“What is this place?” Rysha wondered, then clamped her mouth shut when she noticed people camped among the ruins. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds.
Here and there, lanterns burned and ragged blankets marked the boundaries of areas belonging to families or small groups. There were as many children as adults, hunkered down and whispering to each other.
“We camouflaged?” Kaika asked.
Nobody seemed to be looking in their direction even though they were an oddity with the blanket-covered wagon rolling along and nobody pulling it.
I am and the cart is, Trip spoke into their minds. I can’t camouflage you and Rysha directly, but I’m doing my best to make the path we’re walking along appear particularly uninteresting to those in the chamber.
“Uninteresting is good,” Kaika said more softly.
Trip turned the wagon toward one of several tunnels with entrances located on the sides of the cavernous room.
By Rysha’s estimation, they had dropped below sea level. It was hard to believe such a vast chamber could exist without having water in it. The columns and arches reminded her of Karudian architecture, and she wondered if some of those early ocean-going explorers had colonized this area before it had been turned into a penal colony. Maybe the existing city had grown up atop another.
The wagon barely fit through the new tunnel, and Rysha kept bumping shoulders with Kaika as they trailed it, their sword scabbards banging against their legs. Trip still had Jaxi out, lighting the way. Rysha eyed the walls, hoping for more evidence to support the idea that the Karudians had been here long ago. If they had been, this now-subterranean area could have existed before the dragon-rider outpost.
Trip turned again, the wagon scraping the wall and getting stuck before some force shoved it through the tight spot, leaving stone dust floating in the air.
“You do know where you’re going, right, Captain?” Kaika swatted at a broken cobweb sweeping toward her nostrils.
“Yes, ma’am. I found a map earlier.”
“Earlier? When you were sitting in the room and staring at the stack of baby boxes?”
“Yes, ma’am. My head was aching, so I took a break from the camouflaging assignment and went to what passes for a library in this city. It’s more of an archives building, and you have to pay to access it. If you go in person.”
“Are you saying you went with your mind?”
Trip glanced back. “If I say yes, will you call me creepy again?”
“You’re not creepy,” Kaika said. “Some of the things you can do are creepy.”
Rysha snorted. She doubted that clarification would make Trip feel better.
“Would visiting a library with one’s mind count?” Trip asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I merely studied a pamphlet that I picked up while I was out last night,” Trip said.
“Uh huh.”
“Was that before or after we were attacked by magical animals?” Rysha asked.
“Before,” Trip said firmly, then took a right at an intersection and led them to a dead end.
Kaika groaned. “I’m not helping you get that wagon turned around back here.”
Trip walked straight to the dead end and placed a hand on the ancient stones. Rysha thought of the way he’d touched the ice walls in the dragon complex in the Antarctic, but this did not look like a place that had once been built by the great creatures. A dragon would have had to shape-shift into a miniature version of itself to make it through the tight tunnels.
Nonetheless, the wall swung inward, slowly, ponderously, and with a rumble that made it seem an earthquake was imminent. Dust trickled down from the ceiling, and Rysha sneezed. She rested a hand on the cool wall next to her in case the ground started shaking. But the stone door finished opening, and the dust settled with nothing more ominous occurring.
Trip walked in as though he had expected nothing less. The wagon trundled obediently after him.
Rysha and Kaika stepped through into a much smaller chamber than the one with the arches and squatters. It was illuminated with blueish light that came in from above, bright enough to make Rysha squint after the dimness of the tunnels. She stopped while her eyes adjusted.
Dorfindral sent a huff of displeasure into Rysha’s mind. Had some magic been involved in the construction of the room?
“What the—” Kaika pointed upward toward… Rysha didn’t know what to call it.
It looked like a pool with a glass bottom that was embedded in a stone ceiling, between arches and supports similar to the ones in the other chamber. Light streamed in, turning blue as it filtered through the water. The pool had to be open to the sky up above, but where in the city was it? Some park or garden? Did the Lagreshians even believe in such things?
