Chapter 481: Traveler
The ground shook every few minutes as jade boulders came hurling down from the night sky and crashed into the Commoner District. The valley army’s trebuchets fired without fail from the safety of their backlines. The temple’s walls shook with every volley and Karen wondered to herself if the temple’s magical defenses would hold.
She looked out the window and saw only chaos. Shattered homes, buildings on fire, and residents cramming the roads to the Trade District. The few guards left from the garrison that hadn’t been stationed at the wall tried to usher the people through the roads and bridges in a somewhat makeshift order. Fear and tragedy had blinded the common folk and they pushed and even trampled over the guards to reach the Trade District.
All the while, stone golems marched down the streets, picking off any straggler who had failed to escape the burning neighborhoods. The city’s undead sentinels moved in small packs, clashing against the golems wherever they found them. But as the sentinels’ numbers began to grow smaller and boulders kept falling from the sky, Karen worried that soon the district would be overrun entirely.
A single golem had appeared at the temple’s front gate and began striking it with its stone fist. The temple’s brown and red sigils flared to life and formed a protective dome around the temple. The magical wards only made the golem’s attacks more incessant.
Karen knew little of magic, but she knew that spells did not last forever. She peeked her head into the main hall and saw the orphan children huddled in a group. Many had tears in their eyes, others were outright bawling. The other acolytes sat with them, trying to comfort them with hugs or stories. Witt had raided the pantry for any sweets he had picked up at the bakery and was passing them out to the children.
The head priest, Elm, knelt down in front of the four large statues of the ebon gods situated at the front of the hall. Karen walked over and joined him in prayer. She prostrated herself to the gods and begged with silent whispers for their aid.
She prayed to the Watcher, the goddess of the moon, Lunae, to watch over her children and to keep them safe if something were to befall her and the priests.
She prayed to the Guardian, the goddess of war, Bellum, to aid their soldiers in battle and bring them victory over the invaders.
She prayed to the Traveler, the god of stars, Stjerne, to lead Melfyn, Sandra, and the rest of the older children back to her safe and unharmed.