“Has everyone treated their weapons with Death Lily toxin?” I asked.
Nods and “yes, sirs.”
“Who has the blow gun?” I asked.
Private Red Hair stepped forward.
“Loren, are your arrows—”
“Yes, they’re covered.”
And my throwing knives had been dipped in the toxin. “Loren, you take point, followed by Private...”
“Judi, sir.”
“Judi and me. The three of us will do as much damage as possible from a distance. When they close the gap, we’ll try to push through so you can engage the enemy. Don’t forget there’s a delay before the toxin works. Do you all know the skull jab?”
More nods and “yes, sirs.”
“Questions?”
“What if there are more outside the shaft?” Beau asked.
Good question. “Once we start the fight, there’s no going back. We’ll keep pressing on until we run out of opposition.” Or they stopped us, but I kept that to myself. “And keep to the plan if anything happens to me. Loren’s the one who needs to get close to Tohon’s tent. I’m just here as backup. Understand?”
Unhappy agreement.
Beau extinguished the lantern, and Loren led us through the darkness. We formed a line, keeping a hand on the shoulder of the person in front of us.
As we neared the exit, the blackness diluted in subtle hues. Loren solidified into a dark figure and shadows defined the rough contours of the walls. The shaft veered to the right. Loren fitted an arrow into his bow, signaling us to be ready.
I pulled two knives, while Judi primed her blow gun. We fanned out to each side of Loren. Light shone beyond the bend.
Loren counted under his breath, “One, two, three.”
On three we stepped into view. The bow twanged and a puff of air sounded. Squinting in the brightness, I aimed at the closest figure on the right without an arrow sticking out of his or her chest. Judi aimed left so we didn’t waste our weapons. I managed to hit another before the first wave of dead reached us.
We were armed with swords, but the tight space limited their effectiveness. Instead of throwing my knives, I poked the thin blades into the enemy as I shoved through them.
The stench of the dead filled the tunnel along with shouts, curses, and the ring of metal. After I used my last knife, strong hands clamped on my wrist, tugging me toward the exit. I glanced back to see the gap between me and my team widen.
Fear and revulsion fueled my efforts to break free. Frantic I pressed my hand on one man’s face, zapping him. Of course, it didn’t slow my progress. I covered another’s eyes. No effect.
If only they obeyed me like Yuri. But he didn’t obey me until I touched him again. Why not? I gasped. Flea! Flea had checked Yuri’s pulse after I awoke him to confirm Yuri’s status. That was why Yuri didn’t listen to me until after I touched him the second time.
I reached for the closest dead flesh and yelled, “Stop!”
He did. Ecstatic, I touched the ones near me, ordering them to stop. However, others pressed in, trapping my arms. They passed me up the steep slope and right into the waiting arms of Tohon.
* * *
Tohon smiled. “Fancy meeting you here, my dear.”
I grabbed his throat, intending to squeeze the life from him. But two living soldiers pulled me off him and yanked my arms behind my back. At least two dozen others fanned out around the tunnel’s exit along with a half dozen dead ufas.
“Bind her hands,” Tohon ordered. “You try my patience, my dear.”
Cold metal bit into my wrists—an all-too-familiar feeling.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“Your sleep powder actually worked in my favor. I could rifle through your thoughts without your waking or remembering my presence.” Tohon gestured to his guards. “Take care of anyone who makes it out of the tunnel.”
“Yes, sire.”
“No!” I said.
They all ignored me.
“Don’t, Tohon, I’ll...”
“You’ll what?” Tohon asked. “Cooperate? Promise not to kill me? Agree to be my queen? It’s too late for that.” He stepped closer to me. “No doubt you’re smart. It’s no surprise you figured out that the dead obey whichever magician touches them last. So let’s not pretend you don’t know what else is going on between us.”
“You can’t claim me, Tohon. You tried before and failed.”
“And now I know why. With two magicians, one can’t force it on the other. It grows with time and the use of magic. That’s the beauty of this...bond.” He savored the word.
My stomach churned with bile.
“Do you remember the first time we met?” Tohon asked.
“Unfortunately.” It had also been my first run-in with his dead.
“During our brief encounter, I imprinted on you and started the process. Sheer happenstance.” He swung his arm wide. “I’ve been learning all about this wonderful quirk of our magic while waiting for you.”
Ah. The real reason he’d been camping in the ruins of the Healer’s Guild—the underground storage room with all those crates full of research notes.
Tohon linked his arm through mine. “Now, let’s go get into position so we’re ready for Team Kerrick. I believe they’re attacking two hours after midnight.”
I glanced back. No activity at the mouth of the tunnel. Pain clamped around my heart. Maybe the quiet meant my team had retreated deeper in the mines. Beau did know his way around. I clung to that bit of hope.