Page 25 of Crimson Skies

The “something” turned out to be a narrow, crescent-shaped ravine tucked between rocky hills. Eden eyed the precipitous drop next to her as they skirted the lip of the chasm. It curved north after a quarter of a mile. She frowned when she saw the rampart rising at the end of the valley.

Loki dropped down in the shade of a boulder a moment later. Bostrof and Eden followed suit, their wary gazes on the defensive wall protecting some kind of settlement.

The stockade was eighty feet tall and topped with wooden spikes. A barbed, metal gate stood at the bottom. Guards manned a walkway behind the palisade, their spears and helmets glinting where they passed the narrow openings in the parapet. Thin trails of smoke carried the smell of cooking meat from beyond the battlement.

Eden could hear the distant laughter of children.

There was activity atop the wall. Two guards headed over to the fortified tower housing the winch and pulley system controlling the gate. Rattling sounds rumbled through the wall. It sounded like an inner portcullis was being raised.

The outer gate opened ponderously a moment later.

A group of Lucifugous demons came out. They wore chainmail armor and were chatting amicably among themselves. Eden studied the bows and spears they carried.

Are they going hunting?

Bostrof stiffened beside her. She startled when he shot to his feet.

His stunned voice echoed across the gully. “Izaran?!”

The demons froze, heads jerking and shadows exploding around them as they reached for their sheathed swords. The hulking figure at the head of the party gaped when he spotted Bostrof atop the cliff.

“My—my king?!”

His companions exchanged stupefied looks.

Eden gasped as Bostrof jumped from the ridge.

The demon landed on the ground with a thud that shook the floor of the valley. He looked up at her and Loki with a grin, like he hadn’t just negotiated a hundred-foot drop like it was a walk in the park.

“It’s okay.” Bostrof waved. “They are not our enemy.”

“That guy’s insane,” Eden muttered darkly.

“Heisa demon,” Loki pointed out.

Izaran and his subordinates rushed over to Bostrof while Eden levitated cautiously into the gully with Loki. Metal clanged, startling her.

The demons had lowered themselves onto a knee.

“My king.” Izaran swallowed and bowed his head, clearly overcome with emotion. “It is good to see you again.”

“Ack, do not stand on ceremony, my friend.” Bostrof pulled the demon to his feet and gave him a hearty hug. “I have looked for you and your men forever.” He scanned the valley before staring at the battlement looming at the far end. “But I never would have guessed you were hiding here, so far from the capital. It is no surprise my spies failed to find any traces of your whereabouts.”

“We thought we lost you when the Nether tore.” Izaran’s eyes gleamed wetly. “Those of us who venture into the nearest villages to buy goods from time to time heard rumors that you were alive in another realm, but we thought they were lies.” The demon wiped his eyes and brightened. “Come, my king. Your people will want to see you.”

He led the way to the battlement. The other demons studied Eden and Loki curiously as the rest of them fell into line behind Izaran.

“Was he one of your soldiers?” Eden asked Bostrof in a low voice.

Bostrof dipped his head. “Though my brother Oroak commanded my armies, Izaran was my right-hand man and chief strategist during my reign.” He paused and eyed Loki curiously. “By the way, how did you know they weren’t going to be hostile to us?”

Loki scratched his cheek. “There are statues of you and Lilaia in the main square of their settlement. It’s pretty much a shrine.”

Bostrof blinked.

“You brought the sculptures from the palace hall?!” he asked Izaran, shocked.

“Of course,” Izaran replied smugly. “I wasn’t going to leave them for thatzogganigxto besmirch.”