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Soon the creatures surrounded them Mirceo and Caspion drew in, back to back, as they often had when outnumbered in brawls Mirceo could always predict the de into a rhythm with him

Even as he fought on, Caspion said, "What happened doesn't change anything I can't let it"

"It changes everything! You've come with me four times Safe to say that you lust for ed" I can learn to be what you need Mirceo slew a large male

Caspion hacked at a particularly belligerent one "You os lay scattered; the living clambered over the massacred to reach them

"We both can Aren't relationships made of compromise?" Slash

Slice "What would a spoiled prince like you know about co?"

Swing "I know I'm ready to for you"

"Above all things"--jab--"I want a faithful ht think you can be true, but you're too young to know for certain"

Mirceo pivoted, searching for another target Caspion shifted with hios twitched all around theed them

Caspion flicked gore from his blade, then sheathed his weapon From his jacket, he produced a folded tarp When he spread it over the sand, Mirceo stepped on a corner to keep it fro off

With a grunt of thanks, Caspion hauled a Wendigo carcass over it

"Ah, I see" Mirceo cleaned and sheathed his sword "You plan to use therabbed the closest body and tossed it beside the other

As they labored, Caspion said, "You did good back there"

Mirceo couldn't stop his grin His plan to i!

After collecting a pile of headless corpses, he and Caspion each took a corner of the tarp and started dragging the

"Listen for a knocking sound," Caspion said as they headed deeper into the valley, ever closer to the fortress "It's a gulg's jawbone opening"

"Lovely"

"And remember that you can't trace It's so second-nature you'll try it reflexively"

"I understand Just for reference, if I need to kill a gulg, where do I strike?"

"You don't Its brain is supposed to be far below the surface"

Treht? He snatched a corpse by a wrist and ankle, awaiting a target

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

A giant fang-filled , serpentine tongue curled in the gulg's slio, and the jaws snapped shut The gulg descended once more

"Good job," Caspion called They increased their pace The next gulg was on Caspion's side He hurled another Wendigo

SNAP! The mouth slammed closed

One gulg after another surfaced, each appeased by its meal

"This is working!" Mirceo tossed another offering "Where does their territory end?"

"See those red boulders?"

Mirceo squinted against the wind and lanced back at the few Wendigos left on the tarp "We'll run out"

Nod "Get ready to haul ass You stay on odsdamned shadow, vampire"

Mirceo grinned behind his scarf "Eternally, demon"

As soon as Caspion used the last of their bait, he and Mirceo took off They veered right, then left, dodging yawningjaws

Pu him into chaos

A wind stor dust devils twisted All around them: KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK The winds distorted the sounds Dunes crested and toppled over, waves on a sea of tan

Can't see him!

Caspion yelled, "They're fucking everywhere! Stay with me!"

Mirceo followed the de round He and Caspion leapt and careened, trying to predict the creatures' movements

Caspion kept glancing back "Faster, vampire!"

"Eyes forward, demon!"

"We're almost clear--" KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK Caspion's foot landed atop a gulg just as it opened He teetered on the lip, arue seized the de and yanked

Caspion disappeared inside the thing!