Serwin jerked his head in the direction of the voice. “Mergle!”
“Here! Follow my voice!”
He ran to the opening in the wall with Jessandra fast on his heels. They paused at the archway and took in the cells lining the corridor as I came to a stop behind them. Every hall appeared the same. Infinite. And a prison in its own right. One could get lost in the tunnels here, never to be found again.
“There are enough to house every occupant of the realm and then some.” I pushed between them and kept going. “If you were wondering.”
Their eyes burning into my back made me smile. If the anger rolling off them was anything to judge by, I would be dead soon. Only they would never make it out alive, and they knew this.
“I knew you would come, Serwin!” Mergle shouted and shook the bars. “Release me! Yas gink eht seod tahw? Emoc neeuq eht seod ro epacse na ereht si? Where are you?”
I slowed when Mergle began speaking gibberish and looked over my shoulder. Puzzled and concerned, Jessandra looked atSerwin, too. What was this tongue? He gave nothing away and continued to follow.
The light from the orbs cast my shadow along the wall in front of Mergle’s cell. He shook the door harder. “I am here!” Face drooping, his hands fell to his sides when I stepped in his line of sight.
“Not happy to see me?” I placed a hand on my chest. “That wound stings deeply, old one. I thought you would welcome the company.”
“Your pride will be your demise,” he muttered.
My jaw clenched. “The same attribute you instilled in me. Fitting.”
Mergle’s expression turned introspective before his attention went to his emerging guests. “Serwin! I am ecstatic to see you, friend.”
The term struck me and ran bitter poison through my veins. I questioned whether we were ever friends or if he pretended for my entire existence. I swallowed the frog in my throat that leaped around trying to climb out while he ran to the door again, full of hope and excitement.
Serwin crouched at the bars and looked Mergle over. “Are you alright?”
“I am well, considering my accommodations, albeit a tad lonely. The silence is deafening here and can drive one mad at times.”
“I would like to speak with him,” Serwin said over his shoulder.
“There is no one stopping you.”
He locked challenging gazes with me before facing Mergle again. “Yreaf sdoolf raef. Seixip gninruter eht ot sknaht kcigam dna etteilbuo reh fo sgnineppah eht swonk won ehs. Reirgna sworg neeuq eht.”
Mergle’s chin dropped, and he said something quietly that I couldn’t make out.
Jessandra leaned closer, and I tilted my head near hers. We didn’t stop watching this strange scene unfold. She whispered, “Of all the things I’ve seen in this realm, this is by far the most bizarre.”
“And here I was hoping you could translate.” I mumbled, “Love.”
Her head whipped in my direction. “Your insinuations exhaust me.”
“Your elusiveness exhausts me.”
Her mouth snapped shut, and she turned back to them. “Can you decipher any of it?”
Mergle and Serwin chattered away in hushed tones. I couldn’t make out hide nor hair until I heard Serwin whisper, “Astaroth.”
I grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. He didn’t try to fight me or loosen my hold. “If you’d like to keep your tongue you best explain yourself.”
Mergle’s tired, sullen voice broke through my anger. “I’ve told you once, young one. We cannot.”
“Oh yes,” I sneered. “Your oath.”
“It is more than an oath,” Serwin stated.
“Then explain that to me.” I shoved his head to the side and released him. “Maybe I’ll be more understanding.”
