Page 93 of Of Blood and Fire
Burn, Kaia said.
I smiled and took her advice, this time making sure there was no chance to scream. As the flames snuffed out, darkness fell, and I shook my head at my own stupidity. I’d forgotten to narrow the blanket and had melted the damn light tube.
I created a small fire orb and cast it into the tunnel, then eyed the narrow entrance critically, trying to find the easiest was through without any of the razor-sharp stone teeth that conveniently lined its rim cutting into my coat and down intoskin. Unfortunately, there was no such thing as a path of least resistance. I sighed, then turned sideways and carefully pushed through. The teeth did indeed make short work of the coat, but, despite the odd trickle of warmth, didn’t slice down into my flesh as badly as I’d feared. To the left of the entrance, close to the wall, was a small pile of ashes. Humans really didn’t amount to much when flesh and bone were cindered.
I glanced at the deeper darkness still crowding the end of the tunnel, then raised my voice and said, “Nice try at ambushing, Aric.”
A chuckle rolled up toward me. “I guess it was too much to hope you’d be caught so easily. Come on down, Bryn, or your dear husband will pay the price.”
“How do I know he’s even alive?”
“Oh, he is, I assure you. Suffering, but alive.”
“Forgive me if I refuse to take your word for it, Aric, but deceitisone of your strong points.”
He chuckled again. A few seconds later, Damon said, “Here, drugged, in noose.”
Fury rolled through me, but I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palm in an effort to maintain control. Aric wanted me rattled and angry because he wanted me to act rashly—it was the only possible reason for him allowing Damon to give me that much information.
Well, two could play that particular game.
“Please, do continue on down the tunnel,” he added. “We await your royal presence.”
And my royal presence couldn’t wait to burn his ass.
I pushed my orb out to the limit of my range, sweeping it from side to side as I did to ensure there was no one else in this tunnel. It might not hold all that much heat, but it could certainly set hair or clothes on fire.
I walked on. “I have a question for you, Aric.”
“Do you now?” Amusement laced his reply. “Then by all means, ask.”
“Are you working with the Mareritt and the riders?”
He laughed. “What insanity makes you ask a question such as that?”
The orb’s light now washed across the entrance into their cavern, but I couldn’t yet see them. “Your actions have led many in Esan to believe it so, especially after your fortuitous return so soon after our war room had been blown up.”
“Gayl foresaw it. It was too good an opportunity to waste.”
Anger ripped through me, but I somehow resisted the urge to unleash my flames. I needed to be closer. Needed to watch his ass burn close up rather than from a distance. “I don’t suppose you thought, even for a second, to warn my parents?”
“I don’t suppose I did.”
“Then, in many respects, you utterly deserve what has now happened, Aric, even if your people don’t.”
“And what might that be?”
I drew my sword. “Zephrine has been attacked, and your city burns.”
He laughed. “Do you truly think I would believe such a lie? I was in constant contact with my son, and they have seen no sign of the riders or indeed even the Mareritt.”
“You’ve been in these tunnels for days, Aric, and I know for a fact quill pens do not work this deep in the mountains. The riders never truly intended to hit Esan; their target was always Zephrine—the Rayabar we captured confirmed it. Apparently, they have already divided the spoils of war.”
“You lie.” It was ground out, disbelieving.
“I have no reason to lie, as it will not change what happens here tonight. A good third of your city has either been destroyed or lies under the rubble of multiple landslides.”
“Not possible,” he growled. “We were ready for them.”
