The Green Dagger by Kelly Hess

Author:Kelly Hess [Hess, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Published: 2014-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

KRIGGER TRUDGED NOISILY through the thick mud. In truth, he barely made a sound as his feet sank slightly into the chunky goo that comprised the ground in the misty bog outside of Haverton; but to his ears, he was making enough noise to announce his presence a mile away. Still, Krigger walked in utter silence compared to Fritz and the Sorak, who sloshed along behind him like a couple of cows. They had entered the bog about an hour before but weren't making very good time. They should have reached Shutterpot twenty minutes ago, thought Krigger. Their arrival would certainly be no surprise to the Weep, who no doubt had already heard them coming.

"Krigger, are you sure he lives out here?" Fritz asked for the fourth time.

"I'm sure. Keep walking." Krigger answered. A bug buzzed past his ear and Krigger waved it away. He glanced backward. Fritz was covered in mud from his feet to his waist. He plodded along, as if intentionally making the biggest splashes he could manage. The Sorak faired far better, sinking only a little as he walked with a much lighter foot than Fritz. Krigger was impressed. To Krigger's fascination, he noticed the Sorak had transformed his white eyes to look human, a brilliantly simple but effective disguise.

Another insect buzzed overhead. It was black with fast moving wings. "What are these bugs?" Fritz groaned as he waved his hands frantically above his head.

"Just relax, Fritz," the Sorak said. "They don't seem to be interested in biting or stinging." The Sorak remained remarkably calm to the obvious annoyance of Fritz.

"I don't want to relax!" Fritz barked. "I want to find this…Weep, so we can get out of here."

"We're here," Krigger announced. He stood on the edge of a strip of solid ground that stretched away from them. Tall reeds obscured the narrow pathway beyond twenty feet or so.

"Thank God," Fritz said as he stepped gratefully out of the bog up onto the path. Mud squished from the bottom of his boots. The Sorak climbed up behind him. After a moment of unsuccessfully trying to wipe mud from their clothes and boots, Krigger led them along the path, pushing past the reeds of grass that bent lazily over the trail. They walked for several minutes and finally came to a wide clearing. The ground was firm and a large tree stood majestically at the opposite edge of the glade as they approached. Krigger walked to the center of the expanse and looked around as if searching for something.

"What is it, Krigger?" Beynn asked.

"This is where he was," Krigger replied. "He was right here the last time."

"And so I am here today," a voice came from the tree.

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