“You heard that?” I cleared my throat and collected my things, throwing them into my satchel.
Falken stood up, and flames burst up from his hands as he shouted, “Surrender or die!”
The King's voice echoed off the silver walls as the sorcerers—those still standing—held up their hands and let their magic fade.
The Dragon King strode forward. “Where is Turgov?”
The horns and knights drew back to reveal the Argaiv man, still on his feet, but wounded and glaring at the King.
Falken strode up to him, grabbed him around the throat, and lifted him off his feet. A crack came, and the man went limp.
“Uncle!” Vanre shouted. “You liar! You said we'd live if we surrendered!”
The Dragon King tossed Turgov's body into a mass of Silver Rot. “I said surrender or die. I didn't say surrendering would save you. But don't fret. Your uncle led this rebellion, and his fate was sealed. You will live. Unless you'd like to join him?”
Vanre shrank back.
“Turgov said that no cell could hold you.” The King scanned the group of sorcerers. “Perhaps I should kill you all anyway.”
“He was lying!” Vanre shouted. “Lord Theodore drugged the guards and freed us.”
“Lord Theodore? Thank you for that.” He motioned to the horns. “Restrain them and take them up. One of you fetch the Talons. Tell them to bring a wagon for the prisoners.”
The horns got to work as Falken turned to check on the harmonizer. Seeing that it had disintegrated, he nodded and headed for the stairs. I joined him, leaving the horns to do their work. Two Dragon knights stayed with the horns, but the rest went with their king.
After we left the first stairwell, I stepped up beside him. “How's your wound?”
“Nearly healed.” He crossed the floor quickly, but before he entered the next stairwell, he looked back at me. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.” Feeling awkward, I focused on his injury. “He coated the blade in magic. I think they spelled it to put you in stasis so you couldn't heal.”
We left the stairwell and then the enchantment room. Falken made a sound of dismay. At first, I thought it was in acknowledgment of what I'd said, but then I stepped outside and saw them.
Orro and Leera lay sprawled just outside the door. Beyond them, the place was empty. The workers had fled.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Orro!” I shouted and rushed over to him. I held his wrist to check his pulse and let out a breath when I felt it. Quickly, I checked Leera. It was the same. “Thank the Gods.”
“They're alive?” Falken crouched beside me as his knights formed a wall around us.
“Yes, the sorcerers hit them with stasis spells too.” I dug in my satchel for the elixir and just as I had done with Falken, I drew a drop onto my finger, opened Orro's mouth, and rubbed it on his tongue.
Orro stirred as I withdrew another drop and rubbed it on Leera's tongue. The dog twitched as I capped the bottle.
“What is that?” Falken straightened.
“It's called rexen.” I stroked Leera's head as her master groaned. “It breaks most spells. The complicated ones elude it, but stasis is a minor enchantment.”
Orro sat up. “What the fuck was that?”
“Hey, girl. You're all right.” I helped Leera up.
“Leera!” Orro pulled her into his lap, tears filling his eyes.
“She's all right.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “It was just a stasis spell. They hit you both.”
“Who did?” He struggled to his feet, still holding his dog. “I'll fucking kill them!”
