The Ghost Princess (Graylands Book 1)

by M. Walsh

  “Lilyyyyy,” he said, his teeth gritted in a strained grin. “What does live in the swamps around here?”

  “Welllll,” she said, taking a breath. “What you’d usually find in swamps and marshes this close to the Dark Lands are ... they burrow underground. Most keep closer to the water, but they move through the softer land.”

  “And these things are..?”

  “Spiders. Centipedes. Things with a lot of legs.” She paused before mumbling, “More or less.”

  “More or less..? What does that mean?”

  “I suppose technically they’re not really spiders or centipedes.” She paused and tilted her head back and forth. “Just ... really like spiders and centipedes. If you saw them, you would think ‘spider’ and ‘centipede.’”

  “Except..?”

  “Except what?”

  “You say they’re like spiders and centipedes and bugs with lots of legs. But they’re not. So, like spiders and centipedes and bugs with lots of legs ... except..?”

  Lily made that hesitant face again, tilting her head around, and keeping her eyes on the ground. It was the mannerism of a child who broke something, but didn’t want to confess.

  “Except ... well ...” She dragged out the silence, before finally finishing, very quick and barely audible: “Bigger.”

  Several times during the discussion Krutch felt the strength go out of his legs, and he probably would’ve stopped dead in his tracks each time had she not continued walking. In fact, he noticed, she seemed to be making a distinct effort not to slow down.

  The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and whatever appetite he felt in his stomach died a fast death. Mustering some semblance of strength, he choked out, more like a sigh than an actual sentence, “How much bigger..?”

  Finally, she stopped. She looked at him, and there was a sympathetic, pitying look in her eyes revealing he wouldn’t like the answer and she knew it. She eyed him up and down and said, “How tall are you?”

  Suddenly feeling lightheaded, Krutch mumbled, “I’m guessing ... not as tall as whatever’s living in the swamp.”

  “I wouldn’t say that, but ...” She let out a sheepish smile, again reminding him of a child that broke something. “There might be a spider or two that could have a few inches on you.”

  He let out an odd chuckle that sounded more like a death rattle. The color dropped out of his face, and he wavered on his feet.

  “But that’s very rare,” Lily quickly said. “And as long as we move carefully, we probably won’t even run into any of those.”

  His mind halfway in some other reality—one where he wasn’t Krutch Leeroy, infamous pirate, wandering through the woods, faced with demons, Enforcers, and insects that could beat him up—he moaned, “Is there ... anything that flies ... in the swamp..?”

  She sighed, her head sinking into her neck. “Yeah.”

  “How big..?”

  “You might as well just lie down now, because you’re not going to like that answer either.”

  Krutch grinned and happily obliged, barely feeling the ground as everything went to black.

  * * *

  The darkness faded away in a blurred static of dots. His throat felt cool, and for a moment, he was perfectly at ease—better than he felt when he woke up that morning, anyway. He looked over, and Lily was sitting beside him, holding his canteen.

  Seeing he was awake, she smiled and said, “Look who’s up.”

  “How long was I out?”

  “Less than an hour. I found a little creek not far from here and filled your canteen up. Want another sip?”

  “Thanks,” he said, sitting up. “Is it safe to drink the water around here?”

  “Water’s still good,” she said. “For now. So enjoy it while it lasts.”

  He took a sip from the canteen, and the cold water felt even more soothing. It washed down his throat and landed gently in his empty stomach.

  “I take it you don’t like bugs,” said Lily.

  “Pretty much. I’m not even a fan of normal sized bugs ... much less ones big enough to kick my ass.”

  “Wish I knew. I would’ve suggested a different route than through the swamp.”

  He waved his hand, gesturing it was no big deal. Shaking his head, he said, “I guess it’s too late now. Any other route would take too much time, right..?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Whatever road Katrina is taking or being led down, I’d guess she’s close to Fane—if not past it by now. Cutting through the swamp is our only shot of catching up.”

