Qing stumbled back, shocked by the slap, his cheeks stinging, and stared at Ghida, bewildered.

“You bastard,” she said, tears running down her face as she threw herself forward, arms around his neck, squeezing herself against him.

For a moment, Qing just stood there, in his underwear, unsure of what to do. All his friends and the crew were staring, and he felt his face redden. Of course, she must have been scared when he didn’t return.

He took a breath. “I’m sorry I scared you,” he said, putting his arms around her and squeezing her tight. Her back shook.

“Never do that again,” she said against his throat. “When the Kraken floated up dead and we could not see you? We turned the ship, but this damn pile of wood turns slower than a sand dune, and our enemies sailed over the massive corpse. We could not see you. I was so scared.”

Qing smiled and put his hands on her face, gently pushing her back just enough for a kiss. Her lips felt wonderfully soft, tasting slightly of salt. Or maybe that was just him.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember where they stood, and she stepped back, raising her voice. “You smell like a three-day-old fish meal.” She wiped away her tears and smiled.

Rowan stepped forward and clasped Qing’s arm firmly. “Never doubted you for a second, brother,” he said. “Though you could have returned a bit sooner, spared some of us the worry.”

“Yeah,” Morgana chimed in, “for a moment we thought you might’ve drowned.”

“Oh,” Qing said, “I did.”

“You what?” Cedric exclaimed, stalking across the deck. “You irresponsible pup. If you drowned, how have you returned to life? Did you make a deal? Sign any papers?”

As magic flared around the wizard, Qing held up his arms, backing away. “Whoa, calm down. If I hadn’t taken down the monster, it could have returned in the darkness of night and killed us all. It had to go.”

“Spoken true,” Jenny said, giving him a nod.

“And I was saved by regular old humans, you crazy old git.”

Just then, Aria stumbled from the lower decks. “You’re a fool, Qing. You can’t afford to gamble with your life.”

“Weren’t you too seasick to even watch the battle?” Qing asked. “How can you judge me when you weren’t even here?”

“As if I couldn’t hear what was going on?” Aria answered. “You can’t keep doing this. You have to be smarter, take less risk.”

“If I hadn’t done what I did, the ship would have been smashed to pieces,” Qing said. “So enough. I’m here, I survived. King Oscar over there fished me up and beat the life back into me, and—”

Aria’s eyes went wide as if Qing had told her he’d met God himself. “King Oscar,” she said. “He’s here? On that ship?”

“Yes,” Qing said.

Aria ran her fingers through her tangled hair and hurried below deck.

“I’m surprised the old geezer still lives,” Cedric remarked.

“You know him?” Qing asked.

“Of course I do. How many times must I tell you? I know everyone who is worth knowing.”

“You didn’t know me,” Captain Thundershield said, strutting across the deck. He’d trimmed his mustache so once again it sat symmetrical.

“True,” Cedric replied, “and that should tell you all you need to know.” He turned to the others. “With Qing back, let us turn the ship and be on our way once again to Sylvanwatch.”

“Not so fast,” Qing said, holding up a hand. “I think we have an opportunity here to not only get the enemy off our backs to make an ally.”

“Care to explain?” Cedric asked.

“With the king of Thulenore within reach, all we need is to convince him what happened in Zylphadia was Wazir’s fault and not King Sharyar’s. Broker a peace and they may lift the siege. Whether they take their forces home or join us against the demons, it’ll free the Zylphadian army. More allies wouldn’t hurt.”

Cedric put his hands behind his back and started pacing.

“What do you think?” Qing asked Ghida.

“If there is a chance to save my people from war, we should take it,” the princess replied. “But what is the risk to achieve it? Five ships against one is poor odds.”

“Not too much,” Qing said. “With my new power, I can hop on over and make sure they behave as we approach.”

“Five ships’ worth of potential enemies?” Knut said. “And how many mages?”

