30. Davon

Chapter 30

Davon

T he passage yawned ahead of us, ready to swallow us whole. Valdar, his general, and two guards took the lead, and I followed, the rest of our group falling in line behind. Narrow, the tunnel's rough walls brushed my shoulders as we moved single file, our steps muffled by the soft earth. The air grew colder and damper with each step, the scent of mold and something sharper bringing on a cough I could barely suppress.

Valdar held up a fist, and we halted. A faint glow ahead revealed a guard post tucked into a narrow section of the tunnel. Two males stood in the shadows, their scales barely visible in the dim light, their voices low and bored.

Valdar turned to me, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. He held up two fingers, then made a slicing motion across his throat. I nodded, understanding. We'd to take them out quietly.

We crept forward, our bodies hugging the wall. Valdar and I exchanged a glance, then moved as one. He grabbed the first guard from behind, his hand clamping over the male's mouth as his other dragged a dagger across his throat. I did the same to the second, his body convulsing before going limp. We lowered them to the ground and the others dragged them into a small channel nearby to hide them.

Valdar motioned for us to continue. The tunnel branched off into a maze of interconnected passages, but he navigated them with confidence. I stayed alert, my ears straining to catch any sound, my eyes scanning the darkness for threats.

The tunnel opened into a larger cavern, the ceiling high above us lost in shadows. A group of the king's loyal guards huddled around a fire, their voices echoing in the vast space. They looked up as we entered, their eyes widening in surprise.

With a roar, I charged, my sword gouging out. The Veerenads behind me rushed in, their battle cries filling the air. The guards scrambled to their feet, drawing their weapons, but we were already upon them.

I fought with a ferocity born of desperation, my thoughts only on reaching Maggie. I parried a guard's blow, then drove my sword through his chest. Another lunged at me, his spear aimed at my heart. I twisted to the side, the spear grazing my arm, leaving a burning trail of pain.

Sand erupted from the floor, flinging itself at him, and he cried out, staggering back.

My sand gods were helping .

“Thank you,” I shouted to them.

Grunting, I ignored my wound and slammed the hilt of my sword into his face. He staggered back, and I finished him off with a thrust.

Around me, the Veerenads fought with equal ferocity, quickly overwhelming the guards. They fell, their bodies littering the cavern floor.

Valdar clapped me on the shoulder, his snout pulled back in a fierce grin. “We're close, Davon. We'll find her.”

We pushed on, the labyrinth of tunnels growing more intricate. The passages twisted and turned, and I'd be lost if Valdar wasn't guiding the way. Narrow corridors opened into wide chambers echoing with the distant drip of water and the scratch of unseen creatures.

The glow of light ahead made us slow. Valdar held up a hand, and we melted into the shadows, our backs pressing against the rough stone walls. He and I exchanged a look. I suspected this was more than just a guard post; this was the heart of the caverns and possibly the king's last stand.

I leaned out slightly, peering into the vast chamber beyond. A contingent of the king's forces huddled around a large fire, the flames creating shadows on the towering walls. Numerous, they looked uneasy, their eyes darting to the many tunnel mouths stretching out from around them. They must know we were coming.

“We need to split up,” I whispered. “Flank them from all sides.”

Valdar nodded. “Kro Ek, take part of the force and circle around to the left. Krekk, you take four and that tunnel.” He pointed. “Torinar? You and two others pace two openings past Krekk and enter there. Davon will take three of us and enter from a few openings on our right. The last of our group and I will work our way around to the opposite side. Attack when you hear my cry.”

Softly grunting, we disappeared into the shadows. I carefully guided my group to the right, using the flickering shadows cast by the fire to hide until it was time.

The sharp taint of smoke and the musk of Veerenad sweat overwhelmed me.

We waited, our weapons tight in our hands and with sweat trickling down our faces. Finally, Valdar released a low chitter, the signal.

With a roar, we charged into the chamber, our battle cries echoing off the walls. The king's guards reeled around; their wide eyes filled with anger. We clashed in a flurry of steel and scales, the chamber filling with the snarls of battle.

I fought with a desperation born of love and fear, my sword flashing in the firelight. I dodged a guard's wild swing, his blade whistling past my ear, and countered with a swift thrust. He fell, his body twitching as I wrenched my sword free.

