by R. A. Rock
“First thing you need to watch out for is the trapping pit,” Perdira said, disappearing and then reappearing right next to the chest. She sat on the stone beside it, her legs dangling down. She held up one finger, indicating that it was the first thing on the list of traps.
Tess took a careful step to test if the next stone tile would hold her weight and her foot went right through. She wrenched her body backward, falling on her butt with a crash.
“Tess, are you hurt?” Finn said, his heart drumming in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his body.
“No, I’m good. I’m fine.” She crawled forward and peered through the hole. “There’s a pit down there. About ten feet deep with spikes at the bottom.”
She stood up again.
“Trapping pit,” Perdira said, nodding and swinging her legs back and forth. “Only some of the stones will hold you. The others lead to certain death.”
She mimed being impaled by a spike, then hung her head to the side, closed her eyes, and stuck out her tongue. Finn wrinkled his nose up in distaste and then looked away from her.
Shadows and Chasm. Finn shook his head, making his decision. He wasn’t going to stay back here like a faithful dog, waiting for Tess to come back. He strode forward to where Tess stood, looking down at the treacherous floor.
“I thought you were staying back,” she said, somehow appearing both annoyed and relieved at the same time.
“I thought I would come with you instead,” he said and she didn’t argue.
They studied the floor in silence while Perdira sat beside the chest, swinging her legs and whistling. The floor had been tiled in an elaborate pattern that involved the use of different-colored blocks.
“It must have something to do with the colors?” Tess suggested, not sounding at all sure.
“Could be,” Finn said.
“Come on, people,” Perdira said. “It’s so easy.”
“If it’s so easy, then why don’t you just tell us?” Tess said.
“Because I’m hoping I get to see an impaling, and I haven’t seen one in so long,” Perdira said, looking excited.
“The King designed this, right?” Finn said, ignoring Perdira and focusing on the problem at hand. If Perdira said it was easy, then it probably was. She hadn’t actually lied about anything so far. Yes, she had caused trouble but she hadn’t seriously hurt them. So, Perdira must think they could easily figure this out.
“Yes, he did,” Perdira said. “His royal highness created this room himself because he was bored back then.”
“So what color was the one you stepped on?”
“Navy blue,” Tess said, then tilted her head and examined the piece of tile that remained. “No. Black.”
“Black, okay. All we need to figure out is what color the King would have used for himself to step on.”
“Yes, his high and mighty, holier than thou, I’m a Light Fae and you’re a Dark Fae majesty,” Perdira said, affecting a high, mimicking voice.
“I’m a Light Fae and you’re a Dark Fae,” Tess said.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Finn said.
“No, not us,” Tess said with a surprised laugh. “What she said. Light Fae and Dark Fae. The King has a really clear sense of us and them. He wouldn’t walk on the black tiles.”
“Only the pure-white ones,” Finn said, catching on.
“Let’s test it,” Tess said, taking Finn’s hand and reaching out to step on a white block. She put more and more weight on it until she was standing on the block. When she realized they had figured it out, she gave Finn a blinding smile. Then she turned and carefully stepped across the floor, only putting her weight on the white tiles. They all held.
Finn followed her more quickly because he didn’t have to test the tiles first. When they were both across and standing in front of the chest, Perdira spoke, holding two fingers this time as she continued listing the traps.
“Then there’s the deadfall,” she said, disappearing.
“Wait,” Tess said, then shook her head. “Somehow, I think we might be better off without her.”
Finn wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t say so. Anyway, he didn’t have any control over Perdira’s comings and goings.
“What’s a deadfall?” Tess said.
“Oh, I actually know this,” Finn said. “It’s a hunting trap for killing animals. You prop a big, heavy rock up with a stick and then put some bait under it. Then when the animal knocks the stick, it gets killed.”
“Oh,” Tess said. “Bait?”
They both looked at the chest.
“And the big, heavy rock?”
