The Case of the Curse of Houl: the Wolflock Cases, #3 by Rhiannon D. Elton

Author:Rhiannon D. Elton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy fantasy mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fantasy Detective, Detective Conan, Nancy Drew, Hardy Brothers, Sherlock Holmes, Amateur Sleuth, Teen Detective
Publisher: Rhiannon D. Elton
Published: 2019-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

The Sick Sinking Ship

THE HEAVY CHINKING, scraping noise of the anchor being dropped into the water, and the heart sinking splash it caused nearly made Wolflock sick. Second mate Canhop, a dark-haired gentleman with olive skin and a passion for maps, decreed that during the evenings the ship would drop anchor as there just weren’t enough crew to man the ship day and night.

Wolflock felt more trapped now than he had ever felt in his life. He would surely miss the deadline to enroll at Mystentine if they travelled at this pace. The pit in his stomach flung terrible thoughts into his mind of having to drag his bags back home through Plugh with those wretched stares. The whole town would line up to gawk at his failure. They’d point and whisper, and he would be without any support. Any friend at all. Even Myna would be forced to follow suit in order to maintain her own reputation.

As the dark water washed over the chain links of the anchor, Wolflock felt as if his fate was chained to that same darkness. There was only one time in his life that he felt more helpless. He couldn’t bear to think about that, though, so he drew his thoughts back to the explosion of chaos that ensued only an hour or so beforehand.

The dining hall had grown so quiet that only the waves of rain could be heard. Hognut had been the first to break the silence.

“Don’t be a fool, yah silly witch.”

Nan Ji had rushed to the Captain’s side and Slavidus had tried to aid him even though he was covered in his own vomit as well.

“We’ve been cursed for travelling across Houl’s sacred waters!” Faleen wailed as Bleen hung limply in her sister’s arms. “He’s angry that we didn’t pay any tribute! Our cards have spoken!”

“But why? He didn’t ask for tribute! There were no signs! Why would he make us suffer?” Veluse pleaded, throwing himself at Faleen’s feet and tearing at her dress, tears streaking down his ghostly face.

“Don’t indulge them, yah daffy fool!” Hognut growled.

“Hognut! Goden! Get them all to bed. Nan Ji, please get your family to do something!” Canhop spoke loudly, but his voice trembled and his whole body shook like a leaf.

“It’s the curse!” Geagle shrieked, before he caught Parihaan as she fell into convulsions. “They’re right!”

Wolflock had had enough. He turned to leave and saw that Nü had already disappeared. His head ached from it all. Nothing made sense. His web had fallen apart.

No one had warranted the wrath of Houl. The maramuti had not brought disease to the ship. The crew had cooked the food to the highest standard. Even this proved that Nan Ji had not intentionally made people ill.

Nan Ji would only be praised for making people well again and “saving” the ship. There had been a motive. He was travelling in order to build prestige for his medical prowess. He’d been an absolute horror to work with and appeared

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