The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence by Storm Constantine Page B

anything to do with… well, what happened before?’
    ‘It’s too early to guess,’ Cal said. ‘As others have said before, Wraeththu traveling through the otherlanesmight have had effects we were unaware of, that affect this reality. We have no way of knowing.’
    ‘And as you are the only har of our acquaintance who can travel the otherlanes without a sedu , I guess it’s down to you to investigate this,’ Raven said.
    ‘I’ll take a look, naturally,’ Cal replied, ‘but even with my experience, I’ll not risk anything stupid. I’ll report this to Thiede.’
    ‘Maybe we should contact Galhea. It might be worth Snake and Cobweb taking a look too.’
    ‘That could be a good idea, yes.’ Cal got down from the table. ‘It’s difficult to negotiate here. The Freyhellans hate having to involve us. But this is beyond them.’ Cal sounded irritated by that.
    Loki had been stealing covert glances at the Freyhellan leader, but now when he looked over at Eyra, he saw that Galdra was staring back at him. Astonishingly, he was facially very similar to Cal: a chiseled face with wide high cheekbones and a finely drawn mouth. A severe jolt shook Loki’s body. He felt strangely ashamed.
    Cal had noticed that Galdra was staring. ‘Keep your eyes to yourself,’ he muttered.
    ‘Cal,’ Raven said in a warning tone. ‘Was this really a good idea?’
    Cal uttered a wordless sound in response.
    Galdra turned away, but Loki felt the Freyhellan’s attention was still focused upon him. He felt very uncomfortable. ‘Cal, why did he look at me like that?’
    ‘You are my son,’ Cal replied lightly, ‘and I am not his favorite har.’ He grinned. ‘Come on, let’s try the local cuisine. I’m starving.’ He guided Loki further down the table.
    The Freyhellan leader kept his distance, and eventually a har of the tribe approached the Gelaming, who had gravitated towards one another, in order to conduct them to their accommodation. They were taken to a house reserved for official guests to the town, which was comfortable and spacious. Loki liked the peaked eaves that were covered in carvings of strange mythical beasts from the sea: serpents and merhorses and giant octopi, some of them a meld of several different creatures. Cal said they were put there as protective spirits. Loki could believe there was some kind of life in them; they appeared to stare down disapprovingly at the hara who had been placed beneath their protection.
    Galdra was due to arrive within the hour to conduct them to the site of the phenomenon. The Gelaming sat in the main salon, along with their scant luggage, while Eyra and Velaxis questioned Raven about what he’d seen.
    ‘What did you think of it?’ Cal asked Loki.
    ‘I didn’t see it really,’ Loki replied, ‘but I heard Raven call me to go to him while he was looking at it. Only he didn’t. The thing must have done that.’
    ‘Called you,’ Eyra said, pondering. ‘Hmm.’
    ‘Perhaps it calls to harlings,’ Terez said. ‘It was discovered by one, who has suffered ill effects. To me, that seems sinister.’
    ‘I agree,’ Eyra said. ‘Well, soon we shall see for ourselves.’
    ‘The Freyhellans should close off the area,’ Raven said. ‘I think they’re lucky they haven’t had more unpleasant consequences, leaving it open to all like that.’
    ‘You got a bad feeling from it, then?’ Velaxis asked.
    Raven shrugged. ‘Not bad particularly, but I didn’t understand it or recognise it. Fire is dangerous, in the hands of a har who does not know about burning. I think it’s the same.’
    A sharp knock came upon the door, and without waiting for a response a Freyhellan walked in to announce he was Fyala, their housekeeper. ‘I prepare breakfast, and keep the place in order,’ he said, in thickly accented Almagabran. ‘I don’t do lunch or evening meals. Tonight, I believe you are the guests of our archon for dinner, in any case. If you stay longer than tomorrow, the inn