Chapter 24: The Road Home

The villagers did their best to help Vito and the others. They collected the silver arrows and safely stored them in crates for Parisfal to collect and study. The Lion’s Vanguard was relieved of their equipment and secured, and Vito took the Litdaiu for himself. Galien remained at his father’s side even as they moved Greye’s body to the elder’s house and covered him with a blanket. Reinfar expressed his most sincere condolences and offered whatever they had to the adventurers who arrived to save them.

Vito buried his anguish and took the lead to work with Reinfar and his people. “Iris will secure the arrows in her satchel. If not even Parsifal recognizes them, we have to assume the worst. Let me know if there are any lingering effects of their presence.”

“Of course, Sir Vito,” Reinfar gave a slight bow and returned to the village meeting hall, where he formed a response team to repair the village after their fight.

Two lightly-armored scouts approached him. “Sir Vito, we can confirm that two archers were responsible for the arrow volley.”

“Do you have a description?”

“They wore the armor of Lord Renaudin’s personal guards.”

Vito suppressed the rage and hatred that burned in his heart to keep a calm expression. “Thank you. Return to your normal duties.” The scouts saluted and walked away.

“Renaudin, huh?” Delwyn walked toward him, anger simmering behind her eyes. “That’s about what those Lion’s Vanguard guys said before they were eliminated as well.”

Many of the arrows flew and scattered around the village square, but there were clusters around the Lion’s Vanguard members and the prison. The mercenaries were held in underground cells and were spared their fate. There was no doubt that Renaudin sought to eliminate any potential witnesses to whatever crime he had committed.

“Do you suppose he was behind the elder dragons?” Vito asked.

“Most likely. I just can’t figure out why. He set those creatures against Orinis, then hired us to stop them?”

“We weren’t meant to stop them,” Vito surmised.

He watched a haggard and drained Galien join them. “I heard everything. I want Renaudin’s head on a pike.”

“We all do. I even chose the pike,” Delwyn replied.

“I already have a plan in mind; we just need to return home first. Renaudin will launch another attack when he finds out that we survived,” Vito told him.

“He’s never been to the hamlet, so we’ll be safe there,” Delwyn assured him.

“Safe for now. We can’t underestimate him and assume we’ll be safe there forever. People already know we live in that forest.”

Galien firmly grabbed his shoulder and stared into his eyes. “Just promise me that your plan involves Renaudin dead and buried.”

Vito smirked. “I give you my word, he’ll be dead and ruined in two weeks’ time. We’ll have our revenge and so much more, brother.”

Delwyn was skeptical. “Two weeks seems very specific.”

Vito turned to her. “I’ll share more when we get back home. There are too many eyes and ears here.” He was confident in his plan. Delwyn grinned and nodded in understanding.

The party regrouped at the village exit. Their carriages were loaded and ready for departure. Greye’s body was carefully set in a casket inside the second carriage. Galien insisted that he drive it to return his father home.

They passed mostly in silence for the few days it took them to return to the forest. Holly was there to happily greet them with a small basket full of baked treats. Their pained expressions confused and worried her. Her heart shattered when she didn’t see her husband step out of a carriage. Tears welled in her eyes as she fell to her knees. Vito and Galien ran to embrace their mother.

Vito quietly vanished during the day while the rest of the Silver Oak Guild carried out their somber duties. Greye’s body was set in an ornate casket bearing their guild’s emblem on the front. He was laid in state to allow his family to pay their respects. Sorrow and fear gripped everyone present. Greye was a constant source of companionship and protection, the cornerstone of their family, and he was gone.

He returned by sunset for the burial. His father’s final resting place was at the base of the silver oak tree that overlooked a crystal clear lake on the edge of their hamlet. Vito helped lower Greye’s body into the ground at moonrise, when the silver oak tree earned its name.

The tree absorbed the silver moonlit rays and took on a faint glow. The reasons for this magical effect and its true purpose were known only to the tribe of elves that originally called the forest their home. The royal family banished them from the area when the kingdom was founded, and the tree was all that was left to mark their presence. Many years later, Greye, Parsifal, and Delwyn would found the Silver Oak Guild at that very spot.

Vito walked through the crowd of sobbing and fearful guild members. Not all of them were adventurers, but being registered afforded them certain protections that were invaluable to outcasts. Greye united them all and offered a home to those with no real prospects in society. With him gone, they saw their world crumbling around them.

Parsifal and Delwyn spoke to the crow. They reminisced about their friend, shared their sorrows, and promised to continue Greye’s dream of creating a home for all outcasts. Vito noticed that a few people continued to fear for the future. He locked eyes with Delwyn and nodded his head toward the guild’s headquarters. She nodded, and the two began their march.

“This had better be good. We all have a lot of questions, Vito,” Delwyn told him when they got close enough to talk without others hearing.

“I know. I’ll explain everything, including how we’re going to save the guild.”

“A feat you’re going to accomplish in two weeks, right? How do you plan to do that?”

Vito grinned as he pushed the cabin door open. “It’ll be difficult for a group of adventurers, but the mafia can pull it off in no time at all.”