AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kludde
Ten
“At least the mists make it feel like home,” she mused as they walked towards the large lake Jerimiah had called the Meer. It loomed grey and mysterious in front of them.
Macey shuddered. She didn’t know what to expect of the kludde. She hadn’t even heard of them before coming to Belgium.
“Do you know how to find them?” she asked Jared.
“I don’t think we find them, I think they find us.”
“Reassuring.” She sighed as they continued walking.
“Tell me more about them
?”
Jared shrugged. “There’s not much more I can really tell, I’ve never seen one myself so I have no idea what they’re really like. All I know is that they like to play tricks on unwary travellers and can shift forms to do so.”
“Like I can shift? Or…”
“Not quite like you. As far as I know, they can take any form they want. Within reason.”
“And what would that reason be?” This was sounding less and less pleasant by the second. How were they even supposed to know if they were faced with one of the kludde if it could look like just about anything else when it stood in front of her.
“I don’t think they can impersonate specific people.” Jared shrugged again as if it was no big deal.
“You don’t think?”
“Hellllllllllllo?” a voice called out through the mists.
Macey yelped and jumped backwards, surprised out of her skin by the sudden intrusion into their conversation.
“Hello?” she called back, her voice cracking with nerves. This wasn’t the first impression she wanted to give to anyone, never mind the creatures they might want to ask for answers.
No response came. Macey took a deep breath and took another step into the mists, hoping whoever it was would make an appearance.
“Remind me why we’re going to the water kludde and not the earth kludde?”
“They’re easier to get to,” Jared answered. “And less volatile.”
“Worrying,” Macey muttered to herself, but Jared’s responding chuckle led her to believe he’d caught it. What damn crazy hearing the man must have.
“They just like to tease, Macey. Despite their reputation, I’ve never actually heard of a water kludde hurting anyone on purpose.”
“But by accident?”
“Have you hurt anyone by accident?” he prompted.
She thought for a moment, then shivered, remembering the guards back at the Voice’s keep. She had no idea if they’d actually been injured or not, but her intentions had certainly been there. Which was worse than hurting anyone by accident if anyone asked her. She’d actually purposefully tried to cause damage.
“Oh, no, Macey. I didn’t mean it like that.” Jared closed the small gap between them and pulled her into his arms, squeezing her tightly.
“I know you didn’t,” she responded, a morose note invading her voice. Whether he’d intended it or not, he’d put the thoughts into her head and there was no going back from that.
"You smell!" someone shouted, closer this time than the previous voice.
"Are they talking to us?" Macey asked Jared, turning around to try and spy whoever was moving through the mists.
