Page 118 of Dream Reaper

“I don’t know. I admit my knowledge of elf history is nonexistent.”

“That doesn’t matter. Do you think the healer and the others could be hiding in the old buildings?”

That’s exactly what he was thinking. “I think we should find out. Stay close behind me. There is a bit of a hill we have to climb to get out of the camp and into the castle. Do you need me to, um, show you where to go?”

The prince shook his head, face expressionless. “No, I’ll just follow the sound of your footsteps. And I have my cane. I’ll be fine.”

Jerrid shrugged off his discomfort, marveling at how easily the prince navigated without something as vital as his sight, and led the way up the hill. The prince followed behind him, his steps slow but steady.

It only took them five minutes to reach the base of the keep. Jerrid followed the curve until he found an old wooden door. It resisted his touch when he pushed against it.

“Door is locked,” he muttered to the prince. “Ava?”

He didn’t dare raise his voice more than a low growl. If they had bolted the door, it was for good reason.

Dragon, he thought, can you sense her? Is she inside?

A long silence answered him, but then Dragon stirred and reared his head. I think so, but I can’t touch her mind. Either she’s too far away, or something is blocking me.

Was Ava keeping him out on purpose? Or was the shadow keeping them apart? The monster had seen what Ava could do with Dragon working through her. It surely would fight to keep that from happening again.

“I think she’s inside,” he said. “We need to figure out a way to get through the door.”

“Stand back,” the prince ordered, his voice crisp.

Jerrid stepped to the side obediently, but a question rose to his lips. Before he could utter his thoughts, however, the prince lifted a hand and hurled a massive blue fire bolt at the wooden door.

Momentarily blinded, Jerrid raised a hand to shield his eyes as a deafening roar shook the tower. Heat and sparks exploded around them while the door disappeared, blasted clean off its hinges.

Coughing, Jerrid swiped at the air in front of his face, trying to clear away the smoke. “That did the trick, Your Highness.”

They inched through the smoking doorway and stepped over the charred, glowing remains of the door. A hallway led in two directions, one up and one down toward the cellars and underground levels. Jerrid licked his lips and reached out with his thoughts as he tried to pinpoint where Ava was located in the tower. If she were still alive, could Dragon sense her yet? Was she alive?

Please, please, still be alive!

Dragon growled deeply and surged to the forefront of his thoughts. Up! Go up!

Jerrid turned right without waiting for instructions from the prince. They followed the corridor and took the stairs, winding around and around as they rose high into the tower. They had nearly reached a landing when a roar split the eerie silence, and something drew the floor out from beneath them.

Jerrid’s feet left the ground momentarily. He smashed into the wall with a muffled curse and staggered to regain his balance. A loud rumble washed over them, the floor bucking and trembling beneath their feet.

“What was that?” the prince shouted.

Jerrid shook his head and raced onto the landing, turning down another hallway. Someone barreled into him and knocked him backwards. His elbow scraped down the stone wall as he fell into an awkward seated position.

Blue fire exploded around them, and a fist caught him hard in the shoulder. He swung out blindly, but his fist met empty air. He blinked furiously to see in the smoky blue air.

A disheveled form disappeared into the shadows moments before Prince Haryk let out a startled cry.

“Your Highness?” Jerrid called as he scrambled to his feet.

“I’m fine.” The prince staggered out of the smoke, using his cane to search the ground in front of him for obstacles. “Someone almost knocked me down the stairs.”

Jerrid didn’t tell him that the very someone in question had knocked him clean off his feet. Instead, he called for the prince to follow him and moved down the hallway toward the sound of the dissipating growls and rumbles. It sounded as if the roof were coming down around their ears. The smoke and dust thinned as they hurried onward.

Ahead of them, shadows appeared in the smoke.

He flung out a warning hand to halt the prince, who stumbled into him from behind, his cane clanging against the wall.