The man hadn’t seen Alyss, so far as Eira could tell. She suspected he’d be acting very different if he had. Which meant she still had an advantage.
“I will go,” Eira said awkwardly, stressing the last part. In the corners of her eyes she could see the tiny crack in the wall shift. Closing. Eira held a sigh of relief. Now was not the time for heroics on Alyss’s part. Her friend would be of significantly more help keeping herself hidden and striking at the right moment. “I’ll go with you.”
“Enough dawdling. Up,” the man barked.
Eira moved as slowly as possible, trying to get a view of as much of the room as she could in the process. The people around her had scampered back. Most still slept, as if one of their own being manhandled out wasn’t even remotely odd. Of course, none rose to help her.
When Eira was fully upright, the man grabbed her sleeves and yanked them up. The muzzle of the flashfire pressed further into her temple. He knew she had no shackle. She was as dangerous as he was.
More dangerous.
Eira made no sudden movements.
“Come with me.” The knight forced her through the cavern. Two others were waiting at the entrance; each had their thumbs poised above their own flashfires. The barrels of the hand cannons pointed in her direction.
Eira kept her magic right under her skin. She’d only have a second to react if one of them got twitchy with the triggers. Could she encase herself in ice fast enough to withstand the blasts? Unlikely, given all she knew
about the power of flash beads and their ability to cut through magic. The phantom sensations of the blows against the hull of the Stormfrost ghosted her midsection. It behooved her to see how all this played out, complying peacefully, for now.
She was escorted through the tunnel. There was no sign of Mel. Her stomach twisted…and then fell through when she emerged back onto the plateau to find Mel and another knight.
“Take me to see Salveus. Please. I have delivered to him one of Slip’s allies. That is worth reward, is it not? Let me go back. Let me serve Her Majesty once more, please,” Mel begged one of the feathered-helmet knights with wide eyes.
Eira swallowed down the taste of bile. She’d been betrayed. Outed. But rather than anger, she merely felt pity. What a pathetic existence to be groveling to return to the service of a ruler like Carsovia’s—the same ruler that had condemned Mel here and probably hadn’t thought of her once since.
Putting Mel behind, Eira focused on what was ahead.
The knights led her down the winding pathway on the interior of the mine, circling to one of the lowest levels and back into the heart of the stone. Every distant, faint crack of rock, every sigh of earth and plop of a stone springing loose, had Eira glancing from the corners of her eyes.
Was Alyss following? The knights were setting a brisk pace so Eira doubted Alyss could keep up easily without giving herself away. Eira would prepare herself to be without aid for a short period while her friend caught up.
The end of the tunnel was barred off with an iron door and heavy padlock. There were chains on the walls and familiar crimson stains. Eira was already setting her jaw and rolling back her shoulders. Bracing herself.
“In,” the knight holding the flashfire commanded gruffly with a nudge to her temple. As if Eira could’ve somehow forgotten he’d been threatening her life the entire time.
She stepped over the iron threshold, into the far back of the tunnel. Sure enough, imprinted on the chains were additional runes to remove magic. Which meant the moment she was shackled, she’d lose her powers. Eira glanced over her shoulder as the man moved her into place. There were two more knights behind the two escorting her, halfway up the tunnel, also with flashfires in hand.
If she moved quickly, she could probably take the two by her and then protect herself from any shots of those above. She could then get up to them before they had a chance to reload. Though it’d be better to assume they were all sorcerers and armed with more than just the flashfires…still, she could probably take them on.
Or…she could comply and let them take her magic away.
They would surely tell Salveus of their recent capture. Regardless if they believed Mel or not about Eira being involved with Slip, she was enough of an unknown that Salveus should want to see her for himself. He’d tangled with Adela, and Eira had long ago learned the resemblance was uncanny. If she went along with everything, they would likely bring him to her. And, if not, Alyss would find her and help her escape. Or she’d figure a way out on her own.
Eira remained the model prisoner and allowed them to place the shackles around both her wrists. She had a fairly long leash of chain, but didn’t take advantage of it. She stood almost perfectly still, eyes following the knights as they locked her in.
“Still so defiant,” the knight said slowly. “Such sharp eyes. I should be careful to look at them too long or they might cut me.” He smirked. Arrogant with the power he thought he had. That Eira allowed him to continue thinking he had. “Now, I’m going to ask a few simple questions. It will go easier if you answer honestly.”
Eira remained silent. Her stare seemed to unnerve him, as he took a small step backward. Perfect.
“Slip is dead and rotting, has been for two years. I was there when we caught the rat bastard. So don’t tell me that you’re with him or try to sell out a ghost.” The knight chuckled. “Though, maybe you knew that and were trying to become the next escape master of the mines?”
Continued silence.
