Cade allowed himself a moment to relax, the sounds of concentrated chewing all that could be heard.

Or … was it?

There was a strange noise coming from outside. Halfway between a bird and an insect, a buzzy trill that was almost musical in its utterance.

In an instant, he was at the window, seeking out approaching enemies in the desert. He let out a strangled gasp, choking on the jerky as he pointed wildly.

The desert was no longer there. In its place … was another world.

CHAPTER

8

Purple. Covering the rolling landscape like a cloak. There was not a single tree visible, only the waving fronds of violet fields, stretching on in an endless expanse.

Whatever creature had made the noise was nowhere to be seen, likely hidden among the tall grass. They were in another place. Lost, on a piece of another world.

“Holy shit,” Yoshi breathed beside Cade.

The others crowded around the single window, and then Cade heard footsteps running.

“Come on,” Amber called, and Cade turned to see her rushing up the stairs.

He followed, heart pounding, mounting the steps two at a time. At the top, he staggered to the parapet, careful of the crumbling rocks that dislodged as he leaned against it.

The rubble tumbled down, landing on a crust of sand and salt. Some of the desert remained, a perfect ring of it where the settlement had been teleported from one place to the next—and them with it.

But it was the sheer expanse of the place that astounded him. The ground, undulating gently as far as the eye could see. No mountains. No landmarks. Just the purple sea of grass.

Cade stared as the others caught up, a soft breeze that he had not felt in the desert cooling his sweat-damp skin. The raft of expletives from the others slowly petered out, as they surveyed the alien landscape for any sign of what would come next.

“Codex,” Cade said, his voice hardly above a whisper. “What happens next?”

No answer.

“Can you even tell us if we’re going to get help?” Cade asked. “Is it just us, or are there other contenders here?”

Finally, the Codex swiveled in the air, fixing its robotic lens on him.

“You have your instructions. No more information regarding the game rules will be offered.”

Cade stared at it. The damned thing was as cryptic as it had been the very first day he had encountered it.

“Little git,” Amber growled, throwing a hand at it. The machine easily moved away, and almost mocked her as it hung out of reach in empty space.

“Can you tell us who the others are?” Trix asked.

But there was no response.

“Ask it something else,” Bea prompted. “See what it will answer.”

“Codex … tell us about Jomsborg,” Grace said. “Who lived here?”

The machine zoomed closer.

“The Jomsvikings were a secretive order of elite pagan mercenaries from the tenth century AD, fighting for the highest bidder. The brotherhood swore never to flee, even in the face of overwhelming odds. No women or children were allowed in their fortress.”