67. Tori

"I

don't like this, Tori." Abraxas wrapped his arms around me in a crushing grip. "Last time I let you out of my sight, I nearly lost you."

"I'm not the same as I was then. None of us are." I gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek before pushing out of his arms.

Hechuckled, "You certainly aren't." He ran a hand down my cheek before peering over my shoulder. "And you certainly aren't alone."

Inthe morning light, I could see all their faces clearly. Avlyn, Jun, Kaleos, Raula, and even Spinner. My friends and family. It was quite the entourage, to be honest. I'd made the mistake of leaving them behind before. I wouldn't do that again.

Inthe distance, I could still hear the ring of battle. Abraxas would return, our rallying point, but if we wanted to win the day, we couldn't depend on force alone.

Theking turned to Avlyn. "Commander, without you…"

"Tulius is in command. He's got this. Now it's my time to be useful." They twisted their injured arm, a phantom movement of a sword. Their gaze was steady as they furrowed their eyebrows. "You know, as a dragon, you could be much more effective."

Abraxasshook his head. "We decided that once we entered the city, I would be too destructive. The battle is only a distraction. I need to lure Hadeon out; the best way to do that will be in this form."

Avlynnodded. "No time to waste, then."

Abraxasgave me one last lingering look. "Good luck to all of you."

"SLEEP."

Thegroup of soldiers we snuck up on all collapsed into a snoring pile. We hadn't met many on our journey around the battle to the back of the city, but Jun had taken care of them all peacefully.

Inthe distance, the clash of swords rang out. Each was a potential death. We didn't have time to waste. As if he had read my mind, I felt Spinner speed up until I heard what we were looking for.

Thewater that splashed out from the grate at the foot of the wall smelled horrendous from the waste of a dozen species mixed with refuse and who knew what else. I tried not to throw my hand over my nose, but it only took a few moments before my eyes were watering like the smell was burning them.

Nopoint in complaining. This was the only way. Luckily, Noki did it for me.

"Is this really our only choice?" Noki whinged.

"Yes," Avlyn and Raula answered in unison. Noki pinched his nose.

"How did you know about this place?" I asked Avlyn.

"Pallas told me. She said Koron was actually built over an ancient river that still flows beneath the city, acting as a sewer. It's connected to the palace directly."

Ihummed approvingly. The best chance we had.

Thegrate that covered the sewer opening was made of iron bars as thick as a man's wrist. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kaleos wrapping his hands in linen, and Raula dutifully trudged through the putrid stream to take up her place on the other side. They both grabbed a bar and looked at Jun.

Hestepped forward, and I heard him take a deep breath. The world seemed to still as I felt my heartbeat slow along with his as he focused on his power. His face was serene, and it reminded me of how he would look during one of his performances a lifetime ago.

Hetook one more steadying breath and slowly opened his eyes. In a voice no more than a whisper but sharper than any blade, he said, "CUT."

Thespell was beautiful in its precision, truly a work of art. The magic shifted around the grate, and I saw line after line appear through those impenetrable bars, the sound of them cleaving no louder than the wind through the trees.

Junstepped back, nodding to Raula and Kaleos. They each gave strained groans as they pulled the leaden grate, but it slid out smoothly, each cut perfectly laid. They set it down beside the opening.

"Not bad, Nightingale." Avlyn's teeth flashed in the dim light. "Now it's my turn. Princess, if you don't mind."

Inodded and placed my hands on Avlyn's back, guiding mana through them. They shifted the flow of putrid water against one wall of the tunnel, clearing a drier path for us.

"Not bad, yourself, Commander." Jun quipped.

"Oh, you know me, always trying to make the best of a shitty situation." Avlyn replied with a cocky smile.

Igroaned, "Please stop looking so pleased with yourself."

"No can do, Princess. Best to get this over with."

"Could have done that before I had to wade through it," Raula grumbled.

"Gotta preserve my energy, still getting used to this whole magic thing." Avlyn wiggled their eyebrows as they spoke.

"Convenient," Raula huffed, but she was the first to climb into the dank tunnel. Spinner followed.

Thedarkness beneath Koron carried the echoes of our attempt to muffle our steps. The chill from the sewer"s damp walls nipped at my skin, and I shivered, but that wasn't the only reason. This was it, the end, one way or another. This same thought seemed to weigh on everyone as we moved forward in silence.

Aswe rounded a bend, the narrow tunnel opened into a larger underground chamber, likely a junction for the various sewer paths under the city. Waiting for us was a squadron of palace guards. They stood alert and ready; our intrusion was not as stealthy as we had desired. Their armor clinked menacingly as they arranged themselves into a defensive line, spears pointed outward and a row of archers behind.

Withouthesitation, Avlyn stepped forward, their arms raised. The putrid water they had been holding back formed a swirling shield. "Duck!" they yelled, just as a volley of arrows hissed through the air toward us. The water intercepted the arrows, each shaft sinking into the liquid barrier but not passing through.

Raulaand Kaleos wasted no time. They met the approaching guards as they darted around the barrier, one on each side, their blades drawn and gleaming even in the scant light offered by the few torches that lined the damp corridor walls. The clang of steel rang out as they met the first of the palace guards, amplified in the tight space.

"Move forward!" Raula's strong and commanding voice echoed back to us.

Jun, his earlier calmness now replaced with a focused determination, nodded at me and followed, his body glowing a soft white. He stepped beside Avlyn. "My turn," he murmured, the air around him shimmering with magical energy.

Hewrapped his hand around his mouth to create a channel and let out a piercing shriek. It nearly tore out my ears, but I saw he had aimed it to reflect off the sewer ceiling in a way that focused it at the opposing archers. They clutched their heads, staggering from the disorienting sonic attack; their formation faltered.

Seizingthe moment, Kaleos and Raula charged. They moved with lethal precision, and one enemy after another fell. Noki and I followed behind them, finishing any who had escaped their blades.

Asthe last guard slumped to the ground, the chamber fell silent except for the distant drip of water and our ragged breathing. Raula and Kaleos had taken the brunt of the attack. Raula was uninjured; her orc skin protected her.

Kaleoshad a gash across his arm that he waved me away from as I tried to pull bandages from my pack. "No time, Princess, and honestly, I'm used to this after all our dueling. Let's get moving before they hear—"

Hefroze as Spinner crawled down the wall beside him, grabbing Kaleos' arm and holding it with his front legs. He pushed his abdomen forward, and the man flinched. A stream of ultrafine spider silk shot out over the wound, stanching any bleeding.

"Thanks," Kaleos said with his bright smile, and Spinner returned it with a soft chitter.

"Let"s keep moving," I ordered. We had a long way to go.