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285 lines
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<title>The Shadowmaster - Chapter 18</title>
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<h1>18</h1>
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<p>
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For a long while, all Jack could do was hold tight to Corriwen. She was trembling almost as much as he was in the aftermath. He kept thinking she was safe
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from the beast in the mist and that somehow they had both survived the collapse of the vast stairway.
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<p>
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"Are you okay?" her asked Corriwen finally.
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<p>
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"I don't know yet. But if you hadn't found me, I don't think I would be. Like Kerry would say, a goner?"
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<p>
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She looked up at him. "Where <em>is</em> Kerry?"
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"I don't know. I thought he would be with you."
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Corriwen shook her head. "No. I thought. Oh no! Is he still …?"
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<p>
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She didn't finish the sentence as the awful realisation hit both them. Somehow they had escaped from Bodron's keep, but Kerry was still lost in that
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nightmare.
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</p>
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<p>
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"How did we get out?" Corriwen was still confused.
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</p>
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"I don't know. Megrin said there was a spell to keep people away. Maybe it spat us out."
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"Then we must find a way back there. We have to find Kerry."
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<p>
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Jack nodded, though his heart sank at the thought of how long it might take to find their way to Bodron's keep, and how long Kerry could survive within it.
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</p>
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<p>
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"We need time to think," he said. He turned her around and that's when she noticed the cottage in the forest clearing.
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<p>
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"Look! It's Megrin's house."
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<p>
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"I know," Jack said. "Back where we started. How we got here I don't know, but we're a long way from Bodron's place."
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<p>
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He looked around at the dark shadows in the forest. Overhead the moon was back an angry red colour. "We should get inside. We can't be out here at night."
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She grabbed his hand tightly and together they approached the wooden door.
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It slowly creaked open as they stepped up to it. Corriwen started back, clutching Jack's arm. He cautiously peered inside, inhaling the aroma of warm food
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cooking on an open fire.
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</p>
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<p>
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A movement beside the hearth caught his eye. Megrin's old chair was rocking slowly back and forth. Jack drew Corriwen with him into the cottage.
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"Who's there?" The rocking chair creaked and Megrin raised herself out of it, using her staff as a support.
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When she turned to look at them, Corriwen gasped in alarm.
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<p>
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Megrin looked <em>old, </em>much older than she had when they had first met. Her hair, then silvery grey, was now a tangle of white, and deep lines etched
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her face. Her staff was fire-blackened and badly splintered.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Oh! Children. You made it out. Thank the stars. Thank the stars indeed."
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</p>
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<p>
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"What happened to you?" Jack asked, his thoughts in a whirl of confusion.
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</p>
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<p>
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Megrin drew a hand wearily across her brow, and she swayed as though she were tired beyond exhaustion.
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</p>
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<p>
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"It was <em>you</em> that Bodron wanted. The Copperplates were just bait for you and your heartstone."
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</p>
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<p>
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She lowered herself back into her seat. "He knows its power and covets it. Like me, he knew you would come through the faerie-gate, and he waited a long
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time."
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</p>
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<p>
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"We don't know how we got back here," Corriwen said.
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</p>
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<p>
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"The heartstone protected you," Megrin replied. Her skin was almost translucent, and her voice barely more than a whisper.
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</p>
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<p>
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"He hunted you, through all his illusions. I tried to stop him, but I couldn't. He has grown too strong, with the power of the Copperplates. I fought him,
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and he almost finished me. There hasn't been a <em>Geasan</em> killed in Uaine for a thousand years and more, but he almost succeeded. His own sister too!"
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</p>
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<p>
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"We've lost Kerry," Corriwen blurted out. "We have to go back for him."
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack looked around the little cottage. The table was set for three places, and once again he was reminded how like something out of a children's fairy tale
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it was.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Kerry?" Megrin sounded confused, as if exhaustion had clouded her memory. "Oh yes…the other boy. Is he not with you?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"We were in a big hall. There were awful things in there and we ran. I last saw him going through the door. Then I lost him."
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</p>
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<p>
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Megrin sighed. "He's not here. I don't know where he might be. Bodron cast a <em>geas</em> on me and I found myself back here, as if I had never even been
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in that dark place."
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</p>
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<p>
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She ran a gaunt hand down her face. "But I know I have been there. The pain of it still wracks me."
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</p>
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<p>
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Corriwen moved towards her and wrapped her arms around the old woman. She felt so thin and weak it seemed her bones might break. Corriwen's shuddered at
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the touch of the old woman's wasted frame and pulled away quickly.
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</p>
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<p>
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"So…drained," Megrin whispered. "Thank you my dear, for sharing your warmth and your strength. At least you are safe here."
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</p>
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<p>
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"But Kerry isn't," Jack said urgently. "We have to go back for him."
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</p>
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<p>
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The old woman shook her head. "I fear he may be lost. Bodron's power is too great."
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</p>
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<p>
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"No!" Corriwen gasped, her face pale. "Not Kerry. "He can't be."
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</p>
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<p>
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Megrin's eyes met Jack's with an expression of deep sorrow and regret. His heart felt suddenly leaden. The thought of Kerry - he couldn't even bring
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himself to say that word -was just too much to bear.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Sit," Megrin said kindly. "Come and eat. Save your strength."
