that plan a little more thought.”
But then Fie called the dead.
All Rune could do was stare in wonder as the Army of Death and Darkness heeded the child’s call.
“Shhhh...”
The crawlers’ voices slid into Rune’s ears and brain and gut.
She wanted to run.
But she didn’t.
The ground boiled and churned, expelling people who looked like death but smelled of warm flesh and had facial expressions and hair and life in their eyes. Cold eyes, but life was there.
Dozens and dozens of them, uniformed, armed, dangerous.
Ready.
They’d been waiting.
All of them with faces of death, exactly like Fie’s.
They knew she was their mistress, and they gathered around her, silent.
Fie took Z’s hand and looked at Rune.
“Tell them to follow us,” Rune said. “Tell them—”
“She needs to tell us nothing,” one of them said. He was a slender man with tattoos covering every inch of visible skin. No hair clung to his smooth skull. “She is the hand. We know what is needed.”
The Army of Death and Darkness swept Rune and the others along like a giant wave, carrying them away from the graveyard.
Away, thankfully, from the crawlers.
“Shhhh…”
Chapter Ten
The Army dropped Rune and the others like crumbs of bread as they rushed across the country to fight the legislators and other allies of the witch.
They were heading toward Magic Shimmer to free their lord. Along the way, they would kill anyone who got in their way.
They took Fie along with them.
Rune didn’t try to stop them. Once, as they sped away, the child looked back at Rune and waved.
She might have smiled.
Perched on the shoulders of one of the captains, the girl looked like a tiny, hideous doll.
She’d grow into her power. Someday.
“Why are they leaving us behind?” Blue muttered, angry.
“We don’t belong with the Death Army,” Roma answered. “We’ll find our own way.”
Z nodded. “We have our own paths to follow. For now.” He met Rune’s gaze. “We’ll all end up at the same spot. Just not at the same time.”
“It’ll take all of us,” Nadaline said. “We’ll each play a part in the death of Damascus the Witch.”
“I don’t want to be on a fucking journey,” Rune said. “I want to get to the castle and cut the witch’s heart out.”
“Then let’s get going.” Blue vibrated with eagerness.
“Rune.” Z took her hand. “You’re sick.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re compromised?” Roma asked, surprised.
“Before you can fight Damascus, you will have to find the cure,” Z said, ignoring Roma.
“I know,” Rune admitted. “But I don’t know where the cure is.” She slammed her fist into her palm. “I feel like an infant here. I have no idea what to do.”
“We need our own army,” Roma said. “Along the way, we’ll recruit. I can gather my people.”
“You don’t understand,” Nadaline said. “Without Rune, this is not possible. No matter how many armies we collect. Rune is the one. She must fight.”
“I plan on fighting,” Rune said, grimly.
“But not well,” Blue replied.
“Fuck you.”
Blue shrugged. “Just the truth. If you don’t get the cure, you’re useless. No offense.”
Rune lifted an eyebrow. “Again. Fuck you.”
Roma dropped a stone into her slingshot and aimed it at Blue’s head. “She’s the princess. No matter what, she’s the one who’ll save us. We have to help her find the cure. Don’t say another destructive thing to her.”
Blue narrowed her eyes. “Listen, Roma Narez. You—”
“Both of you shut the hell up.” Rune looked at Roma. “Enough with the overprotective shit, Roma.”
Roma hesitated, then nodded.
“First thing we have to do,” Z said, “is find the cure.” His voice was quiet but commanding. Not one of them interrupted him. “Rune must live.”
“Tell us about the sickness,” Roma asked. “What do you know?”
“I thought Damascus created it to kill the Others of my world,” Rune said. “Now I don’t.”
Roma frowned. “Who do you believe created it?”
“I don’t know.” Rune shrugged, helpless, angry. “I just don’t know.”
Z’s stare was distant. “Gunnar…come on. What did you say?”
Rune grabbed his shoulders. “The ghoul told you who created it?”
He patted her hands. “Every time the rotting disease is mentioned, I have a memory of his voice in the back of mind. I think he told me secrets that for some reason, I can’t recall.” He turned away and rammed his fist into the hard bark of a tree. “What the fuck did he say?”
“Z. Z…” Rune grabbed his hand, holding his bloody knuckles to her mouth.
“The hand of the Flesh Shimmer lord,” Blue exclaimed, her eyes bright. “He reads people. He will pluck the information out of your head. We have to go to