“No.” Maeryn pointed to the floor along the wall. “Look.”
There were several odd-looking stones, likely more buttons, and all along the wall were holes.
“I want to try something,” Ava said.
“What?” Casimir’s heart leaped in his throat. “If it involves putting yourself in danger?—”
“It doesn’t. I’ll stand right here.”
“Alright. Show us.”
Ava grew a vine from her hand and snaked it across the floor along the wall. Reaching one of the strange stones, she used the vine to press down. Metal spears shot out from every single hole at the click of the button. After a few seconds, they retreated into the wall.
“One stone triggers the whole room,” Raine said.
“Then we shouldn’t go around the edge. Because if one person missteps, we will be impaled,” Casimir said.
“I think it’s safe to cross the center,” Ava said.
“What makes you say that?”
“There’s no more fuel. So even if someone steps on a button and releases another flaming lamp, as long as we aren’t directly under it, we’ll be fine.”
“Someone test that theory before we cross.”
Raine grew a vine this time, finding another button along the floor. He pressed it and a brazier was released, hitting the floor with a crash. But nothing happened and the flame quickly went out.
“There’s only one more. Might as well release it now,” Raine said, then repeated his previous steps, destroying the last trap in the center of the room.
Casimir said, “Time to cross.”
Though they’d released the flaming obstacles, the group still stepped carefully. Silently. As if any sudden movement could trigger another hazard. Within seconds they stood before the opposite wall, staring at three strange depressions in the stone.
“What does this mean?” Ava asked.
The group was silent.
“I’m not sure,” Casimir finally answered.
“Do we put something in these?” Raine asked, tracing one with his fingers.
“That’s what it looks like,” Gisela said. “But what?”
“Everyone look around, but keep away from the walls,” Casimir said.
They spent the next few minutes searching the cavern, when Imsel’s voice broke the silence. “Here.”
Casimir joined them in the center of the room. Three stone carvings sat in the palm of their hands. “Where did you find these?”
“They were in the braziers.”
“How in the world would we have figured that out?” Raine asked, joining.
“It’s difficult on purpose. Obviously to keep intruders out,” Casimir replied.
They regrouped in front of the wall, examining the figures. The backs were completely smooth, matching the depressions in the wall, impossible to know where each one was supposed to be placed. The other side was carved with three different animals.
“These likely go in a specific order,” Imsel mused, holding up each stone as the rest of the party gathered to watch. “This one is a Jarouki’i. This one is a…I have forgotten what this is called.”
