Chapter 497: Trail of Light
Drip… Drip… Drip…
Drops of water dripped down between the old wooden planks of the ceiling. A storm had begun to brew outside. Flashes of green lightning flickered across the dark clouds every few seconds. Powerful winds howled out and shook the rickety windows. The sound of rain pelting above them drowned out the whispers and painful moans of the wounded soldiers.
The barracks Cedric had led them to was old and had seen better days, perhaps a century ago. After retreating from the Northern Gate their goal had been to reach the medical encampment several neighborhoods away, but the streets were filled with monstrous golems and undead sentinels fighting with abandon.
To make matters worse, the Northern Gate had fallen and Valley tribal warriors had rushed into the city, cutting down any soldier too slow to escape. The Goldelm forces had been scattered. Lord Atlas’ and his small elite group of battle mages had stayed behind to give their allies time to escape, a few precious moments.
How little it seemed to matter now. The valley warriors had ripped through Goldelm's army and the soldiers had scattered across the streets into the darkness. What little forces Cedric and Commander Randall had managed to save, they led to this small abandoned barracks.
Perhaps there had been some soldiers stationed at the barracks, but there were none here now. The scouts Cedric had sent out to assess the situation hadn’t returned. Nor had anyone spotted Lord Atlas after the gate fell.
Drip… Drip… Drip…
Freya sat crouched in the corner of the room, knees to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs. She stared numbly at the small puddle forming at her feet. Water droplets fell in a quiet expected rhythm.
Her father’s body lay on a cot the next room over. One of the soldiers had found a spare blanket in one of the closets and had carefully covered Lord Zorn Goldelm. Freya had stayed with her father’s body until his blood began to bloom across the sheet. Feeling sick to her stomach she had left and found herself a corner where no one would bother her.