Without further hesitation, I snatched up the stone and shoved it in my pocket. My hand brushed Ryker’s finger before the stone nestled against it. Maybe if it didn’t have direct contact with my skin, it would be easier to resist its lure.
Unfortunately, my clothes weren’t much of a barrier against the stone’s enticement, but Ryker’s finger had been a sharp reminder of why I was here. Unlike before, I remained focused on my goal of getting the stone to the gargoyles.
Feeling more confident in myself, I rushed around the pedestal, pounded down the steps, and raced through the castle until I emerged on one of the winding streets. Tucked in my pocket, the stone continued pulsing, but it didn’t illuminate the town with the same intensity as before.
That was okay; I didn’t require its light. I had my own.
The lightning crackling around my wrist illuminated the piles of clothes in the street as I ran for the cliffs. Ashes of the lost filled those clothes.
Reaching the cliff face, I grasped some of the rocks jutting from it and started climbing. I slipped a few times, and at one point, I almost fell fifty feet to the ground, but I managed to stop myself in time to keep from doing so.
When I got to the top, I pulled myself into the tunnel and ran back the way I came. I was exhausted, hungry, and desperate to sit, but I didn’t have time for that.
The longer I was down here, the more time Ryker would spend with his father and the worse things would get for him. Of course, I could be making things far worse by doing this, but that rationality had no place here.
Racing up and down the tunnel hills, I sprinted through the colder sections that, despite my exertion, still caused my teeth to chatter. As I ran, I came across the arrow I’d left behind, and my thoughts returned to Mouse.
As soon as I could, I had to find him.
If the gargoyles don’t kill him first.
Stop it!
I couldn’t keep swinging between doubt and certainty; it would drive me insane. Instead, I focused on my burning lungs, aching legs, and blinking away the sweat coating my lashes.
I forged on as my body protested every step and teetered on the verge of collapse. Running for long distances wasn’t an issue for me, but I’d been doing it at top speed down here, and I wasn’t used to that, or running on empty for so many hours.
If I survived the gargoyles, I needed to find water and food. I couldn’t keep going like this; I wasn’t going to be of any use to Ryker or anyone else if I collapsed.
My breath thundered around me, and my heart raced as I rounded a bend and the entrance to the gargoyles’ cavern loomed out of the shadows before me. Without meaning for it to happen, my steps instinctively slowed.
I had to do this, but unlike when I first became the Hooded Robber, I was very aware of the potential consequences. Instead of helping Tempest, I could condemn it to more brutality.
It’s not too late; you can still turn back,that stupid little voice whispered,before they kill everyone.
Or I could free us all by returning the heart to the gargoyles. There were nowhere near as many gargoyles as there were soldiers in the duke’s army, but those vicious-looking creatures could unleash a lot of damage.
That’s only if they decide to help you. There’s no guarantee in that.
Oh, fuck off!
Reason and sanity warred with my heart as I plunged into the gargoyles’ cavern. The icy air inside their prison enveloped me.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
Ryker
I was prettysure Callan passed out before they finished whipping him as the weapon continued to slash against muscle, but no more screams issued from the musician. I didn’t think they’d kill him; Veni wouldn’t be so careless as to destroy someone who might know something so soon.
Callan hadn’t caved to the duke’s demands this time, but he might break the next time. Sometimes the threat of impending torment was worse than the actual torture, and while I was determined to escape this place, as of now, there was no hope of being able to do such a thing.
I saw no weaknesses in these walls or those bars, and while I wore these chains, my powers stayed suppressed. However, there might come a time when an opportunity presented itself, and when it did, I would seize it and break free.
When Callan’s cell door clanged shut, I braced myself for what was to come. As far as I knew, the other two amsirah remained unconscious, which meant I was the only one left for him to make suffer.
Veni knew he wouldn’t get any information out of me, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t enjoy stripping the flesh from my back again. Footsteps sounded as they approached, and then the man I’d loathed for every day of my life stepped in front of my cell.
When our eyes met, I smiled at him. “Not tired yet, Veni?”
