Page 47 of Reaper's Quest

The energy from the citadel’s barrier magic buzzed all around me and pressed against my skin. Not as strong as it had when we’d stood on the bridge, but I still felt it. Some places more so than others. Under a tear in the upper cover, the sensation weakened, just as the power assault decreased indoors. Like when we’d spent time inside the pub.

Where we now headed.

Upon arrival, I shoved the heavy tavern door out of my path and shifted to the side, holding the entrance open for Chace and Winter to carry Mr. Aldine inside. They dropped him into one of the many available chairs.

Winter stepped away, allowing Chace and Mr. Aldine a comfortable cushion of space.

“Win…” Earl shuffled around the side of the bar and pulled a chair away from one of the tables, offering it to Winter.

He then wiped the table clean.

Winter thanked him and took a seat.

Winter was clearlytheWinter that Earl had mentioned earlier. With hair and skin as white as untainted snow and eyes as blue as the crisp sky, the name fit him.

Earl tottered behind the bar and started pouring a pitcher of ale.

“Where’s Aoes?” I flicked my gaze to the closed door of the room where we’d locked up our stuff. Shifting in at Chace’s side, I examined our elder more closely. “Mr. Aldine is in need of a healer.”

“Aoes. Heal.” Earl tugged on a hanging rope behind the bar, and a soft bell chimed somewhere within the building. “Aoes come.”

Mr. Aldine rubbed his forehead, his face scrunched like a withered apple.

He wetted his dry lips, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “It was a momentary lapse. I’ll be fine.”

I winced. He appeared far from fine.

Mr. Aldine raised his glazed, milky-white eyes and met my steady stare. He tried to stand but quickly dropped back into the seat.

Reaper’s hell.

Why had this happened? Why had I run in the opposite direction?

I was smarter, stronger, and more courageous than what I’d displayed in the presence of the specters. I knew I was. I had to be. So what if the nearby souls had told me to run? I didn’t need to listen. And I definitely didn’t need to concede. My lapse in judgment had cost us all too much.

I wanted to kick myself.

Instead, I’d settle for not making the same mistake again.

Chace leaned forward and whispered for only me to hear. “I don’t agree with his personal assessment. When he tried to reap the woman affected by the specter, something happened to him, but I don’t know what exactly. I’m not sure a local healer will know how to help him.”

He pressed two fingers to Mr. Aldine’s wrist and took his pulse, glancing briefly to Earl.

Following Chace’s gaze, I understood his concern. If Mr. Aldine became afflicted as Earl had and the local healers could do nothing for the condition…

Not wanting anyone to overhear my response, I shifted even closer. The side of my body brushed against Chace’s, our warmth mingling. “What if he doesn’t get better? What if he only gets worse? What do we do then?”

I didn’t care to expose my doubts, but we had to consider the possible impact.

Always plan for all potential variants.

“What choice do we have?” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chace shifted an inch to the side. “We finish the job, Aldineor no Aldine.”

Right.As cruel as his words sounded, he spoke a proper reaper’s course.

I needed to hear the words spoken by someone other than myself. Needed to verify I wasn’t the only one focused on the mission completion. After all, the state of the citadel had gone unchecked for far too long. Only…what chance did three reapers have when presented with the countless souls trapped in some hellish limbo state?

Chace’s words settled like an anchor in my chest, setting me solid and steady in the required and awaiting task.