“Not good,” Solomon muttered.
“We meant no harm or disrespect.” Avril kept her voice smooth and deferential. “If you let us go, we’ll leave now.”
The Sapa strode back to her chair and sat. She studied them with dark eyes devoid of mercy. “So you can return with more of your…technology? And take with force what is not yours?”
Not dumb, this leader. Nera tensed, seeing the guards moving.
“Please, great Sapa.” Solomon stepped forward, a smile on his handsome face. “We mean no harm.”
Clever man. Nera hid a smile. Solomon had noted the Sapa’s interest in him earlier.
The leader tilted her head. “Why should I listen to you?”
“No reason. Just that I tell the truth.”
The Sapa’s dark gaze wandered over him. “You are blessed by Inti. The woman, too.”
Nera realized the Sapa was talking about her. She raised a brow.
“Your hair,” Niklas murmured. “Gold. Like the sun.”
“You must be a prince of your people,” the Sapa said.
Solomon stiffened. “I’m not a prince. I’m just a treasure hunter.”
The Sapa’s face changed. “Someone who takes what is not theirs.”
“Hang on?—”
The Rumin leader waved a hand. “I am the protector of the treasure. You are all sentenced to capacocha. That is where yourfate is decided. Anyone who survives is granted a boon and may leave.”
Nera tensed further. Which likely meant whatever the hell the capacocha was, they weren’t likely to survive it. She caught Niklas’ gaze and vowed she’d get him out. Or die trying.
“Any idea what capacocha is?” she asked.
“I’m not positive…”
“Niklas, just tell me.”
“I think it was some kind of sacrifice.”
Just great.They were herded into another wide tunnel. Torches attached to the walls flickered. They kept moving and soon they heard a familiar groaning and snarling.
Oh no.She forced herself to relax. She needed to be prepared for anything.
They rounded a corner and the tunnel changed. It was lined by cells carved into the rock walls. Bars made of hardened wood had been built-in, allowing them to see the zombies packed into each cell.
Claw-tipped hands reached out through the bars, and the zombies’ cries turned frenzied.
One of their captors thumped his spear against the nearest cage and bit off something in their language.
The zombie shrank back and quieted a little.
“I really, really don’t like the look of this,” Niklas said.
The tunnel opened into another cavern.
Nera’s stomach clenched.
