Chapter 246

SILENTLY THANKING IGNATIUS FOR LOADING me up with so many weapons, I groped around my armour, hunting for the thin blade of elendite I knew he'd stashed somewhere.

'Aha!' I whispered in triumph, slipping the blade out from under the rapthna plating on my lower back. 'Will this be strong enough?'

'Should be,' Alek breathed the words, his fingers exploring the blade. 'You don't usually carry this?'

'Thank Iggy,' I whispered, then pushed him back. 'Sit straight, I'd hate to slip.'

I felt for the base, following the chain down and gave a tiny laugh of delight when I felt the padlock.

'What?'

'Padlock. I'm not likely to get zapped, am I?'

'No. This room has crystals that block energy. You have to wear one to be able to use your gift.'

I nodded and slipped the blade through the arm of the padlock, inwardly thanking the caretaker at my high school who'd shown me this trick with a screwdriver when I lost my locker key.

'Pull the chain tight,' I instructed. It was as easy as it had bee