Page 158 of Deadly Maiden

“Sure. First though, we should read that letter.” He sits up then searches for it in his coat and finds it, unfolds it. “It is from Paloma.Dear Rorsyd and Wyntre, my favorite two people atthe moment.” He opens his eyes wide, looks at me. “Is she being funny there? Anyway. Reading on.I have news of Jannik Stryke. I thought you would be interested. He was seen on the coast below Tensorga, swimming out to sea.”

“Definitely interesting. Go on.”

Rorsyd finds his place in the letter. “He appears to have then been sighted on the coast where you now reside, below Vancourter. The temple there contacted me. There is a rumor among the local people that he has been possessed by something called a kleech.

Yours, Sister Paloma.”

“He is here? A kleech is the creature you killed at the graveyard.” I frown at him as I gather and pull up my leggings. “There is more writing on the back.”

He flips the page. “Let me see. Two paragraphs. First part.PSIf you wish to, perhaps you could help in the search? Ask at a Temple of Artreos.Second part is harder to read…”

“Is that an invitation to help the king? I am in favor of that. It might be dangerous, if he is possessed by a kleech.” I pull on my shirt and start buttoning it.

“Definitely, in answer to both. We shouldn’t?” Yet he sounds curious. And the thrill of danger seems to have clung to my bones.

“We shouldn’t, but it is tempting. Maybe after we have a small holiday here and visit Saphora, if they haven’t found him by then? And the second part?”

He smooths the page. “I can’t read it, though it looks signed by the king?” He hands it to me. “Can you read that?”

I decipher the words. It’s scribbled sloppily. “Asher has terrible writing. Oh. Oh dear. Damn.” I reread it to myself, sucking on my lip.

“What?” He comes over and leans on my shoulder, tries again to read the words.

“Get off.” But I don’t move, I just smile. Besides… “Itisfrom the king and says,Kyvin says hello and thank you so much for all you did for me.We are negotiating,with the queen of Wenway, for a royal visit. Of course, we have conveyed to her that we hope to help search for Jannik. If you want to come visit us, please do. Just tell Sister Paloma first.Then there is this sketch…” I clear my throat of the blockage that’s turned up. “He’s drawn a cat and a ball and labelled it Anathema.” I swallow then sniffle back tears.

“That is adorable. I am almost speechless.”

Anathema appears at my other elbow, and I angle the page toward him. He cocks his head and squints with one eye. “You can’t read, silly.”

Then he sticks out his tongue and licks the page.

Maybe he can, or he read it through my mind?

“He has a tongue?” Sounding amused, Rorsyd shakes his head.

“I’ve never seen it before, either. Your old friend is happy, Anathema.”

It’s an odd situation, telling a darkthing cat about its undead friend, but I feel a wonderful lightness as he gambols off to the rim to sit there, an ethereal black cat, contemplating life.

“We should find him another undead to play with,” Rorsyd says. “Now where are my boots?”

I could do that? An interesting idea but I’d have to know they were nice to cats first…before they died.Hmmm.Will shelve that as a dubious maybe.

So somehow Kyvin has survived in a way, a way I cannot quite understand, but I am so happy for him…them.

Once we are both dressed and have joined Anathema at the edge, the sun is poking around on the horizon and turning the sky pink, and the Maw masks itself in gloom, its colors changing to grays and muted pastels.

I stand there with my soulmate, thoroughly impressed by this freak of nature. I can see why those who worship our world, Artreos, would regard the Maw as being of religious significance. I, too, might be converted if I stayed here long enough, staring out over this void.

“It must have its own weather,” I say quietly. “Down below.”

Vertigo might be a problem if I go closer to the edge. I do it anyway. Small rocks come loose and roll to the lip and spill, bouncing out over this vast hole. Rorsyd wraps his hand around my upper arm.

I am not afraid—a side effect of throwing myself into so much peril? I think it’s more because I am beside my dragonshifter soulmate.

“Magnificent comes to mind,” he says. “Grand. Stunning. I could use a whole thesaurus.”

“Yes, oh yes. A bit too quiet though? If the king comes here, there is our excuse to do two things at once, maybe three things? Visit Saphora and him, and help look for his brother.”

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