Page 82 of Kingdoms of Shadow and Ash

'Send her away,' he said.

'I don't know how to.'

'You do,' he said, hoping it was true. 'Whatever you do to dismiss your wolves … do that.'

'I … what is that?' she said, looking at something over his shoulder, next to where the aqueduct went through the wall.

He followed the direction of her gaze, everything much easier to see than it had been before. The Cruaxee-touch was allowing them both to use the bear's senses, even though she was many leagues away. He'd only ever achieved something similar when the bear was by his side, and never like this … so clear.

He found what Fyia had—a faint door-shaped outline in the wall next to the aqueduct. He'd never seen it before, and they rushed to the door together, eagerly feeling for a handle, or some way to lever the door open.

'Wait,' said Cal, 'stop touching it. We can use my bear's senses to smell for clues.'

Fyia didn't hesitate. She moved her head close to the wall and sniffed around the crease, while Cal did the same on the other side. It felt ridiculous, and more of Fyia's sweet, distracting smell filled his lungs, but there was also … something …'

'Here,' said Fyia. She reached for his arm, but stopped herself before her fingers made contact.

Cal didn't have time to dwell on the deluge of feeling that flooded him, because Fyia was holding the torch low, pressing and prodding at the wall near the floor.

'What is it?' he said, crouching close beside her, trying to see.

'It's a small circular indent with a pattern of circles. I've seen something similar before. We need …' Fyia broke off. 'Can you smell metal?'

Cal inhaled another deep breath. 'I can smell metal everywhere,' he said, pointing to the pipes and clock.

'No, something different.' She moved, following the scent.

And then he picked it up too. A metallic tang slightly different to the rest, like copper mixed with some other metal.

'Here,' said Fyia. She lifted a rock halfway between the hidden door and the water, revealing a small round disk.

'What is that?' said Cal. He should probably be worried about uncovering his kingdom's secrets alongside a foreign Queen, but he was so intrigued, he couldn’t find it within himself to stop. And for some reason, he didn't want to send her away. Nor did his bear, apparently, who still lent Fyia her senses. Did his bear have a choice? But if she really didn't like it, she would attack as she had before … He had so many questions, but Fyia was on her feet, moving back towards him.

'It's a key,' she said, pressing the disk into the indent in the wall, then turning.

A slight scraping noise filled the air, and the door opened inward a crack. Fyia pushed it, and it swung with little protest. A whoosh of cold air sucked at the room just as a bubbling noise began behind them.

'You were telling the truth then,' said Fyia, looking back at the pool of boiling water, steam rising from its frothing surface.

'I am not in the habit of telling lies,' he said sternly.

Fyia held his gaze for a moment, seeming to assess him anew, and he suddenly noticed how close she was. He could reach out and stroke the hair off her face … trace the line of her jaw, but before he could decide whether he would, she stepped into the tunnel.

'Fyia,' he called after her. 'We should tell the others where we are. It is selfish of us not to, and if anything happens ...'

Fyia laughed. 'Someone will find us, for although you apparently have no knowledge of this place, another has visited quite recently. The scent is fresh.'

Fyia pocketed the circular key and swung the door closed behind them, although not all the way, then set off at a brisk pace.

Cal sniffed again, and found she was right. Someone had been here, and he knew exactly who it was.

Chapter Thirteen

FYIA’S ANGER ATCAL’Susing the Cruaxee-touch had abated as soon as she'd realized how useful it was. Then she'd welcomed the bear in. The bear had come willingly, for she'd been equally intrigued about Fyia. But as Fyia and Cal marched along the seemingly endless tunnel, the aqueduct the only feature of interest, the bear grew bored and left them, taking her superior senses with her.

It was probably for the best, because the enhanced smell of Cal was making Fyia restless, especially as he began to sweat. It was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other.

'Where do you think it leads?' she asked, when the bear's senses had abated enough for her to concentrate.

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