Read Online Ferran's Map by T. L. Shreffler - Free Book Online Page B

this little town could report
it to the King’s guard and initiate a raid. Most would be
imprisoned or perhaps even executed, depending on the extent of
their crimes.
    A rustle of branches and flurry of leaves
announced Caprion’s landing. He appeared through the foliage,
emanating a slight glow. Sora saw his nostrils flare as he inhaled
the rank stench of the woods.
    “Where did you last see the Dracians?” Sora
asked quietly. The village looked completely abandoned.
    “On the opposite side of town,” Caprion
said, indicating the deserted streets. “I didn’t spot them on my
last pass-over. They might have left the area.” He rubbed his hands
over his arms as though staving off a chill. He seemed
uncomfortable on the ground, shifting from foot to foot. It must
be the forest, Sora thought. Perhaps the power of the plague
was already affecting him.
    “They could be dead,” Crash offered.
    Sora wrinkled her nose at him. To her
knowledge, the plague didn’t work that fast—unless it had grown
stronger than before. She thought of the rabid aggression of the
woman by the river. If the Dracians weren’t dead, they might be in
a similar state. Dangerous, she thought.
    “Shall we look for them?” she suggested.
    “Looks safe enough,” Ferran muttered around
his reed.
    “For you, perhaps,” Caprion replied. “I’m
not immune to the plague. This place is tainted by the Dark God’s
essence. I can’t stay on the ground.”
    “Then you can keep watch from above,” Sora
suggested. “If you see anything suspicious, just call down to
us.”
    Caprion shook his head. “I think I’ll sweep
over the forest once more, see if they haven’t traveled into the
woods. They might be walking back to the river on foot.”
    “I thought you said they were deranged?”
Crash asked darkly.
    “Exactly,” Caprion agreed. “They’re a danger
to the ship. I’ll scan the area and make sure they haven’t wandered
off.” Then he launched back into the air, flying up through the
trees. He seemed relieved to be leaving the ground. Sora watched
him go.
    “Useless,” Crash muttered under his breath.
Then he turned to a large pine tree overgrown with ivy. He started
climbing quickly and easily up the trunk. Chunks of dry rot came
away under his hands but hardly slowed his pace. He reached the
first branch a good dozen feet above the ground, then continued to
a higher perch.
    Sora shared a questioning glance with
Ferran. Finally, Crash stood perhaps three dozen feet above the
ground. At this height, he had a good vigil of the entire town.
    Finally, he pointed and called down, “There
is a large building on the opposite end with a shape in front of
the door—perhaps a collapsed villager. That would be a place to
start looking.”
    Ferran yelled back, “Are you coming with
us?”
    “You have two Cat’s-Eye stones,” he replied.
“I’ll keep watch for now.”
    Sora felt somewhat relieved. She had been on
the verge of asking Caprion to stay, but Crash was an even better
lookout. Caprion was still adjusting to the mainland, and this was
his first encounter with the plague. She trusted Crash’s experience
much more.
    “Let’s go,” she said determinedly, and drew
her staff from the sling across her back. The witch-wood felt heavy
and reliable in her hands.
    Sora and Ferran strode side-by-side into the
town. She felt tense and anxious, but Ferran walked in a casual
way, as though taking a nice afternoon stroll. No matter where he
went, he gave off an air of confidence, never rushed or hurried.
Sora slowly relaxed as they walked further into the village. They
didn’t speak; the hollow town didn’t seem to permit it.
    She vigilantly searched the houses, pausing
to gaze through a few smudged windows, looking for any sign of
inhabitants. Several clotheslines swayed gently in the breeze,
strung up between buildings. Most doors were closed, but a few had
been blown open by the wind; piles of leaves were accumulating
inside the