Page 40 of Aubade Rising
“I’m Kitto, leader of the Kevren Gwir and of the rebellion.” All pretence of formality, leadership and prestige evaporates as she finishes her introduction and I’m left with the impression she somewhat begrudgingly wants my approval. Confused, I remain silent.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for some time, Sage. Come, I have something you need to see.” She gestures for me to follow. Torn, I glance down the tunnel where Eskar was dragged moments before.
“Where have you taken Eskar?” I stand firm.
“To the cells. His treatment will depend on your cooperation.” She doesn’t turn to see if I’m following and her words are swallowed ominously by the mud walls. Against my better judgement, I follow her deeper underground.
Chapter 39
These tunnels are bustling and I have to press myself into the red walls to let people pass. Kitto leads me through the warren and the trickle of rebels parts before her. She doesn’t pause but nods and greets those she passes in the dim light. All incline their heads in deference and peer at me in suspicion. I try to count the turnings, twists and switchbacks until I’m dizzy. I’ve not eaten or drunk in hours and the dry air scorches my throat. The monotonous corridors press towards me and the panic of claustrophobia returns.
My breathing quickens and I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms to ground me. Eventually, the rush of people peters out until we’re alone but my body continues to shake. The tunnel we are in slopes upwards towards a spark of daylight. Already accustomed to the gloom underground, my eyes ache by the time we venture into the open air. Kitto strides ahead, eyes impervious to the changing light, leaving me to stumble behind until I can see properly.
She stops on the precipice of a natural stone balcony, jutting from the side of the tor. The mud has given way to rock around me. The floor tilts from the mouth of the tunnel, worn smooth by exposure to the elements and I hesitate to step too close to the edge. Even the weak daylight tempts me to channel but my hands are bound too tightly.
Ahead of us is a formidable cavity cleaved into the rock below, a horrible wound of a quarry. Fog floats menacingly at the top of the hole but below our feet, threatening to drop at any point, bulging with rain. Above and all around us are sheer cliffs reaching up to the low clouds. We’re trapped in this artificialvalley. Below, through gaps in the fog, on the surface of the rock, veins of minerals run through the red clay and granite. A tempting, glittering river of wealth. I assume some of those veins are serpentine but I don’t comment or ask. Plumes of smoke rise at intervals deep within the quarry and I realise this mine is operational.
If there are sufficient rebels to run a mining operation, then they are better funded, and better organised than we knew. The Mordros back in Pentargon have no clue this is how the Kevren Gwir must be able to organise and fund the attacks and bombings. With access to rare minerals, gemstones and potentially serpentine, they have everything they need to re-establish trade with Aiche, right under the King’s nose.
Kitto gestures for me to join her on the edge of a rock ledge, where we can examine the activity.“All these people are willing to risk their lives in the mists to help our cause. They’re mining a critical mineral to help with my experiments.” Her gaze fixes on me knowingly. Somehow, she knows what the serpentine can do.
I hope I school my features into a bland expression. Dervla’s worst fear was the rebels would manage to democratise magic using crystals before we would. Perhaps they’ve already achieved it; maybe the attacks were a demonstration. But why retreat back here? There must be a flaw in their design.
“Fascinating. From the frown on your face, I can see you putting the story together,” Kitto jeers, jolting my attention back towards her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I regret the tremor that slips past my guard.
“This will be a lot easier on Captain Devath if we can be frank.” Her smile turns my stomach. The thought of punishing Eskar is clearly pleasing to her.
“What do you mean?”
“The Captain has a certain reputation amongst the rebels…Many of them have family or loved ones that have suffered under hisinterrogations. Most never returned. Those that did…” She watches my face closely for a reaction and I fight the panic in my chest as my mind takes me back to my interrogation at Eskar’s hands.
“The guards are under instruction to keep him breathing, but that’s all.”
“What do you want from me?” I grit out a response.
“Everything you know about serpentine and how to store magic in it.”
I can’t help but widen my eyes. All my hours of research, everything we’ve worked for to make Trevesiga a better place. And she wants me to hand it over to her, to be used against the King. No, I can’t let that happen.
“I thought that might be your response.” Kitto’s smile widens at my silent refusal and it chills my blood.
“Shall we visit the cells then?”
Chapter 40
“Your lack of cooperation has caused this. If you intervene, I will make it worse for him.” Kitto’s voice is flat and emotionless as she leads the way through the maze of tunnels.
We round the last corner. The walls are a honeycomb of holes, each the size of a coffin and dug out of the red earth around us. Cells are too generous a term.
In the centre of the floor, surrounded by rebels, Eskar lies bleeding into the clay floor. The rebels take turns, kicking and spitting on him.
“Stop!” I shriek when the violence finally registers, disbelieving that in this short time he’s been beaten so savagely.
Eyes bruised shut, hands whipped and bleeding, he raises his head. Hot tears spill over my cheeks as Kitto steps in front of me, preventing me from rushing to his side.
The guards pause their assault and Eskar’s bloodshot eyes crack open, finding mine.
