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“And girls!” Daisy complained.
“Let’s give the King a few minutes by making this fun. Most kills gets to choose the victory song.” Jord made it a competition, and the three set up in a line facing the tavern door and window.
Aber meanwhile slipped into the hole, quickly followed by Keen. I didn’t hear screaming, which I considered a good sign. Apparently, things looked good, because Kya went down next, followed by Qynn.
Palla practically bounced in excitement. “A secret passageway. It’s like a story in a book.”
“You do realize in those stories a good number of people die.” Never heard of a quest where everyone lived. Which might explain why I eyed the hole with trepidation even as Palla lowered herself down.
I peered over the edge and could see her climbing, her fingers and toes finding the etched grooves in the rock. A lantern well below her provided the light for me to see.
A long climb. I bit my lower lip. The presence of a ladder didn’t reassure. Why had it been hidden?
“Come on.” Daksh beckoned to me, but I turned my head as I heard a sound from the other room.
The monsters engaged with the giants.
Jrijori flowed past me. “There’s only eight of those spider things. Shouldn’t take them long to finish them off.”
Uncle disappeared down the ladder, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to join the group. My stomach clenched. I really didn’t want to get in that hole.
I also didn’t want to stay here alone with the monsters.
I threw myself on the floor and dangled my legs over the edge. A long fall. I took a deep breath as I flipped over to climb. My toes found the notches. I began moving down. My fingers protested quickly. I might have made it if a chunk of stone didn’t suddenly break off just as I shifted my weight to it while moving my other foot. My fingers scraped against rock as I lost my grip. And plummeted.
Thankfully Keen broke my fall. He staggered back under my sudden weight but kept me from crashing.
Boom.The king landed suddenly beside us as if he’d leapt. But from where? His gaze flicked to me then Keen, who quickly set me on my feet.
“Are you okay?” Daksh asked.
I nodded. “Thank you,” I added in Keen’s direction, which led to the man mumbling, “No problem,” and practically sprinting into the tunnel headed for Aber with the lantern.
“Look out below!” Yaanik bellowed.
A fast movement on Daksha’s part whisked me out of the way just seconds before a giant landed. Surprisingly, nothing shook. In short order the whole group was together, but I chewed my lip as I glanced at the open shaft.
“Don’t worry. I won’t make it easy for them to come after us.” Daksh guided me to a spot well out of sight of the shaft. “Stay here while I handle our entrance.”
He left me, and I was joined by Palla, who vibrated with excitement. “This is so epic.”
“I guess it’s official. We’re on a real adventure.” I watched Daksh as he waved people away from the shaft. He stood to the side of it amidst the stones that had tumbled. He raised his hands, the light once more filling them. His lips moved as if he spoke, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who gaped when the rocks on the floor lifted and filled the opening to the shaft, sealing it shut.
Removing access to the monsters.
Entombing us in this tunnel.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Trapped.
I’ll admit I panicked a little as our only exit disappeared. The walls suddenly felt too close. The ceiling would surely collapse. Was it me, or did the air become thin?
Qynn grabbed me by the shoulders for a shake and snapped, “Control yourself.”
The rebuke had me nodding, but the King wasn’t happy. He stalked to my mentor and snapped, “Don’t touch her.”
I don’t know who was more astonished, me or Qynn. To my surprise, she dipped her head. “Sorry, Your Highness.”
