I pulled the Emberbane out of my belt, careful not to reveal the smoke vial in my other palm.As I did, I took a step back until I stood on the edge of the chute, holding the Emberbane at arm’s length over it.
“You want the Emberbane?”I said.“Come and get it.”
“The vial is of no use to you,” Verrin said.“As we speak, Tarnasau’s army is purging the Underworld and the Order of Emberlight with it.There won’t be anyone left to give it to.”
This must have been a bluff, some desperate attempt to convince me that hope was lost.It would take thousands of soldiers to invade the entire Underworld, and the Order would put up one hell of a fight.
“You expect me to believe that?”I snapped back.
“Why do you think I picked tonight for you to infiltrate Pyrehold?They’re preparing for war in here.With all the chaos, nobody’s going to miss one vial and one prisoner.”
I refused to let him rattle me, keeping my voice level and smooth.“Well, you’ll have to kill me to get it.”
Verrin shook his head.“You truly are naïve, aren’t you?I win either way.Mypreferenceis for you to hand over the Emberbane.I might even consider letting you live.But I guess I can just kill you instead.”
“What good would that do you?”I asked.“I’ll be dead, and the vial will be lost.”
Verrin’s mouth contorted into a cruel smile.“I could make a fortune with the Emberbane on the black market, which was my original plan.But given the price The Butcher has put on your head, I’ll still make a tidy sum just by killing you.”
Anger mixed with shock ripped through me like wildfire.Even the mention of The Butcher made my blood run hot.But a price onmyhead?Pieces were dropping into place in my mind: the encounter with The Butcher at the market; the way Tarnasau coveted Veilsense; the huge Royal Guard presence at our humble barn; Garrick’s warnings about rumors.I had ignored it all, but it seemed I was part of something bigger than I could imagine.
Verrin’s smile got even wider.“Oh, and consider this: If you die, there’ll be nobody to protect your little wench of a sister.The price onherhead is even more.Between the two of you, I’ll make out fine, assuming the spies in the Order haven’t already cashed in on her.”
Blood pounded in my ears, and my vision tunneled until all I could see was this disgusting excuse for a man.
Nobody—nobody—threatened Elena.
I was done talking.
With a quick toss, I hurled the smoke vial in Verrin’s direction.It exploded in a massive cloud, obscuring the entire room.At the same time, I hopped to the side.A crossbow bolt flew past, clanging off the stone wall behind me.
I pulled my dagger and threw it in Verrin’s direction.A yelp of pain mixed with surprise filtered through the billowing smoke.
Verrin’s hulking shape appeared through the clouds with my blood-soaked dagger in one hand and his crossbow in the other.He swung the blade, which I easily avoided.But as he tumbled to the ground, there was a sudden blunt pain in the side of my head as the butt of his crossbow smacked into my skull.I landed hard on the stone, stars swimming at the edges of my vision.The impact made me drop the vial of Emberbane.
We froze as it clattered along the stone floor, both of us waiting for the sickening sound of cracked glass and the subsequent explosion that would reduce us to ash.Instead the vial settled on the ground and rolled directly toward the chute.
Verrin scampered toward it on hands and knees.He scooped it up with a triumphant smile.
With all my might, I kicked Verrin in the rear.He and the vial tumbled into the chute.
“Don’t fuck with my family!”I shouted, though I doubt he heard me over the sound of his own scream.It echoed off the walls before a massive explosion silenced him forever.
It wasn’t so much a sound as a force when the shock wave of the explosion rushed toward me.I dropped to the ground, covering myself with the alchemist’s robes as a firestorm flew up the chute and raged above me.I might have burned to a crisp but for the Salamander wool that alchemists’ robes were made of, known for their fire-resistance.But the heat was still fierce.The moment the flames disappeared, I wriggled out of the smoldering robes.
The burning room was drenched in the sickeningly sweet smell of searing flesh, the air scorching hot against my skin.I raced out of the room before I also became fuel for the fire.
My mind reeled.If the Order was filled with spies, as Verrin claimed, then Elena was inimmediatedanger.I could rush to the inactive body chute and escape, but then this entire mission would be for naught, and that would also mean leaving Darion behind.I simply couldn’t do that.
I knew what I had to do.
The corridors were deserted, which was surprising, since a massive explosion had just rocked the prison.But I still paused at every intersection to listen for footsteps.
My first stop was the alchemy lab, where other vials of Emberbane sat waiting.Thankfully, the labs were empty.In moments, I was headed toward Darion with two Emberbane vials tucked neatly into my belt.Only a few flights of stairs separated us.
I was nearing the staircase when I heard a rhythmic pounding ahead of me like the beat of a drum, soft at first but quickly building into what sounded like dozens of boots marching in unison, headed my way.
I ran to the first door I found: locked.In seconds, the tumblers clicked into place under the guidance of my picks.