It’s the private garden of one of the crime lords in the city, Trip told her silently, smiling back from where he’d stopped under the pool. Jaxi snooped around and says nobody in the twenty-person household, most of those people being his staff, knows this is under here. From up above, the bottom appears to be made from stone, and they toss marbles into the pool for luck.
A magical illusion? Rysha asked, also speaking silently.
Kaika might think it odd if she answered aloud. She was stalking the perimeter of the chamber, peering into shadows behind posts.
Yes, one that’s been in place for a very long time. Since long before the crime lord bought the sprawling compound up there.
“Major Kaika,” Trip said aloud, “we’re alone in here. The people who squat in the tunnels out there don’t know this sanctuary is here.”
“How did you know it was here?” Kaika continued her walk around the perimeter and kept checking all the shadows.
She stopped in front of a dragon statue on the far wall, another pool nestled in its lap. A real dragon wouldn’t have a lap, but this one was chubby and squatted on its lower two legs with the stone vessel resting between them. Its wings stretched outward against the wall, and its head was tilted, its expression one of curiosity rather than the pomposity Rysha associated with so many dragons. Or outright coldness.
“She’s beautiful,” Rysha murmured, drawn across the chamber toward the statue.
Interestingly, this chamber didn’t stink of waste like so many of the tunnels had. It might simply be because people didn’t come in here, but it didn’t even smell of dust and disuse. It had a pleasant earthy odor that reminded her of the woods back home in her family’s valley.
“I was studying the map,” Trip responded to Kaika, “of these tunnels down here. I hadn’t originally known they were here, but I sensed them when I was searching the city and looking for the missing stasis chamber. You’d mentioned wanting something better than a hostel for us.”
“Searching the city… with your mind?” Kaika asked.
“In whatever way you find un-creepy, ma’am.”
“I’m going to pretend the swords were looking and just told you about it.”
“It’s less creepy when they use magic?”
“Yes, because they’re not human. Humanish.”
“Your logic is interesting, ma’am,” Trip said.
“You’re not the first man to call me interesting.”
Rysha reached the dragon and slid a hand over the lower part of one wing as she peeked into the pool. Dorfindral continued to rumble discontentedly at her, but she didn’t sense that an enemy was near. This seemed to be the sword’s way of letting her know magic was around.
The pool was clear, no hint of algae or any other growth marring the bottom of the bowl. She could see her own reflection and realized it was the first time she had in days. Their rooms hadn’t contained anything as luxurious as mirrors. She made a note to dig out her brush, since her bun was on the lumpy and frizzy side.
“This appears to represent Lyshandrasa,” Rysha said, touching a plaque on the side of the statue, “the mate of the dragon that was carved into the stone of the meeting room at the bottom of the outpost. If I remember my his
tory correctly, she was a hero and friend to humanity, though she wasn’t one of the Iskandian dragons and didn’t travel to our land. She favored desert climates, such as this.” If she knew where Moe Zirkander had gone, Rysha would have asked him for more details on the dragon, as he’d seemed quite knowledgeable about this part of the world. “I wonder what she was truly like, legends aside. This is a rather whimsical-looking expression for a dragon, especially a female. They were often fierce, the dominant predators of the species.” Rysha looked more closely at the face. “This one reminds me of Shulina Arya.”
Trip came to stand next to her.
“Is it odd that I miss her?” she asked as Kaika finished her inspection of the chamber—the sanctuary, as Trip had called it.
“I don’t think so. She’s a lot friendlier than the other dragons. And she didn’t suggest you become her minion.”
Rysha quirked her eyebrows.
“The bronze dragon on the Pirate Isles made that offer to me.”
“A minion? That’s it? After all the help we gave him?”
“A high-level minion, if I recall correctly. I believe the job came with a hut and a mate.”
