“No.”

Uther stepped closer to him. “You want to rescue Vateria over finding Iseabail?”

“I’m Mì-runach. I made a commit—”

“For the love of the gods, shut up about that!” Uther bellowed.

“Wait, wait.” Aidan stepped between them, faced Éibhear, studied him. “You sure about this, mate?”

“I’m positive.”

Aidan blew out a breath. “Then let’s go.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Stop asking questions,” Aidan barked at the others, “and let’s just move. Now.” He looked at Éibhear, nodded. “We’re with you, Éibhear. Mì-runach to death.”

“Uh-oh,” Vateria said. “You poor thing. You’re bleeding. It must hurt so.”

Izzy laughed. She couldn’t help it. And Vateria laughed with her, but Izzy knew there was no real humor in it.

“What’s so funny?” Vateria asked her.

“I was just thinking how strange it is.”

“How strange what is?”

Izzy leaned in a bit. “I’m supposed to be rescuing you.”

“Rescuing me? From what?”

“The crazed zealots.” Izzy glanced over at the eyeless ones. “Isn’t that right?”

“Darling girl,” Vateria said, slowly moving around Izzy. “Why would you need to rescue me from this? I’ll admit,” she went on. “It’s not what I’m used to. I do prefer the comforts of my homeland. But this . . . this will lead me back there. This will be my army. And after I claim what’s rightly mine in the Sovereign Provinces . . . I’ll be coming for your bitch queen. And she will know pain.”

“The woman’s been dead. Then brought back. And then went about raising children referred to as the Unholy Ones by many priests—and surviving said unholy children. So you really can’t believe that you are going to scare her. Do you?”

“And you’re not going to scare me.”

“But I already have. Because you know I’m right.”

“No. You’re not.”

“Then prove me wrong,” Izzy suggested. “Leave.”

“What?”

“Leave. Walk out. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“You don’t really think this will work, do you? Trying to convince me that—”

“You’re a prisoner? A prisoner in a very comfortable cell? Or a calf they’ve been fattening up for the kill.”

Determined now, Vateria headed toward the chamber exit. But a dragon stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

Vateria tried again, moving around the dragon. But another dragon cut her off.

“Move out of my way,” she ordered.

Izzy smirked. “But you’ve been so comfortable here.”

“Shut up!”

Vateria stormed back into the center of the chamber.

“You can’t keep me here,” she argued. “I’m Chramnesind’s chosen one.”

“Really?” Izzy pursed her lips. “Huh.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means why would Chramnesind make you his chosen one? It’s not like you’re truly loyal to him. Look at these others. Vateria, this lot gave up their eyes for him. The others kneel in supplication. And they’ve all given up their families and friends in honor of his blessings. And you . . . you want an army. To win back land you never had a right to. Oh, yes. You are so the chosen one.”

“This isn’t working.”

“Fine. It’s not working.”

“They’re just keeping me here for my own safety.”

“Fine. It’s for your safety.”

“Well, what other reason could they be keeping me for?”

Izzy shrugged. “Well, I’m sure we can safely rule out virgin sacrifice.”

“Bitch.”

“But they could be planning to rip you open, clean you out, and fill you up with someone or something else. It’s kind of what happened to my mother.”

“Fill me up with what, exactly?”

“Whatever’s behind that wall.”

Vateria looked over her shoulder. “There’s nothing behind that wall except . . . sewage.”

“Fine. There’s nothing behind that wall.”

“Stop doing that!”

“I’m just agreeing with you.”

“Well stop it!”

Vateria sat back on her haunches, front claws twisting together.

After nearly a minute, she pointed at the wall. “Show me,” she ordered the others.

“Lady Vateria—”

“Do it! Show me what’s behind that wall!”

One of the dragons looked at the zealots, nodded. A wand was raised and, slowly, the rock wall separated and slowly opened.

Stifling a scream, Vateria stumbled back.

Izzy leaned over to the dragon standing next to her and asked, “Are those tentacles?”

The Sand dragon looked at her . . . and smiled.

Chapter 41

“Are you sure about this?” Aidan asked him, the four of them staring up the stairs at the badly repaired doors Éibhear had just ripped open the previous day.

“I think so.”

“And I hope so. I’m not in the mood to suffer. Even for you.”

“What about when we get in there?” Caswyn asked. “Then what?”