Chapter 62: Finding Theridialis

"My Ruler," he said, panting slightly as though he'd come to me in a great hurry.

I stepped back from him, half-turning to allow him to see I wasn't alone. He bobbed nods and stared with wide eyes at my

sister and the drach before gulping down a breath of air.

"What is it?" Had he found a cure? At least we'd be able to save some of the demons. Who was I kidding? We might be able

to save Ram.

But the little cook's face twisted into despair. "I'm sorry," he almost wailed the words, "I've failed you completely."

So, no hope at all, then. "It's all right," I said, and it really was. "None of this mess has gone the way we wanted it

to."

He shook, he was so worked up, off-kilter form vibrating with regret, one bulging eye twisting away to showing the white.

"There's something missing," he said, turning from me to pace a tight circle in a hobbling gate on his uneven legs.