Chapter 45
Darrow
Today, we would infiltrate Porrine. Finishing the tunnel in time had drained us to the point we barely made it to our rooms after each shift, but it was worth the effort.
We needed to find out what Karganoth planned next and rescue the princess’ son, Zelthor.
He’d been confined in the dungeon for more than a month now.
The nameless ones only knew what condition he was in or what they might ultimately do with him.
It had been cutting it close to make it into Porrine for the mysterious event, but Malachi had been adamant that the boy would be involved somehow, according to the whispers he had caught. Thankfully, the night shift broke through the other side early this morning.
They’d checked where the tunnel led. The exit was in a storeroom at the back of one of the shops in south-central Porrine.
The floor had been sealed as well, so the crew had to cut it carefully to make an opening, then lay a light glamour so that no one would notice.
That location would deliver us two blocks west of the event field. It was perfect.
I’d carefully chosen the group that would go today. Aella insisted that she be allowed to come, rather than the other channeler. I’d agreed on the condition that she stayed inside the tunnel with three guards and the temporary portal so that we could get away quickly.
The princess had also wanted to join us, but we couldn’t risk any of the remaining royals, so we compromised by allowing her husband, Jacthor, to come.
He was an excellent warrior, so if we had to fight our way out, he would be an asset.
My sister was coming since she could put enemies to sleep or burn them if necessary.
My older brother joined us because he could blind opponents.
Then there was Jax, who came for the variety of uses his invisibility provided.
Loden and I had stayed up half the night, discussing contingency plans. He wouldn’t be coming today because he and Prince Armin would be coordinating attacks elsewhere on the dark elves, taking advantage since Karganoth had temporarily relocated many of its troops for Porrine’s security.
An hour before we left Darynia, I’d mind-melded with a sebeska to inspect the borders and found ten times as many soldiers patrolling the capital.
They seemed to expect an attack, but they couldn’t anticipate the direction it would come.
To my relief, the area near the tunnel entrance was unguarded.
I’d worried Kaius might remember its existence, but it had been nearly fifty years since it was last open, during his father’s reign.
Also, he hadn’t been of sound mind during the last few visits I’d made to the prison.
Decades inside one cell, deprived of his magic and sunlight, had eroded his physical strength and reduced him to constantly talking to himself.
I doubted he’d had enough time to regain his full sanity and critical thinking skills to consider the old secret passage.
We stopped at a marker the night crew left a hundred feet from the tunnel’s end. Piles of dirt lined the sides, so we could fill in this section again when we left. As a result of the narrow path, Aella would need to establish the portal before that point.
Everyone stopped to catch their breath, adjust weaponry, and drink water.
I took out a blade and cut my arm. Aella’s eyes widened as she watched me call upon the God of Wrath.
I hadn’t told her I’d do it since she would have argued against it.
When it came to facing my uncle and rescuing Zelthor, I’d do whatever it took to make this mission a success.
Power began filling me right away. It was as if the deity had been ready and waiting, and before long, all my nerve endings tingled with electrifying magic. The effect was like a drug, making me feel invincible. It had been almost a month since I last called upon the god.
I hated that I’d missed his presence.
Normally, I would have waited much longer because it could be addictive if used too often.
That had happened to some dark elves when they couldn’t resist the lure.
The God of Wrath wouldn’t deny them, but he made the price high to discourage them.
That wasn’t always enough. If they reached the point where they couldn’t survive without his powers, he bound their souls to him forever.
Most were never seen again after that. The few who did reappear were entirely under his control and doing his bidding.
I most certainly didn’t want to end up like that.
You shouldn’t be using him again, Aella said, giving me a furious look.
I flexed my fingers as the power coursed into my hands. If it ensures our chances of survival and success, I consider it worth the price. Don’t worry, dear wife, I won’t let him involve you again.
Wrath’s presence steadily filled me, but I would take these last moments to speak with Aella before the deity clouded my mind to make me cold and calculated.
I don’t care about that, Dare. Whatever the consequences, I’ll suffer them with you, but we don’t even know if you’ll need them, so why take the risk? Aella asked, frustration showing in her gaze.
I shook my head. It takes a couple of minutes to summon the god’s full power.
Do you think that if the situation gets bad enough to need it, I’ll have the luxury of that time?
Not to mention, should they try to follow us down here, I’ll drop the whole city on this tunnel to keep them from reaching you.
You’re insane.
I adored the fire in her green eyes when she was angry or frustrated—or both. Will you kiss me for luck?
Aella let out a sound of exasperation before she grabbed my head and pulled me down toward her. Her lips and tongue scorched me with the passion she unleashed. I wanted to touch her so badly, but I forced myself to hold still. She had all the control now.
“Be ready for when we return,” I said, pulling away from her as coldness filled me.
Gazes that had been fixated on the dirt walls and floors snapped to attention.
I squeezed by Jacthor to take the lead. The tunnel was much narrower at this point, so we walked in single file.
As we left, the guards with Aella began placing trigger traps behind us in a few select spots, so if the dark elves did get down here before we returned, they’d find a deadly surprise.
When I reached the exit, I paused to listen and expand my senses. Two sirens were present on the second floor above, which were likely residences, but no dark elves were within a hundred feet. We couldn’t ask for better than that. I slowly lifted the wooden floor square and slid it to the side.
After peeking out of the hole to be sure nothing was amiss, I climbed up and gestured at the others to follow.
The storeroom was large enough to hold eight people, but since there were only five of us, I didn’t have to worry about anyone crowding me as I waited.
With the God of Wrath’s power humming through my veins, I didn’t want anyone touching me.
It was all I could do not to race out of there and find enemies to kill.
Once everyone was nearly through, I slowly opened the door to an empty hallway. To the left, I spotted the shop's front with cookware on display. A few feet to my right, I saw the back door with a small window. Jacthor followed close behind me as I made my way to it.
Peeking out, I spotted a few city residents in the alley.
They carried trash to the rubbish bins. Were they cleaning up before the event?
The city had been a disaster the last time I’d been here, but maybe Karganoth was getting it organized now that they held it and had two members of the royal family that should be at the big event if Malachi was right.
The last time we met was two days ago. He’d been confident that today they’d announce leadership changes.
We were over half an hour early. I’d wanted time to get into place while the rest of the city moved in the same direction. My dark elf friend had said attendance was mandatory for all adults except the infirm and those who needed to stay with younger children.
I wore my hair loose to cover my ears, since the black tips made me stand out as being half-elf.
Faina did the same. We also both wore a light glamour to render our hair solid black, without the natural brown highlights that made us identifiable to our brethren.
Most of Karganoth was aware of the king’s twin grandchildren and how to recognize us, though we’d only lived there part-time until our mid-twenties and rarely participated in any official functions.
We stayed in the alley, walking casually east toward the event field.
Not many fae were back here, but all of them kept their gazes down and shoulders hunched as we passed them.
How bad had it been in Porrine since Karganoth invaded?
Tension built in me until it morphed to burning rage, and I began to see red. My sister put a gentle hand on my arm.
“Easy, brother,” she said in a low tone. “You look like you’re about to snort fire from your nose when we’re supposed to avoid drawing attention.”
Faina understood what it was like to be under the god’s power, and, as my twin, she was one of the few I could tolerate in this state. Still, it was challenging to remain calm when we passed a female goblin with fresh slashes across her face consistent with whip marks.
I ground my teeth. “I want to kill them all.”
“Me, too, but that would undermine our mission,” she said calmly.
My sister still held my arm, and I focused on her touch. After several deep breaths, I finally managed to relax and think more clearly. To save Zelthor and hopefully take down my uncle, I had to concentrate on the task at hand.