Shady

She damn sure wasn’t going off on her own. She hurried after him.

“I mean… the only time I’ve done it I was with my father. So… it… is sort of… inextricably linked with him? If that makes sense? So it’s… a little ...

“I mean…” she took a singular hesitant step towards the stairs, peering down them. “…I don’t know.”

“I mean…” she looked down the hall. “…I don’t know. What do you think?”

“Um, I… I don’t mind it, ma’am… though I admit it’s a bit of a mixed bag.”

Ky hesitated, glancing down it. Her morbid curiosity wanted to go. But her anxiety kept her feet planted firmly on the ground.

“Um… I, um, can , ma’am.”

“Thank you.” She dipped her head again. She still felt like they were underestimating Aleth. All of them. They didn’t know his reputation. What he was capable of. If they ...

“What do you mean?” She held her light out towards it, though it didn’t do much good. “You haven’t been through all of these?”

“… yes ma’am.” She dipped her head reluctantly. “…I hope so.”

“Hm… I guess so… yeah.”

“Yes ma’am.” Ky ducked her head. She was right. That’s not something Ky was equipped to stomach.

“But what’s the use in keeping the rotting bodies of your ancestors? Why not just release them back into nature?”

“Why?”

That made Ky feel uneasy. What might he do to her, if she slipped up? “…like… cutting his hand off or something?”