Chapter One
***
Aldora adjusted the grip on her burlap satchel. The bag was filled to the brim with supplies from town and a few uneaten apples from her mother’s orchard. With every step, its weight bounced against her side. She was sure to have a new bruise before the evening sun crested the horizon.
Her eyes drifted to the purple mottled sky and the night clouds in the distance. They spread out in front of her, unhindered by the dirt path she traversed. On either side were trees, tall, withered and old, and she tried not to focus on them. Their daytime green faded from their leaves to darken with the coming night
Focusing on them would mean acknowledging them and after spending a lifetime living in their shadow, there was little left to frighten her. Now, she only looked upon the trees with curiosity. Aldora breathed in. The aroma of loam and pine filled her nose.
This path and these trees were the perfect backdrop for a horror story, one that was real, potent, and told to all children to keep them from being...
Children.
Stories of what lurked within the darkness of the trees, and what may be hiding out of sight. The children of her town were made to be afraid of all they could not see or explain. With tales of terror related to the giant wall just beyond.
There were creatures that lived on the other side that wanted to hunt and eat you—or worse—and the only way to appease them was to respect them.
Ghouls, beasts, ghosts, and goblins—all liked to dine on human flesh.
The leaves blew overhead, and she looked up.
Several shadows appeared in the distance ahead of her where the path curved. She hesitated, swallowing, and lowered her head. Voices rose as they drew near.
“Hail, miss,” one of the shadows said.
Aldora raised her gaze and tightened her grip on her bag. Two men stood before her. They were uniformed in patrol garb, the red and white of their vests apparent even in the twilight.
Laslites.She released a quiet breath and pulled her unwilling lips into a shy smile.
Aldora couldn’t make out their features; the sun was at their back and it spotted her eyesight, distorting her vision just enough to darken their faces. The Laslites could see her though.
“Hail,” she responded, bowing her head.
One of the men stepped forward. “It’s getting late. Where are you headed at this time of night?”
“Home, sir.” She hefted her full bag. “My mother’s farm.”
“How far is it?” He took another step toward her.
“Before the next crossroads. If I continue on my way, I’ll be there before the light is gone.”
“Ah! You must live in Ledger. We recently passed their fields.” He chuckled. “Go on then, and go fast. The border mists have worsened of late.” The Laslite returned to his companion who had begun walking away. Aldora turned around to watch their red and white backs grow smaller in the distance.
“What do you mean they’ve worsened?” she called out, stopping them. Her eyes moved to the trees at their sides.
“You don’t know?” The Laslite canted his head.
Know what?She’d been in town all day delivering orders and selling fruit at the market and hadn’t even heard a hushed rumor. Truthfully, she hadn’t been listening, but if the mists had worsened... Someone would’ve been talking about it. Someone would’ve been afraid.
The Laslite glanced at his companion and dropped his hand to his sword belt. “Burlox, the town south of here, was consumed by the labyrinth, not a fortnight past. And you know, when the mists spread, the labyrinth follows closely behind... Miss,” he hesitated at the worried look she flashed him, “are you sure you don’t need an escort? The capital is on alert and is determined to stop the expansion. You do know what that means don’t you?”
Yes. I need to get home.Aldora shook herself and came to her senses. “I do know and remain ever vigilant. I pray to the gods every hour for respite, for me and mine, but also for Savadon. I should be fine without an escort.” Without waiting for a response, she turned away. “Good day,” she said quickly and hastened her step without looking back.
More sacrifices.That, she had known. Other bordertowns had already begun preparations, and even now, criminals were being delivered from the capital to be given to the labyrinth in appeasement.
But the fall of an entire town?
Burlox was a bordertown like her own Thetras. She didn’t know much about it except that Burlox bordered the swamp, and that the roads running along the labyrinth were infrequently traveled there.
