CHAPTER 23
As Lars reached the pit floor, Cameron and Brock helped him get his footing. The moment his hands released the rope, it began to rise. Looking up at the distant pit opening, Brock could see a set of hands pulling it up. The pit rim had to be four stories above him. When the rope cleared the rim, the hands disappeared and it became quiet.
Lowering his eyes, Brock peered into the darkness, seeking the faces of his companions. The indirect light of the single torch above was just enough for him to perceive silhouettes standing about him. Lars spoke, breaking the silence.
“You’ve got to get us out of here, Brock.” Lars sounded angry, desperate. “We’re in here because of you. I can’t stay in this tiny dark hole.” His voice rose to a shout. “You have to get me out!”
Tipper stepped between Lars and Brock. “Relax, Lars. Brock has a plan. He always has a plan.”
Brock had begun working through a plan the moment he reached the bottom. The outline of an idea was forming, but he needed a little more time.
“We can’t do anything yet,” Brock said, trying to sound calm. “It’s around dinner time now. If we wait just a few hours, it’ll be past nightfall, and they’ll be asleep. That’s when we get out of here.” He reached out, placing his hand on Lars’ thick shoulder. “Until then, try to relax.”
Lars remained still, glancing about the pit in silence. A long moment stretched as Brock waited for his reaction.
“Okay. We wait for a couple hours,” Lars grumbled and turned away from Brock.
Tipper patted Brock’s shoulder, stepping aside as Ashland stepped in and wrapped her arm around his waist. I’m scared. She said in his head.
He closed his eyes and sent his thoughts back to her. I’m scared too. It looks like the Ministry has created an enemy here and that makes us guilty by association. Words aren’t going to work, so we need to escape. We have nothing to lose in trying since they plan to kill us anyway.
Do you really have a plan? she asked.
I’m working on it, he replied.
. . .
Brock rose to his feet, wiping the dirt off the seat of his trousers. “Okay everyone. Wake up.”
The group began to stir. Brock wasn’t sure if anyone had actually fallen asleep. He certainly couldn’t sleep, not with their lives in the balance. Time had passed at an achingly slow pace while Brock watched the pit opening, high above him. Having seen nothing but the flickering torch dancing on the uneven cave roof, it seemed unlikely that there were any Tantarri waiting at the top.
Brock turned to focus on his friends, searching for their faces in the darkness. “After a much consideration, I think I’ve devised a way out of here.”
After a pause, he revealed his plan. “Ashland is going to use Chaos on me, so I can float up to the cave above. Once there, I’ll lower the rope so you guys can climb out.”
“Is that safe?” Ashland asked.
Hearing the concern in her voice, he squeezed her hand to reassure her. “I used Chaos on myself once and it worked.”
“But you were also rendered unconscious for days,” she noted.
Brock nodded, though he expected she couldn’t see it. “True. However, something else may have caused it. Regardless, it’s a risk we have to take. Lars was right when he said that I’m the one who got us into this mess. I’m the one who has to get us out.”
She was quiet again. “What am I going to draw with? How am I going to see the rune in this dark pit?”
Brock smiled, digging into his inside coat pocket. He pulled a small tube out and began shaking it. A soft blue light bloomed from the glowstick, illuminating the pit.
“You had light the whole time we’ve been down here?” Lars growled.
Brock nodded. “Yes, but I couldn’t risk using it. I didn’t want them to take it away. The fact they didn’t take it when they searched me means that they don’t know what it is or they just didn’t find it.” Brock smiled. “Regardless, this little prize is going to save us.”
He lifted the glowstick high and smashed it into the rocky floor of the pit. The thick glass broke, sending a splash of glowing blue powder onto the ground. Brock lifted his shirt, and pointed at his torso as he addressed Ashland.
“Draw the rune on my stomach using the glowstone powder.”
She nodded, bending to grab the intact end of the glass tube. After pouring the glowing powder from the tube into her palm, she dipped her index finger into it and began tracing the symbol onto Brock’s skin.
