“Anywhere we want.” His grin was wolfish.
I’d thought he would have a designated training space, somewhere safe. But of course that wasn’t Kiegan’s style. “I have an idea.”
“Sure makes me nervous when you say that. Even more than when Fear does.”
Something tugged in my chest at the way he casually called Fieran by his nickname. Still, I was glad he seemed comfortable in his clan. As we walked, I asked, “How’s it been? Settling into Bismyth?”
He shrugged. Rees’s claws clicked behind us as we went down the stairs.
“I thought we should find the site for the claiming ceremony.” I broke the silence, not sure why he was reluctant to talk about Bismyth. “It’s not used for anything else, so it should be quiet.”
“Go where we might die in a few days?”
“I don’t plan to die. And you’re definitely not allowed to.”
“Bossy. I’ll die if I want to.”
“You’re my only friend here, Kiegan. You’re not going to abandon me.”
He scoffed. “Orcs don’t have friends.”
“Nonsense. Orcs just define ‘friends’ aspeople to throw knives with.”
“So bossy.Be my friend. Don’t die.”His imitation of me was quite high-pitched and offensive.
I backhanded his arm, which hurt my knuckles and amused him.
I didn’t bother to try to hide the way I had to shake out my hand as the two of us crossed the foyer. “What are you made of?”
“Spite.”
“And stone.”
“And curiosity,” he added. “We might both burn in a few days’ time, but it’s going to be sointeresting.”
The two of us wound our way through the labyrinth.
“I still can’t find my way to save my life,” I admitted.
“I know where we’re going and how to get back.” He caught my skeptical look and added, “I had to dosomethingevery night here besides make friends.”
“So you?—”
“Mapped the labyrinth, yeah. Found some of this place’s secrets.” He walked ahead of me down a slick stone decline that reminded me of stepping into hell but that gradually lightened as we walked.
Then we emerged into an enormous green space that was open to the sea and sky on one side.
On the other side was an enormous arched doorway, as wide across as multiple Kiegans.
I stopped dead, staring at it. The idea of voluntarily going into the place where I might die suddenly seemed foolish.
But Kiegan was already halfway across the lichen-covered ground, so I hustled to catch up to him. I was breathing hard, and he was already inside the enormous vaulted space when I caught up.
The scent of ash and smoke was strong.
Rees whined. I turned back to find he had plunked himself down at the entrance and wasn’t entering.
“You are smarter than we are,” I told the dog.
