Circe listened carefully as the man spoke, her face slowly filling with horror and concern. The rider explained that the entire community had been desecrated. Buildings had been burned to the ground. Homes, market stalls, and farmland had all been reduced to ash and rubble.
Without another word, Ragnar spurred his horse forward and broke away from the group to see the destruction for himself.
Circe quickly rode after him.
The moment the ruined settlement came fully into view, a shocked gasp escaped her lips.
Everything had been leveled.
Blackened skeletons of buildings stood crookedly against the horizon like corpses left to rot. Smoke still drifted faintly upward from charred remains, carrying with it the bitter stench of ash, blood, and burned wood. Entire homes had collapsed inward on themselves, leaving nothing behind except splintered beams and scorched stone.
So much destruction. So much loss.
