That immediately catches her interest. "You know where Ethan is?"

" you know where he is? "

"COME WITH ME, AND ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED. THE IRON COURT AND MY LORD MACHINA AWAIT."

"...Fine. Lets go. "

"Can I at least bring Ares as a ride? I'll leave him outside once we're there."

Ironhorse stood at the mouth of the tunnel, stamping impatiently. Sparks flew from its hooves as it glowered at Isiea. "COME," it ordered, with a blast of steam from its nostrils. "FOLLOW THE TROD TO THE IRON COURT. IF YOU WILL NOT WALK, THE GREMLINS WILL CARRY YOU." It tossed its head and reared, flames shooting out its muzzle. "OR PERHAPS I WILL RUN BEHIND YOU, BREATHING FIRE--"

An ice spear flew through the air, striking Ironhorse between the ribs, bursting into steam as the fire engulfed it. The horse screamed, a high-pitched whistle, and whirled, hooves sparking as they struck the ice. The gremlins skittered forward, gazing wildly about, searching for intruders.

"Hey, ugly!" called a familiar voice. "Nice place you got here! Heres a thought, though. Next time, try a hideout a little more resistant to fire than an ice cave!"

She looks to find who said that.

She turned, having a vague idea of who said that.

The red-haired elf waved at the girls, grinning from the far side of the cavern. Ironhorse screamed and charged, scattering gremlins like birds as he bore down on Puck. Puck didn't move, and the great iron beast knocked him flat in the ice, trampling him with his steel hooves.

"Oh, that looked painful," called another Puck, a little farther down. "We really need to talk about your anger-management issues."

With a roar, Ironhorse charged the second Puck, moving farther away from me and the trod. The gremlins followed, laughing and hissing, but kept a fair distance from the raging beast and its hooves.

A cool hand clamped over their mouths.

She turned her head to see who was behind them.