Chapter Twenty-Three

Wyn

A couple of hours later, our plans are set and we're airborne again. Using the magic of my people, they'd done their best to clone the energy being given off by Kaitlyn. The idea is to let that energy shine bright – almost like a damn spotlight. Nyro, when he comes through the Doors, is going to pick up on that energy – we're counting on him seeing that spotlight – and making a dash for the Riverlands.

Zarik and Ella stayed behind to help get the defenses ready as well as to rally dragons from the other Clans to the Riverlands to combat the army we hope will be descending upon them.

It's all a distraction, of course. A feint of our own. While all of that was going on and all eyes are on the Riverlands, Deyro, Kaitlyn, and I will be sneaking into the Shadow Clan castle to do our work there. I don't know where it came from originally, but Quint had given us a map to their castle that includes the location of a secret entrance.

If all goes according to plan, we'll hit the Deathstone and be through the Doorway just before Nyro and his Gahan are dispatched and the Doors are sealed forever. It's a big if, given all the variables that are unaccounted for. But it's the best plan we have going.

The Shadow Clan Keep sits nestled high in the snowy peaks and because we took a circuitous route, it took us the better part of four hours to get to it from the Riverlands. We came at it from the rear, staying low and flying amongst the craggy outcroppings.

When we finally set down in a small clearing in a forest that butts up against the slopes of the mountain, I wonder if the battle has been joined in the Riverlands just yet. Or if maybe Nyro isn't as smart as I think he is and he's still in LA battling with Quint and our troops there.

Like I said, so many variables, so many if's.

The air around us is bitterly cold and I see Kaitlyn shivering. I quickly dress and dig around in the bag, finding a fur-lined coat Ella had thoughtfully stashed inside. I hand it to her and she slips it on, giving me a look of gratitude.

The sky overhead is slate gray and a gust of chill wind howls by, making even me shiver. I settle my weapons on my back and get myself situated.

“Okay, are we ready to do this?” I ask.

Deyro smiles. “Like you even need to ask?”

I shrug. “Wasn't sure if you were ready to try and keep up with me, that's all.”

Kaitlyn rolls her eyes. “Did you boys want to take them out and measure them right here and now?”

Deyro laughs. “Do you happen to have a ruler handy?” he asks. “Or in my case, a yard stick?”

I laugh and shake my head. “Such grandiose dreams.”

“Can we get moving?” Kaitlyn asks. “I'm drowning in testosterone over here.”

“Let's go,” Deyro says. “We wouldn't want your lady fair to drown, now would we?”

I grin and cut a quick look at Kaitlyn and she smiles back at me. My lady fair. It's silly and he's just trying to get under my skin, but I can't deny that I like the sound of it.

We walk through the woods, searching for the secret passage into the Shadow Clan's Keep – if it even exists. Not knowing the origin of the map Quint gave us, we can't vouch for its authenticity. Which means, the passage might not even be real.

“Hold up,” Deyro says. “I think we have something.”

He kneels down and clears away some of the brush and snow. Looking up at us, Deyro smiles wide. Beneath the debris is a steel hatch.

“Seems like Quint's intel is good after all,” he says.

“Glad I wasn't the only one having doubts,” I reply.

Deyro grasps the handle and pulls. The hatch comes open with the loud, tortured screech of rusted metal.

“Well, if there's anybody in there,” I say, “they know we're coming now.”

“I'd rather have a straight up fight anyway. I'm itchin' for one,” Deyro says. “I haven't killed anything in forever.”

“That makes two of us,” I say.

“You two do realize you sound like a couple of sociopaths right now, don't you?” Kaitlyn asks, her eyebrows raised.

I shrug. “It's the job,” I say. “We're lucky enough to really like what we do.”

“Preach, brother.”

Deyro and I bump fists and although she's shaking her head, Kaitlyn can't suppress the grin tugging at her lips.

“Yeah, that's not helping you guys sound any less sociopathic.”

I turn and look at the dark, shadowy tunnel before us. I have no idea what lays beyond the hatch, but I feel that familiar thrill and rush of adrenaline I get before a fight. I know one is coming – the Shadow Clan Keep won't be completely empty. The only question is when and where.

“Let's get it on,” Deyro says.

I turn and look Kaitlyn in the eyes, my expression and tone serious. “You stay behind us,” I say. “Stay well behind us.”

She nods. “Like I planned on leading the charge.”

“Good girl,” I say and on impulse, give her a quick peck on the lips.

Deyro climbs down the ladder and I quickly follow him. The moment our feet hit the soft dirt of the tunnel, our blades our in our hands. We step forward and pause until we hear Kaitlyn's feet on the ground behind us.

“Game faces on,” Deyro says. “It's about to get real.”

“Let's do it.”

We walk cautiously down the tunnel. It's dark. So dark, even my enhanced vision can't quite penetrate the inky blackness ahead of us. Even though I can't see anything, I can sense that we're not alone down here. Something's in the tunnel with us.

