Mask of Poison (Fall of Under Book 1) by Kathryn Kingsley (great novels to read txt) 📕

near a sanctuary town or a citadel is for supplies. They’re required to give us what we need, and then we are on our way. I expect most of these survivors haven’t ever seen a hunter before.”

“Hm. Odd.”

She shrugged. “It was the way my world worked. I don’t blame them.”

“I’m glad you survived, Ember.” He was studiously not touching her, which made her smirk. It was a trick to do on the back of a horse, but somehow, he found a way. “I was worried.”

“I shouldn’t have survived. It wasn’t because of me that I did.” She had given up using the bit and the reins on Cricket. The horse knew where to go, she could just ask the damn horse for things, and it just seemed insulting to do that to a creature who could understand human speech.

“Ah. I see. You’re one of those types.”

“What do you mean, those types?” She glanced over her shoulder at Maverick.

“The kind that see every ounce of help received as a mark against their own capability. I know this, as I am precisely the same. It’s foolishness.”

“No, I’m not talking about Lyon rescuing me.” She shook her head and looked off into the woods. “I’m not going to complain about being saved. I’m talking about Rxa. Despite having the perfect opportunity, he didn’t kill me. Twice.”

“You said he had questions. Alive, you have value to him. That was likely the reason he spared you.”

She nodded. “I suppose. He might not know there are other survivors.”

“I doubt he knows much at all. The Ancients love to leave their playthings in the dark.”

“I don’t think I like them very much.”

“Nobody does.”

Cricket whinnied and tossed his head from side to side. Laughing, Ember leaned down and patted his neck. “You too, huh?”

“Well, why would he be a fan of the creatures that turned him into a horse?” Maverick huffed. “I think he has more of a reason than most to hold a grudge.”

“Wait…what?” Ember twisted around so that she could see Maverick’s face. “What do you mean, ‘turned him into a horse’?”

“Ah. Well. Yes.” Maverick shrugged. “It’s simple. Animals in Under come in two species—those created by the Dreamers and those created by the Ancients. The creatures that are summoned by the Dreamers have no souls behind them. Sometimes when a soul is taken to the Pool of the Ancients, they come out resembling their former selves. Like myself, Lyon, and the others. And sometimes, they come out as one of our beast-kin. Like your horse friend here.”

“Wait…wait. Cricket used to be a person?” Dread, horror, and sadness warred for supremacy as the impossibility of what she was being told washed over her.

“Mmhm.”

She jumped off Cricket’s back, not caring that the horse was in mid-stride. “Off. Off, now.”

“What?” Maverick furrowed his brow at her. He yelped as she grabbed his sleeve and half-dragged him from the moving animal. “What are you doing?”

“I said off!”

“I—very well—” Maverick did as she commanded, watching her in confusion. “I know this might seem barbaric, but I assure you—”

“Shut up.” She walked toward the edge of the road. Cricket, sure enough, followed her. She turned to face the horse and ignored all the strange stares from the people marching past her.

Either because she was a graedari, or because she was talking to a giant insect horse, or both. “Cricket?”

The horse nudged her shoulder with his nose.

“Were you…were you really a person, once?”

The horse nodded and began chewing on the edge of her coat.

Her heart cracked in half. “I’m so sorry…I’m so very sorry.” Tears began to sting her eyes as she petted his neck. “To be turned into an animal is one thing…to be treated like one is another thing entirely. I’m so sorry. And here I am, having given you a stupid nickname.”

“He likes your nickname.” A woman said from above her.

Ember jolted in shock. She looked up to find the source of the voice. It was Ini. She was sitting on a branch in a tree nearby. Ember wiped away the tears that were threatening to roll down her cheeks, careful not to smudge the black line she had drawn there earlier. “You can understand him?”

“I can understand his feelings. Like I do with everyone.” Ini tilted her head to the side. “You are crying for him? Why?”

“Because what’s been done to him isn’t right.”

“It’s what the Ancients decided was his fate. He was marked, and chosen, and this is how he ought to be. This is his rightful form.”

“No, it’s not. These Ancients of yours seem like nothing more than cruel children, from all the stories I’ve heard. He didn’t ask to be given this life. He didn’t ask to be turned into a horse and used like a pack animal by his peers.”

“Oh, sweetheart…” Ini floated down from the branch to hover near her. She reached out a hand and stroked it over Ember’s hair. With her touch came the strange, soothing sensation that accompanied her. “He is not miserable. He is not made upset by his life. He lives well. He is cared for.”

“That doesn’t make it right.” Ember took a step away from Ini. Now wasn’t the time. “And I’m sorry for my part in it. That’s all.”

Cricket lifted his head and began nibbling on her hair.

“He says you are forgiven and wonders if you’ll still want him to follow you.” Ini floated away from them a few feet. “He has taken quite the shine to you. I think he’d be quite sad if you said no. Sometimes it’s better to find peace with the hand we’ve been dealt.”

“That goes against everything I’ve ever been taught.” Ember stroked her hand along Cricket’s neck. She let him chew on her hair without complaint.

Ini sighed wistfully. “Oh, the youth. How I love to see you in our world. I hope you do get to stay, Ember. I think you will be quite wonderful.” And with that, she disappeared in a blink.

Ember shook her head. “Weird woman…nice woman.