AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"We're not here to bind the magic. We want what you do, a piece of it," I lie.
"Lies, lies, lies, lies."
"Shhh," Azreal says, spreading his hands, wiggling his fingers."The Poppy Warriors know why you've come. We know one of you is the Most High. We can smell the magic in you."
"But. . . ," I say, trying to find a way to reason.
He puts his finger to my lips. "Shhh, no negotiating. Not with us. Once we break you, we can suck the magic from your very bones. A sacrifice. Twill give us fierce power indeed."
"But it dooms you," Ann whispers.
"We are already doomed, poppet. No use crying over spilled blood. Now, which of you shall we offer first?" Azreal stops before
Felicity. "Such games we could play together, poppet." He trails his sharp fingernail down Felicity's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. "Yes. You would be such good sport, my pretty pet. We've found our first offering."
He grabs Felicity's arm and she falls to her knees, terrified.
"What can I offer you?" I shout.
"Offer us, poppet?"
"What do you want?" "Why, to play our games, of course. We've no quests left to us, no crusades. Only games."
He claps, and two of the beasts grab hold of Felicity.
"Wait!" I shout. "This is hardly sporting, is it?"
Azreal stops the men."Go on," he says to me.
"I propose a game."
Azreal grins, giving his face the appearance of a death mask. "I am intrigued, poppet." He snakes his hand around my neck, caressing it, as he whispers into my ear. "Tell me, what sort of game?"
"A hunt," I whisper.
Azreal steps back.
"What are you doing?" Ann warns.
I keep my eyes trained on Azreal's. If I can get us together, I can make the door of light appear, and we can escape the Poppy Warriors. Azreal claps again, breaking into a delighted cackle. The Poppy Warriors follow suit. Together, they sound like the birds we heard on our way across.
"A most sporting offer. Yes, yes, I like it. We accept, poppet. The hunt shall whet our appetites. Do you see that door?"
He points to an arched iron door at the far end of the cathedral.
"Yes," I say.
"It leads to the catacombs below, and five tunnels. One leads out and away. Perhaps you'll find it. That would be magic indeed, poppets. We'll let you start."
"Yes, but we shall need a moment to confer," I say.
Azreal waves a finger at me. "No time to wish for the door, Order priestess," he says, as if reading my mind. "Yes, I know all about it. Your fear lets us in." He shakes his hands over us, as if sprinkling fairy dust, his bangles jangling in an echo. "See if you can find the tunnel. Go now, poppets. Runrunrun." He chants it to us like a benediction.
"Run. Run. Run."
The Poppy Warriors pick up the chant--Run. Run. Run-- till it bounces off the cathedral's walls like a great roar. "Rrruuunnn! Rrruuunnn! Rrruuunnn!"
As if shot from a cannon, Ann and I break for the door.
