He’s right. And it’s hard to judge them for it.
There’s one way to guarantee compliance: strip the people of their needs and then offer them back at a price.
“We’ll find out for sure,” Therion confirms with a nod, not giving away more information about our plans than is needed. Ever the strategist.
But I still have one more question—the real reason we’re here.
“We need the Lunar Codex,” I declare, and the room stills.
Gellesk barks a sharp laugh. “Impossible,” he scoffs.
“Unacceptable,” I reply smoothly.
Gellesk exhales sharply in frustration. “I know you’re King of Zerynthia, but I'm the king of these tunnels. There’s no way you’ll get it,” he says, shaking his head.
“I want information, not opinions,” I snarl.
He pinches the bridge of his nose, dragging his hand down his face in defeat. “Do you know who has it? No one is stupid enough to face them… and their beasts,” he says, desperately trying to convince me.
“No one is violent enough to stand a chance of surviving us. Now, tell me,” I demand.
“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya,” he throws his hands up in surrender. “You two are fuckin’ made for each other, ya know? Stubborn fools,” he admonishes, wagging an accusatory finger between Elyssara and me.
I smirk—I know.
“Details,” I demand again.
He exhales an aggrieved sigh. “The Codex is in the hands of the Blackfangs—beast-traders, shadowhound masters, and the most brutal cutthroats in The Underbelly. They’re a syndicate of ruthless, brutal, bloodthirsty assholes. Three dozen of them.They have a den—one tunnel in and out. Guarded all day and night,” he says, dropping his voice low like he’s scared his words are an incantation.
A darkness settles in me—familiar, welcome.
“I’m waiting for the part where I’m meant to be scared,” I taunt him.
He shakes his head again. “The Codex is locked and useless—that’s why Thalmyr doesn’t hunt it. Legends say only certain blood can open it; we tested that, and it’s false.” He pulls back, standing straight. “Sounds like you’re just really desperate to die today.”
“Yep. That sounds like us—love a death mission. Even better if it has confusing, cryptic clues to get there. We love that shit,” Ronyn quips, clapping his hands together as if he’s done here. “Can I grab a bite to eat before the brawl that will undoubtedly ensue? Bit peckish.”
Good to see he’s the same old Ronyn.
“Fucking Stars,” Jax grouses. “Do you ever think about anything other than your belly?”
Ronyn’s eyes glint, as if Jax has just made his next joke too easy. “Jaxxy, I am almost always thinking of my co?—”
“Oh my Stars! Please stop!” Seren cries out, but she can’t hold in her laughter. Neither can the rest of us.
But it’s Seren who breaks off first.
“How was The Codex opened before all of this? It’s clearly been used before. How?” she asks, brows furrowed.
“No one can remember,” Gellesk answers simply.
As if Mavyrn’s energy speaks before she does, I feel her presence lean in, voice rasping and eerie, commanding the attention of the room. “Witches,” she breathes, and the word sounds like a spell itself.
But before I can ask more, the steel door bursts open. The young girl—Tess—barrels in holding a jar of Obsidian Shards, but she’s out of breath. She ran here.
“Tessie, what is it?” Gellesk demands, but his voice is gentle, tender.
“Guards are assembling at The Barrier—two were murdered. They’re coordinating a search and have set up a blockade. They’re coming,” she pants, voice panicked.
