The Shadow and the Scream: A Dark Portal Fantasy Novel (The Nowhere Chronicles Book 1) by Rebecca L. Fearnley

Author:Rebecca L. Fearnley [Fearnley, Rebecca L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lightning Hyena Press
Published: 2023-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter twenty-three

More Precious Than Any Jewel

“It’s what?” Maeve yells. I hush her, glancing over my shoulder. We’re outside the prayerhouse, gathered in the lackluster market, but the door hangs open and I see the priests, all kneeling before the altar. Wystan and Sasha both look up. Wystan glares at us, but Sasha’s eyes are full of warning. He shakes his head slightly. I turn away, pretend I haven’t seen.

Sheb threads his arm through Maeve’s, guiding her away from the prayerhouse. “Perhaps we should walk and talk,” he says. “Might be safer.”

Maeve splutters. I’m about to argue, but Sheb just pats her arm.

“You don’t mind, do you?” he says, indicating his arm through hers. “Only, my ankle’s still not right. Need the support.”

Maeve stops arguing. She holds Sheb’s arm tightly, watches as he walks tentatively.

“Does it hurt?” she asks.

Sheb smiles. “It’s sore,” he says. “But you and dear Annie have been very attentive. It’s healing nicely …”

He goes on like this for a bit, about how wonderful Maeve’s been. How kind. Maeve soaks up the praise. I see how it buoys her. Her spine straightens. Her shoulders go back. Her face glows with pride. She offers to carry Sheb’s harpoon, and he tells her how generous that is, but he wouldn’t want to burden her with it. It’s fine, strapped across his back.

I walk behind them, transfixed by Sheb’s witchcraft. I’ve never understood how he does this. How he’s so good with people like Maeve.

Like you, Annie, Wriggler points out. He pokes his head from within my jacket, tongue tasting the air. Let’s face it, Sheb’s had plenty of practice.

I shove Wriggler’s head back out of sight. When we’re far enough from the prayerhouse, heading towards the docks, Sheb explains to Maeve what we worked out last night, when the Krazka came to the prayerhouse. Maeve’s jaw falls open. She stares at me and Wriggler.

“You think it’s …”

I nod. “Bonded,” I say. “Yeah. Look, I dunno how it works. All I know is that some … creatures are drawn to people’s feelings. Strong feelings. Bad feelings. I never thought about it before, but I guess it makes sense that Wriggler’s not the only one. He smelled my rage and latched onto it, long before I even went through the portal to Nowhere. This monster’s the same.”

“Dark child,” Maeve breathes. “That’s what we’re fighting?”

I scowl, but I’m done arguing this point. Let them think what they want. “Yeah, sure,” I say. “Whatever. Look, wherever it came from, it was drawn by something. A dark feeling. It’s attached itself to that person. It’s not the Wood that’s driving it. It’s someone in the town.”

Maeve frowns. “But then why … why does it come to the manor? Why did it attack Father Grey right when I was about to change his—”

Maeve’s eyes go glassy with understanding. “Oh,” she breathes.

I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah,” I say. “It’s not the Wood trying to get Lin. It’s Krogan, guarding her. All that bitterness in him after he was banished from the Jewel City.

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