Erinna and Afton froze in fear. Was it safe enough to speak, yet? They both held a long collective breath, but nothing came.
“I think we are clear as long as you follow me.” Raye fluttered around the small space briefly. The three stood at the side of a long hallway. The cement and marble motif turned to wood and stone, more humble in design. Old tapestries and paintings adorned the wall, faded with time and decay. Half-broken sconces lined the sides, and light peeked through high windows and holes in the ceiling.
Erinna scanned her surroundings. A hallway, probably hugging the library’s perimeter. The fort seemed designed like a ring—Iprix’s tower of knowledge at its heart.
“I think we’re good for now,” she confirmed.
“Great, so we can chat.” Kane pinned Erinna between him and the wall. One hand on the wood by her head, the other buried in his pocket. They were so close, Erinna could feel the heat from his body, the aftermath of the power he recently wielded.
“How did you come across all this information?” His voice was low but not menacing, more curious than anything else.
“I told you. I found a map at the groundskeeper’s hut.” Even she could tell how poorly she lied.
He raised a questioning brow and scanned her face for any sign of the truth. “Where’s the map, Erinna? You know how much I love a map.” He purred her name, warm breath caressing her ear. The sound shouldn’t have affected her—but her skinprickled, her body went heavy, and she had to clench her jaw against a wave of shivers. Damn him.
He was clearly pleased with himself—resorting to his pestering now that they were safe.
“We’ll ask questions later, once we’re in the library. It’ll give her a chance to come up with a better lie,” Afton chimed, foot tapping against the floor.
Kane pushed off the wall and took a few steps back. The damp, cold air of the building rushed between them in the absence of his warmth. “Lead the way, Yarrow.”
Chapter
Thirty-Four
“This doesn’t make any sense,” Afton grumbled as they walked over fallen and broken furniture. Erinna divided her attention between the precious flame nestled in its metal home and Raye’s flickering spirit. Still strong, but she could swear it was dimmer than before. Raye walked ahead of her and hummed. The sound of an old song on a breeze that brought Erinna a bit of comfort. When he stopped, so did she.
“We’re walking around in circles,” Kane muttered.
“It’s safer this way,” said Raye.
“It’s safer this way,” Erinna repeated.
They had nearly reached the end of the hallway, the westernmost part of the fort walls greeted them as they neared. The faded painting of an old king and queen hung loosely from its frame. The center ripped and frayed. Erinna squinted at the old family portrait. She didn’t know how old it was, but it dated back a few generations at least. The young girl, one of the few queens to take the throne, sported dark blonde curls with a few freckles across the bridge of her nose. King Mycelar himself had dark, raven tresses, as his father before him.
“Through the armory, down the cellar, then up,” Raye repeated the directions every time he glanced at the enchanted flame. Should it be extinguished, at least Erinna would have something to guide her.
“We’re here.” Raye paused by a small wooden door that stood barely taller than Erinna.
The metal knob caked in dust, wiggled in her hands but eventually gave. The door opened with a jarring screech as the hinges worked for the first time in several decades. They all winced at the sound.
Weapons of all kinds adorned the walls or rested in cases. Well-crafted steel and iron were caked in layers of dust. Witchlights flickered on at their approach, glinting off jeweled hilts. Erinna’s mind went immediately to Lila. If she hadn’t been warned earlier, she may have considered plucking one of the ornamental daggers from their home and attempting to curry a bit more favor with the weapon master. It was the least she could do after ruining her silver shifter knife.
Movement caught her attention, and she turned in time to see Kane standing beneath a mounted long sword, hand raised to snatch it. Erinna lurched, Afton lunged, and Raye flickered violently.
“Don’t take that!” they all cried in unison.
Kane flinched and turned to them with a sheepish grin. “I just wanted a better look.”
Afton wedged himself between Kane and the weapons. Pushing him to the center of the room. Where they could all keep a watchful eye on him. “Everything here is attuned to Iprix,” Afton explained.
“So it will all just sit and rot when we leave?”
“Yes, or Haru will attune them to herself once she’s officially named Chancellor.” There was a coldness in his voice when he spoke of his fellow apprentice.
“What’s she like?” Erinna heard about the two mages from Damien but wondered what someone who’d spent the most time with her would say. She hoped it was something different than the rumors. For Tarth’s sake.
Afton stared at Erinna from the corner of his eye. “She’d kill you for the mark on your arm.”
