I let a heavy sigh roll out of my chest, Draven's words echoing in my head. The Lamias had a serious bone to pick with Azazel. They didn't have any interest in making his life or mission easier, not after he'd wiped out all their potential mates, thus dooming their species to extinction.
"I am forever grateful then," Bijarki replied with a polite nod, then glared at the incubi. "On your knees!"
The soldiers obeyed, looking over at me and frowning. I was a stranger in their eyes, from another world, and it didn't seem to take them long to notice that. Despite their calm demeanor, I could tell they were terrified. I could smell the sweaty fear on them.
"You would kill one of your own for gold, then?" Bijarki asked them, his tone sharp and heavy like an axe.
"Times are tough," one of the incubi replied with a smirk.
"You are soldiers of Eritopia. Have you no honor?"
"What honor? We've been left behind by our commander, stripped of our ranks and titles, and doomed to walk this world without any fortune or fame," the other incubus spat. "Your father considered us too weak to follow him into Azazel's army!"
Bijarki frowned and took a step forward, pointing the crossbow at the first incubus's forehead.
"You know my father?"
"We served under Boovar of the Strandh Clan for five hundred years. Five hundred years of loyal and flawless service. Yet he saw fit to toss us aside, as if we're worthless little worms!" the incubus said, gritting his teeth.
"You've been discharged, then," Bijarki concluded.
Both incubi nodded.
"And you need the gold."
They nodded again.
"I have no gold to give you, but I can offer you a second chance, if you're willing to fight like loyal soldiers for me," Bijarki replied, putting his crossbow away.
"We don't work for traitors!" the first incubus hissed.
Mira slapped him over the back of his head, making him slump forward.
"The only traitors here are you two worthless rats!" she barked, fury sparking in her eyes. "You, who seek to serve the monster that is tearing our world apart. Not Bijarki, not the one who stood up to Azazel's reign of terror!"
"Why are you wasting your time with these insects?" Una asked Bijarki, aiming her arrow at the back of the second incubus's head.
The metallic tip poked his skull, making him squirm.
"We can finish them off quickly," she added.
"Please don't," Bijarki raised his arms in a peaceful gesture. "They have information we might need. You can kill them later. For now, they're still useful."
Una shook her head and took a step back, then nodded at both her sisters. They put their bows and arrows away, while Anjani and I kept our crossbows focused on the incubi. We glanced at each other, and I noticed the shadow of a smile passing over her face. We made a pretty good team.
"As you wish," Una replied. "Then let's move on to the next order of business. What business do you have at the river, Bijarki?"
"We're here on behalf of the last Druid standing against Azazel. We seek an alliance with the Lamias to end that monster once and for all," he said.
The Lamias' eyes flickered black for a second, their lips stretching into three smiles.
"You mean to tell us there is still one Druid out there who hasn't turned into a filthy and sterile Destroyer?" Lira asked, her voice sweet as honey.
"Sterile?" I asked.
"You think we'd be in this predicament of utter extinction had we been able to bear our offspring from Destroyers?" Una replied. "Whatever Azazel does to them, they can no longer seed new life. We've tried. They like our bodies, but they cannot help us conceive, so we keep our distance."
That was a very interesting development, one I was sure Draven would want to hear. It meant that he was the only real Druid left in Eritopia. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy, being one of the last of his kind.
"Where is this Druid?" Una asked with newfound interest.
"Right now, I believe he's about to rescue Sverik from Azazel's dungeons and gain tremendous tactical advantage in the upcoming war," Bijarki replied.
"I wouldn't rush into trusting that two-faced bastard," Una said with disgust. "He's as loyal as a snake, good as long as there's something in it for him."
"No one is rushing into anything, but he is our only hope to gain the support of rebel troops scattered across Eritopia," Anjani interjected.
A moment passed as the three Lamias nodded and looked at each other, as if communicating with no words.
"We'll take you to the River Pyros," Una eventually said. "Our mistress will want a word with you."
Bijarki took a bow, smiling at them.