Page 39 of Soul of Shadow
“Quite,” said the wood wife. “What’s more—they were not part of the spirit realm.”
“Wait, what?” Charlie asked. “You mean they were seen by humans?”
“They were not,” she said. “But they could have been.”
“That’s impossible,” said Elias. “The Seal should hold any undead spirits at bay.”
“It should,” the wood wife agreed.
“So, the draugar made the markings on the trees?” he asked.
“I did not say that.”
“You didn’t—” Elias shook his head. “Well, if not them, then what?”
The wood wife stared at him, unblinking, for several long moments. At last, she said, “Something much, much worse.”
Then she turned her reindeer around and walked it forward until they disappeared into the trunk of a tree, stepping inside it as if it were nothing more than a waterfall.
19
Charlie and Elias stood in the clearing for several seconds after the wood wife disappeared, staring at the spot where she had been.
Finally, Elias broke the silence.
“Damn nature spirits,” he mumbled. “Should’ve given her two coins instead of one.”
“What just happened?” Charlie asked. “What did she mean there’s anenergyaround me?”
“Beats me.” Elias ran a hand through his hair. “Much worsethan adraugar? What could she possibly mean?”
“How would a draugar get through the Seal, anyway? I thought it was impenetrable.”
He sighed. “No magic is absolute. There are always loopholes.”
“Loopholes?”She rounded on Elias. “This isn’t some real estate contract we’re talking about, here. This is the safety of the human race.”
“I’m well aware of that,” he said. “But I need not remind you how little I care about the human race.”
“Right. Of course. Elias Everhart, mare of night. Beast who cares only for himself. And whatever pot of gold you hope to find at the end of this rainbow.”
“I’m not looking for apot of gold,” he snapped. “My mission is far more—”
But he was cut off by a high-pitched squeal in the night.
Manyhigh-pitched squeals, from the sound of it.
The vätte squeaked and dove back into Charlie’s backpack.
“Crap,” said Elias, looking into the trees. “Vittra. We were arguing too loudly.”
“What’s a—”
Before she could ask, he grabbed her arm and yanked her into the woods in the opposite direction of the squeals. They barreled through the trees, shoving aside branches and leaping over fallen logs.
“Elias,” said Charlie, glancing anxiously over her shoulder as the squeals grew louder and louder, closer and closer. “What the hell are we running from?”
“Vittra,” he said. “Sort of like goblins. Feral little beasts. Not fond of humans, especially when we trespass on their lands. If they catch you, they’ll probably eat you alive.”
