Zach Brenner's Arc

Chapter 68 of 86

The morning Zach meant to leave for Black Hollow, the plan changed at the village park. Zach and Raven had brought their twins to play. Talon and Lyra sat nearby with their own daughter on the grass. The four of them talked in low voices about the emptied villages while the children chased each other. Talon crossed his arms, black hair falling over his eyes. "You still need the new blade," he said. "Fairhaven's skyport can fit it. I'll fly you there myself." Zach nodded. The two of them would go north, forge the weapon, and scout the danger together. Then a shout came from the inn across the square. A man staggered through the gate, half-falling, his clothes torn and stiff with mud. He clutched the doorframe of Zach's inn and would not let go. Zach ran to him. The man's eyes rolled wide and wet. He grabbed Zach's tank top with both hands. "They're gone," the man rasped. "All of them. My village. North of the river." Zach held him upright. "What took them? Tell me what you saw." The man's mouth worked, but no clear words came. He shook his head fast, again and again. "Not fire. Not men. The dark moved." He laughed, then wept. "It came under the doors. It came under the doors." He said nothing more that made sense. He only repeated it, over and over, until his voice broke. Lyra knelt beside him. Her purple eyes went soft. "He's the only one left," she said quietly. "He walked all this way alone." She pressed a hand to his brow. The man calmed a little, but his mind stayed broken. No question reached him. No answer came back that Zach could use. Zach stood. His jaw tightened. The survivor had told him only one thing for certain. Whatever hunted the north was real, and it left men like this behind. "Get him inside," Zach said. "Feed him. Keep him warm." Two settlers carried the man through the door. Raven caught Zach's arm. Talon rose too. Zach looked at both of them. "This settles it," he said. "I can't wait. Talon and I fly to Fairhaven at first light. I get my blade. Then I go north myself and see what did this." "No," Raven said flatly. Lyra stood beside her. "You two will not run off alone. Not for this." Zach opened his mouth. Talon spoke first, to Raven. "You should stay with the children." "There are maids at the castle for that," Lyra said. She lifted her chin. "My daughter will be safe. I will not." Raven's ears flicked. "How do you two plan to get anything done without your wives? You'd be lost in a week." Zach looked at Talon. Talon shrugged. Neither of them could answer that. Zach let out a breath and gave in. "All four of us, then," he said. "We forge the blade. Then we find what's under the doors."