Page 209 of Vasmora

“I don’t think that’s entirely true.” Dolion rose up from the table and exited the dining room on his way to the dungeon.

“Dolion!” Maevyth called from behind, and he swung around to see her hurrying toward him. “The puzzle book you gave me a while back. Did you happen to take it from my room?”

“The Corvi book?”

“Yes.” Movement drew his attention to where she scratched at her arm, an angry patch of red across her wrist. A nervous habit, it seemed, seeing as there didn’t appear to be a wound there. “I swore I’d left it in my bedroom before returning to Mortasia, but I can’t find it anywhere.”

“No, I haven’t seen it. I assumed you’d taken it with you.” Had his mind not been preoccupied, he’d have likely been far more invested in helping her find it, but Dolion was anxious to speak with Branimir. “Perhaps Magdah put it in the library.”

Her shoulders sagged and she gave a weary nod. “I’m on my way there now. I just thought I’d ask, in case you might’ve stored it away.”

“No, unfortunately. I hope you find it, though. I suspect it might offer more insights into your power.” He rested a hand on her shoulder. “I would like to discuss something with you later. A theory. I’m in a bit of a hurry at the moment, but if we could speak in private, that would be wonderful.”

“Of course. I’d like to speak with you about something, as well.”

“Good, good.” He patted her shoulder. “Good luck finding the book,” he said, before heading through the arched stone corridor toward the door that led to the dungeons.

Once there, Dolion made his way down the staircase, and a shiver spiraled up his neck at the thought of having to encounter Branimir’s spiders, as he passed the memorial sculptures.

On reaching the cells, he slowed his steps as he approached the enormous spider cast in stone. Eyes glued to its massive fangs, he skirted around it to the door in the floor.

A flickering sconce cast eerie shadows on the walls and had Dolion’s eyes constantly scanning for those damned spiders. He bent down to knock. “Branimir!” he called out.

No answer.

“Branimir, it’s Dolion! Are you there?”

Only silence answered.

It wasn’t unlike Branimir to ignore visitors entirely. Zevander’s grumpy sibling had proven to be far less social, but unfortunately, Dolion didn’t care to entertain his mood. He had questions that needed answers.

Dolion glanced around, spying the key to the lock dangling from a hook on the wall. While every shred of instinct told him to leave it and come back later, time had become something of a luxury they couldn’t afford. He blew out a resigned breath and scurried to grab the key, quickly returning to the door. When another knock returned no response, Dolion set to work, removing the chain. Once free, he quietly opened the door, the hinges creaking as he carefully laid it down on the stone floor.

“Branimir, are you down there?” he asked, peering into the darkness and reaching for the mirror on the wall. “I want to speak with you about something rather important.” Damn the tremble in his hand as he lowered the mirror, rotating it for a better view of the open space below.

Obscure figures clung to the shadows, difficult to see from that angle.

“Branimir?” he asked, focusing on a hunched form a short distance away. A spider? Hard to tell. “I want to speak with you about the plague. I believe you can help.” He yanked back the mirror, and lifting the hem of his robe, he stepped down into the opening. Lowering the mirror again, he angled it toward the back of the small room. Shapes moved across the walls, stirring Dolion’s pulse. What he wouldn’t have given to have those bloodstones right then.

He wound the mirror back the other way.

Hundreds of small beady eyes stared at him. Fangs glinted in the light from the flaming sconce at Dolion’s back.

“Gods!” Dolion jerked upright, and his foot slid across the bottom step, throwing him out of balance. Arms flailing, he tumbled backward, his rear smacking against the dirt floor below and bones rattling with the hit, reminding him that he was no spring Elvyn.

He let out a grunt and coughed, turning to his side. With a wince, he rubbed his lower back that would surely have him hunched and hobbling the next day.

A creaking sound had his attention swinging back toward the stairs, where a spider the size of a fully grown bear inched toward him.

Dolion gasped, kicking himself backward.

A low growl had him twisting around to find another spider, that one slightly smaller, closing in on him from the other side.

“Branimir!” he called out. “Branimir!”

CHAPTER FIFTY

MAEVYTH