[b]The Jackal's Song[/b]
[i]Chapter 6: Echoes of the Red Crusade[/i]

Senu did dance for the elk, but that particular performance had been short-lived. The night with Eirik was surprisingly cathartic. Senu had only ever been with other jackals. Exploring the elk's powerful body was a very different experience. And, he had to admit, the things Eirik could do with that power were impressive.

When morning came, he felt refreshed despite a decisive lack of sleep. The elk had left an hour or so before dawn, giving the jackal one last playful kiss before slipping out. Senu spent some time cleaning himself and eating a light breakfast before gathering his gear and heading out to meet Terrance at the bethel. He arrived just as the first rays of sunlight were coming over the horizon.

Eirik had been a welcome distraction from the chaos of the past days, but now, as the sun's first rays filtered through the window, reality began to settle back in. He thought about the audition he was going to miss, the dangers ahead, and his growing sense of responsibility towards Terrance and the missing children.

Terrance was there, wearing his full armor and looking more determined than ever. If the drink had left him hungover, he didn't show it. The delvers had gathered into their wagon. Their driver, the paladin, was the only member of the crew visible. But the wagon, pulled by two jackal-raised horses, began to move shortly after Senu had greeted the wolf.

“I suppose that means we should get going," Senu said quietly.

Terrance grunted, adjusting his armor. “Let's go. I don't want to get too far behind them."

As they walked, the morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of salt from the sea. The rhythmic thump of their boots on the hardened dirt was the only sound for a while. Senu glanced at Terrance, noting the resolve in his eyes.

“You seem focused," Senu remarked. “Ready for anything."

Terrance managed a small smile. “Honestly, all I can think about right now is Marco. I might not be able to deal with this personally, but I can at least be there."

Senu nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “This will be over tonight, I'm sure of it."

The morning sun was just barely visible on the horizon when the Fortress came into view. It looked just as ominous as it had the day before, a dark shadow looming against the pale blue sky. The dark cliff beneath gave the illusion that it was some great maw, the jagged rocks like teeth.

The wagon moved faster than he and Terrance had, so the crew had already headed inside by the time they arrived in the courtyard. The pair settled in for a long wait, listening to the occasional distant sounds of combat, the clink of weapons on armor, and the crackle of powerful magics.

Senu tried to steady his breathing, focusing on the task ahead. The wait was excruciating, but he knew they had to be patient. Terrance broke the silence, his voice low. “I never asked you about your home. You seem young to be away from your family. Do you ever think about going back?"

Senu was caught off guard by the question. “Sometimes," he admitted. “But I feel like I have something to prove out here. To myself, mostly."

The wolf nodded thoughtfully. “You want to be your own beast. I can respect that. But don't be afraid to lean on the folks who care about you when you need it. Where I grew up, that was sort of a given, but I think the folks around here sometimes need a reminder."

The jackal reflected on what he could remember about different Pirhouan beliefs. “You're Allemagnian?"

“Yeah. Just a boring old Alley wolf."

“How'd you end up this far south?"

The wolf picked up a small rock and tossed it toward the dry fountain as he considered his answer. “The short version is that I met Alessia while I was stationed in Porta Ventura. Her father had left her a small bit of land, and when all was said and done, it made more sense for me to come down to Vinyot than for her to give that up for a life as a serf in a foreign land."

“Must have been quite a change."

“It was," Terrance agreed. “But it's been worth it. Family always is."

***

An hour or so later, Senu had drifted off into a half sleep, sitting on a large boulder, when Terrance's tension-filled voice cut through the air, clear and deadly serious. “Senu, get up."

Senu was awake immediately, instinctively reaching first for his missing lyre case, then his sword. “What?"

“Look!" Terrance was pointing from a precipice overlooking the beach. Senu followed his gaze and was startled to notice two tradewind foxes moving among the rocks by the shore. He squinted, trying to make out details.

“Those are messenger uniforms, aren't they?"

The wolf nodded. “Yes. But there's something off. If they were coming from the city, they'd be on the same path we took to get here. Also, I've never seen messengers traveling in pairs. They might have an escort given the Dungeon activity, but the guard captain would have just sent some of her men to do that."

The foxes continued their approach, however, and when they finally entered the courtyard, Terrance was waiting for them with his grip tightened on his sword hilt. Senu was a few steps back and to his side, mirroring his stance. “Who are you?" the wolf called out, his voice steady but edged with suspicion.

“Peace," the taller of the two said, raising a hand in a placating gesture. “Are you the delvers the lord mayor recruited?"

Senu hesitated, quickly taking in the two figures. They looked like most foxes he'd seen in Vinyot, but an uneasy feeling settled into his gut. There his instincts said there was something off about both of them.

