Chapter 27
Zogar
Eldrath leads me to a door in an alley between two buildings.
I was shocked to learn that the entrance to the place below is left unguarded, but the gold I handed over gave me a code to a keypad that opens the door.
Once used, the code will never work again, so unless I want to return to my hoard for a fourth time to gather more gold and gems, I must find and kill Gabreal today.
After our first visit to my hoard, I discovered another way into that park, one that didn’t involve sprites or forging that river.
Eldrath hands me a dagger with an ornate stone handle, carved with unrecognizable symbols. The blade looks sharp but is a mere five finger widths long.
“This tiny weapon can slay a demon?”
“Certain demons,” Eldrath replies. “Each genus of demon has a specific sword or dagger, bound to them.”
“And this dagger kills Gabreal.” I stash it against my hip.
The elven lord shakes his head.
I frown. “Then why did you give it to me?”
“For protection,” he replies. “Gabreal, if you find him, will be heavily guarded. And while that dagger won’t slay every demon you encounter, you can severely wound the most common types. It could give you a fighting chance to get back above ground alive.”
Doubt builds inside me again. Doubt that’s been worming in, since Eldrath first convinced me to leave Rosomon in our apartment and make this trip alone. But his stories of what I could encounter Below convinced me she’ll be safer up here.
Rosomon will be safe. I need to trust that.
It took far more gold than I expected to purchase a suitable home for us, but the one I selected occupies the very top floor of what I am assured is the most secure building in the city.
Eldrath recommended the agent—a gargoyle—who helped me make the acquisition, but it’s difficult to know whom to trust.
Not that I made that decision solely on trust. Our new home has a private elevator that leads directly into our apartment.
I instructed the lobby guards—both Orcs—to block anyone from boarding the elevator except me.
I paid them handsomely to ensure this, promising them even more gold when I return to find my wife safe.
Beyond that precaution, for anyone to use the elevator—even the orcs—Rosomon must let them in.
On the off chance that someone gets past the guards, Rosomon will hear a bell, and will be able to see who’s requesting access, using something called a video screen.
The elevator doors will only open if she pushes a button inside the apartment, and she won’t press that button for anyone but me.
She was highly insulted when I asked her to swear to this.
In spite of my wife’s adventurous and spontaneous nature, she’s no fool, yet it feels unnatural—terrifying—to leave her behind. We’ve been exploring this city—and exploring each other—for ten days now and haven’t been parted for a moment.
Together, we’ve learned more about the advances here in the Darkness, I’ve shared more about my life and dragon culture, and she’s told me more about her life back in Achotia.
Given all she’s said, I will require a great deal of self-restraint to refrain from killing her father when I meet him—not to mention Tynan’s grandfather, whom she was meant to marry.
I feel naked and exposed without her at my side, but based on what Eldrath told me, a human in this demon-filled place below, would face great danger. No humans enter this place—willingly—so this is the safest option.
“I sense your concern.” Eldrath puts his hand on my shoulder, and I’m shocked at the warmth conveyed through his palm. Elven glamours don’t work on me; his consideration is genuine.
“Are you certain you want to venture below?”
“Completely certain.” I should not have let my doubt show.
“Your chances of finding Gabreal are low,” he says, “and the risk to your life is high. Especially if Gabreal, or any demon, discovers your purpose.”
“I will survive.” I’m confident of that.
The trepidation Eldrath senses is my concern for Rosomon, not fear for myself in this demon-filled place.
The only way to put the Darkness right is to find and stop Gabreal—to remove him from his position of control over the Council.
He’s clearly become an authoritarian ruler in a place that was once ruled by many.
Guilt overcame me when I learned this resistance movement has been sending cries for help for centuries. Not only did those cries remained unanswered, my people helped to kill the messengers.
Gabreal is the catalyst for all that’s gone wrong, and it’s my duty to set things right.
The people of the Darkness need me, just as my own people need me, and those objectives are aligned. I don’t want my subjects to return to the Darkness until this demon is dead.
My queen keeps trying to assure me that I don’t need to single-handedly right every wrong, once again proving herself to be wise.
After Gabreal is dethroned, and I restore the true Council of Superi Sovereigns, I’ll trust that council to continue without me.
That will leave me free to return to the Light with my wife.
After balance is restored in the Light, Rosomon and I will build our lives together, perhaps have children someday—when she’s ready.
I regret not sharing my feelings over these past days. As soon as Gabreal is dead, I will tell her I love her. She loves others and may never love me, but it feels like a lie to withhold how I feel, and I’ve been doing so for many days now.
My chest tightens with fear.
Not fear for her safety, but fear for the safety of my heart.