“Yes,”AvlynandRaulaanswered in unison.Nokipinched his nose.
“Howdid you know about this place?”IaskedAvlyn.
“Pallastold me.ShesaidKoronwas actually built over an ancient river that still flows beneath the city, acting as a sewer.It’sconnected to the palace directly.”
Ihummed approvingly.Thebest chance we had.
Thegrate that covered the sewer opening was made of iron bars as thick as a man’s wrist.Outof the corner of my eye,IsawKaleoswrapping his hands in linen, andRauladutifully trudged through the putrid stream to take up her place on the other side.Theyboth grabbed a bar and looked atJun.
Hestepped forward, andIheard him take a deep breath.Theworld seemed to still asIfelt my heartbeat slow along with his as he focused on his power.Hisface was serene, and it reminded me of how he would look during one of his performances a lifetime ago.
Hetook one more steadying breath and slowly opened his eyes.Ina voice no more than a whisper but sharper than any blade, he said, “CUT.”
Thespell was beautiful in its precision, truly a work of art.Themagic shifted around the grate, andIsaw line after line appear through those impenetrable bars, the sound of them cleaving no louder than the wind through the trees.
Junstepped back, nodding toRaulaandKaleos.Theyeach gave strained groans as they pulled the leaden grate, but it slid out smoothly, each cut perfectly laid.Theyset it down beside the opening.
“Notbad,Nightingale.”Avlyn’steeth flashed in the dim light. “Nowit’s my turn.Princess, if you don’t mind.”
Inodded and placed my hands onAvlyn’sback, guiding mana through them.Theyshifted the flow of putrid water against one wall of the tunnel, clearing a drier path for us.
“Notbad, yourself,Commander.”Junquipped.
“Oh, you know me, always trying to make the best of a shitty situation.”Avlynreplied with a cocky smile.
Igroaned, “Pleasestop looking so pleased with yourself.”
“Nocan do,Princess.Bestto get this over with.”
“Couldhave done that beforeIhad to wade through it,”Raulagrumbled.
“Gottapreserve my energy, still getting used to this whole magic thing.”Avlynwiggled their eyebrows as they spoke.
“Convenient,”Raulahuffed, but she was the first to climb into the dank tunnel.Spinnerfollowed.
Thedarkness beneathKoroncarried the echoes of our attempt to muffle our steps.Thechill from the sewer's damp walls nipped at my skin, andIshivered, but that wasn’t the only reason.Thiswas it, the end, one way or another.Thissame thought seemed to weigh on everyone as we moved forward in silence.
Aswe rounded a bend, the narrow tunnel opened into a larger underground chamber, likely a junction for the various sewer paths under the city.Waitingfor us was a squadron of palace guards.Theystood alert and ready; our intrusion was not as stealthy as we had desired.Theirarmor clinked menacingly as they arranged themselves into a defensive line, spears pointed outward and a row of archers behind.
Withouthesitation,Avlynstepped forward, their arms raised.Theputrid water they had been holding back formed a swirling shield. “Duck!” they yelled, just as a volley of arrows hissed through the air toward us.Thewater intercepted the arrows, each shaft sinking into the liquid barrier but not passing through.
RaulaandKaleoswasted no time.Theymet the approaching guards as they darted around the barrier, one on each side, their blades drawn and gleaming evenin the scant light offered by the few torches that lined the damp corridor walls.Theclang of steel rang out as they met the first of the palace guards, amplified in the tight space.
"Moveforward!"Raula’sstrong and commanding voice echoed back to us.
Jun, his earlier calmness now replaced with a focused determination, nodded at me and followed, his body glowing a soft white.Hestepped besideAvlyn. "Myturn," he murmured, the air around him shimmering with magical energy.
Hewrapped his hand around his mouth to create a channel and let out a piercing shriek.Itnearly tore out my ears, butIsaw he had aimed it to reflect off the sewer ceiling in a way that focused it at the opposing archers.Theyclutched their heads, staggering from the disorienting sonic attack; their formation faltered.
Seizingthe moment,KaleosandRaulacharged.Theymoved with lethal precision, and one enemy after another fell.NokiandIfollowed behind them, finishing any who had escaped their blades.
Asthe last guard slumped to the ground, the chamber fell silent except for the distant drip of water and our ragged breathing.RaulaandKaleoshad taken the brunt of the attack.Raulawas uninjured; her orc skin protected her.
Kaleoshad a gash across his arm that he waved me away from asItried to pull bandages from my pack. “Notime,Princess, and honestly,I’mused to this after all our dueling.Let’sget moving before they hear—”
Hefroze asSpinnercrawled down the wall beside him, grabbingKaleos’ arm and holding it with his front legs.Hepushed his abdomen forward, and the man flinched.Astream of ultrafine spider silk shot out over the wound, stanching any bleeding.
“Thanks,”Kaleossaid with his bright smile, andSpinnerreturned it with a soft chitter.
