Samuel was an effective commander. He delegated some undead slaves to new laborer undead servants so they could pack things Aleric wanted to take with him. Meanwhile, one of the laborer servants cut a part of the sacrificed goat and cooked Aleric a delicious steak on a bonfire.
By midnight, a line of undead marched out of the castle. Compared to Aleric's previous horde, it looked much more like a proper army now.
The undead walked in squads around their respective commanders. There were supply squads that carried things on carts and horses. Undead animals were trailing behind the army—Aleric raised them because he could.
The necromancer himself was sleeping sweetly in one of the carts after a long day of studies. The evil never slept, but Aleric still had to do it sometimes.
In the morning, he was woken up by Samuel standing near his cart.
"Master Fenn, I apologize for disturbing you, but I have a report to make."
Aleric rose from his mattress and stretched with a yawn. Then he pulled a few tangles from his hair with the palm of his hand and pushed the bangs away from his eyes.
Since he has been sleeping in his clothes, all that was missing from Aleric's morning routine was some water to splash on his face.
"What is it, Samuel?" he asked, taking the Spine Staff and getting out of the cart.
The army marched a long distance overnight, but besides fields and an assortment of houses in the distance, Aleric saw nothing notable around.
"We have reached the first village on our way. The people here have fled already and taken their cattle with them. However, the wights I sent there to scout the surroundings have found a human inside. And…"
"And? I told you already what to do with them all."
"Yes. We took her prisoner, but... she actually surrendered herself first. The woman insists on speaking with you, Master Fenn. And although I can't sense Dark energy in others as well as in life, I am almost sure that she's a witch. It's in her bold behavior and the uncommon way she dresses, and her lack of aversion toward the dead."
Since the visor of Samuel's helmet was raised, Aleric could see his scowl perfectly well.
"Samuel, tell me what do you hate more in this list—the behavior, the clothing, or the Dark magic?" Aleric asked, grinning.
"Ugh… All of it, master!" Samuel shook his head. "Forgive me. I will say it if you want, but it's not fitting for me to react this way. And it's irrelevant."
"No, I'm curious—do tell. I thought you stopped hating Dark magic after becoming undead, Samuel."
Of course, Samuel couldn't protest a direct order. Even if he thought it all was silly.
"Other witches, sorcerers and hedge wizards… They don't deserve to wield Dark magic. Especially necromancy! Only you are worthy of wielding it, Master Fenn. And women should dress modestly and watch the house, unless they join the Church. It's this simple."
Aleric raised his brows and just shook his head.
"If I tell you to forget all of this, you will forget it and think that Dark magic is the best magic in the world, no matter who uses it."
"Yes, master. Of course."
"But I haven't done it yet... We will see. Now, lead me to this woman."
She was standing in front of the undead army, held by her shoulders by two undead lieutenants. Several wights were hissing at her angrily, but Samuel's order was keeping them away.
Despite her situation, the woman stood with her chin raised high. Her green eyes were almost as bright as those of the wights. Her clothing was simple, fit for a peasant—but it was male clothing. Aleric had never met a woman wearing pants, and yet she was here.
At a glance, Aleric couldn't tell whether the woman was a witch or not. If there was any Dark energy in her, it was so small that the energies of the nearby undead completely overshadowed it.
"Master necromancer!" the woman spoke up at Aleric's presence. "Master necromancer, please, hear me out!"
'If this is another attempt to seduce me…' Aleric thought apprehensively. Still, he approached the woman.
"Speak. And if I think that you are trying to trick me, I will kill you and ask for the truth from your corpse."
When she saw Aleric's corpse-like appearance with gray skin and white hair, she gasped in shock and fright—but immediately collected herself and bowed respectfully.
"I am a Dark mage, like you. And like you, I'm hunted by the Church… You are powerful and are trying to fight them instead of hiding like a mouse. Please, let me join your cause! I know only a few spells, but I will do my best."
"If this is true, she's probably a self-taught first rank Dark mage, Master Fenn," Samuel said from his place behind Aleric's shoulder. "Nothing compared to you."
Aleric eyed the hopeful-looking woman.
"Can you raise undead?"
"Only puppet-like things… But I can learn!"
"Can you use any other magic?"
"Yes. I can curse and kill people with Dark magic!"
Aleric nodded.
He didn't trust this woman fully, because she was alive, but she seemed sincere enough. And he knew that he wouldn't be able to raise her with her magic abilities intact. Not at his current skill level.
"Very well. You can join me." Aleric gave a mental order, and the zombies let the woman go. "I am Aleric Fenn, but you should call me 'master', like everybody else. What are you called?"
The woman beamed happily.
"Oh, thank you! I'm Rita Leshmann, Master Fenn!"
Behind Aleric, Samuel tsked.
"Hush. Right now, I order you to forget all that earlier nonsense, Samuel."
"Yes, master."
Rita looked at Samuel with a mix of awe and glee.
"You are truly so powerful… This armor—this zombie is a former paladin, isn't he? And now he serves you, Master Fenn!"
"Don't speak about me like I'm lesser, wench," Samuel said. "Master Fenn didn't order me to let you speak down to me."
Rita huffed and turned away from him—only to make a pleading gesture at Aleric.
"Master Fenn, please, hear me out one more time!"