Page 101 of Lake of Sorrow

Maybe she could take it to that watchtower and ask the ranger inside to deliver it to Captain Targon. Maybe he could then?—

Wood snapped near the mine shaft, and Kaylina almost dropped the journal. She snatched her knife and spun toward the entrance of the alcove.

It had sounded like someone had stepped on that makeshift door. Levitke? Or an approaching enemy who hadn’t noticed it in the undergrowth in the dark?

Kaylina didn’t think the taybarri had returned from the depths of the shaft. Though she was reluctant to leave the journal, practicality made her set it on the desk so she could grip the lantern and her knife. She listened for footfalls or rustling clothing, evidence of someone walking into the shaft.

Other than a distant owl hooting, the night had returned to silence. As long seconds passed, she bit her lip uncertainly. The wind hadn’t made that sound.

She was tempted to wait where she was until Levitke came back up the shaft, but her instincts told her that a threat was coming. Even if she couldn’t hear it, she could sense it. Maybe the press operator had returned. Or maybe a predator was looking for a snack.

Knife leading, Kaylina crept to the alcove entrance and peered around the corner. The shaft was straight enough that she could see the exit, a moon shining silvery light into the forest beyond. She could also see the lantern she’d lit, still hanging on its nail.

Until something moved in front of it.

She twitched, raising the knife, but she couldn’t see anyone. Only the dirt walls and wooden supports. But something blocked the light, something that hadn’t been there before.

Could the magic of the Kar’ruk axes turn them invisible? She’d never heard of such a thing.

Though confused, Kaylina drew back and traded the knife for her sling. When she peeked around the corner again, the lantern had returned to view. Whatever had blocked it had moved. Guessing it was coming closer, Kaylina licked dry lips and loosed a lead round.

It struck something with a clank. As if hitting armor? Chainmail?

The shadows in the shaft blurred, and heavy footsteps thudded toward Kaylina. A deep snarl and clipped words sounded. A Kar’ruk.

Kaylina stepped back, but there was no time for her to fire another round.

26

Nothing troubles a commander more than when one’s enemies start working together.

~ Lord General Menok

Kaylina dropped her lantern and skittered behind the press as she traded sling for knife, though neither would help against an eight-foot-tall Kar’ruk warrior. Especially one she couldn’t see.

“Levitke!” she yelled, hoping the taybarri wasn’t so far down the shaft that she couldn’t make it back to help.

The shadows stirred at the entrance of the alcove, the only hint that someone was there.

The brand on her hand warmed, and instincts made her duck. A breeze whispered over her hair—no, that was a great Kar’ruk axe being swung. The blue blade grew visible as it slammed into the stone wall behind the press. Magically sharp, it sank in deep, and rock shards flew. They clattered onto the letters and across the alcove, some bouncing off the chest of the warrior wielding the weapon.

Only when Kaylina was scant feet away could she see his shadowy figure. Even then, it wasn’t distinct, and his broad gray face was blurry.

While he tugged his axe free from the hole gouged in the wall, Kaylina rushed past, praying she could slip by him before he readied it again. As she ran past what she hoped was the warrior’s side, she slashed out with her knife. Chainmail deflected her blade, and something—an elbow?—clubbed her in the back.

The blow sent her tumbling into the dirt wall on the far side of the shaft. She almost cracked her head on a support post.

Fear surging through her veins made Kaylina recover quickly, and she sprang away. None too soon. The axe slammed into the support post, chunks of wood pelting the back of her neck. She sprinted for the exit.

The invisible Kar’ruk roared and rushed after her. But another roar came from deep within the shaft—a taybarri roar.

Kaylina raced outside and toward a copse of trees. If she could survive for a minute or two, Levitke might catch up and even the odds.

But the heavy Kar’ruk footsteps pounded the ground right behind her.

She leaped behind a stout pine, using it for cover, but doubted it would be enough. The trees didn’t grow close enough together to hinder even a broad-shouldered Kar’ruk.

Once more, she switched knife for sling and loaded a round, but it was too late. The axe appeared, the shadowy warrior behind it, and the blade whistled toward her head.

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