Page 57 of Crowned A Traitor
“Are you his spy?” Klara asked, pushing Arthur away. “He knew Lilith helped me,” Klara snapped, and Arthur went silent. “Abadan’s army is paid too well to rat. Lilith is dead, and the Ogres are too stupid to be that smart.”
“His eyes are everywhere,” Klara half laughed as Wolfgang and Lottie watched them.
“Abadan’s army has reached Hell. The King didn’t see that coming, but he knew about Frendall’s feelings for me. You are the only person I told.” Arthur’s silence only enraged her.
Wolfgang and Lottie stared at her over Arthur’s shoulder. Wolfgang’s expression hardened as Klara mentioned Lucifer. “Is it a spell?” Klara demanded of Arthur, and he shook his head.
“Tell me! Or I swear I will hand you over to Kharon.”
“Leave me out of your petty arguments,” Kharon interrupted.
“Calm down,” Wolfgang said with Lottie hiding behind his legs.
“The King’s eyes are mine. After I was sentenced to Malum, he needed eyes on the Queens, but he didn’t trust me to report everything, so he made a duplicate of his eyes and replaced mine.”
Klara grimaced at the thought of Arthur having his eyes torn out. “He knew about the Ghoul incident before I even got to Hell?”
“Everything,” Arthur said, and Klara went numb.
“We need to leave him,” Wolfgang said not meeting Arthur’s eye.
“My Father has enough on his plate, he won’t be coming after me.” Klara looked to Arthur, knowing he had no choice but to be her Father’s puppet.
“There is nothing you can do for the King, he can handle himself,” Arthur said, Klara knew he was right. The King would escape to the Human World if he had too. It wasn’t the first rebellion Lucifer had suffered, and it wouldn’t be the last, but she was afraid. This time he had no Queens to rally his armies and supporters. The King is alone.
“A part of him still wants to believe in Abadan. Through your eyes, we will show the King exactly what she is capable of,” Klara said, and Arthur bowed his head in shame. Of all those keeping secrets, she had never considered the person closest to her.
Why should you feel anything for the King?Klara scolded herself.He put you in this position in the first place, but as she pictured the Demons that she had dined with around the banquet table rising against him, it awoke a protective instinct in her.
“If you are quite done with your squabbling, we are almost there,” Kharon said. The sweaty stench of the Ogre swamps on the Malum side of the River surrounded them. Crossing at the Ogre swamps would only lead them to the Fae. Past the swamps, the Fae Guard’s presence would be lighter. They travelled further down River until the air became thick with fog. The scent of algae and decaying forestry replaced the smell of the Ogres’ Swamps. Klara could barely see five feet ahead of them only making out the algae that coated the black inked water.
“If news of a rebellion has spread to the Fae, there will be extra patrols and more Creatures will try to cross,” Wolfgang warned looking a lot healthier although his hand still clutched his side.
The increased presence of Creatures in the Neutral Lands would lessen their chances of being detected. Lucifer was her last hope against Abadan and Mila. If he could raise an army, they would be too wrapped up in fighting each other to stop her.
“Why are we stopping here?” Klara asked as they sat where River began to narrow. “This is as close to the marsh as I can get you, any closer and it would alert the Fae.” Kharon was trying to test her and Klara certainly wasn’t in the mood.
“The marshes are probably safer, no Creature would opt to use the marshes, and the Fae won’t want to risk Guards on the uneven terrain,” Wolfgang reasoned.
Klara let out a deep breath as the foul smell clouded her senses. “Bring us a little closer,” Klara ordered. “Until the fog clears, I can’t see a damn thing.”
Kharon wavered and moved the boat through the thick water.
Trees grew from the soul ridden streams, and overhanging branches of decaying white willow trees drifted over them. “Least the fog will give us some cover, and we should reach the Fae border by nightfall,” Wolfgang said, and Klara wallowed in the trial of getting to land. The fog was merely a glamour from the Fae to throw off Malums’ undesirables.
The longboat settled and Kharon’s long arms folded. “Unless you wish to visit the Underworld, I suggest you disembark,” Kharon said, and Klara stared over the edge of the boat.
“We are to jump?” She asked, and Kharon smirked. Klara secured her axe and bag to her back, ready to jump when Kharon rose his hand. “I should probably warn you that the Goddess Styx cursed this water so that no male that enters may leave.”
“Well that’s me screwed,” Wolfgang glared, and Lottie gripped him tighter. “I’m not going without you,” Lottie said, looking at Klara for help.
“You didn’t want to share this truth earlier,” Wolfgang looked to the dark waters.
“I could have remained silent and collected three souls. You are travelling with the Daughter of Hell and whatever else she is. Figure it out, Your Highness.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Klara stepped closer.
“I’ve had many a soul in this boat but yours…” Kharon sniffed the air, “Has a sweetness like no other.”
