Chapter 29

It'd been easy enough to gather moss from the Swamp Lands, a lava rock from the Cinder Lands, and snow from the Tempest Lands. But there was a promise I wanted to keep and a visit I needed to make. Avalon walked by my side through the underground of the Slate Lands.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

I nodded. "More than sure."

It felt like a lifetime ago that Linford had taken me to his home and helped me. I'd never known such kindness, and now I wanted to return it. We'd made our way through the tunnels and into the underground city where Linford lived among other earth demons. The moment Avalon set foot on the little main market street, the demons disappeared. He pressed his lips into a hard line and kept on walking with his head held high, but I could tell their mistrust took its toll on him by the hard set of his lips and how his eyes softened with a touch of sadness. I reached down and wound my fingers with his, holding his hand, and led him toward Linford's home. Shadows moved behind the crystal windows as if they all were watching where we were going. Those iridescent butterflies fluttered overhead illuminating the way.

When we reached the three steps, I smiled at the flat wall. Avalon walked up the steps and knocked on the wall. Linford's voice came from just inside. "Be off with you now. We're not receiving at this time."

Avalon opened his mouth to say something, but I gave his hand a little squeeze and he stopped. I moved closer to the wall and called out, "Linford, it's me, Morgana."

The wall instantly began to transform into an intricate door with filigree carved into it. Dust rained down but it moved around me as all the powers here did. The door groaned as it slid open, and there was Linford standing on the other side. I'd forgotten how kind his face was and the way he carried himself. His gray beard held a sprinkling of dirt as he stood there staring at us.

"Didn't know you were bringing company with you." He glared at Avalon, then motioned for us to enter his tiny home.

I stepped in and Avalon stood quietly at my side. The moment we were through the doorway, Linford waved his hand and the door sealed shut. Two chairs rose from the floor behind us, and I dropped Avalon's hand and sat across from Linford, who seemed to be in a who's gonna sit first standoff with Avalon. I rolled my eyes. "Both of you sit."

Linford waved his hand once more and the earth rose behind him to form a chair. He dropped down into it and his belly did a little jiggle as he got comfortable. He motioned for Avalon to sit. "Rude to stand."

Avalon dropped down into the chair and they both glared. Carlotta wandered into the room with a bowl broken into pieces in her hands. "Linford, can you mend this . . ."

Her words trailed off when she spotted the two of us. "Nevermind."

She spun around to go back down the hall, and I called out, "Carlotta wait, I've seen Malotte."

She froze and the broken plate she'd been holding crashed to the ground. When she turned around her eyes glistened. She hurried back into the room and stumbled to Linford's side, clutching her chest. "M-my Malotte? Is she well?"

I nodded. "She is well, and she is strong. She'swish like you, Linford. And so beautiful like you, Carlotta."

Linford's lip quivered, and he looked away for a moment, blinking hard. "How did this come to be?"

I glanced at Avalon, and he gave me a nod, encouraging me to tell Linford everything. I swallowed. "When I was taken from here, I was brought back to the castle where Dacio was. He was holding a selection to find his queen."

Carlotta pressed her hand over her mouth, and she sucked in a sharp breath and shook her head. "Not there. No."

Tears spilled over her cheeks, and she leaned into Linford's side. He pressed his hand over hers and gave it a pat. His face was bright red and he had yet to look me in the eyes. He sucked in deep breaths to control his emotions. I sat forward and waved my hands. I didn't want them to see this as a sad thing. Malotte saved me, she was strong, smart, and brilliant. I needed to make them understand. "No, you don't understand. She was brilliant. Malotte was there looking for a way to help the demons in the Tempest Clan."

Linford's cheeks puffed out as he let go of a deep breath and tried to contain his emotions. "Of course she did. My girl would."

"She was amazing, Linford. And when I needed to get away most," Avalon stiffened beside me but said nothing, and I continued on, "she helped me escape. She risked everything and flew me right out of the castle."

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Carlotta. "You heard that. She helps demon folk."

"Linford, she asked me to give you her love and to tell you she misses you."

Carlotta let out a small weeping sound and turned away. "My darling child."

Linford pursed his lips and eyed Avalon. "What's brought you here then? Come looking for her to bring her back? You know she can't come to the underground."

"I have no intention of bringing her or anyone else to Dacio ever again," Avalon growled.

"What's this then? Finally came to your senses?" Linford looked him up and down.

I glanced between him and Avalon. I didn't think they'd hit it off, but I wanted Linford to see Avalon for who and what he was. He was here to try and save them all and it was important for Linford to know that. "We are here to collect a bit of slate."

"Why?"

I didn't want to get his hopes up, but Linford had always been honest with me. "Linford, I'm going to try to free the demons and unite them all."

He gave a stoic nod. "You wouldn't be the first to give it a go."

"No, but I intend to be the last." We shared a look like he was staring me down to see if I was being honest with him. After a few moments Linford gave me a single nod as though the decision to trust me had been made.

He held his hand up and a large splinter of slate flew from the floor and right into his hand. The sides were jagged and dark with a dozen different cuts to it. He handed it over to me. "Take this and bring my daughter home to me."

His words were halted as he spoke, and I knew what the separation of family felt like but I couldn't imagine it for fifty years. "I will."

"And what about you?" He looked toward Avalon. "You've come to your senses?"

"Took me long enough," Avalon groaned.

Linford shook his finger at him. "It's not the time it takes, it's that one gets there eventually. And what of Dacio?"

I started to answer. "We're going to—"

"—Not you. Him." Linford pointed toward Avalon.

Avalon scoffed, then gave him a deadly smile. "It's time for death to come to him."

All eyes swung toward me, and I nodded. "I couldn't agree more."

"It'll be a fight. You know that? But the demon folk will come when called."

I rose to my feet and handed the shard to Avalon to be placed in his pocket. "We know, and we were hoping for your support."

He opened his mouth to speak when the walls around us began to rumble. Dust and rock rained down around us, and Linford reached for Carlotta and pulled her close. "It's already begun!"

The rumbling grew more intense and the walls began to crack. The whole world shook, and all I could think was EARTHQUAKE! Linford opened his arms and that dusty magic poured from his hands. He bellowed and the ceiling opened above our heads. Light poured in and the ground cracked beneath our feet. Linford raised his arms and the ground shot straight up. My knees nearly gave out under the force and speed that the floor rose. We shot from the ground like a rocket and Avalon wrapped his arms around me and burst into flames. A second later, we landed, and Linford used the ground to form a slide which he used to surf down with Carlotta in his arms. He slid to a stop right next to us. We all stood there with our backs to the mountains facing into the Slate Lands. In the distance, the walls to the castle opened and Dacio's army began to emerge. From here they looked like ants, but it was only a matter of time before they reached us.

Linford glared in Dacio's direction. "We go to war."