Goose flesh rises on my arms. “How long do you think it’s been since anyone has been in here?”
“There’s no way to know. I supposed we’d have to wonder how old the map itself is.”
I trail my fingers over the rough walls as we walk. “You think the map is as old as the temple?”
He shrugs. “I think it would be close. No one has seen an elemental map for hundreds of years.”
“Will any of the ocean’s temple goers be grateful it’s been discovered?”
“Some.” His voice is careful. “I mentioned earlier it would have been abandoned the moment it touched open air. A portion are incredibly dedicated to the old gods, so the fact that this one is above water now won’t sway them. With any luck, the map’s treasure will hold all sorts of relics. They would be the true prize, when compared to your glittering things.”
I grin. “Well you’re welcome to them. I’ve no use for—” The ground falls away, and I gasp, jerking Rune’sarm to stop him from moving forwards. It’s another drop. A sweep of the torch reveals it’s about the same as in the main chamber. Rune is already lowering himself to the edge.
“Are you sure we’ll be able to get back up?”
“I’m sure,” he says, landing lightly and laying the torch on its side before lifting his arms up to help me down. I find it too easy to relent, bracing my hands on his forearms while his fingers wrap firmly around my waist. He sets me down so gently I don’t feel it in my injured leg—then he doesn’t let go. His warmth draws me closer, and without thought, I slide the tips of my fingers over the heat of his arms, firmly aware of the stone wall at my back and how it might feel to be pressed into it, the cool rock holding me steady against his relentless need.
I blink, nearly overtaken by a consuming, heady adrenaline.
His eyes are molten in the torchlight. His grip tightens for a breath, as if he can anticipate my sudden urge to flee.
“Rune—”
He yanks me closer, slamming my chest into his. His grip is like iron, and I melt for it, every part of me going limp with relief. I lift my face to his, the blaze low in my stomach greedy now, insistent.
But he twists me away, his fingers hooking painfully into my side as he whips his sword out with the other hand. The rock clangs, the steel screaming in my ears in angry echoes.
Then silence.
He picks up the torch, and holds it over the body of a reptilian creature with a stinger on its tail. It’s strangely flat,the colour of dark stone. It had to have been completely silent, invisible in the dark.
“It was waiting on the wall,” he says, his chest heaving.
My heart pounds too, my emotions somersaulting over themselves. “How did you see it?” The tunnel is pitch black where the torch doesn’t reach.
“Darkvision,’ he says. “I assumed you would have it too.” His eyes sweep over the flush in my face. I don’t know what else he sees. “Perhaps I should lead from here?”
I nod, swallowing, letting my face fall to hide the embarrassment that snakes up my spine.
The silence envelopes us again. The walls shine, weeping puddles onto the floor.
“Salt water,” Rune says. I don’t ask him how he can tell.
Time retreats, replaced by subtle changes in the rock around us. The etchings disappear, then the smooth finish roughens to natural stone. Bits of it litter the pathway. I’m careful to avoid the added noise, but Rune crunches over them, the sound like a beast grinding bones in its teeth.
“Do you have to do that?” I ask, after the third time.
“Do what?” He doesn’t look at me, but his smile betrays him. He’sbored.
“Goad me in whatever way you must in order to get my attention? Any stinging lizard within a league will know where—” I gasp. He’s stopped, the toes of his boots peeking over the edge of where the floor drops away. Again. “Why does it keepdoing that?”
“I have a theory. But I hate being wrong, so better hold onto it for now.” He moves to sit, dangling his legs like he’s going to lower himself down.
“Wait!” Something about this one does feel different. Like a weak branch, or a predator on the wind. “Can you see the bottom?”
“Yes—hmm.” He sweeps the torch at his feet, peering down hard.
“No, actually.” His brow scrunches. “There’s a lip at about the same distance down as the others, but it drops off again after. I’ll go down and check before helping you follow.”
