Maledictus Terra Book 3: Vetitum Nemus Part 107
Greetings Readers
I hope that your week has been amazing! This is turning out to be another busy week, as I only just had time to write an update. Be sure to read @zakludick's update as it was packed with action!
Enjoy the read!
Letty thought that having someone’s soul bound to her would be far worse than it actually was. While Markus was many things, he wasn’t someone accustomed to haunting. So, instead of bothering her, her would wander the castle, getting up to endless trouble until Ostia threatened to send him to his deserved afterlife.
While this didn’t stop him from wandering, it stopped him from haunting and causing other problems throughout the castle. Letty was only too grateful that he wasn’t some disembodied voice that interrupted her intimate thoughts.
Once Mary was happy with the information that Markus had provided, and double-checking with Ostia, she felt more comfortable bringing Magna, Mortis, and Derric up to speed with what was happening.
Magna had tried to stifle a laugh, Derric hadn’t managed that much, and Mortis continued to view the entire situation with his stoic calmness. Letty felt that the universe was playing a cruel prank on her with everything that had gone spectacularly wrong with her life.
“So, we can make preparations to start traveling?” asked Magna.
“Seeing as we’ll be traveling some distance, we should consider having contacts along the way.” Said Mortis as he looked in the general direction of his sister.
“Don’t expect many people to be willing to offer help.” Said Marcus as he hung upside down in the middle of the throne room.
“Not like we haven’t lived off the land before.” Said Derric.
“Be that as it may.” Stated Letty, “The land is starting to become poisoned with whatever the cult is doing. There is a sickness in the air, in the water, and seeping into the land. You won’t see it at first, but it is there.”
Markus nodded his head, causing it to flop around nauseatingly. Letty looked away and found that Mortis was looking at her with curiosity.
“A miasma?” he asked.
“Not exactly.” Said Markus. “It’s like there are people who are rotten.”
“Undead?” queried the knight.
“No, not that like. I think maybe cursed is better, but I wouldn’t want to insult two members of this court.”
“You’re forgiven. Get to the point.” Said Mortis.
“Curse then. There are people who are not right, and they’re spreading that around. That and the death cult, who have been walking off with bodies willy nilly, while leaving many confused spirits in their wake. Though I suspect not for long.”
“Explain.” Said Mary.
“Well, the easiest of the undead to manage is the horde. Each undead body gives a smidgen of power to the death cult. But they want more, and to get it, they need control of other undead creatures. It’s the only way they have managed to prevent themselves from being noticed for so long.”
Mortis looked up at Mary and said, “It may be in our best interest to reach out to Lucien to make sure that his people are well aware of what is happening.”
“Isn’t their curse broken?”
“Nope!”
The new voice startled everyone in the room. Derric groaned. Vitex had somehow managed to make her way into the meeting. A fairy-like creature parted Derric’s hair and lay across his scalp, her head resting in her hands, while her feet played in the air.
“How ever?” asked Magna with a grin as she looked at the tiny goddess.
“I can be as small as a seed or as large as a sequoia. I have my ways. Anyway. The curse upon Lucien and his fellow is not one that is easily broken. Yes, the damage from my curse is being lifted, but the unlife granted to Lucien and his people is a punishment that not even I can break. Though that said, their children will be unaffected.”
“That’s horrible.” Said Markus. “So, they get to watch their children die. What did they do to deserve that?”
There were a few nervous glances, but no one brought up the adventure that allowed the Goddess to be within their midst.
“Warning Lucien is something I will deal with.” Said Vitex.
“Because I won’t let you join his party on their journey?” asked Mary sarcastically.
“Because you won’t let me have any fun!”
“And communications?”
“Who said I was leaving the castle. I can make another seed that can be taken to Lucien.”
“As much as I would like to take you up on the offer, I’m afraid I don’t know where Lucien truly hailed from or where to find him.” Admitted Mary.
“I see.” Vitex spied Ostia and grinned. “You should be able to find him.”
“I am not a…”
“Sister.” Interrupted Mortis.
Ostia gave an exaggerated sigh and held a hand out. “Make sure the seed cannot be tainted by death.”
Vitex, grinning as if she had won a prize, sat up on Derric’s head and concentrated on making the seed.
“And now that the weirdness that is happening in this kingdom is starting to grow on me, let’s talk logistics. We will have to travel by land. Preferably by foot. Horses…well, they don’t do well where we’re going. With the dead getting stronger and all that.”
Mortis seemed to be in deep thought, so deep in fact that Magna had to elbow him. He bowed his head slightly before saying. “I have a big concern.”
Mary nodded her head, realising what the knight was thinking of.
“If the dead are being controlled, should I even be going with?”
Truly an interesting question! Back to you, Zak.
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
The Watchlist:
@weone, @merenludick, @clairemobey, @therneau, @blitzzzz, @pravesho, @joetunex, @captainquack22, @irisworld, @braaiboy, @sketchygamerguy, @fuego-oscuro, @felt.buzz, @dibblers.dabs, @brittandjosie, @tamacvet, @alonicus, @joetunex, @stdd, @uop, @luizeba, @cryptoniusrex, @agreste, @itzchemaya, @darthsauron, @seki1