Page 42 of A Dawn Of Blood

“Count me out of it,” Lorcan says, quite sourly, as he gets up and walks out of the room.

“Sure,” Nuala drawls as the rest of us exchange a look. Then she snaps out of it, clapping her hands and getting up. “Alright then, let’s get moving. We’re safe here for the time being, but who knows how long that will last?”

Chapter 30

It’s in the dead of night that Raven, Dryden and I set off on our mission. Every time we pass a window and I only see the strange blackness outside, this shiver runs down my spine.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this — the Academy and ourselves being in some other dimension.

It’s practically the only thing on my mind as we climb up to Level Two and find our way to the gargoyle watching the entrance into the Theatre.

Now that there’s no one running the Academy, the creature seems to have gone wild with its species favorite pastime — collecting stuff abandoned by people. There are so many trinkets in so many heaps around it, we have to step over jackets, balls, jewelry boxes…

“Well well, who do we have here?” the gargoyle greets with a drawl.

“Three people in need of a favor,” I say.

It clicks its tongue. “It’s interesting, that it’s only now you’re all being reminded of my existence.”

The statement takes me by surprise a little, but I dismiss it. “I apologize for the oversight,” I reply with a slightly confused smile. Then I get straight to the point, knowing the gargoyle will want to bargain either way. “We need you to tell us whether you know of any Aesir iron here at the Academy.”

It tips its head back a little, taking a moment to observe us in silence. “What are you willing to pay for that information?”

“Books, gold, trinkets,” Dryden says with a glance around the heaps, “we’ll get you anything you want from the Academy.”

“Except the iron,” I add.

“Except the iron,” he echoes, smiling at me.

The gargoyle thinks for a moment, its gaze eventually settling on Raven. “I want the girl,” it finally says.

I guess it’s a disgusted look that I throw it, because it feels the need to explain, “It’s been lonely here since the students and the soldiers all departed. I only want someone to talk to.”

We exchange a look, all three of us seeming to be taken by surprise. Then again, the point of a bargain is to start higher than where you want to land. “No, thanks,” I say coldly. “We’ll find some other way to get the information.”

And I move to walk away.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to?” the gargoyle drawls.

“It seems we’ll have no choice,” I reply flatly, now actually starting to walk away, Dryden and Raven following closely.

“How about a compromise?” it says, making all three of us stop midstep and turn around. “I only keep her for the next seven nights.”

I grit my teeth. “You will not get the girl. State some other price or we’re out of here.”

“One night,” it insists, “and I tell youeverythingI know about the Aesir iron.”

“It’s a deal,” Raven says before I can react.

I throw her a shocked, disapproving look. “Raven.”

“Anna,” she echoes pointedly, making it clear to me that this is not my decision.

I turn to the gargoyle. “Everythingyou know?”

“Everything.”

I let out a sigh. “One night and one night only.”

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