by Brondos, Pam
Benedict emerged from the darkness, followed by Andris and Soris. The brothers wore a similar scowl on their faces. Soris gave her a reassuring smile, then his face creased back into the scowl. Annin wordlessly took the path to the left. Bits of flagstone lined the floor, providing a pocked path where the soil and roots had overtaken the stone.
But as they moved farther up the tunnel, the floor transformed into solid rock and the roots disappeared. Blocks of stone held the earthen walls back. Annin pressed her finger to her lips. Distant muffled voices cut through the silence of the passage. Nat imagined servants preparing for the day on the other side of the wall.
The group crept quietly through the dim tunnel. Nat could make out the faint outline of discs set into the walls. Her hands brushed over the discs, and she felt raised images under her fingertips. She bent down and examined one of them. A delicate vine wound around the rim and a bird, sun, and sword emblem occupied the center.
She was so absorbed with the markings that she jumped when Soris placed his hand on her shoulder. He led her around a bend. Under the light of her orb, she saw Annin press a disc set in the wall. A panel separated from the wall with a click. A moment of deathly stillness passed as they listened for voices and heard nothing. Annin dug her fingers into the panel, edging it open. Nat stood back and watched her vanish into the opening. Andris pulled at his beard and followed. Benedict wheezed and shuffled after him.
“Something’s off,” Soris whispered and gripped Nat’s shoulder. His eyes were focused on the floor of the passage leading in the opposite direction from which they’d come.
“What?” She followed Soris’ gaze and stared at the ground. Nat noticed a trail in the dust. She sent her orb up the tunnel. Its light revealed a single set of footprints next to thin lines in the dust that looked like the prints of a snake slithering over the ground.
“I sense . . .” He paused and closed his eyes. “I sense a Nala nearby.”
“Are you sure?” she whispered. He nodded. Nat unsheathed her sword, hastened past the panel, and found herself inside a large closet. The doors of the closet were cracked open, and she could see a sliver of Benedict’s back on the other side. A blue leg brushed past the opening as a Nala crept stealthily down from the top of the closet. Soris gave Nat a quick look, then they thrust the doors open, whacking the Nala violently in the back.
“Its hand, its hand!” Soris warned as he leapt forward to pull Benedict out of the way of the flailing Nala. A spiked hand plunged into the floor inches from Benedict’s leg. The creature compacted its lean body, balling itself up, and sprang off the floor, hitting the wall and then landing in an open doorway next to Nat. She raised her sword to kill it before it scurried into the other room. The Nala stopped short on its angular limbs. It lifted its bulb-shaped head, and its eyes expanded when it saw the markings on her arm.
“The Sister,” it hissed and jumped at Nat.
Nat lunged, piercing the Nala’s chest. The weight of the creature impaled on her sword brought her slamming down to the wooden floor. The Nala threw its head back and let out a hissing scream next to her. Andris sliced through its neck, ending the nightmarish sound. Blue blood pooled on the hard wooden floor and seeped into Nat’s sleeve. Andris, Soris, and Annin raced through the doorway into the adjoining room to search for more Nala, leaving Nat alone with the corpse and Benedict.
“It had me.” Benedict clutched his chest. His breathing came in labored gasps.
“It doesn’t have you now,” she said, more shaken than she sounded. The Nala had attacked her when it saw her markings. It had a clear escape route to the other room, but it had attacked her. She kicked the slack-mouthed head through the open closet doors. Why didn’t it run away when it was so outnumbered? She slid her arms under the creature’s armpits and hauled its body into the closet.
“Natalie, come look at this.” Soris stood in the doorway of the adjoining room with a grave expression on his face. Nat shoved the closet doors shut and hastened to him.
Heavy moth-eaten drapes covered the windows of the old Sisters’ accommodations. Closets and beds with tattered bedclothes lined two walls. Andris stood in the middle of the room, staring at the opposite wall. Even in the dim light, Nat could see the slash marks across the engravings covering the walls. She ran her fingers over the deep gouges that bisected the sun, bird, sword, and vine designs. Annin moved nervously around the room, checking behind the slashed bed drapes and glancing above to the beams that crisscrossed the ceiling.
