“For dead men,” Mace observed, “we’re making good time.”

For an instant he thought Nick might crack a smile. Instead, Nick shook his head. “There’s a lor pelek who travels with Depa’s band. He’s … very powerful. More than powerful. If we can get Besh and Chalk to him before they start the twitches, he might be able to save them.”

Lor pelek: “jungle master.” Shaman. Witch doctor. Wizard. In Korun legend, the lor pelek was a person of great power, and great peril. As unpredictable as the jungle. He brought life or death: a gift or a wound. In some stories, a lor pelek was not a being at all, but was rather pelekotan incarnate: the avatar of the jungle-mind.

Mace made a connection. “Kar Vastor.”

Nick goggled at him. “How’d you know that? How’d you know his name?”

“How long before we reach them?”

Nick trudged on a few paces before he answered. “If we still had grassers, and akks for warding? Maybe two days. Maybe less. On foot? With only one akk?” His shrug was expressive.


- Shatterpoint, Chapter 5