Chapter 59: Scourge.
If Lee thought things were bad, then before the noon it got even worse. He couldn't see the dark-purple hole across the valley, but judging from the increased traffic the invaders had in the distance, it seemed that more and more children were brought away.
He was thirsty and hungry, but didn't intend to check out where the wagons with kids were brought. Even if there were brief moments without an invader in sight, it was clear that the capital and it's surroundings were swarmed with them.
Only after another night passed, Lee noticed that more invaders were leaving than arriving and could heave a sigh of relief. Judging by the flow of wares, they had gotten most of what they came for. Wagons and carriages still contained either food supplies or children, and Lee prayed to all known deities for the children to not become the former.
Up until now he had not seen the faces of the invaders and since they all wore helmets, under those easily could be hidden wolf fangs, vampire teeth or shark jaws.
For ridiculous thoughts like these Lee blamed the dehydration and the hunger, but since invaders were leaving, most likely it was not that long before he finally could climb down. He had no clue what the capital looked like after a raid like this, but no matter what he intended to rush to Freeda's place first, to see how she was doing.
***
It was around noon when Lee was about to finally risk it. He hadn't heard or seen the invaders for a while, but just as he stretched his leg intending to climb down, he heard several horses galloping his way.
In an instant he became weary, because in the last couple of days the only horses he saw were cut up in large pieces and pushed in wagons in the direction of the dark-purple hole.
He deeply wished it wasn't some kind of a group of heroes that the remaining empire forces had gathered, otherwise the smart-asses could draw unnecessary attention his way. It turned out to be even worse.
The group of seven people on horses, but dressed in the armor the invaders had, rushed in the farm. After stopping next to the well, they dismounted and one of them took off the helmet while loudly complaining.
"How in the world are they breathing in these things?" He said, "And to think they push all those carts and wagons!"