“What is that?” Nat held her hand to her mouth. A pulpy mess of tissue, muscle, and bones filled a long shallow silver bowl set in the middle of the floor.
“Breakfast for the Nala.” Andris sheathed his sword.
“The rest of the rooms are clear.” Soris stood next to Nat. “I noticed marks in the passageway after you entered the closet, Andris. I think the Nala used it to get in here.”
“Look at this.” Annin held up a small silver basin of clear water resting on a wooden table. “The Nala wasn’t here by accident.” She wrinkled her face in disgust. “Someone invited it and is playing host.”
Andris lifted an edge of the curtain covering the window. “There are the Chemist’s quarters. Other than the passages, these rooms are completely sealed off from the rest of the castle?” He looked at Annin, and she nodded. He frowned.
“Is that . . . ?” Benedict limped through the doorway and stopped when he spotted the silver dish.
“It’s mutton,” Andris said unconvincingly. “Is there another nearby tunnel that’s not connected to that one?” he asked Annin and jerked his thumb in the direction of the adjacent room.
“In a hallway on the other side of the courtyard.” Annin edged away from the water basin.
“Soris, Natalie, secure the passage we came through and put that room back in order. I want no sign of how we entered these rooms. Benedict”—he beckoned to the Hermit—“keep watch and tell me the minute you see a guard or anything move in that courtyard.”
Benedict limped toward the window and stood on tiptoe as he peered out the dirty panes.
Andris grabbed Annin. “Are there any more?” he asked with urgency.
“I think that was the only one . . .” Annin’s voice trailed off as Nat and Soris walked into the next room.
“You knew it was in here, but she didn’t?” Nat whispered to Soris.
He gave her a worried look and lifted an overturned table. “She probably wasn’t focused on trying to sense them,” he said quietly. “I mean, why would she? We’re in the castle, not the middle of the forest. Nala should never be here.” He righted a chair and opened the closet doors. A pointed limb fell to the floor. Nat jumped back, startled. Soris kicked the limb back into the closet. “Hold the door for me. I’ll secure the passage.”
“I think Annin’s right, it wasn’t here by accident.” She kept her voice low as she eyed the headless body sprawled on the floor of the closet. In the dim light, the skin looked almost black. She felt her orb tugging in her pocket and released it. Waves of light fell over the body. At least it’s not pale white like the ones at the river and the ruins, she thought and wondered why the creature’s blue color brought her any sense of comfort. “Maybe Mudug is negotiating with the Nala again?” she suggested.
“He could be meeting with them about the trade routes or something else.” The stone door clicked into place. Soris lifted the Nala’s flaccid limbs and repositioned them before stepping back into the room. “Like children the Nala can turn into duozi.” Soris’ eyes held a steely look.
The thought of Mudug holding negotiations with the Nala to discuss terms under which he’d provide them children made Nat’s stomach twist. “Maybe we’ll find something in the Chemist’s quarters that will tell us what it was doing here.” Nat glanced at the creature. “It sure seemed surprised to see me,” she said in hushed voice, realizing now that the Nala had looked as if it’d recognized her before it’d attacked.
“Doesn’t matter.
It’s dead.” Soris placed a reassuring hand on the small of Nat’s back. “Remember, nothing foolish. Especially not now.” His voice was light, but his face was creased with worry.
She glanced from him to the Nala’s body. “Nothing foolish,” she agreed and eased the closet doors shut with her foot before returning to the adjacent room.
Andris was listening intently to Annin as he fastened the silver buttons on the vest of one of the stolen guard uniforms. He lifted his head when Nat and Soris walked through the archway.
“Passage entry is sealed, and the room’s cleaned up the best we could manage,” Soris said.
“Good. Annin is certain there are no more Nala nearby.” Andris gave him a questioning look, and Soris nodded in agreement. “We have to assume it was here either at Mudug’s or the Chemist’s request. Which means the most likely location for a meeting with them would be—”
“Somewhere in the castle but away from prying eyes.” Nat looked out the window. The sight of the long stone building occupying the courtyard brought back a flood of memories. “Do you think they’d meet here or in the Chemist’s quarters?” She turned to Andris.
