The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [25]
Inside the entry hall, lanterns were dimmed for sleep, but Kail knew his house well enough to feel his way. He listened for signs that someone had detected his presence, but he heard nothing.
One inept guard at the door and no stirring in the house-it was too easy for Kail's comfort. His father would never have permitted such a breach of his private space. A sinking unease filled Kail's chest.
He stepped forward, passing between two twisted columns. He heard the second click a heartbeat too late.
Kali ducked, on the off chance the trap was aimed at his head, but the danger came from below. Metal spikes burst from camouflaged gaps in the marble floor, ringing him in a field of razors. If he'd been standing directly on top of one of them, Kali was certain he'd have lost a foot. A spike caught him in the calf, shearing away his boot like so much meat off the bone.
Kail resisted the urge to jump back, lest he should trigger more of the deadly spikes. Regaining his balance, he began moving forward again, watching the floor for holes. He made it to the other side of the hall without encountering any further traps.
In the shadows beneath the main staircase, Kali paused to listen again. He'd never known his father kept such deadly traps in his own home. Dhairr had always feared assassins-Kail had grown up with nightmares from listening to his father's tales about shadowy, hidden foes-but this? It made his father seem a prisoner in his own home. What other secrets had Dhairr kept from him?
He pushed the thoughts away. He had to find Balram. Someone was sure to have heard the trap go off. He was running out of time.
The back wall by the staircase had only one door. It opened onto the garden between the main house and the towers. He could conceal himself better in the garden than the hall.
Kali listened at the door, hearing a faint scraping sound coming from the other side. He tested the lock, but it was open. Slowly, he eased the door inward a crack.
In the center of the garden, illuminated by faint moonglow, Dhairr Morel crouched in the fountain's dry basin, digging at a jagged crack with his sword. The blade was dull and notched from repeated scrapes across the stone. A shrill, metallic screech filled the air as he worked.
Kali simply watched his fathet, unable to believe the changes wrought in his visage. Flesh stretched taut beneath his eyes and along his jaw. His lips were colorless and bore ragged crevices and gaps where he'd bitten them too deeply. His hair was thin and coarse, like a wisp broom. It hung past his shoulders and dragged the fountain bowl when Dhairr bent his ear to the crack. His eyes fell on Kail and narrowed.
"Who are you?" he rasped. He flipped his blade up, menacing Kail with nothing more than a blunt edge. "Begone, assassin! You'll not have my family."
"Father," Kail said, taking a step forward. "Don't you recognize me? I am your family-Kail, your son."
"Kali," Dhairr repeated, testing the name on his tongue. Slow comprehension broke over his wasted face. "So you've returned. Kail the tiaitor-have you come back to finish what you started?"
"No, Father," Kail said. "I've come back to free you." "Lies!"
Dhairr lunged, aiming at Kail's midsection. For all the changes, his father was still fast, and Kail was so stunned by the outburst he almost allowed himself to be impaled upon Dhairr's notched blade. He backed away and tripped, landing awkwardly on his side on the walkway.
Dhairr smiled cruelly. "Don't be careless, Kail. You think I won't do to you what I did to Haig? That I'll show mercy because you're my son? You have no idea who I am, boy."
"You don't know what you're saying-" Kali dodged anothet swing. His fathet was still caught in the grip of Balram's spell; he still believed Kali had betrayed him. Kail arched his back, snapping his legs downward in a sharp thrust to get his feet undet him. The quick, acrobatic move made Dhairr back off a step, long enough for Kali to bring his sword up at a defensive slant.
"You would fight me with