After a minute, she stood upright. “I think that’s it. How does it look?”
Brock examined the rune. “It looks good, but it’s missing a line right here.”
“Oh, right.” Ashland bent to add the mark. “Okay. It’s ready.”
Handing the remains of the tube to Benny, her eyes met Brock’s.
He nodded to her. “Do it. If we don’t escape, we die in the morning. The fear of that thought should be enough.”
She nodded, closing her eyes. Brock felt nervous, his heart racing as he prepared for what was coming. After a minute, her eyes flashed open, her iris’ glowed red in the dim surroundings. Having never noticed it before, Brock leaned closer to find crimson energy dancing about her pupils as if tiny thunderstorms raged within. He glanced down at the rune as it began to glow, pulsing before the glow faded. Looking back up at Ashland, he found her eyes returned to normal.
His body began to tingle, his muscles twitching for a moment. His stomach flipped, feeling queasy as he began to float. After rising upward a foot, he sank to lightly tap down onto the cave floor.
“I didn’t float all the way up.” Brock noted, confused.
Benny responded. “Your clothes might be too heavy. Take your coat and boots off.”
Brock decided that Benny was correct as usual. Holding onto Ashland as he pulled his boots off, Brock felt himself beginning to rise. He let go and began removing his coat as he slowly drifted upward. After dropping the coat, he began rising faster.
The walls of the cave slid past as he rose higher and higher. Brock swiped his hand at the wall to help him rotate until he was facing upward. Emerging from the mouth of the pit, he floated up toward the high ceiling. He extended his arms, bracing himself as he collided into the uneven rock dome. It felt odd to rest against the ceiling as if gravity had been inverted. Spinning around, he spotted the rope in a coiled pile near the entrance to the tunnel below. He squatted, bending his legs with his feet against the rock ceiling. Extending them in a burst, he shot downward toward the rope.
Anxiety twisted in his gut as he plummeted far faster than anticipated. Starting at a height of over thirty feet, a headfirst drop could be lethal. The knot in his stomach began to loosen as his speed slowed. By the time he reached the rope, his momentum had dwindled to a slow drift. He grabbed ahold of the rope, using it to keep himself from rising. Swinging his legs down to the cavern floor, he twisted the upper portion of the rope around one calf to use as an anchor.
Brock scooped up the thick coil of rope and began feeding it into the pit. His heart raced in fear as he thought of the Tantarri discovering him before he could free the others. Hand-over-hand, he lowered the rope into the pit.
“We’ve got it, Brock.” Tipper’s voice came from the depths below when the rope reached the bottom.
“Okay,” he replied, gripping the rope with both hands. “Send Cam first so he can help pull others up.”
. . .
Brock’s armpits were damp with nervous sweat. It took longer to get everyone out of the pit than he had hoped. The constant threat of being caught made the slow process excruciating.
Cam, Parker, and Tipper made it to the rim with little problem. Benny struggled a bit but made it with some help. Libby was unable to get far on her own, requiring the boys at the top to hoist her up. However, Ashland had no such issues. Brock was proud of her surprising strength of body and will. Lars surprisingly opted to go last, and it was a struggle to get him out. His weight required al
l of them to pull in unison. When he finally cleared the rim, he lay on his stomach, panting heavily.
The burning need to make haste prompted Brock to prod his friend along. “Lars, I know you’re tired, but we have to leave. Now.”
The large boy nodded, grunting as he slowly climbed to his feet.
Brock turned to Ashland, who still had his coat and boots tied to her back.
“Can you keep my things for a bit? I have no idea if running would even work with me being this light, so I’ll just have to float along for now.”
She nodded. “Sure. Grab on.”
He grabbed onto her gray travel cloak and unwrapped his leg from the rope. Released from their anchor, his legs began to float toward the ceiling.
“Let’s go grab our stuff and get out of here.” Brock said from his odd position, floating above Ashland. “Cam, you lead.”
