Page 172 of Keldori By Daybreak

36. Explosives Engineering

A red-clad guard grabbed Ciarán by the arm to pull him towards the prison carriage, but I pulled him back. Magick itched in my fingertips. The mountains pressed at that magnetic connection between me and the land, but I would fight to keep Ciarán by my side.

“You’ll be fine,” Tamora drawled. “I’ve seen you fight, Saergrim. I’m sure you can take a few rotsbane on your own.”

“I’m not letting you keep my friends in a prison cell,” I seethed.

“It’s a private cabin on the Grand Baron’s personal supply steamcart. It’s luxury,” Tamora said.

Orla, Iseult, Tiernan, and Fana continued to blink at us through the sunlight, and while I was relieved they were alive, nothing about their current status screamed “luxury”.

“I need their help against the rotsbane.”

“You have Titus.” Tamora shrugged.

“He’s a Nightmare! They’ll eat him!”

Tamora rolled her eyes and pivoted on a stiletto heel to look over my friends. “Fine. That one. Out.”

She pointed at Tiernan. One of the guards stepped into the carriage to grab Tiernan by his bicep and pulled him to his feet.

Tamora clapped her hands at Ciarán. “Grimguard. In.”

I reached for Ciarán’s hand, but he stepped forward, still leaning against Una, before I could grab it.

“The sooner we’re on the steamcart, the more time we have to travel by daylight,” Ciarán said in my head. “Don’t argue. You’ll make it through.”

“The last time you were taken from me, Ergoth—”

“Do not think about Ergoth.”

The apprehension that buzzed along our tether told me he wasn’t as assured as he was pretending to be, but I let him climb into the carriage as Tiernan climbed out.

Tiernan wavered on his feet when he landed on the platform. His broken ankle hadn’t healed well.

“And to think we all wasted such thoughtful farewells on you, assuming we’d never see you again,” he grunted. “Hello, Wren.”

“He’s injured!” I gestured at his leg.

“Oh?” Tamora simpered and jerked a thumb at my friends still in the carriage. “Your Grimguard is in worse shape than this one is, that one is a child, and that one is missing a leg entirely, so perhaps you should invest in friends that are in better fighting condition.”

“But Orla is fine!” I met Orla’s wide eyes and stark face, but Tamora signaled the guards, and the door slid shut.

Una barked from inside, and Ciarán reassured me in my mind.

“You’ll be okay. I’m right here.”

“Never far,” I replied, echoing something he’d said to tease me once.

Tamora led the way to the next carriage over with her guards in tow. Five more guards waited inside a much more lavish carriage than the one she was keeping my friends in. Lamps full of swirling Skal lit the space, reflecting off bronze accents and highlighting the velvet plush of a chaise lounge and surrounding ottomans.

Tamora fell back on the lounge while her guards took up positions at the doors.

“You’ll want to stay near the engine.” She gestured towards the gilded door that led to the next carriage. “Keep the steamcart safe, and your friends will be safe too.”

“You’re coming to Ephitz Harbor with us?” I asked.

“Of course.” She grinned. “I trust you to protect us, Saergrim. Get on with it. I’ll be here if you need me, but I think you’ll find it in your best interest if you don’t.”