The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [94]
"Us," Talal cut in, his expression thoughtful. "Down in the dark, where no one can see." He touched the patch of naked skin on his head. "Balram thought he could keep us a sectet."
"But Dumathoin would not have it so," Garavin said. "Sooner or later, all secrets come to light, whether we want them to or not."
"Will they be safe?" Kail asked Garavin, watching the delver work.
"Yes. Iathantos will protect them. He's given his word," said Garavin. "If any Shadow Thief gets past us, they won't cate for the fight they'll find waiting."
"What's he mean?" asked Talal, looking to Meisha for an explanation.
The Harper appeared torn. "We have to leave you now," she said, shaking het head when Talal opened his mouth to argue. "The Shadow Thieves will have learned about Kail's rescue party by now. They'll be coming, and we have to meet them. An all-out assault will give the creature time to tunnel deep enough to cross the boundaries of the enchantment."
"Once you're outside, head for Keczulla," said Kail. "The delver will take care of any guards outside the enttance, but I doubt there will be any. They don't expect you to escape that way. Use my name at the city gates."
"Ignore it when their visages pale and they soil themselves," said Morgan.
Kail glared him into silence. He slipped a ring off his finger and handed it to Hatoun. The emerald and stone, in its gold setting, was the first symbol of his new status. Garavin had made it for him long ago using Cesira's enchanted speaking stone.
Haroun slid the ring onto her thumb. Her eyes swam with tears. "How can we thank you?"
"You saved my life," Meisha said. She looked at Talal, but the boy was shaking his head mutinously.
"I want to stay with you," he said, "for the fight."
"Ha," Meisha said. "You don't mean that, not when you're scenting freedom at last. No"-she shook him playfully by the shoulder when he tried to protest-"No more death-seeking for you, little Dirty Bones. We'll follow you out once we take care of the Shadow Thieves."
Morgan and Laerin filed back down the tunnel. Dantane and Garavin followed. Meisha took one last look at Talal and Haroun, who stood apart from the rest. Haroun had a firm hand on the boy's shoulder.
"They'll be safe," Kali said.
"I know." Meisha allowed the others to get some distance ahead of them, then she clasped Kail's wrist to slow him. "Balram's lived too long, Kail," she said fiercely, "taken too much. It's time to end him. You promised me."
"Meisha, I'm sorry about yout master-"
"Don't," Meisha cut him off. "When I saw him sitting in that room… you can't imagine how it felt." She caught her breath and looked at him sharply. "No, that's wrong. You can imagine. You've seen it before."
He nodded grimly. "Rage blocks all reason. You'll do anything to fix things. You'll forgive him any terrible thing he's ever done." Kali touched his sword hilt. "I'll keep my word, Meisha." He pointed to the tunnel. "Let's go get Varan."
CHAPTER 25
Keczulla, Amn 5 Marpenoth, the Year
of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)
Cesira heard the servant calling her from the foot of the stairs. Since the explosion, none of them had dared venture into Dantane's tower. While the druid appreciated having a place where her privacy was guaranteed, she'd come to the tower for a very different purpose.
The stones formerly connected to the tower's ceiling were chipped and broken, forming rough crenellations. The tower had become her battlement-Cesira perched on one cloven stone in hawk form, gripping the ruined surface with her sharp talons.
The servant had come to tell her about the party approaching the house, but Cesira's keen eyes had already spotted them on the road.
Cesira spread her wings and let out a cry, just to hear her voice echo into the twilight. She glided to the floor and transformed, standing barefoot