Terrance must have felt the same way because his voice was still hard when he replied. “Shouldn't you know that?" the wolf said testily. He adjusted his stance, trying to keep both foxes in front of them. But one of the pair was moving to his flank. Senu changed his as well, trying to make sure he could cover the wolf's back if it came to it.

“We... are representatives of the guard. Messengers," the fox replied, but the hesitation in his voice did little to alleviate their doubts.

Terrance's eyes narrowed. “Then why are there two of you?"

The foxes exchanged nervous glances. “The... uh, captain wanted to be sure we reached you," the shorter one stammered, clearly unprepared for the questioning.

“What's the message?" Terrance asked, his tone hardening.

The smaller fox, a female, moved closer. She pulled a scroll case from her belt and offered it to the wolf. Senu couldn't see what was written on it from his position, but he saw the tension in Terrance's posture increase as Terrance unrolled the scroll. He looked up, clearly confused. “It's nonsense."

That was the last thing he said before the foxes attacked, their daggers flashing in the early morning sunlight. Senu and Terrance were not caught completely off guard, but the attack was more sudden than either had expected. These were not mere messengers, but trained fighters. Assassins, Senu suspected.

Blocking the first blow, Terrance issued a quick counterattack, his large paw knocking the nearest fox's knife away with a powerful swipe. The blade clattered noisily across the uneven cobblestones, giving the wolf space and time to draw his sword.

Senu's blade had snagged on the cheap cloth sheath causing him to stumble and nearly cut himself rather than the charging attacker. The fox lunged at him, and Senu had just enough time to utter a word of power. The drain on his mana was considerable, but a thin bolt of golden energy materialized from the word and deftly deflected the dagger's blow.

With a grim expression, Terrance sidestepped his would-be killer and ran him through with an efficient, decisive motion. The tall fox's eyes went wide, but he was dead before he hit the ground. As he withdrew the blade, he turned to face the remaining attacker.

“The Red God will strike you down!" the female screamed, eyes flashing with fanaticism as she launched a renewed attack.

This time, Senu was ready. The surge of magic still coursing through him, he performed a textbook-perfect slashing maneuver, a technique his mother had drilled into him for years. The shock of the impact and the sudden gush of blood caught him off guard, but his strike was true.

Slumping to the ground, the female fox shuddered once, hate-filled eyes staring blankly into the sky, one hand reaching toward the horizon before falling still.

They both stood there for several long seconds, waiting to make sure the threat had passed before standing down.

“Are you all right?" Terrance asked, panting slightly. The exchange had lasted only a few seconds, but the adrenaline was still in his veins.

Senu nodded, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Yeah, I'm okay," he replied, though the sight of the fallen foxes, pools of blood spreading beneath them, left him shaken.

“That was too easy. They must not have expected anyone to be outside."

“You think they were going to ambush Eirik and the others?"

“Maybe. Though if they couldn't handle us, I doubt they would have fared better against a group of veteran delvers."

Terrance knelt beside one of the bodies, turning it over with a grimace. “Let's see if we can learn more about who they were."

Senu approached the fox he'd killed, fighting back nausea. He briefly tried to mimic Terrance in searching for anything of interest, but his senses were hyper-attuned to everything about her. A faint scent of perfume not quite overwhelmed by the filth. The way her blood-soaked clothes squished when he touched them. The heat still radiating from her body. He barely made it to the courtyard's dry fountain - a few steps away - before he started throwing up.

When he was done, he wiped his muzzle with the back of his paw, then made his way back towards the wolf.

“You good?" the wolf asked, sparing him a concerned glance. He'd been searching the second body.

“Yeah," the jackal muttered. “What'd you find?"

The wolf pointed to a small pile near the first fox's feet. There wasn't much. A pouch of coins, a knife, a set of lockpicks, and a small piece of wood with a rune carved into its surface. Confused, the jackal picked up the wooden disk and examined it closely. He could feel the familiar magic radiating off of it. Seelie magic.

“Where was this?" he asked.

Terrance seemed to have finished searching the female's body and was moving it into a somewhat more dignified position. “What?"

“This," he held up the disk. “Where was it?"

The wolf came closer. “It was in a little pouch sewn into the inside of his uniform. There was another one on her." The wolf ran over to retrieve it.

Handing it to Senu, he said, “It looks like some kind of luck talisman. Why, do you recognize it?"

“It's a jackal device. Or at least one made using our technique. They're communication devices. You can speak into one and can be heard through the other no matter how far apart they are."

Terrance frowned. “Could there be others attached to them?"

Senu wasn't sure. “Maybe, but they aren't active right now."

“How did these cutthroats get access to jackal technology?"

“I don't… I don't know. Either jackals are working with them or they managed to steal the magic and materials needed to make these."

