Chapter 59

Terrence wanted to shake the village chief - a pompous looking idiot in a motley colored robe and of all things a pillbox hat. Without a dreg of magic - or sense - this buffoon kept diverting his questions and Terrence had gone past the point of frustration.

"So you're sure you haven't heard about anything odd happening hereabouts?" asked Terrence.

"Nope."

"What about people dying?" asked Terrence.

"Folk die. Old Herman there died a few weeks back and his widow spouted some bull that it wasn't natural. But everyone knew old Herman was done for when he never recovered from a bad bout." Terrence noticed how he shifted his eyes nervously when he spoke about old Herman, a sure sign of lying, or at the very least half-truths.

Terrence prodded him. "What did his widow think it was?"

"Bah, that old shapeshifter sees shadows and portents everywhere. I wouldn't pay no attention to her mutterings."