CHAPTER 28

Lis tried to send Adda a wave of security, of hope, to let her know she was coming for her.

She tucked the oil away as carefully as she dared, pulling out her flint as she did. In one single, decisive stroke, her pillar burned with the intense heat of a spilled lantern.

Great Six, let Cillumn get that signal. She could not wait to see if he did. She ran, her bare feet pelting across the stone, making far more noise than she cared for, reaching the previous pillar. One strike of the flint lit that one, as well.

A mangled hand wrapped around her upper arm. In the rush of the moment, it seemed almost like a nightmare. The remains of a man's face hovered next to her, wide mouth half transformed to lip-less wolf snout. His teeth were still intact, though, and they gleamed in the light of the fire she just lit.

Lis' mind stuttered for an instant and then she did the only thing that she could. Bracing herself below the band of blazing lantern fluid, she pulled. His jaws snapped at the empty space where her arm had been. He still held firm, of course, which was why she yanked toward the fire. The man-creature would have two choices, let go or burn.

Sadly, as intelligent as Lis had come to realize the Quatori were as a group, on his own, they didn't appear too smart. He didn't let go, not at first, not until the flames licked at his skin and a sickening smell of burning flesh filled the air. Lis pulled just as the awareness of his situation registered on his face.

At last, he released, clawing, instead, at the flames that had taken hold in the remnants of his hair. She did not waste time. She turned and fled toward her pattern of fires to light.

An enraged bellow stirred the complacency of the possessed Shifters. Alerted to their presence, or, at least to some presence, they swarmed into a mass of confusing bodies behind her. She was out of the ranks, but some of the creatures were sniffing and oozing her direction.

Lis hoped the disruption meant that Cillumn had somehow gotten Adda. She was getting close to the latticework now, the last of the structures she needed to weaken. Smoke tainted the air, it would never fill the cavern, the space was too massive, but she hoped that it might overwhelm or confuse the noses of the Shifters.

When the latticework finally loomed before her, she dared another look back. The previously organized gathering was a twisting river of Shifters, they moved and flowed about each other in frenzied agitation. Only one figure, a massive gray dragon at the head of the pack where the Master had stood, remained in place.

Fear, bright as the flames she lit coursed into her. Instinct urged her to stop, to find a place now where she might hide. It was nearly impossible to think through the panic. Nearly.

Gotta light those fires.

She pushed herself forward, turning her gaze and her focus from the beast.

Three more.

Illaise appeared at her side with a scowl deep enough to cause any pup to wet itself. She was nearly as intimidating as the dragon, but Lis paused at the next pillar anyway. This one took three strikes on the flint from her shaking fingers.

Illaise reached out to her, intending, perhaps, to pull her toward the exit. Lis deftly avoided her grasp, striking the flint again. If she didn't finish, they would be trailed by the entirety of the Shifters in the cavern, and they would have accomplished nothing. Lis wanted to strike a blow to the Quatori, to end the gathering of Shifters, and make sure that none of this happened to anyone else.

She finally managed a spark and lit the post. It blazed immediately, the ring of lantern fluid guiding the flames and creating an intense heat. Lis knew from experience that the flames combined with that fluid would eat away quickly at wood. She had lost more than one worktable due to unfortunate spills of the stuff. Even now, a few moments later, she could see that the wood indented where the fire had started.

Two more.

Illaise had given up trying to grab at her, but she remained by Lis' side, regardless. Lis was thankful for it, too, when a Shifter appeared before them, dropping as if from the sky. It must have been one of the creatures walking the walkways above; whether by the Master's call or its own senses it, had found them. Illaise tackled the beast without waiting for it to move against them. A firm kick to the side sent it sprawling into the deeper shadows beneath the walkway itself. She waved an impatient hand, indicating Lis should continue on, and then dashed after the beast using the pillars lattice for cover.

Others were becoming aware of their location. Lis willed them to remain in place just a little longer. The dragon, too, was stalking, not toward her, but toward something around the base of the wall in the distance. Lis lit the pillar and moved on to the last. One more, but they would have to move fast after that.

Lis raised the flint and then took a calculated, and admittedly large, risk.

“Everyone out!” she yelled as loudly as she could. Surrounded by hundreds of enemies that hunted primarily by sound, it was likely not the most intelligent move someone could make. She couldn't, however, just start off what would be a dangerous situation without making sure those that had come to keep her safe were also kept safe.

