Commander Braghaman Larethian

Missing Students

Brother Sammuel stepped briskly through the main hall of the abby and stopped at the entrance to the Library wing. The paladin took a moment to calm his breathing before opening the door and stepping inside. He immediately saw Sister Annetta and Marshal McBride sitting at one of the tables and whispering animatedly. The paladin trainer stepped over to the table and stood quietly. After a moment, the marshal nodded and then looked up.

“What news, brother?”

“They have completed a head count. There are two individuals missing?”

“Who?” asked Sister Anetta.

“Krista and Sabina.”

“They’re sure?”

“Yes, ma’am. They’ve checked all the rooms. No one can account for either of them since breakfast yesterday morning. They have not been to their lessons in the last two days.”

“Why didn’t anyone notice before now?” Sister Anetta asked.

“They don’t share any classes. Individually, no one realized anything.”

“Perhaps they went to the village? Decided to take an unannounced vacation?”

“That’s possible. We could dispatch someone to check.”

“Anything else?” Marshall McBride asked, putting his elbow on the table and leaning his cheek against his hand.

“We’re not sure, sir. I found something along the tree line behind the abbey.”

“What’s that?”

“A couple of candles and more of those drawings in the dirt. Like the ones we saw before.”

“You’re sure they’re the same?” asked Sister Anetta with widening eyes.

“Fairly sure, ma’am. But in addition, we found the body of a kobold. It had been pretty badly cut up.”

“Could’ve been the Blackrock acting up,” Marshal McBride offered.

“I don’t think so, sir,” Brother Sammuel replied. “They don’t seem all that bothered by the kobolds. And then there’s the presence of the candles.”

“Get a search party together,” Sister Anetta said, turning to look at the Marshal. “We need to find those two girls before something happens to them.”

“Agreed. Brother, gather some of the trainees and have them ready to move out in thirty minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” Brother Sammuel said. The paladin took a moment to salute the marshal before turning and leaving the hall quickly.

“We need to find them quickly,” Sister Anetta said urgently.

“We will, priestess.”