Shadow's Seduction(30)
Reward: Forty dragon-gold coins
Offered by the Gaolers
Caspion’s lips parted. “How could you have . . . why did you pick this one?”
It had looked like an ideal job with lots of money, which the demon had always been concerned about. At least in the past. “Because I’m keen to visit the Poly.” To see where his mate had lived—away from me—for so long.
“Just Poly,” Caspion corrected. “You don’t know the first thing about tracking down a bounty.”
“That’s true. If only I had a scry crystal.” He tapped his chin. “Oh, wait . . .”
“You deserved that and more.”
Shrug. “Since you robbed me of the crystal’s use, you should show me the ropes. We could split the huge payout on this one. Do you know how valuable dragon gold is?”
“I don’t need money, leechling! I made plenty on Poly.”
“Exactly—you know the terrain there.”
“There’s a reason this job still posted,” Caspion said, sounding exasperated. “It is impossible.”
“If we work together, I’m sure we can find a random sorcerer.” Besides, Mirceo was chafing for the chance to prove himself to his mate.
“I can already find him. You think I spent centuries in that place unaware of the most coveted bounty in the realm?”
“Then why haven’t you claimed it?”
“Did you even read the poster before you took it down?”
“Sure.” He’d noted the reward and the location.
“That sorcerer’s lair is protected both physically and mystically. No one can fight their way past the monsters guarding it, and sorcery prevents anyone from tracing past them.”
Mirceo retrieved his flask of blood mead from his trench coat. “Explain.”
“Harea’s pyramid fortress lies in the center of an enormous valley that he’s bespelled to prevent teleporting. Anyone who tries it will fail, then get swallowed by sand. That valley also happens to be where Wendigos congregate. Starving ones. There are hundreds of them.”
Wendigos were like zombies, but lightning fast. Mirceo had heard stories of just one decimating whole settlements of immortals. “We can handle them. I’m a master swordsman, remember?”
“Just to get in striking range, you’d have to evade the Wendigos, then cross the wasteland of sand that surrounds the pyramid. That stretch is filled with gulgs—living quicksand traps.”
“They sound dire. But we can scout the area, map out their locations, then avoid them.”
“You could. Except gulgs move within their territory. They can scent their prey and attack it. Say you got past those alive—without teleporting a single time—you’d still have to face a mystical boundary around the fortress and the sand scyllas.”
“Do I even want to know?”
“They’re gigantic tentacle creatures that burrow under the pyramid. If a trespasser gets too close, their tentacles shoot to the surface, dragging the unwary down to be eaten. The hope is that you suffocate in the sand before the digestion starts.”
Mirceo had heard of pleasanter scenarios. “I have a hard time believing this fortress is impenetrable. I come from an impenetrable realm.” At least until Lothaire made good on his promise to open the doors wide. “With a target in sight, there are sorcerers and witches who could circumvent these security measures.”
Cas shook his head. “Most of the ones who could get past the barriers won’t.”
“Why?”
“Out of respect for their brethren’s spells. Plus, those hex-hacks are likely to run into bounties on their own heads as well. None of them want to face the Gaolers.”
“What’s so scary about them?” Mirceo asked. “They sound like your typical Lorean gang.”
“They’re demigod wraiths who act as a type of Lore patrol. They quarantine contagious Loreans, capture any humans about to broadcast proof of our world, and dispatch evil immortals to lifelong torments.”
“Contagious Loreans?”
Caspion nodded. “Plague-stricken vampires, ghouls, zombies. There’s a reason why Wendigos haven’t overrun the mortal plane.”
“Where are these bounties taken?” Mirceo asked.
“No one knows for sure, but some whisper of an immortal prison.”
Mirceo stiffened. “Mortals put my uncle in such a place.” Even an ancient immortal like Lothaire had barely gotten out alive.
“This is supposed to be an entire dimension, but no one can confirm or deny its existence. Bottom line: The Gaolers are not the type of beings you want to come in contact with.”