Page 109 of Of Nine So Bold

Whatever the hell it was.

Ignatius stared, his gaze running back and forth across us like he was trying to make sense of what he saw. “I…” He wetted his lips. “The wolf is not among your number then, I take it. Of the Nine, that is.”

Confused, I started to ask what he meant, but before I could, Ruhl huffed as if to dismiss the very thought.

Which was… odd. But then, everything about that creature—or nyxvarg, whatever that meant—was odd.

Gods, I was floundering like an initiate on his first day of training.

Casimir cleared his throat. His skin was ashen and his face gaunt from hunger, but when he spoke, his voice was steady and controlled. “Gateway demons are notorious for playing tricks. We have little time for fairytales.”

Fairytales…

“We’re not theNine,” I blurted.

Casimir cast me a sharp look as if telling me to be silent. I clamped my mouth shut, but I could feel my cheeks heating.

I always had flushed red as a ripe apple when embarrassed.

But what they suggested wasabsurd.

“I understand your reluctance,” Ignatius said. “Being told you’re the only hope of this world is not something any sane person would wish to hear.”

Surprised noises came from my friends, while I just felt sick.

“But regardless,” Ignatius continued. “I must ask you stay with us when we reach the other side of the gateway. Whatever your plans may have been, for your sakes and for the sake of the world, you all must return to Erenelle immediately.”

28

GWYNEIRA

“You’re not serious,” Lars said, putting words to the alarm on the faces of my men. Even Casimir appeared dumbstruck—though in his case, a strangely simmering rage seemed to be the reason why.

I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I was too stunned by what the scholar had said. It was insane. We couldn’t be the whole hope of theworld.That was what a crazy person would believe.

“I understand why you might be hesitant to return,” Ignatius said.

I sincerely doubted that.

“But if the gateway demons speak the truth—and I cannot see why they would lie about this—then as the Nine, you will need the help of the magic within Erenelle to protect this world. The prophecies are clear. You must?—”

“Is the gateway finished yet?” the duke called impatiently from over a dozen yards away.

My jaw clenched against the urge to snarl. That man cared nothing for what his scholar just risked, only that he hurried along like a servant running late.

Not to mention the ten-ton boulder of nonsense the man had just dropped on us.

Ignatius ignored the duke, but he cast a wary look at the man’s henchmen. Though they’d stayed back while the spell was activating, now several of the bullying giants were inching closer to the gateway like children urging one another to jump into a pond.

“Unless you wish to die horribly,” the elderly scholar called, “I recommend patience until we can remove the Aneiran devices from your wrists.”

The henchmen retreated.

Ignatius turned back to us, lowering his voice. “We can discuss these issues more once we pass the Erenlian Wall. But please, I beg you, come with us. You will need the power of Erenelle for what is coming.”

Giving a final insistent look at us all, he strode toward the duke. “Yes, we should be ready shortly.”

“Well, uh…” Clay blinked. “Thatwas cryptic and insane. Anybody else planning to head anywherebutErenelle once we get out of this place?”

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