As he struggled to push the heavy animal off of him Brigid shifted to stand over him. The surviving hounds surrounded her, wary after the death of their pack-mate.
One darted in then leapt back when she swung at it. A second hound lunged for her extended wrist, missing it by a breath.
Yaz finally got free of the dead hound, but he’d lost his rock. He clenched his fist, determined to go down swinging.
The air suddenly went cold. A black tendril rose out of the dead hound, snaked out, and wrapped around the throat of a second dog. It squealed and struggled to no avail.
Two more smoky tentacles appeared and attacked the remaining hounds. In seconds all three were on the ground fighting to breathe. A few moments after that they went still.
Yaz turned to find Silas holding Wicked in his hand and pointing the skull at the dead hound.
“Good timing,” Yaz said.
“Thanks.” Silas collapsed.
Yaz and Brigid hurried over. The wizard was still breathing. His eyes were open but only the whites showed.
Yaz tapped his cheek and when that didn’t get a response slapped him harder. Silas groaned and his eyes flickered opened and closed.
“Are you okay?” Brigid asked.
“No,” Silas said. “Using magic without a proper catalyst isn’t a good idea. I’m not going to be much use for a while.”
“How long is a while?” Yaz asked.
Silas shook his head. “Can’t say. However long it takes me to recover. It’s different every time for every wizard, not that most are dumb or desperate enough to cast without their catalyst.”
“The hounds’ master will be here soon,” Brigid said. “Where are we going?”
“She’s right,” Yaz said. “There’s nowhere to hide.”
“There is. I found an intact basement in one of the buildings. There’s an opening that leads to a system of tunnels. I only took a superficial look around, but it appeared fairly extensive.”
It was better than nothing. “Where is it?” Yaz asked.
“Help me up.”
Yaz took him under one arm and Brigid got the other. They lifted Silas to his feet. The wizard pointed weakly to their left and the three of them shambled off. As they worked their way toward Silas’s hiding place, Yaz listened hard for any signs of the bounty hunters. They couldn’t be far behind their hounds and if the three of them were caught in the open, in the shape they were in now— hell, in any shape— they’d have no chance.
Further into the ruins, the buildings were at least recognizable as buildings even if they were broken and fallen.
“There.” Silas pointed at one of the more intact structures. “In the back.”
It had probably been someone’s home long ago. At least it didn’t look like a business. They shuffled around to the rear and found the back wall caved in and a rough stone ramp leading into the basement.
Yaz eyed the stones and the rubble hanging precariously above the entrance. Even if they got Silas down there, it wouldn’t take much more than a strong breeze to send it all tumbling on their heads.
“My hounds!” a pained voice said.
No more time to wait. The hunters had arrived.
They eased Silas to the ground and Yaz climbed to the base of the stone ramp. Silas, with Brigid’s help, inched down until his feet were low enough for Yaz to grasp. After a painful couple minutes, they got the wizard down into the basement.
Yaz helped Brigid to the floor and they took a moment to catch their breath. His pain had grown to the point that it no longer all fit in his secret room. He was right on the edge and from her ragged breathing he doubted Brigid was in any better shape. Silas lay still on the floor, Wicked flying in a slow circle above him.
“We’re a sad lot,” Yaz said.
“At least we’re alive and free,” Brigid said. “I promise I’ll never complain about being bored again.”
Yaz grinned. “Thanks for protecting me from the hounds.”
“You’d have done the same for me,” Brigid said. “Besides, he’s the one that really saved us.”
Yaz couldn’t argue with that. Without Silas they’d both be on their way to the gallows. And they still might be if they didn’t get out of sight.
Someone had knocked a hole in the wall opposite the stone ramp. That had to be the entrance to the tunnel system Silas mentioned. Yaz didn’t know what waited for them down there, but it had to be better than what was up here.
