Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Twenty-four hours. That’s how long it had been since Marcus had walked out of Fedra’s room.
He had kept his mind from wandering to her—mostly.
Every now and again, thoughts of her snuck in, and he had to fight the urge to go to her.
When it happened, he would hastily—and firmly—shove them aside.
He’d mastered his need to ask anything about her.
Right up until Con entered the room with the stones that had covered the floor and walls of the chamber.
Marcus fisted his hands, digging his fingers into his palms as he stood near the entrance.
When that didn’t work, he clenched his jaw.
There were too many suspicious things about Fedra.
He shouldn’t care about how she was feeling, if she had eaten, or if her eyesight had returned.
But telling himself he shouldn’t worry only made the burden worse.
And his desire to be by her side greater.
Evander let out a low whistle as he followed Con and Brandr inside. Marcus watched the three of them as they slowly roamed around the room, looking over the slabs of rock.
Con turned to face Marcus. “All of this was removed from the chamber where we found Fedra?”
“These here are from the walls,” Ryder explained, pointing. “The tiles from the floor are in another room.”
“Show me,” Brandr urged.
The five of them moved to one of the other rooms. Once more, Marcus and Ryder stood at the door as the others looked over the stones.
Brandr dropped to one knee and peered at the floor before comparing it to a stone that had been removed. “They look identical.”
“No’ for those who know what to look for,” Marcus said. “The stones are thinner than those used throughout Iron Hall. There’s also the fact that while the rock itself seems to be the same, it isna made of the same compound.”
“It has the same glow, though,” Evander said.
Ryder chuckled. “I said the same thing. Look closer.”
Con, Brandr, and Evander all leaned close to one of the stones. Con was the first to straighten as he turned his head to the door. “The supposed glow is a reflection of the minerals in the rock itself, not the illumination we usually see.”
“Precisely. It was made to deceive, and it nearly worked.” Marcus shrugged. “We assumed nothing about the chamber was different. If we hadna wanted to find out more, we likely never would’ve known.”
Brandr blew out a breath. “What about the technology? There is no electricity in Iron Hall. How did the stasis pod work?”
“It had its own power source,” Ryder stated excitedly.
Marcus hid his smile. Ryder finding something so unique on Zora was like him discovering new architecture he’d never seen before.
“I was expecting something large, but what I found was a cigar-shaped source, about eighteen inches wide and seven inches tall. When it’s being used, it glows green.
” Ryder’s smile died. “I’m afraid it wouldna have powered the pod for more than another year, tops.
That’s at first glance. I’d like to look it over a little longer. ”
Marcus wondered if Fedra had known the pod wouldn’t last. Was that why she had been so adamant about being released? Or was it just a coincidence?
“Would the pod have opened automatically then?” Con asked.
Ryder thought about that for a moment before nodding. “I have no’ found that in the coding yet, but it makes sense that they would do that, rather than let her die.”
“Depends on why she was put in that thing,” Evander said.
Brandr rocked back on his heels. “We know nothing about the previous inhabitants of the city. There are no records anywhere. The only one who might know is Villette, and even if she did bother to answer us, I wouldna believe anything she said.”
Marcus had to agree. Villette had manipulated and abused the humans on Zora for thousands of years, all to target the Dragon Kings and the dragons. She was evil. It didn’t matter that she had aided them recently. Nothing could make up for the crimes she had committed.
“I’m no’ finished looking over the pod or the console,” Ryder stated. “I need more time to complete my investigation before I give any definitive answers.”
Con nodded once. Then he turned his gaze to Marcus. “What have you discovered?”
Marcus motioned for them to follow him as he led them to the chamber. He walked to the middle and waited for everyone. Brandr was the first to enter. His steps slowed as he looked around.
“I knew there was something to discover here, but I didna think it would be this,” Con said.
They inspected the chamber anew. Marcus watched their faces, knowing that he and Ryder had worn the same expressions of astonishment, incredulity, and apprehension.
“You may believe this room is plain,” Marcus said, “but everything the original builders designed and implemented has a purpose.”
Brandr raised a brow. “Does that mean you know why someone put up false walls?”
“Try to touch them,” Ryder urged with a crooked smile.
Con stared at Marcus for a moment before reaching out a hand to the wall nearest him. When he was about an inch away, he suddenly jerked his hand back. “What was that?”
“A vibration.” Marcus looked at each of them before cutting his eyes to Ryder.
Ryder immediately stepped on the lever, and the door slid closed.
Evander put a foot on the bottom step and leaned over to look at what Ryder had pressed with his foot.
“Listen,” Marcus urged.
Everyone fell silent as sounds from the city drifted to them.
“We know this already,” Brandr said.
Ryder lifted a finger to silence him.
Marcus held Con’s gaze. “Listen,” he repeated.
For several moments, no one moved. Marcus knew the moment Con understood what was happening. He watched the King of Kings quietly walk to various positions around the chamber before coming to stand beside him in the middle.
“Bloody hell,” Con murmured.
