They spent an hour roaming through the castle wondering where everybody was before they came to the great hall and found the answer. Bodies lay sprawled on the floor and slumped against walls. Goron brushed the hair from the face of one seated at the table. Large pus-filled pouches confirmed it was Anwen. He spun around to face Morwen and caught sight of the body at Anwen’s feet. It was Jasin. Her guts a cold, congealed mess beside her.
“Not a one left, if they’d only held out a little longer,” Goron said sinking to his knees beside Jasin’s insides.
Morwen bit her lip. She could hear Szat splashing around in the bottom of the barrel. “I better go and make an antidote.”
Goron stood up and rubbed at the large tears with the back of his grubby sleeve. “What are we going to do now?”
Morwen made her way to the window overlooking the black sea. The distant silhouette of the island was blurred by a light sea mist.
Goron sniffed. “We could start our own kingdom, fill these halls with children.”
“Queen of Dark Rot.” Her eyes focused on the island. “No, there’s nothing here for me now. See if Zooktuk is still wallowing in the river, I need a ride.” She turned back to Goron, “You coming?”
THE END
