“Who told him that?”
“He didn’t know.”
Mhavrych ran up the steps of the house and opened the door without knocking. He moved through the house as quickly as he could, heading directly for the war room.
“You said that you saw members of the Order in the orchard when you went there to pick fruit.”
“Yes,” Icelyn said. “Ellora sent me to the orchard and when I was picking fruit and nuts I felt like someone was watching me. When I looked up, I saw an Order member staring at me from behind a tree.”
“Was he the only one?”
“No. There were at least three others. I didn’t know how many there were before I ran.”
“What exactly did he say to you?”
“That he needed to be sure to congratulate Malcolm on our marriage.”
Mhavrych’s blood felt like it had run cold. He knew that those words could mean only one thing. They had been extremely careful not to be seen by anyone when they were heading to the creek for the ceremony, and had told no one but Theia and Ellora about the marriage either before or after. If the member of the Order had mentioned the wedding when he was in the orchard, that meant that they had somehow found out that Malcolm was with them and that something was happening. They might not fully know what, but that was an even more frightening prospect than them completely understanding the plan that they had put in place. If the Order suspected that they had something planned but they didn’t know what, they would go to great lengths to find out, putting all of them in danger.
“We need to find him and get off of Uoria as fast as possible. We have to get away from here.”
Mhavrych went into the war room and grabbed three of the few remaining weapons.
“What are you doing?” Athan asked. “Why didn’t we go to the weapons arsenal in the meeting hall? There are far larger and more effective weapons than these there.”
“I know,” Mhavrych said, handing off weapons to Athan and to Icelyn, “but there is someone who gave information to the Order about Malcolm and who knew that Icelyn was going to be in the orchard. I don’t know who it could be, but the last thing that we need is for anyone to know what we are doing. We need to get Malcolm away from the Order and out of their reach without anyone being able to follow us or know what we are doing. Hopefully we won’t encounter any members while we are down there, but if we do, these weapons will have to be sufficient.”
Without any further explanation, Mhavrych moved past Athan and Icelyn and rushed up the stairs back into the house. He could hear them chasing after him and continued, knowing that Athan would know the way that he was going and would ensure Icelyn would get there along with him. Mhavrych couldn’t be responsible for watching over her. His responsibility in this moment was toward Malcolm. Though it sounded harsh, it was only Malcolm’s safety that he needed right then. Though he didn’t want to see Icelyn get hurt, what mattered was that they get Malcolm off of Uoria and to Casimir. Now that they were married, Malcolm was officially a male member of his descent, enabling him to release Casimir from his exile. Mhavrych’s sworn duty meant that he needed to do everything that he needed to do to protect those who were on the side of the truth, and that meant Casimir and Aegeus above all others. He would have to trust that Athan would be there to take care of Icelyn and guard her until she could be safe after all of this had come to an end.
Mhavrych paused for only a moment to listen down the hatch into the tunnels before dropping down into the darkness of the Order lair. The lights embedded in the ceiling turned on, filling the space with light, and he pushed himself against the wall, moving down it with his back pressed against the stone as fast as he could. He was several feet down the tunnel when Athan and Icelyn dropped down with him and started down after him. Mhavrych’s ears strained through the tunnels for any sound that might indicate that one of the Order members was coming. This was a section that was not as frequently used, but it was not entirely abandoned, and there was always a chance that someone would come this way or that the Panel would have assigned guards to all sections of the tunnels to watch for them to come for Mhavrych.
He knew that he couldn’t let himself hesitate. He had to move as fast as he could. He winced each time that the lights overhead changed colors, but soon he convinced himself to think of it in another way. Each time that the lights changed, it was a countdown, an indication that he was really moving, that he was getting closer to the dark tunnels. Finally, he saw the bend in the tunnels ahead and he knew that he was nearly there. Mhavrych glanced back over his shoulder to check the progress of Athan and Icelyn. Both were close behind, holding the weapons that he had handed him tightly. Mhavrych expected Icelyn to look terrified, but she didn’t. Instead, she stared ahead of her with an intense concentration on her face, her eyes unblinking and unmoving as she made her way toward him. Mhavrych could see the love she had for Malcolm there, the loyalty that she felt for her grandfather, and the determination that she held to not let the death of her parents be in vain.
Ahead of him Mhavrych heard a sudden sound. It was indistinct, not a footstep. Not a voice. He paused, holding up his hand to stop Athan and Icelyn, then bringing his finger to his lips to ensure that they didn’t speak. He strained his ears and a few seconds later heard the sound again. Mhavrych started toward it, following the low scraping until it guided him around the bend in the tunnel and into the darkened portion. There were no lights in the ceiling in this section of the tunnels. Here there was no indication that someone was moving through them or how far that they had traveled. The only illumination that anyone would have when going through this section of the lair would be a torch or lightstick that they carried with them. Mhavrych realized that he had brought neither, concentrating so completely on bringing weapons and getting down into the lair as fast as he could that he didn’t even think about the need that they would have to illuminate the space around them. He would have to travel by memory and his senses, trusting that he would be able to remember how to move into the depths of the lair without being able to see around him.
