Chapter 26: The Eight Seals, Part 4

"We found the remains of the minion you mentioned and the remains of your dagger. How in the world did you kill a minion of that power with just a dagger?"

"I stabbed and hoped," Raffé replied, reflexively rubbing his arm, trying not to recall how it had looked shredded into gory strips and pieces. "He'd already destroyed my left arm, and I was bleeding out rapidly. It was all I had left."

Håkon grunted. "We are most definitely working on your magic when we get home."

"If we get home," Alrin said quietly. He still looked wan and bruised, hair even messier than usual, and his hands were barely holding on to the mug of tea in his lap. "We still have six seals to locate, not to mention the demons that have already come through."

"Seals?" Raffé asked. A tense silence fell around him, as though he had said something displeasing. "What is going on?"

Håkon raked a hand through his hair, scowling at the fire. "Have you ever heard of the Eight Seals of the Entrance?"