The tunnel exploded with a cacophonous roar, hurling everything away.
Rawn hit the wall hard, and dust billowed through the tunnel. The blast left his ears ringing painfully, skewing his vision. He choked on the smoke clogging the tunnel. It swirled, blinding him.
He didn’t see what hit them. Another spell? Whatever it was, he barely survived it.
“Elon?” he rasped.
Only one torch at the end of the tunnel remained, casting very little light. The guards and Bloodhounds had been buried beneath the rubble. All that was seen of Grod was his twitching arm.
“Elon!” Rawn called out, his heart pounding.
Then he heard something coming.
Something big. Another Bloodhound was hunting them.
Rawn scrambled to his feet. He wildly searched for Elon as he heard footfalls near.
A massive black creature emerged from the darkness like a beast of shadow. Eyes reflecting bright yellow in the faint light.
Rawn laughed in utter disbelief. “Zev?”
The wolf whined softly at the sight of him and rushed to his side.
“I am so incredibly relieved to see you, my friend. But how…?”
Another, in a maroon coat with a mask covering the bottom half of his face, stepped through the smoke.
Commander Von.
The last person Rawn would have expected to see.
Von reached into his coat and handed Rawn a sword. “I’m told this belongs to you.”
Rawn blinked at the weapon a moment before accepting it, recognizing the Elvish hilt. It had once belonged to his father. He took the sword, and its familiar weight filled him with a sense of courage he hadn’t felt in days. “Thank you.” He glanced between him and Zev. “How did you come to find this place? Are the others with you?”
“It’s quite the tale. The others wait for us above.” Moving past him, Von crouched by Elon’s still form among the broken rock and shook his shoulder. “Oi, are you dead, mate?”
Elon groaned. He rolled over and stared at him incredulously. “I must be if you’re here, Commander.” Then he winced in pain. “No, most certainty alive.”
“By the grace of the fates.” Von chuckled and helped him stand. “You’re missing an eye.”
“Clearly. I take it this is a rescue?”
“Clearly,” Von retorted back as he surveyed the area. The tunnel to the waterways had caved in. They wouldn’t be able to go that way anymore. “Dyna has tasked me with breaking you out of the keep before they begin the trade, Lord Norrlen.”
“Trade?” Rawn asked warily. “What trade? Who has come?”
“Everyone, including your king.” Von went to a guard who stood up off the ground with a groan, swaying. “Sorry, no time to explain.” He smashed the elf’s skull into the wall, leaving him to drop unconscious at his feet. “We need to leave.”
The wolf growled in warning, staring ahead with glowing eyes.
“More of those hounds are coming.” Von handed Elon two long knives. “Our only option is to go out the main entrance.”
Elon expertly whirled them, testing their weight and balance. “Yes, this will do.”
“I brought enoughhuyaopowder to blast our way out of here. We’re bringing down the keep.”
“Good,” Elon said, turning away. “If I fall here, swear that you will bury me beneath the rubble when you blow this damn place to kingdom come.” That was an unexpected, morbid request. They stared at Elon, but he ran ahead without waiting for an answer.
