Page 107 of Lore of the Tides

“I am human.”

“Huuumaaan.” It stretched the foreign word. “You are not from this earth; I have traveled every continent, every ocean. I’ve never heard of your kind.”

“Iamfrom this earth. I was born here.”

It remained silent. Pondering her response.

“You were born far from this cave, though.”

“I... yes.” What did that matter?

“And yet, this will be the place of your death.”

The fuck it will!“I have no intention of dying today.”

The thing jerked its shoulders and made a hacking sound. It took Lore a moment too long to realize that it waslaughing.

“I suppose it will be a few days before you perish unless I am merciful and end you myself.”

“Open the door. Let me go.”

The thing twirled its hand. Dark magic swirled around the bones of its fingers. “I think not.”

Lore sniffed the air. That magic. It washis. His scent... his signature. “Syrelle...” she whispered.

The thing tilted its head.

“That is a family name of mine. Why utter it now?”

Suddenly, Lore’s eyes bulged. She straightened her posture as she realized with horrorwhoshe was conversing with. “Are you... Matleus?”

“Of course. Or were you not aware whose grave you were robbing?”

Lore quelled the urge to laugh or cry or throw up.

“I hadn’t known that this was a grave at all, Matleus.”

“Are humans often liars?”

“Many are. But I am not usually one. Your grandson, Syrelle, told me that your ashes were brought home a long time ago.”

He harrumphed, not unlike an old man. “My wife no doubt spun this tale.”

So, the story Syrelle heard... about his grandfather’s ashes being brought to the widow by an owl... sent from an unknown source... was a lie. Because here were his grandfather’s remains. Standing up.Talking to her.

A wave of dizziness washed over her.

“I must be going mad,” she murmured. The only thing—theonlything she knew for sure was that death was final. She placed onehand on the cave wall, steadying herself. One did not just... come back from the dead whenever they pleased. Unless, of course... that being was so powerful an alchemist they created the two most powerful grimoires in existence.

“Mad?” He rubbed what was once a chin. “Perhaps.”

He reached a bony hand toward her. “Give me my grimoire now. I am weary; I wish to rest once more.”

“No.”

“Wait.” Matleus cocked his head to the side, not unlike a griffin. “Deeping Lune? Is that myLune?” Lore felt the grimoire at her hip begin to quiver. She slapped her hand on her satchel, urging the grimoire to still. The creature took another step toward her. “How are you in possession ofLune? I closed the library off from all creatures save my family.” He shook his head, his bones rattling. “No, I see. Human. A creature I did not include in the curse. Clever.”

“You have your descendant to thank for that. Using a human to breach the cursed library was all his idea.”

---