Fallen University: Year Three

I pointed at the sky above the encampment. Several dragons were flying in lazy but orchestrated circles around the perimeter.

“You’re territorial creatures, aren’t you? They’ve already taken possession of the camp and everything in it. If you go in there possessively, you’re probably going to draw attention.”

“You were paying attention!” Hannah beamed at me delightedly. “See? Class lectures can be fun!”

“What about you?” Kai asked Hannah. “Piper, what about her? She knows everything.”

“First, no, she doesn’t. She knows lots of things, but not everything. Second, she doesn’t have experience in the underworld the same way you guys do. I want her to hang back and observe.”

“Third, I wouldn’t go if you paid me because I know I’d say the wrong thing to the wrong person and blow our cover all the way off,” Hannah added. “Jayce is the best choice.”

“Then it’s decided,” I said, rolling my neck. “Jayce, Michael, let’s go. Quietly. Yo

u should both be in your animal forms, probably. Just to be on the safe side.”

And that’s how I ended up creeping over brush and stone in the middle of the night, flanked by a wolf and a hellhound.

My life is so fucking weird.

There were no fences around the encampment, but there were guards circling the perimeter on the ground just like the dragons were circling the sky. The sky and ground patrols were even synchronized—a terrible decision on somebody’s part—so it was easy to time our approach.

We wended our way through the tents and makeshift shelters, looking for the nicest one we could find. The more important people would have better accommodations, I assumed.

I ducked my head, letting my hair fall in a curtain around my face, then curled up next to a tent like I was a demon soldier exhausted from the march. The other two followed my lead, lying down on either side of me. We waited, listening. There was nothing useful for a while, long enough to make me think we’d chosen a poor spot, but before I could suggest we move, a large minotaur stormed into the tent.

“General. A word.”

“Make it a quick one, Forin,” a low voice said. “I’m busy.”

“The men are exhausted. Rumblings of mass desertion and mutiny are spreading. We’re low on supplies and even lower on morale.”

“Morale? What does this look like, a fucking day camp? You tell your men that we are nearly there.”

“Where? No one knows where we’re going or what the plan is, and I can only force them to march for so long without giving them something to look forward to. Death. Destruction. Freedom. Any fucking thing they can sink their teeth into.”

There was a long pause followed by a heavy sigh. “Very well. Tell your men that we are headed for the First Temple. Our supplies are intended to be minimal to ease the crossing.”

“The crossing? You don’t mean the whole army.”

“I do. Gavriel is certain that his magic and the power of the portal will be enough to move the whole army from this plane to the other. How many days of provisions are left?”

“Ten.”

“We’ll be there in seven.”

There was a pause. The minotaur seemed to be grasping for a new argument. Finally, he spoke again, his voice gruff.

“They aren’t trained for recruitment. They won’t be happy about being sent to earth.”

“Did I say they would be tasked with recruiting?”

“Then what?”

“Use your head for something other than goring, Forin. We are an army, are we not?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“But nothing. Gavriel is tired of playing number games with the Custodians. He wants earth.”