Page 104 of Grave Situation

“How good was your education?”

He flushes bright red and shrugs. “Not… It was a small village. I can read and do basic figures. That’s why the priests took me.”

That’s not helpful. “Did you learn any history?”

He brightens. “We have lessons at the Sanctuary about the history of the temples.”

I can just imagine how relevant and factual those are. “What about the zombie wars?”

The utter confusion on his face as he glances between us all answers that. “I-I… There are stories about zombies. My friends and I used to tell them in the woods to scare each other. But I never heard of zombie wars. Is that another story? If there’s a book, I can read it to you while we ride.” His eyes are wide and hopeful, as if he thinks this is how he’s going to be helpful on this mission. By reading to us.

Jaimin puts a hand on my shoulder, and the sudden stabbing pain behind my left eye eases. I shoot him a grateful smile.

“Maybe we should sit down,” he suggests, but I shake my head.

“We don’t have time for that if we want to gain any distance before dark. Arimen, I’m going to tell you the basics now. You’re going to be stoic and strong, and then we’ll fill in some details as we ride. Got it?”

All remaining color in his face drains away as he gulps, but he nods bravely, and grudging respect stirs in me.

“Zombies aren’t a story. They’re real. Over a thousand years ago—we don’t know exactly when—some rogue mages discovered a way to reanimate dead bodies. They raised armies of them and waged war across the continent.”

His jaw drops, and for a second I think he’s going to faint again. Instead, he sucks in a deep breath. “Are they like the stories?”

“We don’t know how much of the stories are true,” Jaimin admits. “We’ve encountered two groups of them so far, so we know the part about them being difficult to kill is real.”

“Dismembered body parts will still crawl after you,” I add, making a mental note to fill Jaimin in later on the currentzombie situation. “The only way to destroy them is magefire or dragon fire… and the stone’s champion.”

“S-So they’re back? Or did they never… How did the war end?”

“We don’t know. Scholars at the time thought it best to wipe all records from existence and let zombies become a scary story.” I’m still bitter about that. “They thought if people didn’t believe it was real, nobody would search for a way to do it.”

Arimen screws his face up, looking even younger than he is. “That’s stupid.”

At least we agree on something.

“The stone appeared to warn us that somebody has, in fact, found how it’s done. Our job is to find the champion as fast as we can so they can end this before it results in war again.” I pull the stone from my pocket and hold it out. “Stone, could you please confirm that what I’ve said is true?” Not that Arimen seems to be doubting me, but once he gets over the shock, I’m sure he will.

~Yes~

The pure joy that lights up the boy’s face is almost painful to see. “It can talk to us?”

“Yes or no answers only,” Coryn says. “And sometimes it tells us how it’s feeling. You can pet it, if you like. It’s very friendly.”

Arimen reaches out tentatively, then snatches his hand back. “Uh… maybe another time. I don’t think it’s right for me to touch a holy object. I’m not worthy.”

Leicht’s groan isn’t just in my head this time.

“At least you get to fly,”I complain.“I have to ride with him.”

“There’s plenty of time for that later,” Jaimin intercedes hastily as Arimen takes a big step back from Leicht. “We need to get moving. Arimen, you can ride with me and Talon, and we’ll answer your questions as we go. Leicht will scout ahead—if that’s okay with him?” He glances questioningly up at the dragon, whonods, making Arimen take another step back and me roll my eyes. It was a fucking nod, for the gods’ sake.

“And I’ll take the rear,” Coryn declares. “At least until we’ve got some distance. I don’t trust that mean bishop.”

Arimen opens his mouth as if to defend his former master, then closes it again. Some things are indefensible, after all.

I leave him with Coryn and turn to Sweetie. She nuzzles me with her soft nose, showing the same support and affection she’s offered all day, then gives me a shove that sends me reeling backward.

Into Jaimin.

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