Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [93]
"Your time comes," Gestal said softly. "Our old foe."
Gestal looked down to where Twilight had vanished into the darkness. Then he was gone, fading into the form of a wraith and vanishing into the stone.
CHAPTER Twenty-One
She had vague memories of golden walls-passing through tunnels sculpted of amber, or perhaps honey. Light pulsed and flickered. Hands held her, dozens of insect hands, and the buzzing as they carried her along ripped through her ears. Was she being taken to her death? To be encased in that comb, to be starved of air?
She didn't care. She'd failed, and all because she hadn't relied on herself.
Her price, for trusting others, was death, and she would payit.
Liet, she thought. Liet, I'm coming.
Twilight awoke to terror and blackness so thick she could not see through it.
"Liet!" she shrieked. She started up, only to fall back when pain exploded in her head and forced her down. There was no reply.
No reply, that is, but for a pair of emerald eyes that opened and regarded her. The shifting of muscles like stones gave away his identity.
"He is gone," Gargan rumbled in his native tongue. That she could understand him meant she still wore Taslin's earring. "But we are not alone."
Twilight's hand shot to her throat. The star sapphire pendant still hung there. She breathed a sigh of relief without thinking.
Slowly, Twilight's eyes adjusted and her darksight returned to her. With it, she could see a few paces in the darkness, but no farther. Gargan, sword still sheathed on his back, knelt over her with concern written across his face. Twilight's eyes darted side to side, but she saw no one else-just cold stone. She sensed magic all over-the darkness itself seemed magical, though she expected it was simply radiation from something powetful, hidden within.
Then the pain came back, and she fell flat again. "The bees?"
"They left us and went back to their hive," the goliath said. "Whatever holds us now is not their master."
Gargan knelt beside her and laid his heavy hands on her temples. It struck Twilight as the second time he had touched her (the first, she'd thought he was Liet), and she was surprised at how gently his massive fingers caressed her skin.
Healing power flowed into her like pure water from a mountain stream. Twilight inhaled sharply, stabbed with ecstasy, and looked up at the goliath. Truly, there was more to this creature than met the eye.
She slowly sat, her hand on her head. She found that her clothing and weapons were in place. Even Betrayal was sheathed at her belt. "The others?"
Silence.
She turned to the goliath, who eyed her with dismay. "What is the matter?"
Gargan shook his head. "You remember nothing," he said, to which Twilight slowly nodded. The goliaths face grew grim. "The abeil attacked, and you fell from the tower. They must have caught you, but we thought you deadfor certain."
"Fate is not so kind," Twilight said.
She accepted his arm and rose to a kneeling position, whete she might speak with him closely. Their voices sounded discordantly loud in the dark stillness. She found herself weak, though, and leaned against his strong chest for support and warmth in the chilly darkness. He did not flinch or object.
"What-what of the others?" Gargan's eyes grew cold.
"Mlfell, "he said. "/ was buried under many bodies and watched Davoren, the last standing, cut down."
"They're… they're all dead?" Twilight's pulse pounded in her head.
"I saw none escape."
"I… I cannot accept that," Twilight said.
"You need not," came a trio of voices, shouting in unison, seemingly from different corners of the room, "for they are not sssslain."
Twilight was fast to rise, but Gargan was faster. The speed with which he leaped up and drew his black sword made her look as clumsy as a feeble goblin. Light flooded the chamber, revealing four massive statues that stood around them at twenty paces.
One was a solid ruby, carved