He held his hands up. “What are you glowering like that for?”
“Is this how Moonvale treats her prisoners?”
He shrugged. “We offered him a bucket to clean himself, food to eat, clothes to wear. He ignored most of it.”
Erebus nodded once. “I did not wish for handouts from my captives.”
“You’re filthy,” I said and then immediately regretted it. I didn’t like revealing how closely I examined him.
He glanced down at himself, and then back up at me, seeming nonplussed. “I will clean myself, if you wish.”
“Please.”
He nodded once. “It will be done.”
I felt lightheaded.
“What are we supposed to do with him? We can’t keep an Old God trapped here,” Redd said. “And he can clearly escape.”
“I can,” Erebus agreed. “But I do not have anywhere to go. My life is here now.” His eyes never left my face.
I flushed under his scrutiny.
“Care to explain how an Old God ended up in Moonvale? And as Mister Moonvale, at that?” Tommins asked as he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look composed.
Surprisingly, the god looked to Kizzi. “I believe the witch can explain better than I can.”
Kizzi startled. “Me? Oh, no, I—” She stopped, fidgeted with her collar for a moment. “I suppose I might have some sort of idea.”
CHAPTER 33
Ginger
Surprisingly, Erebus, Shade, whatever his name was, had agreed to remain in the cell while we figured out what to do with him.
I brought out a pitcher of cider—we certainly needed it.
The group sat at a table in the corner of my pub, everyone nervous and nursing a beverage to soothe their worries.
I felt better just being back in my element.
The pub had been kept running in my absence, sure, but it wasn’t the same. The pub needed me.
I refilled goblets and then poured one for myself and settled for a moment. My other patrons were served, and if they needed anything else, they could wait.
My eyes darted to every corner, every shadow, every darkened crevice as though the god himself would be lurking in them.
I could almost swear I sensed his shadowy presence, felt the hairs raising on the back of my neck and my baser instincts kicking into overdrive.
I struggled to focus.
“We have to send for the King,” Tommins said. “It is the only option.”
“Do you think His Majesty knows what he is?” Tandor asked as he ran his thumb over the stem of his goblet. “His missive was rather… vague.”
“Does the King even have jurisdiction over the Old Gods? That seems backwards,” Kizzi mused.
Tommins shrugged. “I do not know. But I do not want to face the King’s wrath if the truth escapes, either. The whole town is aware of Shade’s presence—they saw him compete in the trials. Anyone could string the details together.”
