One could make a considerable amount of objections against using a dead woman's nymph blood for protection. Time and safety were, however, of the essence. Audren and Terry had a curse to break.

Using the wraithsbane staff to keep the wraiths away, the pair managed to escape Malodell unscathed. Their horses had been similarly fortunate: the animals had fled back to Nymphenwald in Audren and Terry's absence, where they grazed peacefully, unbothered by the undead. The lord and the mage, in dire need of further transportation, took control of them again. On horseback, they sped away from Nymphenwald, back into Santonshire and towards the mountains from there.

Though his body still protested, Audren made it through hours of travel at the fastest speed they could realistically achieve. He knew his realm well, and once their horses set foot onto rocky mountain terrain, he knew exactly where to go, which obscure, winding roads to take to get to Anahill while encountering a minimal amount of Cursed. He and Terry passed babbling creeks, lush valleys and recently-abandoned villages where the Cursed now hunted in small groups. Audren didn't dare stop and admire his home's beautiful surroundings like he usually did.

When the pair reached Anahill and Audren could see the city walls and his castle, he instantly had to suppress his concern. The large herd of Cursed of which his scouts had brought news had gathered before the city gate, clamouring for blood and flesh in their typical snarls and grunts. With so many people from nearby villages brought to Anahill, it was to be expected the Cursed would be drawn there most of all. But as much as Audren benefitted from the protection of inhuman blood, it still wouldn't be wise to wade through a sea of Cursed without a second thought.

"Do you think you could contact Dyna like you did before?" he asked Terry. "We can't enter through the gate. Request she bring an old siege ladder for us."

So it was done. A conversation, a bit of waiting, and there Audren saw his sibling appear on the walls, accompanied by two guards who placed the ladder for their convenience. As Audren climbed up, a myriad of emotions buzzed in his soul: happiness and relief that Dyna lived, that his people hadn't yet fallen victim to the Cursed, but also worry about what his sister would say and fear for all still to come.

If he failed, if his idea turned out to be wrong, there'd be no way back. He'd die.

And so would everyone else.

"Audren, Terry! Good to see you back safe and sound." Dyna gave Audren a weak smile when he set foot on the walkway. "I'd hug you both, but you look like living nightmares whose only bath in the past few days has been in a tub full of bloody pig guts."

"Oh, really?" Terry deadpanned. "And here I was thinking we looked dashing."

Audren grimaced. "Lovely to see you, too, Dyna." He glanced around, down at the streets and buildings below. The only living souls he saw out and about were soldiers and watchmen. "It's... awfully quiet here."

Dyna nodded, a grave expression replacing the happiness from before. Though it seemed like she'd managed to catch a few hours of sleep in the end, she still looked worn to the bone. "We've brought in so many villagers who all needed temporary housing that we hardly had time to check them all for, for... bites. I've implemented quarantine measures like Mother and Father did when the plague came ten years ago. Everyone's confined to either their home or buildings of current residence. Our soldiers and watchmen are enforcing the quarantine. Unpleasant, but we'll be able to control a potential outbreak much better that way."

Clever, and convenient, too. With no offense meant to his people, Audren didn't want to collect the opinions of everyone and their grandmother when it came to what he was about to suggest.

"I see I've left the city in capable hands."

"Of course you did." Dyna waved the two guards who'd brought the ladder away with a go on, you two, you're needed by the gate. Her gaze met Audren's, alarmingly piercing. "But we haven't any time to waste. You set out to find a way to break the curse. Did you find one? Or will we need to rely on the strength of our walls and gate?"

Audren swallowed hard. "I believe I know how we can break the curse. But when I tell you about it, you'll want to throttle me."

"We're siblings. I want to throttle you at all times. Out with it."

"Fine. We need to open the gate. We need to welcome the Cursed in."

He gave that sentence some time to sink in. A silence fell in which he could've heard a pin drop. Dyna opened and closed her mouth in disbelief a few times and roughly thirty different emotions showed on her face within seconds. Which was impressive, for Audren had been certain far fewer emotions existed.

Unfortunately, he recognised the emotion his sister finally settled on with ease: Anger.

"What did you just say?"

Audren held his hands up in defense. "Before you declare me insane, let me explain, will you? I'll keep it brief. We found Countess Limnaia and Terry ended up talking to the spirit of the mage responsible for this mess. As it turns out, he'd been in the process of losing his faith in humanity for a good while, and then Limnaia shattered it beyond repair. Apparently, she has... had a sadistic side. She'd dress as a beggar with one of her servants, try to get invited into peasant homes, and if it worked, they'd torture the poor souls to death."

"Are you sure we're thinking about the same Limnaia?"

"I'd say I got a pretty good look at her when she wanted to pull my teeth out with pincers. Yes, Dyna, I'm sure." Audren resumed his story. "Either way, Terry told me all Credi said, and it got me thinking. The man wanted someone to break his curse. He wanted to make a point. There's one thing he said that stuck with me. In what world should kindness and hospitality be punished so harshly? Society as Credi perceived it lacked kindness and hospitality. If we give this curse a display of those things, we might be able to avoid... punishment."

