When Gems Turn To Dirt And Dirt Burns To Ash

Magnus... I just knew I would be meeting that bastard again; I put him in charge of the Mines of Estros seasons ago after his Elf predecessor got eaten. Very unfortunate accident with a gulper snake, not a nice way to go. We were different people back then though, and I did not know him well, I was just told to put him in charge by the higher up Mages. As I was no elite at the time, I was just a young cleric doing the job I was told, and it was long before I met Romulus.

I am not looking forward to meeting this slimy demon on any level... I really regret having sex with him. I was young then, and stupid, but I wanted to try it, as they say demon men and women are great in bed. I did not have a great time, it was not the fantasy I wanted and his money and power play disgusted me. As I felt used afterwards as we signed his trade agreement to make the mines bigger, then he ignored all my messages, and treated me like I no longer existed.

So maybe a part of me will enjoy seeing him again, just so I can give him a taste of his own medicine. Romulus knows about this, it’s not a secret between us... Romulus has never liked him ether but its more due to the demons utter greed as he has become more and more difficult to control over the seasons. Odessa watched as the huge Mines slowly came to view, with its huge high walls you can see the Wyvern coming in to land and take gem stones to the regions that have brought them.

The operation was so much bigger than she remembered; clearly he used the agreement to great benefit, but more for himself. “The slimy bastard should be in his office.” Romulus eyed her as he felt a smile form. “So sorry you have to visit your ex.” Odessa breathed in deeply as they came in to the stables and all dismounted. “He’s not my ex; he was just a person I slept with who pissed me off.”

Titus eyed her. “Guy can’t be that bad?” Odessa eyed him in disgust. “Oh you have no idea. Just surprised you’re former friend Keira wanted to work for this piece of shit.” She breathed in seeing the guards coming towards them along with an orc who looked confused. He stopped, bowing, giving them a smile as he spoke. “My name is Tiberius, I’m the second in command of this mine, how may I help your lordships?”

Romulus raised his pendent showing off the seal. “I want to see your shitty boss, right now, by order the elite Mages from Rein Strand!” He watched as the orc blinked in surprise. “. We’ve been hearing a lot of interesting things regarding Magnus and want a chat in his office.” Odessa folded her arms. “Yes, and I have personal beef with him, I’m sure you remember me, right Tiberius?” The orc nodded. “Yes I remember you, Odessa; I’ll take you right to him now.”

8

We left Moss Tempest, now all that stretches out are the hallowed Meadows, which is not a region as such it’s more a huge area that can take a whole day to cross, though its faster on mounts and it is filled with glowing grasses. It’s the first time in a while we can see the morning sky, with its two bright suns, one who’s a huge glowing ball of gold while the other is burning blue. At night here we get three moons that fill the sky and sometimes they change colour.

There something else that can appear in the sky but it has a habit of vanishing and reappearing, it’s much bigger than a moon which they call Vaibos it is purple in colour and has two rings around it, it can show up in the night or day on the continent of Athosi. We are still following the river they told us to, but it’s slow going and everyone is tired, even the mounts need to stop and drink and we need to all eat something, the village gave us food supplies for a couple of days.

I can’t wait to get home; it’s been so long since I left Anacaona Narah... I miss my brother and sisters, as I have seven, and my parents. I left to explore the world, to see what was beyond this region, but the truth is I have been homesick for a long time I’ve wanted to return to the town of Oplena, which is high up in the jungle trees as no one walked the ground ever, it was too dangerous.

Only the Boa Quetzal riders and the Terra Gog, which the lizard, frog and crocodile people used as mounts, walked the ground. Big predators were always in the long deep lakes, though a lot of frog people fished as they were very good at avoiding them, but that was not true of other races. So those in the region had built high up cities in all the trees and connected them with paths, you could walk for miles and miles and never touch the jungle floor.

Bastian turned to the others as they came a quite clearing with some trees. “We should stop here and rest for a while, get something to eat.” Agomais pulled his mount to a halt, watching as the half elf stopped, even she was tired as she lay down in horse form before turning back to her human one. “I agree, I’m tired.” Keira got off her mount as Elysande did the same. “Plus all the mounts are tired we need to get them another tent to sleep in.”

