A FIREBALL RIPPED PAST BELSESUS' head and engulfed the now screaming rockvorhn. Behind him Cat muttered and the fireball turned white, incinerating the creature. The others immediately behind it hesitated and above them a urotho whistled and snarled a command. The rockvorhn still appeared uncertain, then the urotho barked the command again.'Hold on, Belsesus!' Cat yelled from behind and the centaur tensed, readying his axe.The rockvorhn launched at them and before he had a chance to lift his weapon, a wall of fire erupted in front of him. It didn't stop the closest creature that slammed into his breastplate scrabbling, and shrieking, trying to get away from the flames. Belsesus threw the stricken animal back into the inferno.'Hotter, Cat!'The fire flashed white hot then vanished, leaving the charred smoking remnants of the rockvorhn scattered before them.IT FELT HORRIBLE. I KNEW those things would have torn us to shreds in an instant but their screams of pain and fear made
IT WASN'T LIKE LIFTING TOMIAR, or even Sito. The whole ceiling of shattered rock trembled under the spread of energy she pressed against it but occasional pieces of stone dropped from the outer section and smashed to the cavern floor. Loi squeezed her eyes shut and focused on the ceiling, trying to get it stable.Leave, earth one.Your friends are through to the next chamber, leave.At this depth the plants' voices sounded quieter and Loi felt a moment of panic, then Cat's red energy synched with hers and the murmurs filled her mind again. Her friend's energy gave her the extra strength she needed and Loi thickened the shield then started to walk briskly toward the next chamber, mind focused. A vicious snarl echoed in the chamber and Loi twisted to look back then gasped. A strange creature with many legs scuttled across the floor toward her, snarling again. The scant light from the cavern's entrance showed a crown of horns and alarmingly large canines as it swiftly covered the space
THE EXHAUSTION I USED TO feel at using my energy so extensively didn't hit me now. This new, stronger version of energy made it feel almost like a separate entity. I could sense it lying there, tense and ready if I called on it and the realization of that other part, something ancient, primal, and fully elemental, both terrified and thrilled me. The fire within the very planet, deep beneath the surface called to me and it lusted for Jenviet's death.For too long the DeNaga's had toyed with the natural alignment of the planet and its elements. The debt they owed required payment and only blood would suffice.The dark thoughts made me shudder and I shook them off, turning to look for Loi. I could feel her fatigue from holding the ceiling up. The three girls didn't know how close they stood to the barrier that prevented the archaic things from claiming them. I couldn't get them there quicker but I could sense the distant and every time they forced their gifts to the extreme, it drew the
KASSIE AND RUMAL WALKED HAND in hand in front of Kerak. Rumal held a torch in his other hand. At the very front of the long train of soldiers and allies, Loi led the way with Larvaste and Sabyn. They kept following the cavern deeper and deeper, the ceiling getting lower. Kassie's heart beat fast at the horrible sense of claustrophobia that threatened when the floor started to climb and larger stalagmites appeared, making it a slow and complicated path that they helped Kerak to squeeze through. The darkness intimidated and more than once Kassie jerked in shock, thinking she'd seen something in the shadows the torch created. Rumal kept a tight hold of her hand and when they paused, while Loi assessed the correct tunnel to take, he pulled Kassie tight against him. She sighed and wrapped an arm around his back while they waited. No point moaning, she thought determinedly. But it will be so nice to get out of these caves.A call travelled from the front of the line to where they stood near
THE FLOOR SHUDDERED WHILE LOI worked the tunnel. Sian, Kassie, and I hugged Sito's muzzle tight, smiling and soothing when the dragon's eyes went wide with fear, the whites showing. Sian did fantastic, her voice not wavering at all while Loi deflected a rock that smashed down beside her. We spoke aloud and via our thoughts as we coaxed Sito to move.'Just a little further, wriggle your bum forward,' Loi called. 'You're nearly there, honey.'Sito wasn't saying much and we could all feel his heart hammering away. It vibrated through his head while we stroked his muzzle. His head nearly cleared the tunnel but I knew his barrel chest would really be feeling the squeeze and the dragon breathed in shallow quick gasps.LESEACH WATCHED WHILE THE THREE girls kept the dragon calm. Perhaps it was due to their strange upbringing that they didn't hesitate to coddle a beast that could wipe out villages. While Leseach admired Sito, she would never talk to him like an infant. But Sian and Cat str
SHE GASPED AND IGNATIUS FROZE, horror snaking down his spine at the realization. Doing the only thing he could think of, he feigned ignorance.'Ca-catherine?' he stuttered, not hiding the shock.'Oh my god, I'm so sorry!' The hands jerked back and she whispered the words in a tone of dismay. After a long pause, she gave a nervous giggle. 'Did I wake you?'The situation did strike him as funny and he worked at keeping his voice neutral, sleepy. 'Uuhh, yes. Is something wrong?''No, I was dreaming. Sorry to disturb you.'He waited until she settled down, then slowly lay back. The shock left him feeling wide awake and he lay there thanking his good fortune that she hadn't realized.Must put more of the mixture in tomorrow night, he thought, can't have her waking.WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED UP, signalling morning, I waited for Ignatius to dress and leave, hoping like mad it had been a dream.The rational voice in my mind cringed.Nope. Real.With a silent curse I dressed and climbe
GOING UP AND UP FELT strange, I kept expecting to go back down at some point the way you did with tramping, where going up usually always meant going down too, but that wasn't the intention here. Especially not with the molten rock I could sense beneath the ground.Pity it doesn't at least warm this horrid chamber, I thought with a shiver and then retracted that thought when I realized what it would mean. Better to be grateful for the cold.'How many days do we have left?' I thought to Loushka.'Loi said twelve, right? That would mean seven.''Ugh. Seven too many.'The lights of those ahead of us started to vanish and I felt relieved at leaving this ancient chimney while at the same time a sudden pang for sunlight hit. Any novelty of caving felt long gone now; I wanted fresh air and the blue sky, not a permanent darkness. We followed the widening ledge into a corridor and further still until it opened into a spacious, low cave. The griffons were short enough to clear the ceiling b
IT NEARLY FELT LIKE YOU never woke, Sian decided. Going to sleep in the cold dark, waking in the cold dark, and then the day spent walking and climbing in the cold dark. The only thing that improved today's walk was the intoxicating scent and energy of fresh water flowing beneath their feet, and no one but she and Loi knew.And Loi only knows because the plants told her, Sian thought smugly, enjoying feeling in touch with her element once more. Somewhere ahead of them that lovely fresh water pooled and their goal today of reaching that underground lake made Sian want to race there now. Maybe it'll be warm, she thought hopefully.'You're quiet, Pix?'Daron paused by the entrance to a narrow tunnel while Nesha climbed through and he watched Sian with questioning eyes.'Thinking of the lake. And fresh air.''That will be nice,' Daron agreed before giving her a wink and turning to follow Nesha.'You want to get out the caves?' Sito sounded surprised.Sian twisted and found the drago