Chapter 10
We carefully eased out of our tunnel, keeping our backs pressed flat against the cavern wall to descend a narrow path. We had to be extra careful traveling this way, avoiding covering too many of the glowing rocks as we went. We could blend in with the walls, but flashing lights would be an immediate beacon for attention.
I ducked into the next tunnel we reached and hid myself in a wall gap, taking a moment to just breathe, collect myself, brace for the next path along the cavern wall. Rik vanished into a gap across from me.
I was about ready to move on when some creatures scurried toward us from deeper in the tunnel. I clenched my eyes shut and waited. I heard some of them descend. Others scraped at the top of the tunnel before the sounds disappeared. All going different directions. None noticing us.
A faint glimmer of hope came to life. Maybe this would work.
We inched our way along the cavern like that, stopping and hiding in tunnels along the way, trying to avoid light-heavy areas, occasionally having to scale the walls. But each step brought us a bit closer to the largest, brightest tunnel. A little closer to the leaders.
A little closer to my ring.
We were only steps from the large tunnel when shrieks rang out from above. The creatures had finished checking the tunnel we’d used as our entrance. They knew there were intruders in their home.
I lunged for the tunnel. We’d been caught, but I was going to get as far as I could before they brought me down.
Rik caught my arm before I got two steps and yanked me back against the wall, into one of the larger depressions. Pressed himself tight beside me. I instinctively closed my eyes.
Creatures rushed past, never noticing us. They were looking for tall beings, not for slightly lumpy spots on the wall. No one notices the things they aren’t looking for.
Activity continued to buzz around us, and I waited a long time before finally cracking my eyes a fraction. Snarls and hisses resounded through the cavern as the creatures hunted, searched, tried to figure out where the intruders were. The tunnel beside us was almost empty.
Rik nudged me, lightly gestured with his head. Time to move, to get into the tunnel.
I waited for a clear moment, then ducked around the corner and melted into a gap near the tunnel’s mouth. Rik passed me and pressed into the next gap. A couple creatures passed us, then he started to move deeper into the tunnel.
I stayed put, squinting to search the cavern once more. This didn’t make sense. If this was where their leader was, where the ring was being kept, wouldn’t they be more worried about defending this tunnel from intruders? Shouldn’t we be seeing more creatures, not fewer?
The answer was simple. Our assumption had been wrong. The largest, brightest, busiest tunnel wasn’t where the leader was.
Rik tugged at my arm.
I shook my head, continuing to study the immense tunnel system.
There. Creatures ran out of all of the tunnels, ran into certain tunnels, but there was only one tunnel where the creatures clogged the tunnel’s opening and parked themselves in a defensive posture.
The one place they were most focused on defending had to be where they had the ring. It just had to be.
I pulled Rik to my side and gestured.
His eyes roved over the cavern before he nodded. He understood.
We waited by the edge of the tunnel, staying out of sight, until it was clear enough for our next move. The activity was starting to slow as creatures reappeared at tunnel entrances, hissing toward the creatures gathered below. Reporting in that tunnels were empty of intruders. With any hope, they’d assume the intruders had already left.
Doubtful.
Sure enough, loud snarls from below sent the creatures scrambling back inside the tunnels. Probably for a more thorough search. It would be harder for our camouflage trick to work now that the creatures were looking closer for hidden invaders. We had to move slow enough to avoid catching attention, but fast enough to avoid the searchers.
A handful of creatures popped up from below and scurried into our tunnel. I held my breath again as they passed. Grumbling sounds trailed after them. They weren’t happy.
I caught Rik’s eye. He nodded. We slipped out of the tunnel, hurried to the next one, disappeared inside its mouth. Once we were confident none of the creatures had seen us or were looking that direction, we did it again.
Closer. Closer.
All the while wondering, what would we do once we reached the leader’s tunnel? Creatures still clogged the entrance. Too many for us to fight through. Besides, if we tried to fight, the rest of the creatures would come running. We’d be dead before we could get ten steps into the tunnel.
We were almost there. It was easier moving now. Most of the searchers had moved deeper into the tunnels now, leaving the entrances fairly easy for us to pass through.
I saw Rik squinting at our target tunnel. He was likely wondering the same thing as me. Maybe rethinking his choice to come with me. It was foolish. Suicide. Maybe wondering if he should try to work his way back up to the top of the cavern and find a way out.
But he simply checked for movement and led the way to the next tunnel. Only two tunnels between us and the target.
I checked this time. Some of the guards were looking our way, so I waited. And waited. Every time one creature would stop looking this direction, another would turn and scan the nearby tunnels. If we moved, we’d be spotted for sure.
