Page 53 of Legacy of the Heirs
“Was that really why Qadir was killed?” Farid asked as Nyzaia strode back to the edge of the cliff, waiting for her syndicate to join.
“We discovered he was funnelling funds from the wealthy and withholding earnings from nearly all the pillars,” Jabir confirmed,crossing his arms to match Nyzaia’s stance.
“He had bought a ship and was packing his things when we found him,” Nyzaia continued.
“Why was he fleeing?” asked Farid, and Nyzaia shrugged.
“No idea. It does not matter. Abandonment is punishable by trial and then death.” Nyzaia finished. Farid seemed contemplative beside her.
“A traitor is not worthy of their life,” Farid said, and Isaam gave a bark of laughter.
“Careful, Farid. You’re starting to sound like one of us.” Nyzaia was uncertain if her syndicate was a bad influence or if Farid’s experiences had shaped him into the defensive yet protective man he was.
“So, where do you think it will be?” Jabir asked Farid, gesturing to the forge. Nyzaia regarded the forge, trying to determine herself. The forge was a wise place to hide something so valuable. No one from the other realms could withstand the heat for long. Nyzaia was unsure if even those with a tie to Keres’ power could wield the lava, herself included.
The forge split into parts. The main strip running through the canyon was a river of flowing lava, bubbling up from the large crack down the middle and gushing from the crevices in the rock where they stood. At regular intervals were stations housing metal ore and blacksmith tools to meld, hammer, and shape the metal into weapons. Watchtowers were stationed at each end of the river to survey the workers.
“Surely it is not beneath the lava?” asked Nyzaia, looking at Farid.
“It is below where we stand,” he said. The other four shared a look before peering cautiously over the edge to where lava flowed roughly halfway down like a waterfall.
“You are lying,” Jabir said with a nervous laugh, but Farid looked him dead in the eye.
“I do not lie.”
Nyzaia cleared her throat and waited for Farid to untense his shoulders. He did so when he met her eye, his face softening.
“The lava hides multiple alcoves, with some small enough to hide items and others big enough to hide people,” Farid continued. Nyzaia opened her mouth to question him, but Farid quickly steered the conversation. “Are you affected by lava?” he asked. Nyzaia recalled her earlier days of training with Kazaar and the Red Stones. She had never wielded lava, yet she had not tested it since becoming queen and inheriting all her power.
“I could never control it, but that does not mean it will harm me.” Nyzaia’s voice lacked confidence.
“If you can scale down until you’re in line with the flow, you will see a wide gap where it falls away from the rock. It should offer enough space to reach under and check for cavities within the wall.”
“Great, this sounds like fun,” Nyzaia muttered. Rafik jogged to the horses and back, returning with thick rope.
“We need to be quick; the lava will offer some light, but the sun will soon be behind the Zivoi mountains,” said Jabir, analysing the horizon where the sun began to fall, their path aglow in countless shades of orange and red.
“So, I will quickly scale the rock, stick my arm behind lava, and search for a talisman that wehopeis there,” Nyzaia mocked as Rafik tied the rope around her and secured it in place.
“I will follow; I know some spots,” said Farid, tying the second rope around himself.
“How do you know all this?” Nyzaia asked. Jabir reached forward to tighten Farid’s rope, who stepped away before he could.
“I worked here,” Farid said, passing Jabir the end of the rope and backing towards the cliff edge. He stared back at their surprised faces, Nyzaia’s included. “Are we beginning?”
“I guess so,” Nyzaia said, matching Farid’s stance. Jabir and Issam each held one rope and braced their legs as Nyzaia pushed off the edge with Farid in tow. In her twenty-five years of life, she neverexpected to scale the edge of the forge. Her footing felt secure as she lowered, the temperatures rising as they approached the starting point of the lava flow. She looked up at Farid, who waited for a nod of confirmation. When she returned the nod, they continued. The stream of lava was surprisingly loud from where it exploded from the rock face. The heat differed from the sensations she felt when controlling her flames, and she flinched as the stream spat and burned her skin. At least that answered her question about the lava. Nyzaia peered down at the lava stream to where it met the boiling river below, trying not to think about how it could kill her if she fell.
Farid was right. When Nyzaia lowered several more inches, the lava flowed out and away from the wall, likely from the pressure.
“You should be approaching two small openings now,” Farid called. Nyzaia reached to the left, wincing at the heat emanating from the lava. It was hot, even for her. Her fingers found a small hole, no bigger than two of her hands, and the surface was rough and jagged when she reached in. Untouched. She shook her head at Farid, who pointed down.
“There should be a larger one next.”
Nyzaia nodded and slowly descended once more, hearing the rubble fall below her.
“Three more steps,” Farid called. One. Two. Nyzaia’s foot slipped, and parts of the rock face suddenly began crumbling and falling away. She gasped as her feet slid below her, slamming her into the rock. Her hands burned as she held onto the rope and pulled herself up to reposition her feet.
“Are you okay!”
