Page 77 of The Anointed's Paladin

“I said sorry!”

34

The statues

Talon

We started along the thin trail heading down towards the sea. The trees became scarcer and the space opened to another ruin. We paused as we passed an outlook that gave us an expansive view of the ocean. It was the first time I’d fully seen it since I’d travelled south.

“Looks like it’s not much longer to the shore,” I said, peering out. The air was clear, the fog that usually clung to the trees noticeably absent tonight.

Nidori settled on my shoulder. “There’s the island we’re heading for,” she said, pointing. I followed her gaze. There were a number of islands rising out of the sea, but the one she was pointing at was much larger than the others.

“Impossible to miss it, really.” Kaine was smirking to himself, but about what, I couldn’t guess.

We trudged on, winding past rock walls and fountains. We found ourselves in an old courtyard, overgrown hedges and weed-filled paths leading us towards a grand centrepiece.

It was a statue. Three figures stood, hand in hand, facing out to the water.

“It’s you!” said Nidori, fluttering up the closest figure.

I rounded to the front, peering up. It wasn’t an enferni, but the statue was built like me, towering freakishly over the other two.

She crossed to the next one. “And Kaine!”

I grunted. It was Kaine, in that it was a male figure that was shorter than the other.

“So, this one must be me!” she said, landing on the last statue. It was a woman, with long, flowing hair.

Kaine crossed his arms. “Bit big to be you.”

“Hush,” I said, elbowing him.

Nidori was quiet, stroking the statue’s hair. “Don’t worry,” she whispered to the statue. “I’ll win. I’ll be just like you soon enough.”

Guilt twisted in my stomach as she said it. She’d been cast out by her people, and even though hestillhadn’t told her, she’d been trapped by Kaine. This was the one thing she had left to look forward to. And I was supposed to stop her from getting it.

“Let’s go. Night’s not getting any younger,” said Kaine, starting down the path again. I followed, and Nidori fluttered after us.

I slowed as I smelled something amiss. I shot Kaine a look; he met my gaze, a worried look on his face. It was the unmistakable smell of a particularly bloody death.

“Nidori, stay close,” I said.

She landed on my shoulder and wrapped a hand around my horn. “What is it?”

“Someone met a nasty end up ahead,” said Kaine.

I drew my sword, approaching the unpleasant scene slowly. The brush near the ground had been flattened by something large. Brancheswere broken on the nearby trees, and some were marred with giant gouges.

I mentally started a list of beasts or monsters that could leave marks like that.

The bodies were scattered throughout the scene, in various states of butchery. I crouched beside the nearest one, examining it for more hints. The smell grew more intense, and I grimaced as I swatted away some flies. Nidori left my shoulder with a yelp, retreating to Kaine instead.

Whatever it was had fed on them. I peered at one of the bones—blunt teeth marks. Not a predator, then. I blinked as I saw this corpse’s face; it was the woman I had met in the store. The rude one who had invited me to join her. My stomach turned, and I stood, turning away.

“Enjoying yourself?” asked Kaine. “I do love a good fight scene, but this is a little too…odorous for my tastes.”

“I was tryingto figure out what did this. You know, in case we happen to run into it,” I said, folding my arms.

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