The Immortals of Myrdwyer Read Online Free PDF Page A

that?”
    “Follow it to its end, and if you were meant to, you’ll find the choice you seek.”
    “What’s out there?”
    “ Myrdwyer .” She spoke the word with perfect Uxidin inflection.
    “Meer—dwai—ur?”
    “The lost land of the Uxidin, young man. An old forest in which secrets may be learned from the voices that have gone silent.”
    “What does that have to do with the cry for help that you spoke of?”
    “Everything.” Taking the oak cane in hand, she stood. “Now, off with you. I’ve told you all that you need to know.”
    He shot up from his chair. “You’ve told me nothing.”
    Stopping at the curtain, she looked over her shoulder at him. “It’ll have to be enough, for it’s all I know.” She paused as if trying to make a decision. “It’s been a number of years since anyone’s come asking about the Uxidin or that book, young man. Be careful in the ruins.”
    He knew she was lying about not knowing more, but he saw nothing to be gained by pushing her. Joining his friends near the gate outside—they had apparently tired of waiting in the shop—he said, “We must head north to the village of Laslo, then west to a place called Myrdwyer.”
    “What? Where?” Marac asked.
    “A lost settlement of the Uxidin.”
    Valyrie blinked rapidly. “A lost one? As in, no longer populated?”
    At least she will speak to me. “That’s what the old woman—Callista—said.” Laedron started toward the inn.
    “But that’s crazy,” Brice said, catching up to him. “What’s the point of going somewhere with questions if there’ll be no one to answer them?”
    “Your guess is as good as mine, but it’s the only lead we have. I must know what’s happening to me.” He sighed. “If she thinks I have a chance of learning more in the ruins, then to the ruins I must go.”

    * * *
    Laedron and the others picked seats around a small table situated in the corner of the inn’s common room. Each ordered a meal from the serving woman.
    Once they had received their food, Laedron asked, “Any thoughts as to when we should leave?”
    Marac glanced at the nearby window. “Only a few hours of daylight left, and we still need to gather supplies for the journey. First light in the morning?”
    Although Laedron would have preferred to leave sooner, he couldn’t argue with the fact that they would need provisions. “Good. The morning, then.”
    Brice nodded, then turned to Valyrie. “You know anything about this area?”
    “A little,” she said. “What is it that you’d like to know?”
    “How to get to… where are we going, Lae? Myr…”
    “Myrdwyer.”
    Valyrie shook her head. “I’ve never heard of such a place. It’s not on any of the maps I’ve seen.”
    “We’ll ask the innkeeper,” Laedron said. “Marac, you and Brice should see about some horses.” He several gold coins across the table while being careful to conceal them with his hand.
    After Marac and Brice had gone, Laedron and Valyrie walked over to the innkeeper’s counter, and Laedron handed a silver coin to the man. “It appears that we’ll be staying one more night.”
    “Fine,” the man said, pocketing the coin.
    “Might I ask a few questions?” Laedron asked.
    The innkeeper nodded.
    “Are the roads dangerous in these parts?”
    The man stopped wiping the counter and leaned closer to Laedron. “Aye, a bit. Some of my guests refuse to take to the roads, what with the war, the army heading east, and everything else. Highwaymen, young man. Running rampant.”
    “Why is the army heading east?” Valyrie asked.
    “I hear tales,” he said. “Lots of stories about the dead walking out from the swamps.”
    The Almatheren Swamp? Yes… I remember hearing about that. “Have you ever seen one of these… walking dead men?”
    The innkeeper paused. “Aye.”
    “Well?”
    “It isn’t pleasant. The meat hanging off of them, the dead stare of their eyes. Murderous beasts. Best cut off the head quick lest they take