“It’s a necropolis,” Isaac said.“A city for the dead.”
“Ain’t that just a big graveyard?”
“No.This was an actual city meant to house the dead.Thisempire practiced necromancy as commonly as agriculture.They conquered manynations, transformed them into vassals, and demanded a regular tribute ofbodies and prisoners, which they’d use to sustain their unnatural lives.Thebodies would be processed deeper in the city.If some of the bones were notused, they would be dumped into the catacombs to act as a sort of kennel.”Heshrugged.“Or a granary.”
Zaria tossed a loose brick over the edge of the tower.“Gladthey’re gone.”
“They’re not all gone.There’s still one left.”
“I’d be glad to fix that.”
“So would I.”
For the first time, he became aware of the silence aroundhim.It wasn’t just a lack of sound, like he’d experienced in the desert.Thesilence had a weight to it.It felt full and heavy.He scanned the streets forsigns of movement.He saw nothing.
The silence remained.
“Well,” Zaria said.“I travelled a good way through thisplace, and I saw nary a soul.Wherever she is, she hasn’t been up here forcenturies, at the least.”
“We’re probably safe,” Isaac replied, agreeing.“She’ll needtime to consolidate her forces again, especially with the other sorcereralready ahead of us.”Gingerly, he returned to his blanket, stretching out hislimbs.“Give me a moment, and I’ll cast a warding spell on the floor.It willkeep anyone from climbing up.”
“You can do that sorta thing?”
“I can do a lot of things, if I’m given the chance.”
She hesitated, closed her mouth, and went digging into herpack for a waterskin.He went for a third round of food.They lay next to eachother in silence, sating their various needs.
When his stomach felt fit to burst, Isaac slowed hisattempts at eating.He took stock of his injury.The bulk of his wounds seemedconcentrated around his chest.Fortunately, none of the punctures were verydeep, and Zaria had done an excellent job staunching the blood with a layer ofbandage.His range of motion was not overly affected.With a good night’s rest,he should recover swiftly.
He realized, absently, that it was likely night on the surface.Only a little more than a day had passed since he had slept in the open sand.In that time, they had evaded a skulking ship, travelled to the tomb, dealtwith the shibboleth, certain other things had occurred, and then they’d foughtthrough an army of bones.
He was exhausted.Sleep called to him.
But when he closed his eyes, nestling his head against thecanvas of his pack, his focus drifted to the wounds on his neck.The slit leftby Zaria’s dagger gave him a slight discomfort every time he swallowed.Teethmarks ached on his neck.Lying on the floor as he was, he also began to noticea tinge of her musk on his skin, which had apparently seeped in through theirrepeated contact.He grabbed his robe, took a tentative sniff, and grimaced atthe fierceness of the odor.
A snort came from his side.When he looked, the hyena wasgrinning down at him, her teeth peeking out.“Thinkin’ of fond memories?”
Was that a joke?
Was she really going to play it off?
“I’m going to burn my clothes,” he said, seriously.
“Uh-huh.Betcha five silver you’llpop a stiffy every time you catch the scent.”
He tossed his robe away, grimacing.
“What’s the matter?”she asked.
“I just wish, for once, we could have a normalconversation.”
“Are we normal people, all of a sudden?”
“I just want to state, for the record, that it would benice.”
She folded her arms, sliding down the battlement.“You wishto speak serious about our fucking, then?”
Isaac glared up at the rib cage.
