We sat and ate bowls of a thick stew which seemed similar to gumbo. Ilis handed us both a piece of fresh, buttered bread, and for a few minutes, there was no sound as we all ate.
“Now,” Ilis said finally as she sat back in her chair, pushing her bowl away from her. “We will talk about the necessary steps for the information you need.”
I nodded. Ilis may have fed us, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make us jump through the necessary hoops for whatever knowledge she had. Thankfully, the brief respite—and the food—had given me a little of my energy back.
“What do you know of the sword?”
I took a deep breath. “When Hrunting failed Beowulf, he found another sword in Grendel’s mother’s lair. He used it to slay her, and her blood melted the sword until only the hilt was left.”
She nodded. “Some speak of the radiant light which filled the cave once the monster was dead. However, most believe the light came first, allowing Beowulf to see the sword hanging on the wall of the cave.”
I chewed on that. “So the sword wanted to be used?”
A tiny smile hovered around her mouth. “What else do you know about the golden sword?”
I shrugged. “I know the seelie king wants it, because of a prophecy which says he could use it to kill the unseelie king.”
“And why do you believe this prophecy exists?”
I felt like I was a pupil who was missing the point of a lesson. I frowned. “Because fate is a fickle bitch?”
Ilis laughed. “My king is Taraghlan’s most loathed enemy.”
Ahh. “So the sword appeared for Beowulf because in that moment, Grendel was his greatest enemy?”
She beamed at me, and it was as if the kitchen lit up with her pride. “That’s right.”
“If this prophecy says the sword will be used to kill your king, why would you help me?”
She raised one eyebrow. “The prophecy says itcouldbe used to kill my king. I happen to believe that it won’t be.”
“Why?”
She gave me a sly look and glanced at Kyla. “That is a theory for another day. There are many myths surrounding this sword, but one of them is of great importance when it comes to your search for it.”
“What is it?”
“The sword may only be located by those with a warrior’s heart.”
Well, shit. I was many things, but I wouldn’t say I was a warrior.
“How do you know if someone has a warrior’s heart?” Kyla asked.
“I will give you a task. Completing it will tell me everything I need to know.”
Alrighty then.
Kyla and I got to our feet. Ilis shook her head. “This task is for Danica to do alone. Eat some more, wolf. I can practically feel your hunger.”
Kyla glanced at me. I nodded, and she narrowed her eyes warningly at Ilis. Finally, she shrugged and turned to the pot on the stove, refilling her bowl.
If I didn’t come back, Kyla would kill whoever she had to. And I knew she’d take up the hunt for the sword.
Ilis led me back out the door and down the stairs. Sweat instantly beaded on my forehead as my feet hit the spongy ground.
“I had to take an internal portal to get here,” I said. “Is there another portal that will take me back to Durham?”
Ilis frowned. “No. But… it is possible for me to stack two portals for a short amount of time, allowing you use a kind of shortcut–bypassing the internal portal. I’ll work the spell while you’re completing your task and you can take the same portal you came through.”