“More likely the quarters.” He eyed the gouges in the walls. “I can’t see Mudug or the Chemist wanting to meet with a Nala in here. It’s probable that the Chemist would relocate Emilia if his rooms were being used as a meeting place with that thing.” He glanced in the direction of the adjoining room.
“He wouldn’t risk moving her,” Benedict piped up. “Too many chances that someone might see her.”
“Let’s hope you’re right, Hermit. We stick to our original plan, except we’ll depart through a different tunnel.”
“And I’d like to know how that creature came to use a secret tunnel.” Benedict’s eyes narrowed. He turned and glared at Annin, then Soris.
“Do you really think we told a Nala about the passages?” Soris took two long steps and was in Benedict’s face. “We saved you back there. You understand that? I could have easily let that Nala take you down before Natalie killed it.”
Benedict dropped the curtain. “Makes no difference. This all smells like a trap to me.” He gave Soris a stony look and walked to the far end of the room, away from Soris and Annin.
“Keep your focus,” Andris growled at them. “Annin says there’s access to another tunnel off the northeast entrance to the courtyard. She’ll secure the opening. Soris, you provide watch and cover. The three of us”—he glanced at Nat and Benedict—“will make our way through each room of his quarters.” His voice was heavy. “Everyone follows my lead. Even if we don’t find Emilia, make your way to Annin and wait in the Sisters’ passage until all of us arrive.” He lifted the curtain. When he turned to Benedict, Nat saw a doubtful expression on Andris’ face. “Ready, Hermit?”
Benedict adjusted his wig. “I will fulfill my oath to protect the queen regardless of the danger these duozi pose.”
“Worry about the guards, not me, old man.” Annin pulled her hood over her head. She cracked open the heavy carved door. Andris motioned from the window, and she slid into the courtyard behind a thick cluster of juniper bushes. She skirted the edge of the courtyard and disappeared behind the long building composing the Chemist’s quarters.
“Stay out of sight until we’ve dealt with the guards,” Andris whispered to Nat. Benedict pulled two packets of sleeping resin from his pocket and handed one to him. “If we can’t knock them out with the resin, take them down,” he ordered Soris.
Soris loaded an arrow into his crossbow. Andris and Benedict stepped out the door and strode toward the front of the building.
“Ready?” Soris whispered to her.
“Doesn’t matter, does it?” She gave him a humorless smile.
“No,” he admitted, “but it makes me feel better if I ask. Out you go.” He nudged her with his boot and Nat crawled into the bushes. She pushed the fingerlike needles aside to get a better view. The morning light touched the opposite end of the courtyard, where the Chemist’s garden spread out like a wave of green. She scanned the far wall, looking for Annin, but saw nothing. In the shadow of the building, Benedict straightened his robe. It all rides on him, Nat thought nervously. One slip, one misplaced word, and the mission, and likely their lives, would be over.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Do you have any notion how long I’ve been standing here?” Benedict’s voice rang through the courtyard. Two guards stepped out from under the wide overhang fronting the Chemist’s quarters.
“Your Chemistness.” The guards looked surprised. “We didn’t expect you back so soon, sir.”
Nat let out a sigh of relief. The Chemist was gone—hopefully for a long time. One guard gave Andris a sidelong glance. Andris kept his head low. The guards stood in uncomfortable silence while Benedict paced in front of them. What is he waiting for? Nat watched him with a growing sense of unease. She glanced at Soris’ hiding spot. The tip of his crossbow was barely visible among the low branches of the flowering tree.
“Hands,” Benedict ordered abruptly, his voice sharp and commanding. The guards looked at each other in confusion. “Put out your hands, you fools.”
“Sir?” they said in unison.
