Page 129 of Burn Her They Said
Emperor Aldritch raises his hand in command for the page to begin. “The first Imperial citizen may now approach His Majesty.”
A middle-aged sorcerer steps forward, taking measured steps until he reaches the top of the stage. His silver-flecked hair falls over his forehead as he bows low before the Emperor.
“State your purpose in seeking Emperor Aldritch’s counsel,” Lorn demands.
“A matter concerning our livestock, Your Majesty. We awoke to find cattle and goats missing from the yard, and upon sending a search party to seek them, we encountered folded pelts and clean bones of those we lost on the outskirts of the forest.”
“Explain what you mean,” the Emperor commands.
“The pelts are too clean, with barely any blood to be found on them, and the precision with which they must have been removed?—”
“Removed?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Their pelts have been cut with precision. It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen an animal capable of doing.”
“And the bones?”
“Cleaner than any I’ve come across when a bear or wolf gets to them.”
“Where is your homestead located?”
“East of the Citadel, on the outskirts of the Drury forest, Your Majesty.”
“What do you suspect may be capable of leaving evidence such as this?”
“I do not know of an animal capable of doing what we have found, aside from the speculation as to the horrors of what may reside in the forest surrounding our great Empire.”
The very same I feel called to traipse within. Those which we will be traveling through beginning tomorrow morning.
Emperor Aldritch rubs his chin. “What assistance do you require?”
The sorcerer bows deeply. “Your Majesty, I trust you to take whatever action you deem necessary in helping me and my family.”
Emperor Aldritch leans back against the black velvet cushion and steeples his fingers. “Tell me the number of livestock you have lost.”
“Eight goats, and two cows.”
The Emperor jerks forward, then gestures for Wyrth to step forward. The Philosopher looks to me pointedly before bending over to whisper with the Emperor.
“—must be them,” Emperor Aldritch says.
All of the blood drains from my upper body as a sense of dizziness grows faster than with the overuse of my magic a moment earlier.
Them, referring to what must be at least one hybrid apparently capable of stripping livestock of its skin and cleaning bones unlike anything the farmer has ever seen. What sort of experiments does he have the Philosopher conducting? And what kind of strength and cunning does this creature possess to have found the means of escaping an impenetrable lab hidden within the depths of the mountain?
A shiver rolls down my spine as their voices drop to the point I can no longer hear before Wyrth rises to his full height and nods for the farmer to follow.
“I will replace your livestock and send Imperial Steward Garth to question the soldiers who guard that section of the forest to learn what they may have observed. I will also be assigning two soldiers to watch over your homestead for the next week, unless they catch sight of this assumed forest beast any earlier.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The citizen bows deeply.
Emperor Aldritch raises his hand in dismissal while Lorn moves to escort the citizen to discuss the details away from the main stage.
“Imperial Lead Guard Varic,” Emperor Aldritch says, and my heart hammers as Varic turns to look at him. “You displayed a level of interest in the case presented to us just now.”
Varic’s jaw feathers as he nods in response.
“Do you have anything to say on the matter?”
