Celeste - After days of crossing The Hardlands the sight of Eldred's Cross was a welcome relief. Though the port city was favorable to the open wastes that surround it, it is hardly a safe haven. It had been nearly two years since I last set foot here.

I had arrived by ship with three hundred members of the Viletta 3rd Pike. Most of us were inexperienced, myself included. Most of those that survived our time at The Chalice are home now. My calling has taken me beyond the scope of my duties as company commander. The order of the Madrigala have accepted me into their ranks. My recent mission confirmed my membership. Among my sisters I am called Faith, but those who knew me before my appointment still call me by my birth name.

I waited for a quarter of an hour before I was admitted into the city. A line of merchants and peddlers was already twenty deep by the time I arrived. I could see and smell the thriving city beyond the gatehouse. As I neared the front of the line I observed several familiar faces gathered around a cafe table. (Sipping puchino, if I had to guess.) Enzo, was sitting there with the other members of the party. He seemed pensive. I caught myself smiling as the tariff chief addressed me. I paid the entrance fee and moved into the shade of the gatehouse. I had waited several weeks for this reunion. Things were different now. The feelings stirring inside me were out of pace with my reconfirmed vows. How would I explain this to Enzo.

I tucked my remaining coins into a pouch. As I looked up Enzo was striding toward me. Before I could tighten the strings on my pouch we were locked in an embrace. My body tingled at his touch. This was not going to be easy on either of us.

We joined the others and I said my hellos. Just as I was readying myself to settle in, a voice called out to us from behind. I turned to see a silver haired man dressed in a constables uniform. He introduced himself as High Constable Edmund Payne. He directed his conversation at Lord Hellebore, but it was clear that we were all meant to listen in. He indicated that we should follow him to his office at the fort behind him.

We followed him into the bailey then to a low stone building. In his office, reviewing a map of the realm were two people. One dressed at a traveling priest and the other wore stripes Identifying her as a captain. The High Constable introduce Father Jericho and Captain Kirkland. Sir Payne instructed us as to the handling of the prisoner and showed us his conveyance. Then we followed him to a reinforced door. After descending a flight of stairs. The man in the cell had a scholarly look about him. but my knowledge of evil is not fooled by gentle facades. This man is a hunter of men. His skill and command of arcane arts makes him a monster more vile than the raving trolls of the hardlands.

His transfer to the rolling cage went without incident. I couldn't help but see him as a wolf in sheep's skins. His kind rarely had companions. Rescue by outside forces during our journey seems unlikely. The only real threat was climbing into that rolling cage under his own power.

We departed the city without fanfare. The desolation of The Hardlands quickly claimed us. Soon civilization was far behind us. The trappings of civilization lay strewn about us on the road. The story of so many soldiers marching up this dusty road was told in the articles discarded on the way. No sooner had I reached civilization that another mission swept me away. I suppose I should get used to this lifestyle.

We encountered a burned out church a few days out of The Cross. More remarkable than the idea that someone built a church out here was that there was a survivor. Sister Lilly was what she called herself. Though I sensed no malice in her, a madness had descended on her that was only fueled by her religious convictions. The loss of her parents and husband to Hardland's trolls surely proved the tipping point in her unfortunate state of mind.

Calais has been dutiful in conducting the prisoner (Cypress Long) despite his habit of verbally taunting his handlers. Security is tight and nothing is overlooked to insure safety.

The next day we encountered an Imperial dispatch rider. He was conducting a message from Lord Aiden to Duke Eldered. Speed was his protection against the predators of The Hardlands. We traded one of our fresh horses for his weary steed and soon he was on his way.

Though Enzo had been enthusiastic in his greeting back at The Cross, he seemed focused on the mission now. I know at some point we will need to discuss our future and our relationship. I had consulted other members of my order prior to renewing my vows. There was no room for casual encounters in the holy contract. The only affordance for carnal gratification would be through holy matrimony. This was considered a distraction to the Madrigala order since my duties would ill afford a companion and I would likely be on assignment for weeks or months at a time. My love for him is undiminished, but St. Catherine assures me that there is grave need of my skills in the coming weeks that require a pure heart and a virtuous nature. I will be tested. Those with me will be tested as well and there is no room for compromise.

That night as we beat back the harshness of the surrounding land with stories of our past and hopes for the future. We were once again treated to a visit by trolls. The encounter was brief, but it was final for four members of Kirkland's corps. Her original compliment of thirty had been reduced to twenty-five since our departure. It had become too easy to see the men as numbers, a result of the pass wars that was not lost on me. Some day our humanity may be recaptured. For now the mission must come first.

Early afternoon the next day found us encountering the Grand Inquisitor and his entourage traveling south with the bell. He is known to me by reputation. It is unlikely he has any love for us due to his close association with Bishop Sebastian. Their forced numbered over two hundred. AMong them were several acquaintances and dear friends.

It was good to see William of Whiteoak, he has shed much of the boyish nature that accompanied him on his arrival at The Chalice. His news regarding the loss of Lady Gianna DeErrico was devastating. Corman and the others seemed to feel the loss a dearly as I. Friar Cenzi was quick to offer remembrances and lift the spirits of all.

There had been discussion, when we first encountered the caravan of revealing our suspicions regarding the true nature of the bell. Friar Cenzi pulled Enzo aside prior to our meal with the Grad Inquisitor. When he returned form his walk he instructed us to keep our knowledge quiet for now. The church caravan travelled in style. Treating us to a meal worthy of nobility here in this inhospitable land.

We spent the night at the turn-off to Iron Trees. We were now two days from our destination. That night we shared the company of old friends and remembering those who had not survived our time on the mountain.

The next morning we said farewell to the caravan and sister Lilly. The desolate road west was bereft of the litter of passing soldiers. After a time even the Joshua trees seemed to abandon us. Dust and wind became our companions. Later they were joined by sand. The combination found us scrambling to cover our bare skin and filter the stinging sand and choking dust with rags and bandanas. We spotted a creature that Captain Kirkland identified as a Gimp. Some kind of a cross between a Dervi and a Wog. The village we were approaching was home to their kind and would offer us shelter from the storm.

We entered Easter Wog late in the afternoon, as best I could tell with the sun obscured by the sandstorm. The Wog were a shy people and avoided us at every turn. We were eventually greeted by the Wog leader who shetered our animals in a barn a treated us to a meager meal in the longhouse across the road from the barn. Everything here was effected by the harshness of the land. The Wog seemed toughened against the sand at the expenditure of their softer features. All here was sand weathered and sun bleached. An outraged Dervi made an appearance at dinner and stormed out after a brief discourse with the Wog leader. I thought the Dervi might beat the Wog for some breach of conduct outside our understanding. With full bellies we retired for the evening with a "thank you" to our generous host.