Books & Bone by Victoria Corva

Author:Victoria Corva
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: magic, funny, zombie, witch, necromancer, sorcery
Publisher: Victoria Corva

~from A History of Tombtown by Emberlon the Disloyal

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

SECRETS AND SPELLWORK

Larry shambled toward Ree with red-lit eyes and a terrible focus. Ree shrank back against the wall. Her breath came short and sharp as Larry’s mouth yawned. His teeth lengthened into cruel points.

Usther pointed at Larry, shadows swarming down her arm. ‘Unnaveth. Izza Krihoth! Morrin’s teeth!’ The shadows burst across Larry’s chest, then scattered. She dropped her arm, breathing hard. ‘Ree, get away from him!’

Ree’s thoughts tumbled. This was all wrong. A corpse could not be raised without a mostly intact brain. A minion that took an arrow between the eyes was a dead one. Necromancy could preserve; it could protect. It couldn’t heal. And healing didn’t work on the dead.

‘Come — come on now, old chap!’ Smythe tugged ineffectually at Larry’s shoulder.

Ree tried to dodge to one side, but pain flashed through her abdomen and she was slow, so slow. Larry’s arms locked into place on either side of her.

‘Larry!’ she pushed at his chest, but his flesh was hard and cold as iron. He shouldn’t be so strong — he was never this strong —

He clamped his teeth down on her shoulder and Ree screamed. ‘Get off!’ She shoved him and he budged enough for her to get her knees up. She kicked him hard in the chest. He flew back; Ree collapsed.

Ree touched trembling fingers to the fleshy wound in her shoulder. They came away wet with blood.

‘You know, I really think Larry isn’t quite himself,’ said Smythe.

‘What a helpful observation, thank you!’ Ree snapped.

Usther skirted Larry where he lay on the floor. She took hold of Ree’s arm; Smythe took the other. They heaved her to her feet. ‘I think we should shove that arrow back where you found it,’ Usther said darkly.

‘That’ll be difficult to do, considering there’s no wound and he’s somehow incredibly strong.’ Ree shook her head. ‘We need to get back to town.’

Larry was flailing on his back. He tried to get up once, twice, then eventually lurched up into a sitting position. The red in his eyes flickered, then failed. His jaw went slack. His fangs became nubs. He gargled, head lolling to one side.

Ree took two uncertain steps toward him, one hand pressed to the bite he’d inflicted. ‘Larry?’

He kicked his feet as if he was already walking. Ree gently pushed his shoulder; he fell over. ‘Praise Morrin,’ Ree said wonderingly. She looked to Smythe and Usther. ‘I think he’s back to normal.’

‘Yes, but how? This is nonsense! None of this should have happened.’ Usther scowled down at Larry. ‘We can’t even test him. Whatever magic animates him has been impossible to tamper with for years.’ She kicked him; he howled. ‘Oh do shut up! You survived an arrow through your brain, you hideous infant.’

They waited to see if he would retaliate, but he really did seem to be the pathetic minion Ree had grown up with. After a moment, Smythe helped him to his feet. ‘Jolly good to have you back.

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