“Why not?”
“Because you could have woken a giant beast sleeping down there, that’s why not.”
“Giant beasts don’t live in tiny holes like that. They wouldn’t fit.”
Behind us, Kull called from the top of the steps. “Look up here,” he said. The others turned away from the hole and began climbing up. I lingered for a moment, my gaze drawn to the black stains marring the lip of the opening. Kneeling beside the well, I lightly touched the dark spots. Were they bloodstains?
I wasn’t sure I agreed with Brodnik about this hole being a well. It may have been used for something else altogether. Turning away, I trailed behind the others and made it to the top of the steps where they gathered around a pillar. But as I approached it, I realized the pillar was heavily carved.
“What is that?” I asked Kull as I stopped next to him.
“Not sure. What do you make of it?”
I studied the pillar. “The shape looks humanoid—I can see legs and a torso.”
“I see the arms,” Rolf pointed out.
“It’s difficult to see the head from down here,” I said.
Kull scanned the room. “There’s a balcony up there. We might be able to get a better perspective.”
Walking away from the statue, we spotted a staircase leading to the balcony. Our footsteps echoed as we ascended the stairs. Chills prickled my skin the higher we climbed. I didn’t like this place. I was beginning to agree with Heidel. We should’ve just camped outside or stayed in the hovels we’d passed, because this place was giving off a seriously creepy vibe.
When we reached the top, we stepped onto a balcony that wrapped the room. The statue stood on the opposite end of the chamber and we made our way toward it. As the blue glow from our fey lanterns illuminated the room, the features of the statue came into full view. Its face was female, with slits cut into the eyes. When we got closer, I studied the eyes more closely. Five-pointed symbols had been carved into each socket.
I took a step back, feeling my heart race as I stared into the all-too-familiar face.
“It’s Theht,” I said, my voice hushed.
“You’re sure?” Kull asked.
“Positive. This is a temple to Theht. The well we saw down there wasn’t used for storing water.”
“Then what was it used for?” Rolf asked.
“Human sacrifices, most likely.”
“Human sacrifices?” Brodnik asked. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
Heidel placed a hand on her hip. “I knew we shouldn’t have come inside.”
“Should we leave?” I asked.
Kull shrugged. “This place looks to have been abandoned for a while. The people who worshipped here have been gone for a long time. I see no reason to leave.”
“Except that we’ll be sleeping in a temple to Theht,” Heidel said flatly.
“Which makes this place dangerous somehow?” Kull asked.
“Of course it’s dangerous! It could be—haunted, or…or something.”
Kull smirked. “We’ll be fine.”
Heidel’s eyes narrowed. “I disagree.”
“You always disagree. I know, Sister.”
“Don’t sister me! For once, listen to me. This place is unsafe.”
“Heidel, this entire planet is unsafe. Sleeping outside won’t make any difference. In here, at least we’ll have a roof over our heads. Plus, if we’re attacked, we’ll have somewhere to hide.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Fine, but if we are attacked, I will never let you live it down.”
“I’ll add it to my list of everything else you won’t let me live down.”
Grace stood up straight, her ears pricked forward, and let out a low growl. Below us came the sound of something trotting across the floor. Our lanterns barely lit the ground, but something moved beneath us.
Chapter 6
“What is that?” Rolf whispered.
“I can’t tell,” Brodnik answered.
The two Wult men stood with Kull, Heidel, Grace, and me on a balcony in Theht’s temple. Something moved below us. Kull pulled out his sword, and the other two men did the same. Heidel unsheathed a knife from a scabbard at her belt. Its mother-of-pearl inlaid hilt and gold leaf glinted blue in the light cast from the fey lanterns. She’d gotten that knife from Maveryck. I’d wondered if she’d kept it after his passing.
I tightened my grip around the staff. Magic made my fingers tingle. Since Theht had intruded on my mind, my magic had been suffering, and I still had the problem of balancing Earth and Faythander magic. But I would use it if I had to—I only hoped it cooperated.
“It’s just a dog,” Brodnik said.
“You’re sure?” Heidel asked.
The creature circled the bottom floor. As it came under the light, the thing looked small, about the size of a terrier. Even from up here, I could see the thing was malnourished. Its sunken, furless skin clung to its protruding ribs.
“I don’t know—it looks dangerous,” Kull said. “Maybe we should leave. It certainly seems unsafe. That thing might bite right through our ankles.”
“Shut up,” Heidel snapped.
The dog made one more pass through the room, sniffing, and then trotted out of the building.
“No one relax just yet,” Kull said. “I know I’m certainly terrified. Really, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt as afraid as I did just now.”
Heidel’s cheeks reddened. “Brother, I swear as Odin is my witness, I will kill you where you stand this instant if you don’t hold your tongue.”
Kull’s mouth gaped as he feigned shock. “That’s a truly terrible thing to say to your own flesh and blood.”
“No, it isn’t. I could say much worse. I’m restraining myself because your fiancée is present.”
Grace whined, and Heidel scratched her head. “Now, can we please find a place to set up camp? I saw a nice sacrificial chamber down there that would make a cozy place to bed down for the night. You’d love it, Brother.”
He smiled a broad, teasing grin. “Yes, now you’re getting it.”
“And we could use the discarded skulls for pillows,” Heidel added.
We made our way down to the bottom floor as the two kept at it. I loved Kull—I truly did with all my heart—but this teasing-his-sister game was getting old.
We made our way to another chamber
