The arrival of the army had him worried that wasn’t what Taveon had meant at all. That Bree had been captured by the demons. Taveon had said she was in danger, though he hadn’t looked all that concerned. That didn’t match up to what Eurig saw before him now.
“They must have only recently arrived,” Eurig said. “Taveon wasn’t panicked when we spoke to him, so I don't think he meant she’d been taken by that army.” His gaze moved to the muddy city. “For whatever reason, she went there.”
“Any idea why?”
He chewed on the inside of his cheek. “Munlin is an abandoned mud pile. It has nothing going for it, except one thing. It has a library. She’s come looking for information. I’m guessing she was hoping to find a way to stop this army.”
“That sounds like Bree,” she said quietly. “I just have one question. Why would she be in danger at a library?”
“Lord Worm,” he answered grimly.
* * *
They approached the forgotten city, ducked low in the whispering grass. The stench of rot and mud drifted toward them on a light wind, along with the burning choke of fire from the nearby demon camp. Eurig tried to ignore the thudding of his heart. He and Norah had to avoid being spotted. If the demons caught them…
Still, he yearned to get a look at them, to see exactly what they’d face. When they reached the muddy wall that snaked around Munlin, Eurig motioned to Norah that they should climb. She nodded and followed him up the mound, their hands and feet sinking into the mud. His knees got caked in the grime of it. By the time they reached the top, they were both covered in it.
Norah frowned down at her soaked leathers, but she didn’t complain. “Might have been easier to go through the gates.”
“Lord Worm will have guards stationed there. We don’t want him to know we’ve come. Besides…” He lifted his gaze to the camped army. “I wanted to get a look at that.”
Even in the darkening dusk, Eurig’s eyesight let him see the camp in detail. There were thousands of them, armed demons with crackling skin and claws as sharp as knives. Well over seven feet tall, they roamed through the camp, pounding their fists against broad, muscled chests and shouting words that Eurig did not understand. From beside him, Norah swallowed hard.
Before the demons could spot them there, they dropped down on the other side of the wall, feet thudding against the ground.
“That’s a big army,” Norah muttered. “And they’re huge.”
“They far outnumber us, even combining all three armies together.” Eurig’s jaw clenched. “The only hope we have is that the castle’s walls hold firm against them.”
Norah didn’t reply. She didn’t need to. It was a wild hope, a long-shot. Without somethingelse, they were never going to survive. Bree had come here for that something else, Eurig knew it. He hoped she’d found whatever it was.
The fate of the worlds depended on it.
18
BREE
When Lord Worm returned with two trays of food, he gave them a broad smile. “Your least meal. I’ve brought you potatoes.”
Bree’s stomach rumbled. The slop was a dull brown in color, just like all the mud. Still, she salivated over it. “Why are you even bothering to feed us if you’re going to hand us over to the enemy in the morning?”
“They seem to want you alive and well. They’ve ordered me to feed you.” He shrugged and stuck his key into the lock. Bree tracked the movement. If she was quick enough, she could shove him aside and run into the corridor. Then, they could escape this place before the demons demanded their prisoners.
What did they want with them, anyway? Did they plan to use them as some kind of bargaining chip? Perhaps they thought they could trade Taveon for Bree and Rafferty. She fought the urge to laugh, bitterness coating her tongue. Lord Dagen would probably do it as well.
Her life for Taveon’s. She could never let that trade happen.
“Ah, ah.” Lord Worm held up a finger when he noticed the look in Bree’s eye. “I won’t feed you unless you back up against the wall.”
She scowled. “Fine. I don’t want to eat anyway.”
“Bree,” Rafe murmured.
She knew what he would say. He was worried about her. Without food, she would not have the strength to fight if it came down to that. But she didn’t want to give the Worm any more satisfaction than he already had.
“That one has the right idea,” the Worm said. “Now, step back.”
Her hands fisted. “How about we make a deal?”
