Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [85]
As if the dangers of the Cellar weren't enough, the awkward situation between the two women gave Quinn even more reason to leave this place behind. Flipping over the band on the back of his belt, he retrieved the colorful disk that would grant them passage out of the Cellar. Placing it on the floor, he spun it as he had the first time, almost two days ago. The disk dissolved into a thousand tiny mores of light, consumed by the process, and a shimmering portal appeared.
"Come, you two," he said. "It's time to go." Mariko put her hand on Quinn's shoulder as he continued dressing.
"Is it true?" she asked. "What you said to Jallal?"
"Is what true?" Quinn had finished donning his soft leather armor and was just securing his cloak.
"That there is a black citadel floating over Llorbauth, and that someone inside it is demanding me as a sacrifice?"
Quinn stopped in the middle of tying a knot. "Yes."
"Is that why you came for me? So my father could trade me to save the kingdom?"
Quinn glanced over at the glowing magical portal, the words of the king's warning running through his head. It will not last very long. If you activate it and do not use it, you will be lost, trapped inside the Cellar.
"We must go," he said, urging Mariko toward the portal. "We can have this conversation later.".
"Yeah, have your fight somewhere else," said Evelyne as she passed the two. "This will get me out of here?" She pointed at the portal.
"As promised," said Quinn.
"You're a man of your word." Evelyne shook her head. "Not many of those down here." Then she stepped through the swirling light and disappeared.
Mariko crossed her arms, clearly not happy. "I'm not finished with this," she said, then she too stepped through the portal.
Quinn let out a sigh. "No," he said, finally securing his cloak. "I'm sure you're not."
Picking up his gauntlet, he took his turn, leaving behind the Cellar and its inhabitants forever.
+++++
The glowing portal grew smaller with every passing moment. What had once been a large oval, big enough to fit a paladin atop his horse, was now not much larger than a young child.
From his prone position in the middle of the courtyard, Jallal Tasca rose to his knees. The hole in his forehead where Evelyne's dagger had punched through was slowly closing.
Touching the wound with his fingers, Jallal's lips curled back into a fanged smile. He let out a chuckle that grew into a deep belly laugh, filling the courtyard with the jubilant sounds of an evil man.
Getting to his feet, he crossed the open space, his hooves crunching dirt and stone. His exotic blade glowed otherworldly, bathed in the magical light of the portal and the fires of the burning Elixir.
After his first death, he had been reborn, returned to life with new strength and desire. This second death had given him his freedom. He no longer had obligations or obstacles-only wants and needs. Right now, what Jallal Tasca wanted, what he needed, was to get revenge on the Claw.
Ducking his head, he slipped through the opening, out of the Cellar and back to Erlkazar.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Matron stepped from her private chamber and descended the steps into the meeting room.
The seats around the heavy wooden table were full. All the underworld's players were here. She knew what they wanted, and she hated them for it. Weak, impatient, short sighted fools-all of them. Not one had vision. Not one could see beyond the end of the day.
How was she supposed to take charge of the entire kingdom if her cohorts couldn't resist reacting like children to every crisis? How could she plot any long-term progress if they were all content with petty theft and minor smuggling?
Someone had to think about the future, about the underworld’s relationship with the throne. There was coin to be made, lots of it, if only she could complete