His heels clicked on the floor as, guarded, he made his way to Zarek’s room of mirrors. He’d never been inside it before and was confused as to the man’s unusual request. Why ask to see him now? Had Striver or one of the women deceived him? Had someone told Zarek something of their plans? Surely, none of them would have betrayed him. Would they? But if not, whatever else could be going on?
As they neared, he noticed more guards coming down another hallway toward them. In their midst was Brother Pestifere, and at his side, a grut.
Involuntarily groaning at the discovery that the priest had returned, Broden cocked his head. The man looked different, somehow. He wasn’t using his staff—and he walked without his usual limp.
“In,” a guard said, his voice clipped.
Following his command, Broden stepped inside.
There, Zarek sat, surrounded by mirrors. “Sit,” he ordered.
He sat.
Just then, Pestifere entered.
Broden’s eyes narrowed upon sight of him. Yes, there was something different. He looked—refreshed.
“Welcome home,” Zarek greeted the priest.
“It is good to be back.”
“How’d my guards do?”
Pestifere cracked the closest thing to a grin that Broden had ever seen. “Excellently. She is in custody.” He turned Broden’s way, suddenly all business. “Now, about you—”
Broden got to his feet.
“I said, ‘sit,’” Zarek ordered him. Once he’d complied, the emperor turned to Pestifere. “You know we can’t force this.”
The priest glared at Broden. “You are running out of time. Your . . . father,” he stressed the word with a grimace, “needs to know where your loyalties lie. So . . . whose side are you on?”
Broden leaned back. At this stage, he contemplated just telling the truth. But if Zarek killed him, his friends would never know what really happened.
“I’m not ready to commit,” he finally said.
“Daeva!” Pestifere called.
In the midst of one of the mirrors, a ghoulish countenance burst forth, surrounded by what appeared to be flames that, notwithstanding their heat, consumed nothing. Instantly, the temperature in the room rose, and with it came smoke in twisted tendrils, looking as though it climbed up a trellis.
Broden broke out in a sweat. The heat and smoke made breathing difficult.
“Meet Daeva, the chief underlord,” Zarek said.
He looked at the spirit. He felt the evilness of the creature crawl over his skin. So this was what his mother had followed—what his father followed, even now. Did they know something he did not? What was the attraction?
“Sssssso, we finally meet,” Daeva said.
Broden nodded.
“Brother Pesssstifere is right. You are nearly out of time, my young one. But you should know that the other sssside—that of Ehyeh and Hissss Select and Oathtakerssss—hassss failed. You want to be winner, do you not?”
He shrugged. “I suppose.”
“Then sssswear your allegiancccce to me before it issss too late.”
For a moment he contemplated what it might be like if he did as they asked. It certainly would make things easier. But then, shaking his head, he said, “I’m not prepared to do so, as yet.”
Pestifere stomped his foot. “What is keeping you?”
Broden turned his way. “All I’ve ever asked of you, is answers to my questions. Until I get them, I’m unable to make a decision.”
“Take him away!” the priest growled.
At that moment, the door opened, a guard entered, and then, quite unceremoniously, he ushered Broden out.
When he arrived back at his suite, he found Carlie, safe and sound. She was seated at the table, a cup of rose petal and lemongrass tea before her, its sweet scent filling the air.
She jumped to her feat. “Broden!”
“Oh, thank Ehyeh!” he cried. He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry, Mouse! I didn’t want to leave you behind, but . . . there was nothing I could do.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him, patting his chest, “but all is not well.”
“What happened?”
“Sit down.” Once he’d done so, she told him about Lucy’s arrival and capture.
“She had someone with her, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. In all the confusion, I didn’t get a good look.”
Broden slumped. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Wait a minute!” he said, jerking back up.
Striver, listening in, approached. “What is it?”
Broden explained about his audience with Zarek, Pestifere, and the lord of the underworld.
Striver’s eyes narrowed. “Brother Pestifere is back?”
“Yes.” Broden tapped on the table. “And . . .”
“And what?
“And Pestifere told Zarek that ‘she’ was in custody. You know . . . I think Lucy brought him here.”
“What?” Carlie cried.
“I think she brought him here. I do! Pestifere seemed very pleased with himself.” He shook his head. “But how could she do that? I thought she—”
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Striver cautioned him. “As to Pestifere telling Zarek that ‘she’ was in custody, even assuming he meant Lucy, it doesn’t follow that Pestifere arrived here with her.”
“No, Broden, I think you’re right.” Carlie put her cup down on a saucer to a clink sound. “I didn’t recognize him in the prison because I didn’t get much of a look, but even then I thought there was something . . . familiar about him. As you well know, he ordered me beaten some time ago. His voice is one I’m not likely to forget—ever. It was him! I’m sure of it!”
Broden’s jaw clenched. Then, “Did anything else happen?” he asked her.
She explained how Zarek’s guards had made her strip Lucy of her blade and other weaponry, as well as of the bag of crystals that generally hung from her belt.
Broden dropped into a chair. “When does this end?” He hung his head.
“There has to be something we can do,” Carlie said.
Turning her way, Broden confirmed that the next day, they would set their plans into motion.
Carlie patted his knee. “Good. When Striver and the others cause their disturbance, you might at least get the opportunity to tell Lucy the truth. Maybe she’ll be able to think of something that you—that we—can do to help them all.”
“There’s nothing else to be done,” Striver agreed.
Sighing, Broden said, “I’ve missed Lucy so much. She’s been like a mother to me. You know?”
He stood, made his way to a window and looked out. “I appreciate that a lot of people find her . . . difficult, but I owe my life to her. Without her intervention, Ehyeh only knows what might have happened to me.”
Stepping up, Carlie patted his back in commiseration.
“I don’t know why she would have brought Pestifere here,” he said, “but— Well, things aren’t always what they seem, I guess. In any case, without firm evidence that she intended any harm, I’d do anything to help her.”