Lord of Embers(The Demon Queen Trials #2)(29)

Good man A sh u r?

“It sounds terrible,” said Orion with only the hint of

sligh test

sarcasm. I could only hope this woman wouldn’t notice. “

? So

F orn icators

vile a thing.”

She leaned in, whispering. “Detestable beasts. When you arrive in Osborne, tell them Goody Putnam herself said the devil has made his home in their woods because of their wickedness. Tell them I said their dark forest turns people into animals. Naked, dripping with blood. The women rut with the Shadow Man in the woods like foul beasts, on their hands and knees, shrieking in bestial pleasure.” She looked absolutely delighted, her eyes dancing, cheeks pink. “They have made a diabolical covenant with him. I have seen it with my own eyes.”

I wanted to say, “I thought you never went to Osborne,” but I’d been told to keep my mouth shut.

If what she said was true and women were running around naked, rutting in the woods with a demon, maybe that explained why the Dying God hung around here half the year. Whoever he was, he was probably more fun than the dour-looking mortal men slurping soup in this tavern. No wonder he had a following. And no wonder Goody Putnam had gone out looking for him.

Orion straightened, and his pale eyes glinted in the warm candlelight. “Woe to him that coveteth an evil man. We seek to the

expel

devil from these good towns. It is our sacred mission, dangerous as it may be. It is my most fervent wish to drive this beast into hellfire and burn his devil’s book so that no more innocent women may be corrupted by his malevolence.”

“Of course.” Her cheeks reddened, and she smiled at him. “You are a goodly demon hunter.” She continued to stare at him, enraptured. “Aye, the Malleus Daemoniorum. We have heard that you would come to purify these shores. We have been waiting for you.” She leaned in closer.

“We are honored to have a man like yourself here to protect us, courageous and strong as you are.”

You’ve

to be kidding me. Even here, women flirt with him?

got

Orion steepled his fingers. “And this devil. You think he’s still in the Osborne woods?”

“Oh, aye. ’Tis a cursed forest. I seen him there a few times by myself, surrounded by naked women writhing in a shameful dance. Wild with lust of the flesh. The forest makes them feel evil things. Do you know, the devil looked at me for one moment, and he could sense the goodliness within me? It angered him. He did howl like a wild beast to drive me away into the night.” Her hand strayed down her chest, her face glowing with the memory.

It

of sounded like Goody Putnam had been wandering around kin d

the sex forest, hoping for a rut with the devil, but she was too weird, even for him.

“Most impressive, Goody Putnam,” said Orion, his face deadly serious.

“You are a blessed woman.”

She giggled. “How tall are you? I have never seen a man so tall. You are taller than a stallion.”

I opened my mouth to ask about food, but Orion touched my arm.

“My wife has taken a vow of silence to repent for her sins.”

I suppose I had to be his wife here, or I could end up clapped in the stocks like the unfortunate couple outside.

Wait a minute—

?

sin s

The woman turned to me for the first time. “Oh, sins?” She frowned.

“There is something familiar about her wanton face. Perhaps a terrible dream. But what sins? She must confess in public.”

I could only shrug.

The faintest of smiles curled the corner of Orion’s lips. “To atone for her wicked temptations, her corrupted lust of the flesh that can never be satisfied. But she is repenting now.”

“Oh.” A look of disgust crossed the woman’s face. “Aye, I can see it in her eyes.” She shuddered dramatically. “Keep her away from that forest.”

I kicked Orion under the table.

“And this devil,” Orion went on. “Where in the forest did you see him, when you were out at night so carefully avoiding temptation?”

“Up on the rocky hilltop, under the moonlight.” I could see the delight in her eyes. “I’ll bring you the lobster, then, so you have sustenance for your fight against darkness.” She shot me a sharp look, judgment burning in her eyes.

Don ’t look at me like th at, Good y P u tn am. I kn ow w h at you w ere d oin g in th ose w ood s.





C H A P T E R 1 6 — R O W A N

Because Goody Putnam clearly had the hots for Orion, she’d let us take two pewter flagons of fruity, hot beer with us, which she called “chowder,” fresh from the cauldron. Her

jealousy had been palpable. I wouldn’t be surprised if she found herself wandering into the evil woods later to help .

Good man A sh u r

She might have been annoying, but the chowder was starting to make me appreciate her. Steam from the beer warmed my cheeks as we walked toward Osborne, and the hot metal kept my fingers warm.

A winding road led past tottering buildings from Salem to Osborne as we walked west, away from the sea. We passed gently rolling farmland. Cows stood in the cold fields, chewing grass, and wisps of steam rose from their bodies into the frigid air. Farmhouses were painted in subdued colors—pale yellow, cream, and deep brown. A dirt road threaded between them. Leaves trembled from boughs, bright orange like flickering flames.