The implications were difficult for Senu to process, but he resolved to take the devices to Hake. Enforcing jackal laws was part of his job. And if he didn't know what to do, he could take it to his mother. He might know something about them, or at least know how to investigate.

“The female shouted something about a 'Red God.' Does that mean anything to you?"

Senu looked towards the entrance to the fortress, gaze distant as he recalled the story. He recited what he could remember for Terrance's benefit.

[i]Some years ago, a vulpine lord arose,
Proclaiming that a new red god, usurping Pirhoua's throne,
Had claimed dominion o'er the Beast World's souls.
But lo, this god was but a demon vile,
Who breached the veil 'twixt realms and wove his lies,
Ensnaring Vinyot's rulers, his power growing through the years.

Then did the vulpine lord, with fervent zeal,
Declare a red crusade, his banner unfurled,
And eastward marched to Vinyot's lands,
To southern Allemance, his forces hurled.
Yet fortune smiled upon the allied host,
For nations two, with courage fierce, did stand
United 'gainst the fiend's infernal band.

The vulpine lord, amidst the battle's rage,
Was struck down, his life force swift dispelled.
The demon, too, was found and met his end,
Dispatched by holy might, by courage steeled.
The cultists, scattered by Dramphine's light,
Were chased to shadows deep, ne'er to emerge,
Until this day, their whispers faintly heard.[/i]

Terrance processed that for a moment. “You remembered that word for word?"

The jackal shrugged. “I like a good story. I probably got some of the words wrong, and I'm translating from the Seelese version, which was in turn translated from the original Vinyotian."

Terrance was deep in thought for several long moments before he spoke again. “I learned about the Red Priest's Crusade when I was a pup. That was a long time ago. Centuries."

“About five hundred years."

“So why would his cult emerge now, after all this time?"

“This place was built by them originally. I'd guess their return has something to do with the Dungeon, but I really don't know."

“You'd think they'd have learned their lesson the first time. As I recall, their crusade didn't make it very far at all," Terrance said. “All they did was throw a bunch of lives away, mostly their own."

“A demon was behind the entire thing. There's a good chance that was all it ever wanted. They're cruel things. Destruction is all they ever want. It's just that some are quite clever about how they go about it."

The wolf glanced back toward the two bodies. “Should we let the delvers know about this?"

Senu shook his head. “I mean, yes. But I don't think we should go in there while they're doing their job. I'd rather not run into any more of those shadows."

Terrance frowned, considering. “That makes sense, I suppose. What should we do with them in the meantime?"

“I... I don't know. I've never dealt with a dead body before...."

He'd never known anyone who had died. Not personally, anyway. Not even during the war. Seeing it - causing it - had been more disturbing than he would have ever anticipated.

“Well, under normal circumstances I'd send you to get help from the bethel in Saltspray Grove. We only have a couple of initiates there with no real magic affinity. But, they could at least perform some sort of rites and transport the bodies. I suppose in this case we should send word to the Shimmer Bay garrison. We are technically under their jurisdiction, and they'll probably be interested in the fact that these cultists were wearing their messengers' uniforms."

“I don't think either of us should be here alone," Senu said, “And I know you aren't going anywhere until the delvers are back."

“No."

“So what should we do?"

“I suppose we should just cover 'em with something and wait. If the delvers aren't out by this evening, I'll dig a couple holes."

***

Hours passed, and eventually, Senu helped Terrance dig graves for the two foxes they'd killed. Each shovelful of dirt felt heavier than the last. He'd never killed another willful creature before. A few monsters, some animals, but never someone with intelligence in their eyes.

He hadn't wanted to kill either of them, but his training and instinct had taken over in those few seconds of desperate struggle. It was a line he hadn't wanted to cross, and now he couldn't unsee the moment when life left their eyes.

After, Terrance began cooking a simple stew thickened with biscuits from their rations, the smell mingling with the earthy scent of freshly turned soil. “We didn't do anything wrong," he said, breaking the long silence while he waited for the contents of his cook pot to simmer.

Senu looked up, his eyes troubled. “We killed two beasts."

“True. And if we hadn't, they'd have killed us. That much was clear."

“We could have... I don't know, knocked them out or something."

Terrance sighed, shaking his head. “This isn't like your stories, Senu. Sure, maybe I could have used a cudgel instead of my sword, but those kill almost as easily, and are a hell of a lot messier. Even if we did manage to knock them out, how would we restrain them? What if they tried to escape or slit our throats while we slept?"

“I know," Senu muttered, the weight of reality pressing down on him.

