“We can’t do anything about it for the moment. They’re going to have to hold on,” Storm says with a worried frown.
Kill nods in agreement, “This needs to take precedence. Hopefully, we can get to them fairly quickly.”
“Agreed,” Rivals says. “We don’t actually have a choice. Everything will end if we were to leave now to go to the Dragon Realm.”
“They’ve been trained for this,” Mayhem adds. “Although if they haven’t been sent back, does that mean that someone has managed to mess with the Fae Realm, and how itdoes the Warrior Games?”
Hades shakes his head, “It’s very unlikely. But I agree that it is concerning.”
“Erm, guys, I really think that we should focus,” Zev points out.
“We need to get somewhere safe, and then we can discuss the other warriors,” Aldrastos adds, looking around nervously.
He’s not wrong. I don’t feel the same urgency that he feels, but then he sees this realm as a danger to him, but to me, this place has always been my safe space.
It’s where I’ve always come to escape the evil in my life, it’s never actually harmed me. Quite the opposite, it heals me.
“You do not need to rush as much as you think that you do,” Laikynn tells him almost gently.
“This isn’t what they told me,” Aldrastos frowns, although he doesn’t seem entirely surprised by the revelation.
“I am aware of the sacrifices you have made, Ferryman,” Laikynn starts, and Aldrastos tenses. “It would be my advice that should you choose to head back to the compound, you are extremely cautious. As you are aware, not everything is what it seems there, and it would not do any of you any good.”
We all look at Aldrastos.
“Care to explain?” Reaper asks, having been silently observing everything so far.
He seems more relaxed here than any of the others, and I wonder if he genuinely is as relaxed as he appears to be, or if he is just that good at hiding it. Even Storm is tense as his eyes continuously study our surroundings, even though we are surrounded by darkness and there’s nothing to see. It’s as pitch black as it used to be when I came to the Void.
Aldrastos sighs and runs a hand through his hair, “Not really, but it would appear that it is important that I do.”
“The more information that we have, the better we’re going to be able to help this realm and stop its demise from tipping the balance and bringing about, well, the apocalypse,” Rival summarises and then frowns.
“Well, that made it sound a thousand times more terrifying than it already was, and I thought it was pretty terrifying already,” Loki points out, shifting from foot to foot with nervous energy.
“Is it safe to talk out here?” Storm asks, his eyes darting around and studying the murky darkness that surrounds us. “Can you tell us now, or should we continue with the plan and get somewhere safe. I know that it’s important that we get this information, but we’re quite exposed out here, and we’ve already been talking out here for quite a while.”
“I don’t like it,” Khaos adds bluntly, his arms crossed over his chest.
Surprisingly, Laikynn is the one who answers Storm’s question, “You are safe for the time being. I have my pack creating a perimeter around us, and they will alert me if anyone approaches. You do not have long, though.”
“Thank you, Laikynn,” I smile, and he nods. My instincts ping, and the ground buzzes slightly under my feet. I continue talking, making sure that outwardly I don’t show any clue of what I’ve just realised. “However, I do think it would be best if our conversation is not overheard, and although I trust your ability to keep us safe, I am not sure that I am willing to risk being overheard when such sensitive subjects are being discussed. I also think that it wouldn’t be a good idea for us to use too much of our magic right now, as it could gain the attention of the locals we don’t want to attract.”
Chapter Three
Farren
Storm studies me closely, as does Laikynn, and then Storm nods, “Very well. Aldrastos, could you please show us the way to Ignatius’ house so that we can get what we need from there? Hopefully, it is still in good enough condition that we can rest there and decide whether we’re going to head to the compound or not.”
Aldrastos nods, “I can do that. It’s not a place that many visit. I didn’t know that it existed until I stumbled across it accidentally. It was in pretty bad shape, but it didn’t look like anyone had been there for a long time, so I don’t think that we will be interrupted. We should be able to rest there for a short while, without being disturbed. Of course, it has been a while since I have been there, and I didn’t go inside, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t the case anymore.”
“Why didn’t you go inside?” Zev asks.
Aldrastos frowns, “I didn’t have enough time. I had to get back before anyone realised that I had gone.”
“That would have been an issue?” Kill asks, with an eyebrow raised.
Aldrastos sighs. “Yes, but I can explain more once we get to the house. Follow me.”
