Maiden of Pain (The Priests) by Kameron Franklin

Author:Kameron Franklin [Franklin, Kameron]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786964239
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2012-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Morning brought dull, gray skies and a chill wind that rattled gnarled branches and swirled the fog covering the surface of the brackish, ankle-high water that Ythnel and the mages trudged through. Steered by the werecrocodiles, they had left behind the bogs and now traveled directly across an expanse of liquid filth. Ythnel’s skin had stopped crawling at the oily touch of the water hours ago; extended exposure to the cold had numbed her from the calves down.

A small splash to her left reminded her that the two werecrocodiles in human form were not their only escort. Occasionally, she caught glimpses of two bumps, each about the size of an authokh, floating just above the waterline, but usually ripples were the only sign that their captors’ brethren were keeping pace.

A wave of nausea rolled up from Ythnel’s stomach, and her legs suddenly grew weak. She stumbled into the water face-first but caught herself on her hands and knees before falling fully in. Muctos, who had been marching behind her, stooped to help her up, but she pushed him away.

“What’s going on?” The werecrocodile who had been at the rear strode up to Ythnel.

“I’m hungry,” Ythnel said, her head still hanging down. “I haven’t eaten in … I don’t know how long. I’m not going anywhere until I get some food.” She slowly raised her head, defiance in her eyes. Muctos was looking at her with eyes wide. He mouthed something, but she couldn’t understand.

“You wait here.” The werecrocodile moved to speak with Kohtakah, the mage they had known as Brother Crocodile, at the front of the group.

“What are you up to?” Muctos asked in a harsh whisper. Before Ythnel could answer, the werecrocodile returned.

“We don’t stop until we get to the city. You”—He indicated Muctos.—“carry her.” The heavyset mage frowned but helped Ythnel up then turned and offered her his back. She hopped on, looping her arms around his shoulders as he hooked his arms under her knees. The march resumed.

For the next few hours, Ythnel was passed between the mages; her weight was too much of a burden for any one of them to carry for too long. It slowed the group’s progress until finally Kohtakah brought them to a halt. As though responding to some unseen signal, one of the submerged werecrocodiles reared up in a spray of water and transformed into its human shape. Kohtakah pointed at Ythnel, and the other took her from Muctos, slinging her over its shoulder so that she had a perfect view of his naked rear.

When the sky began to darken once again, the group found themselves at the edge of the river. Here the current was stronger, the water not as murky. Ythnel could see groupings of trees that marked the far bank several hundred yards away. To the north, an island sat in the mouth of the river. The island was covered in half-sunken ruins. Pillars of dried mud-brick leaned precariously, threatening to topple over and disappear beneath the surface of the swamp.

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