“All right,” I said, “Let’s go.”
Evolene eased open the door to Mr. Jankin’s office. In the darkness of the room, a small puddle of liquid glowed as incandescent as a dragon moth.
“As I thought. Alchemical reaction-based explosives.” Master Jesper crept through the doorway, hovering General Thornicroft at its side.
My throat dried, and I took up the rear. This assassin seemed to want all of us dead.
Although Evolene’s magic cushioned my every step, I still walked with as much care as I could muster in case other traps lay undetected in the room. Master Jesper’s bubble illuminated a perimeter of space around us, and I kept close to the troll for safety.
“Mind your step,” whispered Evolene. “I’m going to open up the tunnel.”
Moments later, a small flare of light emerged from the ground.
I glanced up at the sky light to find a head pressed against the barrier. The only features on this face were round, yellow eyes that glowed like lamplights.
My heart jumped into my throat, and I sucked in a breath through my teeth. “What’s that?”
“A homunculus,” replied Master Jesper, its voice flat.
“What?”
“Something developed by alchemists to use as proxies during dangerous situations. They take on the shape of humans but contain no intelligence of their own.”
“Like a living scarecrow?” Evolene asked.
“But made of flesh and fluids instead of straw,” replied Master Jesper.
I shuddered at the unnatural being. “What does it do?”
“This one is acting as a sentinel and staring out at us with its master’s eyes.” The troll placed a large hand on my shoulder blades. “Hurry and get into the tunnel before its master puts more energy into its efforts.”
“We have to swap places,” said Evolene.
“Why?” I asked.
“Madam Evolene is maintaining the group invisibility spell. If she jumped first, it would leave us exposed to the glare of the homunculus.”
Without meaning to, I glanced up. The homunculus now crouched directly on the barrier. A bulbous nose morphed onto its face, and the eyes now became more hawklike.
A shudder ran down my spine. “Look up.”
“As I feared, its master is pushing energy into the homunculus and activating its other senses. We must go, now.” Urgency quickened Master Jesper’s voice. It lowered General Thornicroft into the hole. “Cadet Bluford, jump down first. I will follow, and then Madam Evolene will go last.”
I hesitated.
Master Jesper tutted with impatience. “If that homunculus gets an inkling of our presence, it will drop a flask through the skylight, and set off another explosion.”
The homunculus’ head tilted to the side, as though it was trying to see through Evolene’s spell. My stomach flipped. It no longer mattered that Master Jesper was trying to take charge.
We had to leave.
Now.
I shuffled to the edge of the hole and glanced down. A flock of dragon moths erupted in my stomach, causing my insides to twist with nausea. Clenching my teeth, I sheathed the Parched Sword, gripped the trollsbane-coated bolt, and jumped.
For a brief second of weightlessness, I plummeted down, my stomach following from several feet above. Then my feet hit the ground, and I landed in a crouch. Exhaling a long breath and ignoring the frantic beating of my pulse, I stood and stretched out my arms.
General Thornicroft and the glowing healing bubble descended next at a gentler pace, giving me time to catch my breath. The last time I’d jumped in a strange hole, I’d ended up knocked unconscious and the prisoner of Evolene’s deranged father.
As soon as the General reached the ground, the huge, cloaked figure of Master Jesper jumped down and landed with a massive thud.
Evolene shrieked and jumped through, her face twisted with fear. Up above, glass shattered onto the sandstone floor. She twisted in the air like a cat and shot magic through her staff, closing the opening and muffling the resulting explosion.
Twisting again, she landed on her hands and knees. “T-the homunculus grew a face!”
I gasped. “That was amazing!”
“Indeed, it was,” said Master Jesper.
“B-but why did it grow a face out of nothing?” she asked.
“The homunculus’ master likely pushed more of its consciousness through and willed its creation to develop more features.” The troll paused. “Well done, Madam Evolene. That was a very impressive feat of acrobatic magic.”
