Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [60]
Twilight inspected the yawning doorway. A series of runes lightly etched into the stone radiated magic. A stone barrier had once existed there, but it had long ago become rubble, though the ward remained. Likely, thanks were owed to the lizards. Beyond, the corridor stretched into empty darkness.
Twilight was disappointed, to be honest. After a day spent avoiding battle like a scourge, she dearly wished for the opportunity to bloody Betrayal. The companions hadn't engaged any of the roving lizardmen in the tunnels-it would have been a waste of resources. And they could ill afford to stumble upon a golem, so they'd been very cautious.
She looked again at the portal wards. Twilight considered dealing with them, but thought better of it. Any foe coming the other way would trigger them-no purpose making ambush easier for one's enemies. She could always disarm them the next day.
Twilight wondered if they would go this way, anyway.
During their exploration, she had found two unblocked passages-tunnels that went east and north from their resting chamber, both of which led up. One ended in an old, dust-covered stairs ascending-the same stairs that had led her to the wizard's sanctum. The other stopped at a trapdoor above, with the remains of an old ladder.
Typical, Twilight thought. To search an entire labyrinth for days on end for a way out, only to find not one but two exits in close proximity. It seemed like something he would do to her.
"Come to think of it," she whispered. "You probably did, eh, N'tanathil?"
"Huh?"
"Pay it no-" Twilight turned. "You're still here." "Aye, indeed," said Liet, leaning against the wall. Twilight bit her lip.
She crossed back to the entrance of the chamber and stalked down the corridor to their camp-or more accurately, to the place where she had chosen to rest. She would take Reverie-or the human sleep, as would likely be the case-ten paces up the passage from the others, around a corner. Here, she could find the privacy she craved. Unless, of course, the boy insisted on following her.
Which he did. When she stopped, he stopped as well. Liet's face told Twilight he wanted to speak, but an awkward silence hung between them.
She decided to break the tension. "Is there some way I can assist you?" She was unable-and unwilling-to keep the sug-gestiveness out of her tone.
"N-nothing like that," Liet said. "I just wanted to know what-"
"N'tanathil is, in the trade tongue, my old 'uncle nemesis,' " said Twilight. "And believe me, if you knew the dastard like I do, you'd agree with the sentiment." She stripped off her glove and began unlacing her boots. "But you didn't come to debate the subtleties of linguistics, I would guess. So what is it?"
Liet turned as she doffed her boots and went to work on her breeches' strings. Her tendency to eschew modesty made him nervous, just as Twilight intended.
"I was just thinking," he said. "About Taslin."
"Pining for a lady, and not me? I'm shocked." She gave a grand sigh and put a hand to her forehead.
Liet whirled angrily. "No, no, 'tis not like…" His eyes widened at both her loosened clothes and her words, and he gaped.
Twilight finally snickered. "Well, boy," she said. "Speak, if you will."
Liet swallowed. " 'Tis about Asson. He… 'Twas he that persuaded us to come back for you. I wanted to, but I didn't have the courage to stand up to Davoren-not really, not without Asson. But that old man…"
Twilight wondered if that was the truth.
Soothed by the cold stone beneath her bare feet, she spoke without looking at Liet. "Don't take it so hard," she said as she unlaced her blouse. "We all fear death. Old Bones is a hard one to face-and an atrocious dancer besides."
After giving her an odd look-probably wondering what she could possibly mean-Liet turned halfway. "No, 'twas not that, either," he said. "I…" He paused and fidgeted. "My apologies. I should go." He started down the tunnel, heading toward the others.
Now it was Twilight's turn to gaze oddly. His words said one thing, his actions a second, and his