Page 23 - Mad Shadows II

Valuta sat back and studied me with those deep, intense
amber eyes of hers. A man could find himself spell-trapped by
those eyes. I certainly did.

“What do you know about the Gulai Carovul?” she asked.
“The ghouls? Why do you ask?”
“Because it’s important that you understand the work I do.
You see, ghouls are an ancient race that’s been maligned and
persecuted for hundreds of years. Just because they don’t like
sunlight doesn’t mean they’re one of the demonic races. On the
contrary, they’re gentle and harmless beings, as innocent as any
of God’s woodland creatures.”
“But they can be fierce and deadly warriors, and they eat
dead things.”
“So do vultures and crows and jackals. Ghouls never attack
or harm the living, not unless provoked to defend themselves or
their families.” Someone knocked on the door. “Come in,
Tibraxu.” The door creaked open and, as if summoned by the
words of our conversation, a tall ghoul carrying a basket of
mushrooms shuffled into the cottage.
“Bloody damnation!” I cried, ready to leap from my chair
and draw my sword.
“Easy, Dorgo,” Valuta said. “He’s a friend. That’s why he
knocked first.”
“A friend?”
The ghoul’s face was a crossbreed of baboon, hyena and
human. A thick, white, crooked scar ran across his muzzle. He
had a hunched back, a mane of black hair, the legs and paws of
a panther, and the arms and hands of an ape, muscular and with
sharp-clawed fingers. His jaws were powerful-looking, with
fangs a lion would envy.
“Thank you,” Valuta said to the ghoul. “You may set the
basket next to the door.”
The ghoul set the basket down and stared at me with
intelligence and wariness.

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