Page 137 of Lore of the Wicked Wood
Everinne stepped up and Atlas went with her. “We’re doing this.”
Veros jerked his head in the direction of the tunnel. “Let’s go then. I don’t want us to be down here all night.”
Venturing into the Marzena was nothing like Atlas expected.
It was a labyrinth of tunnels. Some were cavernous, stretching wide like the streets above them while others were excessively narrow, making it so that only one person could move through the space at a time. Bronze lanterns floated along the ceiling, suspended by magic. The dim amber light quivered often, dousing most of the Marzena into long, harsh shadows, and making it difficult to navigate. They passed a handful of drunken fae, their eyes glazed as they shuffled and toppled into one another. A few vampires stood next to a random wooden door that seemed to open into the side of the tunnel. But then they knocked four times, spoke something in a language Atlas couldn’t understand, and the door swung open. Pulsing music and the potent scent of stigs filled the dank air, and the vampires strode inside, the door slamming shut behind them.
Despite the flowery smell of stigs and aged alcohol hanging in the air, there was an underlying stench as well. Acrid and foul, it seemed to seep from the stone, to ooze between the crevices.
“No wonder the witches don’t like to come here,” Caedian muttered, his pale gaze darting toward every movement. “This place reeks of corrupt magic.”
Corrupt magic.Thatwas the smell.
Carved into the tunnel walls were the market’s notorious shops, the grimy windows showcasing all kinds of remarkable, exotic wares.
Beside him, Everinne drew up short. “Here.”
Her gaze was fixated on one of the cluttered window displays, and Atlas peered inside, unable to note anything worthwhile or extraordinary. There was the usual collection of baubles—spelled mirrors, enchanted glass spheres, bundles of dried herbs, and sachets of tea. Jewelry was displayed as well, an assortment of necklaces and rings, as well as some daggers inlaid with sparkling gemstones. But nothing that looked like it could be some sort of key in helping them locate Zoryana and the other hunted immortals.
“Why here?” Veros asked, sauntering closer for a look. He arched one dark brow in interest. “What caught your eye, Ever?”
She rubbed her lips together and stole a glance behind her to where Caedian stood, his steely gaze trained on anyone or anything lurking in the shadows.
Everinne blew out a soft breath.
“The female…in the dungeon.” Her hand drifted idly to her forearm, where Atlas knew a fresh tattoo marked her. “In her mind, there were images of the mines.”
“The fire ruby mines? The Rizenrok Forge?” Atlas’s brows pinched together in concern.
There had been no talk or discussion of the mines recently at all. As far as he knew, and all his father had mentioned, was that the mines were meant as a means of punishment, but the truth of the matter was that they were a slave camp. Everyone who was found guilty of an offense was sent to Rizenrok Forge,it was why the dungeon was often empty. Sentences served there were either fairly brief or exceptionally long, depending upon the crime against the crown.
He stole a hasty look at Veros, whose eyes reflected an unnatural kind of worry. Even Caedian had moved closer, his pale gaze suddenly clouded with concern. “What of them?”
“There was a discovery of a new gemstone, rarer than fire rubies, a jewel with more sparkle. More value. The prisoners were trying to pocket them, to keep them secret from the guards. I imagine some of them thought they could use this new stone to buy their freedom.”
A new gemstone meant there was an increased chance Atlas’s father would send more people to mines, whether they were guilty or not. “What does it look like?”
Her bottom lip trembled, but then she bit it before swallowing hard. “Like a midnight sky caught on fire. Black like obsidian, yet it reflects the sparkle of the stars.”
“Was there anything else?” Veros asked, edging closer.
“No. There was nothing else. Not before I…” Everinne’s face shuttered and her shoulders dropped.
Atlas grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Caedian tapped lightly on the filthy glass window. “So, why this shop?”
Everinne pointed to a glittering black gemstone cushioned on a pile of navy velvet. It was shaped like an oval, polished and smoothed, and held all the fire of the stars in its gleaming surface.
“Becausethatis a nightfall diamond.” She looked up then and met each of their intent gazes. “If this shop has a stone this rare, then they must know something we don’t.”
“Fair enough,” Veros mumbled. “Alright, let’s go in.”
They entered the shop together, with Atlas keeping Everinne’s hand entrapped in his own. The inside of the storewasn’t nearly as grimy as the window. There were leaning wooden shelves lined with an array of trinkets, anything from velvet bags filled with rune stones, to tarot cards, to bundles of sage wrapped with twine. Altars held bowls of bones and sand, and there was a table where half-melted candles burned into pools of colored wax. Books with weathered spines and faded edges were stacked precariously high. One wrong move and the entire pile would tumble to the floor. Tinkling bells seemed to echo throughout the cluttered shop, and the welcoming scent of ripe pomegranates and fresh sea mist filled the cozy space.
Atlas stepped around a large blue vase overflowing with oddly shaped branches and dried flowers when a woman—a witch—appeared before him. Her hair was silvery white, like moonlight, and fell past her shoulders in bouncy, tightly coiled curls. Icy blue eyes lined with dark kohl pinned him with a look of subdued curiosity, and her red lips were pursed in question. She wore a black skirt with a slit that reached her thigh, dark red leather boots to her knees, and an ivory lace sweater tugged over a snug black bodice. Silver bangles dangled from her wrists—two of them were decorated with wolf charms—she wore at least half a dozen necklaces of varying lengths, and large hoops hung from her ears.
She fisted her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. “Something I can help you find?”
