Falcyn joined him there to help tend Shadow. “We were cornered by dire wolves.”
“Dire wolves or gwyllgi?”
“Gwyllgi,” Blaise answered.
Varian cursed. “Was the Crom with them?”
Blaise nodded without further comment.
Varian used his powers to strip Shadow’s leather armor away. Then he lifted the linen shirt to inspect the damage.
Urian cringed in sympathetic pain at the sight of the festering wound and all the other deep, ridged scars that marred Shadow’s cut and ripped abdomen and chest.
Again, Varian cursed—this time, more lewdly. “Damn, Shade. Can’t you ever do anything halfway once in a while? No, you don’t get a little wounded. You’ve got to get practically gutted.”
Falcyn sat back on his heels. “If you hold him, I can heal him.”
Varian stopped Falcyn. “If you’re planning to tap what I think you are, don’t. Apollo will feel it and jump all over you the minute you try.” He worked to stop Shadow’s bleeding. “I’ve got this. You have a mission to complete. But I should warn you …”
Urian’s gut twisted over that tone.
Varian’s gaze went to Blaise before he met Falcyn’s stare. “There’s a stairwell at the end of the hallway that will take you down to the catacombs. Be careful. They’re expecting all of you to come here and be stupid.”
Oh well, that they could do!
“Then far be it from us to disappoint them.” Falcyn saluted him with the key that he had taken from Shadow. “Thanks.” He rose and they left the chamber.
“Where does this lead?” Medea asked as they came up to a tunnel.
“Morgen’s garden.” Blaise’s tone was flat and emotionless in the dim light.
“I don’t understand. A garden underground?” No sooner had she finished the question than they slowed down.
Falcyn used his dragonfyre in his hand as a torch so that they could see what was around them.
The moment he raised his arm over his head and the light chased away the heavier shadows, Urian’s heart stopped.
And so did he.
This was it …
Holy shit. The “garden” was massive and lined with giant dragon statues that went on in an endless, eerie display. In every direction.
Brandor turned to look at Urian. “The light fog down here is from their breath. At least by that, we know they’re still alive even if they are frozen by Merlin’s spell.”
Medea frowned. “I don’t understand. If they’re frozen, how can they breathe fog?”
Though he was blind in his human form, Blaise glanced toward Brogan and then Medea before he answered. “The gas we exhale. It causes that. Even when we’re locked in by magick. Not sure why. Just a peculiar by-product.”
“Do we have to free them all?” she asked.
Before Urian could explode with his answer, Falcyn headed for the largest beast over on his right. “It’s the safest thing to do. That way, Morgen won’t have any to rouse and use against us.”
Urian was still too emotionally charged to speak. He was afraid if he did, he’d burst into tears.
Afraid if he moved, he’d fall to his knees.
Where was Xyn? He was desperate to find her.
