Horsemen's War (The Rebellion Chronicles #3) - Steve McHugh Page 0,58

you need.”

I looked up to the end of the table, where Mordred remained silent.

“What are you humming?” I asked him, as everyone else went quiet.

Mordred smiled. “‘Still Alive,’” he said. “It’s from Portal.”

“The cake game?” Hel asked. “I thought I recognized it.”

“It’s not exactly a game about cake . . . ,” Mordred said.

“I really wish that Elaine had known about the realm gates in Avalon,” someone said, although I didn’t catch who.

“No one knew,” Mordred said. “And I do literally mean no one. From what this book says, the dwarves built them long before any of us were even sparkles in our parents’ eyes.”

“Where’s the book from?” I asked.

“You remember the fire at the Library of Alexandria?” Mordred asked.

“Not personally,” I said.

“Well, a lot of what was there that wasn’t destroyed was taken to Olympus. There’s enough stuff in there you could spend a lifetime reading and still not be done.”

“Unfortunately it’s not all good news,” Hades said. “Which leads us nicely on to Tarron, who I believe has more bad news to impart.”

“Oh, thank fuck for that,” Remy said. “I was beginning to think we were on a roll for happiness and was getting concerned for my health.”

Tarron stood. “These names that Gawain gave are the names of shadow elves, two of whom I knew before I was frozen. One was a member of a high-ranking elven family, and the other was an officer of the law.”

“And they were found in a prison, so guessing not the most well behaved of elven society?” Olivia said.

Tarron nodded. “This one—his name is Estaliar. He was tried and convicted of the murders of one hundred and sixty-two humans and four shadow elves.”

“He’s a serial killer?” Layla asked.

Tarron sighed. “I don’t know why he’s in Atlantis. I never realized it was a prison for shadow elves, although it’s entirely possible. We did have realms as prisons. Estaliar is dangerous. A trained killer. An elf who will slaughter and continue to do so until he is stopped. He killed the four shadow elves who first tried to apprehend him. He picked humans because . . . well, honestly, because they were like prey to him. This is not someone any realm wants released, and if he’s helping Arthur, we have a big problem.”

“And the others inside the prison?” I asked.

“Presumably people just like him. This second name—one of the officers of the law, Vusmar—he was one of the investigators of Estaliar’s case. I do not know why he was imprisoned; it was after my time.”

“And these elves have been released somewhere,” Olivia said.

“Yes,” Tarron said. “I would be wary. I cannot imagine that Arthur’s regime would let people live if they did not match their ideals.”

“It never rains, but it pours,” Zamek said with a sigh.

“So we need to go to Duat, make it into Avalon, and then possibly fight off shadow elf criminals?” Selene asked.

“We need to get to Camelot and get that gate unlocked,” Zamek said. “Otherwise, we’re going to be stuck in a city where the vast majority of them would like all of us dead.”

“We’re going to have to use stealth and a lot of luck,” I said. “We move fast, stay low, and try to make sure we move around the outskirts of the city. I lived there for a long time; I think we can do it. Once we’re in that realm gate temple, though, you’re not going to have long.”

“Surely it won’t be as easy as that,” Selene said.

“Nothing is ever that easy,” Hades said. “But for now, let’s all try to get ready. Nate, get your team. Whoever you want.”

I nodded.

As everyone filed out of the council room, I stopped beside Olivia. “We’ll find him,” I told her.

“I know,” she said. “Atlantis. You think Gawain was telling the truth?”

I nodded. “I’m thinking that Gawain was told to tell us about Atlantis if he got caught.”

“You think it’s a trap?” Hel asked.

I nodded. “Almost certainly.”

“That sounds about right for my father and Arthur,” Mordred said.

“How are the Olympian troops getting to Atlantis?” I asked.

“There’s a realm gate in Atlantis,” he said. “A second one, behind the city; it’s been unused for centuries. The dwarves who live in Olympus are going to get it working so when we get to Atlantis, we can link them and bring forward their army.”

“We’ll send a small team there to work with them,” Persephone said. “That way they can create a summoning circle and keep us informed. We’ll get to Avalon