They headed down the tunnel, toward the gallery where their belongings had been stored. Ashland and Brock followed Cam with the others trailing behind. From time to time, Brock’s foot would hit the roof of the tunnel and he’d push off so he’d float horizontal again.
They rounded the bend and approached the large cavern. It was far darker than before, with just two torches lighting the open space. Cam paused and glanced at Brock, who nodded, anxious to escape the situation. They entered the cavern, heading for their weapons still in the middle of the cavern.
A shout sounded from behind. “Stop or you die!”
Brock spun toward the voice, and Ashland’s cloak slipped from his grip. Flailing his arms as he attempted to reach her, he floated up toward the rocky roof. The scene below zoomed out as he drifted higher. He winced in pain when he collided into the rocky ceiling, with its uneven surface jutting into his back.
From his position high above the room, he easily spotted the dozen Tantarri warriors stationed along the wall near the tunnel that led to the pit. The warriors’ eyes were wide with fear, their bows pointed up at Brock.
Rapidly approaching footsteps drew Brock’s attention toward another tunnel entrance. Ten Tantarri, armed with curved swords, emerged in a run and surrounded Brock’s friends. Juran ran in behind them, slowing to a stop as he addressed his captives.
“I don’t know how you managed to escape the pit, but we were prepared to stop you if you did.” He crossed his arms in an arrogant stance. “Death still waits for you at sunrise.”
A Tantarri bowman shouted. “Juran! Beware! Above you! They have dark magic!”
Juran looked up, seeing Brock for the first time. With wide eyes, he backed a few steps. His look of shock transformed into one of pure hatred. He shouted to his men. “Shoot him. Kill him!”
“Juran, No!”
Everyone turned toward the woman’s voice. Stepping from the mouth of the tunnel was the same woman who had accompanied the head clansman earlier.
She approached Juran, shaking her head. “You cannot kill him, Juran. You must honor the prophecy.” Her hand rested on his arm. “If he dies, so does our hope.”
Juran’s face was a cloud of frustration. “Puri, it cannot be. How can one of the treacherous Imperials offer hope for the Tantarri? If we let him live, he’ll betray us.”
Puri shook her head. “No, brother. Not every one of them has a lying heart. You know Elder Duratti’s words as well as any. The portent appeared in our morning skies just days ago, and now the outsider who can fly is here in Mondomi.” She glanced up at Brock. “It cannot be coincidence. He is the one.” She turned toward Juran. “The days of the prophecy are upon us, and the fate of the Tantarri hangs in the balance.”
Juran stared at her, frustration apparent on his inked face. A long moment passed before he relented.
“Fine. You deal with them, then. I’ll have no part of their treachery.” He pointed a finger at her face. “But when they betray you, do not come crying to me.”
Juran stormed off, disappearing into the tunnel.
Puri called to the Tantarri. “Put down your weapons; do not harm them.” She looked up at Brock. “We will not harm you. Please accept our apologies for your harsh treatment. You are now our guests and will be treated as such.”
Brock had a good feeling about this woman. She did not exude the same hate and anger as her brother. He coiled his legs against the ceiling and launched himself down toward the others. The speed of his drop slowed as he approached the ground. He reached out to grab Cameron’s outstretched hand, bringing his legs down so he could stand. Ashland grabbed his other hand to help hold him down.
He looked up at Puri, who stood almost a head taller than Brock. Although her brown eyes were intense, her smooth cheeks showed that she was younger than he had first assumed. While she did have symbols and images scrawled on her skin, she had far less ink than her brother did.
Puri bowed to him. “I am Puri, first daughter of Turan, head clansman of the Tantarri. Welcome to Mondomi.”
CHAPTER 24
Brock woke as the hammock swayed from Ashland shifting her position. He lifted his free hand to swipe the sleep from his eyes, blinking to clear them. Ashland’s mess of brown curls tumbled across his chest, where her head remained. She had fallen asleep atop of him to help prevent him from floating away, which he didn’t mind in the least. Any reason to be close to her was good enough for Brock.