Keira watched as they all started to set everything up which was way faster because of magic. “Can I cook?” Agomais turned sharply. “Since when do you cook?” Keira sat down. “What do you think I did with my time, when they sent me to the Paladin school too young? When you’re too young they put you to work in the kitchens till your old enough to join the others.” Agomais slowly finished the tent. “You said you couldn’t cook.”

Keira moved over, taking the food bag. “No I said I could never cook bread…” She eased off her armoured gloves with their clawed tips, eyeing her hands which were still bandaged at the palms, though she didn’t need them, just her fingers. “Baking strews and everything else I can do.” Agomais sat down as he raised a clawed finger while she lit the fire. “Why do you want to cook? You never cook.”

Keira breathed in deeply. “To thank you and Elysande, since you both helped me, I could hear what you were saying I just couldn’t react.” Fayeth sat down next to Bastian, looking over at the cooking pot. “What are we eating?” Keira eased up her fingers. “Nothing if you interrupt me, I need to concentrate.” Agomais watched as Keira eased up the vegetables herbs and fruit, cutting them with magic as she put them in the big metal pot.

She moved to the hydra meat, floating it in the air as she cut it in to thin strips, poured water in, as she started everything, moving in the pan. It was boiling before the fire had even gotten really hot. She moved the lid, putting it down only to pull her hand away as the whole thing was engulfed and surrounded in blue flames hanging there. She moved her other hand, mixing some herbs with water and wheat flour, creating light dough which she turned with her fingers, then pulled in to small balls and stretching them so they were flat.

She moved her other hand as the pot came down, and she pulled off the hot lid, turning it over as she started to cook the flat breads one by one, creating very thin light flat bread that was airy and bubbled. She put the lid back on, letting it get engulfed a second time in orange flames, as she put the flat breads in the bowls then stopped the fire, opening the lid as a warm well-cooked Hydra strew came into view. The meat was so soft it could be pulled apart in the juices and its own meat gravy.

She breathed in seeing them all staring at her, almost in shock. “I’m rusty but this should taste okay.” Bastian blinked in surprise, she had true magic cooking skills which also meant she could create a normally four long dish in minutes, which took real skill. “I thought you said you couldn’t cook bread.” Keira slowly started to put food in dishes filling them. “Yes, bread that rises. I can’t but flat bread, I can make all day long.”

She passed the first to Elysande along with her bread and then gave the next to Agomais, then Bastian and Fayeth. “As I say I’m rusty.” Bastian took a bite only for the taste to explode in his mouth. “Oh this is so good!” He watched as the other started to dig in, saying nothing as they were too busy eating. Keira took a bite of her own, yes it was nice but she just couldn’t get it taste like the version that old orc woman used to cook.

She had tried countless times to get that right, but she still had not mastered it, still it’s okay cooking it with no magic was no longer and harder but she had been having it regardless, as she just wanted to recapture those moments and happy memories. Elysande looked up realizing she was being rude. “My compliments to the chef, this is beautiful, never had hydra meat like this, it’s amazing.”

Bastian moved his bowl forward. “Do you have enough for seconds?” Agomais leaned over. “Yes I need seconds, because you can really cook.” Keira eyed the pot. “There is plenty enough for three servings each, or some to reheat tomorrow.” She watched as they all dug in as she finished her own, only for Bastian to take her bowl, refilling it, before carefully passing it to her. “You should have seconds, you need to heal.”

Keira felt Elysande hand on her hair as she stroked it gently, which was a nice soothing feeling as the other woman spoke softly. “Yes you should have more; he’s right you need to keep your strength up.” Keira felt her hand pull away as she started eating. “Thank you.” Fayeth eyed them as everyone carried on eating. Maybe it was just her, but those two had something going on that was for sure, though frankly she preferred her relationships with races that had fur. She loved fur as you could always be warm in it and sleep well.

On the bright side though they were a nice group, they seemed dysfunctional right now, like there was a lot going on that she had no idea about but maybe it would get better in time. She eyed Bastian, who was eating, he was very nice though and clearly the leader. The big minotaur Agomais was also kind, Elysande though was very stand off and didn’t seem to want to open up to her despite being polite, though she knew the reasons why she did want to speak to her, as she had not spoken to many vampires.

Keira always seemed hot headed and watching her, but wasn’t saying anything, as Bastian had made clear she had her own problems. Cooking though was clearly not one of them; her food was beautiful and had been a really nice meal from start to finish. Maybe all this would be clear to her once she got to know them all better, though she was really looking forward to going to the rain forest region as she’d heard so many stories about it.