As predicted, the definitive noise attracted the attention of the mass of Shifters still milling about the cavern's center trying to catch a scent. They began flowing her direction with alarming speed. She did not hesitate farther. She struck at the flint like a madwoman until enough of a spark flew that she was certain the flame would catch. Then, she turned and ran toward the tunnel they had entered upon. Not a safe exit, not by a long shot, but it was the only one she knew.

A surprising amount of emotion stabbed at her when she reached the tunnels start and found Cillumn there, clutching Adda over his shoulder. She was unconscious, but breathing, and looked to be, for the most part, unharmed. He had done it. Lis had the overwhelming urge to say something stupid that she would probably regret. Fortunately, there was no time for such nonsense, a great crack and groan signaled that her calculations had been correct. The beams she had picked to burn were bearing enormous loads; without the support of the wooden pillars the cavern was destined to collapse. The remaining lanterns fluttered as if a great gust of wind somehow blew around them.

Lis gestured to Cillumn, now would be a good time to leave, if they didn't want to be caught in the cave in. He met her eyes, but did not move. She decided that he watched for the others, but it was hardly smart to get themselves killed doing nothing but waiting. She had risked her life to warn them all.

Even now, the Shifters closed in on their location. Within seconds, they would be overwhelmed. Lis bounced on her toes, not enjoying allowing the enemy to charge her direction.

She wished, for a moment, she could tell what Cillumn was thinking. He did not appear worried, or nervous, about the inevitable onslaught.

“Go,” Scet growled at her, dashing in from the side. She hadn't even seen him coming. He was followed immediately by Illaise, who limped slightly. Now Cillumn moved, handing Adda, who swung like a bundle of rags, to Scet and turned to the main chamber, as if he prepared to take on the entire force himself. He wanted to buy them time.

But it wasn't necessary. The first of the pillars had finally burned through, the snap of its collapse enough to send Lis' heart skipping. The loss of the first support set of a chain reaction, the weakened pillars snapping in close succession and great chunks of the stone ceiling followed their descent. The remaining lanterns flickered into darkness in a wave of dust and debris.

It was not hard to calculate the path of destruction, since she was the one who set it, but predicting the amount and size of the rocks that would depart from the ceiling was another matter. The sound of the collapse had stolen the attention of the others for a moment, so Lis was the only one not looking into the distance. The only one to see the danger.

She leapt for Scet, smashing her body against his with what she hoped was enough force to make a difference. The man was nearly immovable, it was like ramming against the walls themselves. It was far enough, however, to shove him the few inches required.

The first of the heavy fat stones struck hard, pain lashed through her skull where they landed. And then, with unnatural speed, Lis was being whisked through the air. Without support, she would have wound up a tangle of limbs flying to the cavern floor. Fortunately for her, Cillumn had a firm grip. He looked, for a moment, at the solid pile of rocks that occupied the space where she had just been, and then back at the ever-nearing chaos of the chamber.

“Run,” Lis urged into the surrounding darkness. An unnecessary command, Illaise had stumbled into her in her haste to escape and they pelted down the tunnel limbs brushing against one another. Lis had done her best to memorize the route they had taken within, but she worried now, with the panic of the collapse and the horde behind them, that she might make a mistake and take them in a direction that would leave them trapped.

They made their first left turn into a familiar feeling tunnel and then stopped short. Scet stopped, too, his hand braced against Lis to let her know he was there.

The sound of panting breath was loud in the crowded space. Scet's hand squeezed her shoulder.

“You saved my life,” he muttered. Oddly, he sounded surprised, Lis couldn't see why. It wasn't like she could just stand by and watch as the collapse overcame him, even if he hadn't been holding her sister.

She waited, but did not sense Cillumn.

Her stomach twisted. The collapse had ended, a muffled silence hung around them. Worse, the scent of Quatori was strong here, as if they had heard the commotion and gathered nearby to wait for an opportunity.

Lis wondered deeper along the tunnel until she found one of the wooden supports, and then, in the same manner as the cavern, she lit it. It took less than a minute, but it felt like an eternity with Cillumn missing and the enemy ready to pounce.

The first flashes of flame caused a surprised hissing from within the tunnel, confirming her belief that the Quatori were gathering there. Lis looked back at the others. They were in poor shape. Both Scet and Illaise were covered in dirt and shallow wounds, and Adda, skin bruised and limp, simply flopped against Scet's shoulder.

“Where's Cillumn?” Lis whispered, counting on the flame to deter the Quatori from her noise.

“He dashed into the cavern just as it was collapsing,” Scet shrugged.

What? Lis shook her head trying to work her thoughts into place. Why would he do that?

“Then the fool must be left to his fate. We have to move forward, before any of those things catches up, or this section collapses, as well.”

