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He chuckled. “The link only works between mates, and while a ‘twilight bark’ might be incredibly useful, I thought I’d just use the satellite phone.”
Delaney rolled her eyes. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Tevryn called back to Dragonwyk and asked for backup. It didn’t take long for several other dragons to join them. She recognized Warrick even as a dragon, and was introduced to their leader, Falkor.
“I take it your mate and daughter are doing well?” asked Tevryn, solicitously.
An almost angelic smile broke across the grim lines of Falkor’s face. “They are indeed. In fact, Kessily was insistent I join you—something about my being underfoot and driving her crazy.”
“Have you picked a name for her?” asked Delaney.
“We have. Kessily was adamant that we name her Zafira, for my sister. Now, what have you found?” He turned to see the entrance and the stone that seemed to be serving as a guardian to it.
Together, the warriors of the Phantom Fire used their strength to move the granite behemoth out of the way. It took time and effort, but finally it began to move. There was a gush of wind from whatever lay beyond, and Delaney could tell she wasn’t the only one who felt the ominous presence of something not of this time. She tried to rush past Tevryn in order to ensure she didn’t get left outside.
His hand wrapped around her upper arm. “Together or not at all,” he growled low.
They moved into the cavern that lay beyond the columns. It might have had its origins in a natural cave within the rock, but someone or something had hollowed it out until all five of them could stand comfortably in the large grotto. Torches were affixed to the walls but there was an eerie light from above.
“What is that?” asked Warrick.
Delaney moved to where she had a better vantage point. “I think it’s the depression I saw at the center of the stone circle. It looks like some kind of glass or transparent material with dirt and sand strewn over the top. My guess is if someone went back and swept it clean, the light would fill this cavern.”
Falkor and Tevryn joined her, looking up. “I think your mate may have the right of it,” said Falkor.
“Do you think it’s safe to light the torches?” asked Delaney.
Tevryn sniffed. “The air smells good. Let’s light one and see what happens. Warrick, take her outside until we know it’s safe.”
Delaney laid her hand on his forearm. “Together or not at all,” she repeated.
Falkor chuckled. “Get used to that. I’ve found human females take a particular delight in turning our own words against us.”
Before Tevryn could offer an argument, Warrick lit one of the torches. Nothing but light resulted, illuminating most of the cave as the flames were reflected in the mica that helped to compose the granite.
“It’s beautiful,” said Delaney with awe.
Directly beneath the translucent material in the ceiling, was a dark hole in the ground, sort of like a primitive oubliette. There was only one way to even guess at the depth. Tevryn picked up a stone and tossed it into the hole. They listened to see if they could hear it hit the bottom, and perhaps guess at what might be there—water, dirt, bones. If there was a bottom, it was too far down to hear anything or it was a bottomless pit.
There was, however, a grinding sound as a small wall on the far corner of the cave began to move as if pushed aside by unknown forces. All five of the explorers were frozen in place and watched as the wall moved aside, revealing a small niche that was lit by the same torch reflecting off what appeared to be some kind of gem. In the niche was an angular, small pulpit upon which was a tablet with three smooth sides, and one side which cut diagonally and jaggedly from one corner to mid-way down one of the sides.
“That must be it,” said Warrick, reaching for it.
“Wait,” said Delaney, placing her hand on his arm to stop him. “We have no way of knowing what happens if you move that thing. Shades of Raiders of the Lost Ark just flashed through my mind.”
They all grinned. The film had been an international phenomenon, and most people knew the basic premise and the opening sequence. Delaney began to look at the niche as well as the angled rock that was holding the tablet, trying to see under the fragment, as well. Taking a small piece of wood, she ran it around the outside of the niche, then just inside the opening and finally all around. The exercise revealed no hidden trip wires.
“Stand by the entrance,” Falkor ordered the two warriors who had accompanied him and Warrick. “Call out if there’s any movement or noise and if there is, see if you can’t ensure it remains open until we all get out.”
Tevryn reached in and eased the tablet out. The markings were more similar to runes or hieroglyphs than they were to words. He handed it to Falkor, who walked back to where the light was brightest to examine it.
“They look Egyptian, and they are very old,” murmured Falkor.
“That makes sense, as Apophis was the Egyptian god of chaos and darkness,” said Delaney. “Can you read it?”
“I’m not fluent, but I can make out the gist of it, and yes, it is the tablet which contains the doomsday prophecy for the dragons. Unless I miss my guess, Whistler’s man wasn’t the first to discover Norle.”
“So, Whistler wants to use Norle to control the dragons?” asked Delaney.
