Chapter 97

Frank sighed as he sat down on a large boulder. “Yes, it could be. You are right, Telantes. I am sorry.” During the trek to the mountains, Telantes had been subjecting the Anmah to the things that had killed him over and over again. Ga’briyel, over the last four sennights, had been stabbed by a sword, shot with an arrow, and beaten nineteen more times. There hadn’t been enough water for him to drown that many times, and they had not encountered any of Sayatan's minions, but he knew that the next night Telantes would start with the burning and crushing and suffocating. “Thank you, my friend,” he said, standing and holding out his hand. “Thank you for being willing to do this for me.”

“You are welcome, Frank Mistri el’Adama,” the spirit said, clasping the Anmah’s forearm tightly. Then he smiled grimly. “I do not think anyone in your company would be as willing.”

“No, definitely not. If they knew what I did away from camp, they would probably tie me up as soon as we stopped for the night