Page 12 of Warmongers and Wands
“She is a witch as well?”
I nodded. “We’re all witches. Seven sisters.”
Diebin let out a stream of chatter.
“He says he knows your sister. She has convinced him to vacate several homes and a chicken coop.” Hadur scowled. “That’s why we do not have more chicken for dinner.”
“Sorry?” I squeaked, thinking that the guy looked really intimidating when he scowled. Kind of a combination of scary and hot.
“No matter. Diebin has other options when it comes to providing me what I need. A few years ago, he discovered a large building filled with food and household goods.”
Shit, the raccoon was probably raiding the new Walmart that had opened in the town just over from Accident. I ran my hand across the cotton sheets under the pelts and took note of candles, dishes, silverware, even a few books stacked up on the table. Paperbacks. Stephen King. Huh. No surprise there.
“I’ll get you some more tea, and you rest. When you wake up, we’ll talk more.” Hadur stood and made his way over to a mismatched set of mugs with quirky sayings, selecting a Keep Calm and Slay Your Enemies one. He dropped a teabag in and poured steaming water from a bright blue saucepan.
Less than an acre. For two hundred years. A war demon. Shit, I felt so bad for this guy. Even though he didn’t seem to have been driven mad by his captivity, the way in which he’d eagerly pledged himself to me told me he was desperate to be free of his confines.
And Iwasgoing to free him. As soon as I could walk again. Which might be a while. I suddenly envisioned myself trying to hop through the forest and up the side of a mountain with a broken leg and the reality of my situation came crashing down on me.
Judging from the faint light outside the one window, it was early morning the day after I’d left the werewolf compound. Had anyone realized I was missing yet? Probably not. There was a good chance no one would know I was gone until I didn’t show up at the family dinner on Sunday at Cassie’s house. Maybe if one of my sisters called me for something and I didn’t respond, but that still might be days before they sent up an alarm.
I hated the thought of them worrying about me, but even more, I was filled with self-pity at the realization that no one would miss me for days. No one. Not even a cat or a dog. I actually envied Hadur his raccoon buddy. I didn’t even have that.
“My sisters are probably going to eventually come looking for me,” I told the demon. “Is there some way I can get a message to them? A flare? Smoke signals? A cell phone?”A cell phone. “Actually, can you go back to my truck and find my cell phone?”
The raccoon chattered and hopped off the table, dashing through something that looked suspiciously like a doggie door, while Hadur brought me a hot cup of tea. “Diebin will find your belongings. But in the meantime, you must rest and heal.”
I drank the tea, feeling immediately drowsy, the pain in my leg reduced to a dull throb. Nice tea. Nice stew. I’d sleep for a bit. And hopefully when I woke up, Diebin would be back with my cell phone.
