Page 109 of This Dark Descent
Hyle looked about before ducking into a nearby barn.
Damien and Ari followed. Dim light and the shuffle of stabled horses greeted them inside, where they moved quietly down the aisle, stopping when they caught the hiss of voices around the corner.
“Yes, yes, I know the place,” Hyle said impatiently. “Would you like to tell me it all once more in case I can’t repeat it backward and in Ranoen—” A resounding slap cut him off.
Another voice said. “Do not be late.”
Loic.
Ari felt Damien’s body go taut beside her. They both pressed into the shadows as heavy footfalls passed. After Hyle departed too, Damien took off after his brother with Ari on his heels. There was a part of her that had been looking forward to facing down Loic again, and she set her verillion burning just in case.
Loic was picking his way toward the royal viewing platform, where people were descending the stairs to make for the enchanted coaches that would take them to the Kelbra estate.
“If he’s working for your brother…” Ari began.
“He betrayed me.” Damien’s voice sent a shiver through her. “A few weeks ago, I lost my house ring. Hyle was supposed to find it, just like he was supposed to dispose of Fen’s and Cardix’s bodies, something I’m beginning to suspect he failed at intentionally.”
Loic reached the platform, bowing perfunctorily to the prince, before clasping hands with Rezek. Damien’s jaw shifted. “I think Loic told Rezek about you to earn his trust.”
“But why?”
“Hyle,” Damien ground out. “He’s a mercenary. An assassin. Loic has been cozying up to the race coordinator to learn the track for the final race. Then he befriended Rezek.”
Ari’s lips parted with understanding. This was Loic’s Ascension move.
He was going to assassinate Rezek Kelbra.
CHAPTER 40
MIKIRA
IT TOOK TIMEfor Mikira’s eyes to adjust to the darkness.
They were in a part of the tunnels she’d never seen before, narrow, with enchanted lights hung sparsely and the ghostly echo of hooves striking wet stone. Unlike the other races, there were no marked paths here. They had only to escape the tunnels, reach the Traveler’s Road, and then finish at the Kelbra estate. Which meant the myriad of turns peeling off from the main tunnel could be paths to winning or to ending up lost beneath the city. The only indication they were even going in the right direction were the little miners’ arrows nearly lost to the ash and grime.
They turned left, and something flashed. Mikira ducked the knife, twisting to find another rider who’d been waiting around the bend.
“Go, Atara!” The horse lengthened her stride. They tore down the tunnel, outpacing the other horse through several more branches.
Mikira had just started to relax when Atara suddenly leapt. Not prepared for the jump, Mikira nearly toppled over her head, but caught herself against Atara’s withers. The horse’s hooves struck stone—all but one. Her back hoof slidintothe ground. Mikira’s stomach dropped as Atara scrabbled for purchase.
She threw her weight forward, and Atara pushed off her front hooves, clambering to safety.
Mikira slowed her to a stop, giving them both a chance to catch their breath.
Hoofbeats clattered, and the rider that’d been chasing them burst into the corridor, galloping full speed.
“Stop!” Mikira screamed, but it was too late. The horse stepped on what looked like solid ground—and fell. The man yelped a second before they disappeared over an invisible edge. A sickening thud echoed below.
Mikira gaped at the undisturbed ground. “There’s—there’s a ditch,” she breathed. With a concealment charm. She ran a reverent hand along Atara’s neck. “Thank the Goddess you could sense it.” The mare huffed, pawing at the stone.
The tunnel opened wide before them, a long straightaway she never thought she’d be so happy to see. On and on they went, past messages scratched into stone walls and posters with Aslir’s disparaging gaze following them. The tunnels grew narrower, the hard-packed ground turning to squelching mud. The silence was almost as bad as the enchantments, the anticipation of what would come next gnawing at her, but Atara raced forward confidently, her ears twitching for signs of danger.
Even following the miners’ arrows, there was no way of telling how close she was to an exit. The tunnels stretched the length of Veradell. The race could end while she was still fighting her way through the darkness.
The shadows coalesced at the end of the corridor, and she slowed Atara as they neared, expecting another concealment charm. Instead, she found a door. There was nothing remarkable about it, just simple dark wood and a brass handle. She’d never heard of doors in the tunnels, though she knew these corridors hid more than just Jenest’s underground races.
Bringing Atara to a halt, Mikira swung from the saddle and approached the door. She had just grabbed the handle when Atara’s head shoved her aside. The door flew open, revealing only empty corridor beyond.
