“I dare say you would.” And now Bray was smiling as Diagus squeezed his shoulder.
“Afterwards, I’ll want it back, you understand?”
Bray nodded as he lifted his old sword and smoothly slid it away into his smuggler’s pouch. “Of course, afterwards.”
Elora witnessed a look they shared between them, some understanding she wasn’t privy too but thought no more about it as Ragna got to his feet and raised his large tankard, foam brimming from the rim.
“Odin!” he bellowed and almost drowned himself attempting to empty his tankard in one go, managing to slosh a good quantity of it down his leather vest. After draining it, he threw it clattering into the fireplace, sending a plume of sparks up the chimney.
“Odin!” Ejan shouted, joining her husband and downing her cup before throwing it into the flames.
Diagus raised his own cup, then drank the remains of the mead before slinging it over his shoulder to join the Vikings’ drinking vessels. Norgie and her uncle followed suit as did Jaygen who muttered Odin, although his eyes kept darting to Elora. And even Gurple threw the bowl he had been drinking from although it fell somewhat short of the fire.
Otholo raised what looked to be a glass of water. “To Thea and the ballad, I will create,” he yelled and threw it into the fireplace, glass smashing as the flames dampened for the briefest of moments.
“Aslania,” shouted her uncle, raising a fist.
Bray clicked his cup of mead against hers, drank the liquid in one and threw that into the fire. “Elora,” he yelled, a huge grin spreading across his face.
Elora noticed that once again, all eyes were on her, all faces beaming in anticipation.
Grasping her own cup of mead, she tipped her head back, swallowing it down in four huge gulps; spilling some down her chin and wiping it with the back of her sleeve.
“Eversong!” she yelled and sent it hurtling into the flames with the rest.
“Good,” said Diagus, placing his heavily calloused hands on the table and pushing himself to his feet. “If we’re ready then there’s no reason to stay here getting any older. Time is an enemy we’d best make a peace with.” And with that he strode out of the inn.
A quiet pause followed his wake, the others around the table only staring after him, probably as shocked as she felt, thinking they had at least a few moments to gather themselves before the voyage. Diagus had other plans and she knew he was right. Time was against them. Ragna was next to rise, pulling Ejan up with him.
“Got a right prickle up his arse, hasn’t he?” he said, lifting the Fist from the wall.
“He’s right though,” Elora said, surprised at herself for defending the Shadojak. “The sooner we’re gone, the sooner we’re back, right?” Her eyes caught Bray’s as he looked away, doubt written plainly in moss green.
Otholo led them through the courtyard to the edge of the forest, as the sun began to fall, turning the long clouds pink. They were only a few trees deep when he halted them.
The large oak before him had a thick limb partially hacked through at the joint where it grew from the trunk. The limb had been pulled down until it touched the dirt and held in place with a wooden stake, driven against the branches where they forked. It formed a large triangle, big enough for even Ragna to walk through.
Otholo reached into a pocket and began to sprinkle salt along the branch and down the trunk, then along the ground beneath. As soon as he completed the triangle, the salt touching the salt where he had started from, the mineral began to hiss and crackle, like static on an old radio.
Then all at once a sheen of darkness, onyx black, shimmered across the triangle, like the one Elora had seen when she found the grumpkin. A shiver passed through her at the memory.
“Might be a good idea to have a blade or two ready,” said Otholo taking a step back. “No telling what could come through.” He gave Elora a wink and passed her his lute. “Can you hold onto that for me? Zionbuss has no respect for the arts.” She took the instrument and felt a change in him as the demon possessed the bard once again. He bowed before her, wicked grin appearing strange on Otholo’s face.
“My queen,” he said, rising. “I’ll enter the gate first, clear any unwanted beasts. I suggest that you all have something sharp and pointy in your hands before you follow. Remember, if it moves, it’ll want to kill you.” He gave them all a menacing stare, grinning like a skull before stepping into the blackness and vanishing from view.
Ragna gave Jaygen a tight hug, leaving the boy a little dazed. “Make sure you keep the pig away from them apples, the goats too. You know it gives them the shi...”
“Right Da,” replied Jaygen, sparing them all the profanity. He watched his father duck under the limb of the tree, careful not to knock the heavy sack against the edge of the triangle as he vanished. Ejan then hugged him just as fierce as her husband did and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“You do what Norgie tells you, make sure you listen to him.” She gave him a final hug, smiled at Norgie then followed Ragna, drawing her short sword as she went. Bray drew his blade, clasped hands with Norgie and playfully mussed up Gurple’s fur, gave Jaygen a wink and jumped into the blackness. Her uncle was next, saying a quick farewell before following Bray, leaving only herself and Diagus.
“You’re next girl,” said the Shadojak, pulling his soul blade free, the setting sun glimmering along its razor edge. Elora nodded, she expected he would make sure she went through before he did.
“Good luck, Elora. We’ll see you soon enough,” said Norgie, embracing her, whilst Gurple wrapped furry arms around her legs.
“Take care,” she said, hoping that she would see them again. She gave Jaygen a hug as she passed him, causing him to blush all over again.
She pulled her dagger free and stepped through the gate, giving herself up to the darkness.
Chapter 19
Ship of Bones upon a Sea of Souls
Red dust coated the terracotta rocks Elora stood on, falling away into a deep gorge. Its bottom a dry crack that swept down onto an arid plateau that stretched away as far as she could see. Black peaks jutted up on the horizon, like fallen teeth, or tombstones, too far to judge their height or the vast distance between. The plateau itself, an immense bed of cracks, rocks and fissures, was different shades of reds and oranges, like the vista seen through the lens of a Mars Rover. Apart from the fellowship that stepped through the gate, she saw no signs of life, animals of vegetation. Not even a bird or cloud in the dark red sky.
Elora turned about, expecting to see the gate they’d stepped through but it had vanished, leaving only the same view of the empty red wasteland, a rotten egg smell or sulphur, maybe brimstone catching her nostrils.
“Where are all the beasties?” asked Ragna, gripping his hammer and appearing disappointed that he wasn’t swinging it.
Zionbuss gave a throaty laugh. “They’ll be here soon enough. Like bees to nectar, they know we’re here for the taking. Come, we need to reach higher ground and reach the Necrolosis before we’re found. And Elora.” He stepped closer, so he was directly in front of her and using the slender hands of Otholo he gently lifted the hood of her cloak over her head. “Keep your skin hidden. In the Shadowlands your flesh will be like a flame in the dark. And the moths you’ll be attracting will want to tear it from your bones.”
Elora watched him turn and march up the ridge, the others parting and giving the demon a wide berth whilst pulling hoods on themselves. Bray slid an arm around her waist, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
“You alright?” he asked.
“Yep,” she replied, looking about her. The others seemed nervous, knuckles turning white on sword hilts, Ejan now had a bow out, an arrow notched and her uncle was mumbling something too low to hear. Even Diagus appeared apprehensive, spitting on the ground before himself and muttering under his breath to the Blessed Mother. Yet she felt fine, like staring around a place that was familiar, a childhood haunt with fond memories although she couldn’t quite tease them to mind.
Bray planted a kiss on her cheek, having to hold the hood aside to do so. “We won’t be in the Shadowlands long, don’t worry,” he said, as they began to climb the rise after Zionbuss.