Around me, Valdar and his forces engaged the enemy, brutal and efficient. They used the shadows, striking from the darkness and melting away before the guards could counter.

The remaining king's forces regrouped, forming a defensive circle around one particular passage. Was that where the king thought he could hide? Their spears bristled, and their eyes gleamed with malice.

Valdar and I exchanged a glance. We needed to break their formation to get past them. I signaled to a small group of Veerenads, pointing toward the narrow alcoves carved into the right chamber wall. They nodded, giving me sharp grins.

“One moment,” I said, stooping down. Yes, there was some sand mixed in with the soil on the cavern floor. I closed my eyes and asked the gods to help if they could and the sand warmed beneath my palm.

Straightening, I nodded.

Valdar gave me an odd look. “I’ve heard of your gods but . . .”

“It’s hard for anyone to believe.”

He grunted and spun to attack. While he and the rest roared toward the guards in the front, I and a few others split off and circled behind the enemy. Focused on the main battle, they didn't hear us coming.

Sand lifted from the ground, swirling around me like the sand twisters I’d seen in the desert. It plunged toward the guards and when it hit them, they cried out in terror. We used their disarray to our advantage, attacking them from the rear.

Their line crumbled, and we pressed forward, driving them back toward the fire pit. The battle turned into a frenzy, Veerenads snarling and weapons slashing.

I fought with single-minded fury, my thoughts fixed on Maggie. I could see her face, her smile, and hear her laughter. The memory of her screams as they took her away made anger boil inside me. I channeled that rage into my strikes, my sword moving with deadly precision.

We pushed forward, our footsteps loud in the tunnels. The clash of steel and the growls of battle still rang in my ears, but we were closer now, I could feel it. Maggie was near.

The passage widened, and we reached a heavily secured area. Guards lined the entrance, their spears bristling, snarls ripping up their throats.

I didn't hesitate but charged forward, my sword flashing, my heart overwhelmed with the need to reach Maggie. The guards lunged at me, but I parried their blows, my sword moving in for the kill.

Valdar and the others battled around me with a ferocity that matched my own, their cries piercing my ears.

One by one, the king's guards fell, and we stepped over them, leaving them on the ground.

The king slid from the shadows, weapons in both of his hands. His eyes locked on Valdar, and he slashed his blades through the air, a wild smile on his face.

Valdar growled, rushing forward to meet his uncle's challenge.

The two males circled each other, the scent of their sweat filling the air. Valdar's allies moved in, eliminating the final guards, their movements quick and efficient.

“Go, Davon,” Valdar grunted, his eyes never leaving the king. “Find your mate.”

I rushed past them, and when I entered the passage behind the king, her faint voice reached me. “Davon. ”

I followed the sound, my feet flying over the rough stone. Then I saw her, pressed against the bars of a cell, her face full of relief.

“Maggie,” I breathed, rushing to her. I grabbed the bars, my eyes scanning her for any signs of injury. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, her eyes filled with water of sadness. “I'm fine. The key's on a hook at the end of the hall.”

I grabbed it and returned to the cell. My hands shook as I fumbled with the lock, but finally, I got it open. After swinging the door wide, I pulled Maggie into my arms, holding her, feeling her heart beat against mine.

“I thought I'd lost you,” I whispered, my voice rough with spent fear.

“You found me.” Her arms tightened around me. “You found me, Davon.”

We were together again, and that was all that mattered.

I tugged my small gift from my pocket and reverently laid it in her hands. “I was going to wait for a special moment, but I don’t want to wait for anything any longer.” I closed her fingers around it. “This is for you, love.”

She peeled back the fabric surrounding the small item, revealing the necklace she’d admired in the market.

“Davon,” she said, her voice tight. “You got this for me?” New tears filled her eyes, and I hated being the cause, but maybe, this time, they were the rare tears of joy and not those of sorrow. “Thank you. Would you help me put it on?”

I lifted it from the fabric and went around behind her, gently securing it around her neck and leaning forward after to kiss her nape. “I want to give you the world, Maggie. All I am and all I can ever be.”

She turned and hugged me. “You already have.”

I wanted to stay here forever, holding her while knowing that for now, we were safe. But we needed to leave this place.

I took her hand, my eyes meeting hers. “I’m taking you out of here.”

She nodded. “Love you, Davon.”