Page 13 of The Bones of the Cursed

“Ma’am, please return to your cottage.”

Gritting my teeth, I scan the soldiers moving to encircle me. A horse snorts, stomping its hoof, and an idea takes form. “Did you happen to find my brother’s horse? He was a brown and white paint.”

If surprised by my abrupt change of subject, Kailu doesn’t let it show. “Yes, he’s back at the castle with our healer. The horse had sustained some injuries.”

I bite my bottom lip in worry. “Will he survive?”

“From what I’m told, they were able to heal him.”

Exhaling, I nod. We got Aeros the first week we were here with what little money we had. He became a part of the family. I would be heartbroken if we lost him.

And if what Levi told me is true, the creatures in the Sinwood Mountains are not to be taken lightly. They need to hurry, because I’m not sure how long Elion has. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m scared they might already be too late.

“Can I at least know what happened to my brother?” I ask.

- KAILU -

I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration, not wanting to waste any more time here. Telling her that her brother was probably dead might have been too harsh—but the idea that she can find him when trained soldiers can’t is laughable.

“Do you happen to have something to write with?” I ask, andbreathe a sigh of relief when Alanis nods and returns to her house, only to emerge a second later with a fountain pen and little pot of ink. I nod my thanks and quickly spread my map on the ground, circling roughly where his group was camping.

“There were two groups patrolling this portion of the mountains. Your brother’s group was to the northernmost point of the border. The second group was working at the junction of the Sinwood Mountains and the Obsidian Hills. Four days ago, the remaining six soldiers of your brother’s patrol group returned with injuries.”

I pause to gauge the human’s reaction, and then look to her friend. Hannah, I believe her name is. Hannah seems uncomfortable, but her eyes are sharp.

“So the remaining members were mostly injured,” Alanis says. “Was anyone able to give an account of what led to the disappearance?”

I rock back on my heels. “All of the soldiers had similar stories, but each had some differences. The gist of it was that something attacked in the night. The soldier on watch disappeared first, though no one heard anything and thus the alarm was never raised. It wasn’t discovered until one of the soldiers woke up to relieve himself. He found drag marks leading into the woods. He ran back to tell the others and that’s when he saw it.”

“Saw what?” Hannah asks, the first words she’s spoken since we got here.

“Ghouls,” I say. Maybe it’ll be enough to convince Alanis to stay here. “There were at least four, but most likely more. When there is one, there are many. The soldier said they didn’t behave like normal ghouls, though.”

“What do you mean?” Alanis asks, voice quiet.

I take a breath and try to figure out the best way to describe what I was told. “The soldier said they move like one—if onetakes a step, so do the rest. They fought them off, but it seemed like they had a plan.”

“A plan? I didn’t realize ghouls were smart enough to make plans. I thought they just attacked and then ate you.”

I snort. “It normally depends on how well-fed they are. Over the years of dealing with them, we have learned if they’ve recently consumed enough, they seem to gain more…understanding, become smarter. If they are starved, well, then they are erratic. No matter what, though, ghouls always attack and devour.” I pause, needing her to understand why this is dangerous. “These ones, however, took the men with them when they disappeared.”

Alanis pales, her ice-blue eyes wide. “I wonder what would cause them to change their behavior.”

“My best guess is that someone is controlling them.”

Her brows furrow. “That just seems like such a risk. What if the ghouls turn on whoever’s controlling them?”

I shrug. “I assume whomever controls them has some way to ensure that doesn’t happen. After all, my theory is someone wants to create an army.”

6

- ALANIS -

RESCUE MISSION

What. The. Hell.

An army?

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