I turned to run back toward the stairs, but the corridor behind me had changed.
The stairwell was gone, and in its place stood the Priestess.
She wasn’t smiling.
For once, that was worse.
“My dear,” she said softly. “You were supposed to be resting.”
Chapter Thirty
The fear threaded through each cell of my body, and I nodded. If I got thrown into the dungeons before I had time to find out what I needed, everyone’s sacrifices would mean nothing. My eyes met my grandmother’s gaze, and I let out a shaky breath.
I had to turn this around.
“I got curious,” I said softly. “I heard noises.”
“And what do you think you’ve seen?”
I shook my head. “I don’t actually know.”
“Well, let me show you.”
She drew my hand into hers, and my stomach clenched as she walked me deeper into the compound. She stopped in front of a wall, and her fingers traced a rune I hadn’t even seen. The wall slid open, and there was nothing but darkness ahead.
Had I already screwed things up? Was I about to be thrown into the dungeon?
She led me into the darkness and snapped her fingers with her free hand as torches lit our way through a hallway into a large room with what looked like cells.
Empty cells.
“What is this?”
She pulled my hand toward her as she walked to the first cell to our left.
To my surprise, there was someone in it. They weren’t empty at all. A goblin, not unlike Twobble or Skonk, stood in the back. His gaze slowly met mine, and I saw the hopelessness in his eyes. My heart twisted so tightly, I thought I’d faint.
“This goblin is not here by chance or by accident. He wasn’t here because he minded his own business or kept his opinions to himself. No, this goblin is here because he dared to speak against everything Shadowick offers its citizens.”
My throat clenched, and I swallowed it away. “How so?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll let him tell you,granddaughter.”
She snapped her fingers, and without hesitation, the goblin stepped forward to the iron.
“Name, goblin,” the Priestess snapped.
“Legner,” he said, keeping his gaze on mine.
“And what are you here for?”
His chin tipped up, and his tiny shoulders straightened.
“I stole bread from the bakery and delivered it to a family that needed it.” He moved his gaze to the Priestess. “And I don’t regret it.”
A wicked laugh escaped. “Oh, you know I wouldn’t keep you down here over a loaf of bread. Tell her everything.”
“There was a note attached.” His gaze met mine. “Telling them there was another way. That a village existed not too far from Shadowick, where knowledge is power and hope fills the streets.”