“One already took her best shot, after I knocked her out. I doubt she’ll try again,” Qing said with a grin.

“And if the Sea Serpent leaves while we are off board?” Ghida asked, glancing at the captain.

“Well, I would never,” Captain Thundershield said.

“With all our supplies on board, I am less inclined to trust a pirate on his word alone,” she said.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I’ll have you know, my word is my worth,” the captain said. “I’ve been smuggling in and out of your father’s kingdom longer than you’ve been alive. The reason people come to me is they know I’m good for what I say.”

Ghida looked at Morgana and shook her head. “Does he even hear himself?”

“If he does, I’ve never noticed it,” Morgana replied.

Out of the corner of his eye, Qing saw a flash of anger pass across the captain’s jovial face, but he kept quiet. The man liked to keep a friendly look, but Qing kept in mind he was a feared pirate who had survived for decades on the wrong side of the law. If anything, he was brutal and had no qualms about doing what was needed.

“Here’s what we’re doing,” Qing announced. “This is too good a chance to pass up. Cedric, Rowan, Ghida, and myself will go see the king, and we are bringing Captain Thundershield with us. Jenny stays here with Knut, Morgana, Aria, and Ruqiya, keeping an eye on everything.” He slowly turned and met the eyes of the listening sailors. “You’ve seen me jump through the air with magic, taken hits that would have felled an elephant, and cast more spells than the royal college of magic. And,” he held up a finger, “after defeating the Kraken, the sea is at my command.” Sailors were nothing if not superstitious, and murmurs of ‘Great White Shark’ and ‘surfing’ rose from the gathered crowd.

Qing smiled at Ghida. “If they try to leave before we are back, I’ll simply soar across the waves and cut them down. So what is there to be afraid of, darling?” That’s when he realized he was still nearly naked, and his attempt at intimidation might fall into the insane lunatic category rather than the powerful battle mage he was going for. So he opened his inventory and equipped his armor and glaive, thunking the end on the ship’s deck. “Prepare the rowboat.”

“In this weather?” the captain asked.

“Yes,” Qing replied. “You won’t have far to row.”

With a kiss for Ghida, he whispered, “Do you mind if I siphon off a bit of mana?”

“Siphon away,” she said with a chuckle, and lowered her resistances.

* * *

Cleo scratched at the small of her back, where the metal pole had rubbed her skin raw. Although she had started getting used to the thick air that stank of farts and rotting meat, she pressed her nose into the nook of her elbow to breathe deep, trying to smell anything but the horrid stench.

She closed her eyes, shutting out the sight of the demonic camp, and tried to remember what mom had smelled like. It was flowers, she remembered that. Dad used to trade her a choice cut of meat for a bouquet.

What did they smell like?

Each bouquet had to have at least twelve flowers, each one with all its petals, or they wouldn’t count and dad wouldn’t accept them. The house always smelled real good after Dad had boiled the petals.

Cleo bit her lower lip, pushing away the sadness, and thought of how Dad had washed Mom’s hair, rinsing it with the flowery water.

Dad used to smile at Cleo and say that just because she was a butcher’s wife, she shouldn’t have to smell of meat. Mom would hit him and say she didn’t care, but she never turned him down, and always smiled when Cleo brought in flowers.

“Give her to me.” An alien voice cut through Cleo’s thoughts and she looked to where Rufus stood with Zulreth, arguing as usual.

“Back off,” Rufus said, his voice steady, but Cleo knew he was afraid. He had to be. The demon was three times as big, and they’d been stuck here for…forever. Every day he argued with the demons. If he wasn’t afraid, they’d just have left.

But she wasn’t scared. If they didn’t need her, why did they all want her so much? Besides, Qing would come and get her. She’d heard the funny-looking demon scream about him as they ripped him apart, again and again.

She shivered. That had been gnarly.

She turned and looked behind. In the distance stood the glowing red portal. The way back home to Elrydisan. Out of Hell.