8

Romulus walked into the huge office with it’s very luxurious chairs and tables, all clearly from the capital, along with expensive decorations, which was made off rich Mahanoy wood as well as dragon statues, all made from bronze and silver. There was an open fire burning in the room and paintings and tapestries on the white walls. As well as animal skins and hides on the floor as well as over the demon’s chair which was close to his large desk.

He watched as Tiberius stayed far back, as he had clearly picked up on the fact that this was very serious as he spoke. “High Mage Romulus is here to speak to you.” Romulus watched as the others walked in, as the orc left and Magnus turned in his chair, eyeing them with a wide grin appearing. “Ah! Elite guests, how can I help you?” He eyed the cleric who was looking at him in disgust. “Odessa! How great it is to see you again! It’s been so long...”

Odessa folded her arms. “Frankly... it’s not great to see you again Magnus.” Magnus eyed her. “Ah you still sore over that time in bed? Well I enjoyed it at least, shame you didn’t.” Romulus raised his staff. “Do me a favour and shut the fuck up; I’ve been hearing a lot of things about you, none of which I like.” He paused eyeing Odessa, Titus and Cepos who were taking up their protective guard positions. “I’m here regarding two of your employees, Keira Greenward and Bastian Obranion.”

Magnus put his pipe in his mouth, as he started to smoke it, forming shapes with multicolours. “Well, if you know where they are please tell me? Because they were meant to return after taking a trip with a vampire but never did.” Odessa looked up sharply. “Which vampire and which guild is she from?” Magnus turned, grabbing a scroll as he leaned back further in the velvet blue chair. “Elysande Vistel, from the guild of Vistel, it is also her surname.”

Romulus grabbed the scroll of him. That was a name he knew well, the Vistel family were notorious for always sticking their undead noses were they weren’t wanted. The problem was they had vast wealth and power and were difficult to challenge. He breathed in annoyance. “Rumour had it the two owners, who are a couple adopted some sickly young vampire woman some years back and gave her that title.” He read the scroll. “So she wanted a centipede, and you sent Keira and Bastian to help her?” Magnus licked his lips. “Yes, and she paid me handsomely, but if you’re going to say I’m in trouble for helping the Vistel, we both know you don’t have a leg to stand on.”

He smirked slightly. “I’m well with in my right to take money from whoever I want.” Odessa felt her gaze narrow. “Yes that always was your problem Magnus.” Magnus raised a clawed hand. “Look, if you didn’t enjoy riding my dick that is not my problem, you sighed the agreement and I took you up on your offer to expand the mines.” A staff was suddenly jammed under his chin, shoving him back as Romulus spoke darkly. “Do learn manners, she is my lover now and not yours….”

Magnus eyed him ignoring the pain. “Wow, so she went to bed with an old smelly goat, well no accounting for taste….” Odessa moved forward. “We are not here regarding Vistel; we are here regarding Keira, since she is a wanted criminal.” Magnus felt the staff pull away sharply. “Keira Greenward, you must be joking right? She is a just a stupid warrior with no magic to speak off and very little brains, probably why she needs her little white maggot eater to think for her.”

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Odessa moved over, seeing his employment cards which she brought up so everyone could see them. “You know, this is why I never liked you Magnus, you’re a stupid person who pretends to be clever.” She watched as Titus moved over, eyeing the card, whose image moved as it was a magic snap shot he spoke calmly. “That is striking similar, and it’s a better portrait than the tavern by far.”

Magnus raised a clawed hand. “Elysande was very taken with her, guess she had no sense of taste.” He smirked. “But Keira would fuck anything with a heartbeat.” Odessa rolled her eyes. “Oh well, that would make two of you then, because since that time I had a long list of men and women from all races complain about your sexual escapes.” She paused. “Like how you sleep with them, take things and then ditch them.

Magnus sat up putting down his pipe. “You know that’s not a crime, and everything was consenting.” Odessa moved over, slamming her shield on his desk as she leaned forward. “It is when you have pissing off the elite Mages!” She felt her gaze narrow. “They are not happy with you, Magnus, they put you in charge here to keep the gems rolling, not to affect other business in the region.” She paused. “Do you still inventory everything brought by everyone near the mine?”

