I want to sigh that we’re not getting the information that we need again, but not only would that not achieve anything, but I also understand why we’re not being given all of the information that we need.
Prophecies work like visions do, and sharing too much now could alter the outcome in a way that you really don’t want it to.
“Thank you,” Farren replies with understanding. Then adds with a smile, “If it helps, I think that it’s pretty fucking crazy that there’s a legend about us that’s that old, and I’m slightly freaking out too.”
The woman smiles, “Actually, it does help. What was it that you needed help with again?”
Fry bounces on his toes, “The castle they needed directions to the castle.”
I smirk, he’s got as much energy as Loki. Under different circumstances, I’d wager that they would get on pretty damn well.
“Ah yes,” she replies, shooting Fry a look that makes him settle down and pull an apologetic expression in response. “So you actually want to head back the way that you were coming from. It’s about eight hours in that direction. It’s actually relatively straightforward. When you get back through the trees and onto the road, carry on walking it until the road turns from compacted dirt to cobbles. You want to walk for another thirty minutes, and then you need to take a left off the main road. It will lead you through the trees. It’s extremely overgrown and will most likely not resemble much of a path anymore. You should be able to feel the magic of the wards that are still up around the castle, at least that’s what the legend says, and that should guide you through the trees to the gates.”
There are two things that stand out to me from what she’s saying. One, she said eight hours in the opposite direction. That means that my visions are correct. It also means that the compound team sent us in the wrong direction. Two, she’s describing the pathway entrancethat Farren and I already found, which should make it easier to figure out where we’re supposed to be going.
We’ve already been there.
At least it sounds like the road and the path that we walked in order to get to the castle in Farren’s dream.
“We were told to head in this direction to get to the castle,” Rast says, his eyes slightly narrowed.
“You were told wrong.” She replies bluntly/. “You’re headed toward Peanasachadh.”
There’s no doubting the truth ringing in her voice.
We all share a look.
“They lied to us,”Khaos sends down the bond lines.
“Why would they be willing to mess with the saving of this realm?”Rast sends.“If it dies, it doesn’t benefit anyone except for the Abyss creatures.”
“Does it benefit them?”Kill asks. “This has to be the longest time that they’ve roamed relatively free. Maybe they like it here, maybe they don’t want to go back?”
“Maybe, or maybe they’re desperate to go back, most creatures have families. The Abyss creatures are probably no different,”Hades replies, although he’s frowning.
“Thank you. We were given bad information, clearly,” Farren says to the Others.
She raises her eyebrow, “You were given dangerous information. The Abyss creatures patrol Peanasachadh. We aren’t entirely sure why, because they can’t get in, and nothing else can get out.”
“I was never told that,” Rast says, although he doesn’t sound like he’s accusing her of lying, more like he’s confused.
“You’re from one of the compounds, right?” Fry asks.
Rast nods, “Yes.”
“Then that’s why you were never told. They keep a lot of the truth from you guys,” Fry replies in a very matter-of-fact kind of way.
My eyebrows hit my hairline. He’s basically just confirmed what Rast said he suspected.
“What do you mean?” Rast asks, interest in his gaze.
“Abyss creature!” Someone in the trees to our left shouts.
Within moments, we can hear it crashing through the woods and getting closer by the second. It’s not worried about being heard. It knows that it's at the top of the food chain, and I would be willing to bet that it likes it when its prey runs.
“There’s no time to run,” the woman from the Others says. She looks at us worriedly, “We can hold it off long enough for you to escape.”
Chapter Seventeen