“All of this will end quickly if you show us the tunnels you used to get in and get people out. We will find them eventually, just like we did Slip. Tell me now and spare yourself some pain.” The knight waited and Eira continued to simply stare. He took a step forward, looming over her. He was a good head taller, but Eira continued to feel as if she were the one looking down on him. The longer the silence dragged on, the more his face tensed, to the point that his eye twitched and his voice rose. “What is your goal here?”
Eira waited a breath, then said, as calmly as possible, “I have business with Salveus. Bring him here.”
The knight nearly jumped out of his skin when she spoke. He snorted and shook his head. “You think you can command me? You think you can just demand to see the overseer?”
“I have a message for him, and only him.”
“From who?” The knight was regarding her more warily now. As if he was finally seeing her for the dangerous creature she was, despite being chained.
“I have a message for him, and only him,” Eira repeated.
“We have ways to get you to talk,” the man leaned in and growled.
Eira merely smiled a silent challenge—do your worst—and also a threat
—and see how well it works out for you.
“They all start out strong, but even the hardest stone will crack.” The knight stepped away. “Let’s see how long it takes you.” He turned to his comrade. “Do not hold back.”
She was bracing herself when his armored fist sank into her gut. Eira exhaled through clenched teeth and a wild grin, locking eyes with the first knight as the second reared back for another blow.
 |
She leaned against the wall. Collapsed onto the floor. Blood streamed down the side of her face. It pooled around her shattered foot. Pain, bright and hot, flashed behind her eyes. Two ribs were broken, probably. Her ragged breaths were the only sound in the tunnel. The knights’ footsteps had finally faded away but she had managed to keep her consciousness. Grim gratitude for what the Pillars put her through pulsed with every ache in her body.
“All right, Alyss, now is the time,” Eira rasped. It was the first sound she’d made in what felt like hours. Time had stopped during her beating.
The wall across from Eira pulled back like a curtain, opening to the side. Alyss rushed out, eyes wide. She pressed her hands into Eira’s sides and Eira let out a hiss of pain. But Alyss didn’t ease up. Magic flowed into her and soon the agony subsided into the warmth of her friend’s skilled hands as flesh mended.
“How did you know I was here?” Alyss whispered. “And if you did, why didn’t you call me sooner? I was waiting for some kind of signal. Eira, I—”
“I didn’t want you to come and help me,” Eira said gently as Alyss moved down to her ankle. Her friend’s eyes were already welling with tears that Eira didn’t want to spill over. “Please don’t feel guilty.”
“Why?” Alyss shook her head as Eira gritted her teeth against the pain of bones knitting. “Why didn’t you ask me to help? I should have—”
“No.”
“I’m not useless in a fight, you know!” Alyss snapped. Her anger came from a place of worry.
“I know. Alyss, I am the first person to say that you are the most capable, the strongest, and best among us. There will be a time for you to fight, soon,” Eira whispered calmly. “But I’m waiting for them to bring Salveus to me.”
“What? How do you know they will?” “A feeling.”
“Or they will torture you for days.”
“We don’t have days,” Eira reminded her. “I’m going to wait a bit longer. I suspect they’re going to him now. After what I said—and all I didn’t—he’s going to want to come and see me for himself.”
“And then we kill him?” Alyss moved up to Eira’s face, cupping her cheeks.
“I’ll let you deal the first blow if you want.” Eira grinned slightly. Alyss returned the expression. “I very much want.”
“If the next time they come back, it’s without him, we’re breaking me free and running. If it is with him…break me free on my signal.”
Alyss nodded.
“Have you seen the others?” Eira couldn’t help but ask.
She shook her head. “This place is much too large…I admit, when I found you, I stopped exploring and stuck with you.”
“That’s all right.” Eira squeezed Alyss’s hand.
“Want me to get these off you now? Just to be safe?” Alyss touched the shackles.
Eira considered it, revising her plan slightly. “Can you break them?” “Metalwork is more Noelle’s realm of expertise. But maybe if I…”
With delicate, small motions, Alyss worked a thin layer of dirt into the lock
of the shackle.
It continued expanding and expanding as Alyss added more and more to it. The metal groaned and began to swell. Sweat dripped off Alyss’s nose from her intense focus. The pressure on Eira’s wrist was minimal. How Alyss was using some of the dirt as a barrier so it didn’t apply pressure beyond the shackle itself was an incredible feat of magical talent. Not that she was surprised in the slightest, given her friend’s skill.
The shackle on her right wrist cracked. “You can stop there,” Eira said.
“But—”
“The other one now.” Eira glanced up the tunnel. There was no sign or sound of footsteps, but she imagined they wouldn’t leave her alone for long. Alyss repeated the process, stopping just before the shackle popped off.
It held together. But barely.
“What are you—” Alyss was interrupted again, but this time not by Eira. There were the footsteps Eira had been waiting for.
“Go,” Eira whispered as quietly as possible. “Hide.”
