Page 92 of Made

“Not helpful.”

“But true.”

The creature looked toward the river. “We can swim. We’re good at swimming.”

“How do you know?”

“We remember from before we were here.”

“But you don’t remember how you came to be here.”

“No.”

Under most circumstances, that would sound suspicious, but Keir’s faith in the monster’s honesty held.

“And you’ll not be harmed should you enter Styx?” Keir asked.

“We think not.”

“Let’s say you can follow the barge and swim to freedom. Will the Land of the Living accept you? Are you a creature of the Underworld who can’t leave here?”

“We… were not born here.”

“Well, ‘tis definitely a point in favor of believin’ it can leave,” Killian told Keir.

“Where would you go?” Keir pressed Exscruffenrox further even though in all the long centuries of his captivity the monster never dared imagine what it might do if freed.The question wasn’t a factor in the decision to help or not to help, Keir was just curious.

“We don’t know,” said Exscruffenrox. “But we think we’d be happier anywhere without chains. If we had someone to talk to sometimes, that would be nice.”

“Ye can no’ be thinkin’ of takin’ him home,” said Killian.

“Of course not. We already have dogs. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. If it comes to helping Exscruffenrox relocate, like a witness protection program, I have an idea where he might go and be welcomed. Now. What do we have that could be used to break the chain?”

Keir’s gaze wandered to the torches that had, according to best guess, been created to burn eternally with an unseen, unknown fuel source. “Is your chain made of iron?” he asked Exscruffenrox. “Do you know?”

“Iron?” it asked. “Is that the thing fae don’t like?”

Keir searched his memory before answering. “I think there was a myth, in the distant past, regarding fae and iron.”

“When we were chained, something was said about fae fearing this metal.”

Killian said, “You’d think Hades would know if ‘twas a myth.”

“You would,” Keir agreed. “But gods can be susceptible to gossip like anyone.”

“I’ve heard that, too.”

“Also, whoever chained Exscruffenrox here millennia ago might’ve forgotten about it. Or become disinterested. Even if they remembered the faulty theory behind making the chain iron, what would be their motivation to update?”

“Concur. And I know where you’re goin’ with this. It’s been a while since I hung around blacksmiths, but I’ve been known to find amusement in watchin’ the work while enjoyin’ a sip or two.”

“You’ve always been easily entertained by liquid refreshment.”

“True enough, but I did learn things.”

“Like what?”

“Like, for instance, that real iron would’ve rusted away and been on the ground in flakes long, long ago.

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