The planning was quick but meticulous. There would only be a handful of people heading into the mountains with us, mostly asha and what Deathseekers General Lode could afford to spare, while the rest surrounded the mountain in anticipation of further attacks. Mithra’s Wall, I learned, had dozens of entrances, and Knox supplied us with most of that knowledge. He too had volunteered to accompany us despite his injury.

“Most of the caves inside are interconnected,” he told us. “And from what King Kance’s spies have reported, Aadil entered one of the topmost entrances. I’ve explored those caves before with my buddies in the past, and I’m the only one here experienced with the routes and passageways along that tier. They’re not as many as the ones below it, and almost all the openings lead into a large chamber, so you should have no trouble finding anyone hiding inside.”

The remnants of the Drychta army were unlike what anyone expected. All the fight had leached out of the men. They were waiting almost meekly when we arrived and, once we were near enough, deliberately threw down their spears, axes, and bows.

“They’re surrendering,” Zoya noted with astonishment. “But why? Could this be another trap?”

“Let’s find out.” General Lode strode forward and barked a command in Drychta. One of the men responded in a long, halting monologue, and all sank to their knees in unison.

“They’re frightened,” the man translated. “They’ve been worked hard and nearly starved the last few days. The blighted were the last straw. All they want is some food and water, and they’re more than willing to let us pass. This man says they’ve been mistreated terribly. They were promised good wages for their families if they followed Aadil into battle, but they have not been paid. He says their king is a madman.”

“That’s horrible,” Althy breathed softly.

Lode frowned. “I’m not sure if I translated this correctly, but they claim there is forbidden magic in their bones, and that they have been condemned to the seven hells by Aadil, who threatened to turn them into demons if they disobeyed.”

A chill ran through me. I knew what that meant. Had Aadil allowed all his army to be blighted? “Stay away from them,” I barked at the general and wove my Delving. My heart lurched at what I saw: the runes festered red in the air before them, all compromised.

Kalen was already one step ahead of the others. “Channel wards on them all!” he barked at both asha and Deathseekers alike. “Do it quickly, while we still have time!” His hands were a blur, wrapping tendrils of protective magic around the Drychta who had spoken, then hurried to the next.