Iron Crowned Chapter 10

Deanna came comfortably when I summ whizd her, making me wonder if shed been respite or so invisibly since our stopping point chat. Regardless, she didnt mention the bastard ultimatum, thus permitting Kiyo continue to weigh we were in a clipping crunch. I cal conduct Volusian as well, counting it couldnt contuse to rent his protection s travelling to the ghost ariseoff point. The ii enliven didnt act as we traveled, no surprise coping as they had little in common. Deanna was tied to the living because of stripped business and distinguish for opposites. Volusians soul was damned for eternity, oblig ingest to wander for his crimes unless I ever sent him to the Underworld.Deanna hadnt been equal to give us a time bet on how long it would take to reach the crowns den (as I was beginning to refer to it). The some other(a)worlds twisted terrain endlessly wee travel hard to gauge, plus spirits could impress faster than we could. I wouldnt have tending(p) wal king, beneficial the un bonkn variables make me ride horse c all everyplaceing. Kiyo did the identical(p) erupt of courtesy for me, though he could have tirelessly cover miles and miles in fox form. The hardly thing I really k virgin for sure was that this wouldnt be a day trip.Kiyo and I were as still as the ghosts, though once we bungleed come out of the c recidivatet of the worldly concerns adjacent to mine, he would occasionally tell me whither we were. Id neer ventu blushing(a) this far into the Otherworld, and it made me uneasy, though being we were absorb of the Rowan Land was a relief. plain Kiyo, apathetic as he claimed, had filterd in Katrices territory.This is the h unmatchedysuckle Land, he tell, when the road led us to a hot, riotously colored landscape. Flowers grew everywhere, and plain the trees were cover in blossoms. Arizona was nonorious for all its hummingbirds, and here, they s warm uped same flies.Dorian was right, I mused. It is beautifu l. It was hard to imagine this organise mustering up a military. This seemed more(prenominal) wish well a world where people frolicked in s great dealty c hoi polloihing, whipstitching drums and engaging in free love. Well, since they were gentry, free love would have been a given.Dorian would know, s incite Kiyo stiffly, look focused straight ahead. Im surprised he let you come with me.Dorian doesnt say what I rouse or cant do, I snapped. If youre p placeage to middling control doing this the all time, Ill Youll what? asked Kiyo with amusement, when I didnt continue. Send me affirm? casing death-threatening situations al ace?I would gladly escort you bandaging, if that is what you choose, Volusian told Kiyo.I sighed. Please. right dont get on Dorian the whole time, okay? He requisites this over. It was his idea to get your help. Hes worried, conceive me.That, state Kiyo gravely, I can believe. I dont reliance him. I dont believe his alliance with you is as univoc al as it seems. merely I do believe he cares to the highest degree you. The landscape all of a sudden shifted nearly us, worthy a rolling desert of white sand. It stretched out under a blazing sun, reflecting back at us in a way that was hard on the eyeballball.Ugh, I said, focusing toss off on the road. Whats this?The Myrrh Land, said Kiyo. Even with my eyes averted, I knew he was smiling. Figured youd like this place. You should go make friends with its king. Theyve got some badass fighters.Big difference amid this and the Sonora Desert, I said.Although harsh and scalding, the desert Id bountiful up with was full of life. This place was desolate and dead. Mercifully, we before long passed out of it into sweeping moors, covered in snow. I took my leather jacket out of my pack. Id brought it knowing we efficacy travel done lands that were in winter. It still wasnt oft protection, and I realized I could have easily gotten one of my servants to whip up something more su itable. No doubt it wouldve been gentry-style, belike a cloak. Look world, Jasmine had said. virtuallyly I looked cold. Kiyo identified this place as the lather Land.We crossed into the Honeysuckle Land again, which was typical of the Otherworld. Other places repeated as well. When the road took us done a landscape that re thoughted me of northern Texas, Kiyo had nonhing to say.Whats this? I asked.I dont know, he admitted.The Pecan Land, said Volusian.Sounds delicious, I teased. Wed had a few(prenominal) s surpass and generally eaten travel rations. I could go for a pecan pie right now.Kiyo didnt respond. He seemed lost in thought, his expression growing traceer as we passed by dint of more and more terrain he didnt know. He seemed to know the names, though, and didnt like them.Youre taking us to the un cute Lands, he said to Deanna. It was near the end of our day, the fling burning red.I dont know, she said simply. Im only sack where I was shown.Volusian? I asked.Of course were firing to the unclaimed Lands, he said, sounding mildly annoyed by my stupidity. Were nearly upon them. Where else would you expect a coveted purpose to be hidden?I glanced at Kiyo. Im going to go out on a tree branch here and count on these are kingdoms no one controls?Kingdoms isnt even the right word, he said. No one lives here.Why non? I asked.The scenery channeld again. The metric grain of the consideration was like recently dried mud, covered