My side ached. Magra’s healing energy was starting to wear off. I tightened my grip on my sword. This had to work. It wasn’t a choice. Get the ring back or die trying.
It was starting to seem that the latter was the more likely option.
The creatures glanced up as more reports flooded in. I seized the opportunity and inched my way into the next tunnel, Rik at my side. I wanted to run for it, to dash for the next hiding place, but didn’t dare. I was taking a huge risk as it was with the searchers above looking down so close to where we moved.
I reached the tunnel. Slid into a new hiding place.
One of the creatures grunted, turning our direction.
Rik immediately stepped into the gap next to me, pressed tight against my side as the creature slowly approached, sniffing and squinting.
I held my breath.
Another creature snarled. The investigator hissed and sniffed, closer now. He had to be staring right at us. I wanted to scream and lunge forward, cut him down, slice my way through the mass of creatures in the next tunnel. It took all my willpower to keep myself still. There were too many of them. I had no chance of making it through. All I could do was hold still and hope with all my might that the mud would keep me invisible to his senses.
The sniffing sound grew fainter. Then a grunt, further away. I hazarded a tiny peek. The creature had rejoined his comrades at the tunnel entrance.
My leg threatened to give out, but I refused to let the adrenaline dissipate. We hadn’t been caught, but that still left us with the problem of a whole swarm of creatures between us and our goal. And no way to get past them without being spotted.
Rik’s hand slid into mine. Squeezed. Then he charged with a wild yell.
I was too stunned to move. Instinct screamed that I should follow him, join my sword with his, but something held me back, something about the way he’d squeezed my hand.
The creatures shrieked and lunged forward to meet him. He danced back, struck down a few, stabbed emptily at a couple more, and danced back further.
He shouldn’t have missed those stabs. He’d done it on purpose. What was he doing?
The creatures surged at him, and he bolted, fighting his way into one of the opposite tunnels. The guards followed in full shrieking force.
Emptying the target tunnel.
I moved before any of them could regain their senses and consider returning to their guard positions. Slid into the tunnel unseen. Made it down the first bend before I had to press myself into a gap to hide from o
ncoming grunting sounds.
I closed my eyes. Sent a quick prayer to the Maker that Rik would make it out of the tunnels alive. He’d sacrificed himself to give me a chance at reaching the leader. At getting my ring back. My muscles tensed in a new sense of determination. I would make it. He’d given me the chance I needed, and I wouldn’t let it go to waste.
Once the creatures passed me, I slid deeper into the tunnel, only occasionally having to stop to hide from passing creatures. Probably extra guards going to scout out the situation in the cavern and see if the intruder had been caught.
The tunnel opened into a larger room. Only a few of the light rocks rested here. I could barely see anything. I stayed hidden in a gap and waited for my eyes to adjust.
Movement gradually shifted into basic shapes, and basic shapes turned into creatures. Some lounged while others scurried around, apparently in service to the lounging ones. The dirt floor piled into a mound at the far end of the space, and one creature sat high on further elevation on the mound. The servants paid special attention to him.
The leader.
I carefully slid around the corner, out of the tunnel and against the wall of the room. I saw no sign of the ring, but how would I? It was such a small thing in a large, dark room.
Still, it had to be somewhere prominent. Near the leader, most likely. I crept my way along the wall, keeping to the gaps and closing my eyes whenever one of the creatures looked my way. Had to stay blended. Invisible.
Halfway around the room gave me a better view of the space around the leader. Various raised spots were covered in shiny rocks, larger stones, food items of indeterminate type. No sign of the ring.
I glanced up and saw his gaze fixed on mine. My breath caught as his eyes narrowed.
He’d seen me.
I didn’t pause long enough to think. As he stood with an angry grunt, I charged forward, leaping past startled creatures, my focus aimed straight at the leader. I could reach him. I could bring him down before they got to me.
Fingers slapped at my leg, almost catching a fistful of cloth, but I sidestepped before the creature could get a solid hold. Jumped over one of the shrieking loungers. Almost there.
A heavy weight slammed into my other leg, sending a sharp pain through the recovering wound. I staggered, but kept going despite the creature clinging to my leg. Lifted my sword.
Another weight hit my back, knocking me forward into my own momentum. I windmilled for balance, but another landed on my shoulder, driving me into the ground just paces away from the throne mound. Pain shot through my head, my neck, my side.
