Greetings Readers
I hope you are all well. While I am setting up our next group of adventurers for their story 
Please enjoy today's update!
Letty was pacing up and down the various stone coffins while Mary was resting her hand on Johnathan’s coffin, but saying nothing. Letty found this odd but said nothing as time slowly ticked away, as they waited for Ostia. Eventually, May’s quietness unsettled Letty so much she had to ask.
“Did you even love him? I mean, come on! Your parents basically sold you to this country.”
“I loved him.”
Letty snorted. “How, when you were purchased?”
Mary sighed, her annoyance evident.
“The first year was hell.” Mary admitted. “He had to produce heirs, and I was resisting him every step of the way.”
“Good for you!”
“It’s not that simple. I also had to have heirs. I thought my brother was dead, and I had to continue the family name. But Johnathan…” Mary seemed to shudder, but stopped herself. “We learned to love each other. Neither of us was going to have what we wanted; we made do.”
“And I bet he was thrilled to have a daughter as his firstborn.”
“It hurt him, yes, but he understood that neither of us had control over which twin would be born first. He had a son, and that was enough for him, despite knowing his crown would likely go to his daughter if I had enough say.”
“And did you?”
“My husband is dead, Letty. I have all the say, but I would trade all this power to have one more argument with him. One more screaming match that would end with a hay roll so good we would forget why we were fighting in the first place. I miss him. Life with him was never easy, but it was never boring.”
“Fair enough. Sorry for prying.”
There was silence for a while before Mary looked at her and asked. “What about your husband?”
“He was hired to kill me.”
“Say what now?”
“Cat burglary was a great way to dig myself out from a life of poverty when I left our home kingdom. I had all the resources I needed at my disposal. Even a curse could be made to work if you took the time to master it.” Letty gave a twirl but then stopped. “Unfortunately, I thought I would remain safe as long as I didn’t reveal my human side. Mistakes were made. I got sloppy, and then I had a hunter on my tail.”
“Not like you to get sloppy. Unless you wanted to get caught.” Mary grinned at her.
“I heard around the town I was in about him. Scoped him out. Thought he was slightly better than mediocre looking, sharp as a knife, and the wit as dry as the desert. Never could tell if he was making a joke or being excessively sarcastic on his good days.”
“You led him on a chase, didn’t you?”
“I may have. I may not have.” Letty laughed.
The two of them chuckled and then fell silent. Before the silence could become awkward, Ostia returned. Phasing in, rather than just popping into existence.
“Well, I have good news, and I have bad news.” She said as she pulled something from a pouch at her side.
Letty and Mary gaped in horror as Ostia seemed to pull a spirit from the pouch. The man, who was indeed a half-elf, seemed annoyed at being placed and then removed from a container. He swore in a language unknown to those in the room, then noticed that there were others. Noting the queen, he immediately bowed, allowing his partially decapitated head to lol to the side.
“Oh god, Markus. Really?” snapped Letty. “You lost your head!”
“Partially.” He muttered.
“Is this supposed to be good or bad news?” asked Mary as she looked up at Ostia.
“Being dead; bad news.” Said Markus, as he got up and repositioned his head.
“Good news, I got you a scout.”
Letty sighed heavily and slid down the side of a coffin. “More undead.”
“Oh no, no, no. Ghost lady and I have a deal. I guide you all into the bad lands, and then I am free. Clean soul. Afterlife. Virgins and wine and all the other garbage that is promised after death.”
Mary raised an eyebrow at Ostia, and she shrugged, “I’ve cleaned far worse souls. He’ll be your guide as soon as I bind him to someone.”
Ostia looked to Letty, “And you’re the only one without someone assigned to you.”
“Can’t he be bound to something other than me?” stammered Letty.
“If he were still alive, yes, or a lich, but he is neither. He has to haunt someone, and since Magna already has Mortis, that leaves you.”
“Haunt?”
“Well, what else would you call it?”
Everyone was looking at Letty, and she hated the boring eyes.
“There is no other way, is there?”
“Nope. Let’s start.” Grinned Ostia.
Back to you Zak.
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
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