AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Meryl,” Lord Demious said with a sigh. “Sweet girl. Where did you find her?”
“By the orchard, she’s been dead no more than twelve hours. I found no trace or trail of what creature did this.”
“How did this happen?” Marco continued pacing. “The barrier keeps everything out of the estate and there hasn’t been any attack like this in Farrow’s Gate for years.”
Lord Demious leaned closer, examining the gashes across Meryl’s body. His brow knitted together before he covered the girl back up and stood. “No one must know about this attack. Bury her tonight and I’ll tell the servants that she fell and broke her neck while picking apples.”
Marco scrunched his face, and I could tell he was about to say something he’d regret. “My lord, this security breach means danger to anyone here. Call off this competition and send the females home. Marry Claudia and be done with it.”
“No, this only proves the importance of finding a powerful female to carry my lineage. The barrier, and not just here, but surrounding all of Farrow’s Gate is powered by my magic. If it is waning, it means the darkness from the Never is corroding more than we know. Your men need to comb these grounds until you find me that darkthing.”
“So, it is a darkthing,” I said, meeting his gaze. “Most of those creatures are not intelligent. Wouldn’t it still be attacking?”
“The darkthing isn’t the issue. They don’t attack and disappear, and yes there are some denizens from the Never that have a mind of their own, but those are extremely rare. This is an attack, and we need to find out from who.”
“Wait.” Marco held a hand to his forehead. “You’re saying someone is summoning this thing?”
Lord Demious’ brow furrowed. “If that is possible, we’re in greater danger than I thought.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Lord Demious had enemies, but it had been years since any surfaced.
Folding his arms, the magistrate stared at the dead girl. “In desperate times, men will do desperate things. If Saol is destined to fall, Farrow’s Gate may be the only safe haven left.”
“Wait, what?” Marco’s eyes widened. “You can’t mean that? The war is not even near here.”
Grabbing my weapons off the floor, I belted my swords back on, Lord Demious’ words sending an uneasiness through me. “You know something.”
Marco glanced back between Lord Demious and me.
With a sigh, Lord Demious met my gaze, his expression hardening. “The war with the Never Rift has come to a head, and only one side will prevail. We must all play our part, and I will do as I must.”
With a whirl of his cloak, he left the barracks, Marco’s eyes widening and his mouth opening to spew a thousand questions I didn’t have answers to.
The magistrate knew something, and I had a sense we were all in grave danger.