in a pattern of cracks that reminded me of one of my saber saying puzzles. Odd holes were scattered here and there. This eerie landscape stretched far, far ahead, no end in sight. non far from us ten miles at most the land rose sharply along the sides of the daft road, forming high, rocky cliffs that curled in at their tops like jaws. Erratic gusts of wrick blew through the dig they formed. The setting sun made everything cable-red.Guess, said Kiyo. Because were here.I peered roughly, studying the depressing landscape. Its superficial appearance meant little, really. either gentry seizing control of it could execute the land to his or her will, instantly beautifying it. thence, a unsung blot settled in me. I couldnt quite sterilise it. It didnt make me ill or disoriented. It just didnt olfactory sensation right. I squinted at the cliffs, taking in their striation. by the red haze, I could see m any of the slack rocks were a dull gray, streaked with orange. Oxidized metal.Iron, I realized. Were surrounded in iron. Were not even in the crowns lair yet. We cant get to the lair without passing through iron.Can you feel it? asked Kiyo.Yes That was the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach.Thats the gentry in you. Even with your human blood, you cant help just be affected. Theres a lot of iron here.I dont feel weak, I said, amaze the iron would affect me at all. Or claxon or in pain. Id seen gentry scream just from the smallest office of iron. I summoned the magic within me, per mit it reach out to the air and unseen moisture, though I didnt actively use it. I dont gestate its hurting my magic either.Good, said Kiyo. Youre strong, so Im not surprised. You may just have a unsubdivided awareness of it.I thought about this for a moment and came to some other realization. Youre not affected at all, are you?He move his head. Nope.I eternally thought of Kiyo and me as being alike, children born of twain worlds. That part was true, as was our half-human heritage. But my Otherworldly blood came from the gentry. Only gentry were affected by iron, and kitsunes had no fairy connection. As with the demon bear and the fetch, a kitsunes bane would be silverish. At least, a purebred kitsunes would be. Id seen Kiyo slip byle silver objects his human blood defend him as mine did me. The bottom line was that he was a more useful companion here than Id realized. I wondered if Dorian had made the connection.We will cross through no other lands until you turn back, mi stress, said Volusian.So this is the worlds end. The Otherworlds end, at least. I turned to Deanna, hovering alongside us. Will we reach the entrance before darkness?She thought about it, and I braced myself for some other vague response. No. If you dont stop, youll reach it in the morning.Kiyo and I exchanged looks, both of us beting the same thing. Get to the crown brieflyer or live and be rested?I looked over at Volusian. You said there are no other lands. But will the terrain in this one change?No.What do you think? I asked Kiyo. I dont want to be tired when we pillowcase whatsoevers guarding the crown, tho this isnt great camping territory.No, he agreed. His eyes scanned around us, able to see more than mine in the waning white. He pointed. There. Theres a small outcrop thatll block most of the enwrap. Enough to keep a fire going. I hope.I couldnt see the spot hardly trusted him. Camping it is.When we reached it, I maxim the site was indeed sheltered. I tethered t he horses while Kiyo built up a fire. We watched it warily as the wind abruptly came and went. The fire flickered and waved only when appeared adapted of lasting the night.I could hold off the wind a little, I said.Dont bother, said Kiyo, settling tidy sum beside the blaze. Save your magic. Thisll hold.I wondered if he really was relate about me conserving my strength or just wanted me to avoid my magic alin concert. Hed never liked it. I didnt question him, though, and sat crop up as well, mostly because the cold was lastly starting to get to me. I buttoned up the leather jacket, achieving little. Our dinner consisted of more travel food jerky, granola, and some bread that would in all probability be stale tomorrow.I dont suppose you can use your wilderness skills to go hunt us something fresh? I asked.He smiled, the campfire casting strange shadows on his face, now that night had fully come. I would if there was anything alive out here. Its just us. He eyed me, taking in my shivering. Dont you own a warmer coat?Where am I going to get a down coat in Tucson? I demanded.This time of year? Any card-playing goods store. For the skiers. Lara could order you one if you cant be troubled.I think Lara and Tim are in love, I said abruptly, retention that bizarre development.What? asked Kiyo, as astonished as I had been. Are you sure?Well, theyre in infatuation, at least. Volusian, were they together when you went back?My minion was off in the shadows, only his red eyes visible. Yes, mistress. They were in bed, their bodies naked and Okay, okay, stop, I exclaimed. I dont essential to hear anymore.Well, Ill be damned, said Kiyo. duration wed dated, hed been witness to their phone battles. But I guess stranger things have happened.Yeah, I agreed. Look at us. Were sitting in an iron landscape, being led by a ghost to a fabulous object, which if it even exists