Ambrose shook his head. She’ll say anything—her life depends on it. But I’ll deal with her, Tash. Thank you.
Tash released the girl and Ambrose took her arm, but the girl didn’t try to escape. Rather, she put her arms tight round his waist, clinging to him.
Thank you for rescuing me from the Brigantines. I’ve been so afraid.
The voice in Ambrose’s head was soft and desperate. Frost looked up at him. Her eyes were beautiful. Silver, like March’s, but shining lilac in the purple light of the cavern. But Ambrose wasn’t interested in their beauty.
We haven’t rescued you. You’re a prisoner. You’ve been working for the Brigantines.
They forced me. I was their slave. I’m Abask. A slave’s life is all I know. The Brigantines would have killed me if I didn’t do as they demanded. But I see you already know how cruel they are. They killed all my family too.
Ambrose shook his head. You’re looking into my thoughts? My past?
Your thoughts are open. As are mine. See—I’m not hiding my suffering from you.
And a vision filled Ambrose’s head of Frost working in a mine, dragging carts of stone. Beaten, starved, watching her fellow Abasks die.
Yes, you suffered. But still you worked for them, Ambrose replied.
And so did you. You were a guard to the royal household. And I see you were a favorite of Princess Catherine.
Frost released her hold a fraction and looked up in surprise. Oh, now I know who you are. Sir Ambrose Norwend. I’ve heard of you.
I don’t have time to compare past horrors. Tash said you have useful information about the demons and the smoke. What is it?
Yes, I do have information. And now that I have seen your thoughts and memories, I know it will be more than useful—it will be vital. I know what’s going to happen here in the demon world. And I know what’s going to happen to the smoke. I can help you. Frost smiled up at Ambrose. And I can help Catherine too.
Catherine? How? What is this information?
I’ve felt your love for your princess, your queen—and she is in great danger.
Ambrose shook his head. What are you talking about?
Your love will die if you don’t act to help her. Isn’t your duty to protect her? Isn’t that what you’ve vowed to do?
And if you’ve truly seen my memories, then you’ll know Catherine has freed me from that vow.
Frost shook her head. But you aren’t free, are you? You’re tied to her through that vow forever. Well, she’ll die soon unless you listen to me.
And why should I believe you?
Believe your own eyes, Sir Ambrose. Look around. This demon world is changing, isn’t it? Changing faster and faster.
It was true. The enormous column of smoke, the core, was rising higher with every moment and the whole cavern was getting hotter.
And what’s that got to do with Catherine?
This world is ending. I know how it will happen. I’ve seen into the demons’ thoughts. I know how their world is built—and how it will die and be reborn.
The demon world was changing, but could he trust a word this girl said? How could a world die and be reborn?
Tell me, then.
Frost shook her head. I’ll tell you everything if you take me back to the human world.
It seems to me more like you’ll tell me anything if I take you back to the human world.
That’s for you to judge. But you’ll be glad to be there when I tell you. You’ll want to be near your queen.
Ambrose chewed his lip and looked at the situation around him. His mission had succeeded. They’d destroyed the smoke store and captured or killed all the Brigantines. Catherine had asked him to hold the cavern as long as possible, but Geratan could do that. Something was happening here and he needed to know what it was. Ambrose gestured to Anlax to summon the Demon Troop.
Fine. I’ll take you to the surface. But if this is a lie . . .
It’s not a lie. It’s the most frightening truth you’ll ever know.
EDYON
THE PITORIAN SEA
EDYON STOOD on the deck of the Pilar, squinting at the distant coastline of Calidor. Distant, but not distant enough. The Pilar was a small ship with great speed; however, that speed was dependent on wind. The wind had been light and steady at first, carrying them swiftly away until Calidor was a faint smudge on the horizon behind them. But as evening came, the breeze died completely and they’d sat, drifting in