They arrived too late to save anyone. He was sure some of them still existed somewhere, but he had no idea how to find the ogres, orcs, or trolls.
The berserkers refused to help them; they had already sided with the Lord, which would lead to a nasty battle on the field. And it nearly led to them getting killed before they fled. He’d make the berserkers pay for that when the time came.
The Lord’s men demolished the pixie realm, but the witches could probably find them. The imps were still creating chaos in their realm. They agreed to lend a hand before fleeing to somewhere they deemed safer.
“How did it go?” Orin asked as they once again gathered in the small room.
“Not good,” Cole said.
He ran a hand through his hair and studied Lexi. She was tired, but she’d done well with all the traveling, and she’d at least gotten some sleep when they returned to the dark fae palace to sleep last night.
The Lord destroyed the Gloaming, but due to the many magics comprising it, the palace remained standing. It would protect them against any danger should one arise when they were there.
Skog had become increasingly grumpy and critical as their journey progressed. Cole didn’t blame the dwarf for being disenchanted, but he’d prefer not to hear his bitching all the time, either.
Shifting his attention back to everyone gathered in the room, Cole filled them in on what happened while they were gone. Which, unfortunately, was not a lot… at least not in the way of recruiting more help.
“There’s still the zombies,” Kaylia said. Her injuries had healed since the last time they saw her.
“When did you return?” Cole asked at the same time Skog blurted, “Are you out of your mind?”
Kaylia ignored the dwarf as she spoke to Cole. “Yesterday. The wounded are all healing nicely, and the witches and crones are ready to fight when you are. They want the Lord dead.”
“As do we all,” Skog muttered.
“And who are you?” Orin demanded.
“I am Skognoth Orcsword.” The end of Skog’s battle-ax clanged against the floor when he smacked it off the stone. “You may call me Skog. I’m here to ensure that the dwarves’ help in this battle will not end in all of us getting slaughtered. So far, I am not convinced.”
“Oh, he’s delightful,” Orin muttered.
“You haven’t spent the past three days with him,” Cole replied.
“Skog is here to help us, and that’s what matters,” Lexi said.
Cole didn’t completely agree with that statement.
“What about the zombies?” Kaylia asked. “I know we discarded the idea of having them help before, but they might fight with us.”
“That’s begging for trouble,” Maverick said. “They could turn onusas soon as the battle starts.”
“That’s a possibility, but does anyone know if Moratour is still standing?” Sahira asked.
“I haven’t been to check on it,” Cole said.
But he’dalmostprefer losing to the Lord than traveling to that forsaken land to interact with the zombies. He’d rather go back through the trials and have his skin torn away again before returning to the hideous realm of Moratour.
“The Lord wouldn’t send his men to Moratour,” Varo said. “Not even he wants to deal with the zombies. And he wouldn’t risk having one of his dragons become one.”
“Could that really happen?” Lexi breathed.
“I don’t see why not…ifa zombie somehow got their hands on one.”
“Wow.”
“And that’s a good reason whynoneof us should go,” Brokk said. “The last thing we need is a zombie dragon.”
“But if the zombies agree to work with us and fight for us, they’ll be a huge distractor and benefit,” Del said. “The Lord’s men will piss themselves and run if a horde of zombies comes at them.”
