Again as if he was talking about the weather, Riff thought. What was wrong with this kid? “Wait, if the dead walk the Deepwood, what about the elves? I thought the Deepwood was their domain?”
Lotte was walking faster and trying to keep up with Riff. He took a deep breath before answering. “Elves don't come this far out on da edge. It be safe from the treefolk out hea. Too far for them ta come and too far for da dwarves to come. We be safe hea. Well, that be afore da dead ones.”
“What do these, dead ones, look like?” Riff said.
It was obvious to Riff that the young Lotte liked to talk … a lot. He was hitting his stride now and fell into a matter-of-fact pattern as he filled Riff in on all the details of the dead ones.
They looked like whatever they were before they became dead ones. The
