Taste of Darkness

“This tunnel branches in different directions,” Beau said. “Just down here...” He walked farther in, gesturing for me to follow him. “Here’s an intersection. As you can see, the three triangles are painted on this branch, but not this one. All you need to do is follow them, and make sure you keep the symbol on your right, that means you’re moving away from the center. If they’re on the left, then you’re heading back. It can get confusing down here.”

I agreed. Too bad the shaft wasn’t big enough for horses. “How long does it take to get to the guild?”

“It’s not a straight shot. Four, maybe five days. Let me see...” Beau continued down the three-triangle tunnel until he reached another junction. “Ah, yes.” He pointed to a symbol that had four circles side by side. “This shaft is a shortcut and will eliminate a couple days. Hmm...three days total.”

“Sounds like you know this area well. We might need you to guide us.”

“Oh, sure. I’ve done this route a couple times.” He smiled, revealing yellowed teeth.

An uneasy chill zipped through me. No one knew I was down here. We had gone farther into the mines than I’d expected. Too far for anyone to hear me yell.

“Great.” I turned to go back.

“Wait,” he said.

I glanced over my shoulder. He’d hung the lantern on a hook and reached into his breast pocket. Beau pulled out a slender object. A blow gun? I shifted my weight to the ball of my feet, ready to flee. Then he dipped his hand in his pants pocket. Was that a dart filled with Death Lily toxin?

He yanked a piece of folded parchment from his pocket. “I just want to write down these other symbols so I can double-check the directions on the maps.” Beau smiled again. “I don’t want to get us lost. My sergeant would kill me.”

A mixture of relief and chagrin calmed my heartbeat. It wasn’t foolish to think he might be a spy for Tohon; it was very foolish not to consider it until after it was too late.

After Beau wrote down the symbols, we returned to the surface. He joined the monkeys. Quain had found the right quadrant, but not the correct tunnels. Beau helped.

Belen followed me back to Ryne’s office. “What’s wrong?”

“How did—”

“Poppa Bear, remember?”

I explained about my moment of panic. “I’m not cut out for all this...subterfuge.”

“It’s not one of your strengths,” Belen agreed with a broad smile. “How about we keep a guard nearby just in case?”

“All right.”

He peered at me in suspicion. “That was too easy.”

“As I see it, I’d rather go to Tohon on my own terms than be dragged there by one of his spies.”

“Ah, that’s our girl.”

I mixed a teaspoon of sleep powder in a glass of water and gulped it. One way to keep Tohon guessing was to block him from my dreams.

Belen tucked me in, pulling the blanket up to my chin. Then he turned the lantern’s light down low, dragged Ryne’s chair over by the door and sat with his sword across his lap.

“Belen, you don’t—”

“Hush. Go to sleep.”

“Yes, sir.”

His chuckle sounded like the sweetest lullaby.

* * *

Kerrick and Flea returned in the evening of the sixth day. I rushed out to meet them with Belen and the monkeys right behind me. Too pale and too skinny, they both appeared in serious need of a month’s worth of Mom’s cooking and a week’s worth of sleep.

I embraced Kerrick, sharing my energy. Instead of stopping me, he drew me closer. Not a good sign.

Eventually, he pulled away. “Thanks.”

“I thought Flea could share his strength with you.”

“He can, but we kept moving and I didn’t want to slow him down.”

“What did you find out?” Belen asked.

“Give the man a break,” Quain said. “Let’s get a fire started and heat up some food.”

“Trust Quain not to miss a meal,” Loren said.

Quain bumped Loren’s arm hard as he issued orders. In no time, a warm fire blazed and a pile of dirty dishes grew. I snuggled next to Kerrick, anxious to hear his report, but also afraid.

“I can’t wait any longer—was Tohon at the Healer’s Guild?” Belen asked.

“Yes,” Kerrick said. “He set up camp right in the middle of the ruins. Big fancy tent with a rug.”

I straightened in alarm. “You got that close?”

“No, I caught a glimpse when the flaps opened.”

“How many troops does he have with him?” Loren asked.

Kerrick glanced at Flea.

Flea said, “Approximately five hundred living soldiers, and about eight hundred dead protected with neck armor. And a dozen dead ufas that guard Tohon’s tent.”

“And we have—” Quain pretended to count heads “—the six of us.”

Sinking back against Kerrick, I closed my eyes. Tohon was too well protected.

“We have an idea,” Kerrick said.

I opened my eyes in time to see Flea nod.

“Yeah, we’re thinking we can stay downwind of the camp, Loren can shoot a flaming arrow at Tohon’s tent, setting it on fire, and when he runs out into the confusion, Loren puts another one into his heart.”

“And there’s also Saul’s squad and a few others Ryne has left behind so we can create a nice distraction,” Kerrick added.