Horns raced to pull stones from the pile. More soldiers, off-duty and among the crowd of watchers, rushed forward to help. Then the Dragon King strode out of the keep. People parted for him as he came down the steps. His grim stare shot to the rubble and then scanned the crowd, stopping on me. The King grabbed my hand, but then he noticed Orro. His eyes narrowed at the Ricarri and then at me.
“Your Majesty?” I jerked my hand free.
The King stretched his neck. “Come with me, Master Sevarin. I need your expertise.” He strode off toward the pile of stone that had once been the left wall, waving someone behind him forward.
Before I could turn to look, the King's Dragon knights hurried past me to help the soldiers move the rocks.
The King stopped a few feet back. “Stay here.” And then he left me to help them.
With so many people working on the pile, I knew I would only be in the way if I tried to assist. So I waited and watched, knowing what they'd find. My chest clenched with guilt. This was my fault. I had looked at the gate mechanism the day I arrived. I should have warned the King to keep his guards away from it. I should have done something, but I didn't think it was so far gone.
“Here!” someone shouted.
The activity stopped, and the King lifted a man out of the rubble. I had already known this was a body recovery, but seeing the King's stricken expression struck me to my core. I watched as he ran into the keep, carrying the soldier.
The King's voice echoed back to me, “Healer! Someone fetch the physician!”
I didn't follow them inside. I'd seen enough, and I knew no physician on the planet could help that man. He was already dead. Instead, I focused on what I could do. Veering around the rock pile, I went to the approximate spot where the gate mechanism had been located and searched the rubble.
“Hey.” Orro came up beside me with Leera. “What are you doing? That wall is unsteady. You shouldn't be here.”
“I need to see the mechanism.” I picked my way around the rocks.
“What mechanism?”
“The gate mechanism. It was infected with Silver Rot, but it wasn't extensive.” I glanced at him. “It shouldn't have caused this. Not yet. I've seen far worse infections in a building that remained stable.”
“You must have been wrong.” Orro kept following me despite the danger he warned against.
“I was not.” I bent and pushed aside some rocks. Then crouched lower as I whispered, “Fuck me.”
Orro lowered himself beside me as Leera guarded his back. “What?”
“This is it. Look.” I waved at the gate mechanism.
“But it's whole. Shouldn't it have crumbled as well?”
“Yes.” I stood and looked over the rubble. “And if it had infected the wall, there should be signs of it. Do you see any silver in the stones?”
He stood. “No, I can smell it. This is the only point of infection.”
I went still. “You can smell the rot?”
“I can smell the silver.” He held out his arm and turned it so that the lantern light caught the minerals in his skin and gleamed. “We Ricarri know our metals. Trust me, it's only here.”
“That's a very useful talent, Lord Orro. You might be of help to me.”
“Really?” Orro grinned. “You wantmyhelp to save the city?”
“If you're willing to give it.”
“Sure.” He stroked Leera. “Leera and I are all yours.”
“Is that right?” a low voice said.
I spun to see the King standing behind us. He was glaring at Orro.
“Lord Orro can smell the Silver Rot, Your Majesty.” I stepped back so he could see the mechanism. “And he says it's only here. He's offered to help with my investigations.”