“Do as I say!” Benedict lurched forward on his good leg and wobbled when his other foot hit the ground. He grasped one of the soldier’s hands and wiped the sleeping resin across his palm. “Someone’s raided my store of riven.” His voice rose an octave. “Riven reacts to this chemical component.” The soldier eyed the tan-colored smear marring his hand. “I’ll know immediately if you’ve touched my supply.” He dropped the stupefied man’s hand. Nat watched in awe as the guards remained motionless and completely cowed by Benedict. The plan was working.
“Check that one,” Benedict snarled and cast a suspicious look at the other ashen-faced guard. Andris stalked toward him.
“I promise you, sir, we . . .” His voice faltered and his eyes widened as the first guard swayed, then fell face-first onto the lush green grass. The guard’s brows drew together as he looked at the unconscious soldier.
“I thought as much! An immediate reaction.” Benedict glared menacingly at the second guard.
“Sir, I don’t know anything about missing riven.” He backed away from Andris and held his open hands in front of his chest. Andris feigned a stop, then lunged for his knees, knocking him down. They rolled on the ground, crushing a patch of ornamental grass and small boxwood bushes.
Nat saw a blur of motion out of the corner of her eye. Soris raced toward the center of the courtyard and lifted his crossbow to his shoulder. The arrow flew just as Andris rolled on top of the guard. The tip grazed Andris’ hip and planted squarely in the guard’s buttocks. Soris released another arrow, and it penetrated deep into the guard’s side. His scream was low and gurgling. Andris clamped his hand over the guard’s nose and mouth, smothering the writhing man. His cries died down.
“He shot at his own brother!” Benedict yelled. Nat looked about in confusion. He lifted his shaking hand toward Soris. “I told you! I told you they were not to be trusted.” He stumbled away from Soris. His eyes held a look of crazed fear. He tripped over his long robe and landed on the ground.
“It was an accident,” Nat said in a hushed voice, but Benedict took no notice. He scrambled to his feet and disappeared behind the Chemist’s quarters. Nat hesitated, wondering if she should go after him, then heard Andris’ low grunt of pain. She ran to where Soris was helping Andris to his feet. Soris pressed his hand against the bleeding gash in Andris’ hip.
“Find Emilia,” Andris said to Nat through gritted teeth.
Nat nodded quickly and raced toward the Chemist’s quarters, leaving Soris with his brother.
The door of the Chemist’s laboratory creaked open. The smell of death rolled over her before she even saw the bloodied cloth draped over a figure on the exam table where Soris had lain months before. A cloying, sickly smell hung heavy in the air. Nat stumbled into the room and clutched her ha
nd over her nose. Her heart thudded inside her chest as she approached the draped form. Bottles and vials filled with cloudy liquids lay strewn across a table next to the body.
Nat inched closer to the table and pinched the folds of the stained cloth with her fingers. Slowly, she peeled away the drape. A gray-faced man with eyes frozen in terror lay under the cloth. Nat felt his cold neck under his pointed beard. No pulse. She steeled herself and rolled the cloth farther down his sunken chest, relieved she wasn’t looking at Emilia’s corpse but needing to know what had caused the man’s death. A series of punctures dotted the skin above his heart. A pale blue tint covered his skin.
Nat dropped the cloth and directed her attention to the table and a single bottle containing a blue liquid. “Nala Venom” was written on the bottle’s label in a flourished hand. She bolted from the room.
Soris glanced over his shoulder at Nat as he carried the dead guard toward the Sisters’ accommodations. Nat shook her head to indicate she hadn’t found anything. Soris quickened his pace. The soldier’s arms bounced against his legs.
“Anything?” Nat jumped at the sound of Andris’ voice. He steadied himself against the building’s middle door and grimaced. Dried poisonous plants hung from the beams above his head.
“A body, but not the one we are looking for,” she said and took a deep, shaky breath. If she isn’t in here . . . Nat pushed the thought away and grasped the cold doorknob. It refused to turn.
Andris moved slightly to the side and drew his sword. “Kick it,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
Nat stepped back and planted a front kick near the knob. The wood around the lock splintered, and the door crashed open.
Andris plunged into the room ahead of Nat. “She’s not here.” He scanned the cluttered room. “Check the last room, then we leave.”