Chapter Twelve

“They’ve gone.” Fon was first to speak.

“Freed,” Vashri said. He glanced at us. “We all agreed to the goddess’s demands?”

“Yes.” Fon and I both affirmed our agreement.

“Rey and Axxon have been returned to their bodies,” Vashri said.

“So we just have to get back to our world.” I glanced around, as though the goddess might be loitering still, waiting to help us. But the goddess had freed the souls and left. Our problems must be solved by ourselves now. We were on our own.

We headed out, to the grey sky and the restless ocean. Axxon and Rey were free – and we were trapped in the underworld.

Fon palmed his gem. “We can fly.”

“We can’t,” Vashri said. He sighed at Fon’s expression.

“Your creatures couldn’t get us into this world,” I reminded him. “There’s no reason to think they can get us out.” They could travel from one world to another; we couldn’t.

Fon scowled. “Well, we could try. Or do you plan to just stand around waiting until … I don’t know, perhaps the master of the underworld will pass this way and we can ask him for help.”

“Petulance suits you poorly,” Vashri said. His gaze was unfocused, gazing at the horizon as though that would produce a solution.

Over the sound of the wind and the waves came an eerie, rattling sound. It raised the hairs on the back of my neck a moment before I realised I remembered the noise. I turned, to see a shellycoat dragging itself onto the island.

“Guys…”

Fon swung. A flick of his hand and flames flared along the edge of the island, driving back the dozen or so shellycoats following after the first.

“We need to get out of here,” Vashri muttered, reaching for his gem.

I couldn’t stomach the idea of more travel-by-wyvern. “We need to get home,” I said firmly. “And I know how we can get there.” I smiled. “I have a demon who owes me a favour.”

Before I could think better of it, and even as Vashri took a step forward, hand raised in protest, I took a deep breath and called Grimog’s name three times in a row. The air shimmered. The light didn’t dim, but it became somehow darker, its surface thick and oily the way I remembered from our journey here. And then a figure appeared.

“Who summons me?” Grimog was querulous, squinting into the light. I knew the precise moment he recognised me. He straightened, his face slipping from anger to resignation. “Oh. It’s you.”

“Yes, it’s me. I need you to repay the debt you owe me.”

“What is this?” Fon demanded, his eyes widening as he took in Grimog’s appearance. The shellycoats had slipped back into the water to avoid his fire.

“This is Grimog,” I told him. “Grimog, this is Zephon, king of fire and Vashri, king of air. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. I rescued Grimog from Lady Ullagar’s cell.” I was reminding Grimog of the fact as much as informing the kings. I focused on the demon. “We need your help. I need you to take us back to our world.” Grimog wielded powerful magic, and he walked on the ground the way we did. He’d been able to cross between our world and this one, so I had to hope he’d be able to get us through the barrier between the worlds, unlike the phoenix and wyvern who’d spectacularly failed.

Another rattle heralded the second attempt of the shellycoats to reach us, clawing their way onto the island from a different patch of sea. Fon swore and spun away to deal with them.

Grimog watched the shellycoats, shuddering when Fon’s fire drove them back. “It’s not convenient right now.” He shifted, eager to get away. “Maybe another day…”

“Grimog.” I used a commanding tone. “You owe me for saving your life. You will discharge that debt now.”

He huffed again. “Must I?”

“You must.” My lips twisted. Demons were supposed to be terrifying. If they had you at a disadvantage they might be, but Grimog only made me want to smile. I gestured with a hand to demonstrate Vashri and Fon. “Convey all of us home, to our world.”

“No.” Grimog grew surer of himself. He faced me without fidgeting and crossed his arms over his stocky chest.

“What do you mean, ‘no’? You owe me a favour. You agreed so when I rescued you from Lady Ullagar.”

“You ask too much,” he snapped in reply.

“I saved your life,” I pointed out.

He nodded his head as though conceding the point. “And for that I’ll take you to your own world.” He jerked his chin at Fon and Vashri. “Your friends will have to take care of themselves.”

“No. We stay together.” I glanced around, surprised into a sudden smile. The three of us had said that in unison.

I took a breath. We could argue back and forth all day, but we needed to get back to Axxon and Rey. “What’s your price to take all of us?”

Grimog blinked twice, his large eyes shining in the light of the now-empty crystals. I think his expression was a smile. Well, why wouldn’t it be? “I’ll accept a favour from you,” he said. “To be repaid when I ask.”

