Death Weavers by Brandon Mull

Author:Brandon Mull
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

CHAPTER

20

CHARNEL HOUSE

Walking away from the Hall of Glory, Cole felt much better than he had so far in the echolands. He wasn’t alone! Four seasoned adventurers strode at his side, ready to guide and protect him. Sure, they were ghosts, but so was he for now, so why complain?

Cole was the shortest of the group by a good margin, followed in height by Winston, Ferrin, Drake, and finally Harvan. Nobody else had a sword, but Cole suspected Harvan had thumped people with his heavy walking stick before, and it was a comfort knowing Winston could weave.

The exciting music of the Hall of Glory trumpeted loud and clear, causing Cole to pause and gaze back at the sprawling building. They were leaving behind the safest refuge in the echolands. He could picture the lavish rooms and courtyards full of relaxed heroes. Harvan came up beside him.

“Feel the pull?” Harvan asked.

Cole especially noticed the draw now that Harvan had put a name to it. The farther they had walked from the comfortable oasis, the more reluctant Cole had felt about departing. Even though he knew they needed to find Destiny, it seemed like they were missing something big. The music beckoned brashly. Couldn’t they go back and rest a bit longer? What was the rush? Would a few hours make much difference?

“Yes,” Cole said.

“Feels like something is about to start,” Ferrin said. “Some rousing event that we never experienced during our long stay. Seems like if we hurry, we might get there just in time.”

“Then you arrive, and it’s the same people lounging around the same rooms,” Harvan said. “I’ve come and gone a lot.”

“Even knowing why we must go, the music is beguiling,” Drake said. “Emotion can be stronger than reason.”

“The summons is strong,” Harvan agreed. “It helps lure people from various worlds to the echolands. I have seen many attempt to depart the hall only to return minutes later.”

Ferrin detached one arm just above the elbow and held it out toward the Hall of Glory. “Maybe I can leave a little piece of myself.”

Cole couldn’t help laughing. Ferrin grinned as he reattached his limb.

“Come on,” Harvan said, walking again. “The pull will fade after we get far enough away.”

“Who comes to the echolands?” Cole asked. “Everybody in the Outskirts? Everyone on Earth? How many other worlds?”

“Far as I can tell, just about everybody from the Outskirts makes a stop here,” Harvan said. “The echolands only get a sampling of people from other worlds, often drawn by a big landmark like the Hall of Glory or the Catacombs of Regret.”

“Those catacombs sound like loads of fun,” Ferrin said sarcastically.

“I’ve visited,” Harvan said. “The Hall of Glory is more pleasant, but the catacombs serve a purpose as well. The echolands are a way station—a pause on the journey to higher planes. The interruption can be helpful for some. I am benefitting from my time here. Yet, I assume many from different worlds move on to the Other without this interlude.”

They climbed out of the valley that contained the Hall of Glory.

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