“You had a nasty infection,” she said by way of greeting. “Fell flat on your face when my husband and daughter tried to run you off our land. Ought to take better care of yourself.”
“Where am I?” Effrax mumbled.
He was asking perfunctorily, disinterested in the answer. What did it matter what town this was? If Necrovar’s forces didn’t find him here today, they’d likely find him somewhere else tomorrow.
“This is Eldritch. The war hasn’t reached us yet—though you gave us a turn showing up in that Shadow Guard uniform.”
A shiver ran through Effrax. Shadow Guard. The people had a name for the traitor Imperials.
“Why’d you help me?” he asked. “If you thought I was one of them—”
“Oh, half the town was ready to toss you in a cell and let you rot, and you’d have likely died within hours.”
“
