The Ayindale Valley is considered to be the most vivid landscape across the entire Oskhen. The dense mixed forest shimmered with a whole palette of bright colors. Fluffy hares galloped around the pale green bushes, birds built their nests on top of scarlet trees, and a herd of wild deer drank water from a crystal-clear azure lake. Through the copper, oak leaves the travelers could see the mighty mountains, whose snowy peaks seemed to merge with the bottomless sky. Trevor inhaled the cold air and looked around. He has seen a lot of things during his travels, but there is hardly anything that can be compared with the Ayindale Valley. The local landscapes were breathtaking. The valley’s beauty captivated Trevor, just like the beauty of the charming young sorceress who kept him company. He looked at the sorceress and said –

-“So then… Irena… Maybe the time has come for us to get to know each other? "

-"Sure, sir Trevor, but let's start with you, do you mind?"

-"Yes, and I also wouldn’t mind omitting the “sir”. She looked at him and smiled. -

-“Okay, whatever you say, Trevor ... It's a rarity to meet a northerner in these lands, so I would like to learn more about your home, so to speak, firsthand. Tell me about your life, your nation’s customs. It is believed here that the northerners do not need anything in life except battles and homebrew. But I'm very curious, what are you really like?

Trevor laughed - "Yes, enjoy heavy drinks and a good rumble, it's true!" He took a sip of his beer and continued speaking - "I come from Ardal, the land of frozen mountains, shrouded in never-ending darkness."

-"Really? Did you see the sun for the first time when you came to Oskhen? said Irena and laughed.

- “This is not quite right. The truth is that in some regions of Ardal, the night can last for three or even four months. That is why people entitled this time “the never-ending darkness”.

-"And how do they during this period?"

“Many people leave their homes. This period of time becomes too dangerous because of the creatures that lurk in the shadows. Even experienced warriors can barely survive an encounter with them. Only the bravest remain, those who vowed to protect Ardal from these monsters."

-“Hmm, now it's clear why the northerners are so harsh. Living in Ardal isn’t so much fun”. After a short pause, Irena asked, “As far as I know, you have no king. Each northerner belongs to a clan ruled by a chieftain. How many clans are there in Ardal?

-“There are only three clans, each occupying certain lands. The first is the Sea Serpent clan, which occupies all coastal territories and most of the islands. The second is the Firehammer clan, whose people live on the plains. The last clan, to which I belong, is the clan of Black Wolves. We live in the mountains. Once there was a fourth clan, which was banished from Ardal forever for their unimaginable atrocities. This happened many centuries ago. " Trevor stopped short. He looked away from Irena and turned away, barely noticeably clenching his fists. After a minute of silence, he exhaled and continued - “But this is a long story. We northerners don't like to talk about them. "

-“That’s not necessary. Tell me, how did you end up in Oskhen? What brought you here?".

-“I thought I belonged in Ardal, but I was wrong. Therefore, I went on to travel the world. I have no regrets because I have visited almost every corner of the continent and have seen a lot. So I live, moving from one place to another, lifting curses from baronial castles with gorgeous sorceresses. Irena smiled at Trevor, who lit his pipe and asked, “What about you? Where are you from? And how did you become a sorceress?

-“I was born and raised in a small town in the southern part of Oskhen. My father is a rich merchant, and an avid traveler, so we see him very rarely. My mother is also a sorceress, who spends her life healing the diseases of the unfortunate. She taught me the basics of magic and then sent me to study at Frando College. I graduated with honors, and for several years taught elemental magic and illusion to senior college students. Teaching magic is fun, but I didn't want to spend my whole life in college. I dreamed of seeing the world. Therefore, I began to travel and make a living by healing people, just like my mother. But sometimes it gets boring too, and I take on all sorts of tasks, such as lifting curses. I'm somewhat attracted to adventure and danger, so in a way, Trevor, we have a lot in common”.

-“I also have a sister. As a child, she showed no propensity for magic, so she chose a different path, which is not surprising due to her combative spirit. She is the only woman in Oskhen to have won the Royal Fencing Championships for 5 years in a row. She’s a real celebrity in these lands. I am sure that she would have easily defeated you in a duel! "

Trevor was indignant - “Are you out of your mind, woman?! You think Trevor the Blackbeard is so easy to defeat ?! For a long time, he expressed his displeasure as they rode on horseback through the valley. After a while, Irena said - “Look Trevor, I think I can see the silhouette of Mount Skon. We're almost there".

The valley’s bright colors gradually turned darker. It started to rain. They didn’t even notice how the fairy world turned into a cold gray wasteland. An hour later, they came to the village.

It was a mournful, devastated village. Only fear and despair could be seen in the eyes of the malnourished inhabitants. Trevor dismounted and walked over to the man who was chopping wood outside his house. "Good day! Where can I find the chief of your village? " The villager looked at Trevor and said - “What brings you here, stranger? Honestly, you look like a bandit to me, and if I’m right, I’ve got bad news for you. The locals can barely make ends meet. Here’s nothing to line your pockets. You better leave, now.

