WE MOVED THROUGH THE lava for a long while. None of us had anything to say. I stared out at the festering lake, while Yilir lost herself in Charon’s eyes. Charon, for his part, took turns staring out at the lava before us and back again into Yilir’s loving gaze. It was hard to see any emotion in the yellow, burning eyes of his face, but if I watched closely, I could see them soften when he looked on Yilir.
“We will pass The Gate of Ulthar in a couple of minutes,” Charon said. “This is the most treacherous part of our path. While none can be harmed while they are in my boat, the gate cannot allow any to pass with weapons that might harm the Devil.”
I looked down at the dagger in my hand. “I definitely have one of those.”
“I have only shepherded one past the gate before, and we were lucky
