders think some new camp disease is going around. Quarantine was ordered, and they are outside the city walls in tents.

…

12^th of Winds Season

The quarantine failed, and something is spreading through the city. White sores appear, and it is quite frankly, terrifying. Stramal has ordered that the whole city go into lock down, and we shelter in place. Food is being delivered to every door, and the units in the field have been sent word via summoned bat to stay away until notified.

…

22^nd of Winds Season

The whole city is infected. These sores are so itchy. I’ve tried everything in the kit that we were provided. Rumor has it that after long enough, a person will just pop from the inside. I’ve seen a few of the other officers who have quarantined look a bit bloated.

…

30^th of Winds Season

The lockdown broke for a short time. Some desperate people fled the city, hoping to escape the infection. Idiots. We’re all infected. It’s fucked up. Stramal has decreed that we won’t leave and risk spreading this to the rest of the realm. He notified the Demon King, and hopefully we’ll get some help.

…

32^nd of Winds Season

I’m beginning to swell a bit. Everyone who is feeling too bloated is being ordered to go outside. I’ve…I’ve seen some of the others explode. It’s disgusting, and I know the same fate awaits me. I think I might take the easy way out. Just jump from the window and land head first.

…

33^rd of Winds Season

It’s too painful. I can’t take it anymore. I curse whoever let the fucking patrol back in carrying the disease. The fuckers who broke quarantine and infected the whole city. If they had an ounce of the resolve that Demons held, they would have stayed put outside and died in the sands. I’d wish a pox upon them, but it got them first. I am going to jump and end it all.

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