Chapter 130 A Familiar Face (1/2)

”We could just go around the village,” Arran said, looking at the s up into the sky ”Whatever happened to the village is long over, but those who did it ht still be there”

Even if he was curious to see what had happened to the village, perhaps the wiser choice would be to just avoid it altogether It wasn't his first instinct, but then, his instincts rarely led hier

”We can't,” Snowcloud replied with a set a sense of who's responsible” In a softer voice, she added, ”And there ht,” Arran said, not needing iveinto danger unprepared, he changed into the black arot from Lord Sevaril and belted on his starured he would have a good chance of escaping even if there were a dozen strong e

When he finished his preparations, Snowcloud gave him an inquisitive look ”New equipment?”

”I picked up the coat in Goldhaven,” Arran replied ”The sword I've had for a while”

”You really are full of surprises, aren't you?”

Fronized both the coat and the sword as being anything but ordinary, but it couldn't be helped There was no point in having treasures if he could not use theest we leave the road, and approach fro as easily”

Snowcloud replied with a nod, and soon, they were e, slowly h the dense underbrush as they headed in the direction of the se a quarter hour later, Arran immediately saw that his suspicion had been correct — whatever happened was long over Most of the buildings in the village had already burned to the ground, and what few of the husks

Yet although the village had been destroyed, he was surprised to see that there were no bodies anywhere Nor, for that matter, could he s he could make out was the sers fled before this happened,” he said in a low voice ”Either that or they've been taken away”

”Let's have a look,” Snowcloud whispered back ”But be careful”

Arran had no intention of being careless regardless of her warning, and as they stealthily prowled into the ruined village, he continuously swept the area with his Shadowsight, heedful of any possible threats

He ale was abandoned entirely, but then, behind one of the half-collapsed buildings, he detected three shapes — adult figures, holding weapons

”There!” he yelled, pointing toward the trio's location Drawing his sword, he rushed forward, bounding toward the building behind which the three were hiding, Snowcloud following some steps behind him

He reached the three hidden men only a moment later, before they had a chance to flee or react, and their terrified looks made it clear he had taken them by surprise

Yet when he saw them, he immediately knew that they weren't responsible for what had happened to the village — their faces were gaunt to the point of being eh it looked like they had seen battle not too long ago, it was clear that they had been on the losing end of it

”What happened here?” he asked, sheathing his sword as he realized they were no threat ”Who burned down the village?”

Seeing Arran put away his sword, the three h they still looked at him and Snowcloud ary eyes

For a moment, none of them spoke, but then one of the man, barely out of boyhood, with a slender build that almost looked feminine Yet despite his unimpressive physique, he see party attacked the village,” the youngthe voice, Arran understood that this was no man, despite the short hair and lack of curves

”Whose raiding party was it?” Snowcloud cut in ”And where are the villagers?”

”Our ers to safety before the attack,” the young wos to a local warlord — a powerfulto our master We've faced his men a number of times already”

Arran did not need to ask how those confrontations had ended Fro woman and her co one

”This master of yours, who is he?” he asked

”He's awoman said, pride in her voice despite her pitiable state ”We're his recruits”