Grave of Words (Fall of Under Book 2) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Author:Kathryn Ann Kingsley [Kingsley, Kathryn Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Published: 2021-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

16

Jakob hummed as he walked alongside Dtu. The big wolf had grown pensive during the winter storm. They had changed directions, quickly abandoning their trek north to head away and south from the road they were taking. To some small town that wasn’t too far away.

Kamira had come back with news that the town had been abandoned. There had been a few drengil wandering about, but they were easily dispatched. With all the living chased off or already killed, the hungering dead would have no reason to stay. They followed the smell of fresh meat.

“How are you so cheerful?” Dtu finally asked him, swiveling his head to glance a flickering green flame of an eye his way. The wolf had long since stopped unnerving him. In fact, Jakob couldn’t help but want to be at his side.

“This is nothing new for me. Running, surviving, hiding…trying to be safe. Being stuck out in the weather.” He jogged a little to walk closer to Dtu’s head, and less by his flank. “I rather enjoy being on the road. I love to travel. I love to be out. I can’t stay in one place for too long.”

“I am much the same.”

“I know. I think that’s why I’ve got a growing crush on you.” Jakob chuckled.

Dtu staggered, his large paws slipping on the thin layer of snow. He left no tracks in his wake, which Jakob found utterly fascinating. Sure enough, when he looked behind him, there were only his footprints at the lead. No enormous pawprints tracked beside him.

“You…” Dtu sighed, his fur on his shoulders bristling briefly. “You are teasing me.”

“No. Why would I tease?” Jakob frowned. “Oh. I’m sorry. I thought—I’ve made you uncomfortable. Never mind.” Now he felt foolish.

Dtu’s voice softened and grew gentle, as if apologizing for what he had said. “I am not uncomfortable. It does not…bother me. It is just that no one has…It has been a very long time, little human. A very, very long time.”

“Since Qta?” he guessed.

Dtu nodded once and stayed silent.

Jakob reached out and put his hand on his front leg as they walked. “If it’s too soon, or if it isn’t mutual…”

“It has been nearly two thousand years, Jakob. It cannot be too soon—it can only be too late.”

Jakob furrowed his brow, thinking over the creature’s words. Then it hit him what the wolf meant. His heart cracked in half. “You think it’s too late for you.”

Another silent nod.

“I’m happy to try to prove you wrong!” He laughed. “If you want to, that is. I mean. This form might be a bit too much for me to tangle with, but your human shape was much more my—uh—size.”

Dtu chuckled and shook his head. “You are a strange one.”

“Is that a no?”

The silence of the snowfall and the trudge of boots filled the space between them for a long moment. Then the giant wolf finally answered. “It is not a no.”

Jakob found himself beaming.

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