“No.” Fon stepped forward protectively. “You ask too much of the guardian.” Then that odious rattling began, and he had to concentrate on keeping us safe.

“Peace, Fon,” I said to his back. I knew enough of Ma’s stories and the songs of old to know I was making a dangerous bargain. We were running out of time. And options. I was desperate. And perhaps – just perhaps – I liked the fact that I could help the kings instead of them helping me for once. “Very well. I owe you a favour, and I will repay the debt when you ask – provided it lies within my abilities. And I don’t have to murder anyone to do so,” I added abruptly, just in case.

Grimog looked triumphantly offended. “I won’t ask that! What sort of a monster do you think I am?”

A monster I couldn’t afford to trust.

“Come along. Hold hands, stick together.” We did as he said.

“I don’t like this,” Vashri murmured.

Then an oily darkness swept over us and we stepped through, travelling from the underworld back home in the time it took to blink.

I sat up, blinking in the sudden brightness of natural light. We had arrived at the edge of the village at the foot of the Old Man of Ullaglen. Fon sat on one side of me, Vashri the other. The sun had started its descent, shadows lengthening as it slid behind the mountains.

“Come on.” Fon pushed to his feet, impatient as ever to be moving. “Time for an alarm call.”

“Thank you, Kyann.” Vashri helped me to my feet then wrapped his arms around me. His breath was warm on my neck, his chest broad and solid. “Whatever Grimog asks of you, know that we’ll be there to help you.”

“Come along!” Fon called. He was already striding over the plain. Vashri and I shared a wry smile and followed. Hope jumped impatiently in my chest. The village appeared unchanged. Smoke rose peacefully from several of the huts. Fires of peace, and community and family, rather than destruction.

Rocks scattered and dust rose from our boots as we walked.

"Kyann!"

The shout snapped my attention to the path into the village. A gasp snagged in my throat. I was dreaming. My sister stood beside the closest hut. Then she was running towards me. I stumbled into a run, speeding past Vashri and Fon. Midway, we collided. I grabbed her in a hug, half-strangling her. It was then that the tears came, tears of relief. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed her until that moment. “What are you doing here?” It was too soon for a message to have reached her and brought her back.

Her expression sobered. “Geedan didn't make it.”

So much had happened it took a moment to recall the youth. The son of Lord Baloa, he'd been imprisoned by the Emperor, robbed of his magic, and then offered riches if he betrayed the four kings. When he had failed to do so, the Emperor had tried to kill him. Now, it seemed he'd succeeded. “Oh, Essa. I'm so sorry to hear that.”

Essa’s smile of welcome was tempered by the grief dragging at her expression. Essa was a healer; she would feel his loss dearly, her inability to save him. “We did all we could, but the Emperor had caused too much damage. There was never any hope, really.” She stared up at the sky and blinked away her distress, turning back to me a moment later. “After he died, Lord Hullar was impatient to support the kings. We knew you were making for the Ullagar lands and we thought if we followed we'd soon find something happening.” She smiled and the gesture was nearly natural. “It sounds like you've been busy stopping battles. It's all the villagers can talk about.”

“Have the kings woken?”

“Not yet.” My hopeful heart plummeted. “But their sleep has grown restless,” Essa added. “Did your plan work?”

“Yes, the goddess freed their souls.”

“They should be awake now,” Fon grumbled. I saw his worry in the frown between his brows.

“Come on.” Essa tugged on my arm. “You can see for yourself. I’m sure they’ll wake now you’re back.”

We stepped between the huts into the middle of the village. The bustle and noise of everyday life should have been a balm, but I didn’t care for peace and calm, I just wanted Rey and Axxon.

We made our way to a small hut close to the central meeting place. “We moved the kings, so the village healer and I could work with them in peace,” Essa explained.

The hut was sized for a couple. Lord Hullar was already inside when we arrived. Fon and Vashri crowded in behind me, and the small room became claustrophobic.

Lord Hullar bowed in greeting. His sharp eyes took in my expression and he turned his attention to the kings. “Your majesties, would you grant me a few minutes of your time? I would very much like to hear your news.”

Fon looked like he might argue, but Vashri steered him towards the door. “We have much to discuss,” he promised the lord.

The door hadn’t closed behind them before I dashed to the closest bed to check on the patients.