Page 42 of Orc's Redemption

“What?” I pant.

Z’leni growls, running up to the wall. He runs his hands over the smooth surface then I hear something click. The wall silently slides to one side. Z’leni steps out of the way and makes a rapid gesture for us to go through. Ryatuv catches my arm, his grip firm but careful, yanking me forward into the unknown.

The stone wall slides shut behind the three of us. My legs and lungs burn and my ankle is throbbing like a second heart, so I take the moment to try and catch my breath. Bending over, resting my hands on my legs, and panting heavily.

“Keep moving,” Z’leni says.

Ryatuv takes my arm, gentler this time, and pulls me into motion. We walk a ways down the tunnel, which is too dark for me to see anything at all. I can’t even see my hand in front of my face and have no clue how either one of these guys are seeing anything.

“Wait,” Z’leni says at last.

I hear him moving around. Sounds of things shifting, something happening, but I don’t know what. Anxiety crawls over my skin like bugs. I rub my arms and a shiver goes over my spine.

There is a spark and I yelp in surprise. Steel strikes stone and there’s another spark then a torch flickers to life. The red-orange flames illuminate both Z’leni and Ryatuv’s faces and my heart skips a beat. They’re so different, yet there is a similarity to them that is both attractive and comforting. A protectiveness in their eyes as they both look at me.

I swallow. Hard.

Z’leni moves back down the tunnel the way we came with the torch in hand. He stops a few feet away and reaches up then yanks down on a rusted chain embedded in the stone. The ceiling groans. I hear what sounds like ancient gears shifting and then a rumble. With a grinding roar, a slab of stone crashes down, sealing the tunnel behind us in a cloud of dust and finality.

Panic and exhaustion crash over me in waves. I double over, hands braced on my knees, gulping air that tastes of ash and fear. My limbs tremble and every muscle screams in protest. Silence stretches in the darkness.

“That won’t hold them forever,” Ryatuv says, his voice rough.

“It doesn’t need to. Only long enough for us to disappear,” Z’leni says, exhaling sharply.

I gasp a few more breaths until my nerves calm enough to quit making every muscle so tense they hurt. I straighten and wipe sweat from my brow.

“And where do we go now, exactly?”

Z’leni meets my gaze, and in the dim light, I see something there. Determination, resolve… guilt.

“To the only place the Shaman cannot reach us,” he says. “The undercity.”

Ryatuv stiffens, which can’t be a good sign. His tail rasps across the floor, twitching spasmodically.

“The undercity is a myth,” Ryatuv says flatly. “They say it is a graveyard. That no one who finds it comes back.”

Z’leni’s jaw tightens. He glares at Ryatuv, squaring his shoulders, daring the Zmaj to defy him.

“Then we better make sure we’re the first,” Z’leni says, his voice low and dangerous.

Ryatuv’s tail rises from the floor and his wings snap partially open, restrained by the narrow tunnel. Z’leni takes a half-step towards him, leaning forward, his hands clenching into tight fist. The two of them are clearly heading into one really big dick waving contest which we absolutely don’t have time for.

“Enough,” I say, stepping between the two of them. “Is there any other choice?”

I ask, looking between the two of them, honestly hoping someone has a different idea because this whole undercity thing sounds like a place I want to be only slightly less than staying here with the Shaman. They look at each other. Z’leni growls, Ryatuv hisses, but neither offer a suggestion.

“Nothing?” I prompt. Neither of them say a thing but they do stop glaring at one another so I take the win I’m offered. “Then we need to move, no?”

Z’leni grunts and pushes his way past Ryatuv and me. He takes the lead and we move deeper into the tunnels, away from the Shaman and his forces.

I’m lost in moments. We twist, turn, slope down, slope up, and multiple times there are other tunnels crisscrossing our path. All the while the air grows colder and damper.

“This way,” Z’leni urges. “Stay close.”

I do. I have to.

Because ahead lies only darkness—and if I lose them, I’ll never find my way back.

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