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Rising in the east, the bright golden sun greeted the quiet town of Jarna to the guardian templar who now had to proceed northward. Alex grabbed and shouldered his backpack, then walked over to Sir Stephen's who stood outside the doorway to the tower and spoke with Sir Brendan and Sir Clement.

"We've been summoned by the bishop of Ashton to close the node that controls the magic for our enemy. Those we travel with informed me that they had fought a beast who closed the one geared to Yaeby some months ago," Stephen informed, hands on hips as Alex emerged behind Sir Kenneth with his own gear in hand.

"The baron of Jarna stated that they should be fine now that this army has been defeated," Sir Clement stated, rubbing his jaw as he glanced to the mounting templar beyond them in the street. "With our combined strength of almost two hundred swords, we should be able to take care of this problem. We had been trying to find their hideout for some months before arriving here without much success. But, I think now that we should finally clean up Mellerud and perhaps Arhus will guide us to an informant."

"With his help then," Sir Stephen agreed as Alex strapped his lord's gear onto his awaiting mount.

* * *

Once they traversed the familiar road back north to their destination, the army arrived at the closed gates of Mellerud. Alex knew that at some point he would be freed from this constant horseborne adventure and get to relax within a garrison somewhere. Hopefully Exmoor.

"Open these gates in the name of Arhus and his servants," the advance guard yelled from his saddle and soon, they heard the bar lifted and doors creak open as the tentative guards backed away. Alexander immediately noticed the worried looks in their eyes as the mounted troop entered the quiet city whose streets were nearly empty. Bringing his shield around closer to his left side, he kept his right hand on his sword's hilt as blue eyes scanned the tall buildings and their shuttered windows. A plan had already been hatched to take the town and secure it's gates and Alex and his dwarven friends stayed with Sir Stephen as they spurred their horses to the church and its compound that commanded the square near the baron's keep. Dismounting, Sir Stephen motioned for several templar to head to the rear door which they quickly rode towards, shoed hooves clacking on the flagstone as Alex's heart began to race.

As several templar pushed the large double doors open and headed inside, Alex looked up to see several pigeons fly from the bell tower and speed to several different directions. He then followed into the darker stone interior.

"What's here," Artek queried as they passed through the foyer.

Sir Stephen turned, sword drawn. "The bishop here is under suspicion of working with the enemy. We need to confirm that information before we arrest him."

Alex's eyes went wide with the revelation. How could a servant of Arhus be in collusion with the Dark One? Why would anyone secured in his future even wish to?

Three priests emerged from the rear of the church from a doorway that appeared to enter the kitchens. Elderly, the first smiled, arms wide. "Welcome to Mellerud, brothers. How may we be of assistance?" His voice echoed within the high ceilings as the back door opened beyond sight announcing their reinforcements.

"I'm Sir Stephen of Kecel. I need to see your accountings for this church over the past few years."

The smile faded as the clean shaven cleric slowed his pace, hands claimed before him in nervous tension. "Why?"

"There's been information leaked to Davos about this town and we need to confirm it, that's all."

"Certainly," a robed arm motioned to their right as the priest led them to his private office.

Alex watched the other two priests as they quietly followed to the side chambers, then stopped outside the doorway. He and the dwarves remained outside with them as the investigating paladin began going through the books that the apprehensive priest handed him.

"This is everything," Stephen asked as he browsed through the books.

"Yes," the elder nodded.

"My lord," Alex interrupted. "Where were the pigeons headed?"

The question garnered the attention of all within the room as Stephen then eyed the priest directly.

"Pigeons? Probably scared from their nests or something."

"Which way were they headed," Stephen asked, eyes still on the accused.

"North and east,sir," Alex informed.

"They wouldn't be warning anyone, would they," Stephen set the book onto the cherry desk.

"I have no idea what you're getting at, sir. But, this church has led many campaigns to rid those faithful to the Dark One from its walls and surrounds for many years," the cleric stated, sweat beading on his forehead. "We've led many who had gone astray and many others to the magistrate who couldn't. I assure you, no one here is in collusion with those murderers."

"Then perhaps you could tell me who is," Stephen pressed.

Thin lips pressed closed as the cleric's brown eyes stared, then fell.

"You're under arrest," Stephen walked around the desk as the priest reached into his robe and produced a dagger and raised it to strike. Alex unsheathed his sword as the pair outside did the same.

"About time," Artek yelled as the dwarves and the young squire made quick work of the acolytes, dropping both to the floor as Stephen, Kenneth and two other templar subdued the priest.

* * *

The following morning, those collected during several raids within the city's walls were tried and hung within the large marketplace as the townsfolk all came to see their home finally cleaned up. Alex witnessed for the first time as those guilty of murder, sedition, and numerous other crimes hung quietly from the gallows. Now they could get on to the compound of Durkheim.