Dance of the Damned

Eighty-Four

The negotiations with the sazzi and thralin went smoothly. Both agreed to reside in The Middle after the war and pledged not to enter any of The Kingdoms. They seemed content with the prospect of freedom and the absence of bloodshed. Thankfully, we didn't have to enter their cells. I stood a few feet away, observing as Zeddicus conducted the negotiations. He mentioned that he could use magic to bind the deals, but they had to be worded carefully to prevent any loopholes. Working with these monsters was undoubtedly risky and dangerous from the start.

The mortdebt, however, proved to be a bit more challenging. I couldn't see the creature, but I could hear its three distinct voices - one male and two female. The male and one of the females were satisfied with the deal, but the other female had reservations. She desired access to Ardor, which Zeddicus refused to grant. Eventually, she reluctantly agreed, realizing that it was better than remaining locked away in a cell.

As Zeddicus approached the last cell, I could sense his anxiety and guilt. When Ivar's black-scaled hands and claws emerged from the iron bars, I couldn't help but jump in fright. Ivar's appearance surprised me; he was more handsome than I had anticipated, with long, messy black hair and tanned olive skin despite the lack of sunlight in the dungeon. He sported a long black beard and had round green eyes that appeared unnaturally wide and seemed to exude madness.

"You finally come to see me, after all these years, brother?" Ivar's voice hissed and groaned, just as I remembered.

"Don't call me that," Zeddicus snapped. "I am not your brother."

"But you were once..." Ivar's voice trailed off, and then he cleared his throat, his tone becoming less raspy and more human. "You didn't bring my beloved, but you brought someone else. I knew she was a Grim from the moment she brought me food. I knew you were loyal, you spent three hundred years mourning Orbissa but whores couldn't warm your bed forever. She is not a bad looker."

"Do not speak of them. None of them," Zeddicus warned sternly. "I am here to present you with a deal, and that is all."

"I've heard your deal, and it doesn't interest me. I want property in Ardor. I want Blinne," Ivar replied.

"Go to hell, Ivar," Zeddicus retorted, his voice filled with anger. Ivar responded with a loud, disturbingly sinister, and high-pitched giggle that sent shivers down my spine.

"I was born in hell. I was raised in hell. And I will die in hell," Ivar said, still giggling to himself. If he was already unstable before being imprisoned in the dungeon, centuries spent down here must have made it worse. "Isn't that what life is, after all? Perhaps death is better. But not for souls like ours, Zed."

Zeddicus clenched his jaw and balled up his fists, walking away from the door. "I knew it was a waste of time dealing with him. We already have the other three. Ivar can rot here for all I care."

"Wait!" Ivar yelled, but Zeddicus continued walking. "What about Blinne? Please, send her here! I need to see her! Zed, I need—"

His screams were abruptly cut off as Zeddicus snapped his fingers, causing the brick wall to disintegrate, allowing us to pass through. The wall sealed shut behind us, and a profound silence engulfed us as we found ourselves standing in the small brick room at the bottom of the spiral staircase.

"What now?" I asked Zeddicus, uncertain of our next move.

"Now, we are returning to the camp so that I can make love to you. Afterward, we will rest and prepare for our attack on Carleigh tonight," he replied, gently taking my hand as we teleported back to the tent. True to his word, we had slow and passionate sex and then drifted off to sleep in each other's embrace. When we woke up in the evening, we threw on black armor made from scales that resembled those of the Grims.

Zeddicus interrupted my thoughts, explaining, "These are Grim scales. When Grims were first deemed illegal, my father would force them into their Grim form and then remove their scales to use as armor before executing them. I considered destroying them all when I became king, but I couldn't let their suffering be in vain, and the scales are remarkably strong."

The idea of Grims being skinned alive for their scales made me shudder. "I wish I hadn't known that."

"Being immortal, my love, means you will learn many things you'd rather not," Zeddicus said, kissing me tenderly. With that, we stepped outside the tent, where Blinne and Xaden awaited us, all dressed in similar armor.

However, it was the horses that caught my attention. They were black, with their flesh decayed, revealing skeletal frames. Inside the bones, there flickered an ethereal fire that wasn't hot to the touch. We would meet the rest of our group at the border of Benevol and then ride these unique horses the rest of the way. I left Verlee in charge of Pugsly, whom Zeddicus still had uneasiness about having in our tent.

We teleported to the Benevol border, where Rowan, Vasso, Arter, and Stelios were already waiting for us with their own horses. It was an impressive sight to see Rowan, Vasso, and Arter riding on unicorns, creatures of enchantment. With the sun already setting, we didn't waste any time exchanging pleasantries. Octavia had ensured that everyone's powers were bound, allowing us to sneak across the border unnoticed.

As we approached the outskirts of Carleigh, we dismounted our horses and concealed them in a hidden area within the mountains. From a distance, we observed the city, shrouded in darkness. It was late at night, and most of the residents were likely fast asleep. Climbing onto the rooftops with our torches, we separated and set the buildings ablaze, igniting chaos and panic among the people. In no time, half the city was engulfed in flames, and the sounds of shouts and screams filled the air. Taking advantage of the commotion, we slipped away unseen. By the time we reached the horses, it was evident that the entire city was now consumed by fire.

Mounting our horses, we rode swiftly and relentlessly back to the Ardor border. From there, we orbed back to the camp. However, a sense of guilt washed over me as we returned to our tent, knowing that innocent families may have been caught in the flames.

Zeddicus reminded me, "This is war, and in the Kingdom of Shadows, nobody is truly innocent."

Changing the subject, I spoke up, "There is something else we must do. Mira mentioned the need to find something called Immortalitas Gladius."

Zeddicus let out a curse. "I wasn't sure if it actually existed."

"She claimed that it can be found in The Middle, near Bloodlake. But to reveal the path, you'll need to recite a spell, and she emphasized that no magic would be permitted," I informed him. "The spell is said to be located in the Ardor library."

"Well, I suppose we should start searching then," Zeddicus said, determination in his voice. "Kalyani would never leave Benevol, so that's our best chance to kill her. However, there is one silver lining to all this."

Curious, I raised an eyebrow at him. "And what would that be?"

A mischievous grin spread across his face as he whispered in my ear, "I've always wanted to bend you over the tables of the Ardor library." With those words, we orbed away.