Page 133 of The Stone Secret
There was something metal up there. Right at the top. “Hey! I see something.” I pointed. “There.”
Hawke joined me, squinting up at the moon-drenched rock face. “I see it. You want to check it out?”
I grinned up at him. “You bet I do.”
He hooked a thick arm around my waist and launched us into the air. The object came into view—a pressure plate built into the wall.
“Get ready to punch it.” Hawke flew us toward the wall, and I palm-punched the plate. A soft rumbling sound filled the canyon below along with a series of whoops.
“We have an exit!” Touron shouted up to us.
We joined the others at the mouth of a cavern lit by silvery runes.
“It’s a warp,” Palia confirmed.
“We just go through?” Ginia looked skeptical.
“Oh, for fucksake.” Dayn shoved her out of the way and vanished into the cavern.
“He’s such an ass,” Ginia said.
Hamlin followed, and the twins went next, followed by the goyles from the other dorm. I trailed after Touron with Curi and Hawke close behind.
The world tipped then righted itself in a field surrounded by woodland.
My stomach rebelled, begging me to throw up, but I breathed through it. Several of the other goyles didn’t have such luck, and the sounds of retching filled the air.
What did this second trial have in store? Farnell had warned us the tests would get harder, so what could—
A shadowy lump lay several feet away from us.
“What is that?” Hawke said.
I started walking toward it, picking up speed because, oh fuck. “It’s a body!”
“Cameron, wait,” Touron called.
But I couldn’t wait because I was close enough to recognize the body and oh no…Oh gods…
* * *
SERATH
The screens go dark as the final cadet passes through the warp.
“Perfect!” Farnell claps his hands together. “They’re through to the next test. This one won’t be so easy to pass, though,” he says smugly.
“The labyrinth?” Selas says with a smile. “I remember.”
This test is about trusting senses and instincts.
“Why are the screens still black?” Farnell asks with a frown. “Prasan?” He looks over his shoulder. “Where is he? What’s going on?”
Unease crawls up my spine.
“It must be a tech issue,” Orix says. “I’ll go find him.”
But he’s been gone for too long. Something isn’t right.
