The paladin put a hand on his shoulder, and when he looked over, his eyes were kind and unafraid.

“I know you well enough, Gary, to say there isn’t the slightest chance of that.” He pointed to the shore. “Our turn.”

Darius was organizing men into groups of five on the other bank when they beached.

“Jerico,” he called, seeing their boat arrive. “Care to lead a smaller group, or would you rather remain up front with me?”

“Four groups should be enough,” said Jerico. “Give me the smaller, and I shall watch our flank.”

Darius pointed at Gary, the paladin, and a third bearing a torch. As he neared, Gary recognized him as the eldest son of his neighbor, a good lad named Dirk. He wasn’t even fifteen yet.

“What in the Abyss are you doing here?” Gary asked him. “Your pa know you’re out?”

Dirk blushed and refused to meet his eye.

“It won’t hurt none,” he mumbled.

“This ain’t a deer hunt, boy.”

“It’s all right,” Jerico said, pulling his shield off his back. A soft blue-white glow came over it, and immediately Gary felt his anxiety sliding away as it bathed over him. “Stay at my side at all times, Dirk, and keep your torch raised high. The wolf-men hate fire, and the light will hurt their eyes.”

“Fight with honor!” Darius shouted. “I have their trail, and they will not dare run from our challenge.”

Darius led the way, four of their strongest at his side, three wielding swords, one dual-wielding a torch and dagger. The other two groups marched behind and at either side. Jerico let them gain a bit of distance, then followed.

Gary felt his stomach twist into knots as they walked deeper into the Vile Wedge. It was said that the elven goddess Celestia cursed the land after the Gods’ War, ruining the soil and stripping the land of wildlife. Gary didn’t know if this were true or not, for this was his first time within.