Yaz and Brigid carried Silas through the hole in the basement wall and along a tunnel that angled slightly downward. Dirt walls gave way to stone and the floor leveled out. In the dim light given off by Wicked, Yaz could make out a few details. The stones were precisely set, but not mortared. The floor was smooth, compacted earth.
“We should keep going,” Brigid said.
“Just a moment.” Yaz lowered Silas to the floor and studied the wall. “This isn’t imperial stonework. I’d say we ended up in an old Kingdom of Aqua ruin. The imperials probably built their settlement right over the top of the old one. Which makes sense given that a Kingdom of Aqua village would be certain to have a clean source of water at the center both for the people to use and as a worship site. According to the book I read, they often built underground temples near springs when there wasn’t a lake or river nearby.”
“Very interesting.” Brigid looked back the way they’d come. “But we need to put some distance between us and the entrance.”
“They also protected their temples with magical traps and summoned elementals designed to kill intruders who didn’t know the mysteries of their faith. It’s been several thousand years, but that doesn’t mean the magic isn’t still in effect. I’d prefer to avoid traps if possible or better yet use them to deal with our pursuers.”
“What sort of traps?” Brigid asked in a strained voice.
Yaz’s focus had turned inward as he searched his mental library for the information he needed. Brigid’s question was barely audible even though she stood right beside him. He finally found the book he wanted and brought its contents to the front of his mind.
“What?” he asked.
“I said what sort of traps?”
“Oh, you know, magical pillars of water that appear around you so you drown. Elementals made of ice that can tear intruders apart, that sort of thing. Basically, any sort of death you can imagine that involves water, ice, or steam is a possibility.”
His gaze shifted from the walls to the floor and he soon found what he was looking for, a faint mark that resembled a water droplet. He pointed it out to Brigid. “See that? It’s a holy mark indicating that spot is trapped. The trigger extends six inches out from the center of the symbol. We have to avoid it.”
“Looks like a divot in the dirt to me,” Brigid said.
“Exactly. That’s what it’s supposed to look like if you don’t know what you’re watching for. Grab his feet.”
Yaz picked Silas up under his armpits while Brigid lifted his legs. She had to walk backwards down the tunnel, so it was important for Yaz to guide her away from any traps. He would have liked a little more light but doubted Wicked could do anything without Silas’s help. They’d just have to be careful.
They followed three tunnels and avoided seven traps before finally reaching a large open cavern with a stone floor. This had to be the temple proper. Humidity and the scent of mineral water filled the air. There shouldn’t be any traps here since only the worthy would make it this far.
“Let’s find some place to set Silas down,” Yaz said.
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard in years.” Brigid looked around than added, “Where?”
The domed cavern was largely empty, at least what he could see of it in the meager light. There should be an altar somewhere nearby, but he was too tired to search.
He looked quickly around for a good resting place, but given the emptiness of the space, one place seemed as good as another to Yaz, but further away from the entrance might be wise.
/>
“A little further on near the wall should be fine.”
They inched deeper into the cavern, hugging the wall as they went. About fifty paces in Yaz stopped and gently set Silas on the smooth stone. Unbelievable as it was, the wizard appeared to be sleeping. The magic must have taken a lot out of him.
“I think he’s got the right idea,” Brigid said.
Yaz nodded. “I’ll take the first watch if you want to rest.”
A long, pained scream reached the cavern. “It appears the bounty hunters have found the first trap,” Yaz said.
Brigid’s face paled and she hugged herself. “On second thought, maybe I won’t sleep after all.”
Until Silas woke up, there wasn’t much they could do, so Yaz slid down and leaned against the wall. Brigid sat beside him with a sigh. Try as he might, Yaz failed to summon words to reassure her. He settled for taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. She squeezed back and offered a tired smile.
Yaz swore to himself that he’d figure a way out of this mess for them all. He just wished he had an idea how.