A flush stained her cheeks, and she pointed down into the dark. “The Healing Academy building is this way.”
Evolene stepped past us, lit the crystal tip of her staff, illuminating the passageways.
“Tunnels! What an ingenious idea.” Master Jesper tapped the sandstone wall. “How did you create a network of passages without affecting the integrity of the mountain’s architectural magics?”
She turned, eyes rounding. “Oh, I didn’t...”
Irritation prickled across my skin. Her previous habit of following her father’s plans, regardless of the effect they had on others, still grated on my nerves. “As soon as we’ve dealt with the assassins and cured the plague, you’ll tell Madam Maritimus about these tunnels.”
“But Father said—”
“And look where his attitude to life got him!” I snapped. “If anyone gets crushed because you tampered with the magic that created the mountain, no amount of excuses will save you from the wrath of the Witch General and the sleeping dragons.”
She dipped her head. “A-all right.”
An avalanche of guilt tumbled through my gut. After all the mistakes I’d made, I had no right to judge my friend. But I also had to think about the dragons like Fyrian who didn’t ask for any of the troubles that had befallen them.
“Now, children,” said Master Jesper. “Let’s not fall out at this time of crisis. It’s fortuitous that Madam Evolene created this tunnel. Without it, we would still be at the mercy of those assassins and their homunculus. I’m sure Madam Evolene will correct her mistake in due course.”
I rubbed my temple. “Sorry, Evolene. I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s fine,” she said. “Redemption doesn’t happen overnight, and I’m going to make up for all the things Father made me do.”
We continued down the tunnel in silence until Evolene stopped under a discolored patch of ceiling.
“This is Madam Maritimus’ office, she said. “Father wanted to use her census map to work out where everyone lived.”
“Isn’t the room occupied at all times?” I asked.
“Not during festival days or when there’s Golden Callisti compote in the witches’ dining room.”
“How do we get up?”
Evolene stood on a large piece of sandstone. “I don’t have a flying cloak, so I use this.”
Master Jesper gave me a gentle push. “You two go ahead and obscure any skylights. I will follow with the General.”
Without thinking, I stepped on Evolene’s sandstone platform, and she made it rise up through the air and into the office of Madam Maritimus. Above us, an opaque skylight let in dim light, indicating that dark clouds still covered Mount Fornax.
I stepped off the platform and surveyed the room. Instead of a desk, a table and six chairs stood in the middle of the office. Around the walls were intricate, hand-drawn maps. One depicted the entire territory of Mount Fornax, another depicted the surface, and the rest appeared to be various terraces and interior corridors.
Colored dots moved around the maps, but the highest concentration lay in the surface. I pointed at them. “What are these?”
“Each dot represents a different species,” said Evolene. “Reds are dragons, greens are witches, yellows are ogre-hybrid males, and blacks are humans.”
I peered at the part detailing the reception courtyard. None of us appeared on it, but eight blue dots stood within the building. The jailhouse was empty. I pus
hed aside speculations about King Magnar. Thinking of that man only clouded my head and made my blood boil. “What are those?”
“Blue means unauthorized intruders,” she replied.
Master Jesper appeared behind us and stroked its chin. “Can the system differentiate between a person and his homunculus?”
Evolene scratched her head. “I-I don’t know.”
“What else can it do?” I asked.
“You can identify each person on the map with an enchantment.” Evolene tapped the map of the Healer’s Academy, and it expanded. She continued tapping until she found an office containing two green dots. The names Sula Maritimus and Elizabeth Duclair popped up.
“They’re not moving,” I muttered.
“It’s likely that they’ve succumbed to the plague,” said Master Jesper. “Decrease the magnification of the map. I wish to see who else is nearby.”
Evolene tapped the map again, giving us a view of the entire building. All the dots were still.
Bile rose to the back of my throat, and I glanced at Evolene. How long until she caught the plague?
