by Everly Frost
“Very well,” Roar says. “I’ll choose the Princess next.”
“Thank you, Sunflight Roar,” Llion says. “You won’t regret it.”
“That’s no-clan Roar,” Cassian growls, finally deciding it’s time to get up in Llion’s face. “Remember you have no clan here. I won’t remind you again.”
“Understood, General Cassian,” Llion says, without giving any ground.
Cassian huffs and resumes his former position. The next team leader taps his fist against his thigh in thought, pausing before making a decision. He’s an older male, a number of pale grey scars of varying lengths crossing his chest, and when he moves, his wings seem to follow the angles of his body. Right now, he leans forward a little, wing daggers slightly lowered, contemplating the waiting gargoyles as well as Jasper and me.
He says, “I’ll take the male elf.”
The team member he already chose startles beside him. “What are you doing, Badenoch?”
Badenoch inclines his head at Jasper. “That elf killed a legion of Howl’s soldiers on Mount Erador. Everyone at Court was talking about it. If we’re going to fight for tunnels, I want him on my team.”
The team member glances around, his gaze becoming increasingly nervous as he checks out Roar and Llion who are now on the same team. “Yeah… okay.”
Jasper takes his cue from Llion and even though he acknowledges Badenoch’s choice, he remains at my side for now.
The choosing continues and when the choice returns to Roar, he’s true to his word and picks me. I’m glad to be in a team with Llion, but worried about being separated from Jasper. There are many things Jasper knows that Llion doesn’t and I’m not sure how easy it will be to communicate with Jasper if the teams are pitted against each other. We’re bound to be completely separated. I’m going to need Jasper’s help if we’re ever getting out of here.
In the end, there are four teams with five members and one team has six, but Cassian puts an end to any complaints about the uneven numbers with the command that the remaining gargoyle joins the fifth team instead of Roar’s.
Jasper leans across me to draw Llion closer. “I don’t know what Cassian has planned for these fights, but the other teams will target Marbella if they have the chance. They’ll see her as a weak link and go after her. You’ll need to watch your back and hers.” His expression changes and his tone takes on a derisive edge. “Of course… they don’t know how wrong they are.”
I’ve never seen Jasper almost-smile as often as he has since we crossed the border, but there’s another one when he looks at me right now. His mouth doesn’t quite curve up, not quite a smile, but his eyes light up in a way that tells me that the day Jasper chooses to smile for real, it will be dazzling.
“You can use their misconception to your advantage. They’ll underestimate you, Marbella,” Jasper says before Cassian shouts for everyone to enter the mine. “I’ll do what I can to make sure my team doesn’t try any tricks.”
As much as Jasper’s faith in me bolsters my confidence, I can’t deny that I’m worried. I don’t have my power to fall back on and Roar definitely doesn’t want me on his team. As Jasper splits off, and Llion and I join Team Roar, I’m more than a little concerned that the threat might come from within my own team.
20. Marbella Mercy
We descend into the mine through a vertical shaft. It’s wide enough that the gargoyles simply soar down. A metal ladder is attached to the side of it, which Cassian explains is for any gargoyle with a broken wing. Apparently there are a lot of awful things that can happen in a mine: crushed limbs, toxic fume inhalation, collapsed tunnels that trap gargoyles until they starve, pretty much every gruesome death imaginable.
I’m still uncertain about why the miners seemed so unhappy about having a team for each tunnel, but I’m guessing I’ll find out soon enough.
It’s a long way down and by the time we reach the bottom of the shaft, my arms and legs are shaking with effort. I’m grateful to find that we’ve entered an open area with two ramps: one heading down into the mine and the other heading up. One of the guards operates a pulley system and an empty minecart approaches along the tracks on the side heading up. The minecart halts in front of us and Cassian orders me to get in. The other miners have long since disappeared so it’s just Jasper, Llion, and me along with Cassian and the five remaining guards.
Once inside, the minecart speeds down the ramp far below the surface. I’ve spent enough time in the oppressive Storm Vault not to get freaked out by the weight of rock above us, but as glowing spider webs replace the last rays of natural light, my eyes take time to adjust to the new dark and the distance to the surface grows more oppressive.