Magnus eyed her. “Yes, though I don’t see what that has to do with anything.” Odessa put her shield on her back holder as she walked over to the large book. “They’re magically filled by the sellers, giving the name of the buyer, is that correct? Including books read and loaned in your mines library?” Magnus raised a clawed hand. “Yes…. again I don’t see what that has to do with anything.” Odessa raised her hand. “This is why you’re fucking stupid.”

She raised her hand higher as the pages started to flip at lightning speed, as certain words were highlighted with gold, she carried on till the book reached the last page as she raised her hand and golden copies of the words all floated into it. She eyed Titus. “Get that tapestry off the wall, its mine anyway, I want it back.” She watched as Titus pulled it down violently as she got closer to the white wall, throwing the words onto it, watching as they stuck glowing brightly.

She eased up her fingers, clicking them, watching as they created lists. “Well, it appears Keira has been a very busy woman.” Romulus moved over, eyeing the ingredients list. “If I’m not mistaken... those are the ingredients for suppressing magic and changing your form, she has ordered them constantly and it’s the only herbs she ordered, everything else is food and drink.” Odessa looked at the book list. “She also read every book on gem stones magic, mining and gem channelling over a five season period.”

She eased up a smaller book list. “Accept these, those are more recreational.” Titus eyed the list. “Okay, her thirsty books aside, those last two I recall her reading in the Paladin school, they were her favourite stories of old and books she really liked as a child.” Romulus stroked his beard. “Then this can mean only one thing... it is the Keira we are looking for, but she has done something which I didn’t think was possible, she hid magic scars somehow.”

He turned eyeing Magnus. “What armour did Keira wear?” Magnus breathed in deeply. “Crappy dirty silver armour.” Odessa eyed the list as she moved back to the book, re-flipping as the old list vanished and she started to draw up a new one. “She’s a Paladin; she can’t wear any other armour that is what she’s bound to. That means she must have changed that to, because her armour is black with a purple hue, it even has claws on the armoured gloves and feet.”

She moved over to the wall, throwing a new list on it. “I want to check on her maggot eater rat friend, see what he’s been up to.” She flicked her fingers again, creating the lists. “Well this guy is well into lock picking building locks, breaking locks and every illegal practice regarding opening traps.” Magnus raised his forked tail. “Look... I need people who can open things in underground places. Puzzle breakers, so when they escort someone and they are safe.”

He put his pipe down. “I don’t have them steal things, just take what is already there in the underground.” Romulus eyed him. “Oh, I see, so you didn’t have them steal a staff from Merrygot, and return it to one of their horned rat seers?” Magnus’s face turned to concerned. “Yes, but Mazak paid me to get that… it is hers and she is from Dawn Star. Everyone likes Dawn Star, they’re not high as kites on spice and magic dust, like up in Ramstad…”

Odessa eyed the other lists, which was food, more thirsty reading. “Does your library have a section for erotica or something?” Magnus sneered in disgust. “Look, it keeps the workers happy, they complain less, plus I’ll have you know it’s becoming very popular... men and women of all races love reading it.” He put his hands together. “It is also very popular reading in all the regions, they pay all kinds of writers for that stuff and it’s not illegal.”

Romulus breathed in deeply. “Stealing from mages though is a very high offense, as that’s not for you to do; it’s to be taken up with the elites and council.” He moved over to the red demon’s desk. “Which means you must be punished… I could throw you in normal jail but I feel that would be too good for you.” He turned to Odessa. “What would you like to do with him my sweet?” He paused. “I leave it to you since he utterly pissed you off and used you in bed.”

Odessa closed her hand watching as the golden text faded. “Cepos, please hold down this bastard.” She watched as the frogman nodded, only for his long tongue to fly out, wrapping around Magnus’s neck, throwing him forward so he slammed to his desk. A blue liquid started to come out of his tongue at the fine tipped points, working its way down towards the demon. It was a paralyzing agent, all frog men and women had for defence, plus in the ancient times it had also been used to catch food.

She felt a sly smile form. “Do you know frog people have the best paralyzing agent there is? Oh its only temporary, wears off in twenty minutes but it really stuns you.” She watched as Cepos un-wrapped his tongue, pulling it back in, leaving the huge demon utterly paralyzed at his desk. “Believe me, you are going to jail, though for a least five seasons, but just to ensure you’re not a pain in there, I’m going to break your hand claws and your hoofed feet, followed by your horns, so it takes you a good three seasons to even heal.”

