Page 27 of Crimson Skies

Izaran hesitated. “I am reluctant to ask this question, my king, but what of the queen? Is she—” he stopped and swallowed, “is she alive?”

“Yes, Lilaia lives.” Bostrof smiled. “We have a child. A daughter.”

Gasps rose from those close enough to overhear their conversation.

Murmurs broke out across the crowd. “Princess?!”

“We—we have a princess?!” Izaran gushed, a zealous light brightening his eyes.

“Ten bucks says Phebei has this guy wrapped around her finger in under a minute,” Eden muttered to Loki.

The imp smirked.

Izaran observed Eden and Loki cautiously. “By the way, my king, you have yet to introduce your companions.”

“Yeah, who’s the meat on a stick?” one of the demons with Izaran hissed to his friends.

Eden found herself the focus of dozens of curious eyes.

“She’s meatwitha stick.” A second demon pointed at the devilwood staff and sniggered. “Get it?”

Snorts broke out among Izaran’s crew. They strangled off when their boss cut his eyes to them.

Woody trembled in Eden’s hand.How dare they mock us!

“Calm down,” she warned. “They don’t mean any harm.”

Bostrof grimaced. “I see Sirgo’gath’s sense of humor hasn’t improved in the past five centuries.” He indicated Eden and Loki. “The young human is Eden Monroe. She’s the new Magus and wields the Bloodcursed Devilwood Summoning Staff. The imp is Loki, the Keeper of the Eternity Key.”

Izaran blanched. “The Magus and the Keeper of the Eternity Key?”

Eden gathered from his numb expression that he knew of their titles.

“That skinny weakling is a mage?” a Lucifugous murmured behind Izaran. “That sounds about as believable as me marrying Drarak.”

Crimson light pulsed around Woody. Izaran’s men fell back with fearful cries.

“I’m sorry,” Eden told a shocked Izaran. “Woody doesn’t like it when people badmouth me.”

A group of children emerged from the wary crowd and rushed over to her.

“Do that again! Do that again!” a little girl chirped, jumping around excitedly.

“Can we play with him?!” a boy shouted.

Eden cast a hesitant look at Woody. The devilwood staff was studying her expectantly.

“You want to go with them?” she said, surprised.

Woody vibrated enthusiastically in her grip.It might be fun. I have been terribly bored the entire time we’ve been here.

Eden narrowed her eyes. “I’m glad our company has proven so stimulating. Never mind that this is a mission to save the entire universe and all the realms.”

Woody took on a suitably repentant vibe at that.

“Okay,” she agreed reluctantly. “But be sure to play nice.”

Eden watched the staff as it floated away amidst a growing mob of children. One of them sank his teeth into the weapon. Woody growled out a warning.