“No, I'm not leaving, not after everything he did. He came down here to save us,” Lis was a little surprised her words formed at all around the dust that her mouth had become. A chill settled at the base of her spine.

“Fine, but then give us your fire liquid and flint, so we at least can survive this night. The Quatori gather just out of the flame's reach now.”

“And just how is it you propose we get to the next beam, Illaise? I see none in the light's influence. The only member of our group that can push through that far without death would be Cill...”

Stone stirred behind us, a distinctive clunk of rock upon rock.

Lis' heart leapt. The Shifters, they had made it through the collapse and were heading toward them. She had only one dart left, but she raised the launcher and waited.

The figure that came around the bend nearly had her firing. Only one thing stopped her, it was supporting a second body. Lis had never seen the Quatori or the possessed do such a thing. It was a fortunate thing she hesitated, too, for it became clear quickly that it was indeed Cillumn, dusty and scratched, with open wounds on his arms and one nasty looking gash on his temple. Who he had rescued, she couldn't say, but such relief poured through her she nearly threw herself at him. She didn't, since it would have been highly illogical, and this was hardly the place for an intimate embrace. Her hopes soared, however. They had done it.

Amber eyes scanned the situation.

“The Shifters are destroyed...or at least blocked, we were the last to make it into the tunnel. Everyone alive? Good, let's get out of this Gods forsaken hole,” he handed his burden, a Shifter, but one not yet possessed—one of those from Adda's line?-- to Illaise. “You need me to push the Quatori back?”

Gods she loved this man.

They were internal words, but still, they shocked her. No, she didn't love him. She couldn't. Love between a Shifter and a Lord never turned out well. Besides, it was his dragon that would choose his mate. If Lis wasn't more careful with her emotions, she would be one of history's long line of heartbroken women the Lords left behind. She shouldn't even allow herself to be attracted to him, but that she seemed to have little control over.

Unable to speak past her own stupid emotions, she simply nodded.

Even in human form, Cillumn's strength far outmatched that of a Shifter; he hefted a loose stone from the floor and raised a dust covered eyebrow Lis' direction.

“About twenty yards on the left of the tunnel near the wall,” she closed her eyes, sensing, and naming his target. The stone flew hard and true, it landed with a meaty thud and a squeal of outrage. Lis expected another to replace the first, but the scent of the creatures retreated.

They worked their way along the tunnels in that fashion, until they neared the original entrance. She shuddered when a breeze from outside finally touched her skin. Behind them, the tunnels had slowly collapsed with their passing, but her innate instinct of direction proved true and they stood, at last, beneath the first steep drop.

Night, and silence, had fallen in the outside world, the darkness without only a little less ominous than the tunnels themselves. Whatever Quatori were in these tunnels had fled into the side passages and maze-like corridors that Lis happily collapsed as they passed. Her lantern fluid was nearly spent, but it was well worth the result. It would be a very long time before the Master, or whoever ran such evil, recovered from the devastation she had caused.

Cillumn stood beside her, his form slightly visible, but his expression unreadable.

“There is no way to tell what remains up there, the battle was intense when I entered here. I can think of only one reason for such silence and the Master, at least, escaped below ground.”

Lis forced herself to stay standing. All she wanted was to sag to the cavern floor, next to the remains of the Shifter who had fallen in. At least he was at rest. She was so tired, there was no way she would be able to fight her way through another mass of enemy.

“Well, are you coming up or have you been down there long enough that life is starting to feel cozy underground?”

The voice was familiar, and though the head that popped into view was little more than dark shadows, Lis could imagine the silky blond locks and boyish grin on Strale's face as he spoke.

“Strale, you have no idea how happy I am to see you,” Cillumn called back. He did not race to the exit, however, he urged Illaise and the man that leaned heavily upon her, forward.

“Easy, Bloodbriar, these attributes are spoken for.”

“They are?”

“Well, not yet,” Strale admitted, grunting a little as he pulled Illaise over the lip of the opening. “But she will come to her senses soon, especially once your woman expounds upon my virtues as promised.”

Lis withheld a snort, unsure of whether to be irritated at being labeled Cillumn's woman, or that he had made up a bargain that she took no place in. She was too relieved to be alive to protest, though. She was breathing and Adda was free. If he wanted, she would tell legions about his virtues. She grinned stupidly, imagining standing upon a pulpit speaking to hordes of women gathered to hear about the golden Dragon Lord.

“Come on up, friend,” Strale called down once she and Cillumn were the only two left within the pit. “There is something you should see.”