She breathed in deeply. “I couldn’t help but notice in your book you don’t hire crocodile or frog people, and now I get why, you may never have wanted one of them to do this to you… though crocodile people use their jaws to crack you in two.” She raised her sword point putting it on his horns. “But that’s also illegal under the current employment manifest, as you’re meant to give anyone who asks a job if they have the skills.”

She looked down slightly. “So I guess we can add another five seasons to your total.” Romulus eyed the demon. “May I just add, we could send him to Highburn Fortress up in Ethereal Tusken? The special underground prison there gets very cold. I’ve heard red demons really hate the cold as it really messes with their fire magic.” He walked over to Magnus, who now looked utterly horrified. “This old goat knows that well, also so happy you can’t talk right now Magnus.”

He paused. “Also that fort gets constantly attacked by that asshole frost dragon Siberuani, because she has nothing better to do with her immortal life….” He raised his clawed finger. “I’ve heard it’s a monthly thing, should be a fun ten seasons for you.” Odessa felt a cold smile form as she started to channel her magic through her sword, watching as it lit up with gold light. “My partner has an excellent point.” She paused. “Also this is going to hurt a lot, and you’re not going to be able scream, pity.”

She watched the yellow light enter his horns, channelling down to his fingers then his huge hoofed feet. “Also it’s only the most gifted of the Clerics like me who can turn our healing spells into the reverse form and damage you this way.” She watched as his horns started to crack in sections, the pain in his face clear, even though he couldn’t scream. “I’ve heard the pain is escalating like having a thousand daggers hitting you all at once.”

She grinned as his horns suddenly shattered into pieces right down the base of his head, and his screaming suddenly started as the numbing agent was wearing off, followed by the crack of all of his fingers breaking, and his hooves spitting as he hit the floor hard in utter agony. Romulus walked up to him, not thinking as he slammed his hoofed foot right between his legs only for him to howl louder. “Also that’s my gift to you for pissing off my lover, not that you’ll be getting anymore sex where you’re going to be going….”

Odessa turned as Tiberius suddenly burst into the room only to see his boss on the floor screaming in pain. “Ah we were just about to call you in.” She pointed to Magnus. “Your boss is going to go for jail… for many reasons, so your Paladins need to take him now, he’s going to Highburn Fortress.” She raised her sword. “That means as off now you’re in charge of the mine from this day forward, so please do not fuck it up, because I don’t want to be here in five season’s time.”

She eyed him. “Everything in this room and everything that was Magnus’s is now yours, including his wealth by decree of the high Mages seal.” She turned, pulling up the images of Bastian and Keira. “If these two ever come back, they are to be arrested on sight, as they’re both wanted criminals… I hope that’s perfectly clear to you?” She watched as the big orc nodded. She turned eyeing Titus and Cepos. “Get that bastard demon out of here and hand him over to the Paladin guards outside… tell them where to send him, one of the wyvern transports can drop him off with the gem stones.”

Romulus walked up to the huge green orc, as the demon was dragged out still screaming in pain. “Guess it’s your lucky day Tiberius.” He raised his clawed hand. “Oh and one more thing, I don’t know what you’re into, be it women or men, or both, but don’t let me hear that you’ve been pissing people off after sleeping with them. Because I will come back here and rip your dick clean off, am I clear?”

Tiberius nodded though it was rather meek. “Yes, that is understood.” Romulus patted his cheek. “Good boy.” He eyed him, taking one of the documents off the table as he eyed him. “I will need to borrow this, as it’s the contract your boss drew up for Keira and Bastian’s route, along with the vampire’s payment, I’m sure you understand.” The orc nodded. “I do understand.” Odessa sneered. “Also your boss was refusing to employ frog people as well as crocodile people.” She put her sword away along with her shield. “That’s illegal get to fixing it.” Tiberius nodded. “I will.”

Romulus eyed the map on the contract. “We are going to Dawn Star next to pay to that Minotaur mothers a visit, along with his father, and then we’ll go to Ramstad as Vistel wanted something from the Bright burn tunnels. I want to know just what that little bitch was after. Because I highly doubt she wanted the centipede, plus that’s where the other monster was spotted. I also need to speak to the rat seer they gave the Mages staff to and her son and anyone else involved as well, and the Frog Mage and the Paladins who took on both monsters.” Odessa eyed the document. “This is going to be an interesting next few days….”

