Page 86 of Of Nine So Bold

Dread gripped me. Those hadn’t been glowing when I came down here…

In the lead, several giants faltered at the sight, but they were helpless against the stampede of others fleeing behind them. Shoved forward, they fell past the glowing support beams.

No screams rose. Nothing about the beams changed.

Okay…

I braced myself, racing after the others past the beams.

The symbols grew brighter.

A tingling thud passed through the air.

The tunnel behind me came crashing down, boulders and gravel roaring to the ground. A cloud of dust rolled out into the junction, turning the air into a brown fog.

But the destruction didn’t continue onward.

I covered my mouth with my sleeve. Around this intersection of tunnels, I could see other symbols glowing through the fog.

More support beams, this time for the other tunnels—two of which were clogged with crumbled stones as well.

“So, uh…” Clay began. Through the fog, I saw him cast a worried look at Ozias. “I take it those glowing things are keeping the collapse at bay, yeah?”

Ozias grunted, eyeing the beams distrustfully.

“Great.” Clay nodded mostly to himself. “But since they didn’t work so well on the tunnels themselves, how about we keep moving?”

“We still have to help the prisoners,” Niko said.

Clay frowned, his eyes going to Norbert like he was debating that.

The massive giant never even looked our way. Grabbing two of the guards before they could make a run for it, he sneered as they struggled in his grip. “This way, worms.” He hauled the men toward an open tunnel, several other giants doing the same behind him. The rest brought up the rear, with a few of them glancing over their shoulders as if questioning whether we would follow.

“Seems like they’ve got it under control,” Clay said. “We should just go.”

“They’re starving and weak,” Niko replied, lowering his voice like he didn’t want anyone else to hear. “If we leave them, they may not all make it out of here.”

Clay’s jaw worked around. Beside him, Lars seemed torn, while Byron avoided everyone’s eyes entirely.

What was wrong with them?

Roan started walking toward the tunnel, not waiting for anyone else to agree. “We’ll be fast,” he said over his shoulder. “We can’t leave kids.”

Clay sighed. “Okay, fine. Good point.”

“Keep an eye to the walls,” Dex ordered as he strode after Roan.

Dread returned, making my heart sink.

We have backup stations,the guard had said.And we have eyes everywhere.

If those backups were the reason for the tunnel collapse…

I hurried after Dex. “Do you think they can see us somehow?”

“Byron?” he asked shortly.

The scholar flinched. “Wha— Right. Yes.” Clearing his throat, Byron scanned the walls. “The magic mirrors at the guard station must be connected to a sight spell, but…” His brow furrowed. “I’m having trouble tracking it.”

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