They tilted their heads up. All they could see was the ornate tiles of the ceiling that were done in a pattern the same as the floor. Directly above them were two tiles, one black and one white.
“How much do you want to bet that the King decided to drop the black one on us because the Dark Fae are so evil and kill everyone?”
“Or is it that he thought dropping the white one on us would show the superiority of the Light Fae? From above, the evil shall receive their just deserts sort of thing.”
They stared at each other in consternation. There was no obvious answer this time.
“Only one way to find out,” Finn said, grabbing the chest and pushing Tessa hard to the right. He followed her down to the floor. A heartbeat later, the white tile, which was actually the bottom of a huge block of stone, smashed to the floor and pieces of rock and white dust flew everywhere.
Finn covered Tessa with his body and they cowered there for a moment until it was obvious that nothing else was going to fall. Tess started coughing from the dust. A stale smell of old, old things pervaded the small room.
“I win,” Tess said, on a gasp.
They held on to each other to stand up. Finn held on to Tessa’s strong, firm body and was relieved that it was still in one piece.
“Technically, you didn’t take the bet,” Finn pointed out, brushing himself off and picking up the chest. He took less than a minute to examine it. “I can't see any obvious way to open it but we'll worry about that later. We need to get out of this room and back to our quarters.”
“But how are we going to get out of this sealed chamber?” Tess said. “Walk through the wall? We can’t use the rings because of the wards.”
There was the sound of faint laughter on the air. Wait, was Perdira still here? Tess thought about her explanation of how she had entered the warded room.
“Finn, what if we walked out through the hole in the wards that Perdira created?”
“How do you know the hole is still there?”
“I don’t,” Tess said. “There’s one way to find out, though.”
They smiled at each other. Finn twisted his ring and walked straight through the golden gate. Then he turned himself back visible. He was grinning and holding the chest. Tess was beside him a moment later. They didn’t need Nyall and, through him, the King finding out that they had the ghost rings. Nyall hadn’t seen them appear because he was still hugging the rock a little way down the tunnel.
“See now?” Perdira said from within the room. “Was that so hard?”
“Were you there the whole time?” Finn said, frowning at her.
“Maybe,” Perdira said and then popped out of the room to stand next to them.
“Let’s get him off of there,” Tess said, studying Nyall with distaste. “I won’t be responsible for his death.”
“Sure,” Finn said, going over to the Light Fae and unhooking him. He removed the cuffs and stowed them in his satchel. The other man stretched, rolling his shoulders backward and forward.
“I would say thanks, except that it was you who put me there in the first place,” Nyall said.
“You want to go back there?” Finn said, having enough of this guy. Even as a prisoner, he still had nothing but conceit.
“No, no, I’m good,” Nyall said, shutting up.
“Let’s get out of here,” Tess said, but Finn
put his finger to his lips.
They all gazed up the tunnel where he was looking.
It was Runa.
She was here to get the crown. And probably kill them in the process. Finn knew that she had nothing to lose. And that made her more dangerous than anyone else.
Then she kept walking past the tunnel they were in.
“She missed the turn,” Tess whispered.
“Oh, we can’t have that,” Perdira said loudly.
“What? No,” Finn said, in dismay.
“Oh, Runa,” Perdira called, her voice so loud it hurt his ears. The sound echoed down the tunnels. “The crown’s over here.”
Chapter 24
Runa’s face was confused as she came slowly down the wyrm tunnel toward them, her boots crunching on the gravel of the tunnel, her face wary. When she saw their little group, she stopped and stared at them, bewildered.
“What in the Chasm?” she said, pulling two short swords from sheaths on her back. Then she gave a mirthless chuckle.
Tess blew out a breath. Would they never catch a break?
“What are you and your merry band of misfits doing down here, Tess?” Runa demanded, taking in Nyall, Perdira, Tess, and the chest under Finn’s arm. “Going for brunch?”
