I’d left a note at my cottage, saying I’d decided to practice for the upcoming trial. It was a believable enough lie, and I’d refrained from specifying which trial I meant and where I’d be training. My hope was that Tormund would go looking for me, and he’d waste the entire day trying to figure out where I was.
By the time he realized the note was a lie, I’d have returned from my quest all curse-free and happy as a clam.
Perfect plan!
As I traipsed across the bridge, the sunstones dimmed. Frowning, I noticed all the gems embedded along the bridge were quickly fading. I’d swapped these out myself a few weeks ago. They shouldn’t be losing their shine just yet.
The ones in The Wet Beard had faded, too. Seemed like an odd coincidence.
No matter. It could wait until I got back.
Not much later, I waltzed into the back end of the mine tunnel, avoiding the usual entrance, where dozens of dwarves would be starting their mining duties for the day. I wanted to avoid any questions about why I’d taken the day off work and why I carried a packed bag.
When I walked inside, an eerie darkness enveloped me. Most of the sunstones here had gone out, even though they’d yet tobe pried from the stone walls. An uneasy thump went through my heart, and I stopped to stare. Not once had I ever seen a sunstone lose its glow before being mined. As long as they remained embedded in their natural walls, they shined for years. They only began to lose their power when we interfered.
My gut churned. Something wasn’t right.
The shadows parted, and Tormund emerged from the darkness. I yelped and danced back, the hammering of my heart so painful I had to grasp my shirt. “For Thor’s bloomin’ sake, Tormund. You can’t appear out of thin air like that. If I had a pickaxe on me, I would have swung it at your head before I knew it was you.”
“I followed you.”
“‘Course you did.” I threw up my hands, annoyed that I hadn’t seen it coming. He’d probably already guessed I’d go for the dragon after what I’d said to him last night. How long had he waited for me to sneak off? I wanted to throw something at him for it, but I had to admit I’d have done the same thing if I were him.
He eyed the straps of my bag tightened around my shoulders. Coolly, he asked, “Going somewhere?”
“You know exactly where I’m going.”
“To find the dragon.”
“I thought I’d make friends with the beast.”
“You thought you’d find the Everstone without me,” he countered.
A beat passed before I replied. “Do you blame me?”
“Not in the least.” Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned toward the sunstones I’d been inspecting. With his back turned my way, I could see he’d had the same idea I’d had. He wore a satchel, so stuffed that the linen material strained against the contents, threads unravelling.
“You know, for someone who thinks the missing gem is a fake, you’re very intent on finding it,” I said.
He pointed at the wall. “Is that normal?”
“The faded sunstones? Not in the least.” I moved in front of him, though all that accomplished was getting trapped between the wall and his chest. “They don’t go out until many months after we mine them.”
“Bit odd, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Very.” I took off down the mine tunnel, my pack bouncing against my shoulder-blades. Tormund jogged to catch up, then fell into step beside me in that sauntering walk of his.
“Don’t you think it’s important to sort this out?”
I cut my eyes his way. “By all means, stay and figure out what’s going on with the sunstones.”
A wry grin spread across his face. “Nice try, but you can’t get rid of me that easily.”
I heaved a sigh and stopped in the middle of the tunnel, throwing my arms wide. “Why, Tormund? Can’t you just leave me to do my own thing? I know you’re determined to find the Everstone, same as me, but I don’t know where it is any more than you do. And it’s not fair for you to dog my every step just to snatch it out from under my nose if I happen to stumble upon it. Go search another mine.Alone.”
He blinked, like he was shocked I’d actually stood up for myself. Bloomin’ shadow demon.
“Well then. You’re really saying how you feel, aren’t you?” He had the nerve to look a bit hurt.