He paused long enough to allow Athan and Icelyn to catch up.
“Stay close,” he whispered. “It’s incredibly dark in there and there are twists and chambers that you won’t be able to get yourself out of if you get in before the others notice.”
They drew closer to him and he started moving down the tunnel again, his hands pressed back against the wall to feel his way. Icelyn stood between the two men and he could feel her close enough to him that she would be able to detect all of his movements. This was reassuring, helping him to feel more confident that she wouldn’t slip into one of the hidden chambers or traps that were scattered throughout the dark areas of the lair. Mhavrych led them down the tunnel, following the curves carefully for a few moments before he paused and listened for the strange sound again. It remained silent long enough that he nearly continued on before he heard it again. It still sounded like a low scraping, uneven, unmeasured. He listened for the direction of the sound and then continued toward it.
His feet were carrying him faster now, bringing him deeper into the dark section. This was an area that most members of the Order never saw. Many didn’t even know that it existed. The temperature was colder here, the air damp and filled with the smell of the earth that made up the walls and floor. To those who had never been in this section of the lair, it would seem untouched, as if there was nothing here. Many would turn around and try to make their way back to the brightly lit section rather than trying to move further. This was the intention of the Order. The hope was that there would be enough dread and hesitation that it would prevent those who might wander into this area unauthorized from getting deep enough that it might compromise the intended use of this section. The hidden chambers and traps, including sheer drops that occurred just inches beyond the threshold of doors that seemed exactly the same as any of the other doors, were meant to handle those who didn’t turn back.
They made it through the dam
p earthen section of the tunnels and Mhavrych turned into a section that was still dark but was back to being floored and walled with stone. They were close to the place where he had found Ellora and the sound of the scraping was starting to materialize in his mind, familiar enough now that he thought he might know what it was. He sped up, knowing that it was safe now to pull out in front of Athan and Icelyn. There were no more traps or twisting, puzzle-like chambers that might put them in danger. All they needed to do was continue to follow the sound of his steps on the stone floor and they would be able to stay in his path.
The scraping sound grew louder and Mhavrych listened for any other indication that there might be someone else in this area. The risk was highest here. If there was going to be someone who had been assigned to guarding Malcolm, this was the section where they were most likely to be. The section seemed quiet and he chose to take a further risk.
“Malcolm?” he called out in a low hiss, loud enough that anyone in any of the chambers on either side of him for the next several feet might hear, but not so loud that his voice would reverberate through the entire section of the tunnels. “Malcolm?”
There was no response and he continued further down the tunnels, his fingers trailing the walls on either side so that their tips felt the cold metal as he progressed.
****
Malcolm thought that he heard his name coming through the cold darkness, but he didn’t know if it was truly a voice or if it was his own mind creating the sound out of desperation. He listened harder, not wanting to make any sound for fear that one of the members of the Order was close and his sounds would indicate that he was not only alive, but conscious, enticing them to come in again.
“Malcolm?”
He was sure that he had heard his name that time and the voice sounded like Mhavrych. Cautious relief filled him, and he tilted his head back to send his voice through the darkness in the direction of his name.
“I’m here,” he called.
It was more difficult to force the words out than he expected it to be, and Malcolm worried that it wasn’t loud enough to be heard. He drew in a breath, knowing he needed to get past the pain, beyond the exhaustion. He needed to take everything that was within him and be heard.
“I’m here,” he called again, knowing his voice sounded stronger and louder now. “I’m here. Mhavrych, I’m here.”
“Malcolm!”
The voice was different. That wasn’t Mhavrych calling out to him. The sweet, tenderness of that voice belonged to Icelyn. Knowing that she was close gave Malcolm enough of a boost that allowed him to grasp the chains that held him harder, pulling himself up so that he could call out more loudly.
“Here!” he said. “I’m here!”
Seconds later he heard the sound of footsteps coming toward him. The rhythm of the footfalls told him that there were three people and he could only hope that it was Athan. Though Malcolm had come to understand that Mhavrych knew things about the Order that others didn’t know, Malcolm knew that Athan was far higher in the hierarchy than he himself was and found comfort in the familiar knowledge of Athan. Unlike his thoughts on the training, preferring the leadership of Theia and Creia to Athan, when it came to being in the Order lair, he felt reassured that Athan was near.
“Malcolm, are you in here?”
Mhavrych’s voice sounded only feet away and Malcolm knew that they had finally found him. He had survived. At least for now, he had more of a chance.
“Yes,” he said, his voice powdery with relief. “I’m here.”
“Is there a torch here?”
“I don’t know. They brought the light out with them.”
“Who?” Athan asked.
“I don’t know. They were masked.”
“I found one!”
