To Astaroth

“It has been five days since we got here, and yet, no sign of Ryder, don’t you think he should have gotten here before now?” Syrana asked Xanth.

They had arrived at Fang Peek five days ago and had taken shelter in the warm caves of the mountains. Fang Peek was just past the cold Zagaroth mountains of Erstonia but they differed with sharp contrast in temperatures.

The place, Fang Peek, had gotten its name from the tooth-like structures that had been affixed to the roof of most of its caves by nature, and underneath its mountains was silent hot lava that kept the place hot and prevented snow from staying on its ground. The lowest of the caves was the hottest, and it was in there the sacrifice would take place, for it was within the boiling lava, that Osyron and his army of undead warriors had been trapped and sealed off.

“He will come,” Xanth replied to Syrana, sounding very assured. “And he will come with Lyra.”

“He’s not coming,” Iris said. Her expression was cold and her heart held n