I try to keep my mind clear by focusing on the seemingly endless rust-colored rock. It alternates between dark red and brown where the blue light from the webs mixes with the orange tones of the rock around us.
Finally, Cassian applies the brakes and the cart exits into a large, open area containing a number of structures that have been carved out of the mountain itself, jutting buildings transitioning seamlessly into the side of the enormous cave. It’s hundreds of feet wide and deep. The ceiling soars far above us and is covered in webs attached to some sort of cloth, shedding gentle light through the whole area. I clamber out of the cart and count the structures as my eyes adjust: there are three.
Roar and Badenoch wait for us while a steady stream of gargoyles exit the building closest to our right. They’re carrying pickaxes, shovels, hammers, and chisels, so I’m guessing that’s some kind of tool room.
Cassian orders Roar to take us to the supply room. “Get them kitted up.”
Roar pauses before he obeys. “Which tunnels are we mining today?”
“Today, we’re taking a tour,” Cassian replies. “So everyone knows what’s at stake. Tomorrow, you’ll fight for your tunnels.”
Roar pauses beside Badenoch. It’s easy to see that the two gargoyles respect each other.
Badenoch says, “I guess that means you’re still our head foreman today, Roar. Tomorrow, well… sounds like we’ll be enemies.”
Roar shouts to the room. “Tools down. Wait where you are.”
A chorus of clattering metal tools follows us into the supply structure where I’m relieved to find boots and work suits—none in my size as far as I can see at first. I’m not sure whether to be grateful or horrified when Roar shoves a pair of boots and clothing at me and says, “These are for kids. They should fit you. Get changed. We’ll wait outside.”
At least he has the decency to give me privacy. Still, I snag Jasper’s arm before he leaves. “Stay. Please.”
“I don’t think I should. It won’t look good.”
“I don’t care how it looks.” I take a deep breath. “Okay, maybe I do. Just… please don’t take your eyes off the door. And stay close to Llion for now. Being alone is just as dangerous as being surrounded. For both of us.”
“I understand, Marbella. Nobody’s coming in here until you come out.”
He closes the door behind him and it’s strange how alone I feel as I strip off the dress and slide into the pants, shirt, and boots. I’m more accustomed to dressing in front of people. Not that I’d want to get changed in a room full of male gargoyles. Just that I’m used to being surrounded by females. Suddenly, there are none of those in sight. I shove aside the dilemma I’m going to be in when my cycle comes around. Lucky that’s not due for another two weeks so I have time to figure out how to manage it when the time comes.
I fold the dress and place it on the rack where Roar removed the work clothes for me. I quickly take the time to assess the other items in the supply room. It may as well be full of weapons—you can do as much damage with a pickaxe as with a dagger. I choose one and test it for weight and balance, sliding it into one of the sturdy pockets in the pants leg of my new clothing. There’s a flap across the top of the pocket, but I leave it open and the tool visible. I want it to be obvious that I’ve got it.
; Once again, I’m struck by the extent that Howl has oppressed his people. There’s an army of miners outside this room and a hundred weapons inside it. Yet, they don’t rebel.
When I push open the wooden door, Roar and Jasper stand right outside facing each other, eyebrows drawn down, the space between them charged with challenge. They seem to be having some sort of silent argument. Or a staring competition. Maybe both.
Roar waves his big hand at me without taking his eyes off Jasper. “She’s here. She’s safe. Now get back to your team.”
Jasper ignores him. “You okay, Marbella?”
“Yes, thank you, Jasper.”
“Okay.” Jasper stalks away from whatever silent fight he was having with Roar, leaving me with the blue-winged gargoyle.
Roar spins to me. “Your friend seems to think I’m out to get you.”
I decide to tackle this one head on. “Are you?”