Rysha stared at him, thinking he was joking, but he seemed serious. “With perks like that, it’s no wonder so many humans are willing to worship dragons.”
“I know I was tempted.” His eyes crinkled. “He didn’t say whether I got to pick my mate, or if one would be assigned to me.”
Rysha sniffed. “He probably would have found you a pirate floozy with overly ripened melons on display.”
Trip glanced toward her chest, then blushed and made a point of studying the fountain. She remembered her stint in the pirate costume and supposed it was unfair to judge those who displayed their… melons. For all she knew, Major Kaika had civilian clothes that flaunted her assets. Even though it was hard to imagine her in anything except a uniform with a rifle—and a half-dozen grenades—close at hand, she had been comfortable in that pirate clothing.
“Is there a way out of here if legions of people trying to get our swords show up?” Kaika stood under the pool, gazing up at it. “While this place is pleasantly quiet and doesn’t smell, it was a long walk to get here. If we had to run with the wagon getting stuck at every turn in the tunnel, it would be tough. There also doesn’t appear to be a back door, unless that counts.” She pointed above her.
“I don’t think we can go out that way as there’s a lot of old, strong magic reinforcing the pool and ceiling,” Trip said, “but there is a rusty ladder not too far away that leads to the surface. A lot of the people living down here come and go that way. We just wouldn’t have been able to fit the wagon through the manhole at the top, so I brought us the long way.”
Kaika puckered her lips.
“It’s only for a couple of days, ma’am.” Trip shrugged. “I thought it would suffice. With luck, nobody will ever know we’re here.”
“With luck? When has luck ever favored us?”
“We must have been lucky at least once,” Rysha said. “We’re all still alive.”
Kaika’s lips twisted and puckered a bit more. Once again, Rysha wondered if she’d had a close call the day before.
“I like to think my skills are what keep me alive.” Kaika sighed. “All right, it’s only for two days. If we stay holed up in here the whole time, maybe nobody will notice us.”
Trip took a deep breath and faced her. “Ma’am—”
“Let me guess,” Kaika said. “You don’t want to stay holed up in here.”
Trip opened his hand toward the ceiling, the blue light playing on his palm. “I have to use the time we have to find her.”
“Her?”
“The baby. It’s a girl.”
“It’s a three-thousand-year-old statue in a box.”
“It’s a three-thousand-year-old baby in a box. That can grow into someone just as normal as…” Trip started to point at himself, but maybe he decided he wasn’t an exemplar of normal. “You,” he finished.
Rysha looked sadly at him. She couldn’t tell if Kaika was swayed.
“You did already tell him he could look, ma’am,” Rysha pointed out. “This morning.”
“Oh, don’t remind me. I was feeling guilty because I lost the kid in the first place. All right, all right, you can go, Captain. But be discreet this time.” Kaika pinned him with her gaze.
Trip turned his own gaze on Rysha. She heard about last night’s fiasco somewhere.
I’m not surprised.
“I’ll do my best, ma’am. And, just in case something happens and I’m delayed… I’ll go alone.”
“What?” Rysha asked as Kaika said, “Good.”
“Trip, you need my help,” Rysha said. “They’re using magic, both of them, right? I have Dorfindral. And if snooping needs to be done, I’m good at reading and analyzing data quickly. I—” Realizing she sounded like she was spouting off qualifications for a job interview, she stopped, finishing only with, “You need me.”
Trip smiled at her. “I don’t want you to miss the boat because of me.”
“We have two days. Plenty of time. It’s not like those barges are going to sail out to sea with us stuck in the dungeon. Barges don’t even have dungeons.”
“It’s evening, already, and it’ll be night before I go out there. That means only a full day and a full night until the steamer leaves. Things happen. I don’t want you to miss the boat. If it takes me longer to find the girl, then I’ll follow after you as soon as I can. And accept my consequences for being late when I return.” He met Kaika’s gaze.
She nodded at him, approval in her eyes.