  “Assuming she even is going where you think she is.”

  “You don’t have to come with me, Krutch. I told you, I can—”

  “I know, I know. I’m sticking with you. It’s just—” He paused, taking a breath. “Wasn’t ready for giant insects. I’m going to have to psych myself up for that one.” He took another sip from the canteen and then poured a little over his head. Scratching his hair, he asked, “What is it with this Katrina lady, anyway? I mean, I know why you want to find her, but why was she so determined to help you first..?”

  “I’m not sure, to be honest. She didn’t say much about herself, but she seemed really ... offended, I guess ... about how Kader apparently wanted to use me for something and how you—er, your men—wanted to kidnap me for something else.”

  Krutch stood up, stretching his back—feeling a satisfying pop—and nodded at Lily he was ready to continue walking. “Kader mentioned his spiel about finding some chosen girl who had a big destiny. He acted like those were the buttons to push with her.”

  “That was the impression I got, too. Like she was angry I was apparently part of some weird prophecy.” She paused and shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess she has a real problem with destiny.”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. Kader was very cryptic about what he wanted with her. I was also more concerned with trying to get the hell out of there, anyway.”

  The air changed as they continued on. It was still cold, but it grew damp and moist. The path ahead became shrouded in thickening fog, and a fine mist hovered over the ground. A foul scent became noticeable as well. It was the smell of something rotten, and Krutch had an image in his mind of withered old vegetables wallowing in mud. He suspected that was the swamp he smelled, but there was something unnatural about it. Even though he’d never smelled an actual swamp or bog, he couldn’t shake a feeling there was something not right about it.

  It’s because it’s not a normal swamp. It’s too close to the Dark Lands. The land is poisoned.

  The thought brought an unpleasant chill with it. He looked at Lily, and she didn’t seem unnerved by it—assuming she even noticed. He figured she was more focused on Katrina or maybe she was used to it, apparently living around here.

  He wondered what kind of people would—or could—inhabit this far south in Graylands. He was always under the impression his bungalow was one of the last hints of civilization, and that was a healthy distance from any potential demons and Dark Lands influence. He supposed it was possible settlers actually attempted to venture further down. Would-be pilgrims seeking some free land to call their own.

  The type of cultist loons that would have one of their priests hunt down and kill someone considered deviant from the flock.

  At any rate, he figured if he was going to be dragged into dangerous territory, he’d rather it be with someone knowledgeable of the area and not one of his tagalong idiots like Lemmy Hobbs.

  His train of thought derailed, realizing he was looking to the young woman that couldn’t weigh more than a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet as his guide and “protection.”

  Lily went up ahead and came to a stop, as if hearing something. Krutch slowed down beside her and reached into his coat for his pistol. He looked around, but saw nothing through the fog and mist. Everything was silent and still, and a gentle breeze drifted through the leaves and hedges, creating a ghostly atmosphere that made him feel uneasy.

  “What is it.
.?” he asked, keeping his voice down to a whisper.

  “Something’s out there,” said Lily. “Just ahead.”

  A long list of possibilities flashed across his mind—none of them good. The Enforcer? Demons? The Sentries and that Vogel guy? The giant bugs in the swamp?

  Freaking zombies, for all I know.

  “What is it?”

  Lily raised her hand to shush him. Whatever it was, she thought it was very close. He watched her peer into the fog, her body tensed and ready to spring any moment. Krutch sensed her tension, and it made him even more so. His gun was gripped tightly in his hand, and he was ready to draw at the slightest movement.

  Neither of them saw the ruin until they were practically next to it. Most of the tower was concealed in fog and faded into the overcast sky, and the darkened trees and leaves disguised the black stone it was built from.

  “What’s this place?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” Lily replied. “There’s stuff like this all over the forest.”