With one fluid motion, she stepped forward and held the blade of one sword against Finn’s throat. One movement and she’d slice his jugular.
“Why don’t you explain as you give me the chest?” Runa suggested.
“Shadows take me,” Tess muttered.
“Yes,” Runa said, having overheard her. “I hope so.”
“We came for the crown,” Tess stated. No point in lying. Runa knew exactly why they were there.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” Runa said. “Because I’ve come for the crown. It’s the queen’s property and I am here to reclaim it.”
“Actually,” Nyall said, piping up, “it’s the King’s property and I’ve come to bring it back to him, Runa.”
Runa pursed her lips and tilted her head from side to side as she examined him.
“I don’t think you’re taking anything anywhere, Nyall,” she said. “And while I appreciate all of your help in waking me up, I can take it from here.”
Tess clenched her jaw at the thought that they had woken Runa up and created this very situation. This was the last time she would help a broken-hearted Lorcan with anything.
“You can’t make us do anything, Runa,” she said, trying to make her voice sound reasonable. “With the Truce spell in effect.”
Runa gave a smile that was more like a grimace and it made Tessa’s guts clench.
“That just shows how much you know, Tessa,” Runa said, her face taking on a decidedly calculating expression. “Because I have it on good authority that we are far enough out of the Truce spell down here that I can scratch you.”
“And what?” Nyall said, in his disdainful tone. “You plan on scratching us to death, Runa?”
“Actually yes,” she said, with a laugh. “See these blades?”
They all looked at her swords.
“They’re covered in cinnabar. And for those of us who are not herbalists, you should know that it is one of the deadliest poisons in all of Ahlenerra. All it takes is a scratch.”
“Shadows take me,” Tess swore again.
“Yes,” Runa said happily. “They’re coming for you at last, Tess.”
“But poison can’t kill us,” Finn stated, not sounding quite sure of whether this was true or not.
“What, because you’re functionally immortal?” Runa said. “I assure you that whether or not the poison can kill you will not matter if you’re incapacitated on the floor of this tunnel when the wyrm comes through and sucks all of your Starlight.”
“She’s got you there,” Perdira said sympathetically.
“And who are you?” Runa said, turning her attention to Perdira.
“No one of consequence,” Perdira said, shaking her hair out and starting to braid it again.
“You’re not afraid,” Runa said, studying the ancient Fae. “Why?”
“I guess,” Perdira said, plaiting her hair calmly, “because I might welcome death at this point?”
Tess shook her head, marveling at Perdira’s ability to get things off track.
"You met her before when you got the map, but I'm guessing she looked different?"
Runa narrowed her eyes at Perdira.
"She did."
“Nevermind about her, Runa,” Tess said, pulling her sword. “The Fae you should be worried about is me.”
“I’m going to enjoy watching you writhe, Tessa,” Runa said, taking her sword away from Finn, which had been Tessa’s goal. She whipped around to face Tess.
“You’ll have to hit me first, Runa. You never have before. I don’t expect you will this time either.”
Runa ran at her with the sword overhead and brought down a huge strike that Tess narrowly avoided. Runa recovered quickly and brought both swords from one side, slashing at Tessa’s midsection. Tess pulled her body back, avoiding the swing.
This would not do.
“Oh, and I have some news for you, Tess,” Runa said, blocking all of Tessa’s attempts.
“What’s that?” Tess said through her teeth.
She made one large diagonal slash after another, forcing Runa back down the tunnel away from the others. Runa’s left sword came at her and Tess blocked it with her own. Making a quick twisting motion of her wrist, she hooked Runa’s sword and flicked it out of her hand and onto the floor of the tunnel.
Runa was clearly filled with rage, but she controlled it, channeling all her anger into her vicious words.
“I saw a friend of yours arrested today.”
Tess was distracted for a second. “Who?”
“Someone called Nataliana?” Runa said, smirking. Tess froze for a moment and Runa took full advantage.
