“Should we enter the shelter at all?”Scarlett asked.
“We don’t know their powers or how long they can last in this state.Although he’s determined to get out, we can’t trust a word he utters.”
Scarlett sighed.“So what you’re saying is that we need to get in there and find some way of killing him and his remaining people before they kill us and every other living being on this planet.”
13.The Plot Goes Underground
Scarlettlistenedtoherwords and knew the answer before Ransom replied.Somehow, they had to disable the prince and make Narenda safe.If this same situation occurred on Tiraq, Saber and their allies would join forces to end the despot.No matter what the risk to their safety.
She and Ransom, Talon too, could do no less.They couldn’t rely on the volcano to do their job for them.
“Where are your potions?How many did you say you have left?”she asked.
“Three,” Ransom replied, his expression one big grimace.
“Take one now,” Scarlett ordered.“Talon and I can’t do this on our own.He’s too short for one,” she added in an attempt at light relief.
Ransom pulled a vial from his pack, his hand trembling so much Scarlett feared he’d drop it.
“Let me.”Scarlett uncorked the vial and handed it to Ransom.“Down the hatch.”
“I don’t enjoy taking mystery potions,” Ransom grumbled.
“They haven’t killed you yet.”
Ransom wrinkled his nose and lifted the vial to his mouth.He swallowed the contents with a grimace.“It tastes as disgusting as it smells.”
Talon tapped her on the leg and pointed at Ransom’s pack.Then he pointed to him and to her.He growled and repeated the action, then mimed drinking.
“You want us to take one too?”Scarlett asked.
Talon nodded, enforcing this with a grunt.
“What do you think?”she asked Ransom.
“It has muted the pain in my head.It’s there still, but I’ll be able to function.Before…it was difficult to make my limbs work.”
“All right,” Scarlett said, rapidly deciding.“I’ll do it, but mark this, Talon.If I die, you will live in fear.”
“Haw-haw-haw.”
Scarlett took one vial.She removed the stopper and handed it to Talon.He downed it without hesitation.
Scarlett opened the third vial, sniffed it, and grimaced.It stunk.No getting around that truth.
Talon growled.
“All right.All right.Ugh.It tastes disgusting.”
“But it has dulled my headache.The pain struck hard up there.That must be the entrance,” Ransom said.
Ransom’s voice sounded as if it came through a tunnel, but he was right.Her head was no longer aching as severely.
“Let’s do this.”And kick Prince Kalim’s royal butt, she added silently.Despite Ransom’s promises, she’d yet to find any suitable precious stones.“You promised me gemstones,” she grumbled as she approached a pointy hat statue.
“There are plenty of stones.Look in any direction, and you’ll find them,” Ransom said.
“Haw-haw-haw.”
