Page 967

--Monday donation bonus (Page 2/3)--
‘A friend of ours was able to tell us some of Warrenhold’s history,’ said Garovel. ‘It’s our understanding that the castle caused trouble for some folks who were looking to kill a few kings, yes?’

‘Yes,’ said Shenado. ‘Those kings needed to die in order for several of the Rainlords’ allies to seize power and provide much needed aid during the Uprising. Many of the Rainlords themselves were dispatched to help take the castle, but instead of the swift victory that they were expecting, they encountered a struggle that lasted decades.’

‘Ah, well, perhaps Axiolis will be pleased to know that Hector bears no relation to any of Warrenhold’s previous occupants,’ said Garovel.

Shenado tilted her skull to the side. ‘He said if it weren’t for Warrenhold, the Rainlords would have had all the support they needed in a dozen other key battles across the continent and wouldn’t have suffered such heavy losses.’

‘Mm. Then... hopefully, he’ll be pleased to know that it is now occupied by a friendly face.’

‘He also said that it was cursed.’

‘Oh, well, that’s not--’

‘He said, even after it was taken, the castle drove people mad and caused all manner of political turmoil.’

‘Axiolis is mistaken. I would be happy to--’

‘You tryin’ to invite us to some cursed pile of dog shit?’ said Chergoa. ‘The hell is wrong with you?’

‘It’s not cursed! It’s just misunderstood!’

‘Uh-huh, sure it is. I bet it’s just teeming with ghosts ‘n shit.’

‘Ghosts aren’t real,’ said Garovel.

‘You don’t know that.’

‘Actually, I do. And so do you.’

‘If ghosts aren’t real, then what do you call us?’

‘Reapers aren’t ghosts!’

‘Aren’t we, though? I mean, we’re people who’ve died, right?’

‘It’s not the same!’

‘It kinda is.’

Garovel sighed. ‘Okay, so by that logic, you are therefore worried that Warrenhold is teeming with reapers.’

‘Well, I was more worried about the dog shit part.’

‘There’s no dog shit!’

‘So you say...’

‘Ugh. Whatever. You’ll see it for yourself when you visit.’

‘I don’t wanna visit a place filled with that much dog shit.’

‘Chergoa, I will end you.’

She just laughed.

Hector would have kept listening, but Ramira poked him in the face with her iron spider. She’d insisted that he sit next to her, and he couldn’t very well refuse. And besides, sitting next to a little girl was way less intimidating than sitting next to anyone else in this car. Except maybe Dimas, who was sitting on Hector’s other side.

“What’s the matter?” Hector asked.

“You never told me your name, you big lump.”

She was right, he realized. The reapers had handled all the introductions, which she obviously hadn’t been able to hear.