Maledictus Terra Book 3: Vetitum Nemus Part 31

Hey all

This should be the last update of my trio wandering before everyone gets back together. Don't forget to read @zakludick's post to know what's happening with the other party!

With nothing more to learn from crumbling ruins, Millmor gathered his companions and ventured back into the swamp. Everyone was trapped in their own thoughts. Robert was considering his options. He didn’t want to go back to the castle. He didn’t want to face Mary. He had effectively abandoned his post, and he knew there were going to be consequences of this. While Mary wasn’t someone who commanded him, he was sure that she would have informed his church of his return.

He scoffed under his breath. What church? Everything he had come to know was a lie and he didn’t know if he could face it. He looked over to Rex who also had a scowl on his face. Before he could question the man, Rex hissed under his breath before he spoke.

“I thought I told you to tell Anna I died.”

“While you think it was the kinder option, I disagreed for the most part. Going on a trip seemed like a kinder option to me.”

“And what is she going to say when she sees what I look like now?”

“That is between you and her.”

Millmore paused in mid-stride as he noticed more objects floating around them. Earlier in their trip, they had noticed an arm, but now there was every appendage in various stages of decay. He frowned and looked around them.

“Problem?” asked Robert.

“I assumed at first that upon seeing the first arm a territorial scuffle occurred. Then, when we saw the other ghoul king, I thought it was hunting. Now? Now I am worried about the Simians.”

They stoop in silence as the decayed objects lazily flow passed, bobbing up and down in a disgusting manner, and who knew what was feeding on them. Rex broke the silence by saying, “It is no longer safe here.”

“It was never safe.” Said Millmor. “But I thought I had control of most things in this area, minus the Simians. We need to get out of this swamp and fast.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice. I have been pulling leeches from places I don’t want to mention for days!” said Robert in annoyance.

Millmor quickly moved the men along, not losing sight of a set of glowing eyes that were watching them. The eyes were familiar but so alien, and though Millmor would never say anything aloud, they scared him. There was power, but also cunning. They needed to leave and now.

What felt like days passed before they left the swamp and found dry ground at last. While Robert was ready to hunt leeches between his toes, Millmor pressed them on until he felt the gaze of the orange eyes finally leave him. He sighed in relief and realised with a start that it had been some time since any of them had eaten.

“Let’s make camp and eat something.” He said as he looked up, noting the sky was lightening, not darkening.

“A horse please.” Said Robert with a chuckle.

“You’re in a good mood.” Commented Rex.

“It’s hunger, I assure you.” The human sat down and checked his toes for leeches with a look of disgust.

“Let’s head to my old cabin where we at least have four walls and can rest a little.” Said Millmor as he effortlessly lifted Robert.

Robert was so tired that he didn’t even fight. Even his sword was uncharacteristically quiet. He could use a day or so to rest before heading to the castle. Eventually, a sturdy but run-down cabin appeared and Millmor sighed in relief. He set Robert down and gave the air a good sniff before tentatively opening the door.

He smelled that someone had been here not too long ago. It wasn’t one of his usual servants but rather a normal human. His eyes adjusted quickly to light in the cabin and noticed the letter left on the table.

He stepped forward and tore the letter open to read it. Rex waited patiently to be invited into the cabin, but Robert was already making himself comfortable.
“Interesting.” Said Millmor after some time.

“What?” asked Rex.

Millmor beckoned him in, and he made himself comfortable while Millmor read the letter once more.

“The greenskins are back.”

“They never left.” Interrupted Rex, “Spent years fighting them.”

“Not this lot. They’re smart and have magic, and the queen has sent her daughter and son to speak to them. Interesting. I seem to recall a colony of goblins when Derric was a child, but they left suddenly. Hmm.”

“Should make for an interesting meeting.” Said Rex.

“They should be heading back in the next day or so if I judge by the strength of scent and what Mary has written. We’re likely to meet them on the road to the castle.” Said Millmor. “Mary is asking if I’d be willing to share the swamp with the goblin fold if they asked for it. I have news for her, something else has taken up residency there, and I…”

“Food!” moaned Robert.

“Fair enough. There isn’t much else that I can glean from this letter. I will hunt. Start a fire so long and soon we’ll eat.”

Back to you Zak!

Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library

Mortis Custos

Start

Sanguifex

Start

Vetitum Nemus

by @lex-zaiya	by @zakludick
Part 1	Part 2
Part 3	Part 4
Part 5	Part 6
Part 7	Part 8
Part 9	Part 10
Part 11	Part 12
Part 13	Part 14
Part 15	Part 16
Part 17	Part 18
Part 19	Part 20
Part 21	Part 22
Part 23	Part 24
Part 25	Part 26
Part 27	Part 28
Part 29	Part 30
Part 31 - You’re Here	Part 32 - Incoming

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