Frostgrave: Second Chances by Matthew Ward

Author:Matthew Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472824653
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2017-01-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

‘This is a bad idea,’ muttered Darrick.

Yelen followed the big man’s gaze through twilight’s gathering darkness. Beyond the twisted iron railings, the Lower Reach was alive with wisp-light, the captive spirits dancing their mad gavotte of flickering colour above the barrows. But though she agreed with Darrick, she said nothing. Mirika’s trail led straight through the Lower Reach.

Marcan snorted. ‘You’re soft. Isn’t nothing to this place but tricksy lights and empty cowls. Nothing for the likes of us to worry about.’

Darrick rounded on him, finger wagging. ‘It never ceases to amaze me…’

‘Enough.’

Magnis didn’t shout, but the two immediately ceased their quarrel all the same. Another reminder, had Yelen needed one, that for all the Gilded Rose’s easy badinage, there was only one leader. Once his decision was made, he brooked no argument.

‘It’s what? Ten hours, dusk ’till dawn?’ said Magnis. He raised his voice. ‘How long to go around, Kas?’

‘Fifteen hours. At least fifteen hours.’

Magnis paced up and down the line, meeting the eyes of each companion in turn. ‘The sands of time are slipping away, and the weather’s good. We can’t afford to lose ten hours, let alone fifteen. Six hours for sleep?’ He shrugged. ‘We’ll have to. After all, we all of us need rest. But that means we press on while we can. Even in the dark. Even through the Lower Reach.’

Darrick stirred. ‘We camp in the Lower Reach, we’ll lose a lot more than fifteen hours.’

‘He’s not wrong,’ said Kain. ‘It’s one thing to keep moving. Staying put like a tethered goat is something else.’

Magnis shook his head woefully. ‘Have you so little faith? I’ve a plan. I always have a plan. Serene?’

The woman mutely shrugged off her pack, opened it and tossed a bundle to Magnis.

He caught it easily, and held it up. ‘Blackroot, silver dust and blessed incense. Corpsefire, that’s what they call it in the south. Its light burns undead if they get too close. We’ve enough of these to ring a small camp, and they’ll burn for a good twelve hours. All the time in the world.’

Yelen had never heard of corpsefire, and had no idea whether Magnis’ claims were true. Yet he’d spoken with such surety that it was all but impossible not to believe him. How much of that was his magic at work? Or did she have it backwards? Did Magnis even command that much sorcery, beyond a few simple parlour tricks? Was he, in fact, much more than an enterprising huckster in fine robes?

Magnis handed the bundle of corpsefire back to Serene. As he did so, he offered Yelen a sly wink, as if the whole thing were a joke, and they were the only two to share in it. She didn’t know how she felt about that.

‘I still don’t like it,’ rumbled Darrick.

Magnis spread his hand. ‘Fine. You don’t like it. Feel free to head back. We’re already down twelve per cent on this expedition, so I’m all for saving a few crowns where we can.’ As if on cue, the wolf-howls picked up again.

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