Fadir frowned, and Thomas shook his head. “These tunnels are sacred. While Al-Wa?a villagers are willing to assist us in obtaining the tablets, they won’t allow that.”
Lisbeth glanced at Fadir and nodded. “I’m sorry for the suggestion. I understand.”
Thomas translated for her, and the man smiled in return. She studied the rock formation on the wall and then asked Thomas, “Can I see your water pouch?”
He handed her the leather pouch that was still half full. She poured a little along the wall. Fadir nodded excitedly, knowing what she was doing. The water traveled along the areas of the rock formation, puddling on the ground.
Thomas leaned over her, and she did it again. This time, some of the water puddled on the floor, while some of it disappeared between two rocks. Liseth looked at them excitedly. “These are not permanently fused.”
Fadir placed the metal rod between the rocks and wiggled it. The stone barely moved, but it did a little bit. Benson and Thomas joined him, using their weight to push the rock aside. The first couple of times they tried, it only moved an inch or two at most. Then they tried again, and the rock slid to the side. It wasn’t a large space, but it was big enough to slide the lantern in.
Thomas leaned down and looked. “It is a tunnel.”
Fadir looked at the other rocks, but Lisbeth wasn’t optimistic that they could get them to move any more than they had. Thomas tried to wiggle his way into the opening but couldn’t. Excitement flared in Lisbeth because she thought she could fit. Thomas stood up and sighed, unhappy.
“I can go,” Lisbeth declared.
Immediately, both Thomas and Benson said, “No.”
She frowned at both of them. “This tunnel to the cavern isn’t that long. If it hasn’t been traversed, the tablets and whatever else is there may be undisturbed. Remember that tomb we found in Tuscany, Thomas. Besides the dust, it was as if everyone had just walked away. Items were sitting in the open, unchanged by time.”
“It could be caved in.”
“I think I should at least go look,” Lisbeth insisted.
“Your Grace, this isn’t wise,” Benson said, not happy about her idea at all.
Lisbeth bent down and wiggled through the opening. She was momentarily terrified as she’d blocked out all the light.
“Lisbeth,” Thomas hissed. “We travel in pairs.”
The light from the lantern filtered in, calming her. She took a deep breath. “Thomas, let me just see what is at the end. It will only be a few minutes. You can call me back if there is a problem.”
Fadir said something in Arabic, and Benson said, “She shouldn’t be in there.”
Rolling her eyes, she exasperatedly said, “But I already am. Don’t treat me like I’m fragile.”
Thomas slid on the ground and looked at her through the hole. “You are a duchess, which makes you so.”
Annoyance surged in her. “They could be at the end of the tunnel. The map showed the corridor I’m in connecting to the cavern. We could be minutes away from discovering the tablets and other important artifacts.”
Thomas scowled but slid the lantern her way. “Promise you will go to the end and return right away.”
“I promise.”
He grabbed her hand. “I mean it, Lisbeth.”
She nodded. “I will not linger.”
Lisbeth rose and stood, peering down the large tunnel. Excitement surged in her, and if she was being honest, fear as well.
*
Thomas, Benson, andFadir sat in silence in the darkness. It had been too long. Where the fuck was she? He heard pacing and suspected it was Benson. He imagined Lisbeth’s guard was furious. The move to climb into the hole without asking had been so typical of the Lisbeth he knew when they were younger.He suspected back in England, she didn’t make such rash decisions.
“Where is she?” Benson snapped.
Thomas slid down on his stomach. “Lisbeth!”