I shoved upwards, twisting to knock the creatures off my back. More weights, more hands. My arms shook and gave, trapping me flat against the ground, the right side of my face in the dirt. They pinned my sword arm against the hard dirt and clawed at the weapon. I slashed blindly from the wrist and managed to hit one of them before they could regain control.
I struggled, kicking and squirming with all my might, but there were too many. Hands wrapped around my neck, yanking tight until I couldn’t breathe. My vision turned white as I fought helplessly. I hardly noticed when the sword was ripped from my hand.
The leader made a loud grunt. The hands loosened. I coughed, unable to struggle or do anything but gasp for air.
More snarling sounds came from the tunnel. I dimly saw a massive group piling into the room, dragging a struggling Rik. The mud on his face was streaked with a glistening liquid, black in the faint blue light.
He spotted me and redoubled his efforts. “Alita!”
I closed my eyes. We were caught. We were dead.
The leader snarled a few commands, surveying the two of us. One of the creatures presented him with my sword. Half of the mud had come off in the struggle, revealing glinting metal. He inspected the blade, then leveled it first at me, then at Rik. Then he set it carefully on one of the raised spots near his throne. A trophy.
One of the creatures on my back hissed. Either my imagination supplied a question mark at the end of the hiss, or I was getting better at understanding their tones.
The leader once again evaluated first me, then Rik. Then he spoke in the common language, his voice rough and guttural. “Bring them.” He smiled unpleasantly. “Let them see.”
The creatures bound our hands behind our backs, tied ropes around our necks to drag us along in their midst as they surged behind their leader. Out of the tunnel. Along the spiraling ramps. Sometimes climbing steeply enough they were nearly dragging us by our necks.
Rik worked his way closer to me and spoke under his breath. “Did they hurt you?”
It seemed an absurd question to ask. It didn’t matter. They had us. We were dead, maybe not right away, but that was the inevitable conclusion. What did it matter if we got a couple knocks on the head before that happened?
But he continued shooting worried looks my way. I finally shook my head. I’d ask him the same to be polite, but the blood on the side of his head already provided the answer, and manners didn’t seem to make any difference now.
He leaned closer. “We’ll find a way out of this.”
I almost laughed out loud. But his naïve optimism was sweet, in a sense, and I managed to give him a little smile and nod.
They didn’t take us back to the tunnel we’d entered, instead parading through a series of unfamiliar, intersecting tunnels away from the main cavern. I could feel us getting gradually higher. When the light appeared further ahead, I had to squint.
We emerged from underground into blinding light. I heard shouts of alarm. The unmistakable sound of swords swishing free of scabbards.
Then Jennik’s voice. “Calm down, all of you.”
My eyes adjusted. We were in the middle of Krenish. Jennik stood on a platform with a couple of his goons, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. His people filled in half the space in front of the platform. The creatures filled in the other half as the leader strode up onto the platform, flanked by a few of his own. Their eyes looked different now, darker. Some sort of adaptation to make them able to quickly transition between below ground and above, apparently.
To the side of the platform, Thone, Erret, and Jaska crouched with weapons in hand, staring at the platform in alarm as the leader and Jennik made half-mocking bows to one another.
Thone spotted Rik and me. His eyes narrowed. “Jennik, you must listen to me. This is what we came to warn you about. These creatures lied to you. That ring is not evil magic, like they claimed. They’re going to use it to destroy us all.”
Jennik’s eyes widened. “Really?”
My heart sank as I saw the smirk remain behind his fake alarm. He knew.
Erret stepped forward, still gripping his sword. “Yes, it’s true. They deceived us all. You can’t give them that ring. They only want control of the dragon so they can unleash it as a weapon against us.”
Jennik looked like he was considering Erret’s words. Then he smiled. “Well, not all of us.”
Erret’s jaw dropped.
Jennik laughed. “You thought these pea-brained creatures came up with that story? They had no idea how to convince you lot to stop protecting the girl. But I knew how narrow and backwards you are. All I had to do was gasp and wring my hands over a little ‘evil magic,’ and I had you right where I wanted you.”
He reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a small object.
My ring.
I lunged forward. A sharp yank at my neck almost knocked me flat. The creatures forced me to my knees, Rik on his knees beside me.
Thone raised his sword, his face dark. “Let them go and hand over the ring.”
“Or what?” Jennik laughed. His men around him and in the crowd all put their hands on their swords in a casual gesture. They weren’t in the least concerned. Three men from Emsha were nothing in the face of their numbers, not to mention all the creatures.
My head sank, too heavy to hold up. I’d failed.
The creature
leader stepped closer to Jennik, greedy eyes fixed on the ring, his hand outstretched.
