Leaving the exhausted warlock to get some rest, Nysta padded up the stone stairs.
Rubble from fallen debris made stealth a challenge, but the constant dripping of water from holes in the roof high above masked the slight sounds of stones shifting with each step.
Not ideal. But she accepted that anything lurking in the shadows would have similar problems.
The walls still trembled with aftershocks. Not for the first time since leaving the warlock slumped in the room below did the random quakes cause her to pause. Each robbing her heart of a few beats as she feared the tower tumbling down on top of her.
Increasingly, the grinding sound seemed to be coming less from below and more from the cliffs behind the entombed fortress. Whatever it meant, she didn't think it would be good.
Her fingers squeezed the hilt of A Flaw in the Glass as she headed up, knuckles flexing before releasing slightly. Ready to draw and strike at any hint of threat.
Thick stone walls hugged the outer curve, while the vaulted ceilings looked to be held up by hope more than the old brittle beams.
Cracks webbed through crumbling mortar, and the stone steps were uneven and worn. Dark stains painted the stone, imprints of its violent past.
In some places, chunks of the wall had crumbled loose and littered the stairwell, forcing her to climb across splintered timber and heavy blocks.
The air reeked of damp ash.
The third level held nothing of interest, but it was darker on the fourth and malignant shadows crept along the wall.
Her violet eyes widened as they sucked at the vagrant light, searching for any sign of movement.
A stink of rot and mould hit her nostrils. Then something else.
Something familiar.
The tip of her tongue slid across her lip.
Ears starving for sound, she took a step toward the doorway where the door itself clung desperately to its frame by the barest thread of metal hinge. Cracked open just wide enough to permit a glimpse inside.
The sodden gloom shrouded the interior beyond as shadows gathered sullenly around its edges.
The elf crouched to touch the cold stone ground, keeping her gaze firmly fixed on the doorway.
Her fingers slid through the rubble until she found a wet splash. She lifted her finger to her nose and her eyes glittered at the rusty smell of blood.
The elf picked her way closer to the door with car. Taking her time. Slow.
Step by deliberate step.
Working to avoid disturbing the rubble at her feet.
Angling her body sideways, she pressed her fingertips to the ancient wood and gently probed the iron ribs which kept it in one piece.
Didn't push on it.
Just felt it.
Willing a sense of the room beyond to somehow vibrate up her fingertips.
But felt nothing.
Was someone behind the door? Sword raised. Ready to split her down the middle?
Or an archer, cloaked in shadow. Waiting to send an arrow into her chest the moment she stepped inside.
Or nothing at all.
It could be the blood belonged to something which had wandered further up the stairs.
A rat, caught in the falling debris, crawling away to die?
Impatience bubbled in her belly, twisting fear into fire. She battled the desire to kick the door down and rush inside.
Then a muffled sound broke her focus.
A cough?
It had come from the far side of the room, though. Not close to the door.
Her palm itched.
She leaned on the door, ready to fling it open and face whatever was in there.
She heard something behind her as a slow rumble like thunder growled outside.
The barest whisper. Almost nothing.
She started to move.
Then snarled as cold sharp steel whipped around to press hard into her throat, angled firmly against her jaw.
Not a dagger, she thought dully.
A sword. Short and thin like a long needle.
"Well, now," a thin voice cooed into her ear. "Didn't figure to catch me a raghead so easy as that. Raste said you weren't a real raghead. Didn't believe him. I mean, you look the part, don't you? But it looks like you were just a pretender after all."
"Don't get me wrong," she sighed. "I just look dazzled."
"Well, why don't you stay that way and take your hand off that blade before you cut yourself? Then let's go inside. Someone's waiting for you. Real eager to meet you too, he is. Ain't stopped talking about you since we made it out of Spikewrist. Wouldn't want to disappoint him now, would you? That's it. Hands up and away from your head. Come on."
The elf scowled as she raised her arms and let him guide her forward. Fear hammered hard between the frustrated beats of her heart.
She'd been stupid.
There wasn't enough rubble on the ground around the door. Should have guessed why straight away. She'd thought it was just a sign of them passing, not that it was the trap.
He must've cleared it so she wouldn't hear him coming. Then waited on the stairs above the doorway.
Poised to strike.
And she'd walked right into it like a rabbit.
She could feel his smug grin as he prodded her forward.
Annoyed, she kicked the door with her boot. Brittle wood splintered as it swung wide and slammed hard into the wall.
For a moment, she thought she could take him. Thought she'd got him off-balance.
But he was quick.
His free hand snatched a fistful of her hair. Jerked her head back and hissed into her ear; "Don't do that again, bitch. I'll let it slide this time. And I reckon you know you ain't walking out of here alive. But there's more than one way to die, if you get me?"
She said nothing.
Nudged into the room, she expected to see Raste gloating. Instead, a crumpled shape huddled in the corner.
She couldn't immediately see his features, but she'd know Raste even if she was in an alley with her eyes closed.
And this wasn't him.
This one looked to be in a bad way. Was probably badly wounded, she thought, which explained the blood.
The short sword at her throat didn't shift by even a hair. The elf behind her kept close, but left enough room to move without giving away his stance. Or for her to feel his intent.
All she could feel was steel.
His spare hand hovered somewhere near her head. Ready to snatch her again if he had to. Any move she made, he'd counter if he was any good.
And she figured he'd be good enough.
So, she waited.
A steady rumble under the ground made the walls tremble and he paused as they shared a moment of mutual anxiety.
The ceiling above creaked as the tower shuddered. The large wooden beams groaned, dropping puffs of grit and dust.
Whatever was tearing the earth apart clearly hadn't finished its work.
The trembling faded and the swordsman behind her cleared his throat. "Torak? Wake up, boy. I got good news for you. Told you I heard something, didn't I? Well, it was her, wasn't it?"
"You got her? You ain't fucking with me, are you, Neckless? You really got her?" The voice was raw with pain.
But each word grew harder as the wounded elf found strength in the bitter need for vengeance.
"If it ain't her, then it's her twin," Neckless said with a shrug.
"Nah, that's her. Can tell from here. You hurt me, you fucking bitch." A petulant whine. "Really fucking hurt me."
Her mouth was dry.
A drop of sweat slithered down the nape of her neck.
The muscles on her shoulder twitched and, for a moment, it felt like something slithered under the meat of her shoulder and over the bone.
She flinched at the sensation, but it vanished after a few stunned heartbeats.
Which was long enough for the wounded elf to stagger to his feet.
In the dim light, she could see a bloodstained rag covered half his face. A face which had once been handsome but would now be marred forever.
Blonde hair hung lank around his head, streaked with blood and muck.
She felt a twinge of disappointment.
Wished it could've been Raste.
He edged closer, hunched in pain. In one hand, he gripped Fulci's Last Joke. She let out a grunt as she recognised the blade.
"What's that?" the wounded elf rasped. He was close enough for his breath to wash over her like a cloud of rancid air as, outside, the ground began to rumble again. "Lost for words, raghead?"
"Might be my split ends talking," she muttered. "But I reckon the damage has all been done and talking is useless."
***
Hey peeps.
Hope you like the series. I'm a little slow adding to webnovel as I'm putting these up on Patreon first and am still catching up to where I was on here.
I'll get back in sync shortly.
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I need veggies.