“Oh, Jim,” Koios said with a laugh. “You really are a snowflake, aren’t you? These aren’t my people, no matter what my biology might say. My people are the siblings I grew up beside and the pack I’ve chosen as my own.”
“My name is Diekstra,” the manticore bellowed. “Your ridiculous wolf and his nickname are an insult I will not tolerate.”
“Wait, your name is Dick? Damn, if we’d known that sooner, the jokes at your expense would have been so much better.”
The manticore stood and rattled the chain in his hand. Thudlez lay at the end, a giant glowing collar around his neck. “You know, Koios, I almost fell for your trick. Distract me to give yourself a chance to use that magical brain of yours to figure out a plan. I’m not going to do that, though.”
“No?” Koios said. “But thanks for confirming you know about the whole valravyn thing. I’d wondered if that’s why you came after me.”
“You were supposed to be the answer to all of his problems. With your powers, he could have defeated his brother and become the head of all the gods.”
Ben stole a glance toward Thudlez. The hobgoblin stared back, then flicked his gaze toward the wall. Ben didn’t look. He’d already caught a glimpse of Silenus hanging on the wall. He couldn’t focus on the king, though.
“Well, clearly that plan didn’t work out. Your old buddy Palinourous completely misjudged me. Pretty sure you have as well. What’s good for the goose, or whatever that expression is. Am I good enough for you, Dick?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
The hand against Ben’s arm let him know to be ready. If it shook a little, Ben chose to ignore it. He couldn’t afford any added nerves at the moment.
“But to what end?” Koios asked. “Because you don’t think I’m going to use my magic to help you, do you?”
“You will if I find the right leverage.” The manticore jerked the chain again, dragging Thudlez closer to the steps leading to the throne.
“Now.”
Logan’s voice in Ben’s ear set everything in motion. Ben ran forward as shots rang out behind him. He dropped and slid the final few feet to Cosmo’s side as Jack leapt over him, his katana above his head.
Taj emerged from the servant’s entrance behind Jack, but Ben ignored everything but his friend. “Goddess, please let this work.”
Ben removed the vial of Beshaba’s Bane from his pocket and tore off the protective seal. Then he shoved it into Cosmo’s mouth and rubbed his friend’s throat, forcing him to swallow the potion.
The manticore screamed behind him. “Who are you?”
Phoebe laughed. She’d obviously decided it was time to end the ruse and drop the cloak. “I’m the bargaining chip,” Phoebe said. “Didn’t you know Koios had a twin?”
From the bellow of rage and the sudden clang of metal, Ben guessed he hadn’t. He pulled the metal shears Gideon had given him and went to work on the chains holding Cosmo.
His friend had stopped singing, but he’d gone into some sort of fugue state. “He’s not coming out of it,” Ben muttered, knowing the team could hear his update through their comms.
“Get him out of here.”
Iris appeared beside him as Ben used his full strength to finally break through the iron chains. Ben lifted Cosmo and ran to the entrance of the throne room. He managed to get Cosmo out just as his friend began to regain consciousness.
“Iris, get him to Garzaxie. I’m going back for the king.”
“Ben—”
“Iris, go.”
Cosmo grabbed Ben’s arm and shot him a panicked look.
“I know, my friend. You won’t be able to talk for a little while, but you won’t be able to sing, either. Beshaba’s Bane, right? It keeps your magic from working, which is why you had me bring it to Johnny. He’d know only you would send him that particular potion. But Johnny wasn’t there, so I kept it safe. Go with Iris, I’m going back for Silenus. We’ll get him out. Go, Cosmo.”
Iris managed to hook her shoulder under Cosmo’s arm as she half pulled and half dragged him down the hall. The warriors began to stir, but Ben ignored them for the time being. Hopefully the iron would buy them another few minutes or they were seriously screwed.
Inside the throne room, chaos reigned.
The manticore seemed to be pulling magic directly from the Unseelie realm itself. Logan flew across the room and landed with a thud against the stone wall. He growled and got back to his feet as Jack and Phoebe charged the manticore with their weapons drawn.
