Page 3 of Winds of Ruin
I walked along the base of the cliff, taking in the divots and changes in texture of the stone. Grooves of sediment formedlines, and my gaze rested on a spot where that pattern seemed interrupted.
“It’s here. It feels important.” I narrowed my eyes on the crack. The wind urged me forward, causing my sweat-soaked tunic to cling to my shoulders.
Something slithered in the jungle canopy above, and the birds stopped their screeching, which gave me some reprieve to think.
“You’ve been pushing yourself rather hard. You can’t go on like this forever,” Fen pressed.
“Sorry, brother. Easy, breezy, happy-go-lucky Elsie wasn’t nearly as effective,” I joked. Some of my flippant qualities died when Ryn’s face crumbled to dust. My dearest friend, and often lover, deserved my grit in avenging his death, not the frivolity of my youth.
I’d never rid myself of those flighty qualities entirely. But lately, the roots of my soul sought dirt and begged me to slow down. But not yet.
“Krait doesn’t expect you to bring something homeeverytime,” he insisted.
“I never return empty-handed, becauseI’mactually good at this job.” Though the jab was in jest, it also held truth. Fenris had worked for Krait centuries ago, and he’d been a far less successful gravedigger.
Fen playfully elbowed me as I leaned in to get a closer look at the crack.
Krait may forgive me if I returned with nothing, but I would lose sleep over it.
If I didn’t find one of Isolde’s relics, the least I could do was retrieve something of value.Thiswas my way of contributing.
I could be careless about who I invited into my bedroom, or reckless in the places I visited, or unreliable about being on time for dinner. None of that mattered if I gotthisjob right.
Returning without a sliver of evidence as to where the next relic might be always put me in a sour mood. During my last trip, I’d found an old set of maps tucked in the bony clutches of a demised King—one of them helped Asterie find this place.
Humming to myself, I bent and picked up a handful of red clay and then blew into my palm, willing the wind to carry the dust. It hit the wall, disappearing into the narrow crack.
I knew it!A relic could be within.
“There’s something here,” I confirmed again. “Teach me the Brennac opening charm you always used to get into Papa’s liquor vault.”
“Guilty, but never caught.” Fenris chuckled and stepped up to the place where the dust had vanished. “You sure? We don’t know what’s back there.”
“Oh, has love made you fearful of a bit of adventure?”
Fen scoffed. “Well, yes. I have something precious to lose. My nerves have gone to shit,” he said. “But fine. Repeat after me and direct your Source power just there.” He pointed to the crack.
As he spoke the charm, his words sang smooth, like warm butter across toast, while mine jutted along with his clumsily.
I held my palms toward the sliver of space, and as we completed the charm, the cliff shifted, parting at the center.
Swinging animals in the canopy above jumped and screamed, and the flap of wings gave way to the sound of grinding stone. The air filled with the sodden, musky scent of wet rock as a dark opening appeared.
So far, no traps.
“C’mon,” I commanded, motioning for Fen to follow me into the cave’s mouth. I swiped away a cobweb overhead as we entered the dank space, and Fenris lit a flame in his palm to guide us.
He glanced around. “I haven’t been on one of Krait’s little quests in quite some centuries. Go easy on me.”
“Just like riding a horse,” I mumbled.
An unremarkable cave lay before us, with a tall, dripping domed ceiling. The space extended into darkness, beyond what the eye could see. Things scattered and crawled above us as our boots splashed through shallow puddles.
I shuddered. Facing death traps?Fine.Facing spiders?Bloodcurdling.
“There, cast some light.” I pointed ahead. My other hand rested on a throwing dagger on my belt. I preferred lighter blades to heavy swords. I’d learned to let the wind carry them exactly where I chose. Not that Ineededthe wind. I’d always had spectacular aim.
Fenris’ fire lit the opening, revealing a staircase. Jagged stone steps led into the belly of the cave.
