Page 110 of Nocturn

‘You must snap out of it, Amara!’ Piper shouted, clinging to Damien’s shoulder.

I blinked, shaking my head. “I saw her die,” I croaked.

Damien looked over his shoulder. “It will be us next if you do not move it.”

‘Time for harsh Piper. Amara, Nocturn begins in the next dawnlight. You will die.’ I blinked at her. ‘I will die.’

Piper . . . dead?

No, never. I could never let that happen. I rubbed my temples and pulled out of Damien’s grip.

“I a-am here,” I croaked. “Lead the way.”

It took me a bit to get to my feet. As soon as I stepped forward, my hip seized, slowing my stride. It was the one injury that came from a bed I’d climbed into willingly. Gritting my teeth, I stiffened my legs and lifted my chin. I didn’t have the luxury of a body that worked properly any longer.

He studied me for a second and turned. Piper continued to cling to his shoulder.

‘I shall stay here. You look like a stiff breeze could topple you,’ Piper said.

I missed her.

‘Now be quiet and follow Damien. He will guide you to some Liadan fellow.’

I bit down on my tongue.

‘I see the question in your eyes. What, did you think I would not have information ready for you?’

Damien put a hand up, stopping me at the exit of the pit. Instead of turning the way through the Grand Hall, he took the other direction, deeper into the cavernous, damp walls. Aches and pains pinched every single joint in my body.

‘Before coming, he told me to tell you to keep close to him and keep quiet. The Guard is doing a change of officers at this precise moment, and the confusion will allow us to slip past.’

I nodded curtly and did as she said, following so close I was only half a pace behind him. He wound through the inclined hallway, through another alcove. The deeper we went, the darker it became, with no light other than the occasional torches attached to the stone. A sudden sharp turn led us into a shadowed chamber. He crouched and gripped the bars barring a manhole.

“Get in,” he murmured. I peered into the hole with no visible exit.

“Into the oubliette?”

“Yes. Unless you’d rather stay here.”

I looked at Piper, and she remained quiet.

“Are you my wraithling or his?” I mumbled and lowered myself to dangle my feet inside. When I dropped, my leg buckled, and I slapped a hand on the damp wall. The hole opened to a crumbling section surrounded by dirt.

Damien dropped beside me, his body sliding against mine. He cupped my hip and guided me to the side so he could drop onto his knees and crawl forward. I mimicked his stance, shoving Branwen’s robe aside to free my movement while ignoring the pinch to my knees from the pebbles digging into my skin.

“There is a carriage that brings goods from the village,” he whispered. “Keep quiet.”

I grunted so he knew I understood.

We continued crawling until my knees stung from the cuts forming along them and my palms had a layer of dirt clinging to the dampness. He slowed, and the tunnel had become so small his arm brushed against rubble from trying to keep himself to one side so Piper could have room.

I stayed a pace away from his stopped form. He pushed at something, once, twice, then rammed his shoulder into it. A circular stone popped forward and landed with a thud. It was the moment when moonlight gave way to dawnlight, turning the sky the shade of fully bloomed rosah petals.

He tapped his shoulder, then Piper hopped off and sped out. I clenched the dirt, and it sifted through my fingers.

I let out a slow breath.

Piper squeaked. I always had to remind myself that she had as many annum rotations under her belt as I did. She was not a child.