  They emerged from the woods into what remained of a courtyard leading to the entrance. The skeletal remains of walls and arches boxed in a long stretch of blackened leaves leading to the entrance. The windows were hollow and only revealed darkened shadows. Up close, Krutch could imagine the castle once being something impressive—the home of some great lord, perhaps. But as it was there, it came across as a fearsome thing most likely haunted by something ugly and angry.

  “Let’s keep going,” he said, feeling uneasy. “This forest is spooky enough.” He continued walking, while Lily stared up toward the upper windows. When he saw she wasn’t following, he said, “Well..?”

  “There’s someone inside,” she said. “I can see smoke coming from the roof.”

  She pointed up, and Krutch could make out a thin stream of black smoke wafting into the air. He fidgeted, trying to convince himself it was merely more gray sky playing tricks on their eyes.

  “Uh, well,” he stammered. “More reason to keep going, don’t you think..?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, starting to move toward the entrance.

  Krutch jumped in front of her. “More reason to keep going!” he repeated. “I’m really not sure I want to know the type of people that just hang out in the middle of haunted forests.”

  “I’m worried if we just keep going, whoever’s in there is going to wind up ambushing us later.”

  “If whoever’s in there even sees us ... which they won’t if we just keep going.”

  “Too late for that, I’m afraid.”

  The voice came from behind them, and both Krutch and Lily screamed. He attempted to turn and draw his gun, but lost his balance and tripped into her. She crumbled on top of him in a heap, and the two of them flailed about on the ground in an attempt to get back to their feet.

  Standing there, leaning casually at the ruined entrance, was a thin man with gray hair, though he looked like he was in his thirties. He stared at them with an odd face and unsettling pink eyes. He wore old, ragged clothing with a stained collar and various pendants, sigils, and symbols around his neck.

  “Vicar Frost?!”

  18

  Although he didn’t say it, Rasul Kader was grateful Katrina didn’t feel obligated to bury or burn the dead in Fane. The last thing he wanted was to gather and handle the wretched remains of those poor fools, but he could see she was troubled about leaving the bodies—or, rather, what was left of them—for the crows. Fortunately, she was in a hurry. They didn’t even bother searching the town for supplies and carried on toward the ruins.

  He was glad to be away from that place—although the stench seemed to follow them for miles. He found himself wishing they never stopped. The sight of those ruined bodies and the crows feasting on them would haunt him, he was certain of it.

  Kader was not unfamiliar with death—one does not live in Graylands long without encountering it—but he’d never seen anything like what he saw in Fane. He’d seen the results of pirate raids, the sick and weak dying on the side of the road, and even the aftermath of war, but he’d never experienced what demons were capable of.

  Since meeting Jacob Daredin and his followers, he sometimes wondered what kind of people deliberately devote themselves to the dark powers. He would lie if he said he took no pleasure in manipulating others and accumulating power—he’d insisted on handling Princess Lamont personally, after all—but deep down, he suspected one would have to be somewhat mad to wallow in the Black as Daredin and others like him would.

  After seeing what was left of Fane, he was certain: they had to either be insane or oblivious to what they were dabbling with.

  About an hour after they left Fane, he heard Katrina call out, “Let’s stop to rest.”

  They slowed their horses to a stop beside the road and dismounted to stretch their legs. The day was dark, and the air was cool, but moist. Kader looked toward the forest and guessed in a few more miles it would turn to the swamp. But the main road was starting to transition to more barren landscape. Past the ruins were the badlands where Daredin’s tower was located by the Blind Cliffs.

  But first, my delivery ...

  “The ruins aren’t much farther,” he said. “This will all be over soon.”

  “How will we get in?” Katrina asked. “Do we have a plan?”

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I know a way in. As long as we’re careful, we should be able to slip in and get Lily, no trouble.”

  She only grumbled in response, and Kader noted she looked more haggard than usual. Since he met her, Katrina Lamont always appeared pale, sullen, and even a little sickly, but now she seemed on the verge of passing out.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m fine,” she snapped.

