Zariacraned her neck, staring up at the skull.
“Do youknow,” Isaac continued, “what scholars of the Diet now call these dunes, afterdiscovering all the many tombs and cities within its depths?”He paused foreffect.“The Charnel Waste.”
Shegrunted.
“Yourfriends,” Isaac said, “had the right idea, avoiding this place.The legacy ofthe necromancers still seeps into the land.”
“Theyain’t my friends,” Zaria replied, still peering up.
“Youshould avoid it, too.”
Shelowered her gaze to him.
“Zaria,”Isaac began.“Please, listen to me—”
Shecurled her lip, yanking her poleaxe from the sheath on her back.The woodenhaft whispered against the leather.Steel reflectedthe dunes.
“Zaria,”he said.
“Ain’thearing it,” she said, marching through the sand.“On we go, squire.Time tomeet the black.”
“Zaria!”Isaac shouted, loud enough for his voice to echo through the skull.Birdserupted from the titan’s eye.“Don’t go in there.I’m begging you.”
“Isaac—”
“No.Listen to me.”He stepped in front of her, pointing north.“Walk away.”
She didnot answer.
“Walkaway,” he repeated.“Forget about the treasure.Take your chances elsewhere.Escape to the hinterlands, sail the ocean, ask a bailiff for clemency.Whateverit is you need to do to protect yourself, please, do it somewhere else.”
Shepeered down at him.There was rage, irritation, thedetermination of a soldier charging into battle.He became very aware of herheight and strength.
“I’mprepared to die for my mission,” he said.“I’m willing to give my life.Thissorceress is older than the land she destroyed.She has survived the fall of anempire.I don’t think I need to tell you that the odds of survival are slim.Ifwe fail, she will yank our souls from their tether and grind them down tofuel.”
Shegazed up at the skull.From their perspective, it nearly eclipsed the sky.
“Whenwe met,” he continued, “you told me not to throw away my life.I’m telling younot to do the same.”
Shelooked at him.Her scars were long and cruel.
“Walkaway.Please.”
Sheblinked, breathing slowly through her nose.For a moment, a hint of grimresignation crossed her face.When it was gone, the anger remained, and shepressed the haft of her poleaxe into his chest,pushing him toward the skull.
Isaackicked up sand as he fought for balance.“Are you even listening to me?”
“Aye,”Zaria replied.“I hear ya.”
“Clearly,you don’t understand—”
“No,Isaac, it’s you who ain’t gettin’ me.”She closed the gap between them,standing so tall he had to crane his neck to meet her eye.“I told you, oncebefore.I ain’t goin’ back.”
“Yes,but—”
Shejabbed a finger into his chest.Her breath was hot and sharp.“I ain’t goin’back.”
He saidnothing.
