The Web of Iron

Chapter Twenty-six: The Doors of Iron

As they made their way toward the sea, the trees began to move.

They saw the pillars being grasped and torn to shreds by the roots of the trees. One moment you would see a pillar standing tall and strong, and then you would look away. There would be a cracking noise, and the pillar was broken under the roots when you looked up. All around them, they heard groaning and the grumbling of ancient stone. Then just as suddenly, everything went silent. It was eerie.

And it was a relief.

But William felt his powers returning to him. For the first time, the sun above seemed to give real light. The colors and meaning of the world had returned. His spirit lifted. However, Arraxia's tail flicked in irritation.

"How I wish those pillars were still up," said Arraxia. "I had forgotten how much I hated the sun."

"Why would you hate the sun?" asked William.

"Why not?" That was all Arraxia would say. Then she walked faster.

William and Felix began to trade stories with each other. Felix had been dodging the Iron Kingdom's soldiers this entire time. He and Massacre did it so well that the Iron King came to look for him.

This made William impressed beyond words. He'd always known Felix was good; he never knew he was this good. Tanith obviously thought it very impressive too.

"He wasn't like the others," said Felix. "He zoomed right in on me. No matter how far we ran, he was always behind. Wherever we hid, he found us. Eventually, I ambushed him. I had Massacre cause a distraction and come at him breathing fire and roaring.

"While she was doing that, I tried to get him in the back. But he knocked me flat without even glancing at me. If he wanted us dead, he could have killed us easily."

"So why did he let you live?" asked William.

"I think I amused him," said Felix. "He seemed to regard chasing us as entertaining. He was actually quite complimentary. Very polite."

They suddenly came from the trees to a bare hill where no grass grew. The trees seemed to recoil away from the mountain, and the ground was blackened. Arraxia led them around the hill and to a set of double doors built into the side of a rock. Two statues were on either side of it, radiating an aura of coldness, which was almost painful. They were carved images of soldiers clutching great swords in their hands. The land around the door was somehow shrunken and weak. Trees seemed to lean away from it. The grass did not grow by the door.

"Here we are," said Arraxia.

"I was expecting it to be hidden," admitted William.

"It doesn't need to be hidden," said Arraxia.

"Of course, it doesn't," said Tanith before setting a hand on the door. She let out a cry and stepped backward her hand red.