Saeldian pointed to the path ahead, narrowed by the writhing mildew-spotted vines.
“That’s…not good.”
“No.”
“What were you going to say back there? About your power, I mean.”
“Oh, not much,” Saeldian said. “Just that if I’m right, I might weaken the realm by siphoning its power while I’m trying to fight this blight.”
“Shit. Any ideas?”
“We have to replace the Kiss.” Saeldian pointed. “So we have to clear that.”
“Right.”
Kell raised his crossbow and shot an arrow that glowed a sick green into the hell of writhing vines. The plants barely paused.
“Well. That was effective.”
“Now we know. Try fire.” Saeldian’s blasts sliced through the vines across the path. The severed ends thrashed in agony. Instead of tapering to a narrow tendril, they split into five, flexing and clenching and trying to reach. One of them tried to wrap around Kell’s ankle, but it only left its sap behind. It stung like acid.
Kell reached into his pocket. He nearly stepped on another of those desperate vines while he pulled out a dried leaf shaped like a blade from the envelope in his pocket. One flourish later, he swung a curved blade of fire.
The vines ahead were more than just writhing arms. These vines wove around one another and formed into people, and they turned toward Saeldian, who blasted through the first one so hard, it knocked two more down, but all three clambered back upright. Kell swept his blade through another, and its halves struggled after them.
Jubilee shot fire spells at the horrific people-shaped plants. “Don’t let them touch you. They secrete poison.”
“Toxin,” Lorzok corrected.
“Whatever.”
The army of plants bunched up in front of them, tight as a hedge.
“They’re trying to keep you from the center,” Helfyra said.
Lorzok raised his staff. It glowed and then crackled with little arcs of lightning. “I can clear the way.”
“No!” Jubilee jumped in Lorzok’s path, her hands up. “We’re too close. If there are people in there…”
Saeldian stumbled to a stop. “We can’t fight it like this. Protect me.”
They stood still, closed their eyes, and breathed in the corrupted air.
The vines rose up. Jubilee shot her bolts of fire down at the roots. Kell’s acid spell didn’t work on them the way it had on the trolls. Lorzok raised his staff again, but this time, the vines writhed themselves into tangling with one another.
“Oh, clever, my friend.” Kell kept hold of his fiery sword and slashed at anything that dared to come close. “Nine knots to hold the moonlight air, the rose’s scent, love’s first bright flare—”
Lorzok swiveled to stare at Kell. “You’re singing.”
He was, but this wasn’t the right time to discuss it. “A clever tongue, a favor owed, your every step is paved in gold.”
A tendril touched his ankle. He sliced it and stomped on the writhing fingered tip. The air pressed at his skin, sharp as a shriek, and then Saeldian shouted, “Begone!”
The vines went black and crumbled all at once.
The way was clear. Everything was ashen, as if it had burned to charcoal in an instant. Saeldian panted for breath.
“I was right,” they said. “I did this when I woke up the spell gem. I’m tied to the realm through the false Kiss.”
