They rounded a curve. Dim light filtered through the tunnel.
Jackson pulled back, slowing Ophidian. He inched the dragon forward.
The tunnel curved again, then ended abruptly. Light flickered in a large cavern.
Jackson backed up, slid from Ophidian’s back, and gestured for the others to follow. Keeping his back against the wall, he crept forward.
Cells lined every inch of the enormous cavern, stacked as high as Jackson could see. How in the world could they get in there to open them all?
Dakota stood at his back.
Ranger and Noah studied the area from across the tunnel.
Ice creatures patrolled the cavern perimeter. Jackson tried to count them, but some disappeared from view as they rounded a far corner and reappeared a few minutes later.
No sign of Thaddeus.
He gestured his men farther back down the tunnel and pitched his voice low enough to keep it from echoing into the chamber. “Could you see into any of the cells?”
They all shook their heads.
“There’s another tunnel up higher.” He pointed toward the far side of the cavern at an entrance to a rotunda holding the uppermost cells.
Ranger looked at it. “It could take forever to find the way in there.”
“But it would be a better vantage point.” They’d have a view of the entire chamber from up there. Plus, they’d probably be able to see into some of the cells.
Ranger shrugged. “If there is a way in. It could just be a cave or an indentation in the rock formation.”
That was true. “Okay. We’ll go in down here. How many do you estimate?”
“I counted at least thirty guards,” Ranger said.
“Me too.” Dakota frowned. “Why leave that many if they’re not guarding anything?”
“Wouldn’t make sense.” They had to go in. Even without visual confirmation of prisoners. Not ideal, but they had no choice. “Did you see any way to open the cells?”
Noah nodded. “I think I saw something similar to the pulley system in Cymmera’s dungeon.”
“Where?”
“Against the wall when you first enter the cavern. You wouldn’t have been able to see it from where you were standing. There are a bunch of levers. I could only see the handles, though. I couldn’t tell how they worked.”
“Okay. We’re going in.”
Ranger pulled his bow from his back. “Are we taking the dragons?”
“No. Cells surround the entire cavern. Too much risk of burning a prisoner. We’ll send the dragons out.”
Noah fell into step beside Ranger, bow held ready. “Will that signal the other Death Dealers to come in?”
Ranger whistled low, signaling the dragons to retreat. “Yes. Ophidian will show them the way back.”
“Are we going to wait?”
“No. We’re going now.” The pressing need to find Thaddeus and return to Cymmera urged Jackson forward. He gestured toward Noah’s bow. “Have you been taught to conjure fire?”
He shook his head.
“Okay. Find the levers, and see if you can work them. Ranger, light a ball of fire and leave it within Noah’s reach. Light the arrows before you fire. Otherwise, they just bounce off those creatures. You need the fire to melt through the ice encasing their chests, as many as three shots to fell each creature. Got it?” He wished there were more time to teach Noah, but he had to trust the other man could handle it. He’d done well enough so far.
Noah blew out a breath and nodded.
The three Death Dealers readied their weapons and followed Jackson back down the tunnel. He’d try to slip in unnoticed. At least until they verified the presence of prisoners.
A few rock formations dotted the open dirt floor but nothing he could hide behind to slip into the cavern. So be it. He crept forward, staying low, bow and arrow ready. He rounded the last curve and entered the cavern, staying in the shadows as much as possible.
Creatures encased in ice stared straight ahead as they continued their circuit of the perimeter. Probably the exact route Thaddeus had mapped.
Noah ducked toward the handles he’d seen. He shot Jackson a thumb’s up, confirming their suspicions about the pulley system.
Dakota peered into the first cell he came to and shook his head, then moved to the next cell and shook his head again.
The cells couldn’t possibly be empty.
Ranger crept along the cells on the opposite side. When he reached the third in the line, he turned to Jackson and nodded confirmation of prisoners.
An ice creature rounded the curve.
Using the shadows for cover, Jackson lit the tip of the arrow, then tossed the fireball to the ground. He fired. His arrow found its target, melting through the creature’s ice-covered chest.
He shot two more arrows in rapid succession and felled the giant monster.
Inhuman screams echoed through the cavern, shaking pebbles and dirt loose from the walls.
Noah hit the first lever, and the bars of a second-level cell rose into the ceiling. Agonizingly slow.
Jackson went after the next creature in line. Two shots brought him down.
Dakota finished him off.
Ranger plowed through the levers with Noah, yanking one after another. If only they could make the bars recede faster.
Prisoners ducked beneath bars as soon as they’d lifted enough.
A stampede shook the chamber as a mob of creatures barreled toward them.
Jackson and Dakota shot arrow after arrow, providing Noah and Ranger as much cover fire as they could.
The first of the escaped prisoners reached the levers and took over freeing the others.
Ranger and Noah took up positions with Jackson and Dakota.
One of the creatures jumped from the second level toward Jackson.
Jackson let loose another arrow as he sidestepped, then pulled his sword.
A woman screamed.
A creature grabbed her around the waist as she tried to flee her cell. He pitched her off the third level.
Noah ran toward her.
Two creatures attacked him before he could reach her.
