Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“The cave is deep, the roots are long,” I said softly, reaching back as he repeated the phrase. When the blanket wasn’t immediately offered, I shook my hand to get him moving.
“The blanket, man, give her the gods-fucked blanket,” Hadriel groused.
The man did, stepping back again.
“The cave is . . .” I let the words trail away.
“Deep,” the man supplied, on his knees now.
“The roots are . . .”
“Long,” the man breathed.
“Where are the roots?” I asked in a haunting voice. “Where are they?”
He looked at the ground, and I stepped forward and laid the blanket over his body, fully covering him. As I watched, the blanket shivered, and then settled as he eased into the darkness.
“Right.” I turned toward the others, kicking the knife away as I did so. “He should be fine. I’d check on him in half an hour. Just lift up the tail end of that blanket to give him some air. It’s not a hot day, but that’s a heavy blanket. The drug will go dormant, and he will go with it. It’ll slowly erode away. Toward the end, he’ll likely get sick—that’s the coating. He won’t die—that would’ve already happened—but he might throw up. If he stays in the current position, just leave him be. It’ll make the drug less appealing. If he lies down and you fear he might choke, help him.” I paused in the sudden silence, the man in his human form blinking at me and the wolves staring. “Okay?”
The silence stretched.
“Just move on, love,” Hadriel said. “They heard you. They’re either dumb or confused. They’ll figure it out.”
There was nothing more I could do right now to help the man, so I did as Hadriel said.
“In the future, if it is one of Granny’s drugs, all you need to do is talk the person around and get or throw him into a small, dark space. A cupboard will do, or a closet.” I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. If the person is like this, with a weapon, usually they’ll yell and then they’ll strike. Wait, dodge, bat the weapon away, then force them into that small, dark space. But be careful, because they often bite. Close the door, maybe lock it, and wait. Okay?” I took a deep breath. “But please, whatever you do, stop making it worse by threatening to assault these people.”
I paused a beat, looking between them, hoping my lecture sank in. When they still didn’t respond, I headed back toward Hadriel.
The man who’d brought the blanket cleared out of the way. “Who are you?” he asked in a wispy voice.
“Didn’t you hear?” I didn’t look back and recited what the man had said. “I’m the harbinger of fungus.”
Chapter 7
Aurelia
“Ithought you said the dragons eradicated Granny’s product from this kingdom?” I asked Hadriel as we continued through the center of the cute little village. Bright and cheerful homes were nestled close to each other with little pops of color from blooming flower boxes. The cobblestone lane at our feet was so clean it almost looked scrubbed. The area had a lovely, welcoming feel, like a community that stuck together. It was so different than the place I’d lived, the contrast stark.
“What can I say? People keep bringing it in. That trick with the blanket—how’d you know that would work?”
“I made the stuff, remember? I baked in fail-safes. I told you that. I had to, or Raz would’ve driven me mad.”
“So you’ve had a lot of experience talking people around?”
“A lot, yes. I tended to cause the nightmares with Raz and many of those who routinely sampled the batches to make sure they were okay. Others just lost their way. It’s a lot easier and faster if a closet is close by, or the person hasn’t been incensed by wolves foaming at the mouth.”
He raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “Harsh.”
I shrugged as he slowed near a little building with a large window at the front. Hadriel knocked, then opened the door and motioned me in before following behind me. The natural light shone across his sparkly, colorful jacket; he was allowed to dress how he preferred now that he was back in his home kingdom.
A man sat at the desk, paused in putting a piece of paper into a file.
He looked up as Hadriel approached. “Yes, how can I—” His eyes rounded and he stood quickly. “Hello. What can I do for the royal court?”
Hadriel stepped aside and motioned me forward. “This woman needs a quick moment with the village head. Beta’s orders.”
“Oh! Yes, of course. The beta is back, then? Was he successful?”
“Yes and no.” Hadriel put his hand to my back, guiding me.
“When did you return? I hadn’t heard.”
“Just now. We’re stopping in on the way to the castle.”
Butterflies swarmed my middle as the man opened a door and stuck his head in, repeating what Hadriel had said.