Her gaze met mine, but neither of us spoke. Judging by her wide, haunted eyes and deathlike pallor, she was probably also wondering about her fate. “Ummm… Y-you can also attack someone remotely.”
With another tap, the map depicted the surface. A few blue dots stayed close to the Great Lake, and I cursed under my breath. If we resurfaced anywhere near those homunculi, they’d probably notice something strange and throw explosives.
I glanced across the map, losing count of the blue dots surrounding the reception area and courtyard. My heart sank. The situation seemed hopeless. Evolene tapped the tip of her staff on a blue dot standing in front of the Healing Academy.
It disappeared, and all the dots moved toward it.
“Oh dear,” said Master Jesper, his voice raising several octaves. “What have you done?”
“I-I sent a dart at the intruder,” she replied.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
The troll rubbed its brow. “Those samples I need to manufacture the cure are in the Healer’s Academy, are they not?”
I chewed my lip. “Yes?”
“I failed to impress upon you that each homunculus sends sensory information to its master. Destroying one tells said master the location of the attacker.”
My heart stuttered several beats. “What does that mean?”
The troll turned to me, its eyes hard as granite. “The master knows we survived the explosion”
I glanced at Evolene, who stared up at me with wide, watery eyes. In her situation, I would probably have destroyed the homunculus at the Healer’s Academy, too. As much as I wanted to give her reassurance, all my words dried in my throat.
“The master thinks he knows our location?” I asked.
“Indeed,” replied the troll. “Now, every single homunculus on the surface of the mountain will be headed toward the Healer’s Academy building.”
Chapter 15
The ache in my temples intensified to a stabbing pain that throbbed in time with my racing pulse. Exhaling a shuddering breath, I stared at the map. Blue dots streamed from the reception area across the lawn. Those standing by the Great Lake headed toward the Healer’s Academy.
Evolene clapped her hand over her mouth. “I-I’m sorry for attracting the homunculi to where we’re going.”
I shook my head. Pain flashed over my eyes, and I winced. “Nobody could have predicted this. Is there another way into the Healer’s Academy?”
“The tunnel branches out to a few terraces,” she replied. “We could approach the building from the back.”
“Cadet Bluford,” said Master Jesper. “You look unwell.”
“I’ll be all right once I get some fresh air,” I muttered.
The troll narrowed its eyes and didn’t comment further, but it continued staring at me while Evolene lowered General Thornicroft into the hole. After she jumped in, I tried to follow, but Master Jesper placed a large hand on my shoulder.
“Will you be well enough to make the jump?” it asked.
The ache spread to the back of my neck. “I’ll be fine.”
“Very well, but I insist that Madam Evolene cushion the ground in case you lose your footing.”
“All right!” said Evolene from below.
I sucked in a deep breath and stepped into the hole. Pain lanced through my skull, and I moaned, spreading my arms out for balance. The moment my feet hit the ground, I fell onto my hands and knees.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” Evolene stood at my side, holding out a helping hand.
Chills ran across my skin, seeping through my flesh and into my bones. I groaned, took her hand, and let her pull me up. It was my magic-suppressant. I hadn’t taken it for hours, and it looked like my powers were creeping back, along with my connection to Fyrian.
“I left my medicine in the jailhouse,” I whispered.
She gasped. “We should go—”
“It’s too dangerous. King Magnar was either freed or escaped. He or his allies could have done anything to it.”
“What are you going to do?”
Master Jesper landed beside us in a crouch, and we both straightened to attention.
“Very good,” said the troll. “Please close the opening, Madam Evolene.”
After she fixed the ceiling, we continued down the tunnel in silence. Master Jesper transported General Thornicroft, while Evolene led the way, illuminating our passage with her staff.
I followed after them, breathing hard. “Fyri, are you there?”
It might have been my imagination or wishful thinking, but I felt the faintest stirring in our bond. Since she couldn’t yet respond, I picked up my pace. The sooner we reached the Healer’s Academy, the sooner I could find a potion to numb the pain.
