Hero of Fire by P. E. Padilla

Author:P. E. Padilla [Padilla, P. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crimson Cat Publishing
Published: 2019-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

22

“That’s it,” Kate said. “We’re going back now. We need to get back to Gateskeep.”

To continue would be folly. Benedict’s injuries were bad enough, but he was healing slowly, not getting worse. Jurdan, on the other hand, was fighting the zaggash poison. The longer they stayed in Hell, the worse he would get. Eventually, the poison would kill him.

Despite what she had argued before going through the gate, she was not willing to sacrifice one of her men, especially one who had been so friendly a person to a new Black recruit. She wasn’t going to do it.

“Kate,” Jurdan said, “we have to continue.” She was shaking her head violently, but he caught her up in his eyes. “The poison won’t kill me for a while. We have time. This mission is too important to abandon. There is only us. If we don’t complete it, the whole Order, the whole world, may die.

“If we go back, I might get treatment for the poison, and I might live. But for how long? If the demons’ plans succeed, we’ll all die. Here or on the other side of the gate, I’d rather not die, but if I have to, I want it to mean something.”

Kate glared at him. “No, Jurdan. You have to live. We’ll get you better, and then we’ll wait for the demons to open the gate again and we’ll try again.”

“You know that won’t work, Kate. When they open the gate again, it will be because they have completed their plans. It will be too late for us. We need to do this now.

“I’ll help to the best of my ability, but if I falter, you have to leave me behind. The mission, that’s the important thing. You said so yourself.”

“No, I was wrong,” Kate said. “Don’t give up, Jurdan, please.”

Jurdan laughed, but it cut off abruptly and his eyes squinted in pain. “I’m not giving up. I’ll fight for every second I have. I am simply being practical. If I can, by my sacrifice, help save the world, I think that’s a pretty good bargain. How many people have the opportunity to do that, even among the Black?

“Are you saying I can’t be a hero? Begging your pardon, but no one can tell me I can’t be a hero. Don’t you try, Kate.”

His smile, genuine though shadowed by underlying pain, broke her heart.

“Kate, it is the right thing,” Peiros said.

Aurel nodded at her, as did Visimar. Benedict had his eyes locked on her, watching to see what she would do. She raised an eyebrow at him, and he shrugged and gave her a thumbs up.

It seemed that it was unanimous.

“I…” she started.

“You don’t need to say anything, Kate,” Jurdan said. “Not right now. Let’s get going. We have a demon lord to track down, and I’m not getting any younger. Prettier, yes, but younger, not so much.”

Her laugh was more an explosive exhalation, but it felt good. Much better than going along with a decision that would cost her friend his life.

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