My directness seems to surprise him. Instead of invading my space, he takes a step back as if to emphasize his next words. “Listen, Princess. I don’t want you on my team. Let’s make that clear. But I’m not going to hurt you just because I don’t like you. One more body on my team is better than one less.” His assessing gaze rakes me again, sizing up my legs, arms, and torso, but not in any way that gives me the impression he’s looking at anything other than to quantify it.
“Besides,” he says, “You’ll be able to squeeze into spaces we can’t get through. That’s got to be worth something the other teams don’t have.”
I shudder at the thought of whatever cramped spaces he imagines sending me into.
Across the way, Jasper has joined Badenoch. Llion waits with the rest of Roar’s team. Llion may not have made his protection of me as obvious as staring Roar down like Jasper did, but his focus hasn’t left me since I appeared. He reminds me of an eagle. Intent, focused, and very confident he can get to me fast if he has to. It’s not lost on Roar whose eyebrows have pretty much remained in a disgruntled frown.
“Let’s go.” Roar keeps his wings pinned to his sides, but they extend a little as he turns, revealing up close a glimpse of the intricate blue-lit design etched across them.
“Lead the way,” I say, the closest I can get to a statement of compliance. For now at least, I’ll trust his word that he isn’t planning anything underhanded.
Seeing me emerge with Roar, Cassian takes charge of the situation again. “Team leaders, choose a team member to bring with you. It’s time to assess the status of the tunnels. No-clan Roar, you will bring both the Princess and No-clan Llion.”
Cassian stalks away and ten guards round the team leaders into a group to follow him. The remaining guards order the other gargoyles to return to the food hall on the other side of the opening.
Roar and Llion take up position on either side of me as we follow Cassian along an increasingly narrow pathway inside the mountain. “We call the place we just left the Cavity,” Roar says. “It’s home base. You’ll see where we eat and sleep when we get back. The first tunnel is a hundred paces along. It’s the easiest tunnel to mine, but it’s least likely to contain a heartstone.” He grins in the increasing dark. “We’ve focused mainly on that tunnel until now.”
Mining the tunnel with the least likely chance of containing a heartstone makes sense if they don’t want Howl to get another one. But I wonder how long that course of action will last now that Howl has promised to release a loved one to any gargoyle who finds a heartstone.
Up ahead, Cassian pauses at an opening in the rock. “Welcome to the first tunnel,” he says as we crowd around the entrance.
Inside, the tunnel is lit at intervals with spider web. So far, I haven’t actually seen one of the spiders. In fact, I’ve never seen one. Chances of that happening are high here. To my knowledge, they don’t bite, but there’s a first time for everything.
The tunnel itself is clear of debris and well supported with solid-looking beams. Roar keeps his voice low. “Half the battle is keeping the tunnel from collapsing while we mine. Some days we spend all day working on the supports instead of digging. You’ll see what happens if we don’t when we get to the second tunnel.”
Cassian catches Roar’s last statement and passes me with a gleaming smile. He inclines his head at an upcoming shaft. “Down we go.”
I sigh. Another ladder to descend. Jasper and I hurry down the wide shaft, out boots clanging on the metal rungs as the gargoyles wait impatiently at the bottom.
Unlike the others, Roar doesn’t seem perturbed by the delay. When we reach him, he says, “Each tunnel is further down and you have to climb multiple shafts to get to them. I’ll get Iago to fix you both up with thick gloves to protect your hands and sliding plates on the inside of your boots. That way you can slide down the outer rungs instead of stepping.”
Jasper inclines his head, his earlier distrust not entirely gone.
I say, “Thank you, Roar, that would be appreciated.”
Cassian’s shout comes from a little further along the tunnel. “Welcome to the second tunnel,” he says. He gestures at a thick cascade of rubble. There’s a small opening at the top, but otherwise, it’s completely blocked.
“This one collapsed last year,” Roar explains. “Whichever team gets this tunnel will spend most of their first week clearing the debris. It will take another week to start building the supports. Maybe by the third week, we can mine it again.”
Tunnel number two is not such a great pick then. Not if you want to find a heartstone, but not so bad if you want to stall for time.
Cassian is already on the move and the guards press in behind us. When I hesitate, peering at the blockage for a moment too long, one of the guards reaches for the whip at his waist.
