Page 40 of Wicked Curses
“I don’t know.”
“And maybethat’swhat the symbols mean. Maybe they’re meant to tell us we’re stuck in this crazy upside-down, right-side-up, no-idea-about-anything realm for infinity.”
“I don’t believe that,” Orin stated.
Neither did she, but she had no idea what to do about this. Was it worse to go out there and roam until they died? Or was it worse to stay here and rot?
She wasn’t sure how to answer those questions, but she suspected the answer could change in a few days, weeks, or months. And it might change every day with the way things were going.
“Do you know of anyone else who’s gone out there?” Sahira asked.
“Many have. I don’t know if they’ve all gone south. I did, but I’m sure not all of them did. Some may have traveled in different directions,” Zeth said. “I’ve also traversed the other direction with no luck, but I only stayed there for a week. I didn’t see the point in staying out there longer if I didn’t find any answers.”
“So, you’ve already considered this too.”
Zeth’s wan smile was response enough. She wasn’t coming up with any groundbreaking information here. When she looked at Orin, his face confirmed he’d already traveled along this line of possibility.
Lowering her head, she rubbed her temples as she tried to puzzle it all out. All that did was make her head throb.
“Even if the symbol does mean we’re supposed to wander forever, what about the arrows?” Orin asked.
“I don’t know,” Sahira admitted. “They could be another piece of the puzzle or some red herring that means nothing.”
“Well, this has been fun,” Orin said. “But I have to get to work before Belda demotes me to busboy. If anyone has the answers to your questions, it will be her.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Zeth retrievedhis map from the stable before meeting Sahira at the pub. She already sat at a table with Belda, who was still glaring at Orin. He either didn’t notice her or didn’t care as he handed out drinks to the patrons already filling the seats. Sahira suspected it was the latter.
When Zeth joined them, a few other immortals looked over as he set his map down, and Fred fluttered over. The pixie held a bottlecap full of beer as he hovered above the table, shedding red dust everywhere.
Belda wiped the dust from the table and waved her hand at Fred. “Stop that.”
He covered a burp before muttering, “Sorry,” and landing on the table with a small thud. With the grace of a buffalo, he crossed his legs and plopped onto the table.
“How’s it going, toots?” he asked Sahira as he lifted his cap toward her.
Sahira rolled her eyes at the grinning pixie. He was feeling pretty good, but at least he wasn’t as drunk as the last time she saw him.
“Great,” Sahira told him.
He grinned as he swayed back on the table before falling over. He laughed as he gazed up at the ceiling and lifted his cap in salute to it. Belda looked tempted to brush him off the table with the remainder of his dust, but she left Fred alone.
As Zeth unrolled the map, Sahira filled Belda in on what they’d discussed today. As the alpha lycan nodded, Sahira realized she’d heard this theory many times before; she was placating her by sitting here and listening to it.
“I’ve heard it before,” Belda confirmed as soon as Sahira stopped speaking. “I’ve spent a combined total of two months out past the mountains of this valley in search of… something.”
Before Sahira could reply, a shadow fell across the table, and she looked up at Radagast. “Can I join you?” the regal warlock inquired.
Sahira hesitated; he’d been respectful to her, but the witches and warlocks still made her uneasy. They were unusually close in this realm.
Most of the time, they tended to run in their own circles and do their own things. Despite having a similar brand of magic, they lived completely different lives. But here, the warlocks built their stately homes amid the witches’ tepees on the shore of the lake.
She wouldn’t turn him away and possibly make an enemy of someone who’d done nothing to deserve it. “Yes,” Sahira finally said.
Radagast didn’t take any insult at her hesitation as he pulled out a chair and settled onto it. “May I?” he asked Zeth and waved at the map. Zeth pushed it over to him, and the warlock studied it for a minute. “Impressive.”
Sahira shifted her attention back to Belda. “You didn’t find anything out there when you went looking?”
