“I’m just going to have a look around,” he’d said. “I’ll catch up. You guys go on ahead.”

Grindhouse had been inscrutible; said, “Alright,” and nothing more. Triomphe had flicked his perfect, gleaming tail and tossed his stupid, perfect head. Dag had a hunch, but he wouldn’t make those two wait up on him. This wasn’t the first time. Wouldn’t be the last.

This would only take a minute, he thought.

Hubris.

Heat panted at him from twin troughs of magma flowing alongside the ancient stone path. Only partway across, he heard the hellhound behind him and snorted in irritation. Now, of all times? Right fucking now?

But there they were, streaking out of the shimmering heat, bone jaws primed and snapping. They bounded along the fugitive magma crust, kicking up sparks in the wake of their claws.

Dag surged for the end of the narrow path. It opened up into small, dark room. Tarnished brass braziers lined the walls. An altar—or a tomb?—sulked at one end. Lizard, Dag’s dragonbat, circled his head with nervous titters.

“Come on,” Dag growled.

Heedless of nothing but his living, pounding heart, the dogs came. The burning organs in their skinny chests lit the room with hellish red.

Dag reared. His hooves came down hard on the first dog to try him, smashing scapulae and vertebrae into bone shards and embers. Another leapt at his back and found fleeting purchase—its teeth were hot enough to cauterize the puncture wounds they made—before Dag bucked it off, leaping, trampling it into the flagstones.

The last hellhound paced outside of his reach, huffing steam, hesitating.

Dag held his ground, hooves planted firmly, head lowered. He brayed his challenge.

The dog thought better.

Tucking its tail, it turned and ran. Dag gave the bones of its brethren another stomp for good measure.

“Now,” he said, eying Lizard on a brazier above, “let’s see what we’ve got.”

Lain across the top of the grave was a broken sword. Its broad blade was rusted, but the crossguard and pommel were still snug to the hilt. Huh. Not half bad.

A prize for his efforts. He brought it back to Grindhouse and Triomphe in his teeth.