Up ahead, Evolene squeaked.
I peered around Master Jesper’s bulk. “What’s wrong?”
Her light reflected against a pair of glowing eyes.
“What manner of creature is that?” Master Jesper sent a pulse of magic out into the distance.
A deep, rumbling roar echoed across the walls, rattling my bones and setting my teeth on edge. Then a large plume of flame shot out from the direction of the eyes. I threw myself against the wall. Pain radiated through my bones. I cringed. Of all the times for the magic-suppressant to wear off, why did it have to be when we were facing several unknown dangers?
“What is that?” I whispered.
“A dragonet?” answered Master Jesper.
I unsheathed my Parched Sword and pushed my power into its hilt. Tiny flames flickered over its blade, and a sigh slipped from between my teeth. The return of my magic would be useful, but it also came with debilitating pain.
“Dragonets don’t have such forceful roars,” I answered, “and this tunnel is too small to fit even a rapier red. Magical shields might work against whatever’s up there.”
“An excellent idea,” said Master Jesper.
Evolene nodded and put up a round shield that filled the entire tunnel.
“Can’t you add your magic to hers?” I asked.
Master Jesper shook its head. “That only works between witches and those born with their own powers, I’m afraid.”
I nodded. Because certain trolls stole their powers from witches’ life-forces. The words tumbled to the tip of my tongue, but I held them back. Trapped between assassins and a creature of unknown menace, there was no time to berate Master Jesper on its history of mass murder.
Quiet footsteps galloped towards us. Master Jesper threw up an additional barrier behind Evolene’s, and a ball of fire headed towards us, increasing mass as it approached.
I sucked in a breath, only to get a nose full of spicy methane. “Gas! It’s making everything worse!”
“You’re right!” said Evolene.
Holding my breath, I crouched behind Master Jesper’s bulky form. Evolene’s tunnel must have bisected or grazed a pipe transporting g
as from one part of the mountain to another. Even a non-alchemist like me knew what would happen if that fire wasn’t contained.
I raised my forearms over my face, protecting it from the impending explosion. A loud hiss reverberated against my eardrums, followed by a guttural yowl. Master Jesper lurched forward and grabbed the culprit, who scrambled in its arms and mewled.
“Easy, there!” it said.
My breath caught. “Let’s see.”
Evolene let light flare from her staff, illuminating the violet dragonet who had been turned into a cat. Its ears flattened against its head, and it batted at Master Jesper’s face. The troll gave the creature a few awkward strokes on the back.
I exhaled a breath of relief and stood. “That’s my friend. Let it go.”
Master Jesper loosened its grip, and the cat leaped down and padded toward me.
“How did it get in here?” asked Evolene.
I stretched out my arms. “Probably through the network of passageways built for the dragonets.”
The cat jumped into my chest. A faint brimstone scent clung to its fur, reminding me a little of Fyrian. I wrapped my arms around its small body and sighed. It felt warm and soft and full of purrs. The ache in my bones dimmed, and all the tightness in my muscles loosened. “I’ve got an idea. Can you lead us to the east of the Healer’s Academy building?”
“Yes, why?” she asked.
“We’re going to approach it from the side walls.”
“But that only works for dragons.”
“And dragonets,” I replied. “Maybe the wards will recognize this dragonet.”
“I’m not sure,” said Evolene. “What if those men outside hear us?”
“If we don’t disturb anything, they won’t notice us under our concealment magic,” said Master Jesper. “We could gather specimens from fallen warriors and dragons in their pens, but I would prefer to use samples already collected from those who have given their consent.”
I glanced up at Master Jesper and smiled. Perhaps it had been telling the truth about having changed from its days of being the Snow Queen’s Master Alchemist. We continued along the tunnel, taking left forks until faint buzzing echoed against the walls.
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