Page 40 of Storm of Fury
His heart wanted nothing to do with any plump blondes or buxom brunettes. No. It had taken one look at her—all surly, snarling grace—and decided she was the woman for him.
“I could have died in my bed as an old man,” he muttered sadly, “but instead you’re going to lead me to my doom, and I’m going to go willingly, fool that I am.”
Bryn shot a glare over her shoulder, but her eyebrow quirked as if to ask him what the hell he was talking about.
“Nothing,” he mouthed.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, they reached the enormous cavern at the bottom. Dozens of smaller caves branched off from it. Tormund glanced at the compass. Its needle trembled, spinning sharply several times before it settled upon the darkest hole of all.
Of course.
The floor within the tunnel seemed rougher-hewn than the others. It was too narrow for adrekito traverse unless they were in human form, and every now and then there were heavy gates built across the tunnel.
The heavy tread of footsteps echoed ahead of them.
Tormund whirled around, shoving Haakon back the way they’d come, as torchlight leered in the distance.Dreki.Drekiguards who could no doubt see better than they could.
Bryn whispered under her breath, and the glowing tip of her sword faded into nothingness.
“This way,” Tormund said, ducking into the shadows of a tunnel he’d seen on the way past. Light beckoned ahead of them.
He turned and darted around a corner, skidding to a halt when he came face-to-face with another startled guard.
The warrior’s face hardened and he drew his sword with a steely rasp. “What are you doing down here? How did you get in? Who are you?”
“Well,” Tormund’s grip closed around his axe handle, “this is awkward. And a little difficult to explain. We’re looking for a missing prince, you see, and we think—”
The guard suddenly sucked in a startled gasp, clapping a hand to his neck, where a small golden dart appeared.
Eyes rolling back in his head, he fell with a clatter of steel.
“We’re not here to have a conversation with him,” Bryn snapped.
Tormund splayed his hands wide. “Killing the guards is probably going to stir this entire court like a kicked anthill.”
“He’s not dead. He’s merely paralysed. It’s lindwurm blood. It will keep him down for half an hour.”
“Can you two be quiet?” Haakon whispered.
“They’ve already heard us. Come on,” Bryn snarled, grabbing Tormund’s arm. “I’ve only got another five darts.”
Footsteps ran toward them, shadows painted large on the tunnel walls. Clearly, they’d heard their comrade fall.
“Ladies with poisonous darts first,” he said, gesturing Bryn forward.
She lifted a small hollow tube to her lips as thedrekiguards ran at them, spears low. Though the guards towered over her, she didn’t so much as flinch. Hell of a woman.
Both guards hit the floor, and then Bryn was leaping over them, the glowing tip of her sword surging to light. “This way!” she yelled.
“I’m definitely in love,” Tormund told Haakon as he ran after her.
Haakon shook his head. “She’s going to eat you alive.”
* * *
They foundthe bowels of the mountain.
“Marduk has to be down here,” Bryn whispered, stepping over the fallen form of the last guard—and her last dart. She walked past six cells until the compass needle started quivering wildly.
