Page 34 of Queen's Griffon

“No one’s returned to explore since?”

Simhi shook her head. “Not from here, but I can’t speak for other countries and ships.”

“As far as I know Daerva never sent any ships to check out the situation.” Avera frowned. “At least none that provided any records.” But she had to wonder. People had an innate sense of curiosity, and surely the lure of possible treasure would have drawn the intrepid.

The footing proved treacherous as they reached the far side of the isle, making talking more difficult as they concentrated on not twisting an ankle. Avera saw no sign of habitation and couldn’t help but be surprised when Simhi announced, “We’re here.”

Avera glanced around for a shelter or camp, but spotted nothing, unless the seabird nests counted. “Are you sure?”

Simhi nodded and pointed to a mound of stone. “He’s right in there.”

The slim crevice she’d indicated didn’t seem large enough for anyone to pass through, yet Simhi crouched in front of it and murmured, “Vinmo, I’ve brought you something to eat.” She placed the sack of produce in front of the hole and crept back a few paces.

An emaciated hand, pitted with scars, emerged to snatch it and Avera rocked on her heels. How could anyone live like this?

“I’ve brought you a visitor,” Simhi softly added. “The Queen of Daerva herself. Won’t you say hello?”

Not a sound emerged from the hidey hole.

Avera crept closer. “I know you don’t like to be disturbed, but I would really love to speak with you, please.”

At first Avera expected no reply, but slowly, movement barely audible over the sucking of the tide at their back resulted in a gaunt face peering through the crack. Sunken cheeks, sparse white hair, pitted marks on one cheek, the man appeared more like a person in their late years, not one only a decade older than Avera.

“Hello, Vinmo.” Avera waved. “I’m Avera.”

“The queen of Daerva,” Simhi added once more.

His bloodshot eyes widened, and his mouth opened as he exhaled roughly.

Avera kept her tone low. “I hear you went to Verlora many years ago.”

Vinmo held himself still and kept staring.

“I was hoping you’d tell me about your journey. I would very much like to hear what happened when you went ashore.”

“No.” The word emerged so faint that Avera thought she imagined it until it came again, louder and louder, accompanied by a violent shaking of his head. “No! No!”

Simhi tried crooning soothingly, “It’s okay, Vinmo. Nothing can hurt you here.”

“It hunts me.” The wraith emerged from his hole, hugging the tattered rags covering his upper body, glancing fearfully at the sky.

“What hunts you?” Avera asked, unable to take her gaze from the knotted streaks of scar tissue that peeked through the dirt and his clothing.

Vinmo crouched and with his head ducked whispered, “It’s angry.”

“What’s angry?” she repeated. “What did you see? What hurt you and your friends?”

“The beast.” Vinmo’s eyes welled with tears and his nose ran unheedingly as he croaked, “It hunted us from the sky, swooping like a bird, but no bird ever grew so big. It grabbed with its claws. Ate Kiro in one bite.”

Simhi stiffened beside her, but Avera kept focused on the man.

“What was this beast? Does it have a name?”

“Death!” he huffed. “Its name was death, and none could escape. We hid. Burrowed like rats. Thought we’d fooled it. Themoment we emerged, it pounced. As it tore into Horkin, I ran,” he sniveled. “Ran so fast, but I couldn’t escape the green fire.”

Avera cast a quick glance at Simhi who shrugged and mouthed,Don’t know.

“Is this green fire what burned you?” Avera asked Vinmo.

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