He scanned the corpses of the creatures. Aye, you’ve left behind quite a mess, ferryman. Alas, we shall see how you fare against a battalion of well-armed and well-trained men ...
He petted Milkweed gently, knowing also that if he were to trigger the far door she would be gone instantly, and knowing, too, that because of the pair-bond between domesticated ignudi and their masters, she might be his only hope of locating them.
And that’s when he noticed a golden, crossbow bolt-like (but much smaller) key floating not six feet from him—and surged toward it instantly, startling Milkweed into flight.
Now we shall show the men that Valdus has not failed, he thought, gripping the device tightly. That accidents—sacrifices—such as the child do not happen in vain. That, though the road to a fre
