The Crippling by Christopher Coleman

Author:Christopher Coleman [Coleman, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christopher Coleman
Published: 2019-06-26T22:00:00+00:00

The Kravna said nothing, looking to the ground as she cleared her thoughts and controlled the bubbling fury in her lungs. She was not used to being spoken to with anything other than reverence, and it took some effort to restrain herself from retorting with venom.

“I don’t know what you want or why you’re here, but—”

“I have just told you why we’re here, Noah. We are searching.”

“Searching for what?”

The Kravna flashed a grin that beckoned Noah to search his mind for the answer. “It is the same thing you’re searching for.”

“I’m not searching for anything.”

“Perhaps not this instant, but you will be. You’re just waiting. Isn’t that right?”

It was Noah’s turn to grin now, and he narrowed his gaze as he studied the precocious pre-teen in front of him. “Who are you?”

“I am someone who is interested in the same thing you are, Noah.”

Noah said nothing, waiting for the reveal.

“Orphism, of course.”

Noah shrugged and shook his head. “I’m not interested in Orphism. I’m only interested in helping my friends.”

The Kravna nodded as if this was a reasonable response. “Your friends? The one they call Gretel? And her brother Hansel?”

Noah stood tense and silent as he nodded.

“I am interested in helping them as well. Orphism is the ancient legacy of my kingdom. The Village of the Elders is the birthplace of a magic that has just now begun to seep into the world. After all these centuries of relative quiet, despite the sloppiness of the council who was responsible for the safekeeping of the practice, it has been kept on the fringes of the earth by hermits and occultists. But that is no more. Not since Marlene. And Tanja. And now Gromus. You have seen what it has done to your friends and their family. Or else you have heard the stories from the boy and his mother. But I am the new queen of the village now, and thus it is my responsibility to return the books to their source, to keep the darker powers of the practice away from creation.”

“What do you want?” Noah said flatly, all signs of humor now absent from his face.

“You were given a list of the books. I have the same list. We only want you to help us find one of them. And in return, we will be helping you. You won’t be breaking the pact, as this would be a mutual agreement.”

“Gretel took the list with her. I don’t have it.”

“Surely you made a copy for yourself? Were you not interested in the great powers of Orphism for yourself?”

“As I already said, I’m not.”

Noah looked behind him at a group of people who had begun to huddle by the stables where a horse-drawn carriage appeared staged and ready for departure.

“And I’ve work to do. It is a very interesting story, but I’ve made promises which I intend to keep. Good luck with your searches.”

Noah gave a formal smile toward Nalame and tipped his head in a show of departure.

“You are a guide, yes?” the Kravna said without a beat’s rest.

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