Page 35 of Clash of Kingdoms

We were leagues underground, a great expanse of space high above us, the scale so immense it was hard to discern the size of the buildings in comparison. There were sections of crystals in the cliffs that surrounded us, casting a dull light that provided some illumination in the darkness.

And it was quiet, so quiet.

Huntley seemed to have the same reaction because he stopped too.

A long pathway lay ahead, a bridge over the emptiness that led to a new section of buildings. The demon took us forward, and we continued to walk, passing through the silent city of gold.

Lit sconces were placed everywhere, reflecting in the shiny gold that plated nearly every surface. It was a display of wealth I’d never seen, not even back home, not even in the castle my father and I occupied. The scale of everything was remarkable, like it had been made for beasts four times their height.

It was a long walk, moving to one section of buildings and then across other bridges to get to the next sections. This was not a linear city, made in the chasms that were available. It wrapped around to the left, and the bridges continued like there was no end to this place. Their city was already built under the east, so that meant it had been here long before Huntley and Rancor were aware of it.

We finally stopped at a building that looked like all the others, double doors in the center. The demon gave a knock before he opened one of the doors and gestured for us to walk inside.

It was like all the other buildings, grand and beautiful, but with no unique ornamentation. The three of us stepped inside, and then the heavy door shut with a distinct thud.

The demon took the lead, and then we crossed the large room and approached a demon seated behind a large desk. It was a long walk like all the rest, an impressive room with no contents.

We stood feet away as the demon walked forward. “Rancor and some of his little friends.” He gave a chuckle before he walked off, heading all the way back to the large door that we’d stepped through a minute ago.

The man I assumed to be Vine remained seated, slouched slightly in the chair with his elbow propped on the armrest. Unlike the other demons, he was dressed with greater elegance, adorned in a uniform made of black and gold. His arms were hidden underneath the material, but the cords up his neck showed the glow of fire in his veins. He had dark hair and a hard face, his eyes the color of ash. “Sit.”

There were three high-backed armchairs in front of his desk, champagne gold with red cushions. He had exactly enough for the three of us, like they had a system to transfer messages quicker than hand-delivering them.

Rancor took the seat on the left, Huntley in the middle, and I took the seat on the right.

“You brought friends.” Vine stared at Rancor. “How nice.” He had a deep voice that sounded calm, but the hostility he emanated was clear as glass. It came from his eyes, smart and perceptive, the flames burning far underneath. “Who are they?”

When I’d asked Rancor for the Golden Serpents, he’d had the upper hand. As a result, he’d been confident and arrogant. But now that the tables had turned and he was the weakest being in the room, he was plagued by hesitancy. He behaved like an invisible knife was pressed to his throat. “This is—” He paused, realizing he couldn’t use Huntley’s name. “Mastodon…my first general.”

If it was obvious to us that Rancor was riddled with discomfort, then it must be obvious to Vine too. I tried to pick up on his emotions, but the demon was a chasm of nothingness, just like the darkness that surrounded us that very moment.

“And this one?” He nodded to me at the end.

“My second general…Aurelias.”

“Doesn’t the general stay with the army?” Vine asked.

Now he was toying with us.

“I have many generals.” Rancor rested his arms on the armrests and gripped the edges. “I’ve completed the task you’ve assigned me.”

“Really?” Vine asked. “You said King Rolfe would be dead once he came for his daughter—but here he sits.” He shifted his gaze to Huntley and gave him a hard stare, the kind that could penetrate through solid rock.

If I’d had a heart, it would have been racing.

Vine regarded him impassively. “Walked right into our kingdom with nothing but his sword and an axe. I’m not sure whether I should admire you…or pity you.”

Huntley was quiet, and despite the revelation, his heart didn’t race in fear. He was as calm as he was when we’d walked in here.

That was impressive.

“For what it’s worth,” Vine said. “I prefer Mastodon to Huntley.”

A heavy moment of silence stretched in the great room. It seemed to last forever, and it was only broken by the quiet chuckle of a woman from the other room. There was an open doorway on my side of the hall, but I didn’t dare take a peek.

It was the two of us versus one of them—and I liked those odds.

But Huntley didn’t move, so I stayed put.