Page 46 of Betrothed

“They do,” Fawn said. “But they’re chasing us and decided it was worth the risk.”

“Please, brother,” Zax said. “You are the most helpful of all of us. Help us with this.”

The Skullstalker chuckled, sorting slowly through the jars, which miraculously did not topple. “Brother, you are small but strong. If a little worse for wear, with those new battle scars. I am sure that whatever comes your way, you can handle it. Now, about those spells. You requested two. Let me guess: the size ritual and the lifebond?”

“Yes,” said Zax, relieved. He looked down at Fawn, his eyes full of such love that she was reminded of the original reason why they would come here. Not to put an end to Errol and those who wished to hurt them, but to celebrate their new life together.

The Skullstalker hummed again, his tail swishing as he pulled jars and bowls down from his oozing shelves.

“Well,” he said. “I can only give you supplies for the lifebond, and you will do the rest yourself. In private, if you understand my meaning.”

“You mean…” Fawn paused, her cheeks heating. “We have to be together for the spell to take effect?”

“Among other things,” the Skullstalker said. He frowned, picking through a stack of decaying papers. “Hmph. Ah, here we go. The incantation and your supplies.”

He turned, shoving the paper at them, along with several jars and a bowl of green paste. Fawn took them and stuffed them into her pockets with the freckle rock and her vegetable knife, then slid the bowl into Zax’s pocket when she ran out of room.

“But the size ritual,” Zax started.

“That, I can do right here.” The Skullstalker plucked one last jar off the shelf, then frowned at the liquid inside. It was black, and there was barely a layer of it sticking to the bottom.

“I will need to gather more,” he muttered. He held up a single finger, retracting the claw. It took several seconds of sighing and grunting for it to retreat back into his finger, and he sighed when it vanished. Then he dipped his finger into the oil, spreading it around until it coated his skin. Then he beckoned that black finger at Zax.

“Come here, young one,” he said.

Zax stepped closer.

The Skullstalker smoothed the liquid in strange lines over Zax’s skull mask. Then he dipped lower, drawing patterns over his collarbones, so close to Fawn’s head that she had to duck down lest he drip on her.

“One last ingredient,” the Skullstalker said softly.

He pricked Zax’s thumb with his claw. Then he pricked his own and dripped their blood into the jar. He mixed it into the liquid and drew one last dot over Zax’s lower lip.

The Skullstalker bowed his head and began to mutter. Fawn looked up to see if Zax knew the odd, crackling language his brother was speaking in, but there was no recognition on his face. Only confusion and slight wonder, as if he was remembering something from long ago.

Then Zax gasped. His purple eye flared, then slammed shut. His arms locked around Fawn, and his knees buckled.

“Zax!” Fawn grabbed his face, but he was not looking at her anymore. His eye was still squeezed shut as tremors worked through his frame.

“Be calm,” the Skullstalker said. “This is as it should be.”

Fawn waited anxiously. After several agonizing moments of Zax trembling, sweat streaming down his skin, he relaxed with a great gasp. Then he straightened, his legs wobbling.

“Good,” said the Skullstalker brightly. “You will no longer find that size is a problem.”

“Really?” Fawn asked. “That’s it?”

“That is it,” the Skullstalker confirmed. He patted Zax’s sweaty arm, his one retracted claw still not out. Fawn got the feeling that coaxing it out would be as slow as forcing it back inside.

“You have your instructions for the lifebond,” he continued. “So, you are ready to leave. I would carry her fast, brother. My shadows are hungry, and doubly so now that they have seen her. Even your presence will not stop her.”

“What?” Fawn said. “Can’t you hold them back?”

“I can try,” said the Skullstalker doubtfully. “But it is better if you go fast.”

Zax traded a look with Fawn. His chest was still heaving, his limbs shaking with exertion. But he held her tighter, determination flaring in his remaining eye.

“Thank you, brother,” Zax said. “I will repay you.”