“You feel that?” Deyro whispers.

I nod. “Yeah. I feel it.”

“You don't happen to have a flashlight, do you?”

“It's in my other coat,” I say. “But, I do have something better.”

I draw my magic into me and summon a ball of light. When it's fully formed and casting off a bright glow, I release it, sending it in the air like a bubble ahead of us.

“That's a cool trick,” Deyro says. “You're getting pretty good with your magic.”

I shrug. “Parlor tricks mostly. The really simple, basic stuff,” I reply. “I'm wishing I'd studied harder and actually read some of the books I was supposed to right about now.”

“Well, at least you're good with a blade,” he says. “At least you got that going for you.”

“It's going to have to be enough.”

The ball of light floats ahead and it doesn't take long for us to see that we are in fact, not alone. The light glints off the eyes of the creatures in the tunnel with us. A dozen, at least. Gahan. They stand about fifty yards ahead of us, crouched down, looks of pure hatred on their faces. The moment we spot them, they start chittering and making low, guttural grunts.

“Well, you said you were itchin' for a fight,” I say.

“Yes, yes I did,” Deyro says, a smile on his face.

I look back at Kaitlyn and see the terror on her face. “It's okay if you guys want to be sociopaths,” she says. “Be my guest. Please.”

“Just stay behind us.”

We're outnumbered, but the one thing working in our favor is that the tunnel isn't very wide. Deyro and I can stand side by side, but these creatures won't be able to get by us without getting their head lopped off first.

We glance at each other and grin. I feel my adrenaline ramping up and a sense of excitement flooding my veins.

“Hundred bucks says I tag more,” I say.

“You're so on,” Deyro replies.

“You two aren't actually betting on who kills more of those things are you?” Kaitlyn asks from behind us.

I shrug. “Hey, you said we could be sociopaths.”

“True enough.”

The Gahan charge at us, their guttural cries echoing around the tunnel around us. I launch myself forward, my blades whirling and slicing. A high-pitched screech fills my ears as my blade strikes home, slicing straight through the neck of the creature nearest to me. Its head rolls off its shoulders, sending a spray of blood high onto the tunnel wall.

The creature rushing up behind it kicks the head, sending it rolling past me. I don't think twice about it until I hear Kaitlyn shrieking. I risk a quick glance behind me and see her dancing around, trying to get away from the rolling head as if it were attacking her.

I laugh as I turn forward again – and barely get out of the way of a Gahan's claws. It rakes through the air next to me. If I'd been one beat later, I'd have that ugly sucker's claws in my eyes. I throw a punch and catch it square in the face. The creature stumbles backwards, a stunned expression on its face. It stands there and looks at me for a moment as it tries to collect itself.

“Too long, buddy,” I say and step forward, driving the point of my blade through its chest.

My blade gets stuck and I can't free it before another Gahan crashes into me from the side. I let go of the sword and try to get my other sword around, but find myself pinned against the wall. The Gahan is biting the air, trying to sink its sharp teeth into my neck and I'm having trouble moving. I get myself turned around and am barely holding off the snapping jaws of the thing when the point of a blade erupts through its forehead, spraying blood and sticky tissue all over me.

I look around the dead creature and see Deyro's grinning face looking back at me. He yanks his blade free and lets the body drop to the ground at my feet.

“I'm on six,” he says. “How about you?”

“I just passed twenty-two,” I say.

“Yeah, I call bullshit,” he laughs.

I grab my second sword and step up beside Deyro. Our blades flash and spin, both of us moving with a fluid grace as we cut through creature after creature. Our breathing is a little bit labored when the last creature falls, but we're both grinning and laughing.

“Unfortunately,” he says. “I think that ended in a draw.”

From the corner of my eye, I see one of the creatures on the ground twitching, a gravelly rasp coming from its throat. I step over to it and drive the point of my blade through its head, ending its twitching and moaning for good.

“Actually,” I say. “That makes me one up, I do believe.”

Deyro laughs. “You're such an ass,” he says. “That doesn't count.”

“It totally counts,” I protest. “It was still alive.”

“Barely.”

I turn to Kaitlyn, who's looking at us with an expression that's somewhere between horror, disgust, and a dark amusement on her face. I look at Deyro and see that he's covered in blood and gore – and know that I'm looking much the same way. I don't doubt we present a very gruesome image.

“Ref,” I say. “We need a ruling on the field here.”

She shakes her head. “Wow,” she says. “You guys really enjoy killing.”

“There's money on the line,” Deyro says. “Money is a great motivator.”

“I think you took that go be sociopathic thing a little too seriously,” she says.

I shrug. “You can never be too sociopathic when money's on the line.”

“It's a draw,” she says. “Now, can we go?”

“Told you,” Deyro nudges me.

“That sucks,” I say.

We turn and head off down the tunnel, leaving a massive pile of bodies behind us. Okay, maybe we did go a little sociopathic. But, hey, it was all in good fun.