Chapter 101: The search
The guards left to search for the people whose names the old council member had given them. Rylan remained in the room, still looking at the affected beastmen while Anaria held the piece of cloth containing the dark residue.
"We need to know more about this," Anaria said.
Rylan nodded and turned toward the older council member. "You said Zane kept the expedition secret. How much did you actually know?"
The man lowered his head. "Very little, my Lord. Zane rarely shared information with the council. He told us what we needed to know and nothing more."
"Did he ever mention this substance?" Anaria asked.
"No."
"Did anyone handle it?"
The council member thought for a moment. "His personal guards, perhaps. Some of the beastmen who returned with him. But I never saw them using it."
Rylan’s expression tightened. "Where did he keep it?"
"I don’t know."
The answer clearly frustrated him. He looked toward the guards. "Take us to Zane’s old quarters."
They left the hall and moved through the Lord’s residence until they reached the rooms Zane had occupied. Most of his belongings had been removed, but several pieces of furniture remained.
Rylan searched the cabinets while Anaria checked the shelves and storage areas. They found old clothing, empty containers and a few personal items, but nothing connected to the northern expedition.
There were no records, no containers of the strange powder and no information that could explain how it had reached Wolfrine.
Rylan opened another cabinet and found it completely empty.
"He planned for this," he said.
Anaria nodded. "He didn’t leave anything useful behind."
They continued searching until there was nothing left to check.
Rylan finally stepped away. "Nothing."
Anaria looked around the room. "Then we’ll have to ask the people who worked for him."
They returned to the main hall and began questioning the remaining servants and guards who had served under Zane. Most of them knew nothing. Some had never been allowed near his private quarters, while others had simply followed orders without asking questions.
One servant remembered the northern expedition but couldn’t say what had been brought back. Another remembered several injured beastmen returning with Zane but couldn’t remember their names.
Then an older beastman who had been standing quietly at the back finally spoke.
"There was someone."
Rylan turned toward him. "Who?"
The beastman hesitated before continuing. "I don’t know if it will help, but there was one beastman who stayed close to Zane after the expedition. He wasn’t part of the council, but Zane trusted him."
Anaria looked at him. "What was his name?"
"Varek."
Rylan repeated the name quietly. "Varek."
The beastman nodded. "He was usually with Zane whenever he left Wolfrine."
"Where is he now?" Rylan asked.
"He left several days ago."
Rylan’s expression changed.
"Before the outbreaks?"
"Yes."
"Where did he go?"
"I don’t know exactly, but someone saw him near one of the settlements."
Anaria exchanged a look with Rylan.
"When?"
"A few days before people started becoming sick."
Rylan immediately turned toward the guards.
"Find him."
The guards left immediately.
Several hours passed before they returned, bringing a beastman with his hands tied behind his back. Two guards walked on either side of him as they brought him into the hall.
Rylan stood.
"Varek?"
The beastman said nothing.
One of the guards stepped forward. "We found him hiding near the western forest."
Rylan studied him for a moment before asking, "You were seen near the settlements before the outbreaks. Why?"
"I was travelling."
"Where?"
"Just travelling."
Rylan’s expression hardened. "You served Zane."
Varek’s eyes shifted briefly before he looked away.
"You know something," Rylan said.
"I know nothing about any outbreak."
Anaria watched him carefully. She noticed the way he avoided looking at the affected beastmen nearby.
Rylan continued, "People became sick after you were seen near their settlements. The same corruption has now reached Wolfrine, and we found a substance connected to an expedition Zane led. You disappeared before the outbreaks began."
Varek remained silent.
Rylan turned to the guards. "Take him to the holding room."
The guards reached for him, but Varek suddenly resisted.
"Wait."
Rylan stopped.
Varek looked at him.
"You won’t understand."
"Then explain it."
Varek lowered his head. "Zane gave me something."
Anaria’s attention sharpened.
"What did he give you?" she asked.
Varek hesitated.
"Powder."
Rylan’s expression changed.
"The same substance we found on the sick?"
Varek nodded.
"He told me to take it to certain settlements and leave it where people would come into contact with it."
"Why?" Rylan asked.
"He said it would weaken them."
Anaria frowned. "Did he tell you what it would do to their bodies?"
"No."
Varek looked troubled.
"I knew it was dangerous, but I didn’t know it would make them lose control."
Rylan stared at him.
"You knew it was dangerous and still did it."
Varek didn’t answer.
Anaria looked at him carefully. "How long has Zane been doing this?"
"Not long."
"Where is he?"
Varek hesitated again.
Rylan stepped closer. "Tell me."
"He’s in the northern forest."
Rylan’s eyes narrowed.
"Where exactly?"
"There’s an old hunting camp beyond the northern ridge. Zane has been staying there with a few loyal beastmen."
The room became quiet.
Anaria thought about everything they had discovered since the first beastmen became corrupted. The settlements, the strange powder, the spreading condition and now Zane’s involvement.
Rylan turned toward the guards.
"Prepare a group to leave."
One of them bowed and immediately left.
Varek looked at him. "You’re going after him?"
Rylan’s expression hardened.
"Yes."
Anaria stepped closer to him.
"We should be careful. We still don’t know how much of the corruption he’s carrying or what else he has."
Rylan nodded.
"I know."
Kenai and Kai approached from the other side of the hall.
"We’re coming," Kenai said.
Rylan looked at them but didn’t argue.
Kai glanced toward Anaria. "And you’re coming too."
Anaria nodded.
They had finally found where Zane was hiding.
But none of them knew what they would find when they reached the northern forest.