They crossed the deserted, barren valley. Moonlight bathed a blackened mountainside. It had been burned. His throat tightened. They hadn’t incinerated Ezaara and Adelina, had they? That made no sense, but then again, Zens’ actions seldom did.
Mist crept out of mining pits in the barren hillsides, writhing around his ankles. Zens had destroyed all the vegetation in this valley while mining yellow crystals. Before being caught, Roberto had infiltrated a mining crew so he could snoop, and he’d frequently seen Zens entering a large cavern with a door of stone. Is that where Zens was making his new creatures? Were they heading there now?
Sure enough, 000 took him underground. Dim torches lit the walls as the track sloped down, narrowing as they went. The acrid stench of the mines hit Roberto’s nostrils, making his eyes water. He blinked, trying to clear them as 000 marched him deeper into the network of mines. Every footstep jarred his head.
“The commander has something special in store for you,” 000 said.
The vapor rising to greet him made his head throb. Where were Adelina and Ezaara? He doubted Zens had let them go. He trudged on, keeping his thoughts submerged.
000 took a shadowy turnoff that spiraled down until they came to a large stone that blocked the tunnel. This was where Roberto had seen Zens go. 000 pressed on the stone, and it rolled sideways, revealing a large chamber lit with a yellow glow.
Workbenches and tools similar to Zens’ parents’ workshop littered the room. Dark furry blobs were floating in glass tanks lining the far wall, illuminated by large yellow crystals. Beyond the tanks, bright light poured from another chamber.
000 shoved Roberto forward. “We’re here,” he said. “Enjoy your stay.”
A familiar voice spoke behind him. “Welcome, my protégé.”
He spun. Zens was leaning against a recessed counter, the yellow light tingeing his sallow face. “000, please bind him to worktop four.”
000 flung Roberto onto a bench. Roberto thrashed, but 000 bound his chest, hands and ankles to the bench with metallic bands. Zens forced a clear flexible tube between Roberto’s lips while 000 lifted his head.
Roberto clenched his teeth, blocking the tube from entering his mouth.
“Suck,” commanded Zens.
Roberto refused. 000 pinched his nose with its stinking furry hands. His lungs burned.
“Suck, I said.” Zens bulging eyes drilled into him. A dull band of pressure tightened around Roberto’s head. He fought to block Zens out. The pressure spread across his skull, unclenching his jaw. Zens rammed the tube into his mouth, smiling, his yellow orbs drilling into Roberto.
Roberto sucked in bitter air and blacked out.
§
Roberto groaned as he awoke, face down. Mustard light reflected off the cool metal beneath him. His back was sore. What had Zens done to him? He moved his legs. Wait, his restraining bands were gone. He rolled over and sat up.
No one was in the room. Zens wasn’t pounding at his head either. He cautiously reached out with his mind, searching for Zens and found nothing. What was going on? Roberto swung his legs over the bench and slid to the floor. He wouldn’t be alone forever—Zens or 000 could return any moment. He should escape, but first …
His queen had sent him here to find out what creatures Zens was developing—he may never get another chance. Heart pounding, Roberto crept toward the entrance to the inner chamber and peeked inside.
The room dwarfed this one, easily five times larger. Zens stood at a counter, his back to Roberto, working with strange metal implements. Hundreds of tanks, large enough to fit a man in, stood in rows, with workbenches between them. Tharuks were mixing things in bowls and sprinkling some sort of dust into the water in the tanks. What was inside? More furry blobs, some with legs. Roberto squinted. That was a tusk. There were some claws …
By the dragon gods’ First Egg, they were tharuks. Sweat pebbled his skin. Zens grew them in these tanks.
Commander Zens and his tharuks were dwarfed by more tanks—as large as houses—along the back wall. Weird black creatures were suspended in fluid, curled up, with ragged bits of cloth hanging from them. These must be Zens’ secret weapon—the creatures Zaarusha had sent him to find out about.
Although they were illuminated by glowing crystals at the bottom of their tanks, it was hard to see what they were. Roberto lingered, trying to get a better look. One of the creatures moved, and something white flashed. A tusk or a horn? Was that a tail or a limb? The cloth around the beast swirled, preventing him from seeing more.
Shards, he’d better get out of here before someone turned around.
Roberto retreated across the cavern to the rock blocking the door. What had looked like a rock from the outside was only as thick as his upper arm and mounted on a metal rail. He pushed the rock, like 000 had, trying to open it. No luck. He leaned his full weight on it and shoved. It still didn’t budge.
Zens’ voice drifted from the inner cavern.
Flames, he had to get out of here. Cold sweat beaded his neck. He couldn’t get caught now. Scanning the wall, he found a lever and pulled. With a soft hum, the layer of rock slid open and cool air rushed in.
Would Zens notice the change in air current? Roberto slipped out of the chamber as the door clicked shut behind him. He had to hurry before his absence was detected. Legs aching, head throbbing and his back on fire, he plodded up. Exhausted, he
