The Gentle Giant

Book One ~ Chapter Thirteen

Two tall figures appeared on the horizon. They moved rapidly towards them. As they got closer, Emir recognized them as Erik and Morga. He saw fear in Erik's eyes as they reached them. "You-"

There was a shock of recognition in Morga's eyes when she saw Kahmgalai, but it quickly tamped down. She quickly grabbed Emir and Muriel's arms, "It's coming. You need to hide right now or you will die."

Emir's eyes widened, "What's coming?!"

Morga hissed and pulled him forcefully behind a cluster of markers, "Quiet!"

Erik hid behind a different marker. Muriel huddled near Emir. Kahmgalai didn't hide. She only shook her head and stood her ground. "I am charged with protecting these grounds. I will not hide." Emir felt it before he could actually see it. The world growing silent around him, slowly draining of color. It started with the grass all along the perimeter of the graveyard. Slowly shriveling and dying, leaving a circle of black. Then it spread to the flowers. Soon there was a border of death around the sacred grounds. And on the horizon, a lone figure materialized. Emir recognized the face and uniform.

The Quaestor Valdemar stood with their fingers pressed gleefully together, surveying the decay. Yet, they didn't take a step past it. As they reached out, a shimmering dome appeared in the air, encasing the entire graveyard. Emir noticed they were holding something. It looked to be a small bundle, like a baby's swaddle. "I was turned away earlier. Quite rudely in fact. Let's knock a little louder this time, shall we?" They reached into the bundle and produced a few very weathered, very small bones. They crushed one of them in their hand, pulled their mask down, and blew the dust toward the graveyard. It hit the invisible barrier and the moment it did, the air around it turned red, cracking and hissing. It was like watching glass break in slow motion. The invisible dome of protection that surrounded the graveyard began to shatter, piece by piece. Valdemar stepped forward, over the circle of death. The moment their foot touched living ground, it started rotting. "Ahh, much better. Now, to deal with our little rat problem." They looked directly at the pillars the others were hiding behind. "Come out and play, won't you~?" Wherever Valdemar stepped, death quickly followed. The forget-me-nots shriveled up as they called out gleefully, "Come out, come out, little mice! Don't try to hide. I can smell you."

There was a beat, then Kahmgalai stepped out into the plain, hands on her hips, "I don't remember inviting you in. Leave this place."

"It is only polite to answer when someone asks. You've been rude... very rude." Valdemar grinned and tilted their head to the side, taking in the graveyard, "What a delightful place this is! I can feel the sorrow that has soaked into the ground. It's... delicious."

Kahmgalai folded her arms, staring Valdemar down. Neither of them budged for a long moment. That was until a figure came loping over the hill toward them, its gait lanky and awkward. The closer it got, the more Emir could recognize who it was. However, his mind took a moment to catch up with his eyes. "You didn't wait for me!" cried Lucio. He was in some sort of solid, humanoid, goat-ish form. The more Emir thought about it, the more rememberable his form became. It was that of the goat from the painting in the palace's dining hall.

"Gya damn it all." Morga closed her eyes for a brief moment, then stood and emerged from her hiding spot. Erik and the others stayed. "Montag! What the fuck!"

"Mother! Still following me, eh?" Lucio laughed, "What, you bring Erik along with?"

Erik grit her teeth and stepped out from her hiding spot, "Following?" she asked with a growl, "No... hunting."

"What have you done to yourself, boy?" asked Morga.

Lucio scoffed, tossing his head back. Without actual hair, the effect is minimized, to say the least. "I'm here on business. Can't chat long! I'm certain you understand." He paused, eyes narrowing as he scanned the graveyard, "But I know you're not alone. Where's your new family? Hiding like babies."