Malchior and Ashniel had risen too to form the blood communion with their mistress.
Orders were given, and they had all left that night, meeting at the outskirts of Athel Maraya.
‘There are times,’ said Sevekai, as his breathing slowly returned to normal, ‘that I wish we could have stayed.’
‘Stayed where?’ asked Drutheira, carving out a graven rune upon the floor of the cavern. She had left the warmth of their bed to do it and was crouched naked in the half-light.
‘In Athel Maraya, or perhaps some other city.’
‘After the ritual slaying of that slave, that would have been unwise,’ hissed a voice from the shadows.
‘Kaitar.’ Sevekai didn’t even try to hide his vitriol.
The other dark elf nodded. He looked to Drutheira.
‘Are you close?’
The sorceress had finished her malediction and spoke words of power unto it.
‘It is here, the creature we seek. Deeper in the bowels of the earth, it slumbers.’
Sevekai glanced around at the cavern, the endless rock surrounding them. He had forgotten how deep they had already penetrated in the mountain.
‘We must go further into the dark?’
‘Yes, but Bloodfang is near.’
Sevekai was on his feet, getting dressed. ‘I’ll rouse the others.’ He looked over to Kaitar but the shade was already gone. In all the years they had been travelling together, he couldn’t remember ever seeing him sleep.
‘I have not forgotten our pact,’ he said to Drutheira.
‘Nor I, my love,’ she purred, uncoiling to reveal the curves of her sinuous body.
‘We will still kill him, and the dragon rider?’
‘Why else do you think Lord Malekith has brought us to this place?’
‘I honestly don’t know.’
‘Yes,’ said Drutheira, slithering to her feet. She padded over to touch Sevekai’s arm, sliding her hand behind his back and whispering in his ear. ‘We shall kill them both. Soon, my love. Very soon.’