Terrance's voice softened. “I get it. I had to come to terms with it during the war. Killing shouldn't be done lightly, but sometimes it's necessary. And when that's true, any guilt you feel is a lie. I've killed a lot of folks. They'd have killed me if I hadn't. I didn't enjoy it, but I don't regret it. You shouldn't either."

“But they were beasts. They have friends and lovers and families," Senu argued, his voice breaking slightly. “And they'll probably never know what happened."

Terrance nodded, understanding the familiar conflict. Every soldier he'd ever commanded had gone through something similar.

“I understand what you're saying, Senu. I do. But sometimes it's kill or be killed. Especially when you're doing shit like this." He gestured towards the fortress.

“Up here," he said tapping the side of his head, “I agree with you. But down here," he said, placing a hand over his heart, “I don't. I don't know that I ever will."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Terrance's mouth. “Maybe that kind of conflict isn't a bad thing so long as you don't hesitate when your life is in danger. In any case, things like this are the kinds of experience that can mess with your head, so if you start having nightmares or anything like that, come see me, okay?"

The jackal hesitated but nodded, thankful for the offer. He hadn't been sure if Terrance would be interested in staying in touch when this was over.

“Good," the wolf said, handing him a small wooden bowl filled with an aromatic stew. The dried meat and vegetables had rehydrated nicely, and the biscuit had given it a hearty texture. “Now eat. You haven't had anything since this morning."

Senu did as he was told, finding it somewhat endearing how easily Terrance fell into his fatherly role. He couldn't help but think Terrance's pups were lucky. That thought brought unbidden memories of his own parents, and an unexpected wave of homesickness killed his rekindling appetite.

A part of him very much wanted to just go back to the city and tell Hake he was ready to end this “dalliance" as his mother had called it. He'd failed at being a bard. He'd failed at being a delver. He didn't want to fail at being a jackal as well.

It was at that moment that the delving crew finally emerged from the entrance. Senu had expected at least some of them to be injured, but as Rafa, Izzy, Eirik, and the feline rogue, Lucia, emerged from the dark entryway in the light of the setting sun, they seemed to be almost giddy. Laughing and joking with each other with the kind of ease that only comes from intimate familiarity. More importantly, behind them came six children of various species. They were filthy and dazed, most had blankets wrapped around them that Eirik's crew had given them.

Terrance shot up upon seeing them, a big grin spreading across his scarred face. “You did it!"

Eirik approached them, a similar smile on his face despite being covered in grime and grit. “It was tricky, the Dungeon likes to throw riddles and such at you sometimes. But Izzy figured it out, and we were able to find the kids. There was some kind of crypt down in one of the sublevels that they were being kept in. The things living down there had drained some of their life energy, but as soon as we killed their leader, it all seemed to go back to where it belonged. I'll bet your kid's looking for you right now."

Terrance laughed a triumphant bellow before hugging the elk without any reservation. As he began to gather up his belongings, he looked up to the jackal. “I need to go, Senu. But come see me in a few days, once everything has settled down."

The jackal nodded and offered an encouraging smile before Terrance set off towards the city at a surprisingly fast pace.

Eirik stood next to him for a moment as they watched the wolf wind his way down the road. “I do love it when things work out so neatly. The Dungeon is a fickle thing. Cruel on one delve then surprisingly forgiving on the next. You can never let your guard down. But there are times I think whatever it is that is doing this must have some kind of intelligence."

Senu raised a brow. “In any case, I'm glad you all made it out. Looks like no one was injured?"

“Ah, well, we took a few nasty hits, but Rafa is pretty skilled at dealing with basic injuries. I'm not even that tired."

Senu laughed. “Is that an invitation for another private dance?"

Eirik gave his rump a playful swat. “Maybe. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves." He gestured towards the mounds in the dirt and the bloodstains on the courtyard's flagstones. “What happened here?"

“Oh, right." A bit more seriously, Senu explained the confrontation with the two foxes and the things they'd found on their bodies.

Izzy, the Wizard, clicked her tongue a few times, apparently listening in from a few feet away. “Burying them was probably smart. The Dungeon might have tried to bring them back or something. Still, we'll have to dig them up. The mayor might want to investigate who they were and where they came from. Red Priest Cultists are supposed to be dead."

“I'm more interested in how they got these communication things," the feline, Lucia, said. “No offense kid, but jackals are damn stingy with their tech. If they stole it, I'd love to know how."

Senu shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine on that. Every place they could have gotten something like this is carefully hidden and well guarded."

“Then we'll have to find out," Izzy said. “For now, I'm exhausted. And hungry. I was going to just crash in the wagon again, but I might spring for an inn. My purse is feeling a bit heavy."

“Sounds good," Rafa said. “We'll get the wagon set up and start heading back. We can stop at the Bethel and make sure all the kids are fine, then settle in for a proper night of revelry."