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</p>
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<p>
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She ushered Corriwen to the table. Jack followed, numb with worry. Megrin sat at the end, in front of the third plate and spooned some stew out into wooden
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bowls.
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</p>
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<p>
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The heartstone pulsed hard on his chest.
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</p>
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<p>
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Something is wrong, he thought. Something's <em>badly </em>wrong<em>.</em>
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</p>
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<p>
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He tried to reassure himself. Maybe it was just the shock of realising that they had escaped from the nightmare and Kerry was still trapped within it,
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perhaps still from beasts and monsters. Maybe they had caught him. Maybe….all of this was tumbling through Jack's mind in a confusing and frightening
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maelstrom.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Eat, Jack Flint. Before it gets cold."
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack looked down at the bowl, filled to the brim with stew and vegetables. It would normally be appealing and it seemed a long times since he had eaten,
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but Jack had no appetite. Corriwen fidgeted on her stool, pale in the firelight, unable to stay still. He could tell she wanted to move, to fight. To do <em>something</em>.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Eat up, girl," Megrin urged.
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</p>
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<p>
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On the table, a basket was filled to the brim with scones still hot from the oven and golden-crusted loaves of bread.
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>Something's wrong here, </em>
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Jack's inner voice insisted, although he couldn't work out what. The heartstone was still beating fast. Corriwen's eyes met his across the table. They were
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full of questions, but Jack's mind was still reeling with his fear for Kerry and the sensation of something badly amiss that he couldn't get his thoughts
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in order.
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</p>
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<p>
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"You really should eat the food," Megrin said. Her voice sounded rough, as if she had a cold coming on. "And rest the night here, where it's safe."
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</p>
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<p>
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"How can I eat?" he said. "Kerry's still in there!"
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack pushed the stool back. He crossed to the little window.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Where are you going? Come back to the table." Megrin croaked the words now. "Get back and eat the food. I spent so long baking and cooking for you."
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>Three plates…</em>
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The thought struck him as more odd than Megrin's suddenly querulous tone of voice. He looked through the window pane.
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</p>
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<p>
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What he saw made him gasp in horror. He saw the great hall from Bodron's Keep through the glass. Grotesque imps were carousing around the table, tearing at
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whatever came to hand, and stuffing it into their mouths in disgusting handfuls.
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</p>
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<p>
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And in the tall chair, with its back to him, a dark and huddled shape began to turn again, turn to stare directly at him. Jack felt as if he'd been speared
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with ice.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Oh!" He couldn't manage anything else and spun away.
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</p>
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<p>
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"I told you to get back," Megrin snapped. Her voice was rough as sand.
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack spun away from the window. <em>Illusion</em> he told himself. <em>Just a picture</em>. They were here in Megrin's cottage. Or was that too an
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illusion?
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</p>
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<p>
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The hairs on his neck were standing on, and Corriwen's eyes, when they saw his face, were wide with alarm.
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</p>
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<p>
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"What's wrong with you, boy? Have you no respect at all?" Megrin's hand found his shoulder and her fingers tightened hard, digging in at his collarbone
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with such strength that Jack winced.
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</p>
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<p>
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He squirmed away saw something glitter in tar-black eyes. She grinned, showing a row of long yellow-stained teeth. Jack's heart leapt to his throat.
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</p>
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<p>
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Corriwen let out a sudden cry and pushed back from the table.
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</p>
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<p>
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From her bowl, fat maggots began to crawl their way over the rim, twitching.
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</p>
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<p>
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"What's happening…?" One of the maggots slipped onto the surface and burst open. A green liquid spilled out, hissing as it ate into the wood.
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</p>
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<p>
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Something moved in Jack's bowl. A piece of meat inched slowly out of the broth and from it hatched a big hairy fly that clawed its way out and then sat
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regarding him, rubbing its forelegs together with a dry scraping sound.
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack backed away. Corriwen's hands were shaking.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Eat," Megrin snarled. "Eat the damned food, you ungrateful wretches."
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</p>
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<p>
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Her voice had strengthened. It now sounded as deep hoarse as a man's.
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</p>
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<p>
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They both turned to face her. Corriwen gasped again. Megrin was standing now, both hands on the table. Knotted, calloused hands covered in black hairs. Her
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nails were long and horny and her face was bloated and studded with dark blisters.
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</p>
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<p>
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But her eyes! Her eyes were black as coals and empty as space.
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack recoiled from them. <em>Not Megrin!</em> His mind yammered. Whatever it was, it had lured them into a trap. Sudden fury made him want to pick up
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something and kill it.
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</p>
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<p>
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Instinctively pushed Corriwen behind him while the thing that was not Megrin began to laugh, a deep, booming sound that made the walls shudder. The
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blisters on its face began to crack and split. Its skin peeled away and any resemblance to Megrin Willow was gone.
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</p>
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<p>
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A tall, bearded man wreathed in a smoky shadow stood in front of them. It flickered and wavered, merging from one form to another, until all Jack could see
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was a black pulsating shape that sucked the light from the room. From it emanated a powerful sensation of hate and anger. It wrapped around Jack in a cloak
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of such utter foulness he thought he would never be free of it.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Jack!" he heard Corriwen's voice, far off. He hardly felt her tugging at his hood as a long arm stretched towards him, reaching with a many-jointed claw,
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towards the heartstone on his chest.
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</p>
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<p>
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There was nothing he could do to stop it.
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</p>
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