Andras nodded, and focussed on pushing demons away from them rather than engaging in prolonged combat.
Drew used the momentary reprieve to drop into a crouch, and he reached down to touch the ground. “Leila, can I even do this?” he whispered.
Leilabokkedreassuringly, and in his mind’s eye, he saw the scene he wanted to create play out, exactly as he intended. He wasn’t sure if it was his familiar’s version of a pep talk or if she was giving him instructions, but that was something he could work out later. When they weren’t in the middle of a brawl.
Delving deeper into his well of power than he had since he broke Zach’s bonds to the gem Oberon had used to control him, Drew gathered his magic. He didn’t bother shouting out the spell, just murmured the words, letting them caress his lips as they drifted to do his bidding.
There was a loudcrackas the ground itself was sundered, and a massive chasm opened in front of them. The tear opened wider and wider, growing longer, shooting off to either side of them. The scent of dirt assaulted Drew’s senses, as the ground was torn apart and exposed to the air for the first time in eons. Above them, massive storm clouds had gathered, the atmosphere reacting to the magic. Lightning raced across the sky, followed immediately by the grumbling crack of thunder.
Demons cried out as they staggered back from the opening, though one lost their balance and toppled towards the chasm. One of the other Shadow Blades grabbed for them, dragging them to safety, and they backed away from the danger.
Orias was still grappling with Zach on their side of the split, and as they parted for a moment to circle one another, Drew took the opportunity to strike. He hurled a blast of concussive force at the commander of the Shadow Blades, sending him flying across the fifteen-foot-wide chasm, where he hit the ground and rolled over and over before coming to a groaning halt.
Drew rushed to Zach’s side, checking him for injuries, but apart from a few scrapes and bruises, he appeared unharmed. Looking back over the chasm, Drew noted the Shadow Blades were regrouping, awaiting orders. All except one, who was trying to fend off an advancing urco.
Drew had never been able to whistle, and he turned towards Zach with pleading eyes. “Can you call him over?” he asked.
“Really?” Zach asked, gesturing across the chasm. “Because right now, it seems that all of our problems are onthatside. Why do you want me to bring one of them back over here?”
“Because we’re gonna need him,” Drew said. “Please?”
Sighing heavily, Zach raised two fingers to his lips and let out a piercing whistle.
“You are so whipped,” Andras muttered, but Zach didn’t hear.
The urco immediately stopped using the demon’s boot as a chew toy as his attention snapped to them. “Here, boy!” Drew called, slapping at his knees in encouragement.
The urco bounded towards the chasm, using one of the still-frozen demons as a springboard, and leapt gracefully across the gap. He landed with a thud and immediately headed to Drew, who gave him scratches behind his leathery ears.
“This isn’t over,” Orias called from the edge of the chasm. “I will hunt you down, Andras, and I will not stop until you are in the prince’s custody.”
“It’s not gonna take them long to figure out a way to get over here,” Andras said glumly, the fight draining from him.
“It’s okay,” Drew assured him. “You’ll be far away by then.”
“How?” Andras demanded, gesturing around at their surroundings as if to say, “We’re kind of fucked.”
Drew dropped to his knees before the urco and scratched at his neck. “Hey, boy. I need you to do me a favour. Is that okay?”
A long, wet tongue emerged from between massive teeth and licked a stripe up Drew’s cheek.
Giggling, he wiped his cheek on the coarse black fur of the urco’s shoulders. “I need you to take Andras to safety,” Drew said, looking deep into the urco’s eyes, willing it to understand him. “Go somewhere far away where you’ll both be safe.”
“He’s going to eat me!” Andras protested. “I’d rather face the Shadow Blades than take refuge in his stomach!”
“He’s not going to eat you,” Drew said. He pointed over to the pot of stew that was miraculously still on their side of the chasm. “Why don’t you go have a snack before you leave?” he said to the hound, who immediately moved to comply.
“How the fuck are you doing that?” Andras demanded. “How is it doing what you command?”
“Because I’m not commanding him,” Drew said simply. “He’ll get you away from here. Trust me.”
Andras glanced over the newly formed ravine to where Orias was organizing his troops to search how far it went in either direction. He sighed. “Can I trust him?” he asked Zach.
Zach put an arm around Drew’s waist. “I trust him,” he said. “I guess it depends on whether you trust my judgement.”
Andras closed his eyes and swore under his breath. He looked resigned when he opened them again. “Fine.”
“Hand over the knife,” Drew instructed, holding out his hand.
