As Novek came back into the inn, the smallholder and her partner had moved to one side and were deep in private discussion. He decided he'd give them space for now and looked for the other witnesses to the events on the wagon. The farm owner, the village head, and the youth from the wagon moved to occupy one of the small tables. The driver was the one he wanted to question, but they were still out in the stables. He moved near the small table, but remained standing and listened in.

  “… no idea what happened. Something leapt out of the woods in front of the horses maybe ten minutes ago. I didn't see or hear anything. I was in back with Neshell, and we got slammed to the floor when the horses reared. All I know is one slipped the yoke and ran, the remaining one went out of its mind and ran towards the town. It only just happened outside of town — Mercer might have seen something, ask him when he comes in.”

  He glanced at Novek momentarily but then immediately looked away. Novek was used to it.

  The farm owner answered, “Alright, glad you're safe, Lennert. We'd been worried.”

  “Worried about what? What's happened?”

  “There was an attack this morning in the fields on the farm and Neshell's place. Six hands are dead, Cristo and Jonns included. I'm sorry.”

  “What? How?” Lennert, apparently, looked around at the assembled group. The youth had a faint tang that smelled like sweat and fear about him. Probably terrified after that ride.

  “Some shadowy beasts or something, out in the fields around dawn. Nobody saw a damn thing, just dark shapes in the rows.”

  “What? Oh, no. Both Cristo and Jonns? What'll I do?” Lennert was half mumbling to himself at this point, shaking visibly. Poor kid, thought Novek.

  “Don't worry about the harvest; you'll get paid, we'll take care of you.” That was the farm owner — Novek's estimation of him went up a notch at that.

  “Was… was it fast? Did they say anything before they died?”

  “No, they never had a chance. It was over before anyone could get help. We're all holed up here in case there's another attack.”

  “So, they're still out there?” Lennert had gone ashen. “I… I could use a drink.”

  “Sure, sure. I'll get you something. Be right back.” The farm owner stepped away towards the bar to get the promised drink.

  Lennert sat and stared out into the middle distance for a minute, then into his drink once it arrived. The village head and farm owner waited a few minutes, but the conversation did not resume. They stood and went to talk elsewhere, to give him space.

  Novek decided to go check on the smallholder's wife, Neshell; the two were still talking, less animatedly now, so Novek decided it was time to interrupt.

  “Hi, Neshell, is it? Do you have a moment?” Novek tried to sound non-threatening. He hoped it worked.

  “Hello. Novek, is it? Tenny told me that you're helping with defense? That there was an attack?”

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  “That's right. I wasn't here for the attack itself, but yes, I'm here to help with the defense. I don't want to take up much of your time, but I was hoping you might have seen something that could help. Identifying characteristics, sounds, behaviors, anything.”

  “I didn't see anything, sorry. I was in the back of the cart with Lennert.”

  Strike two, it seemed. “No problem at all, thanks for your time.” Novek stepped back and turned to face towards the door, looking for the driver.

  The quiet discussion between the two resumed. Novek didn't need to try to overhear in a room like this, he simply couldn't avoid it, with his inhuman ears.

  “I'm sorry I was upset — I know you just had your own scare. It's been a stressful day. I was going out of my mind when you were late, imagining all the things that could have happened.”

  “I'm sorry to have made you worry. I didn't want to be this late, but Lennert was late to meet us at the stables and insisted we wait for someone, but they never showed. Mercer and I had enough after an hour and said we'd leave without him. I won't take him with us next time we go to market, anyway. He was distracted the whole time and barely helped us unload. Then ran off to a bar as soon as he thought he could get away with it.”

  “I'll talk to Rhett about it when this is over. I don't know Lennert well enough to tolerate that — he's only here for the harvest with his friends. I won't have a lazy drunk working our lands.”

  The conversation became more intimately private after that, and Novek aimed himself towards the driver, who'd clearly finished with the horse and entered a few minutes before.

  The wagon driver had made his way immediately to the bar, and had a death grip on mug handle that Novek could see shaking slightly every time he lifted it to his mouth for a drink.

  He felt bad having to approach the man so soon, but time was pressing — dusk was almost here, if that even meant anything. He went for the direct approach.

  “Hello, Mercer? I've got a few questions for you if you have a moment.”

  Mercer looked to the side at Novek, but didn't turn his head to stop drinking. “You the brinny offering to help defend? The head man pointed you out but didn't say much else. I don't mean to be rude by not shaking hands, but it's shaking bad enough already.”

  “I understand. This won't take long. I just wanted to ask if you saw anything when your horses got spooked. The other two didn't, so that only leaves you. Sorry.”

  “It's alright. I can't be out there searching for Ace with whatever's going on, so not like I've got better to do.” He took another drink, a little steadier this time.

  “The only thing I saw was a dark shape on the road and a pair of bright green eyes looking right at me. Didn't last more than a second or two, and then it was just gone. Blinked and vanished. A few seconds later the horses reared up like the road was blocked, but there was nothing there. I didn't have them in full harness as they don't spook easy, just the half yoke. Ace ducked out under it and ran into the trees at full gallop. Chestnut bolted and almost worked herself into a lather like she was being chased the whole way back, but if there was something, I never saw it. Once we hit the edge of town she calmed some. After that you saw her as we came to the stables — you're a bit hard to miss.”

  “Anything else you may have noticed? Sounds, smells, anything?”

  “Nope, nothing at all. Other than the horses it was dead silent. Which is a bit odd now that I think on it — but maybe whatever it was spooked the birds and such, as well.”

  “Okay, one last question; how big would you say the shape on the road was?”

  “Hard to say exactly from up in the seat. Knee height, maybe? Think you know what it was?”

  “I might. Wouldn't want to say, though, can't have people behaving like we know for certain. Thanks for your time, Mercer.”

  Mercer nodded and raised his drink in farewell, then took a sip. No point wasting the motion.

  It was at this point that one of the sentries they'd posted in a closed up shop across the road knocked on the door and shouted in, “Hey, Mercer, you in here? I think Ace is nickering to be let in the stables.”

  Mercer was out the door like a shot, his drink instantly forgotten. He was almost to the stables by the time Novek had just made it out the door. There was in fact a bay-colored horse, pawing calmly at the ground just outside the stable door.

  “Huh.” And now Novek was really confused.