The hand released Kleef’s arm, then it and the face melted back into the grotto wall.
Kleef whirled on Malik, forcing him back against the gate. “What is this place?”
Malik spread his hands. “How should I know?”
“Because they keep saying we can’t come inside until we’re dead.” Kleef caught Malik by his collar. “And you’re a Chosen of Myrkul.”
“I know only what my god has shared with me,” Malik said, repeating something he had told Kleef before. “That we would find Grumbar’s Temple in the catacombs beneath Sadrach’s Castle.”
“Catacombs?” Kleef had a sinking feeling he understood why Gingrid refused to let them inside alive-and why Malik had been so reluctant to share what he knew about the castle. “Is this some kind of charnel house?”
The goat hit the gate again. Another loud boom echoed through the entryway, then half a dozen stony faces and twice as many arms emerged from the grotto walls, demanding quiet and grabbing for any living thing they could reach.
Peox danced into the center of the grotto and stood bleating at his attackers. A pair of hands grabbed at Joelle, while a third caught Arietta’s shoulder and pulled her against the wall.
Kleef saved Joelle by using Malik like a club to knock aside the hands grabbing for her, then he slapped the flat of Watcher’s blade into the hand holding Arietta. To his relief, the sword’s magic was powerful enough to make the stony fingers flex open. He quickly spun around and, still using the flat of the blade, slapped aside a second attempt to grab both women. By then, Joelle and Arietta were retreating into the center of the grotto.
Kleef wasted no time stepping into the mouth, where he held Malik just inches from the bridge, turned so the little man could look out at the fire-hail bouncing and smoking off the thin metal decking. The orcs had crept to within two-hundred paces and were now more visible, a long line of stooped figures cowering beneath their breastplates and inching steadily closer to Sadrach’s Castle.
Malik’s eyes grew as round as coins. “Have you lost your mind?” he cried. “Think of the Eye!”
Kleef hesitated. The Eye was the problem, of course. They couldn’t retrieve it without Malik, and that meant Kleef couldn’t drop him into the Underchasm or toss him to the orcs-no matter how badly the little man had betrayed his companions.
But Kleef still needed to know what they were walking into.
“The Eye won’t matter if we don’t survive to deliver it.” He brought his arm back, as though preparing to toss Malik out into the fire-hail. “And you were warned. I told you what would happen if you lied about this place.”
“But I spoke no lies,” Malik said. “Once we are inside, my god will protect us. I swear!”
“Sure he will,” Kleef said. “Once we’re all undead.”
Hoping to scare Malik into blurting out the rest of the truth, he started to bring his arm forward-only to have a hand catch him beneath the elbow.
“Kleef, wait.” Arietta’s voice was weak, but still strong enough to make it clear she was giving him an order. “We need to hear him out.”
Joelle caught Kleef’s other arm. “Please.” She spoke in a soothing tone, and the anger began to drain out of him. “Sune wouldn’t have sent us here to die. Give him a chance to explain.”
“What’s to explain?” Kleef demanded, fighting to resist her charm magic. He nodded back toward the grotto wall. “You heard them. They won’t let us into the castle until we’re dead-and Malik is a Chosen of Myrkul. He’s been planning to turn us into undead from the start.”
“Not so!” Malik said. “I am here to protect you from the undead.”
“Then why won’t they open the gate?” Kleef demanded.
“How am I to know?” Malik turned to Joelle. “Perhaps this is why Sune sent the oaf to us in the first place. He has certainly brought nothing but trouble otherwise.”
It took an act of will for Kleef not to bring his arm forward and send Malik tumbling down the bridge. He settled for knotting the little man’s collar tighter, then he turned to Arietta and cocked an eyebrow.
Arietta sighed. “He’s trying to shift the blame. I see that.” She paused, then added, “But I believe him-at least the part about not planning this.”
“You do?” Kleef asked. “Why? He tried to kill you once himself.”
“And then he risked his life to save me from Hadarog,” Arietta reminded him. “If Malik was just planning to let me die here, why would he take a chance like that?”
Kleef frowned. “I don’t know.” He had already heard a description of the orc chieftan’s death, so the only thing that came as a surprise was the part about the little man endangering himself. He looked to Malik, then asked, “You risked your life?”
“Indeed,” Malik said. “There were a thousand orcs coming from one direction and a dozen shades from the other, but when I saw the danger that had befallen Arietta, I did not give a second thought to putting my own life at risk.”
“Sure you didn’t,” Kleef said, more suspicious than ever. “And what about the Eye?”
Malik’s expression turned wary. “What of it?”
“You didn’t worry about putting the Eye at risk?” Kleef asked. “Because that, I just can’t imagine. The one thing you do well is protect the Eye.”
“With no thanks to you,” Malik said, too quickly. “After you revealed its hiding place to the Shadovar, it is a wonder I still have shoulders for my robe to hang on.”
“And now, you’re just trying to change the subject.” Arietta removed her hand from Kleef’s elbow, then asked, “You’re hiding something again. Why did you save my life?”
When Malik did not respond quickly enough, Kleef started to pivot his hips around, as though preparing to send Malik tumbling out onto the bridge.
“Because Joelle needs your love!” Malik cried. “It is the only way to tie Grumbar to this world.”
Kleef stopped midpivot and drew Malik back into the shelter of the grotto. He didn’t understand what the little man was implying, but he did know the ring of truth when he heard it. He glanced over and saw a gleam of recognition creeping into Joelle’s eyes. He turned back to Malik.
“Joelle needs Arietta’s love why, exactly?” Kleef asked. “And don’t even think about dodging the question. We have no time for guessing games.”
To drive home the point, he pointed his chin down the bridge. The orcs had crept to within a hundred and fifty paces, close enough that he was starting to see red eyes and gnashing tusks.
Malik turned to Arietta. “It will be a great honor,” he said. “You will be the one who stops Shar.”
“By doing what?” Kleef whipped Malik toward the fire-hail, then pulled him back at the last second. “Final chance.”
“I think Malik is referring to the binding ritual.” Joelle’s voice was warm and kind-a sure sign that she was trying to use her charm magic. “When the Eye of Gruumsh is placed on Grumbar’s altar, it must be done by someone utterly devoted to her beloved.”
Knowing how his resolve would weaken if he turned to address Joelle, Kleef was careful to keep his attention on Malik. “And then what happens to her?” He brought Watcher’s tip up and pressed it beneath Malik’s chin. “Be truthful.”
“I know only that she must die for her lover,” Malik said. “It is the only way to make Sune’s magic work-and since you were too selfish to accept the job yourself, the duty has fallen on poor Arietta.”
Kleef felt a dark ball of rage forming inside his chest. He had already guessed from Malik’s evasions that there was a sacrifice involved, but something inside him had not wanted to believe Joelle capable of such treachery.
Something naive and foolish, he saw now.
It was the same mistake Kleef had been making his whole life-placing his trust where it wasn’t warranted, honoring duties no one else valued. He had wanted to trust Joelle because of her beauty and charm, been eager to believe in her because he was desperate to find someone else devoted to a greater cause. But she had turned out to be no different than Malik, just someone trying to manipulate others for her own purposes.