“Don’t make me use this, Princess,” he snarls. “Get a move on.”
Roar grabs my arm and pulls me along. His palm is rough and calloused and big enough to encircle my forearm and cross his fingers past his thumb. My first instinct is to resist, but even Llion gives me a warning glance, picking up his pace beside me. Jasper is already ahead of us and I’m glad he didn’t hear the guard’s threat or we’d now be in the middle of a fight.
“What is that weapon they all carry?” I ask when we’re a safe distance from the threatening guard.
Roar says, “It’s called a Bone Lash.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“The tip at the end is designed to shatter bone. If used to its full potential, it can tear a gargoyle’s head right off their shoulders.”
I can’t suppress the shudder that runs the length of my spine. “Who would create such a thing?”
Roar doesn’t say anything. His palm remains on my arm and he’s in no hurry to remove it, urging me toward the next shaft down the mountain. Jasper disappears down it after a quick check in my direction confirms I’m safe.
This time, it’s Llion who answers. “That would be me. I designed it.”
My eyes shoot wide. Llion doesn’t meet my gaze as he descends into the shaft, wings fully spread. Roar wraps his palm around my other arm and draws me close.
My focus snaps to him instead of Llion. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you. Trust me, you don’t want the guards to target you. Place your feet on top of mine.”
Both his arms slide around me and I’m mortified to realize that I couldn’t stop him even if I wanted to. As the threatening guard approaches, I decide it’s worth sacrificing my pride for my safety. As I step onto Roar’s feet and rest my head against his chest, he immediately spreads his wings. With one sweep, we ascend over the shaft and drop vertically into it. My stomach remains behind, but it’s better than being left with the impatient guards.
Roar bends his head to the top of mine and I’m a little alarmed and uncertain until he speaks in a low voice. “Grievous Llion was the King’s armorer,” he says. “The real King. Not Howl.” His wings arch as he slows our descent a little, but not so much that the guards catch up with us. “He was the first Griev
ous gargoyle to prove himself loyal to the crown. I believe he even became one of the King’s most trusted friends.”
The flight down is too short. I want to ask so many questions but we’re already touching ground again. Roar wraps his wings around me for a second, sliding his hands back to my arms and lifting me off his feet.
To an onlooker, it must look as if he’s simply setting me down, but he whispers one last thing. “Llion can make a weapon out of anything.”
Roar steps away from me.
I seek Jasper and find him standing safely nearby with Badenoch. Llion has retreated to the background. He probably doesn’t know how I’ll react to his revelation.
Cassian is already speaking and this time he’s the one giving us the run down on the tunnel. “The third tunnel is most likely to contain a heartstone,” he says. “I expect this tunnel to be the tunnel of choice.”
I glance at Roar. He shrugs as if to say that Cassian is right. From what I can see, this tunnel looks well supported by beams and its walls are more obviously made of rust-colored stone. I’m assuming that means we’re looking for a similar colored Heartstone.
I let Llion have his space and I don’t try to avoid Roar when he offers me another lift down the next shaft. Roar has a quick word with Badenoch before Roar gathers me into his arms. Jasper quickly catches on to what they’re saying.
As I step onto Roar’s feet, Jasper backs away from Badenoch. “I’m not hugging you,” he says with a growl.
The older gargoyle laughs. “I don’t expect a warrior like you to do anything of the kind.”
Without another word, Badenoch’s wings sweep upward. He takes hold of Jasper’s shoulders in his foot claws and they both descend into the mining shaft.
Roar and I follow them down. Since Roar was open with me before about Llion, I decide to be forthright with him. “Why don’t you fight back? You’re all clearly strong enough.”
He doesn’t pretend to misunderstand me. “Howl has our wives and children.” His muscles flex around me, sudden tension constricting the space around us as the air rushes past. I can’t lean back far enough to see his face, but I sense the clench of his jaw, the growl in his chest. He speaks slowly, deliberately. “Howl’s harem is made up of the wives of the gargoyles who are most likely to rise up against him.”