Rell’s orb pulsed in her hand, growing to twice its size. The other Bringers lifted their swords, readying for a fight, but still no attack came. Icarus exited the tunnel and moved to stand next to Gregory. He said nothing, only stared.
At his appearance, the guards looked at each other, as if at a loss to understand why one of their own was with the enemy. But the demons quickly recovered their emotionless mask and continued to guard the door.
The Bringers and Icarus approached cautiously and when they were about twenty feet from the door, the demon’s lowered their spears, pointing them directly at Icarus and Gregory.
“I will speak to them,” Icarus said, striding forward without waiting for Gregory’s response. He stopped ten feet in front of the guards. “I wish to see Vile.”
“You are not welcome here, Banished One.” The guard lowered his spear several more inches, bringing it to chest level.
“Those who travel with the enemy are not permitted into the Sanctuary.” The second demon took a step forward, as if to do battle.
Seemingly undaunted, Icarus did not move. “What is the Sanctuary?”
Neither demon spoke. Rell’s heart pounded. Tremors danced along her skin, wanting to be released. A few of the Bringers shifted nervously. Rell sent out her Tell, trying to sense what lay beyond the doors, but it was as if a barrier blocked out any effort to scan beyond the guards.
She noticed the sentries’ skin. Every inch was covered with tattoos and she could only guess that they were Summoners as well.
A heavy thud and loud creaking issued from the doors. The guards remained in place but glanced at each other. With aching slowness the giant doors began to swing inward, the grinding of the hinges reverberating off the walls. Icarus took several steps back, but did not rejoin the group.
Blue light and icy wind poured from between the expanding crack. Shivers rippled along Rell’s skin, making her colder than she had been, if that was possible. A glistening expanse of black floor extended down a long walkway and at the very end a thick wall of pulsing blue ice rose up behind an enormous throne. On the seat sat the Demon King.
“Let our visitors in.” Vile’s voice sprang from inside. “After all, they’ve had a long journey.
The guards snapped to attention, lifting their spears and taking their places on either side of the entrance again.
“Come in,” Vile said. “I’ve been expecting you.”
The Bringers exchanged glances. Icarus did not turn to consult the others about what to do, but strode forward. Rell looked at Siban. She wanted to take his hand, but showing preference to him could mean his death if Vile decided to teach them a lesson. Whatever waited inside could possibly kill her. But it was the realization that even if she survived, Siban might not, that took her breath away. Always their arguments had been about her safety. What would her life be like if he didn’t make it?
She looked at him. “Don’t die.”
He inhaled and nodded. “You either.”
The group walked forward. Every nerve in Rell’s body felt ultrasensitive. She tensed when they passed the guards, expecting them to attack from behind. When they didn’t, she relaxed slightly—until they entered the Sanctuary.
Her mouth dropped open at the sheer magnitude of the hall. Obelisks of black stone soared from floor to ceiling, their smooth surfaces glimmering with bits of silver and iridescent blue. Between the pillars, blue flames as tall as Rell burned in giant hearths. No heat radiated from the fire. If anything, the blaze seemed to suck the warmth from the hall.
But it was the army of Bane that nearly stopped Rell in her tracks. A single demon stood in front of each obelisk. Much like the guards outside, these demons were beautiful but terrifying. Each wore the breastplate with the Summoner’s symbol emblazoned on the front, but these sentinels wore skirts of what looked like rectangular gold plates hinged together with rings. Beneath the skirt their legs were clad in leather and each was adorned with the same gold bands around their biceps.
It was as if she’d walked into her worst nightmare, trapped beneath the earth with the creatures that had turned her life into years of living desolation. She shifted the sword in her hand, gripping the hilt more firmly. The weapon gave her comfort but she doubted it would be much use against so many of the Bane/Summoners.
They walked along the wide path, making sure to stay away from the deep gorge that opened between the walkways of each black obelisk. Towering stone sculptures of Bringers dwarfed the end of their path, each statue bearing the mark of the Summoner.
As they approached the throne, Rell’s eyes settled on the wall behind Vile. Her hand snaked out to grab Siban’s arm. When he looked at her, Rell flicked her head toward the towering blue ice. “The Bringers.”
He sucked in a breath. Frozen in their peaceful state were the Bringers they’d been searching for. Level upon level, the exhibition was like a horrific sculpture that climbed and disappeared into the darkness above.
Siban leaned toward Magnus and pointed. “The Bringers.”
Quickly the message traveled through the group, each reaction equally as appalled as Rell’s had been. How could they possibly free them from the ice wall that reached a hundred feet or more above them?
“I see you’ve bested my illusion traps.” Vile said, watching their approach. He sat regally on his throne, as if he truly was a king. “And I see you’ve brought my son. Now that is a surprise.”
Icarus stopped several yards from the throne, causing the group to halt a few paces behind him. “Am I?”
Vile cocked his head. “Are you what?”
“Your son?” Though asked as a question, Icarus’s words held no inquiry. He seemed to have accepted the Bringers’ explanation.
“Clever boy.” Vile leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “How did you figure it out?” His gaze slid to the group. “No doubt your new friends helped you to this conclusion.” When Icarus didn’t reply, Vile stood. “I like to think I was more than just a father to you.”
“Yes, warden, kidnapper, tormentor.” Icarus took a step forward. “Why?”
Vile raised his hands in the air. “Why? For revenge of course.”
“Against whom?” Gregory asked.
“And who do we have here?” Vile’s gaze leveled on him, a wicked smile spreading across his face. “Another surprise, I think.” He pointed a talon at Gregory. “Your eyes give you away.” He lowered his arm. “But how, when I made sure the only heir to the throne would be Icarus? Perhaps you are the son of that whore who started the Bane war.” He folded his hand in front of his chest, his voice taking on a simpering tone. “Please, King Arron, help my people.”
Gregory raised his sword, directing it at Vile’s chest. “You will not speak so about my mother.”
Vile laughed. “You are in my realm now. None dictate to me.”
While the Demon King’s attention was directed at Gregory and Icarus, Rell searched the hall. Craning her neck, she looked upward. A tiny sliver of light, barely visible, glowed hundreds of feet above. Perhaps it was an escape or maybe just another illusion.
“You spoke of revenge,” Icarus said. “Against whom?”
“My brother.” A sneer curled Vile’s lip. He paced in front of the throne. “Harlin thought to imprison me as he did our mother simply because we were Summoners.” His pacing stopped and he glared at them. “He feared us. We were stronger, more powerful than the other clans. My brother ambushed all the Summoners and locked them in the Abyss.” His sneer softened. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “But I begged for my freedom, told him I would live out my days in a warded prison if he would do me the kindness owed to a brother and not sentence me to an eternity of torment as he had our mother.” Vile’s laughter ricocheted around the cavernous hall. “And he believed me.”