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Ryshi nodded. He hadn’t wanted to get to the true homeland when he was here before. Which meant that he had no idea where it was or how it worked.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t part of the labyrinth,” he reminded her, leaping over the second guard lying facedown at the edge of the tunnel. “There’s no pattern to follow.”
“And I suppose there’s the risk that it doesn’t open from this side.”
Ryshi picked up his pace. The stench was making him queasy. “Once we’re out of here we’ll worry about what comes next.”
Intent on the sullen glow of light that poured into the end of the tunnel, Ryshi was nearly skewered when an iron portcullis abruptly dropped from a hidden slot in the ceiling.
Stumbling back, he barely avoided landing in the filthy water. Before he could appreciate dodging the final humiliation, however, a male voice called out from behind them.
“Dead end, I’m afraid.”
“Damn,” Ryshi muttered in frustration.
He’d been so busy checking for guards he hadn’t bothered to make sure there weren’t any concealed traps. Not that he’d had adequate time to search, he ruefully acknowledged. His escape plan had been nothing more than a hope and a wish.
Turning slowly, he watched as the large minotaur strolled toward them, leading a herd of guards to effectively block any hope of escape.
“I’ve made improvements since your last visit,” the male informed Ryshi.
“So I see, very clever,” Ryshi drawled, glancing at the thick iron gate with a pretense of indifference.
Inside he was recalling Sofie’s warning that the minotaurs had a festering grudge because he’d stolen their stupid stone. Or maybe they were pissed because he’d managed to enter and escape before they could kill him. Either way, they were clearly obsessed with him. That was never a good thing.
“There’s a saying about fool me once…” The male’s words trailed away as pounding footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
“Commander!” an approaching guard shouted. “You must return to the arena.”
Muttering a curse, the large male turned to glare at his guard. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a riot brewing,” the guard panted, his eyes wide. “The crowd isn’t happy that the entertainment was interrupted.”
The commander looked as if he wanted to punch his fist through something. Or someone.
“Then send out the next group of fighters, you idiot.”
“I tried. They refuse to enter the arena.”
“Why?”
The guard pointed toward Sofie. “They don’t want to fight the leech.”
Ryshi chuckled in appreciation. Sofie had terrified an entire tribe of minotaurs. “I wouldn’t either,” he murmured.
The commander ignored his taunting, turning toward one of the guards standing next to him.
“Where’s her collar?”
The guard paled, as if terrified he was going to be punished for someone else’s mistake.
“Buford has it.”
“Go and get it,” the commander growled. “Now!”
The ground shook as the large male clapped his hands together, and with a squeak of alarm the guard offered a deep bow.
“Yes, Commander.”
