Eona - Alison Goodman [62]
“Thank you,” I said, swaying from the sudden release of tension. “Have you found the emperor?”
“Yes. He is alive, but deep in the shadow world. When we were last at our base, he had still not roused. We need to get you back there as fast as possible.”
My gut clenched. At least he lived. “And the others, are they all right?”
“Ryko has minor injuries. As does the woman, Vida. The young guard has—”
“Tiron,” Yuso interjected.
“Yes, sir, Tiron,” Caido said. “He’s broken a lot of bones and may not walk again. We have not found the other three of your party.”
Dela, Dillon, Solly—missing.
“So the boy has not been found?” Yuso demanded. “The one they call Dillon?”
“No, sir. Not yet.”
“He must be your priority now,” Yuso said. “He holds something vital to His Majesty’s cause.”
“We can only search with the light, Captain.” There was a note of defense in Caido’s soft voice. “But we start again tomorrow at dawn. Are either of you hurt?”
“Nothing serious,” Yuso said. “Did Ryko tell you about the troops in pursuit? Twenty-four. A full company.”
Caido nodded. “We’ve accounted for nineteen, sir. Most of them drowned. Our best teams are hunting the last five.”
Yuso nodded, satisfied.
Caido gave another small bow, then turned to his men. A quick series of hand signals sent them into a diamond formation around us, except for one very large man, who stood stolidly behind Caido.
“My lady, we need to move fast,” Caido said. “Would you allow Shiri to carry you on his back?” The large man dipped his head.
Although my weariness was like a hundredweight hanging on each limb, I drew myself up. “I will not fall behind, Caido.”
“No, my lady,” he said, and bowed.
He waved us forward.
An hour later, I was perched on Shiri’s back. The man smelled of old sweat, greasy hair, and sour spillings, but I did not care. His back was broad, his arms were hooked securely around me, and I could finally rest my exhausted body. I tried to stay awake as we climbed through the last of the scrubby terrain into a thicker growth of forest, but the rocking motion of Shiri’s long stride lulled me. As I slipped into the shadows of uneasy sleep, I once again felt the intent hold of Kygo’s eyes as he brushed my cheek, and the strange heat of the pearl beneath my fingers.
“My lady?” A firm shake on my arm woke me. I squinted. The half-moon night had reduced Caido’s face to a series of sharp planes. “You must walk the last section,” he said quietly. “Only one person can pass through this entrance at a time.”
Shiri released his hold and lowered me gently to the rocky ground. The forest was now well below us.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
The big man dipped into a bow. “My honor, Lady Eona,” he said, backing away. “My honor.”
“He will tell his grandchildren about the time he carried the Mirror Dragoneye,” Yuso said, close to my ear.
“How long did I sleep?” I stared up at an immense moon-silvered cliff that rose before us. Were we going to climb it? Even after my rest on Shiri’s back, I doubted I would make it.
“We’ve been walking for about four bells,” Yuso said, every step of them in his rough voice.
Caido pointed up to a dark crack in the rock face. “We are nearly there,” he said. “That is the way into our camp.”
As we drew nearer to the cliff, the dark crack became a fissure large enough for a man the size of Shiri. With a reassuring smile, Caido slipped into it. I followed him, the warm night air instantly cooling as I stepped into a narrow stone passage. A slit of sky was still visible above us, although very little moonlight made it to where we stood.
“My lady, please hold on to my shoulder,” Caido said. “It will be safer and quicker.”
We shuffled in a hand-to-shoulder line as Caido called the news of our rescue to watchmen stationed on high ledges. I caught sight of two guards craning over to catch a glimpse of us as we passed, the tips of their mechanical bows outlined in the dim light. It would be a deadly trap for an approaching enemy.
“This is one of four passages into the crater,” Caido said. “Of course, it is not the most accessible,