"Why don't you just use the wand to find out what you need to know?" Cuthbert asked, trying to jiggle the baby, and nearly dropping it.
Dreth patted his side. He had retrieved the magical device from the undead and secured it in a pouch. "I want to find out what the wizard knows first," said Dreth. "If he can direct me to my destination then we can save the wand for a real emergency. Anyway, the imp said the thing was 'picky', so there's always the chance it will go wrong. I need time to think how to use it best."
They were back in the lava tunnels again, following Smudge's directions. The Fearie was sitting on Percy's shoulder, tightly bound with some strips torn from his rags.
Dreth left the zombie behind and moved up to walk next to Redthorne, who was supporting Emerald. The woman had come round with no recollection of what had happened to her. Apart from some unsteadiness, she was unhurt.
"How did you get past the dragon anyway?" he asked the wizard.
Redthorne looked up and smiled a small smile. "Oh that was easy. We just said we were with you."
"Hmm. That was after you met up with your dark elf masters of course."
"Don't be foolish," retorted the wizard. "We bumped into them whilst, ah, securing a defensive position against the dragon. I had to pretend to make a deal, or they would have killed us both at once. I knew if I led them to you we could overcome them together. We make quite a team eh?"
"Don't bullshit me wizard, I know you'd destroy me in an instant if you could. You were looking out for number one."
The wizard scowled. "Yes, well. Maybe."
"Oh, it's nothing to be ashamed of, I would dispatch you without a thought if it became necessary too," said Dreth casually.
"How reassuring," replied the mage dryly. "I will bear that in mind."
"Are you sure you aren't a Dark Wizard? I mean, you seem pretty intent on getting this baby at whatever cost. That's not very usual for someone on the side of Good, as far as I know."
"Sometimes there needs to be sacrifices for the greater good," said Redthorne solidly. "I do what's needed, that's all."
Dreth nodded. "Well, just remember, so do I. Don't get any funny ideas. We currently travel the same path, so there's no need for you to die needlessly."
Redthorne raised an eyebrow. "Now who's talking out of character? I think you're getting soft Dreth. All this talk of 'no needless killing.' What would your masters think?"
"I have no masters," said Dreth with feeling, but then, because he was honest at least to himself, added: "Well, none I acknowledge anyway."
"How far is this exit?" interrupted Emerald in a weak voice. "I could use a rest. My body feels like it's been through a wringer."
Dreth looked back at Smudge. "How far Fearie?" he asked.
"There should be a door any minute now," she replied in a sullen voice. "It leads to a little used portion of the dungeon. Through that and I know the way into the service tunnels. If we use them I can get us to the Black Garden with no interruption."
"There's the door now," said Percy, pointing ahead at a stout wooden portal blocking their way.
"Go and check it out," ordered Dreth.
Grumbling the zombie complied, shuffling forward and pulling back rusting bolts until it swung open with a creak. He peered through and then slammed it shut quickly, throwing the locks back into place hurriedly.
He turned around and leaned against it. "Er, I don't think we should go this way. There must be another route we can take."
"What? Why not?" Dreth demanded.
"Er… Dragons! Yes, dragons. Hundreds of them," said Percy, waved his arms about. "Big ones."
"Dragons?" said Smudge. "Are you sure?"
"Oh yes. For sure. You can't miss thousands of hungry dragons staring you in the face."
"I don't know," said Cuthbert, tapping his chin with one finger. "Wouldn't all those dragons be making some noise?"
"They were, er, sleeping. Yes, sleeping," replied Percy.
"I thought they were all looking at you?" asked Redthorne.
"Some of them."
"There are no dragons, are there?" Dreth queried.
Percy looked from left to right for a moment, before giving up and doing a good impression of a sigh. "No."
"So, what's behind the door then?" Cuthbert asked, striding forward.
"No! Don't go in there!" Percy cried. "It's bad, really bad!"
"Worse than dragons?" Cuthbert pushed him to one side and fiddled with the bolts.
"Pretty much," said his friend miserably.
The others watched as the Cuthbert shoved open the door a crack and peered around.
"Well?" said Dreth. "What do you see?"
The zombie pulled his head back and looked at him. "It…"
"Yes?"
"There's…"