Jackson ran his sword through a flame and plunged it deep into the first creature’s back.
The second hefted his sword toward Noah’s side.
Noah spun and dodged the blow. He got off a shot, but without the flame, the arrow ricocheted off the creature.
Jackson conjured a fireball and hurled it toward Noah. It caught on a small rock ledge.
“Jackson,” Dakota yelled.
He whirled just in time to avoid a creature’s sword, then plunged his sword into its chest. It rebounded.
The creature took another swing.
Jackson jumped, but the sword slashed his leg.
Damn. Too close. He lit the end of the sword and ran it through the creature’s gut.
Cell after cell opened, freeing hundreds of citizens.
Jackson lost track of Noah as people panicked and fled.
The other Death Dealers had entered the cavern and now fought at their sides.
He still couldn’t find Noah. His concern for him grew. The possibility he’d misjudged the abilities of the ice creatures gnawed at him. It seemed they might be a little more intelligent than the savages. And Noah wasn’t as prepared as he should be to fight them.
Another Cymmeran citizen fell.
One of the Death Dealers grabbed him by the arm and dragged him toward the tunnel.
Jackson reached the spot where the woman had fallen, but he couldn’t find any sign of her or Noah. With any luck at all, he’d reached her and gotten her to safety.
“Go, go, go. Get everyone out. Now.” Jackson needed these people out of harm’s way. He needed room to maneuver. And he needed a clear line of sight. He couldn’t see anything through the bolting prisoners.
One of his people lifted her hands and pulled them apart to open a portal.
A small explosion propelled her back against the wall. She slammed her head and crumpled to the ground.
A man lifted her over his shoulder and ran.
Thaddeus had kept the castle in Argonas heavily guarded with magic. No one could open a portal in or out unless he allowed it. Jackson had assumed he’d use the same magic in the cavern. He grabbed a fleeing man. “Head out through the tunnels. You should be able to open a portal once you’re out.”
Creatures poured into the cavern. Far more than they’d anticipated. The urge to hurl a huge fireball at the whole line battered him, but the energy he’d need would leave him too drained to fight. “I need everyone out. Go. Now.”
Death Dealers echoed his orders, urging those who tried to stand and fight out of the cavern. They’d be no use at this point. Without weapons or proper training, they’d only be in the way.
The crowd thinned.
Noah was engaged in an unwinnable battle against three creatures. He kept his back to the wall, using the ball of fire Jackson had lit to heat his sword before each blow.
Dakota was on the far side of the chamber, heading toward him, too far away to help.
Jackson raced toward him.
A creature plunged his sword straight through Noah’s gut.
Jackson ripped the bow from his back, lit an arrow, and aimed for the closest creature’s head. Perfect kill shot.
The creature only stumbled back.
Another arrow plunged through it, then another, until it finally fell.
Jackson let another arrow go as he ran.
Another creature went down, but an army more stampeded toward them from the far tunnel.
Jackson wrapped an arm around Noah. “Let’s go.”
He nodded and clutched his stomach as they ran toward the exit.
Dakota came up on Noah’s other side and grabbed hold. “Is everyone out?”
“The woman you went after?” Jackson yelled to Noah.
“Sent her out with someone.”
An earthquake rocked them an instant before flames surged through the cavern.
“Get down!” Jackson shoved Noah toward the far wall and dove.
Intense heat hurled him into Noah and propelled both of them against a wall of rock.
Noah grunted.
Dakota yanked him up.
Ranger gripped Jackson’s breastplate strap and hauled him to his feet.
Ophidian and the other dragons stormed the cavern, spraying flames everywhere.
Screams erupted from the remaining creatures.
“It’s clear. Everyone’s out,” Ranger screamed in his ear. “Go.”
A Death Dealer hoisted another off the ground and onto his shoulder.
Dakota kept an arm around Noah.
Jackson grabbed him from the other side as they fled through the tunnels. “Do we have everyone?”
“Yeah.” Dakota kept pace.
Noah limped between them, favoring one side. Sweat soaked his pale face.
“How bad?” Jackson couldn’t tell how badly injured Noah was while they were running.
“Bad enough I was glad to see your ugly face.”
Jackson laughed. “Oh, so not that bad.”
Noah’s smile was forced, but at least he probably wouldn’t drop dead in the next few minutes. Which meant he could be healed as soon as they got a chance.
“Did you summon the dragons?” Jackson yelled over his shoulder to Ranger.
Ranger shook his head. “As the last of the people fled the tunnels, Ophidian came charging in. I figured you called them.”
He hadn’t, but it wasn’t the first time the dragons had defended their riders. Or their kingdom. Ryleigh had told him they fought without being summoned when he’d been captive in Argonas and Cymmera had come under attack.
Ryleigh. He had to get back to her. Freeing the prisoners hadn’t been easy, but it could have been harder. Thaddeus had never made an appearance. So where was he? “We have to go to the castle.”
“In Cymmera?”
“No. Argonas. Then Cymmera.”
“Why?”
“First, I have to see if Thaddeus is there. It’s too weird he didn’t show up here. It can only mean he was doing something more important, though I can’t imagine what it could be. And second, we’re going to need more soldiers. We must try to convince some of the citizens of Argonas to fight with us.”
