The silence of the forest caught Aurelia's attention. Moments before birds had chirped at each other, warning away rivals, calling to mates. Squirrels chattered as they worked their way into fir cones. But now there was nothing. The shabbily dressed traveler looked around, searching the trees for a disturbance. Nothing ahead of him, nothing behind. Finally, far off to the left, hidden behind a tall shrub, Aurelia noticed a dark shadow in the midst of a sun beam. The wizard groaned. Another ghoul. In daylight. His research was far from complete, but it was another sign. Events were turning to a climax. Time was running out. He needed more time, to uncover the tools, the weapons needed to survive the coming war.

Hurrying now, Aurelia started dodging between trees. If his memory was correct, the compound he was heading for was just on the other side of the hill. A glance back told him the ghoul was following. Not close, not yet, but not leaving him alone. The decaying refuse of evil was little threat to the elderly wizard, but he was not wearing any armor, not wielding any weapons other than his staff. And he had plenty of reason to avoid a magical conflict, out on the edge of the kingdom territory. Too much noise and other, darker, more dangerous enemies would begin searching for him, and he didn't have the time for them. Avoiding the ghoul, reaching the fortified walls of the forestry settlement, that was his best course.

Long dark hair, streaked with gray, whirled around Aurelia's head as he crested the forested rise. Though he counted several centuries under his belt, the wizard barely looked past his fortieth year. Magic had its perks. But it didn't make him move any faster, not without attracting attention. But the ghoul wasn't approaching, rushing with the speed of an undead minion. The hesitancy alarmed Aurelia more than if it had approached. It was watching him, observing him. That was a problem. Aurelia couldn't afford for his mission to be compromised. Magic had to be used.

A silent magical trap was set. Aurelia started running, and the ghoul sped up. Suddenly it froze, then vanished beneath the soft earth. The weight enchantment worked perfectly. The ghoul was now several yards beneath roots and loam. And it wouldn't be escaping any time soon to report back to whomever sent it.

Aurelia dropped to a walk as he saw the walls of the compound. Several roofs were visible above the rocky edifice, including a steeply sloped structure. The old monastery of Gloren. His destination, where he hoped to find the records he needed, hidden behind a fake wall in the cellar.