Page 55 of For the Strange and Surprising

Connak

As soon as our feet hit the shore of the lake, I rush Ada to get dressed. We need to get closer to the village, and quickly. That beast wasn’t like the others. The smokey apparition around it wasn’t regular. I don’t know what it means or what it is, but I need to tell Isolde and Ecaeris.

I kneel to lace the leather strings of Ada’s shoes while she ties the bottom of her skirt in a knot. She gapes at me, and I give her a tight smile. This is a task that I’d usually take my time with, but we don’t have any to spare.

I don’t know how far away the beast is, but when we enter the forest, I see the tracks it left behind. We go in the opposite direction, which works well for us since it’s the shortest route back to the village.

I drag Ada along beside me, gripping her hand until I’m sure it hurts. She doesn’t complain, though she hasn’t had a chance to. I’m walking so fast that she’s practically running to keep up with the pace I’ve set.

Today’s lack of animals in the forest was a warning sign and should have told me to proceed with caution. I didn’t bring any weapons with me other than a small dagger in my boot. It wouldn’t be suitable to defend myself, much less both of us. I refuse to let her get hurt because I wasn’t thinking straight.

We have to get back.

Once we cross over the patrol route and the bridge, I can breathe again. It doesn’t calm my mind, but I know that will come soon.

We’re right at the edge of the village. I can hear the distant sounds of people, and I fight with myself to not speed up more. I don’t look for the nearest entrance in the stone barricade. I pick Ada up by her waist, setting her on the flat top before I climb up. When I hop off the other side, I pull her with me.

I’m not worried about me; it’s everyone else that I’ve struggled to protect. It’s bringing Ada so far out but not being able to assure her safety.

I head straight for her room, trying not to show how paranoid I’m feeling. Talodus and Ecaeris have already told me about the stalker in the woods, so I cast a quick glance to see if anyone is there. I check inside her room too. She isn’t particularly pleased about it, but she doesn’t question why I’m doing it.

We’re going to search the area over the next few days. The guys need my tracking skills to find the right lead. But we need her to be alone in her room to replicate the situation that made the man appear in the first place.

That’s going to piss her off. I just know it.

“We should tell Isolde,” she mentions as she watches me open the wardrobe.

“I will. That’s where I’m going now.” I turn the door handle but stop once I’m standing on the threshold. “You need to stay inside, Ada. Wait for someone to come to get you.”

I close the door behind me, not waiting for a reply. If I stay any longer, then I’ll want to bring her with me. Today left me with questions that only Isolde can answer, and I can’t ask them if Ada is there.

I jog down the path, only pausing to bang on Ecaeris’s door. I don’t wait to see if he answers. He’s either in his room or in the catacombs. And if he isn’t there, then his mother will send someone to find him.

The Mongrel prince catches up to me as I reach the palace, though he doesn’t say anything while we’re outside. He knows I was with Ada today, so he’s probably thinking that he’s been right about her being a Shade.

He’s wrong, but I’m not going to argue with him when there are more significant problems at hand.

Once we’re in Isolde’s study, Ecaeris finally speaks.

“Why were you running? You didn’t hear me call your name when you passed me.”

I use my thumb and index finger to squeeze my temples. “I knocked on your door. I assumed you were following me because of that.”

“I wasn’t. Are you going to tell me why you came here?”

“Where is your mother?”

He scoffs quietly. “I’m not her keeper.”

“I’m here. How was your day, dear?” She grins, but it’s barely masking her concern. “Why are you back so soon?”

“We saw a beast at the lake,” I blurt.

Ecaeris shakes his head, his eyes narrowed. “Why would one be there?”

“I don’t know,” I stress. “I didn’t even see it until Ada asked if guards patrolled that far. She pointed it out to me.”

He scowls, but Isolde jumps in before he can begin spitting accusations.