Icelyn’s voice from further in the room was another wash of soothing, cooling relief and he leaned his head toward it was if that would draw him closer to her. Malcolm heard Athan and Mhavrych walk toward her voice and a few moments later he heard the sound of a flint on the stone wall and then saw a spark of flame. The light seemed to sizzle in the blackness, burning away the edges of the darkness until he could see Mhavrych’s face in the space that it created. Mhavrych held the torch up above his head, allowing the light to spread further, and Malcolm felt it touch his face. He lifted his head higher and saw Mhavrych’s jaw tighten. Icelyn gasped and for the first time Malcolm wished that she wasn’t there. As much as he wanted to be near her and as much as her presence comforted him, he didn’t want her to have to see him like this.
In an instant, Athan rushed across the room and Malcolm felt the older man’s arm around his waist, supporting him so that the chains went slack and the shackles stopped cutting into his wrists. Mhavrych handed the torch over to Icelyn and stepped up to Malcolm, reaching above his head to where the shackle cuffs were latched closed. He released the latches, each step of the complex process feeling as though it took far longer than it should have. The fact that the latches had no keys was meant as an additional layer of torment for whatever prisoner found himself trapped in them. Knowing that the cuffs weren’t locked was torturous. There was nothing keeping him in the shackles but his inability to turn his hands enough to access the series of curved clasps that made up the latch. Finally, the latches released, and Malcolm felt his hands fall out of the shackles. The pain in his shoulders intensified sharply as his arms dropped forward and the muscles of his shoulders were finally allowed to relax.
Malcolm’s feet touched the floor fully and he tried to support his weight, but his legs seemed to give out on him. Athan caught him as his body fell forward and he felt the man sweep him up, sharing the weight of his body with Mhavrych as they turned and started out of the chamber. Icelyn followed with the torch and Malcolm felt that he had never been so thankful for something so simple as light. They made their way down the tunnel at a fast pace, but suddenly he felt Mhavrych stop. His hand grasped onto Athan’s arm for a moment to indicate that they were changing direction and they turned into one of the other chambers on the tunnel. When they were inside, Mhavrych reached for the torch. From his position over Athan’s shoulder, Malcolm could see Mhavrych take the torch from Icelyn’s hand and press it to the wall. The fire briefly flashed and then extinguished, sending them back into darkness. For a moment Malcolm felt a surge of panic, but then his ears pricked at the sound of muffled voices somewhere in the distance. They grew louder rapidly, and he could hear each word accented by heavy footsteps.
“Be quiet,” Mhavrych said in a whisper that was nearly inaudible.
Malcolm’s heart pounded in his chest and he felt sick to his stomach as he listened to the Order members drawing closer. This wasn’t just about him. If they found him, it would no longer just be him that was at their mercy. He couldn’t bear the thought of Icelyn experiencing anything like what he had. The footsteps were loud enough now that he knew the Order members were only feet away. He listened as they passed by the door, holding his breath so that they wouldn’t hear each shuddering exhalation. He wished that he could reach for Icelyn, just so that he could feel her skin. The seconds that it took for the footsteps to make their way past the door and fade as they got further down the tunnel seemed to stretch and drag, but at least they were over, and Malcolm knew that this was their only chance.
They rushed forward, and he heard Icelyn fall into step behind the men who carried him. He wanted to run. He wanted to support his own weight and not force the other men to carry him to his escape, but he knew that this was the fastest way that they were going to be able to get out. They had only been out of the chamber for a few moments when Malcolm heard the disheartening sound of voices coming back up the tunnel toward them. They were louder now, angry and frantic. It was obvious that they had discovered that he was no longer shackled in the dungeon. Mhavrych muttered something fierce and he felt the support that he had been offering him disappear as if the other man had stepped away from the rest of their group. A moment later Malcolm saw the
light of the torch return. He felt Mhavrych return to help Athan carry him and soon their pace had increased again.
The footsteps behind them were growing louder, but Malcolm felt more nervous when they left the stone section of the tunnels and entered the damp, earthen section. This was a more dangerous section and he worried that Mhavrych would become distracted and they would become lost while trying to escape.
“This way,” Mhavrych suddenly said.
“No,” Athan said. “We’re not there yet. We have to go further.”
“This way,” Mhavrych insisted again, seeming to confirm Malcolm’s fears as the man tried to guide them away from the tunnel that Malcolm knew would lead them out of the lair. “You need to trust me.”
Athan relented and they turned sharply, going into one of the chambers. Immediately Malcolm could feel that this was not a place where they were supposed to be. Rather than feeling like they were making any sort of progress through the tunnels, he felt like they were starting to spiral, curving in on themselves and heading upwards. He didn’t want to know what was waiting when they reached the pinnacle of the curve. Despite them dipping into this hidden section of the tunnels, Malcolm could still hear the voices and the footsteps. He felt as though they knew where they were. They were chasing them, pursuing them rather than looking for them.
“Up ahead of us there’s another door,” Mhavrych said. “We need to go through it.”
“That’s a trap,” Athan said.
“We have to go through it,” Mhavrych insisted. “They will be on top of us in a matter of seconds. We either go through the door, or we might as well turn around and hand ourselves over to them. What do you want to do?”
There was only a moment of pause.
“Icelyn, when I tell you to, extinguish the torch.”
“Won’t we need the light?” she asked.
“We might need the light,” Mhavrych told her, “but we won’t need the flame.”
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