He imagined her with her leaders in a conference room somewhere, calmly planning this. Just as Jhiton and Amalia and Shi had calmly planned the invasion. Gods.
The water lifted Vorik’s feet from the ground, and he struggled to stay connected, to walk as long as he could. He was a strong swimmer, but he wouldn’t be able to maneuver out of here that quickly while pulling the lady.
Are you underground?Agrevlari asked from beyond the island’s barrier.
In the salt mine, yes. Vorik wondered how much of the battle the dragon could see from miles away. From a great enough height, the lake and road and buildings might be in view.
Something is happening to the lake.
Oh, I know.
First, Wreylith was merely lighting boats full of your people on fire. I and many of our ally dragons have been threatening her, promising a swift death to her once the barrier is down, but she hasn’t been deterred.
Vorik thought of Syla’s admission to coming up with the plan to flood the mine and eyed the water flowing past him.I don’t think the barrier is coming down. Ever.
Yes, I see the problem. The water isdrainingfrom the lake. Very… vehemently.
What doesthatmean?
A whirlpool has formed at one end. It has great power, and portions of the shoreline are being pulled into the water. The burning ships are also being drawn toward it. Swiftly and inexorably. Anything in the water is being pulled toward the whirlpool, including people trying to swim away. I don’t understand what’s happening.
I do.It surprised Vorik that the water flowing through the mine around him was so calm. Calm but, as Agrevlari had said, inexorable.
Vorik’s feet lost purchase on the ground again. Grim, he started paddling. The two men behind him did as well, pulling Lesva along. Fel was taller than the rest of them and still walking, but he was helping Syla as much as the other way around now, and that made their progress slow. Even carrying Abrya, Vorik pulled ahead when he started swimming.
As Fel gave up and also started swimming, an explosion boomed somewhere ahead.
“Was that your aunt?” Vorik asked, the cold water enveloping him fully, some splashing his lips, its taste salty. Of course. “Who else is down here?”
“Wreylith saidyourpeople have taken over the buildings and have been coming down.”
Vorik groaned. He didn’t want to hear that.
“They’d better not be blowing up the lift cage,” Syla said. “That’s the only way out.”
Vorik had climbed down using the chains, but if he had to ascend that, carrying the lady over his shoulder, that would be challenging. And could Fel make the climb while injured? What about Syla? She didn’t seem injured, but did she have the strength to pull herself up that far?
Growing grimmer by the moment, Vorik swam faster.
Another boom sounded. This time, they were close enough that he also saw a flash.
“Thatcouldbe my aunt.” Syla sputtered as a surge of water flowed past, maybe caused by the explosion. “But I really hope she’s gotten out of here by now.”
“Me too,” Fel said.
With strong strokes and determination, the group kept swimming. The water had reached the level of the lanterns mounted on the pyramid supports, and they were starting to go out, leaving little light. Even with his keen night vision, Vorik was surprised when something bumped past his shoulder. Was that…
“A body,” he said.
“Another one over here,” Fel said.
“The explosions,” Syla said, “must have gotten them. Or… fighting. I don’t know.”
Yes, over the last couple of minutes, a few clangs had reached Vorik’s ears, but he hadn’t known if they were from swords clashing or mining machinery or something else entirely.
Another body floated past, and they were near a lantern, so there was more light, enough to see the face, though Vorik had already recognized black rider leathers.
“Remarin,” he said. “He is—was—in my squadron under my command.”
