Priestess of the Black Order

The wind had changed, the dry easterly air becoming colder as it now came from the west alerting her that a storm would be arriving just after nightfall. Just another in a growing list of issues to be dealt with today it seemed.

Ursa's gaze turned from the growing dark of the western horizon to the vale where the party tracking her was slowly but surely gaining ground.

It was clear to her now that these were no common bounty hunters nor even Church paid Assassins like those that she'd been forced to deal with in the Dales in the months before. No these were dedicated and single minded individuals with no regard for either the cold or hardship of the mountainous terrain.

Knights of the Temple perhaps or even Cleric's from one of the Churches newly formed martial orders she had been hearing whispers about of late.

Standing on the icy ledge overlooking the vale Ursa watched as the eight men on horseback pushed through the snow following her invisible path with what she could only describe as a grim determination.

Ursa could sigh softly, cursing under her breath at the fact that it was likely her own fault that these dogs in the service of the church had picked up her scent. She had been stupid to think that stopping in the township in the weeks before for supplies would go unnoticed this close to Sarnia's borders.

It was clear to her now that they'd overtake her soon enough. Likely sometime after nightfall and there was no advantage in facing them in the open. No she'd need to do more than simply be ready to face these dogs. She'd needed to deal with them and someplace where she'd have the advantage.

As much as she hated the idea the reality was that the only place she'd have that advantage would be in the haunted ruins of Gray Haven.

...