8

Bastian looked out over the glowing meadow hills, seeing the huge trees that were starting to rise up in the distance and were bigger than houses or castles, the meadow land was starting to change with jungle vines and plants appearing all over. “There it is! There is my home!” He watched as they all stopped, looking at the huge rainforest that went on for miles and miles, and took over the land going forward from here.

Elysande breathed in deeply. “So do we just keep going in through those trees?” Bastian shook his head. “No it’s far too dangerous, we need to go to tip, I know where it is, they call it Kaia Knife Blade as it sticks out like a knife shape and everyone has to enter there for their own safety. Then one of the Boa Quetzal guardians will let us in, as we need to get up onto the travelling bridges that go up in to the trees. Then we can go through the sky towns and villages, My home is not far, it’s the third one along. My family can also take us in for a day or two before we get moving again.”

Agomais eyed him. “Are you sure your house will be big enough? There are a lot of us.” Bastian smirked. “Oh trust me my house is big enough. I have seven siblings. So a lot of brothers and sisters, I’m used to a full house.” He paused. “And my mother and father love to cook meals like that, they were always asking me to bring friends home, now I can bring some home for real and they will love it.”

Agomais eyed him. “Yeah maybe you can tell them how you threw a flaming sword at a hydra and killed it, despite that you have no magic.” Bastian eyed him. “You know I told you to drop that, I have magic, it’s just weak compared to yours due to me being born with white fur, in my brothers and sisters it’s just stronger.” Fayeth turned hitting a hoof on the floor as the moss on her body was starting to glow. “Well I look forward to your parents meals.”

Bastian turned to Keira who had not said anything. “My sister and one of my brothers want to be Paladins, they’d love to meet you.” Keira looked down slightly. “Sadly I don’t think I’d impress them, I’m not the normal Paladin, they probably want to see someone dressed in sparkling gold or silver armour.” Elysande eyed Keira, this was a pattern she was starting to notice, that this other woman always seemed to put herself down, like she was never worthy of what she was.

Paladins were picked by the magical assessor Mages they were picked as they had purity of heart and a high moral compass. They were compassionate and kind. At least the ones who held true to their path were, and despite her moody personality that came and went she had never shown to be against that Paladin code of honour, and during the hydra fight she had damaged herself to help them so that good heart had to be there. This had to be the mental block that was now really holding her back; it had to be tied to something in her past.

Fayeth turned to Keira shaking her horse head. “I think you’re an amazing looking Paladin! I mean I’ve never seen one with claws on the armoured gloves and feet, and you don’t use a shield and sword, you use two swords and wear no helmet...” Keira raised a gloved clawed hand looking at it. “Trust me Fayeth, where I come from they called this an abomination.” Agomais raised a clawed finger. “Look, the capital has no taste like I said.”

She looked at Keira. “Well I prefer your armour to theirs, at least you’re being true to yours, I’ve seen enough Paladins come to land of the dead with regrets over the fact that they hit and even killed innocent people and it tainted their armour and they couldn’t fix it in life, until they lived their second undead life in our realm.” She moved her mount forward. “You never come off as tainted to me, tainted armour smells like rotting flesh, yours smells normal to me.”

Bastian raised a clawed finger. “She’s right, it does. It’s the same with Clerics, pure divine ones have this feel to them but the tainted they smell like a lug head maggot.” Keira turned to him in confusion. “What’s a lug head maggot?” Bastian started moving slowly as the others followed. “They are huge red maggots that live in the jungle, and they spit vomit at you as a defence, they call them lug head as they will smash you with their head.”

Elysande breathed in deeply. “They are misunderstood, as after they die, they take a new form in the land of the dead and live inside the skeletons and zombies, they keep them from rotting and search out hurt and injured undead all over the regions. Their form changes to glowing green, and they live of green liquid from the host and protect the and help them find their way back to the land of the dead when the time is right, and ascend with them after their second life is over. They’re intelligent and misunderstood though we call them hollow maggots since they live in the hollow area of the dead’s rib cage.”

Keira turned to the Elysande. “No one ever told me that in training, we were told land of the dead’s hollow maggots were dangerous, not that they were pets.” Bastian shook his head. “No our version is the dangerous one but everything can be dangerous in Anacaona Narah, it’s why everyone lives high up in the trees.” He moved his mount forward. “It’s why we need to keep going, as it will be a few turns of the sun dial, before we get there.

End of part 13

Silvermoonlight