Page 107 of Frost Like Night
I almost say something to them, but the labyrinthdoesn’t allow us that luxury this time.
The ledge I’m on tips, along with their dais.
“Not again,” Mather groans as the three of us go plummeting into another tunnel—this time together, a tangle of limbs and sheathed weapons and shouts that get muffled in the dusty darkness of the labyrinth.
32
Mather
THIS TUNNEL SPITthe three of them into a small square area enclosed by smooth walls. Torches flickered on three of the walls, casting enough light for Mather to sweep his eyes over Meira, checking for any injuries she might be hiding.
But she was the first on her feet, her hands absently beating her pants to remove the sheet of dust that had attached to every free space on all of them.
“That was too easy,” she breathed.
Mather checked that none of his weapons had come loose during the fall and stepped beside her. “What did you expect?”
Meira shrugged and finally looked at him, holding his gaze. Looking at him, really looking at him, like she had in Autumn.
Mather weakened.
She broke the look with a tip of her head. “The next test will be of humility,” she said, directing the statement to William as well, who walked deeper into the room with overly cautious steps. Two unexpected drops into mysterious tunnels had made them all a little distrustful of the floor.
“How did you know how to complete that test?” William asked her as he analyzed the room.
Meira too started looking around, though her gaze stayed on the floor. A moment passed, and she stopped, standing in the dead center of the room.
She crouched down and brushed away dirt. The torches caught whatever she had revealed—a mirror? And from this angle, Mather could see the symbol that had decorated Rares and Oana’s compound carved into the reflective surface. The beam of light hitting a mountaintop.
Meira pressed her hand to the mirror and stayed there, body hard. Mather’s gut cramped even tighter with anxiety. When she looked up, she shot William a steady gaze.
“The Order created the labyrinth to keep out anyone who would abuse magic,” she said. “But they eventually wanted someone worthy to reach the chasm to destroy all magic—so they left these plates, just like they left the keys I found.” She waved her hand when she saw both Mather and William’s brows furrowed. “I never told you about that, but it doesn’t matter—they’re conduits, infused with enough magic to show a vision whenever a conduit-wielder intent on reaching the chasm touches them. The last mirrorshowed me the path you needed to take to get across the room.”
“What did this one show you?” William asked. He accepted her explanation so easily. Not that Mather expected him to fight her; but Mather had to clamp his jaw shut to keep from making a lot of worthless statements, likeThese people put a lot of faith in a pure conduit-wielder getting into the labyrinthandThey’re helping you die faster. I hate them.
Meira stood, frowning at the walls of the room. Mather followed her gaze—
And nearly leaped back into the tunnel.
This place did terrible things to his soldier’s instincts—his every muscle was poised for attack, his every thought was about drawing his weapons. But so far, they had seen no physical enemies, just the itching sensation of an ambush coming with every breath.
If this was how they were going to go out, lured to some fantastic end with no enemy save for mystical tunnels and glowing platforms, Mather would go mad long before death.
What Meira was frowning at, what Mather hadswornwasn’t there moments ago, were doors. Three of them in the walls now, beside each torch.
Meira neared the door on the left, her hands slung idly in the straps of her chakram’s holster.
“There are three doors,” she said. “And three of us.”
Mather balked. “We have to split up?”
The refusal must have been clear in his voice, becauseMeira’s shoulders drooped a little. Mather bit back further retort. This was hard enough on her without him questioning her every thought—but what did she expect from him? That he’d wordlessly agree to every idea that drew her closer to death?
There were three tasks, though. This was only the second. They would get through this and still have one more before Mather had to figure out a way to save her.
And maybe this damn labyrinth would produce an answer on its own.
“Fine,” he conceded. “I’ll take the middle one.”
