“But, Your Majesty, you warned the palace to stay away from the rot,” a knight said. “Now, you're going near the worst case of Silver Rot?”
“This alchemist says he has a cure. I'm going to witness the application. Do not be concerned. I have a mask on. I'll be fine.”
“Sire, I must insist that you take at least one guard with you.”
The King stretched his neck and sighed. “Fine. One. But you must cover your nose and mouth.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” The man—a big blond with more muscles than the King—pulled a cloth out of his pocket and tied it around his face.
The King rolled his eyes. “You just happened to have that, eh?”
The Dragon knight bowed.
Shaking his head, the King waved Vanre down the stairs. “After you, Alchemist.”
“Yes, Sire.” Vanre hurried down the stairs, light spheres coming on as he went.
Before the King could follow, the blond knight went down.
The Dragon King looked at me as if I might pull the same protective move.
“I'm all right going last, Sire.” I waved him ahead.
Chuckling, the King went down the stairs.
I followed him, coming out into the bare stone room with the infected metal door. The Silver Rot had spread little since the previous day, but there were flakes on the floor now. It was possible that my collection had resulted in the fall, but I couldn't be sure.
Vanre didn't seem bothered by the flakes or the rotting door. He set his bag on the floor and pulled out a mister full of a black liquid. I went to stand as far from the door as possible, keeping my eyes on the alchemist. Seeing my wariness, the King moved to join me, motioning to his knight over to us. If Vanre wanted to act dangerously, he could do it alone.
With several feet between Vanre and us, I felt a little better. But then he misted the liquid onto the blooms of silver, and even through the fabric, I smelled something familiar. Frowning, I tried to place the odor. Then I noticed the metal device in Vanre's hand. He pushed a button, and a small flame appeared. It was enough for me to deduce what the substance was.
“No!” I shouted as I lurched forward.
It was too late. Vanre touched the flame to the wet door, lighting it on fire while the King pulled me back to his side.
No ordinary fire consumed the door; neither water nor smothering would extinguish it. All alchemists were familiar with the incendiary mixture, yet most of us avoided it. It was too dangerous, burning even without fuel. There was only one way to extinguish it—with another alchemical potion. One that I didn't have handy.
Putting the flames out became the least of my worries as the Silver Rot bloomed before our eyes, spreading to encase the entire door. Within seconds, the door was completely silver. Then, with a whoosh of extinguishing flames, the silver exploded into sparkling clouds.
“Shut your eyes!” I shouted as I pushed the King toward the stairs. “Go! But keep your eyes closed!”
I felt the Dragon knight behind me, his hands patting my back and then lower to find the steps. We crawled upstairs as fast as we could, bursting into the hallway to tumble across the floor as if a great beast was chasing us. Only then did I open my eyes, but just a sliver.
When I saw the clear air, I opened my eyes fully and jumped to my feet. “Where's Vanre?”
The alchemist came rushing out of the stairwell, eyes open and streaming blood. He screamed as he fell to his knees, but I didn't have time to help him. I ran for the boards propped against the wall.
“Help me board it up!” I shouted over Vanre's howls. “Now!”
The horns who were on guard duty and the King's Dragon knights helped me board up the stairwell, but I knew it wasn't enough.
“I need wet cloth! Enough to cover the boards.” I looked around at the gaping men. “Hurry! You two!” I pointed at the horns. “Wet cloth, lots of it, now! And all of you.” I pointed at the knights. “Get the King away from here!”
“Hold on,” the King growled as his knights grabbed him and lifted him to his feet.
“Go!” I shouted at the King.
“I won't leave you here alone.”