She made a high feint, bringing Tessa’s hands up, then lunged forward, aiming to spear Tess through the middle. Tess spun away just in time and ended up across the tunnel.
“You’re lying,” Tess said. “To distract me.”
“Am I?” Runa said, gloating.
Tess took a moment to catch her breath and, from far away, she heard Finn’s voice tinged with worry.
“What’s that sound?”
“Just the wyrm,” Perdira answered him, unconcerned.
Runa moved back into a fighting stance, ready for round two.
“Just the wyrm?” Finn said, his voice getting louder. “Tessa. The wyrm’s coming. We have to get out of here.”
Runa and Tess both stayed still and listened. The sound of rustling paper and a high-pitched whine was getting louder.
“We’re not done with this, Tess,” Runa said, grabbing her sword off the ground and sheathing both her weapons on her back. She took off up the tunnel. Nyall was right behind.
“Come on,” Finn said as Tess shoved her sword back in the sheath. They tore up the tunnel with the sound of the wyrm shooshing along behind them.
“Hurry,” Perdira called after them. “Or hide. Whatever.”
“Shadows and Chasm,” Finn yelled as the sound of the wyrm sliding along the tunnel grew louder. “We could save ourselves with the rings but what about Runa and Nyall? What are we going to do?”
“Run faster,” Tess said and then she thought about what Perdira had said. That they should hurry or hide. And what was the other thing she had told Tess about the wyrm? That it was blind and had no sense of smell. It hunted by sound alone.
“Come on,” Tess said, pushing her body to run faster. “We have to catch up to the others. I have an idea that might save us all.”
When they caught up to Runa and Nyall, who were running close together, Tess explained.
“I have an idea to save us from the wyrm,” she said, hardly able to gasp out the words. “But you’re going to have to trust me. We don’t have time for explanations.”
“No thanks, Tess,” Runa
said, obviously short of breath. Tess wasn’t even sure how she was standing after the sleeping spell, never mind running full out. “I’ll be fine without you.”
“Actually,” Nyall said in a lofty tone, “you’re going to die. In about two minutes.”
Runa glanced at him, his stark words getting her attention.
“And I, for one, know a man who’s going to be devastated when he gets the news.”
Oooh, Nyall was pulling the Lorcan card. Nice.
“Fine,” she said, shortly. “What’s the plan?”
“Follow me,” Tess said, taking the left tunnel at the fork. The sound of the wyrm got louder as if it was moving faster.
Tess searched for what she was looking for but couldn’t find it. Nyall tripped and Finn hauled him up. They kept running but the wyrm was getting closer.
“Anytime now, Tessa,” Runa said, as if she was extremely bitter for having trusted Tess.
“Almost,” Tess said.
There had to be one. They were all over the place.
She took a quick look back over her shoulder and saw the wyrm.
Shadows and Chasm. Of course now that she needed one, there wasn’t one.
“The wyrm is right behind us,” Finn said.
The sound of rustling paper was filling her ears and she couldn’t think. The wyrm was so close. After everything they had been through, a stupid ghost wyrm was going to get them? No, way in Severance was Tess going to let that happen. She put on a burst of speed and everyone kept pace as she took a right turn.
Up ahead in the new tunnel, she saw a darker space.
Yes. That had to be it.
The wyrm missed the tunnel. Stopped and reversed back to follow them.
“In here,” Tess yelled, dashing to the left.
She darted into one of the partially carved-out caves and the others followed her to the very back. She pressed herself against the rock, feeling its sharp edges poking into her. The others did the same.
“The wyrm is blind and has no sense of smell,” she said, taking deep breaths to try to calm her breathing. “If we’re quiet, it should go right past.”
The sound of the wyrm grew closer and closer and they all stayed perfectly still, not saying a word. Then the sound stopped. The wyrm was confused. It shuffled along one way and then the other, trying to figure out where they had gone. She could smell its musty, not-quite-dead stink.
