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The Knights weapons remained in their sheathes, but it was becoming increasingly apparent that these men and women would tolerate no doubt in their actions. They did not shrink or falter at all as she drew attention to their operations in the night. In fact, they seemed to grow taller, their shoulders and backs straightened. The particular Knight she spoke with took a step closer to her. The steel cap at the butt of his pike struck the ground firmly beside him, and the pole arm stood straight at his side. Beyond them, another patrol of Knights were forcibly prying a young man from his doorway while he spat and yelled at them. The knights around Kora paid no attention.

"No, Priestess. It is not more appropriate. The Swamps of Wormwood have toiled in filth and godlessness for too long. You ask what right we have? We are the Swords of Salvation, the vanguard of The Light Bringer! The sun may sleep, but we do not. For too long have heretics and witches found shelter here, but no longer! Tyral's light shall banish all of Wormwood's shadows. By Valarous' hands this nation will be purified, and delivered once more into the embrace of the Creators. First, we must find the faithful... and we do so now, so that any monster among them will be revealed in Dawn's light!"

The Knight had not moved at all as he spoke. He was a statue of self righteous virtue; trained and trimmed to the tenants of Tyral without a shadow of doubt in his convictions. A woman's scream split the night in the distance, unseen. She called for her husband, and another voice called back to her.

"Do you doubt the work of Tyral, Priestess? What you see may wound your heart, but ignore the pains of your flesh. Soon, all of Wormwood shall be bathed in light again. You will bear witness to Wormwood's Redemption, and only those without faith need fear such a miracle."

The Knight stepped in closer to Kora while the other five held their positions. His faceless, helmed head drew uncomfortably close to Kora's as he spoke. "This land is a blight upon Rykros; an affront to every Creator and all that they stand for... the faithful have nothing to fear. They shall be given food and cared for, then released to their homes come morning's light. Soon, theirs will be a land of green and bounty unlike it has ever been. Those who are not children of the Creators, who cavort and feast on the sorrows here... they will be destroyed. Every last one. The time for mercy has passed for Wormwood. Tyral's justice will burn all plague and poison from this land. Nothing will stop it... and no one who harbors a heretic shall be forgiven. Go into your home now, priestess. Call your host, and gather his family. If they treasure their faith and souls as much as you, then they will come with us in peace and help to shepherd the true believers. Call them now."

The Knights hadn't moved an inch since she left. Trust was not something they offered anyone - Wormwood's residents would earn it only through proof of their faith. They did not suspect Kora to flee or be deceitful in her word, but they were prepared to take any action necessary. Older, fairer and kinder looking women had been witches before; they would not label her a monster, but they would not give her the benefit of the doubt. When she returned with her elderly ward and the woman's daughter, the group moved from the door and into the street. The scope of events in Whitewater was more apparent now. There were scores of Knights here, their numbers easily exceeding 100 in this area of the village alone. The entire town was being woken; wagons carted the old or infirm, and were escorted by Valarous' men on all sides. Many of them rode atop white stallions, hooves blackened and fouled by the filth of the marshlands.

The leading Knight of their group hoisted his pike from the ground to his shoulder and pointed to an approaching wagon. "Follow me," the Knight ordered as he ushered the three civilians towards it. The others in his patrol moved on towards the next home, leaving their captain alone with the priestess and her companions... though alone wasn't an appropriate term. Whitewater Village wasn't empty. It was being occupied. "We wish no suffering on your elder. Set her to the wagon there and see she's seated comfortably, but her daughter must travel with us. The wagons are only for those who cannot make the journey on foot."

The Knight waited for Kora to get the elderly woman situated in the wagon before he approached her again, gesturing for her to fall in with his patrol alongside the other young woman who can from her house. By now, nearly the whole of the village was being mobilized. As the masses were escorted away from their homes, be it by wagon, horse, foot or chains, they were guided towards the coastal side of Whitewater. As they reached the harbor, the sight would take the breath from many of the villagers.

There were warships at port in Whitewater. Since when? How had they slept through their arrival? This was not a hodgepodge assembly of a dozen or so mismatched galleons... it was a fleet. A full fleet, nearly 100 strong, of ships flying the same colors as the Knights' banners. Even now, more soldiers were rowing to shore from the ships that were too large to tie up to the docks. Such an army was unheard of in Wormwood, where could they have possibly come from? The question was forgotten as Whitewater's villagers were escorted away from the harbor, to walked further south along the coast... and there, high above and far away, was something that glowed like an ember from the sun, making silhouettes of a dozen towers that became the outline of a landmark, a city sized crown, that had never been there before....

[EXIT TO SUNHOLD SANCTUM EXTERIOR]

Smoke chokes the air as he soldiers move on.