His gaze swept around the room, seeing the others still asleep in the row of hammocks hanging within the large man-made cavern. A single torch in the tunnel outside flickered, sending dim light through the seams in the curtain hanging in the doorway. Here inside of the mountain, Brock couldn’t determine if the sun had yet risen.
Looking at Ashland again, he gently touched her cheek. Stirring, she lifted her head to look up at him. She smiled, her eyes still looking sleepy. He smiled back. I love you. He said to her in thought. I love you more. She said, her smile growing.
He chuckled. “Is this a contest? Who loves who more?”
She closed her eyes, resting her chin on his chest. “Yes. Sorry, but you’re losing.”
“I find that hard to believe. I’m pretty sure I love you as much as anyone could possibly love anyone else,” he said as he stroked her hair.
Her eyes flickered open. “That’s nice, Brock. But I still love you more.”
“Are you guys done with the mushy talk yet?” Benny grumbled. “It’s making me ill.”
Brock laughed. “Yeah. Sorry if we woke you.”
Benny sat up, his hammock swinging from the motion. “It’s okay. I was already awake, trying to figure out what time it is. I can’t tell here in this cave.”
“I know what time it is.” Cam said from the hammock just beyond Benny’s. “It’s time to eat. I’m starving. After eating just one meal yesterday, I feel as if I could eat a whole cow.”
Benny replied. “I better go warn the Tantarri to hide their cows. Cameron’s on the loose, and he’s hungry.”
Lars’ bellowing laughter filled the cave, joined by the laughter of others in the group.
“He got you again, DeSanus! Ha! Hide your cows!” Lars said, laughing even harder.
As the laughter died down, brighter light coming from the tunnel redirected Brock’s attention. A Tantarri man pulled the curtain aside and stepped in, placing a torch in a sconce secured to the wall. A woman carrying a large pot followed him.
“Your breakfast is served,” she said, placing the pot onto the long table located near the door.
Another woman stepped into the room and set a towel-covered basket beside the pot. Two others followed, one carrying two pitchers and another with a large basket filled with bowls and utensils. A minute later, the table was set and the group of Tantarri bowed before leaving.
Ashland sat up, causing the hammock to swing wildly. “At least you’re not floating away anymore,” she noted.
“Yeah.” Brock sat up. “Thank goodness it finally wore off. It felt bizarre to be all floaty. I wouldn’t want to do that outside without anything above but open sky. At least, not witho
ut some weight on me.”
Everyone abandoned their hammocks, taking seats on the benches that lined both sides of the long table. The biscuits in the basket were warm, fluffy, and delicious. Lars scooped steaming porridge from the large pot, plopping a large clump onto each bowl before passing it along. While Brock was not a fan of the mushy dish, he was too hungry to care. Starved from the lack of food the day prior, they ate in silence as they focused on filling their stomachs. The food was almost completely gone when another visitor appeared.
All eyes turned to the familiar face at the doorway.
With a bow, Puri addressed them. “Good morning, guests. I hope you slept well.” She directed her attention toward Brock. “Master flyer. If you have finished your meal, my father would like to speak with you.”
Brock glanced at Ashland, who nodded. He climbed off the bench, rising to his feet.
“Yes, Puri. Let me put my boots on, and I’ll join you.”
After slipping his feet into the boots, he gave her a nod to indicate he was ready. The Tantarri woman bowed to the others and then turned to leave. Brock followed her down the narrow corridor. They reached an open room with branching tunnels, one with a descending stairwell and another with a rising stairwell. Puri led him to the one that went up, following a winding stone staircase that brought them to a wide terrace. Unlike the other parts of Mondomi that he had seen, the terrace was open to the outdoors. The cliff on the opposite side of the narrow canyon consisted of red and brown stripes, brightly lit by the morning sun. The ceiling above appeared to be a natural rock overhang that extended for hundreds of feet, providing shelter from the sun and rain. Puri led Brock across the upper tier of the terrace before descending three steps to the lower tier where the head clansman waited.
The Emblem Throne (The Runes of Issalia Book 2) Page 11