Page 76 of The Road to Hell

“Straight to the point,” Calder said, laughing. “I like it.”

“Then you’re going to love me,” I told him.

Varz’s narrowed gaze flicked between me and Calder, as though wondering what he’d done to get himself saddled with the two of us. Admittedly, I wondered the same thing.

“That’s not a plan,” Varz finally said.

He wanted the finer details, did he? Fine. I gestured toward the outpost. “We take out the sentries. We breach the walls. We cut down anyone who gets in our way.” I shrugged. “Simple. Efficient.”

Varz let out a harsh breath, rubbing his temples. “I assumed you’d want to be subtle about this.”

“Not particularly,” I said. “Why bother when they’re expecting us?”

That caught Varz’s attention. His eyes narrowed slightly. “What makes you think they’re expecting us?”

I gave a low, quiet laugh. “Come on, Varz. Think it through. I’m currently flanked by two giant hellwyrms. If the outpost’s sentry is any good, they’ve already spotted us. Not to mention, they’ve got your people, don’t they? When you take prisoners, you don’t just sit back and hope no one comes looking. You prepare for the possibility that someonewillcome looking for them.”

His mouth twitched to the side, like he wanted to argue but couldn’t.

“So, why bother trying to catch them off guard? They’re already preparing for our attack.”

Calder pushed off the rock, stretching like a cat just waking from a nap. “Well, if we’re going in loud, I might as well enjoy myself.” He grinned, his fangs catching the hellish light. “Mind if I take the first kill? I wasn’t kidding when I said I was hungry.”

“No.”

He blinked, clearly not used to being denied. “No?”

I tipped my head toward the gate and watchtowers. “We take those out first. Won’t do us much good to carve our way in if we can’t get back out.”

Then I reached up, running a hand along Mephisar’s thick scales before giving Sable an affectionate pat. “What do you say? Ready to raise a little hell?” My lips curled. “Eat whoever you want—just leave the prisoners intact.”

Mephisar eagerly nudged my shoulder.

“Once they’ve taken out the towers and the gate, we go in and cut down as many as we can.”

“That’s seriously your plan?” Varz questioned. “Smash it all and kill as many as we can.”

“Yup,” I said brightly. “Sometimes the simplest plans are the best.”

He gave me a long, withering stare. “I expected more from Lucifer’s daughter.”

I clapped him on the back with a grin. “If you don’t like it, feel free to walk away. I just wouldn’t count on making it far.” I gestured toward Sable, who watched us keenly. “She does look a little peaky. And if I recall, netheron is one of her favourite snacks.”

Sable rumbled low in her throat, pleased.

Varz tensed, but Calder laughed. “Now IknowI like you.”

“Aw,” I said, flashing him a grin. “You’re warming up to me already.”

Varz muttered something under his breath, but he didn’t argue further. He only cast a wary glance at Sable before turning his attention back to the outpost.

I ignored his attitude. Let him sulk. It wouldn’t change the fact that this was happening, regardless of his personal feelings on the matter.

“All right,” I said, cracking my knuckles. “Mephisar, Sable—tear down the towers and breach the gate. Varz, Calder, and I will deal with whoever survives the first wave.”

Gorr let out an eager chuff, and I glanced down at him, one brow arched. “And you—just stick by my side, all right? Take out anyone who gets too close to me.”

He thumped his tail once against the ground, which I took as either agreement or mild offense. Hard to say.

---