An aura followed. A burst of exasperation,sharp like the tang of bitters dumped into a cocktail of aged oil,and Sonara’s curse took flight.
The tether pulled, soaring out of her until her curse slammed against the door.
Like a fist knocking.
Beside her, Karr gripped her hand tight, and Sonara began to feel the ground shake again. Not from the Wanderers drilling into the mountain somewhere nearby, but from Karr. He was gritting his teeth, trying to call upon the power that lived in his veins.
She could sense his curse, asmooth bit of stone, the grit of sandandthe damp smell of upturned earth,as he pushed against the door with her, trying to shove it open.
Anotherslamof Sonara’s power against the red door.
The whole cave trembled. The door itself shook beneath their joined palms, dust and loose rock pouring down upon them.
When the dust settled…
Sonara’s curse recoiled and slithered back into its cage.
The door simplyclicked.
And with a gentle creak, it opened wide.
The space beyond the door was inky black, as if inside it spanned a starless sea. A cold, spiraling wind slithered past Sonara’s legs, kicking up the debris around her boots.
It faded, then returned again. Like a deep, ancient sigh, reeking with the aura of…
“Death,” Sonara whispered.
The wind backed away, carrying the aura with it.
Behind her, a torch flickered to life merrily, as Markam held it out in hope that it would cut through the darkness.
Sonara dared to breathe it in again, letting her power stretch out and ease into the space before her.
She inhaled, pulling it back to her in a breath.
The rot of bones, ancient and tremblingas that cold, sighing wind soared past them.
“Bones,” Jaxon said suddenly.
Sonara nodded, for she knew he sensed it, too.
“Hundredsof them: skulls and femurs and knuckles and toes,” he added. “Bodies left to decay upon old, ruined stone.”
As if a great battle had taken place inside. As if the stories of Eona were alltrue.
“Well,” Markam said with a sigh. “If you’re all so interested in stepping inside the doorway of death and doom… I’ve suddenly remembered I have tickets to a show.”
Sonara turned on him. “Whatshow?There’s no show.”
“There is.”
“Where?”
“North,” Markam said. He pointed, then seemed to think better of it. “Or… south. Does it matter? I’m not going in there.” “I will go,” Azariah said as she stepped past him. Her voice was raw,her eyes heavy, but she rolled back her shoulders and gave a reassuring nod. “I will join you beyond the door.”
“I’ll go,” Jaxon said. “There’s an arsenal inside, just waiting for me, with all those bones.”
“It’s too much, Jax,” Sonara said. “The energy it would take from you—”
