Page 28 of Deadly Maiden

“You need a disguise,” I tell Anathema, sucking on my bottom lip. Because he never vanishes for long. “A cat shape? Will that work?”

Without any exercise of my stagnant necro skills, Anathema quietly pops out a pair of black ears. Then a tail and paws. He smiles a ragged fanged smile, all triangle-toothed.

I narrow my eyes, tsking. It’s a little strange how well he understands my words, but I nod approval. “Your eyeballs will need work.” I can probably help sculpt them.

The question is, will it fool Rorsyd?

By the time dawn arrives, he does look fairly catlike. His hair is fine and soft, his eyes are bright blue—that is my doing. He has a cute cat nose and soft paws, a mouth with a suggestion of fangs. He doesn’t have claws or a butthole, but I figure nobody will check those out. In full light he seems wrong, and on touch he squishes like a toy.

“Make sure you keep to the night,” I murmur to him absentmindedly, as I unlatch the box and fish out the envelope.

The gheist gun is in here—a reminder of the last excursion I went on with Landos. I set it on a shelf and wonder what I can do with it. Perhaps there is a market for these, but my skills fall below the standard needed for making the small components.

The key Landos mentioned is brass and as long as my palm. It is unmarked and threaded onto a metal chain. This is supposed to open Slaedorth?

I find the first page from my parents and cannot help my forehead wrinkling. It’s a will.

I leaf through the following pages. They’ve written down Slaedorth Fortress, and there is also a long list of contents, including, what-the-fuck, a small army of undead. Would they still be like…useable, or do they expire after a while? What would one even do with them?

I let my head drop backward and hit the wall of drawers behind me. I sigh at the ceiling.

Then I page through the rest. The last page is more personal, and my heart warms, my inhalations are shakier. Tears well up as I read.

Dearest daughter, dearest darling Wyntre,

You are only a baby as we pen this.

If you’re reading this, we hope you are old enough to understand that we love you. We will always love you, no matter what has happened to us. Keep us with you in your heart as we keep you in ours.

We are about to go into a great battle. I suppose this is where we should tell you many wise things, but time is short.

Be happy and find your own way in this world. Keep your friends close. (Your lovers too and we really hope you are old enough to read that.)

Enemies are best kept away—far far away.

Similarly, try to stay away from wars and battles and similar conflicts, even if your enemies want them. Yes, we know we broke that rule.

Slaedorth is yours but it would be best if you do not go there. See the above regarding enemies and wars. Slaedorth is for those. It is no place for a holiday, though the view is quite stunning from the rear and from the highest tower.

Here we will tell you of one of our emergency plans that we hope will never be needed.

But then you are reading this. So.

Kyvin will find you. He holds the key to something secret of value, that is only found at Slaedorth. If you use him, be careful. Read what you find. He can be trusted. His current name is tattooed on him, but he will not waken for twenty years. You’ll know him when you see him.

Then one of them drew a heart and they signed it.

Love,

Your mother and father.

Aislinn Gothschild

Sabre Gothschild

“Damn.” I sniffle and blow my nose on the one handkerchief I packed. That was worth it. For the first time ever, I feel like I have more than one father, and I had a mother who cared for me. If wishes could come true, I would go back in time and run into their arms for a hug.

Chapter 7

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