Лори Девоти - Unbound

“He has them,” the creatures replied, their faces still twisted in confusion.

“Impossible,” Lusse spit out.

Before she could continue, Risk jumped in. “How does he know? Has he pitted them against the strongest of their kind?”

The creatures glanced from Lusse to Risk, then turned back to face each other. “How did you get here? The garm grants only those with a toll passage.”

“I blasted my way through, then enslaved the little wolf,” Lusse replied, a bored tilt to her lips.

The creatures glanced a question at Risk.

He nodded, hoping the garm did nothing on the other side to give away his lie — and that the garm didn’t trap Risk here in Jormun’s realm when he learned of it.

After a few more seconds of hissing, they turned back. “We will consult with Jormun. Wait.”

With a snap, the door closed again, leaving Risk back in the moist darkness, an angry Lusse at his side.

She barely had time to huff and declare her outrage at being left before the doorway thinned again, and the two mutant creatures reappeared. The first carried a black piece of cloth, which he handed to Risk with a bow. “For your comfort, Jormun thought you might prefer to be clothed.”

Risk pulled on the outfit — a black jumpsuit identical to what the two creatures were wearing.

With Risk dressed, the two ushered Lusse and Risk out of the narrow tube and into a brightly lit grand hall.

A man, at least a foot taller than Risk, stood in front of a convex window looking out at the sea. When he heard them approach he turned, clapping his hands together. The sound echoed through the room.

“A hound.” His dark eyes lit with delight. “I haven’t encountered a hound since…” His eyes darkened. “For what feels like a millennium. Do you still hunt with the gods?”

“The hunt is dead,” Risk replied.

Jormun folded his arms over his massive chest and peered down at Risk. “So, now you hunt…witches?”

Risk angled his head. “Not all of us, but yes, that’s been my life.”

“Hmm. And this one, you claim can outpower the pair I have? They are twins, you know. Identical.”

“So we’ve heard. That’s certainly rare, but this witch has unequaled power.”

Jormun stepped back to analyze Lusse, who met his gaze with a raised brow. “She’s certainly bolder than most who are brought here.”

“I have nothing to fear.” Lusse folded her arms over her chest, mirroring Jormun’s body language.

Jormun laughed. For one interminable moment, Risk thought he was going to pat Lusse on the head. Instead he stepped back and studied Risk.

“You have my interest. What bounty do you request?”

“No bounty. Just a challenge.” Risk nodded his head toward Lusse.

Jormun raised one brow. “Between her and my pair?”

Lusse tapped the toe of her shoe on Jormun’s stone floor.

“She is stronger than she looks.”

“I’m the strongest,” Lusse interrupted. “I’ve spent my lifetime draining the powers of witches such as yours.”

“Ah.” Jormun tilted his head. “But you have nothing to offer me when I win.” He waved toward the mutant creatures.

“My hound,” Lusse threw out.

Jormun paused. “The forandre?” He ran his finger along the line of his chin, his eyes turning contemplative. “How do you feel about that, forandre?”

Risk froze, his breath barely leaving his chest. Would Lusse actually turn his binds over to Jormun, or was it another of her tricks — and did it matter? If Lusse lost, wouldn’t it be better to be trapped here with Jormun? At least Kara would be near, at some point perhaps he could figure a way to free her, free them both.

After studying Risk for a moment, Jormun swung his massive hand, smacking Risk on the back. Risk braced his legs to keep from teetering under the giant’s blow.

“It doesn’t matter. I could use some entertainment and someone to talk with besides the skapt.” Jormun glanced at the creatures who watched him with unmasked adoration.

“Wait,” Lusse placed her hand on Risk’s back. “We haven’t discussed what I get when I win.”

“When you win…” Amusement danced through Jormun’s eyes. “Yes, let’s hear your demands.”

“Nothing much. Just your secrets. What you’ve been doing down here since you were cast into this sea.” Her hand swept toward the window Jormun had been staring out of when they’d entered. “I want to learn what these skapt are, and how they were created.”

Jormun’s eyes narrowed, his massive fists forming balls. “No, you don’t ask much.”

Power sizzled around the giant, catching Risk off guard. If Lusse felt it, she showed no sign.

Jormun leaned forward until his nose almost brushed Lusse’s. “Fair warning, witch. My secrets are mine, and I don’t share them lightly. But…” He straightened, the power fading as quickly as it built. “Since there is no chance you can defeat my witches, I agree to your terms.”

Without further discussion, Jormun left the main hall and the skapt motioned for them to follow. Tension ran the length of Risk’s spine. Lusse had put him up as the prize, and made no mention of freeing Kara or her sister in the bargain.

Risk’s blood boiled with anger. If only he could think of a way to leave the witch here, and take Kara and her sister in exchange. But as things stood now the best he could hope for was the twins defeating Lusse, thus ensuring he stayed here with them. If Lusse won there would be nothing gained.

Or would there? He glanced at the giant Jormun. Lusse had angered him, and he did say he wanted the most powerful witch. Perhaps there was still some way to turn this game to Risk’s advantage.

Kara grabbed Kelly and pulled her into a hug. Her sister stood stiffly for a second, then relaxed against her. Tears edging into the corners of her eyes, Kara reached out and stroked Kelly’s hair.

“You did the right thing. This has to be stopped.”

Her face buried in Kara’s hair, Kelly nodded.

“And, somehow, we’ll get out of this. We’re witches, right? And from what I’ve heard, damn powerful ones.”

Kelly looped her arms around Kara’s waist and squeezed. Pulling back so she could look Kara in the face, she asked, “What happened to you?”

Kara stared into her sister’s eyes, the sadness hidden for a moment behind a veil of wonder.

“I don’t know if you’ll even believe me.” Kara shook her head.

Kelly laughed. “Look around. I don’t think there’s anything you can tell me I won’t believe.”

Kara laughed, too, the moment free of tension letting her relax just a bit. “Okay, but I warned—” A click interrupted her, and a small book-sized section of the wall slid open.

“Ah, breakfast,” Kelly murmured, casting Kara a sideways glance. “You remember making fun of my ketchup obsession? Well you’re about to wish you had a gallon-sized jug.”

She walked across the room, to the slit in the wall. As she stood there two bowls slid through the opening.

“Yummy.” Kelly grabbed the bowls and crossed back to Kara.

“What are they?” Kara asked, staring down at the brown pebbles.

“Pellets.” Kelly picked up a handful and tossed them in her mouth. “You know that old saying…‘tastes like chicken’? Well…these don’t.”

Kara popped one into her mouth and grimaced. “Should we be eating this?”

Kelly shrugged. “I tried going without the first few days, but I didn’t last long. No point starving to death, and if we want to battle our way out of here, we’re going to need some energy.”

Kara crunched another pellet between her teeth. The taste was like old fish. She held her breath and swallowed.

Kelly shoved a handful in her mouth and wrinkled her nose. “I wish I could say they get better, but…”