Jackson stopped partway down the tunnel. He sent healing heat through the wound on his own leg. Then, he covered the gash in Noah’s side, willing the edges to mend, the blood flow to slow. “You did good in there.”
Noah’s breathing came in harsh gasps. He coughed, and blood trickled from his mouth. He covered Jackson’s hands with his own, his expression serious. “Thanks, man. For everything.”
“Any time.” Relief coursed through him, and he smiled. “But Noah?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think you could try to act a little less injured? You know, maybe not look quite so pathetic?”
Noah flopped back against the wall, breathing hard. “Any particular reason?”
“Yeah. If I bring you back too hurt, I might never hear the end of it. That’s the last thing I need.”
Noah shot him a grin. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter 11
Ryleigh dipped a cloth in the basin on the small bedside table, wrung it out, and placed it back on Vaughn’s forehead.
“Thanks.” His smile flickered, just for a moment, but it still warmed her.
“No problem.”
Mia and Cyenne huddled on the other side of the bed, a stack of books on the floor between them.
“Well?” Ryleigh was getting impatient. They needed answers.
“I can’t find what we need in any of these.” Cyenne tossed a book on top of the others, and toppled the pile. She stretched her legs in front of her and leaned back on her hands. “We really need the Book of the Ancients. It has a whole section on magic and spells. I’m very sure I’ve removed all traces of the spell Thaddeus cast on the arrow that injured Vaughn, but using magic comes natural to me. It’s different from having to cast spells. I can’t teach Mia to do it without the book.”
Ryleigh would have to accept that for the moment. At least Cyenne was here for now. If any of the others returned in the same condition, hopefully, she’d be able to save them. She stood and paced. No way could she sit still while Jackson was in Argonas. The memory of how he returned last time was still too fresh in her mind.
Vaughn snored softly. He murmured in his sleep, and his eyes fluttered but remained closed.
Ryleigh bent closer, but she couldn’t make out any words. “He still seems so weak.”
Cyenne stood and leaned over him. She smoothed his hair away from his face, careful not to dislodge the cool cloth. “He’ll gain strength now the magic’s been removed. Dark, evil stuff, the magic Thaddeus is using. Dangerous.”
“Can we fight it?”
Cyenne stayed quiet too long.
“Cyenne?”
“I don’t know. I think we can, but not without the book. Even the faeries can’t counter this kind of magic on their own. There’s just no way. We need guidance. You have to understand. No one has used this kind of dark magic in hundreds of centuries, so no one but the strongest sorcerers, who’ve lived and practiced for that long, are even slightly familiar with it. And they are few and reclusive. Dark magic was banned a very long time ago, and for good reason. The book, with the knowledge of the ancients, is our only hope of combatting such evil.” Sweat dotted her forehead. Her hands shook. She’d expended a tremendous amount of energy just healing one man. “I’m not strong enough to fight this alone, though. We’re going to need help.”
Great. “What kind of help?”
She swiped a strand of hair that had fallen loose from the knot atop her head. “I’m not sure yet. Let me think about it and see what I can come up with. No matter what,
it seems our best chance of success lies with retrieving that book from Thaddeus.”
Ryleigh nodded. There was nothing more they could do about that until Jackson returned with the Death Dealers or Thaddeus showed up. They didn’t have enough soldiers left to mount a search for the sorcerer and still have any hope of protecting Cymmera.
She paced toward the fireplace. Images flickered in the flames. Death. Destruction. The fall of Cymmera played out over and over.
The chamber door screeched open, and Kiara entered. “How is he?”
Ryleigh turned her back on the visions. “He seems to be doing better.”
“Can you spare a minute?”
“Of course. Is something wrong?” Okay, that was a stupid question.
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Sure.”
“Alone.”
“I’ll be right back.” Ryleigh headed toward the door.
“Actually…” Mia stood and stretched her back. “Cyenne hasn’t had anything to eat since we returned. Why don’t you guys stay with Vaughn while we go to the kitchen and see if we can put together some kind of meal?”
Ryleigh nodded. “Thank you.”
Once Mia and Cyenne left, Kiara pushed the door shut softly.
Ryleigh dropped onto one of the rocking chairs in front of the fireplace. “Sit. You look tired.”
She sort of smiled and huffed. “I’m exhausted.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I hope so.” She sat opposite Ryleigh. “Oh, Ryleigh. I don’t know what to do. I can’t even believe any of this is happening. I’ve never been so scared.”
Ryleigh’s heart broke. There had to be something she could say or do to ease Kiara’s pain. But she had no clue what.
Kiara’s clasped hands trembled in her lap. “I’m sorry, Ryleigh. I don’t want to put you in a bad position, but I need your help.”
“What can I do?”
Max propped his head on Ryleigh’s lap, and she petted him.
“You have to talk Jackson into pardoning Lucas.”
Ryleigh jerked back. She had no clue that was even allowed. “You know I’ll do what I can, Kiara. You don’t even have to ask.”
“You can’t let him execute him, Ryleigh. Please. You have to stop it.” Pain etched deep lines in Kiara’s face. Dark circles ringed her eyes.
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