“No, but you know I’ve got little experience with magic.”
“I know. I just find it odd that I’ve never heard of such a door. Wouldn’t it have been mentioned at least once in all the books I’ve studied?”
“You’ve never encountered it once?”
“No. Not once.”
Kull clenched his jaw. “That is strange.”
We had just rounded a corner when a crash came from behind us. Spinning around, we found smoke filling the chamber, followed by the enraged roar of a dragon.
Chapter 6
Fire erupted through the vault as the head and shoulders of the silver dragon came into view. Screams came from up ahead, though Kull and I were far enough away that the dragon didn’t see us. I followed Kull as we raced through the stacks, fearing the worst. We hadn’t seen Heidel and Maveryck since we’d parted ways. Adrenaline fueled my movements as we ran toward the dragon. My heart dropped as the sound of another scream pierced the air.
We rounded the corner, and the room came into full view. Silver scales gleamed as the dragon loomed over a squadron of elves armed with basita weapons. Green magic flared as bolts from the elven weapons struck her hide. The dragon lashed out with her massive tail and struck three men. They landed several feet away, their bodies hitting the stone floor with distinct thuds, their weapons scattering across the ground.
With another roar, the dragon exhaled a fireball that struck the remaining elves. The sounds of their screams punctured the air. Some of the elves managed to take cover, but others weren’t so lucky.
The body of one of the tail-struck men landed not far from where Kull and I were hiding. Blood oozed from his ears and spread in a dark pool over the ground. I debated on helping the man, but to crawl from my hiding spot meant death if the dragon spotted me.
A blast from a basita went wide and struck a stack of rolled parchments near Kull and me, and the paper ignited. Blue and orange flames licked the air as they consumed the parchments and then spread to a set of wooden pillars.
Dragon fire mingled with the blaze started by the bolt. Heat roiled from the flames, casting flickers of light through the chamber. Footsteps echoed behind us, and we turned around. Kull held his sword at the ready but lowered it as Maveryck and Heidel appeared through the smoke. Maveryck held a staff made of dark wood and carved in intricate detail. At its apex sat a blue jewel that glowed with a faint light. Cloud-like swirls moved within the ball, and ancient magic emanated from the entire staff—a power that tugged at my senses, calling to me. An old power with unknown potential.
“You found the staff?” Kull asked quietly.
“Yes,” Heidel answered.
“How were you able to remove it?”
Heidel glanced at Maveryck. “Ask him,” she said.
Maveryck gripped the staff tighter. “I’m a professional reclaimer,” he said. “It’s my job.”
A roar split the air behind us. The dragon thrashed as several elves shot a net from a spear-like weapon, wrapping the dragon’s head and neck in thick cording. As the dragon thrashed, the elves launched spears at her sides, tearing through her scales to impale her flesh. A fireball burst from the dragon’s mouth, igniting the net.
“We must go while she’s distracted,” Maveryck said.
“I agree,” I said.
We turned and followed Maveryck away from the stacks and toward the elven door. Pain-filled shouts came from behind us, making my hair stand on end as the sounds of ripping flesh accompanied the screams.
The elves had royally pissed off the dragon. Perfect. Just what we needed.
We sped toward the cavern’s back wall, though I felt as if I couldn’t go fast enough. Smoke fogged the room, its acrid scent making my eyes water. The stacks of jewels and coins blurred in my vision as we raced from the dragon.
Not soon enough, we made it to the far back wall, though I saw no sign of the doorway. Maveryck stopped at a blank space along the wall and pressed his hand to the stone. Blue light glowed around his fingers, then spread out around the stone until the outline of a door formed.
Something grabbed my ankle, and I fell, hitting my knees and elbows on the rough stone floor. Looking behind me, I saw one of the elves, his face half-burned, holding my leg.
“The staff,” his voice rasped. “Give it to me!”
I tried kicking him, but he held my leg in a vicelike grip.
Behind him, the entire cavern had erupted in flame. The flames spiraled toward the ceiling as they engulfed the cavern, almost hot enough to singe my skin.
“The staff,” the elf shouted as he focused on Maveryck.
He let go of my leg and leapt for Maveryck, but Kull apprehended the man, knocking him backward before he could reach the thief.
The elven door opened.
Heidel looked back frantically as Maveryck stood beside the door.
“Hurry!” she yelled.
Leaping to my feet, I raced with Kull toward the door, but the dragon’s roar resounded, closer than it had been before.
Kull rounded. His eyes widened as he stood his ground, not moving, holding his sword between us and the dragon.
“Kull, what are you doing?” I shouted.
“Go!”
The dragon drew closer, her breathing loud and raspy in her chest. “Thieves,” her voice hissed.
“Go now!” Kull yelled at Heidel and Maveryck, who still stood at the door.
I stood shocked, unable to move or process the situation clearly, but the panic only lasted a moment before Theht’s presence reacted.
You’ve awoken me, it said.
Spirals of blinding light crackled from my fingers and engulfed the entire room. Pain spread from my fingertips to my elbows and shoulders, a burning heat that seared my nerve endings. I tried controlling Theht, tried burying her in the place where she’d been before, but she’d taken hold of my magic and I was powerless to stop her.
Sounds of human screams mingled with the dragon’s roar. I saw Kull stagger as the light engulfed him, and he lost
