THIRTY EIGHT
Footsteps.
The splash of water.
A voice calling.
“Aloisia!”
Hands shook her roughly, prodded at her throat for a pulse.
Darkness clung to Aloisia, dragging her consciousness away from the damp earth beneath, away from the hands that lifted her.
“Lis, come on. Wake up.”
Aloisia blinked, forcing the darkness away. Kaja leant over her, cradling her head.
Her leathers were soaked through and strands of dark hair stuck to her forehead.
Kaja breathed a sigh of relief. “By the Divines, Lis. What in the name of the Damned happened?”
“I’m not sure,” Aloisia croaked, her voice hoarse.
“Can you stand?”
Aloisia managed a nod.
Kaja lifted her to her feet, keeping an arm under her shoulders to support her weight. “You screamed, and I came running. I thought for sure, when I saw you lying here, I thought…”
“I’m fine.” Aloisia gave a faint smile. “I’m all right.”
“Did the wisps come?”
“They did.”
Kaja helped her over the stream. “And then what? Were you attacked? Did the Forgotten Gods show up?”
“It showed me a vision.” She remembered the world faint around her, the shadow creeping closer, her heart quickening and breath halting. Aloisia’s fingers circled her throat. “The wisp told me a sacrifice had summoned the Forgotten Gods, and only a sacrifice will release them. There was a shadow creature in the vision. That’s what attacked me.”
“I knew going alone was a foolish idea.” Kaja clicked her tongue. “At least I heard you.”
“I don’t think any of it was real.” Aloisia looked down at her leathers, twice soaked. “Though it seems when I crossed the stream in the vision, I did in reality too.”
“Did the wisps at least agree to help us?”
Aloisia shook her head. “I didn’t even get the opportunity to ask.”
“Then we shall have to proceed without them.”
“For the time being, yes.”
“Inari and Ezra are making good progress with the enchantments.”
“Good. At least part of this endeavour so far has been successful.”
They emerged from the treeline and Aloisia’s strength returned. The runes along her arms were fading or running from the water. She regarded the hall where Inari was still working on the chains. But her eye caught on a figure pacing outside her home.
Tristan.