  He hid the sneer her response triggered. He didn’t really care—he only wanted to maintain the appearance of being helpful.

  Katrina paced back and forth, taking large swigs from her water. Kader suspected what she wanted was more alcohol, but he couldn’t help but notice she looked like she was about to vomit.

  In fact, he recalled, she looked rather ill back in Fane. At first he figured it was the bodies, but he wondered. After faking his kidnapping in Dictum, he kept an eye on her as she made her way through the Derelict Woods. He saw her come across the Blackthorn girl and watched their battle with the pirates—in addition to her freezing up when the demons appeared.

  Katrina was capable of defending herself when need be, but violence and battle—especially relating to demons—was apparently a trigger of some sort for her. This wasn’t a surprise, he thought, considering her history. The scars of trauma ran deep.

  “Okay,” she said, mounting her horse. “Let’s get moving.”

  Kader smiled and followed suit. Although he didn’t show it on his face, he felt confident seeing her have so much trouble maintaining her composure. It would only get worse as they approached the ruins and make it easier for Daredin’s minions to take her. Then he would get paid and wash his hands of the whole thing.

  He then thought of Fane and ignored the sudden dread in the back of his mind Daredin might betray him.

  * * *

  “Why, Mr. Leeroy!” Vicar Frost said, stepping out into the courtyard. “How good to meet you again. I see the pistol I supplied continues to serve you well.” He paused, turning his gaze toward Lily. “And dear Ms. Blackthorn. Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?”

  Lily climbed to her feet, asking, “You know me..?”

  “Indeed I do,” said Frost, smiling. “More than you’d like, I suspect.” Krutch noticed Lily stiffen and turn pale as he said that, but the Vicar quickly added, “Fear not, my dear. I mean you no trouble. So what brings you to this neck of the woods?”

  Lily looked at Krutch, uncertain, but he was having none of it. He had the gun pointed at Frost’s face, though the Vicar retained a calm, almost pleasant smile. “I could ask you the same thing, Frost,” he said. “Because, from where I’m standing, you’re the reason an
y of us are in this mess.”

  The gun was pointed at his forehead, but Frost’s expression didn’t change. Smiling, with his voice steady and calm, he said, “Are you insinuating I have ulterior motives?”

  “First you set me up with Rasul Kader, and now we just happen to find you camping out in the middle of this shit-hole? I know you enough to know that’s no coincidence.”

  “You overestimate me, Mr. Leeroy. Although I will admit I am something of an interested party in these events, I can assure you our mutual acquaintance, Mr. Kader, had already discovered Lady Lamont’s identity and was well on his way to making use of it for profit. All I did was point him in a direction.”

  “I seriously ought to just shoot you..!”

  “Wait,” said Lily, pushing Krutch’s gun away. “You know who Katrina really is?”

  “I am privy to all manner of secrets, Ms. Blackthorn. That’s why people come to me.”

  “What difference does it make?” asked Krutch.

  “Why does Kader need her?” Lily asked the Vicar. “What does he plan to do with her? Just what the hell is going on?”

  Frost grinned, lighting his smoking pipe, and said, “Come inside and sit by my fire. Won’t you?”

  He turned and stepped back inside the old ruin. Krutch and Lily glanced at each other and shrugged. He returned the pistol to his jacket pocket, and they followed.

  Inside the old castle was just as Krutch expected it to be. The place was dismal and rotten, stinking of dust and decay. It reminded him of some old basement no one had been in for hundreds of years. If there ever was furniture or trappings made of wood or cloth, they were long gone. All that remained was made from stone, and even that was eroded. As Frost led them up some stairs, Krutch feared the entire place might collapse any moment.

  Frost’s small fire was in a large empty room in the eastern corner. There was nothing left to indicate what it once was, but given its large size and open space, Krutch suspected it was either a great hall or ballroom. The Vicar’s simple camp crackled beside a large open window overlooking the black forest—although most of the view was obscured by thick fog.