may or may not make me scary enough to end a war.Fair point, said Kiyo, his smile re number. We sat in companionable silence. It was a nice change from the irritation and tension that had surrounded us for so long. Id lost him, I realized. Eugenie?Hmm? I glanced up, feeling embarrassed by my thoughts.Why didnt you take on Roland with you? He couldve fought unaffected. And God knows he doesnt want gentry power.I looked away from those dark eyes, down at the fires blue heart. He doesnt want me to have gentry power either.Yeah, but hed regurgitate that aside if he knew you were walking into He doesnt know anything, I said bluntly. My voice then grew soft. We arent mouth anymore.How Kiyo paused, no doubt trying to wrap his mind around this. How is this realistic?I shrugged. He cut me off. When he found out Id been keeping the honor from him, about the Thorn Land and everything else Well, ever since what happened with Leith, hes refused to call to or acknowledge me.But your mom talks to me occasionally. Shes caught in the middle, and I dont want to make it harder on her than it already is. She shouldnt have to go against her husband.Kiyos confusion was becoming anger. Yeah, but youre her daughter She should be able to Just forget it, okay? I drew my knees up to me and captive my ordnance store around them to draw in more warmth. I dont want to talk about it.Eug, Im sorry.I kept quiet. There was nothing to say.He cleared his throat. I dont suppose you brought anything else to keep you warm? Blankets? Camping supplies?I didnt think about the possible overnight part, I said, grateful for the subject shift. Ive got a change of clothes like these, food, weapons, and graduation aid supplies.You brought first aid stuff? He sounded impressed. Its not like you to think ahead. Er, I mean, you dont usually business organisation about I know what you mean, I said with a weary smile. And dont worry, the universe is the same. I didnt trick ahead. Its for current injuries.Current?I got hit by a table.There might be a million reasons that Kiyo and I were wron g for each other, but one nice thing was that when I made a statement like that, he just didnt question it.I was still freezing when it came time to sleep, forcing Kiyo into a bold suggestion. Come sleep over here, between me and the fire. The cold doesnt bug me as much, and I can block the wind.Kiyo Yeah, yeah. I know. Dorian. But if he wanted me here to protect you, then heres the unadulterated chance. Besides, we all know you can kick my ass if I try anything.I said and did nothing. When this continue for about a minute, he sighed and lay down on his side, back to the wind. I attempted the same, by and by ordering Volusian to stay on watch, but even with the fires warmth, I was still cold. Im tough, Im tough. I played those nomenclature over and over through my head, not absentminded to admit weakness. After about fifteen minutes, I gave in and crawled over to Kiyos side of the fire.There was no I told you so. He simply made live but was surprised when I positioned myself t o face him.I thought youd want your back to me.Cant, I said. Thats where the injuries are.From the table.Right.He could have attempted propriety by turning over so his back faced me, but that would have pitch his face to the wind. He didnt be that. I wiggled myself closer, curling myself against his body, and resting my head against his chest. He was cock-a-hoop enough that he did almost completely buckler me. His whole body stood still as I made myself comfortable, either from his astonishment or for my ease. at once I was settled, he relaxed slightly and tried to put his arms around me. He suddenly fumbled and pulled them away, graze my breast as he did. I dont know if he noticed. I certainly did.Wait. Where are you hurt?Back. Left shoulder.Tentatively, he reached out again and wrapped his arms around my waist. This okay?Mmm-hmm.Holding me, he shifted closer so that our bodies pressed together, holding in the warmth. This?Fine.He relaxed again and exhaled. Tucked against him , I couldnt see his face but had the sneaking suspicion that I wouldnt be getting much sleep tonight. Survival-wise, this excogitation was sound. I was warm(ish) now, protected and heated by him. But I was also pressed up against a body that I knew intimately, one that used to move in mine with a possessive fierceness. Dorian claimed me with mind games and exquisite acts of dominance. Kiyo had always done it through strength and ferocity, an animal taking his mate.I bit my lip and closed my eyes, hoping Id fall asleep if I mentally enumerated the reasons wed broken up. But mostly, I kept remembering how his hand had lightly rubbed my breast. Sleep finally took me, but it was a long time in coming. As I drifted off, I wondered how he was coping. This probably didnt affect him at all. If he really wasnt quiescence with Maiwenn again, then he was probably out option up women all the time. Kitsunes had physique of a talismanic allure, and God knew hed been pretty persuasive the nig ht wed met.I awoke a couple hours before dawn and not by choice. Volusians warning came only seconds before the fold below us began to tremble. I was up in a flash, but unsurprisingly, Kiyo had already beaten me. Id departed to sleep with weapons, uncomfortable though it was. I hadnt cognise what Id need out here, except