Rysha didn’t approve, damn it. “Trip, you’re being fatalistic. There’s no reason to assume going back to the barges will take more than a night.”
Unless he believed he was going to get captured. Why would he think that? He ought to be more powerful than Grekka. Even though the palace barge was an opaque box to him, it wasn’t as if he had to go in. He could go back to the warehouse barge and wait for Grekka to come there. He ought to be able to use Grekka to get to Bhodian.
I hope not to be captured, Trip spoke into her mind, but it would be foolish for me not to plan for the worst. I intend to stake out the harbor this evening and hope to get lucky, to catch Bhodian or Grekka coming or going so I don’t have to go out to his barge. But if I don’t… I will walk up and knock on his door if necessary. The soulblades have confirmed that they don’t sense the stasis chamber in the city. Since none of us can sense the barge palace, that seems the most likely place to look for it. It’s possible it’s been taken out of the city, but I will start there.
Yes, I understand, but why not let me come? Rysha hesitated. Is it because you had trouble protecting me with your barrier last night? Because you couldn’t use your magic on Dorfindral? Trip, if we have to fight the sorceress or some other magic—
No. I know you’re valuable, and I want to take you with me. But it’s too close to the sailing. I don’t want you to risk punishment—or worse—because of me and my quest.
I don’t want to see someone misusing or hurting that baby girl any more than you do.
I know. Trust that I won’t let that happen. And that I’ll be right behind you if I’m delayed.
“If I’m not back in time,” Trip said, turning to Kaika again, “please make sure the babies get to Sardelle. She’s the only one I’m sure will… do the right thing.”
Kaika spread her hands. “I’m just a cog in a machine, Trip, so I doubt I’ll get any say, but most of our superior officers aren’t assholes. I don’t think they’ll make a cruel choice. And I know Angulus won’t.”
“Good.”
Rysha watched, feeling bleak, as Trip filled his canteen at the pool and gathered a couple of supplies to take with him. He walked to the door, waving his hand to open it, and stepped into the tunnel. He paused there, looking back at her. Would he change his mind?
Actually, I was hoping you would rush after me to gi
ve me a good-luck kiss.
Even though I’m grumpy and don’t agree with you going without me?
Yes.
The petulant part of her almost crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back, but she worried she wouldn’t see him again in the morning, that he knew something she didn’t.
She didn’t rush, but she walked through the doorway, hugged him, and kissed him.
He smiled against her lips. Thank you.
Your swords are poking me in the stomach.
Have I mentioned what a pleasure it is that you don’t seem to mind that I have two swords that poke you in the stomach?
I knew you were odd from the beginning.
She’d meant to give him a chaste kiss, the simple good-luck kiss he’d suggested, but he slipped his arms around her and touched her lips so tenderly that her irritation faded. She stroked the back of his head, fingers twining in his hair.
Be careful out there, she thought.
I’ll try. You know pilots tend toward recklessness.
What do powerful sorcerers tend toward?
Arrogance, probably.
You’re doomed either way, aren’t you?
He chuckled and drew back, resting his hand on her cheek. “I hope not.”
He turned, heading down the tunnel.
“Trip?”
He gazed over his shoulder. “Yes?”
“I’ll leave Dorfindral leaning against the wall so it’s easier for you to reach me telepathically if you run into trouble and need help. I will come to help you. No matter when the sailing time is.”
“Thank you.”
As he disappeared around the corner of the intersection, he sent some tendril of telepathic power back to her, infusing her with his gratitude. More than gratitude. A warm tingle spread through her body, reminding her of the night they had spent together.
She wanted to spend another night with him, and she hated the idea of sitting back here and twiddling her thumbs while he risked himself. She understood that he didn’t want her to risk her career—or her chance to get into the elite troops—because of his side trip, and she appreciated that he cared, but it was her choice. And she didn’t truly believe it was a risk, no matter what he argued. A day and a half was plenty of time to poke around in a couple of barges.