Jennik held the ring higher, well out of the leader’s reach. “Not so fast, my little friend. We had a deal.”
The leader grunted. A few more creatures scrambled onto the platform and dropped rough bags woven from flattened vines at Jennik’s feet. A small, glittering rock tumbled free from one of the bags. Gold.
Jennik studied the bags and nodded his approval. “And the other half of our deal.” He cast a disdainful look over his shoulder at Thone, then in the direction beyond, toward Emsha. “That pathetic village is the first one you wipe out.”
“As you say,” the leader snarled. He thrust his hand more sharply, impatient to receive his treasure.
Desperation clawed the words free from my numb throat. “You’re a fool, Jennik. What assurance do you have that they won’t turn the dragon on you and your city? They have no love or loyalty to anything living on the surface. You—”
The rope jerked hard against my neck, cutting off my next words. I coughed as it relaxed.
Jennik snorted. “You think he’s dumb enough to use the dragon to attack while he and his people are standing here?”
“So he’s going to stay in your village forever?”
The rope jerked again, harder this time, and knocked me backwards to the ground. One of the creatures jumped onto my chest, a sharp rock in hand.
The leader snarled, stopping him. “I said, she will watch.”
The creature glared at me before reluctantly climbing off. Hands shoved me back into a kneeling position. The one holding the rope kept it slightly tighter against my throat, a reminder of what would come if I tried to interrupt again.
But the desperation had faded back into numb resignation. Jennik wasn’t interested in listening. It was no use.
“Don’t do this,” Thone called out. “She’s right. These creatures will turn on you as soon as they get the chance.”
Jennik rolled his eyes. “Self-serving attempts to stop your inevitable destruction. Pathetic.” He placed the ring in the leader’s outstretched hand.
A cheer rose from the creatures, primal and chilling. The leader raised the ring high in triumph. Shoved it onto his finger.
He buckled with a pained cry, a cry echoed by a resounding roar from the distant mountains.
Ice stabbed through my lungs, making it impossible to breathe. I’d only heard that particular roar tone once before. When I was a child. When I first put on the ring. Tears streaked my face.
“It’s not too late,” Thone shouted. “Take it from him now, before he has a chance to use the dragon. He’s only going to destroy you, Jennik. Don’t be a fool!”
Jennik glared. “I’m getting tired of your ugly face.” He waved a hand toward his people. “Be done with them.”
The Krenish men drew their weapons and advanced on the small group from Emsha.
“No!” the leader hissed, shoving himself partly upright, his voice drawn with pain. He sucked in a couple of breaths, glaring at Jennik. “I decide when the prisoners die. Not you. Me.”
Jennik’s eyes narrowed. He pointed to Rik and me. “Those are your prisoners. Do what you want with them. But these are my prisoners. I’ll decide their fates. And mind your tone with me, you dirt-eating belly-crawler. If it wasn’t for me, you’d never have gotten your hands on that ring in the first place, and don’t you forget it.”
The creatures around us stiffened, facing the Krenish crowd. Braced for a fight. The creatures on the platform with the leader drew closer to him, snarling.
I lifted my head, watching intently. There might still be a chance.
The leader struggled to his feet, already regaining his strength. His eyes were nearly slits as he scowled at Jennik. “Get out of my face, worm dung. Your voice disgusts me.”
“Worm dung?” Jennik thundered. “I’ll show you worm dung!” He yanked out his sword.
The leader skittered back a few steps, more of his creatures leaping up onto the platform to stand between him and Jennik. “Fine,” the leader hissed. His fingers toyed with the ring’s edge. “If that is how you want it.”
A new roar shook the air from the direction of Emsha. Drawing closer to Krenish.
Jennik spun, his face paling. “We had a deal!”
“I don’t make deals with worm dung,” the leader spat. He spun and bolted back toward the tunnel, his guards with him. He snarled out a few phrases in their grating language.
“Get them!” Jennik screeched. His men surged forward.
The bulk of the creatures charged, ducking under swinging swords and knocking men’s feet out from under them left and right.
The rope pulled tighter. I jumped to my feet, lurching forward hard. The rope bit into my neck, but the creature was pulled close enough I could catch part of the rope in my bound hands. I spun and yanked, pulling the rope free, and kicked the creature away before it could recapture its grip.
Most of the creatures were too busy obeying the leader’s command to attack to pay attention to my escape. I turned to Rik, but the creatures already dragged him toward the tunnel. He staggered, trying to keep his footing.
