Page 87 of Requiem of Silence

But Varten was shaking his head and rising. “No, Lanar’s probably right. I don’t really know anything about architecture or anything at all. And even if there were pipes, they’d be too small and filthy to get through.” The cast of his eyes and jaw were dejected.

“I still think we should try—at least look around down there. It’s worth a shot. We’ve come all this way.”

Varten stared, unseeing toward the pyramid. It’s like he wasn’t even there anymore, all his excitement and thoughtfulness wiped out by Lanar’s careless words. “It’s too heavy to lift anyway.” He toed at the disc with his boot before sighing and turning away.

“Varten, wait!” But he moved off slowly, shuffling back toward the plaza.

Zeli let out a groan of frustration. Why would he just give up like that? What was wrong with him? She stomped her foot once, then again just because it felt good. Next to her, Remi watched his retreating figure with solemn eyes. She sighed and crossed her arms.

“Are you giving up, too?” Remi asked.

She turned sharply to him. “If he couldn’t lift it, I certainly can’t.”

Remi shrugged and fished more candy from his pocket, which appeared to have an endless supply.

The battering ram thudded like a pendulum. One of the human ladders wobbled and then rippled, thankfully able to catch the woman at the top with the mallet when she lost her footing.

The sun was lowering and the temperature getting colder by the minute. All the warmth and joy of earlier had faded away.

Zeli shook her head. She wasn’t giving up. They’d come this far, hadn’t they?

She dropped to her knees stuck her fingers in the small holes drilled into the metal plate. The disc was thick and didn’t budge a bit. If those two ridiculous men hadn’t left, maybe they all could have tried together. She strained again, then sat back, out of breath.

“I can help,” Remi offered, looking solemn, but comical with remnants of chocolate mixed with the cherry candies he’d been eating coating his lips and cheeks.

“I think we need chains and an ox to move this thing.”

“Let’s just try, eh?” He crouched down and stuck tiny fingers in the holes. Zeli shook her head and moved back into position for another attempt. She was humoring Remi—children always thought they were invincible, and she certainly wasn’t going to be the one to kill his little spirit.

They pulled and tugged, straining with the effort, but nothing happened.

Zeli lay back in the grass, all at once tired and hungry and sweaty. At least the temperature wasn’t bothering her anymore. “This isn’t working,” she said.

“One more time,” Remi said.

“We could hurt ourselves if we’re not careful.” Her arms already felt noodley.

“Just once more?” He blinked innocently, and she chuckled. Adorably strange child.

“All right. Once more.” They pulled and heaved and grunted and the disc actually slid a fraction.

Zeli blinked, unsure if she’d imagined it or not. Remi gave her a huge, red-tinted smile. She took a few breaths before nodding for them to try again. With that slight movement, they were able to gain additional leverage, enough to slide the disc completely out of the way.

It was impossible—but true. The hole below was dark, and cool air wafted up. She didn’t like the idea of low, dark places. It reminded her too much of being kidnapped, being sold. Waiting with the cries of others amidst the stench of a hole in the ground.

But this was different, she reminded herself. There was some chance, small or not, that whatever she faced would be worth it. Besides, could whatever was down there be worse than what she’d already faced and lived through?

Probably not.

She swallowed and looked up, searching for Varten in the crowd. He stood out, a head above most, but too far away to hear her if she called out. Too dejected, too fragile maybe. She wasn’t sure. She didn’t want to do this alone, but she could.

“Here,” Remi said, producing a box of matches from his pocket.

“Thank you. Stay up here, just in case it’s dangerous.” She thought he might protest, more little boy pride, but he merely nodded.

Zeli lit a match and stuck her hand into the hole, revealing the metal ladder leading down. She looked around until the match burned down and blew it out before it singed her fingertips.

With a deep breath, she nodded to herself, and descended into the darkness.

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