The tension in the air was palpable, emanating from Beo towards the innocent looking Toph. His eyes flickered over to me, with worry in them.

He cleared his throat and held his hands up. “Maybe an explanation would be in order?”

None of us spoke, looking at Beo for directions. She nodded, acknowledging Toph’s olive branch.

“Dearest Michael has been a bit of a bother in my side for a while,” Toph spread his hands out in front of us, “And now, after his unfortunate death, his wraith won’t leave me alone.”

“By Michael, you mean Michael the Archangel?” Beo said quietly. And in that quietness was a small thunder, a vibration in the room that made my skin crawl. And my forehead to slowly sweat.

Toph put his gold rimmed glasses down and cleared his throat again. “Yes.”

“And he’s dead now? Turned into a wraith?”

He flicked his gaze again to me, hesitantly answering. “Yes?”

“Why?”

“He’s got a sword I want.”

“What sword?”

“You’ll know it when you see it.”

“What. Sword.” Her eyes pinpointed Toph like laser beams. To his credit, I didn’t him squirm once.

“The sword of fire. It belonged to my good friend Surtr in the past and Michael took it after slaying him.” He paused and a soft smile crinkled his lips, “Incidentally, it is the very same weapon that slew him.”

“How are we supposed to kill him?”

“If you figure that out and get me the sword, I’ll help you on your journey. Ask the young master there what I offer.” With that, Toph ushered us out of his shop and pulled down the shutters.

Gin shepherded us away from the shop and into the market, with Beo made sure to grab hold of my hand forceful to ensure I wouldn’t try and escape. He rounded us into an alley, wide enough for two people to walk abreast. Beo and I took the back to cover Gin and Ight as they strolled in, peering around wall edges. I took this time to explain to Beo about Toph know where we were headed and that he could find us a path to the Hollow. She listened quietly and searched my eyes, trying to figure out what I was hiding from her. I didn’t tell her about the geas and the Gáe Bulga. Some secrets were mine to keep.

Gin and Ight came up just as I finished my story, satisfied with their reconnaissance. We walked to the end of the alley, walking down metal stairs leading to an even darker doorway. The stairs were almost imperceptible if Gin hadn’t been leading us by hand.

We crowded at the bottom of the stairwell, facing a metal door that rang hollow from our knocks. A sudden burst of light came as a slit on the door open. Two squinted eyes look out at us and eyes Gin, giving him an imperceptible nod. Gin tossed in a small leather pouch, coins clinking within as it fell through.

The slit shut tightly. Faint sounds of grumbling and yelling could be heard from the behind the door, followed by a quiet hush and clinking of heavy chains. The door opened a car with the same eyes peering out at us, signaling for us to come in one at a time.

The smell of stale ale and old meat is the first thing to hit me. The second was the hustle and bustle in the place, with servers snaking around tables and raucous laughter echoing in the room. Gin has gotten us into a private and low-end inn with a sticky floor and a musty smell of smoke that had to surely become a permanent part of the place.

“Silverteeth!” yelled a large man, pushing his way across tables to come meet us. He had a grizzle red beard and a port belly, the pulled into the apron he was wearing. Gin moved back slightly, putting his hands up in protest. Which had no effect on the man as he pulled Gin into a bear hug, in what looked like what a vice grip that would snap the slender quiet man.

Gin struggled to say something.

“What was that?” Bellowed the large man.

“Harrow, put me down.” A dangerous edge creeped into Gin’s voice, cold as razor thin ice.

Gin was put down hastily and Harrow wore a mischievous grin as he apologized. Someone didn’t seem all too sad.

“Can we talk in private?”

Harrow gestured for us to follow him. His girth was nearly as wide as the tables and he swatted anything standing in his way with ease. Taking us to a room adjacent to the kitchen, he waved us all in and shut the door.

Gin introduced us to the man, Harrow, who was the owner for this underground inn. This was one of the seedier places to get a drink in Amara, but it was the place you wanted to be at if you needed information that the proper channels couldn’t provide.

“So, Harrow, we’re looking for a way to get into the catacombs.” Beo said frankly, her arms crossed. She seemed to be just as disgusted by the place as Ight was amused by it.

Harrow’s brow furrowed slightly at that, making him appear like a worried bear confused at its prey. He glanced sideways towards Gin; eyebrow raised.

“Ya ain’t gonna have an easy time getting in there luv. An’ there be a monster down there now.”

“So we’ve heard. Can you get us in?”

Harrow nodded; eyebrows remained knitted together in thought.

“Aye but it be a perilous task. Now I won’t be as rude to ask why you youngeens seek to venture in the dark so promise ye be safe? Aye?”

I spoke up, “Aye Harrow. Thanks for your help.” I offered my hand for a handshake and was swept off my feet into the same bear hug Gin had suffered through.

--

We descended into the catacombs with a guide that Harrow had found for us, sneaking in via a rather narrow dirt tunnel. Our guide, Kor, was a lean boy with shifty yellow eyes and gleaming fangs that poked out of his mouth. After what seemed like hours of crawling through the dirt, we emerged into a dark space. A cool breeze swept through the space and made me almost miss the warm tunnel. Almost.

Kor lit the two closet candles to us, illuminating the space around us. We were in a concave cave-like room with carved out tombs around us. He put a finger to his lips and peeked out of the cave, looking outside for any remaining guards. He gave a downward wave, an all-clear sign.

“Kor, thank you so much for all of your help.” Beo said, giving a slight bow and offering up a small bag of coins.

The boy snatched up the coins and slipped them into his pants. He gave an acknowledging nod to her and gave us a hard stare.

“The monster… it be down there,” Kor jerked his thumb out into the space, “I can’t lead ye there, but you’ll smell it. Feel it in ye bones.”

We parted for him as he kept on us and climbed back into the hole. Soon, the sound of his scrambling faded and all that was left was us and a monster keeping a much-needed sword.

Ight took up the lead, glancing at us for someone to challenge him for it.

“I can feel it. Faint but disgusting. Let’s go then?” He slid out one of the torches from the wall and brandished it in front of him like a sword.