"Did they all have to die?"
I'd had a thousand things I wanted to ask. That wasn't one of them, but the question slipped out before I could stop it. The Lord of Ash's eyes widened slightly, and I quickly looked away, my tail twitching nervously. Now was not the time to question this demon, not when so much rested on securing his help. How could I have allowed myself to speak so carelessly?
Instead of getting angry, the Lord of Ash chuckled, a deep, resonant growl like the crackling of a bonfire. "You've changed, little one," he rumbled, "but not so much that I can't recognize you." His voice hardened. "And yes, they touched one they shouldn't have. It's only natural their entire kingdom shall burn."
I let out a small breath of relief, my shoulders slumping slightly. If he was willing to discuss it, I had one more question to venture. "But why all of them? Couldn't you have spared the innocent in the city?"