Chapter 23
Rondo found flying agreed with him. He stood in the front of the ship and let the wind rush over his face. They were only an hour from the target, a place called Dragonspire Valley. Rondo had heard of it of course. Anyone that paid attention knew about the only community that had domesticated dragons. He shuddered. Flying on the ship was one thing, but flying on the back of a scaly, fire-breathing monster was another matter altogether.
Shade assured him that the dragons would be dealt with by their inside man. If they weren’t, wooden ships wouldn’t last long against dragons.
Rondo staggered when the ship came to a sudden stop. They still had a good fifty miles to go. What was the holdup? He glanced at the helm and found Domina standing with hands on shapely hips. She scared him more than Shade. The look in her eyes the few times he’d met her gaze wasn’t entirely sane.
Their pause seemed to be a signal as everyone came up on deck from their cabins below. Even Umbra, who Rondo hadn’t seen in daylight since the day he installed the cloud generators. Rondo hurried down from his position and joined Lord Black and the rest of the cadre. Korbin and his slavers were divided between the three ships. During the three-day flight most of them had spent at least a little time at the railing emptying their stomachs on anyone unfortunate enough to be traveling below.
“We’ll be moving in at dusk,” Lord Black said. “After the dragonriders have completed their final patrol of the day. We have two hours to prepare the dust emitters. Shade and I will handle the left-side ship. Umbra, the right-side ship is yours. Grab one of Korbin’s thugs if you need muscle. Domina, you and Rondo handle this one.”
Everyone must have known what they were doing because as soon as he finished issuing his orders, Lord Black raised his hands and he and Shade flew over to their ship. Umbra flew himself away without comment and the next thing Rondo knew, he was alone with Domina. Not a place he ever wanted to find himself.
Her lips curled into a smile that made his knees weak and his heart race. The tiniest bit of her sharp eyetooth glinted in the light. Rondo swallowed. “What should I do?”
“I keep forgetting your ignorance. Downstairs in the storeroom you’ll find what looks like a large wooden funnel. Bring it up and place it in the front of the ship. There are also ten sealed buckets. Bring those as well.”
Rondo hastened to obey. In his mind he grumbled that if he wanted to do physical labor he would have stayed home and worked the mine. Outwardly he didn’t make so much as a sigh of complaint. He didn’t know what Domina might do if he was less than obedient. Or Lord Black for that matter. Rondo might have been on good terms with Shade, but he held no illusions that if their master gave the word, Shade would cut his throat without a second thought.
The stairs down to the hold were steep and the hall narrow. When he reached the storeroom, it didn’t take long to spot the giant funnel. About two feet in diameter and three feet high with a plug in the bottom, it was surprisingly light. Light, but awkward. Rondo carried it up on deck and set it where he’d been standing moments before.
“Not there!” Domina shouted. “The front. You’ll see a hoop designed to hold it.”
Rondo looked around but saw nothing obvious. When he leaned out and peered over the railing, he spotted the edge of an iron ring jutting from the very front of the ship. How was he supposed to get the funnel out there?
He flicked a glance to his left and spotted Lord Black gesturing and his funnel floating out into the other ship’s ring. No doubt Umbra would do it the same way. Unfortunately for him, Rondo was no wizard.
He looked back over his shoulder. Domina watched and tapped her foot on the deck. He somehow doubted a request for help would be well received. Dropping the funnel would be less well received. At least the thing was light.
Taking a firm grip on the funnel, Rondo swung his leg over the railing. It was a long reach, but he got the tip into the ring.
A gust of wind came up and shook the ship. Rondo held on to the funnel and railing for dear life. When the breeze died down, he gathered himself and tried again. He got the tip in again then flicked his wrist. The funnel wobbled, clattered, and bounced, sending Rondo’s heart into his throat before the funnel finally settled into the ring. He blew out a sigh of relief and scrambled back on deck.
Something bumped his shoulder and when he turned, he found a smiling Domina leading a parade of floating buckets. She gestured and the buckets flew out and dumped a brown grain that looked a bit like wheat into the funnel. When the buckets had all been emptied the funnel was full to the top. She gestured again and a glowing lid formed over the funnel.
