The mire was worse than Karathra had imagined.
The water, if it could be called that, was the consistency of oil and the color of old bruises. It clung to everything it touched, leaving residue that burned faintly against the skin. Even walking along the narrow strips of solid ground that wound between the pools required constant vigilance.
"Don't touch the water directly," Lady Pelica warned. "The liquified essence will drain your reserves in minutes. And if you fall in completely..."
She didn't need to finish the sentence. They'd already seen what happened. A small creature, a kind of rodent monster, had slipped and splashed into a pool. It had dissolved in seconds, leaving nothing but a brief scream and a spreading stain.
The masters moved in single file, testing each step before committing their weight. Karathra followed close behind, ready to catch anyone who stumbled.
But the water wasn't the worst part.
The voices started about an hour into the crossing.