that I wouldnt need the iron athame since this was a gentry-free zone. I had my hoagy (safety on) and the silver athame. Both were out as Kiyo and I stood back to back, staring around us.The tremors shook the ground, forcing some fancy footwork, and creating more of the cracks that already covered the ground. A few more seconds passed, and then all went still.An earthquake? I asked uncertainly.No, said Volusian. He was in his solid, two-legged form, staring around with narrowed eyes. It was a little disconcerting that he didnt seem to know precisely what the problem was.Then what are we The ground below us suddenly split open. With only the light of the fire, my vision was bad, but I thought I saw what looked kind of like a serpentine shape bulge from the earth. No, it was exactly like a serpentine shape because a moment later, a giant rear serpent shot up and landed neatly in a perfect coil, its head towered over Kiyo and me as it regarded us with glowing green eyes. The light from them illuminated a flicking, forked tongue, and the loud sizz that followed was kind of a given.Volusian I yelled. My minion sprang into action. The deadly touch of his hands made the ophidian jerk in surprise. Beside me, Kiyo was shifting into fox form, and I decided a gun was probably going to get me far here than the athames small blade. A drop of spitefulness fell from the snakes mouth, and it sizzled when it hit the ground in appear of me. Lovely. Still, I felt confident the three of us could take this thing.At least until the ground shook again, and another(prenominal) snake popped up. It was soon followed by a third.Son of a bitch. I deliberate d, wondering if fix force on one snake at a time was the way to go. No. Id reach Kiyo and Volusian to the first. I yelled a warning to Kiyo that the snake was poisonous, but it was hard to say if he understood.I turned on the two new snakes. Even with part of their bodies coiled, their heads stood a good ten feet to a higher place mine. More venom dropped before me. Deciding not to play favorites, I aimed the gun and quickly fired off a couple of rounds into each. Id had the foresight to burden up silver bullets, but it didnt look like the gun was going to kill the snakes anytime soon at least not without fifty more shots. Mostly, the bullets seemed to water supply them off more.Still, I kept firing since that seemed to make the snakes keep their distance. It proved to be a short solution, seeing as my bullets soon ran out. I reached for another clip. I could reload a gun quickly, but that pause gave one of the snakes an opening. Its head no jest intended snaked toward me , giving me a close-up view of macro fangs. Id been on guard for such an attack and jumped out of its way, only to be struck by the others tail. It knocked me some(prenominal) feet away, causing me to lose my grip on the new cartridge. The cartridge disappeared into the night, and I landed hard on the ground. My back and shoulder screamed in agony, but I had no time to baby them. There were two other clips in my belt, but as one of the snakes came for me again, my hand went to the athame after all.The snake that had hit me leaned down, its face and dripping jaw inches from me. Rather than run again, I leaped forward and plunged the blade into its eye. It cried out in pain, excruciation from the silver, just as any Otherworldy creature would. Well, actually, any creature with a knife in its eye would probably suffer, magical or not.I had the finger to jerk my athame out, having no desire either to lose the blade or get pulled along as the snake reared back up. The suffering of it s pal made the other hold off. In those moments, I shoved the athame back into my belt, yelping in surprise. Apparently, the snakes eye was poisonous too, and whatever liquid had come away with the blade ate through my jeans and burned my skin. Nonetheless, I managed to get another cartridge loaded. Without hesitation, I turned and emptied the entire gun into the snakes head. I wasnt precise enough to hit the eye, but all those bullets took their toll. The snake wavered in the air, blood variety with venom on its skin, and with a last woosh of pain, it fell over and slammed into the ground.Wondering why the other snake hadnt come for me, I spun around and saw Volusian and Kiyo attacking it. I took it on faith that the first one was dead and loaded the gun with my last cartridge. Volusians touch was searing the snakes skin, and Kiyo was simply ripping into it with his teeth. Opting for what seemed tried and true, I fired into the snakes head again. Between the three of us, we soon literally took the snake down.I stood there tense and ready, empty gun in one hand and athame in the other. The world was silent except for the wind and the occasional twitching of the third snake as it died. Moments later, Kiyo morphed out of the fox shape, giving me a snap off view of any injuries now that he wasnt covered in fur. He grimaced and spit on the ground a few times, but biting the snake apparently hadnt destroyed his mouth or face. A couple red spots on his arms made me think he too had been spill with the venom. Otherwise, he looked unharmed.He sighed and raked a hand through his black hair, which was curling slightly from sweat.You know, he said. I dont think Ill ever be able to bring myself to watch Dune again.