Alyss nodded, scrambling back into her wall. As the rock closed, Eira saw the tiny slit—now knowing where it was—that Alyss left behind to breathe and peer through. Eira hung her head as the footsteps grew louder. She didn’t move even as they came to a stop just outside the door. Even though her wounds were healed, the blood was still there, enough to give the illusion of injury should she sell it.
The padlock on the door opened. Two highly polished boots came into her field of view. Eira slowly lifted her head. There was a guard hovering just on the other side of the door—thankfully only one—but her focus was on the man before her.
Salveus had come.
“I hear we have business.” His voice was all arrogance. He crouched down to her level, resting his hand on her head, balling it into a fist and pulling up her face the rest of the way. His fingers relaxed and his eyes went wide the moment he met her intense stare. “You…”
“Hello, Salveus,” Eira said, as soft as the whisper of a dagger sinking between a man’s ribs.
He released her, jumping backward. “No. No…” He laughed. He was so focused on Eira that he didn’t notice the rock slowly crusting around his boots. “You look like her, I’ll grant you. But Adela is dead.”
Eira tilted her head and decided to play along. “Am I?” “I killed you—killed her myself.”
“Then perhaps I am nothing more than a ghost back for vengeance.” Eira balled her hands into fists and lunged, tugging on the shackles. Her wrists strained, a moment of nearly unbearable pressure.
Shackles shattered. Time slowed. Eira’s magic surged back to her the moment the bindings were fully broken. Her skin emitted a hazy frost into the air as ice coated her, shielding her.
At the same moment, Alyss lunged forward, emerging from the wall like a living golem and charging for Salveus’s knight. She wielded a sword of stone, just like the ones Eira had seen her practice making during the tournament.
“Keep him alive,” Eira said hastily. Alyss stopped, wide-eyed, mid strike. But Eira couldn’t pay her any heed. Magic was alight under her fingertips. She would freeze Salveus in place. Worse. She would—
“Thank the Mother.” Cullen’s armored arms threw around her. Eira relaxed into him, but only briefly. Surprise struck her at the sudden realization that he was there.
“How…” Eira looked him up and down. He was the one in the armor. No wonder Alyss had halted. “Oh.” They all had their ways and methods of maneuvering and Eira needed to focus on their singular goal.
She returned her attention to Salveus, still frozen under her control.
With a needlepoint dagger of ice in her palm, Eira tapped him under the chin. “I might let you live, if you tell me what I want to know.”
“It…it is you…it’s true what they say…Adela does not die.”
“And I will haunt you into the next world.” She pressed the point of the dagger into his throat. “Why are you sending flash beads to the Pillars in Meru?”
He laughed weakly. Nervously. Quivering and trembling. “If I tell you, I am dead. So I will not dishonor Her Majesty.”
It was going to be impossible to negotiate with anyone from Carsovia with this zealousness. Eira gritted her teeth. She wanted answers, but one answer was probably as good, or as likely, as any of the others.
The empress was funding the Pillars to disrupt the treaty, as Vi had feared. Because she wanted to plant a friendly leader on Meru’s throne. Perhaps Ulvarth was somehow related to her. The empress’s motivations didn’t matter in the end.
But it all came back to this man—and he was the only thing between her and the ship that would get them all back to Meru and beyond.
“Then die.” Eira gave him a far cleaner death than he deserved. But as much as she would’ve taken her time, there wasn’t time to waste. Eira dismissed the dagger, his blood splattering to the ground.
“You said I could deal the first blow.” Alyss had a bit of a pout.
“Oh right. Sorry…” Eira rubbed the back of her neck. “The knight— Cullen—was a bit unexpected. But you can be the one to cut off his foot, if you’d like? We should get moving.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Alyss knelt and set to the task, her medical knowledge allowing her to make quick work of it.
But it took long enough that Cullen ran his hands over Eira’s face, no doubt pushing away blood and gore. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I should have come sooner—when I heard they had you. I was trying to convince him to come.”
“You did the right thing.” Eira grabbed his wrists and closed her eyes as he pressed his forehead into hers. She was immensely glad she hadn’t tried to dictate where everyone would be. Her friends’ instincts were triumphant in the end. “Thank you.”
“I wish I could steal the air from all their lungs for hurting you,” he muttered.
“We need to focus on getting out of here.” Eira shook her head. “But your defense on my account is heartwarming.” She smiled slightly. “When did you become so murderous, though?”
“You might be rubbing off on me.” The corner of his mouth quirked slightly. The stolen armor suited him. Her twisted knight.
“All right, I have the foot!” Alyss stood up, holding the disembodied appendage with pride.
At that moment, they all heard a sharp gasp and turned to find another knight—a real one—farther down the tunnel.
“Oh, Yargen bless,” Eira groaned under her breath as the man turned tail and ran, raising the alarm with a shrill whistle before she could fire off any magic.
So much for a quick, clean, quiet exit.
