Chapter 13: Lo, the Ruined Site


A/N: Consistency?

God damn it, as those westerners would say.

Oygamig was dead. Urgansk would be in the hands of that empire. Dragwa would be queen, if she wasn't crowned already. Then again, maybe one of Dragwa's even more foolish siblings would try and steal the throne. Maybe they'd all claim a little piece of the Toadlands for themselves, and all Oygamig's work would be undone.

As Sanlo travelled through the Toadlands, he kept hearing the whispers. News of Oygamig's murder was spreading like the fever. One of Sanlo's brothers, Glamble, was calling for war of revenge on the Empire. One of his sisters, Blae, was going around celebrating the opportunity to conquer Salamandastron. There was word that Webtoes had refused to cede, and was trying to hang on to Urgansk. The bastard. He'd bring about all their deaths. No word yet of Dragwa's decision, but Sanlo would have to argue against fighting the empire. For now.

"Thinkyou ever," said Burja as Sanlo muttered all this. "That focusyou on something else? Happybe? Friendshave?"

"No time, no time, no time, Burja. It's up to me to save these Toadlands and–Oh, god damn it."

Up ahead, shooting into the sky, was a grand wooden stake, and at its end was the shredded form of Dragwa Toadqueen.