The World's End by Rin Chupeco

Author:Rin Chupeco
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks

* * *

Despite Schreiber’s assertion, several of the soldiers offered to guide them into the woods or at least part of the way into Wild Hunt territory. One handed Zoe a large case the size of a pet carrier. It was light enough for Zoe to accept without difficulty.

They had to travel alone after that, and it was easy to see why the Germans had refused to come any farther. While the rest of the forest had been teeming with flora and fauna, the decay here was palpable, from the yellowing, browned leaves of sickly looking trees to the ground itself.

“The soldiers believe it’s because of the dead flesh that’s accumulated here over the centuries,” Nya whispered.

“That doesn’t sound right,” Loki said. “Macabre as it sounds, bodies mean more soil nutrients.”

“Yeah, but they believe the bodies have been corrupted. Like there’s poison inside them.” Nya pointed at something half-hidden behind a sparsely leaved bush. With a shudder, Tala recognized it as a skull, brown from age and cracked in several places.

And then Nya gasped, much louder this time, and Tala saw a body stretched out some distance behind it, limbs stiffened in rigor mortis, the remains of a tongue lolling out.

“Seven bodies now,” Cole said grimly.

“Hear anything, West?” Ken asked from atop Horse. The rest were riding horses at the moment—steeds specifically bred by the German fighters in the region to be fast. They were disciplined; not a one shied away from Cole, who always tended to make horses nervous. Tala’s mount was named Lightning, a sure-footed chestnut stallion that didn’t need her guidance to follow the others.

Kelpies weren’t comfortable in woods, Tala knew, but Horse showed no signs of nervousness, only lifting its ear eagerly, ready to ride into battle if its owner would let it.

West had assumed hound form, sitting beside both Horse and its rider. He pointed his muzzle toward the east and let out a low affirming growl. His assertion was confirmed by the adarna, who let out a soft coo.

“I think something’s approaching,” Tala said.

“This is going to be a little different from our other missions,” Zoe said briskly. “The Germans offered some strategies when dealing with the Wild Hunt, and it all boils down to being fast enough to keep out of their range and avoiding a direct confrontation. They say that once you’re close enough to see the hunt, you’re as good as dead, so they keep an ear out for the sounds of a stampede or yelling.”

“That’s not a very good strategy for us, Zoe,” Ken pointed out. “We’re not here just to run away.”

“They did share one specific tactic. They occasionally capture a few shades out here.” Zoe lifted the carrying case. “The Wild Hunt lives to run down nightwalkers, so we can use them as bait. Cole can stab them through with his sword to keep them obedient.”

“There’s a shade inside that?”

“You were too busy admiring the horses when they were giving the rest of us instructions.”

“Did he give us

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