“–and we kept the dragon and your powers hidden from her. But like I said, I also think this is a challenge. She wants to see what we’re capable of.”
“The Empress hasn’t announced her successor yet, Kitten,” Dray explains. “She’s set several of her children these challenges to find a,” he grins, “worthy heir.”
“Has she set Aaron a challenge?” I ask next.
“No,” Beaufort answers.
“She’s probably worked out, he’s more than a lost cause.” Beaufort snorts in agreement.
I’m gathering the politics of the court are complex and confusing. There is no black and white here. Everyone, including the Empress, is playing games. And it looks like I’m caught up in that game!
“What’s that?” I ask Beaufort, pointing to the sword hanging off his belt, one I’ve never seen him wear before and one he definitely didn’t have when I left him at the palace.
“A demon-slaying sword,” he explains.
“Cool!” Dray drawls. “Can I hold it?”
“No,” Beaufort snaps, resting his hand securely on the hilt. Dray pouts at him and I realize I don’t have any patience for arguments, especially involving boys and their toys.
“What are we waiting for?” I say, wanting to leave before my nerves get the better of me, “Let’s go.”
“After you’ve eaten,” Thorne insists.
I let out a frustrated huff, but I am ravenous so I don’t put up a fight, letting him lead me into a small hut, where there is a meal of beans and sausage. Both Dray and I stuff the food down quickly, pleased to fill our bellies, letting Beaufort lecture us with his plan.
“I’ve been watching the border. I haven’t seen any demons out there. I think we will be able to pass into their realm undetected. We need to make as much progress as we can before we’re spotted. Which is why I think we should leave the dragon behind.” He pauses, waiting for me to argue with him. However, Dray beats me to it.
“Have you lost your freaking mind? The dragon is our secret weapon. We don’t stand a chance out there without him.”
“We don’t stand much of a chance with or without the dragon,” Beaufort says, which has cold sweat trickling down my spine. Beaufort is always sure of himself, confident, arrogantly so. To hear him speak this way makes me realize our chances of success are low. “Our best bet is to cross unnoticed,” Beaufort continues, “and make as much progress as we can. Sneaking into the demon realm with a hulking great dragon will be nigh impossible. Once one of the demons spots us, all of them will follow.
“If that happens – when it happens – we’re going to need to stick together,” Beaufort continues, “and work together and be prepared to get the hell out of there if things become too tough. That might be the moment to call in your dragon.”
“Are you confident facing the demons, Nini?” Thorne asks me, concern written all over his face.
“Yes,” I say, lifting my chin, even though I feel less confident than I did. “Their undersides are vulnerable to my magic. I just have to aim straight.”
“Good,” Beaufort says, sounding a lot like he’s trying to convince himself. “That’s good that you know what you’re doing.”
“Okay,” I hesitate and then ask, “do we even know where to go? I mean, this landscape is vast. Where does our realm end and theirs even begin?”
“Out there,” Thorne says, pointing out to the east, where the sun is climbing into the murky sky. “See that slight shimmer in the air. That’s where our realm ends.”
I strain my eyes, searching for the phenomenon he’s describing and seeing something in the air – a slight ruffle, like a disturbance across the surface of water. Beyond that the land falls away, racing towards the horizon and it looks endless.
“What is that?” I ask.
“It’s the magical barrier our ancestors erected to keep the demons from entering our realm,” Beaufort explains.
“It doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job.”
“It’s weakened over the years,” Beaufort says, “or the demons have strengthened.”
“I don’t know a lot about the demon realm. I don’t even know how big it is,” I confess, “do you have any idea where the Madame may have gone? Where she may have taken the professor?”
“I believe there’s one place she’s most likely to be. An old fort.”
“A fort?” I say, in astonishment. “Did the demons build it?”
