“I don’t think you should decline. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t make the same mistakes our friend made.”
There was a slight sinking feeling in her chest. “The nun?” Zoe asked. She didn’t know the woman apart from caring for her for nearly three days. That didn’t stop the nun from being pitiful in Zoe’s eyes. “Did–Is she dead?”
“Oh no. She’s alive and will be well hidden from Sister Cross in Ylva’s care. She may have accidentally,” Eva gave a light cough, “entered into a long-term service agreement in exchange for said protection.”
“That… doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It really isn’t, though I wouldn’t want either of us to be in her position if we could help it.”
Zoe couldn’t argue with that. “What did she want with me?”
“Didn’t say,” Eva said with a nonchalant shrug.
“And you think this is a good idea?”
“Ylva is big on politeness and respect. I didn’t say it was a good idea, but I think it is a terrible idea to refuse.”
Zoe sighed. There was a reason she had stayed outside. Lots of reasons, if she was honest. Most revolved around not wanting to be in Ylva’s presence again.
With reluctance and not a little trepidation, Zoe walked through the open door. Eva followed just behind her with Arachne at her heels.
The door slammed behind her. Zoe dropped to one knee.
Eva stayed standing and Zoe was pretty sure she heard a snicker from Arachne.
Humiliating. But she didn’t want to crack her kneecaps if the demon decided to force her to kneel.
“We see you have acquired proper decorum in the time since our last meeting.”
Zoe chanced a glance up. Like last time, a skeleton sat in a great throne atop a platform suspended over a bottomless pit. A ray of light shone down from the tempest above.
Unlike last time, the skeleton was not slumped backwards in the throne. It leaned forwards, still resting its skull on its fist. Its other hand stroked the black hair of a woman sitting on the floor between the skeleton’s spread knees.
It took a moment to recognize the face of the woman through the tears. Nel Stirling. Every time that skeletal hand brushed through her hair, the nun quaked in her seat. The robe Zoe loaned her was missing. A black collar around her neck that was not there before was the only visible clothing.
“Ylva didn’t like the robe,” Eva explained without being asked. “She said she’d find some proper attire after we leave.”
Zoe cleared her throat as a stalling tactic while she tried to overcome her shock.
“I had time to reflect on my actions,” Zoe said. “I apologize for my behavior. I was scared, nervous, and worried due to missing a student at the time.”
“We understand.”
“Thank you.” Zoe didn’t know what else to say.
“You have arrived in Eva’s domain many times. You never visited Our domain. We promised a reward for delivering Our message, something Eva mentioned was accomplished. Do you not wish to be rewarded?”
“I–”
“Don’t decline,” Eva said quickly, “she was offended the last time I declined a gift.”
“I meant no slight,” Zoe said after taking a minute to decide her words. “I presumed you wished to reward my student, as she was the one who actually delivered the message.” Zoe bit her lip.
“Juliana Rivas. We remember. The reward was offered to both for a single task. We offer Our reward to both. Present yourself alongside her within thirty days.”
“I understand.”
The door slid open behind her, grinding on its hinges as it went. Zoe understood that she had been dismissed.
With a last look at the still crying Nel, Zoe turned and tried her hardest not to look like she was running away.
Courtyard Meeting
The end of class chime stopped Bradley Twillie’s lecture on eloko. They were a species of dwarf that prefer forests over the underground mountains of their cousins. A small group apparently lived not far from Brakket.
Curses that they put on unaware explorers and hikers were of particular interest to Eva. The one that caused traveler’s senses to swap seemed particularly interesting. Professor Twillie wasn’t entirely clear, but it sounded like the curse made someone smell sounds, see touches, hear light, and so on.