Dyna took a deep breath. "You're saying that, if we're hospitable and allow the Cursed into the city, they might not tear us apart."

Audren nodded. "Precisely. Have you seen them up close, Dyna? They're remarkably human. They all carry traces of the person they used to be. You see it in their clothes, their hairstyles, their faces. Maybe they even feel, deep down. Maybe we shouldn't see them as something other, but rather as... the friends and family they used to be. Humans no different from us. And maybe we should treat them that way."

"Audren. Audren." The look in Dyna's eyes had gone from disbelieving to merely sceptical. "Your arguments hold more water than I expected, but if you're wrong... the carnage will be disastrous. Don't you see that?" She turned to Terry. "What are your thoughts on this?"

Terry, who looked like she'd much rather have been a neutral observer to this discussion, sighed and crossed her arms. "I don't like this, but whether I like it or not is irrelevant. The idea has potential. The best curses tend to be simple to break, but the way to do it will often be so undesirable it's unlikely to occur to people naturally. Opening the gate is terribly easy, but not many would make a conscious effort to allow the Cursed into their home. Certainly not on a grand scale."

"So you're backing Audren?"

"Yes. The way I see it, we can open that gate and either live or die. If we choose to keep it closed, we'll survive for now, but it won't last. The moment our resources run out, we're done for. If the Cursed breach the gate, we're also done for. Only a miracle could still save us, then."

"Dyna," Audren pleaded, "I don't need your permission to give the order to open the gate. I'm Lord of the Mountains. But I want your permission, because you've handled our affairs here well, and because I value your opinion. Please take what we've told you seriously and decide for yourself if it's worth the risk."

He held his breath while Dyna thought, her expression conflicted above all. He couldn't force her to see things his way, but he prayed to the gods she would. What would he even do if she refused to carry out this curse-breaking plan? Respect her advice and wishes as usual? Or would the situation call for him to bypass her completely, to take matters into his own hands?

Finally, Dyna turned to the stairs leading down. "History will remember you as a hero or a fool, dear brother."

"Isn't that the case for everyone?"

Dyna simply motioned for Terry to follow her. "Come on, Kalister. I'll need your help scaring the soldiers into complying when Audren gives his order."

Permission to act. Audren's heart hammered in his chest as he willed himself to move, breaking out into a run over the walkway in the gate's direction. The closer he got, the louder the snarling and growling of the Cursed became. The undead pushed and clawed at the large wooden doors; despite Dyna's fortifications and the soldiers standing guard, Audren wondered how long they'd persist against a continual assault.

He looked down at the herd and hesitated. Was he supposed to order his men to open the gates and leave it at that? Or would he have to state his intentions more elaborately, just to be sure? How official a welcome would be enough to break the curse?

He wouldn't take any risks and chose to speak.

"I don't know to what extent you understand what I'm saying," Audren began, addressing the Cursed directly. Some looked up, drawn in by the sound of his voice. "I also don't know to what extent you care. But I care. And what I want to tell you is that, in spite of it all, you aren't monsters. You're victims, just like us. Victims of an embittered man who wished to make a statement. But while his message may be admirable, it will never excuse the method and what was done to you and us alike."

He tried to stay calm about what was to come, but couldn't stop his hands from shaking.

"I don't recognise any of you," he continued, "and truthfully, I don't want to. It would hurt me a lot. But some of you were my family, friends or acquaintances. Most of you were strangers I would've liked to meet if the circumstances had been different. But you were all human. So I'll be humane to you and welcome you into my home as guests. In return, I only ask you treat us with the respect and consideration I'm showing you."

He didn't wait for an answer, knowing it wouldn't come. Instead, he turned around and found his way to the ground like his sister before him. "Open the gate!" he called out to the men below, his own voice distant to his ears. He heard a shout and creaking wood, proof of his command being obeyed. It seemed Terry and Dyna had been convincing, though Audren wouldn't be surprised if more blood manipulation had been involved.

I need to be there, he thought to himself as the opening doors came into view, I need to see. He passed Terry and Dyna, even his soldiers, who'd retreated fast after their job was done. It was Audren who stood in front of everyone, the first person any entering Cursed would encounter.

If his theory was wrong, he'd be the first to die. And that would only be appropriate.

The Cursed seemed almost confused at first, for the obstacle that had kept them out suddenly disappeared. They soon came to whatever senses they still had, though, and shambled forward, teeth bared and hands outstretched. The one in front, an elderly woman, reached for Audren with claw-like nails. Audren flinched, resisting the urge to fight or run.

"Go on," he whispered. "I said you were welcome. I meant it."

The cursed woman stopped in her tracks. Audren watched her in anticipation, her bloodshot eyes, her rotting flesh, her few remaining teeth. He was still watching, dumbfounded, when she crumbled to dust and was carried off by the wind.