Free Death Weavers by Brandon Mull Page A

same when you leave.”
    â€œI know,” Cole said.
    â€œProceed if you wish,” the woman said. “You’ve been warned.”
    Cole walked over to her. “Who are you?”
    She ducked her head and held up both hands. “Not your business. I came here by accident. So I warn people who enter. I spare the unwary from surprises.”
    â€œYou’re an imprint,” Cole said.
    â€œYou’ve already come too far,” she said. “You’ll leave one too.”
    â€œDo you mind it here?” Cole wondered.
    The woman folded her arms and looked a little puzzled. “Honestly? I got more than I bargained for when I came in. But I can’t say I’m suffering.”
    â€œDon’t you get bored?” Cole asked.
    She scrunched her eyebrows. “Funny—I can’t recall. I guess that means I don’t. I remember coming here with my husband and exploring for a good while. Once we went to exit the cave, it gets fuzzy.” She looked around, peering toward the colored passages. “My husband isn’t with me. I suppose he wandered off. Not sure how long ago. He always had wanderlust. It was why we stumbled across the cave in the first place.”
    â€œHow long ago?”
    She looked perplexed. “Feels like it’s been a while. Maybe not? Time gets funny in here. We learned that we had found the Cave of Memory from some of the imprints while we were still tangible. It was strange to meet the imprints. Watch out. Some aren’t all there, if you take my meaning.” She pointed a finger at the side of her head and twirled it in little circles.
    â€œDo you miss your husband?” Cole wondered.
    She peered around the area again. “I expect I will if he doesn’t turn up soon.”
    â€œDo many people come into the cave?” Cole tried.
    She stared upward in thought. “Hard to say. Not since I’ve been here at any rate.”
    â€œAre there two other people in here right now?” Cole asked.
    â€œThat doesn’t ring true,” she said.
    â€œThere were two horses outside,” Cole explained.
    She shrugged. “Could be I missed them. Doesn’t seem likely, though. Looking back, it gets muddy since I exited the cave.”
    Cole remembered Sando explaining that the imprints didn’t learn anything new after they were made. How long had this imprint been here? Years, maybe. Or days. Or centuries. If she couldn’t remember, it all might feel the same to her.
    Cole gestured toward the colorfully glowing passages. “I didn’t think of bringing a light.”
    â€œYou’ll find enough in the cave,” she said. “There are some dark places, to be sure, but never for too long. At least in my experience. This is an enchanted place. Strong weaving. Dates back to near the founding of the Outskirts, so I’m told.”
    â€œWhat if I’m looking for somebody?” Cole asked.
    â€œCould take some time,” she said. “The cave goes and goes.”
    â€œAny tips to keep me from getting lost?” Cole asked. “Do the colors help?”
    â€œWe never made complete sense of the colors,” the woman said. “We got ourselves good and lost, but an imprint gave us the tip that heading down would generally lead us farther in while trending up would lead us out. Not always true in a cave. But true in this one. It’s how we found our way back to the entrance.”
    â€œThanks for the tip,” Cole said. He felt like he should get moving. “You stay here all the time?”
    The woman shrugged. “It’s good to have a purpose.”
    â€œThanks for the warning,” Cole said. He glanced over at the colored tunnels. “Any thoughts which I should try first?”
    â€œFar as I could tell, they all lead somewhere.”
    Cole headed for the passage with the red glow, since the color made it seem warmer. After walking out of sight from the woman, he