Ridiculous. I crumple Justus’s parchment in my hand and slip it into my pocket. No use worrying Farron with it when it’s obviously nothing.
But just as I’m about to slip into the tunnel, I shoot a look back at the gaping darkness within the cavern. As fast as a lightning strike, a flash of green light illuminates the void.
Then it’s gone.
I squeeze my eyes shut and push my fists into them.Just a vision. Just a vision.
But the words the assassin uttered ring in my head, this time with a new voice, deeper and full of ancient malice.
Vemrís thu’ren calas.
Winter will burn.
27
Caspian
There’s an ache in my bones and the heavy blanket of fatigueover my mind, but these things feel comfortable. Earned. It’s the pain of hard and worthy work—something I’m none too familiar with.
“Well done, lad.” Irahn crosses his arms and examines the tunnel entrance, leading deep into the dark. The only light emanates from a few glowing crystals that jut from the rocky walls; even my eyes can’t pierce where this shaft goes.
I roll my shoulders and stretch out my wrists. I’ve spent all day with Irahn down in the bowels of the Great Chasm. Never thought I’d be back here, that I’d beableto be back here. Ghosts of both Kel and me seemed to sweep out of the dark as I worked. Kel left his mark on me in many ways, the blows of that battle included.
It’s taken all day to clear the briars blocking the tunnels. They were frosted with ice and sluggish to my commands. But I did it. Dare I say Irahn looks…proud?
“You’re meeting Kel tonight at his camp?” Irahn asks.
“That’s the plan.” I don’t even know what time it is. Hopefully it’s not too late and Ezryn’s still in his grumpy fae form ratherthan his grumpy wolf form. Can’t imagine that would make for fun conversation with the Deep Guard.
“Alright. You get going without me. I’ve got to stay and prepare this place for the scouts. Give my regards to Ezryn and Rosalina. We’ll be in touch soon.” Irahn stares into the gloom. “I’ll have my crew start mapping right away. Tell Kel to expect the charts shortly.”
I nod and walk to the lift. I’m ready to be out of here. Out of the dark. I close the gate and put my hand over the lever.
“Boy?” Irahn calls.
I look to the old man. “Yes?”
“You betrayed Keldarion and ripped a hole in the earth. Why are you helping now?”
“I’m tired of breaking all the beautiful things in my life.” The lift creaks upward, and I hold Irahn’s steel gaze until it fades into the dark.
Letting out a breath, I lean against the wall. I’m eager to get back to Rosalina and Ezryn. While Irahn and I worked below, they were up on the bridge, organizing troops, scouting defensive positions for our attack, and taking stock of weapons and supplies.
I wrap my scarf around my face and pull my hood up over my hair. It was just the old warden and me down in the chasm, but his crew will start asking questions when they see the briars are gone. They’ll wonder who did it. They’ll ask if Kel is in league with the Below again.
Oh well. That’s for Irahn to deal with. I’ll be long gone. In fact, judging by the light filtering down into the chasm, it’s near sunset. We were supposed to be on our way to Kel’s camp ages ago.
The lift shudders to a stop at the very top of the bridge. Fading sunlight glitters off the frosty surface, burning my eyes. I pull open the gate and step out?—
Something smacks into me with the force of a boulder. I’m thrown hard to the ground, and a chorus of laughter rings out around me. Shaking my head, I stagger to my hands and knees. A cold wind blows my hair away from my face, and I realize my hood has flung back.
“I’d say watch where you’re going, but I wouldn’t want to bruise your egoandyour shoulder,” I mutter, starting to stand.
A boot comes at me hard, kicking me in the chest and forcing me down to the ice.
“Well, hello, handsome,” I say, looking up at a pockmarked man. “I usually ask for dinner before you have me on my back.”
“It is ’im,” the man growls. He wears the white furs of the Deep Guard. “Eyes like the scales of a snake. Skin white as snow. Hair black as pitch.” He looks around, and I take in his companions: a young man with a patchy blond beard, a short, red-haired man missing his front tooth, and a broad-shouldered woman, her hair in a thick braid.
