Hidden among Yourselves (Spell Weaver Book 3) by Bill Hiatt

Author:Bill Hiatt [Hiatt, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-10-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10: Ashes to Flesh; Dust to Blood

Of course I knew that Cerberus was waiting on the other side. As the boat drew near the opposite shore, I could not see him in the darkness, but I could hear his relentless canine footsteps padding back and forth on the stones, waiting for us to be within reach.

If the stories were true, Orpheus had charmed him, but as Apollo had reminded me, I was no Orpheus. The strategy I had used on Charon might have worked, but I was hesitant to use Zom as a blaster again so soon. The nectar and ambrosia had regenerated our strength but not the mystical power of the sword, which was still not at full strength—and which I probably should try to reserve for Hecate. We might be able to beat Cerberus with a combination of my music and a coordinated attack by the guys, but one miscalculation, and Cerberus would be using someone’s arm as a chew toy. No, I needed to come up with something a little less risky.

I reached out with my mind and touched Cerberus’s. I had no illusion that a beast so powerful could be easily controlled that way, but I also doubted he would automatically be shielded the way powerful Olympians, faeries, and even human sorcerers were. Perhaps I could read enough of his mind to find something useful.

I could certainly read the creature’s mood: angry, impatient to shred us with its fangs—but that much I could have guessed. I tried to push a little deeper, to find something useful. The ferry was approaching the shore, and I could see Cerberus shifting impatiently in the shadows, the red glint in his eyes now visible. The guys had their hands on their sword hilts, and Carla was readying her bow.

I couldn’t see a way to win that kind of battle, though. I had no doubt Artemis’s bow and our magic swords could injure Cerberus, but injuring him might make Hades angry, and I didn’t want to have to fight Hades if we could avoid it.

The ferry was nearly at the shore, and I could have sworn I heard Cerberus’s eager panting, when I finally came up with an idea. I whispered it quickly to the other party members, who were skeptical of its success.

“It’s the only way I can see us getting through this without having even more trouble later,” I whispered urgently. The ferry touched the riverbank, and I could feel Charon’s impatience hitting me in slow but powerful waves.

I began to sing and then to cast. Charon’s impatience escalated, but I ignored him. He wasn’t exactly obligated to wait until we were ready to disembark, but I hoped his oath not to interfere with our quest would stop him from actually throwing us off before we were ready.

I let my magic flow around all of us except Jimmie, who wouldn’t need it, since Charon was trained to attack only the living if they tried to enter, and Jimmie, as he was fond of reminding me at every turn, was dead.

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