Fortunately, Erinna would not be impeded by the dark. Her vision still maintained some level of visibility, even in the absence of light. The only part of her Talent that was worth something. It wasn’t perfect, but it would work.
Erinna trained her focus along the walls as they ran. She had to ensure they didn’t miss their turn, or they could be lost in the unsafe caverns for hours at best and, at worst, eaten alive by whatever was after them.
The protruding stone came into view just as she remembered it from three years ago.
Erinna grabbed at the jutting rock and slid open a small latch. A druidic puzzle snapped into place, a security measure built by Kenneth himself. The surface was smooth and cool beneath her clammy, shaking fingers as she moved the pattern, hoping her father hadn’t changed the combination. The faint clicks of gears synced with her pounding heart.
The air hummed with arcanum. The grinding of stone joints echoed off the wall. If the remaining magic of this place had indeed created a construct…they would be as good as dead if it caught them.
“Hurry it up, Yarrow,” Kane growled.
Setting the last of the combination, Erinna pushed, expecting the door to open.
There was a deadthunk, and the cavern wall remained in place.
“Gods damn us,” Kane cursed. “Get the door open. I’ll buy you some time.” He shrugged Inez off his back, drew his blade, and sprinted down the tunnel.
Erinna tried again.
Nothing.
“Dammit!” she seethed through clenched teeth—the cool head she’d been holding slowly unraveled.
Arcanum hummed.
Pressure built.
Heat grew in the cramped space of the tunnel.
The grinding of arcanum-powered stone ceased, but the ground still rumbled from the movement of heavy weight.
A flash of fire in the distance.
Whatever Kane was doing, it surely slowed their demise, but it wouldn’t hold for long. One man, no matter how powerful a conjuror, was a poor match for an arcanum construct. It would rip Kane limb from limb if the pirate made one false move.
Inez gasped. “I know,” was all she said, pushing Erinna aside.
Erinna prayed Inez’s gift was clear enough to get them to safety.
Her hands moved hesitantly over the lock, sliding each stone into place.
Erinna held her breath as the final stone was set.
The door opened, and a puff of damp, musty air swept at their faces.
“Go. Now.” Erinna pushed Inez through the threshold, into the next hall.
If she was fast enough, Erinna could seal the door, leaving Kane stranded in the mines for good. With the construct and ghosts as his only companions.
He was a danger. She had seen the wrecked ships he left in his wake. Witnessed the gurneys of men taken off the boat and laid to rest far from home. Saw how easily he cut and burned through trained military soldiers.
He was a pirate. A killer.
Her hand paused at the lever, one foot past the threshold, ready to close the door behind her, leaving Kane on the other side.
With a begrudging sigh, she cried, “Kane! It’s open!”
The artificial creature finally rounded the corner, its imposing size filling the passage. Even in the darkness, she watched the frightening silhouette crawl across the cavern floor—stone grinding against stone with each deliberate movement. Cold blue eyes blazed through the shadows, fixing on her position.
