Page 8 of The Edge of Darkness

Morah smirked briefly. “I have allies in the upper ranks of the infantry.” She jerked her chin toward Zofia. “Her father is one of them. I’ll have it handled.”

Zofia dipped her head. “He will await your command, as always.”

Morah’s face became serious, and she stepped up to her friend, taking her hands in a firm grip. “Thank you both for everything you’ve done.”

“Of course.”

“My father cannot know we’re here.”

“He won’t. We can get you in, unseen. Do you know what area you’re trying to access?”

“We need to get to the prisoner cells,” I answered, pulling the parchment from the hidden pocket that was sewn into the leathers along my flank, and handing it to her.

“This all looks correct,” Zofia said as she examined the map that Aremis had drawn from memory. “The prisoner cells should start right about here, near the catacombs.” She gestured to a general area of tunnels.

Morah leaned in rather anxiously. “This circular structure here”—she jabbed her finger to the center of the map—“is it easily accessed from there?”

“That’s . . . directly under the palace . . .” Zofia said warily.

“Is it easily accessed?” Morah repeated.

Zofia’s brows pinched, but she answered. “Through the newer tunnels, yes, but that is not where your father keeps his prisoners.”

“I know . . .” Morah said. “Or, at least, that’s what I’ve been told. I was never allowed down there. The guards knew not to let me past any of the access points, and the wards kept me from wraith-walking. Aremis was the one who made regular trips below.” She fixed her gaze back on Zofia. “All my information is secondhand . . .”

Zofia shifted her eyes anxiously over the rest of our group before settling them back on Morah. “I’m not sure what you are asking . . .”

“Aremis said the chamber is a dome of sorts, with multiple rooms leading from it. Do you know how many guards patrol that area?”

Zofia shook her head. “I’m sorry, we usually don’t venture that close to the palace itself. We keep to the outlying tunnels⁠—”

“But there is a way to get to it from this section, right?” Morah moved her finger back to where the prisoner cells were said to be.

“I-I would assume so, but⁠—”

“Morah?” My voice was low as I said her name.

Roirdan noted the change in my tone, and his eyes slid to Morah, his shoulders straightening as he picked up on the same thing I had. She was too invested. We were all anxious, but this . . . this was something more.

She hadn’t answered Zofia when she’d been asked if this was about Fallon . . .

“We’re here for Fallon too, aren’t we?” I asked, even though I already suspected what her answer would be.

The room was silent for a long moment, until Roirdan adjusted his sword at his hip, his leathers groaning against his muscles.

Morah shifted nervously on her feet.

I couldn’t recall ever seeing her nervous, even in all the moments she probably should have been. But the look on her face told me she had been dreading this conversation.

“Aremis told me where Fallon is being kept,” she said. “If he’s down there, Auren—if we’re that close . . . I know I should have asked beforehand, but you were focused on rescuing Niall, and I didn’t want to offend you by making it about my brother.”

Roirdan took a step between Morah and I, his expression hardening. “And by telling us now, when we already had a plan, that makes it less offensive?”

She flinched. “I know that waiting until now wasn’t a smart move on my part.” She leaned around Roirdan to look at me. “You told me to ask if I ever needed any help . . . but I just couldn’t bring myself to make it about me.”

“You just did,” Roirdan snarled.

Her eyes widened when I remained quiet. “I-I can get to my brother while you find Niall. If they’re being kept relatively close to one another, the wards holding Fallon should fall when you break the others. Once you have Niall, he can communicate with me, and I can let you know where I am in relation to you. We have to try, Auren. Please.”