Specter Rising (Brimstone Network Trilogy) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

again.
    “Only way to know is to come with Boffa.”
    Lita watched the Terrapene for a moment, then looked at Bram.
    “It’s a chance we didn’t have before,” he said.
    The Specter guards looked less than enthused.
    “It’s a trap,” one bellowed, hand still clutching his drawn sword.
    “Why would one such as he show us mercy?” asked another. “We’re enemies to the soul.”
    Bram said nothing more, allowing Lita to make up her mind and hoping that she would make the right choice.
    “Follow the Terrapene,” she finally ordered. “If there’s even the slightest chance of keeping my mother, and our queen, alive, I will risk it.”
    “But, Princess,” one of the soldiers began.
    She silenced him with a look that said there would be no argument, and started to follow the Terrapene.
    They followed Boffa out into the fresh air of the Specter world and into a heavily wooded area of a deep valley. The Terrapene was like a bulldozer, pushing his way through the thick forest, leaving a path of overturned earth and broken trees.
    It seemed as though they had been climbing out of the valley forever.
    Bram tried to help the Specter soldiers with their burden, but they refused, nearly pushing him out of the way as they struggled to carry the queen’s stretcher up the steady incline.
    Lita moved up beside him and stopped for a moment, taking a drink from a canteen made from the mottled skin of some foreign beast. She offered it to Bram. “Stanis and Yosh have sworn a sacred oath to protect her no matter what, and this is part of that oath.”
    “So that’s their names,” Bram said as he drank some water and handed the canteen back to his sister. “I only want to help.”
    “It is not your place,” she answered, putting the water away and continuing with the trek.
    Bram took a deep breath and turned around to see how far they had come. He gasped aloud, barely able to comprehend the sight of what lay in the distance behind him.
    Down below, nestled in the bosom of the valley, was the decomposing body of a giant. Bram guessed that Ureichuras had been at least two hundred feet tall, and he had to wonder how the Specter could have defeated a race so huge. The remains were covered in a thick growth of moss and other vegetation. A few more years and you won’t be able to tell that’s a body, he thought.
    “Abraham?” Lita called, interrupting his thoughts. He turned from the spectacular, yet disturbing sight and continued to climb, quickening his pace to catch up.
    They marched on through the dense woods, the ground eventually growing more level, until they came to the edge of a flowing stream. It was nightfall, and Boffa informed them that their journey was complete for now.
    The Terrapene moved toward an area of thick brush, pushing it aside to reveal the entrance to a large, underground burrow. He disappeared inside for a few moments, then reemerged.
    “You will bring her inside,” Boffa ordered the Specter soldiers.
    The group moved toward the Terrapene, but he held up a hand stopping them. “Only queen.”
    Stanis and Yosh looked toward Lita, who stared at the turtle for a moment and then nodded, motioning for the soldiers to carry their burden into Boffa’s nest.
    They watched as the faithful soldiers maneuvered the stretcher holding Queen Ligeia down under the ground. Then Lita dropped her heavy pack and began to set up camp.
    “Do you trust them all down there together?” Bram asked, moving to help her gather up some kindling for a fire.
    “They’ll be fine,” she replied as she knelt before the small pile of sticks. Picking up two stones, she struck themtogether, creating a spark that lit a small flame. Carefully she blew on the flame, coaxing it into a nicely burning campfire.
    Silently, they sat and watched the flames grow. Bram leaned back against the base of an ancient tree and immediately felt his body begin to shut down. He was exhausted and, to keep himself awake, he began to talk.
    “Our