Page 139 of Grave Situation

Peiris isn’t surprised by how the stone was found. Nor by the fact that it can communicate with us. Theyaresurprised by howlittle we know about the zombie wars, and that we have no idea who we’re even looking for.

Surprise turns to anger when they learn that our temples are trying to take the stone, and then sympathy when I speak of Tia’s death. Shock comes when I explain that the stone has allowed me to communicate with Leicht; I can only imagine how much more shocked they would be if they knew the truth.

By the time I wind down the story, we’ve finished eating and their body language is much more open and receptive. The stone sends an approving pulse through me—obviously I’ve done the right thing.

Peiris sighs. “The small amount of information you have access to is deeply concerning,” they confess. “Without the wellspring, you would be in the dark. Yet it also is far less forthcoming than it could be.”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” I say darkly. “That’s a conversation I’ve had with it many times before.”

“Does that mean you have more information?” Arimen asks. “Was it in your prophecies?”

Nodding, Peiris says, “In our prophecies and our histories. My people did not erase the knowledge gained during the Undead Uprising.”

Even as excitement races through me, I take a moment to appreciate the alliteration of “Undead Uprising.” I always thought “Zombie Wars” was a simple but effective name for it, but clearly our ancestors were second-best to those in the Empire for multiple reasons.

“Please, tell us your story,” Jaimin invites.

Leaning back on one hand, Peiris begins, “When I was a child, I was given the same education as many of my peers, and that included a basic understanding of the prophecies and histories. But once I reached my pubescent years, it became apparent that I was to play a larger role than anyone hadexpected.” They pause. “It’s a long tangent, and I don’t believe it’s entirely relevant. Perhaps we could save that for another time?”

I’m not about to delay the information I’ve wanted for months. “Whatever you think best.”

“Once I and everyone knew that I would be necessary to what came, I began a deeper study of the prophecies.” They pull a face. “Unfortunately, the prophecies, no matter how well they are studied, have a trick of not becoming clear until the moment of necessity. It was a key point of frustration for me.”

I make a mental note of that phrase. “Key point of frustration” sounds so much more refined than “completely fucked-up.” Peiris is going to be a great role model for me.

“It wasn’t until several months ago—I would need to check, but I believe it may have been only weeks before the wellspring revealed itself—that we in the Empire were made aware that the danger that came was the undead. I had been an indifferent student of that era, but I immediately sought counsel with expert scholars. The two most important things I learned are how the undead die—which you already know—and that it isvitalat any battle to locate and kill the necromancers as quickly as possible… if it’s possible.”

“I definitely planned on doing that anyway,” Coryn assures them earnestly, but Peiris shakes their head.

“No, you don’t understand. Necromancers do not die easily. Many—not all, but many—are like the zombies they raise and can survive even the most fatal of blows. They are no longer human and do not die like humans.”

Well, turds. I exchange a look with Jaimin.

“How can I kill them then?” Coryn asks intently. Peiris shrugs helplessly.

“The ones that can be killed will die through regular means. The others… they don’t die. Not without the intervention of the gods.”

Arimen perks up. “The gods?”

“That’s how the Undead Uprising was ended—the gods intervened directly.”

Pain stabs behind my eye. “The gods did. Great. Okay.” I take a breath. “Let’s hope the champion has some ideas on how to contact them, then. In the meantime… why is it so important to kill the necromancers first at any battle?”

Peiris doesn’t look all that happy about my comments, but obligingly answers the question anyway. “It takes a great deal of energy for a necromancer to raise even one undead, and they can only raise one at a time.”

I nod. “Yes, we knew that much.”

“But so long as its necromancer lives, the undead can scratch or bite the living, then slay them, and they will immediately rise and join the ranks of the enemy.”

The crackle of the fire is the only thing that breaks the silence, until finally Jaimin clears his throat. “I want to be certain I understand this. Theoretically, if the zombie that injured Talon today had scratched him first, then succeeded in killing him—Talon would have become a zombie?”

“Yes. If the necromancer who raised that undead is alive, yes.”

That finally answers the question of how there can be so many zombies so quickly, and why all the people from attacked villages are missing. There might be far fewer necromancers involved than we feared… although this alternative option isn’t really better.

The babble of voices fades as horrific memory rises. A hand, reaching toward me amidst the flash of swords…

Leicht’s scream echoes through the city, and conversation cuts off.

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