Chapter 535: Pride Of The Sylvan
The Commoner District’s southwest streets had been ravaged by the valley tribe’s attack. A mixture of anger and pity burned in the pit of Stryg’s stomach as he walked across the old familiar neighborhoods.
Only one in every three homes was still standing and most of them were in ruin. Unlike most of the city’s structures, the houses in the Commoner District had been built with wood. They had been constructed centuries ago from the logs of Undergrowth when Hollow Shade and its sister city were still on good terms.
The old wood and disrepair of many commoner’s homes had left them ripe for the fires set by the valley warriors. The homes had been swallowed by the flames in a matter of minutes. Had it not been for the rain and the winding river that separated the district from the rest, half the city would have burned down that night.
“It’s all gone…” Rhian mumbled.
Stryg glanced up at the centaur walking next to him and felt a pang of guilt. Had he arrived only a little sooner would he have been able to prevent it? Could he have saved all the people that had perished in the flames?
He shook his head at the thought. Such ideas only led to madness.
Small tents of civilians gathered around the houses that still stood, searching for what little shelter they could. Many of them were covered in half-burnt clothes and soot, though Stryg did notice they had fresh bandages.
He glanced at Arden. “Did you do this?”
The goblin scratched his beard alongside his jaw. “The Elects ordered our healers to provide medical treatment to all under our care, kin or otherwise.”