Free Keeper of the Realms: The Dark Army (Book 2) by Marcus Alexander Page B

and then when you come back you can enlighten us all with your insights.’ He gave her another one of his measured looks – he seemed to have a lot of those to spare.
    ‘Right, well, then,’ said Charlie. ‘Any last words of advice for me, like what I should do after I have your “vessel”?’
    ‘I would run like you’ve got all the denizens of hell hot on your heels.’
    ‘Ha. Ha. Ha,’ grumbled Charlie with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
    ‘I do not joke about this, Charlie Keeper. Run and run for your life for all the Kindred will come for you. They always welcome those into Hell with deceit and wiles, but they will not so easily let you go. So run, Keeper, run back with my god as fast as you can.’
    ‘Run.’ Charlie nodded like it was the wisest thing in theworld to do. Truth was, she was beginning to get scared. She had known that going to hell was part of the deal, but a large part of her mind hadn’t been able to accept the reality of it. She gripped the hilt of the useless Hell Sword to stop the sudden shaking in her hands. It didn’t help, but at least it hid her fear from the others. ‘Right, running I can do. Any other last words of wisdom?’
    ‘Yes. Your Will will not help you in the lower dominions.’
    ‘What!’ choked Charlie and Nibbler in unison.
    ‘Your Will will only get you through the Gate and back. Nothing more.’
    ‘Please tell me you’re joking. Please tell me that was just bad Stoman humour.’
    ‘As I have told you several times: I do not joke.’
    ‘No, no, of course you don’t,’ said Charlie, white-faced. The shakes were now starting in her arms and legs. ‘You don’t joke.’
    ‘Hold up,’ growled Nibbler. ‘Charlie, forget this. There’s no way you’re going in there. Not without me and not without your Will. Listen, Darkmount, the deal is off! Definitely off! What kind of idiot are you and what kind of idiots do you think we are? We don’t need this; we can find the location of the Gate another way. We don’t –’
    ‘A deal was made!’ said Darkmount, his angry voice crackling around the cavern. The shadows seemed to darken, the light grew dimmer and the bishop appeared to grow in size.
    ‘Yeah, well who makes deals like that with little girls?’yelled Nibbler. ‘Got to be some kind of twisted person to pull a fast trick like that!’ He stared fiercely at the bishop. Small puffs of flame burst from his mouth.
    Darkmount jumped to his feet, his stonesong already building. Rage made the veins in his face and neck bulge. ‘So you would revoke a deal?’
    ‘That wasn’t a deal, that was a trick!’
    Nibbler, just as furious, reared up on his back legs, spread his wings wide and gushed out a torrent of bright flame that burned and flared across the room. Dark green and bright yellow flames crashed together with the explosive sound of a thunderclap.
    The two adversaries snarled and spat wordlessly at one another. Darkmount drew his arms over his head and increased the passion of his song. Nibbler sucked in a huge breath of air, widened his mouth and tensed his legs ready to jump forward.
    ‘Enough!’ screamed Charlie. Jumping upright she sent a sheet of golden Will between the two. ‘Enough! I will do it!’ she shouted. ‘I will do it. I will see this through. A deal is a deal and if this is what it takes to beat Bane then this is what I shall do.’
    ‘Charlie, are you sure?’ asked Nibbler as he settled back on to all four paws. ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do? There’s always another way.’
    ‘No, it’s not what I want to do. I’d rather be chilling at home with my parents or hanging with you, Jensen and Kelko back in Sylvaris, but this is what’s gotta be done. If we want to keep moving forward then this is the way.’ Charlie forced out a dry laugh. ‘This is the Will and the Way. Ha.You know Azariah would be laughing if he could only see me now.’
    Hands clenched by her sides, she swallowed her fear and prepared