“I’m impressed,” she said. “I was certain you’d fail at that task just as you’ve failed at every other task you’ve taken on since joining the sages.”
Anger surged in him, but he tamped it down. “Was this some kind of test?”
“Everything’s a test.”
Curious but cursing himself for it Rondo asked, “Did I pass?”
“It wasn’t that sort of test. You completed the job which was good, but you failed to speak up even though you had to know my order wasn’t reasonable, which shows a distinct lack of courage. I didn’t need to test you to find that out however.”
His silence in the face of her insult probably proved her point, but he wasn’t stupid enough to argue. Rondo only needed to impress Lord Black, not Domina.
Speaking of which, their leader came floating back to the flagship with Shade. The assassin landed beside Rondo and slapped him on the shoulder. “That was an impressive bit of footwork.”
Rondo accepted the compliment and ignored the mocking tone. “Thanks. What now?”
“Now we wait until sunset,” Lord Black said. “Then we strike.”
It was pitch black when the flying ships stopped for a second time. Rondo had no idea where they were or what was going on. The only thing he could see was the glow from Domina’s eyes. She’d used some sort of spell to let her see in the dark and hadn’t seen fit to share it with anyone else.
Her shoes clunked on the deck as she passed him and took her place at the front of the ship. He caught a hint of whispery words that sent a chill up his spine. The wind swirled around, blowing Rondo’s robe every which way.
Time passed in the darkness and after a while Domina said, “It’s done, my lord.”
“Excellent.” Rondo nearly leapt out of his skin when Lord Black spoke just feet from his ear. “Summon the lights.”
Domina spoke three harsh syllables and a handful of nearly blinding white lights the size of Rondo’s head sprang into being. From one of the other ships, Umbra conjured lights of his own, turning night into day.
Domina returned to the helm and they were moving again. Rondo looked over the railing. They were flying over a wide valley. Farms were dotted here and there. One of the ships descended and landed on a level spot. The moment it did, a wide gangplank went ove
r the side and eager slavers descended with manacles draped over their shoulders.
The second ship broke off and landed on the opposite side of the valley. Lord Black’s ship never slowed and soon a walled village appeared ahead of them. In the center of the town rose a high tower featuring a dragon top with a lightning bolt coming out of its mouth. It was an exact twin to the one Rondo found in the swamp and a smaller version of the one in the capital ruins.
As Domina began to land, Lord Black came and stood beside Rondo in the front of the ship. “Do you recognize the dragonspire?”
“It’s like the one I found and the one in the capital ruin,” Rondo said.
“Correct. Beside the ones you mentioned, there are two more on the opposite side of the Central Mountains. Along with the girl, these towers are the key to ruling the continent.”
“I don’t understand, Lord Black.”
“You don’t need to. All you need to do is revel in the fact that you are a part of the most ambitious project since the fall of the empire. Quite an honor. Don’t make me regret giving it to you.”
There was a gentle thump when the ship hit the ground. Everyone hastened to reach the town. Lord Black left Rondo to his own devices, flying over the rail with his ring and disappearing from sight. Not wanting to miss anything, Rondo hurried down the ramp and joined Shade, Domina, and Lord Black in front of the village gate.
The wizards could have flown over, but the rest of them were out of luck.
“Shade?” Lord Black said.
“Ready, Boss.”
Shade rose into the air and glided over the wall. A few minutes later the gate swung ponderously open. The slavers hurried through first, their chains tinkling in the dark. Lord Black strode through like he owned the place. The village was eerily quiet. You’d have thought there’d be some guards on duty.
A single straight street ran directly to the tower and Lord Black never deviated from his path. They passed several large buildings, one made of stone. The old man with the dragon staff marched off that way on the trail of a pair of slavers.
The Black Egg Page 16