- “I’m not a rogue, and I won’t harm you. On the contrary, I want to help you. My companion and I came here to lift the curse from Mount Skon.

-"Then you have come to certain death! Better get out of here if life is dear to you. No one has yet returned from the trail of the dead. "

-"I know that. And I know how everything started. A strong sorceress is here with me. She will help to destroy the evil hiding on the mountain and lift the curse from the village forever.

- “Sorcerers also came here, neither of them has returned ...

-“Listen here, peasant! We're not leaving. Just tell me where is the chief, and go on chopping your wood. "

-“Old Wieland's house is to the right side of the well in the center of the village. I hope that after talking with him you will change your mind and will not ruin your lives. "

-"Thank you. Goodbye." Trevor turned and walked away. On his way back, he shouted - “Irena! Come on, I found out where the chief lives. "

A few minutes later, they stood on the threshold of an old, scuffed house. Irena knocked on the door. “Sir Wieland, please open the door. We need to talk. " The door of the house opened slowly, and a frail man with a long gray beard stepped out onto the threshold. He was leaning on a wooden stick, with his colorless eyes staring into the void. He was blind. In a barely audible hoarse voice, he said - "I know who you, and why are you here."

As they entered the old man’s house, the first thing they saw was a table set for three people. “Residents of Ulekh are poor, so please forgive me for such a modest table, dear guests. All I can give you is a glass of homebrew and a bowl of pottage. Please, have a seat. " They sat down in silence, while the village chief continued to speak - “I saw you in my dreams ... A wolf, born amidst the dark, frozen glaciers and you, sorceress. You have come to destroy the evil that lives on the summit of mount Skon. Isn't this task too dangerous for people who hardly know each other? He raised his shaking hand and pointed at Trevor. “You are a stranger to fear. I can barely hear your heartbeat. Could it be because you have already met the evil living in the darkness? The one that eternally thirsts for human blood?

Trevor loudly smashed his glass on the table and frowned as the old man moved his hand to Irena. –

- “What about you sorceress? Maybe you know which manuscripts Ozerd studied and what he was trying to prevent? Maybe you already guessed what secrets are kept in the castle?

- “Irena, I would not eat the pottage. The old man loves to pour fly agarics into it, and then tell tales in a drunken haze. We are wasting our time, he is out of his mind, ”Trevor said angrily.

- “I don't feel any magic in your house, sir Wieland, so don't pretend to be a clairvoyant. Unfortunately, your rhetorical questions are useless for us. You’d better tell us more about the castle on the mountain, and how the curse affects the villagers. "

-"You have made your choice, sorceress ..." Wieland sighed heavily, took a sip of the pottage, and went on:

- “Everything has changed after Ozerd von Vickroft had died. People could not come to their senses for a long time after that event. The forest around the trail was burnt to the ground, and the curse has partially affected our fields. With such little harvest, we can hardly survive each winter. Because of hunger and fear, most of the villagers left a long time ago. Only a few stayed. The old and sick, and a handful of poor fellows who had nowhere to go. You already know that everyone who has ever set foot on the trail has never returned. You know that we asked for help, but nobody responded. Over time, we got used to such miserable life ...

-“For a while, strange things no longer happened in our village. The folk no longer heard solemn moans near the trail. The stench of the dead was gone. Life went on as usual ... until recently. People became indifferent, so languid and detached as if a dark spell had enslaved their minds. This has been occurring over the past few months, just when the disappearances began. Two young women are currently missing. Selena, who stayed here to care for her sick husband, and Anna, a widow, who has two children and an old mother to care for. The relatives of the women seem to have lost their minds. They claim they do not know who Selena and Anna are, and have never heard of them. I advise you not to waste time if you decide to discuss the disappearance of women with their relatives "

Wieland stood up, leaning on his stick. His gray lifeless eyes gazed directly at Trevor and Irene. “I can feel the evil magic poisoning our minds. Our days on this earth are numbered... Soon the darkness will devour us all ... ".

- “Come on Trevor, I've heard enough, I'll explain everything a little later,” Irena whispered.

- “Thank you, sir Wieland. Don't worry, your suffering will end soon. " When they left the chief’s house, they felt the glance of the villagers, who silently watched them from different parts of the village. "And what did you find out from the stories of that crazy old man?"

-“We’re running out of time Trevor. At dawn, we must depart to the castle. But we cannot stay here either. When we came here I noticed a small clearing in the woods, east of the village. We need to go there and set up camp to prepare for battle. "

- “To fight with what? And why can't we spend the night in some local tavern? If it even exists here… "

-“Now I have only an idea of what we are going to face. Scourge sorcery is very hard to feel, but if the old man is telling the truth, then we cannot stay. Residents can behave unpredictably. Moreover, our consciousness can be damaged. Therefore, it is better to protect ourselves. Do you have any magic charms? "They are tattooed on my body." “Great, maybe I know a spell that can enhance their defense. I’m not sure that it will work, but it's worth a try. Let's go quickly, we'd better not stay here. "