Zogar shifts forward. “Tell me!”
My heart beats more quickly.
“I believe demons are sending them,” Eldrath says.
I shiver. Until recently, I believed the minionsweredemons and was comforted when Zogar assured me they weren’t. But if demons aresendingthem…
Zogar’s face clouds with skepticism. “Why do you think that demons are sending them?”
“Because those minions are born of the darkest magic, most often practiced by demons.”
Zogar nods as if this makes sense to him, or he already knew it. “But why send them to the Light?” he asks. “Were they sent to attack? Or as surveillance? Are the demons planning to bring down the veil so they can rule over the Light as well as the Darkness?” Zogar is visibly agitated.
“I believe they are messengers.” Eldrath nods toward Zogar. “Sent to alert you.”
“Alert me to what?” Zogar grips his thighs so tightly I fear his legs will bruise. “What message would demons wish to send to the Light? To me?”
“There’s a resistance movement, and some demons have joined it,” Eldrath says.
“Resistance against what?” Zogar asks.
“Against the council,” Eldrath says as if it should be obvious. “Against Gabreal. Against autocratic rule in the Darkness.”
Zogar’s eyes narrow. “Anddemonsarepartof this resistance?”
“Not all demons support the current state of affairs,” Eldrath says.
Zogar slides forward in his chair, and it adjusts to his movement. “What is their message? Why were they sent? I did not receive any message. Until recently, my powers have been stifled.” He glances toward me.
Eldrath nods. “I believe they were sent to request your help.”
Zogar straightens in his chair, and his hands release their tight grip on his thighs.
“We didn’t know they were messengers,” I tell Eldrath. “Dragon riders have beenkillingthe minions.”
Eldrath doesn’t seem bothered by this. “Minions aren’t sentient beings. Even if your riders didn’t kill them, they wouldn’t last long in the Light. On that side of the veil, the dark magic that created them would quickly lose power. And I fully understand why humans would want to slay the vile creatures on sight.”
He turns toward Zogar. “You say you didn’t receive their message, and yet you are here.”
“Yes, I am here.” Zogar nods. “Here I am indeed.” Zogar settles back in his chair, and his brow furrows. He’s clearly thinking through all that we’ve learned.
“What about the creatures on the plains in Lymbo,” I ask. If Zogar isn’t curious enough to ask, I certainly am.
“Ah, those…” Eldrath shakes his head. “Those poor souls are creatures who were banished from the Darkness.”
“That’s terrible.” I finish the last of my starseep fizz.
“Yes, it is terrible. Out there in Lymbo, starved of food and with no means to replenish their magic, those poor creatures are neither dead nor alive. We call them remnants.”
Neither dead nor alive?I shudder. “Can they be saved?”
Eldrath shakes his head. “Most are too far gone. And they’ve made surface travel between the Dark and the Light highly dangerous. Nearly impossible. Trucks and tanks quickly lose power if they go far past the shield, and only dragons are able to fly through the dead air of Lymbo.” Eldrath gestures toward Zogar.
“That’swhy Gabreal is filling Lymbo with remnants.” Zogar’s hands squeeze his thighs again. “To prevent passage between the two worlds.”
“I agree with that conclusion,” Eldrath says. “And that’s why the resistance movement has been trying to alert you and your kind. Because you can cross Lymbo.”
“Also, Zogar can open and close the veil,” I add.