She lifted her arm and scratched underneath the metal cuff.

If that stupid demon hadn’t been so fast, I’d have made it out.

Now they kept her chained. At least the bugs stayed away.

She looked from the glowing ring of purple magic she sat inside, across the writhing ground, and back to Rufus. On the one hand she wanted to get out of this damn camp and away from the disgusting demons, but once they left, where would they go? Anywhere else would just be further from the portal.

She sighed.

“Enough delays. Do your duty and escort us to the Darksoul Tower.”

“You do not know the Lord,” the massive demon said, growling as it loomed over Rufus. “Hand the key to me. I will take her. Do it without a fight, and I will even mention your name. Or we fight, and there will be nobody left to mention.”

Purple lightning arced around Rufus, reminding Cleo of Isadora’s cat whenever it saw the Baelor’s dog, its fur standing straight up.

“I am presenting her in person,” Rufus said, “and have had enough with your stalling tactics. The humans will not attack, Zulreth. You know it and so does your master. The longer you keep us here, the harsher the Devil’s punishment will be once he is free.”

“I think he’s going to eat you both, and you should just let me go,” Cleo said, forcing cheer into her voice. “If he is so strong, what’ll he need you for, bug-eye?”

Zulreth leaned back and laughed, four of his six arms on his chitinous waist. Then he glared at Rufus, his eight black eyes unreadable, but his mandibles retracted in a way that looked too much and too little like a smile at the same time. Cleo frowned in disgust.

“The Lord has waited for centuries,” the demon general said. “You think minutes, hours, or days count down here? He knows who brought you here, fleshling. Who funneled power to the surface? I am collecting on my investment, sorcerer.” A razor-sharp claw tapped Rufus on the chest. “You owe me.”

“Champion,” Rufus corrected. “And the Lord himself gave me this mission. We both know his power. You belong to him, and do not wish to incur his wrath.”

“He is not free yet, champion,” Zulreth said, sneering. “Until he arrives, this plane of Hell belongs to me. Hand over the key, or you stay here, forever.”

She hated herself for it, but she hoped Rufus wouldn’t give in. When the gigantic bug-like demon looked at her, it made her feel inhuman. Like how Dad had looked at a carcass. It was simply a thing.

At least Rufus talks to me. And when he sleeps, I can escape.

“I think you’ll just have to do as he says Rufus. He’s much bigger than you.”

“Shut up!” he said, before turning to the demon. “You dare stand against the freeing of the Devil?” His neck had grown red.

“I dare so much more,” Zulreth replied, extending his arms to surround the smaller human.

“Killing you would be but a snap of my fingers,” Rufus threatened, raising his staff to point at the demon’s chin, the glass ball on top glowing purple.

Zulreth leaned back, just an inch. “Some of us are tired of waiting, champion. We need to see the world burn. Now!”

“Tell it to someone who cares. I am here to free the Devil and get my wife back,” Rufus said. “Once I do, you’ll get your fun. Until then, stand aside, or we’ll find out just how much stronger my powers are down here.”

The two stared at one another, power crackling around Rufus, the demon’s clawed hands curling and unfurling.

Cleo licked her lips.

“I will tell my lieutenants,” Zulreth finally said, looking away.

“You will provide an escort and transportation to the tower.”

The demon general just laughed and stomped away, critters scattering around his legs.

“You hear that, Zulreth?” Rufus called after him. “I demand it!”

The demon turned. “Your demands mean nothing. You have your life, for now. Take the key and walk. See how far you make it. My army stays here. Most of it.” Then it turned and cackled as it moved away.

Rufus turned to Cleo, and she felt her mouth drawn into a thin line, and her stomach felt heavy.

Please hurry, Qing. I don’t know how much more time I can buy.

But as the purple lightning disappeared around Rufus, Cleo sat up straight and looked behind her.

What was that?

Something had ticked her back, and for a moment, she had felt something in her belly. Not the gnawing hunger, but something else.