Evander and Brandr copied Con’s route. Evander grinned as he nodded in appreciation.
“You’re telling me this room was built just so someone could stand in here to eavesdrop on people in the city?” Brandr asked.
Marcus crossed his arms over his chest. “Someone has likely done that verra thing, but that’s no’ why it was designed.
This is a strategic place of defense. No’ only can you hear what’s going on, but someone would also know if there was an attack in a certain area and could warn others in the city.
As a multi-level underground city, it is imperative to keep everyone safe. ”
“And the wall vibrations?” Con asked.
“They filter in the sounds. As each of you realized when you walked around the room, you can hear certain areas more clearly. Those sounds faded as you walked to another wall. Here in the center, you can hear everything, though it’s diluted,” Marcus explained.
Evander caught his gaze. “How are the walls vibrating without us feeling it?”
“The brilliant design.” Marcus drew in a breath and released it.
“Once Ryder and I cleared out the room and found the door, I looked at the areas above, below, and to the sides of the chamber. Unlike others that are connected, the only thing linking this chamber to the city is the corridor. Otherwise, it hangs suspended. The vibrations keep it in place.”
“It’s a wonder that the added weight of the false floor and walls didn’t ruin it,” Brandr said.
Evander grunted. “Unless it did.”
“No’ that I’ve found yet,” Marcus said.
Con turned his gaze to the wall. “Whoever brought Fedra here knew they couldna touch the walls to put up the writing. They wanted those words seen by whoever freed Fedra, so they covered it.”
“The message was simple. What’s so important about that?” Evander asked.
Marcus twisted his lips. “They went to an inordinate amount of trouble. There’s meaning in the message, simple or no’.”
“Fedra likely knows what it is,” Brandr said. “I think it’s time to find out.”
Before Marcus could reply, Con held up a hand. “No’ yet.”
“The longer we wait, the longer she’s here,” Brandr argued.
Marcus shrugged. “And the longer she’s here, the quicker we’ll discover what she’s after. She’ll make a mistake.”
“Agreed,” Con said. “She’s been verra careful about what she says.”
Evander made a sound at the back of his throat. “While I agree with you, we should also take into account that she can no’ see. Any of us would be wary if we woke up around strangers and were at their mercy.”
“If she has nothing to hide, then she shouldna fear us,” Ryder stated.
Con was silent for a moment. Then his gaze slid to Marcus. “I still think the best bet is for you to get her to open up. She did call out to you, after all.”
“Why did she do that?” Brandr asked.
Marcus sighed. “She says it was because she heard me working in the atrium.”
“He was the nearest one to her.” Evander shrugged, twisting his lips. “That makes sense to me.”
“You heard her, though,” Brandr added.
Evander snorted a laugh. “I heard someone ask for help.”
“Well?” Con asked, his gaze still locked on him.
Marcus was conflicted. While he couldn’t shake the need he felt to go to her, he also knew that getting close to her could create an issue if she was lying. Though what kind of issue, he wasn’t yet sure.
“She’s too guarded with me,” Con said. “Same with Rhi. And she was only slightly warmer with Sian.”
“I might no’ get anything out of her,” Marcus replied.
Ryder caught his gaze. “I think you should try. Even you said there’s a connection between you. It might be slight, but it’s more than she has with anyone else. Everyone is a stranger to her. You’re the closest thing to a friend she has.”
They wanted him to deceive her. He shouldn’t hesitate if it would keep everyone safe. She was likely misleading them all. He remembered how his chest had ached each time she said his name.
“It willna be easy to earn her trust,” Marcus said.
Brandr slapped him on the back. “Do what you have to do.”
“Get as close to her as you need to,” Evander told him with a grin.
Marcus glanced at Con to find him watching him closely. “You doona need to worry. I’ve dedicated my life to the Kings.”
“There’s more to life than designing your buildings, brother,” Ryder stated.
Marcus shot Ryder a wry look before he walked to the lever and stepped on it again. The door slid open. He walked up the steps, then paused in the doorway to look back at Con. “I’ll get the answers from her.”
Con watched Marcus walk away, wondering if he had done the right thing by pushing them together. And keeping a secret.
“Are we sure about this?” Brandr asked.
Ryder sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “If he hadn’t told us about her calling his name specifically, we’d never have known.”
Con grunted in response.
“No one else heard their name being called,” Ryder added.
“Maybe, but you didna see how protective he is of her,” Evander said.
Ryder cut him a look. “I saw.”
“Then why is he hesitating?” Brandr asked.
Con grunted. It was precisely Marcus’s hesitation that made him the perfect one for the job. Marcus had been protective of Fedra, going so far as not to let even Ryder touch her. Yet once Marcus walked out of her room, he threw himself into work and didn’t so much as ask about her.
Marcus was trying to stay away. Con knew the Kings better than they knew themselves. He had seen each of them at their highest—and at their lowest. Maybe he was making the wrong decision by sending Marcus to her. But that was yet to be seen.
His choices were few, and in the interest of everyone’s safety, it fell to Marcus to get the answers they sought.