When Moria reached the canyon wall, she put her hands on it outstretched, eyes closed, as if communing with its spirit. She expected Gavril to make some sarcastic comment. He only mumbled that they ought to get into the village while there was still light to see.
They walked along the wall, Moria ke
eping one hand on the cold stone, until they reached the opening. Gavril stood at the base of the first tower, peering up as if he expected to see someone there.
"It's empty," she said. "Everyone is--"
"This guard tower is empty," he said, and strode ahead into the village proper.
She wanted to be wrong. She prayed to the spirits that she was. Prove that she'd exaggerated the danger. That people had survived. They'd been sleeping or hiding, and they were alive and fine.
As Moria passed through the gates, she stared out at the dark, silent village and knew she'd not been wrong. She wanted to drop to her knees and weep. Ashyn would. Moria stared out, dry-eyed, and felt . . .
A little less than human.
When Gavril returned with lanterns, she knew he'd seen no sign of life. He'd be quick to tell her otherwise, to prove her wrong.
I wish you could. You may forever afterward call me a child, a careless girl who flits after butterflies. Just prove I was mistaken.
They continued on, walking side by side to the barracks. Gavril stopped inside the door and shone his lantern about. Moria headed straight for the ladder down to the cells. The top hatch was open. The guard's chair at the bottom was empty. So, too, was Ronan's cell. She ran her light over the walls and down to the floor. There were no signs of blood or struggle. Daigo stalked up and down the hall, then grunted in satisfaction, as if reaching the same conclusion.
"They're gone," Moria said as Gavril came down the ladder.
He did his own inspection. Then he said, "They're not gone, Keeper. They've left. Of their own volition."
He glanced over, as if expecting her to argue, but she only nodded before heading back to the ladder. She didn't ask what he'd found upstairs. Again, he'd tell her if it was good news.
They went out. He followed now, letting her and Daigo lead the way.
She should go home. That wall in her head quivered at the thought, but she pushed on. It would be the first place Ashyn would go.
They found blood just past the barracks, where the public buildings ended and the private homes began. A pool of crimson with an empty spot in the middle. A spot where someone had lain . . . then risen again.
They were about to pass the blood when Daigo stopped. His nose was to the ground, sniffing something. He lifted his head and grunted, calling Moria back.
She shone the lantern light on a bloodied print. A massive paw.
"Tova," she whispered.
There was another, fainter print heading away.
"They passed here," she said. "They saw the blood. Tova stepped in it."
Daigo rolled his eyes. Dogs. Such clumsy beasts. Moria managed a half smile and slung her arm over his neck in a quick embrace. When she stood, Gavril was there, looking relieved.
"See?" he said. "I told you--"
"Stop telling me," she said. "Please."
"I'm only--"
She looked up at him. "Do you think I want to be proven right?"
He had the grace to dip his gaze and waved her on.
She began searching houses as they reached them. The doors were unlocked. That wasn't unusual in Edgewood, where people only latched doors when a trade wagon was in town. Last night, though . . . After what happened in the forest? They would have locked their doors.
The first house was empty. So was the second. In the third, they found death. A woman, so bloodied and torn that Moria couldn't be sure who it was, and preferred not to struggle to recall.