A creature jumped on my back, pulling at the rope on my neck. I stumbled and landed on my knees. The creature jerked and screamed in pain before falling beside me, a bloody gash across its back. Hands caught me and pulled me upright. I looked up at my rescuer as he pulled the rope off my neck. Erret.
I stiffened and jerked away, but he kept his grip on my arm.
“Hold still,” he said, his voice quiet. He sliced through the ropes on my wrists.
Choice words made a beeline for my tongue, but one thought drove them away. “Rik.” I spun. The group had almost vanished into the tunnel. I couldn’t leave Rik in the hands of those creatures.
Erret’s grip on me tightened. “Stay here where you’re safe. I’ll—”
I didn’t give him a chance to finish. I yanked his thumb backwards to break his hold, jerked my arm free, and bolted.
More creatures followed behind the group with Rik, shoving forward. He tripped and disappeared under their trampling feet. I shoved my way into the group, weaponless except my fists and feet. I had surprise on my side, managing to knock a few clear, but the others hissed and turned on me. Erret caught one by the neck and threw it before slashing a couple others. I slammed my elbow into one squat face. Kicked another one before it could get a grip on my leg. Another group of creatures surged toward us, fleeing the chaotic fight raging in the center of town.
Erret spun to face them, sword ready, bushy brows looking fierce. “Get him out of here!”
Rik coughed as I knocked the last creature off him. I pulled him to his feet, and we staggered away from the tunnel as fast as we could. Erret backed his way after us, swinging his sword madly to keep the creatures at a distance. They seemed to decide that we were less important than their retreat and gave up, disappearing into the tunnel.
Rik groaned as we dropped to the ground below the trees, finally safe. For the moment.
I pulled the rope off his raw neck. “Are you okay?”
He bobbed his head and coughed again.
Erret cut Rik’s hands free. “We can’t stay here. We have to get to Thone and return to Emsha.”
The roar came again, directly above our heads now. Screams of panic and terror echoed after it. My heart stilled in place.
“Get down!” Erret shoved both me and Rik back as a wave of heat exploded from the center of Krenish. People shrieked in pain as the remaining creatures shouted in victorious delight.
Jennik ran with his men, shouting frantic orders. The men fired arrows into the air, but the projectiles bounced uselessly off Axen’s tough scales.
I couldn’t stop staring at the sky. At Axen. So close and so far away all at once.
She swooped low for a second strike, spewing another stream of flames at the buildings below, then lashing out at some of the archers, sen
ding them flying.
My eyes rested on one of the treetops above me. No, not close enough. Not yet.
“Come on!” Erret was yelling in my ear, trying to pull me to my feet, dragging me away.
I shoved him off, my eyes still on the trees.
“Are you stupid? We have to get out of here!”
“He’s right,” Rik joined in, pulling at my other arm. “It’s not safe here.”
“Go.” I jumped and caught the lowest branch above me. My side screamed, but I ignored it and all the other pains voicing their complaints throughout my body. This wasn’t a choice or an option.
“What are you doing?” Rik shouted above the chaos.
I pulled myself onto the branch and grabbed the next one. The sooner I reached the top, the better. “Get Thone and Jaska, and get out of here.”
Erret snarled and reached for my ankle. “I’m not going to let a woman—”
Rik caught his arm before he could grab me, then met my eyes. I was surprised to see his usual concern tempered by understanding. “Maker’s favor.” Then he shoved Erret, pushing the larger man back toward where we’d last seen Thone and Jaska.
Another surge of gratitude toward Rik shot through me. I jumped and pulled my way upward as fast as I could. The trunk narrowed and swayed as I neared the top. I climbed until it was too thin to support my weight if I tried to get any higher, then turned to scan the area.
Krenish was in flames. Many of the buildings had already collapsed. People tried to flee, but the horde of creatures fought them back, forcing them to stay in the open, exposed to Axen’s attacks. Her claws cut through the stream of refugees, sending people tumbling in all directions as she passed, leaving the creatures untouched.
My chest ached. She didn’t know what she was doing. She only saw a threat, a danger to be eliminated. What the leader had told her to see.
Her work here was nearly done. A couple more buildings. Then she would torch the remaining people. I didn’t have much longer before she would turn her attention to the next target. Emsha.
I watched her circling pattern. Gauged the timing. Part of me felt no fear. I’d done this thousands of times before. Simple.
But I’d always been bonded to her before. If I misjudged, she would adjust. If a wind gust struck at the wrong moment, she’d catch me. That wouldn’t happen now. She was probably completely unaware of my perch high above her dive space.
She finished a circle, flapped her wings. Dropped into another dive.
I counted down the seconds. Steeled my nerve.
And I jumped.