The lights flickered, bright and then dull once again. “What’s causing that?” I asked.
“It must be the unicorn’s stone. It likely doesn’t have much magic left. This world has been doomed from the beginning. The unicorn stone is keeping the demon Regaymor away. Once we take it, that won’t be the case.”
“Then we’ll be responsible for everyone’s deaths?” I wasn’t fond of the people in this place, but I couldn’t come to terms with causing them to become victims of the Regaymor.
“Not necessarily. They were doomed from the beginning. These people live on a dying planet. There’s nothing left for them here.”
“Is there any way to help them?”
“Help them?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I just don’t want to have their blood on my hands.”
“We may not have to worry about it.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “As you know, I’ve lived a long time, seen many things—even other worlds. If we take their stone, it only means they’ll die sooner than they planned. But we may be able to give them another option.”
“Another option?”
“Yes. You’ll see. I have an idea of how to help them. It may not work, mind you, but if it does, it means we won’t be responsible for their deaths.”
Hmm. I wondered what he had in mind. Was he planning to restore this world somehow?
He was being secretive again. Maybe he hadn’t changed quite as much as I thought.
We entered another room similar to the first, with a large machine taking up the center of the space.
“Will we have to pass through twelve of these?” I asked.
“No. Three, I believe. I studied the maps before we came. There are three rings surrounding the inner machine, with four branches leading away from it. After we pass by the third of these conduits, we should make it to the inner apparatus where we’ll find the stone.”
Something moved just ahead of us. Maveryck and I stopped. Blue magic formed around his fists. I held my blade at the ready.
A creature slinked out, its appearance revolting. It resembled a small, wingless dragon, its flesh-colored scales flaking off, its red eyes focused on us. Its spine stuck up in ridges along its back. Knobby tumors clung to its hide, green pus issuing from the growths. It opened its mouth, revealing rows of serrated fangs.
“What is that?” I asked.
“A gutter beast. I’m surprised we didn’t run into one sooner. Don’t let it touch you. Those nodules are filled with venom.”
“Lovely.”
The beast reared up, then lunged for Maveryck. He blasted out with its magic. Fire scorched the beast’s flesh, opening the pustules that spewed venom. I jumped back as a blob of green liquid splashed my boots.
The creature rounded on me. I held my knife in a firm grip, my training overriding my fear. This was what I lived for.
I sidestepped its massive head, then rammed my blade into its neck. Greenish blood spurted on my exposed hands. It launched at me, biting my arm so quickly, I didn’t have time to react. I tried to shake it off, but the monster wouldn’t release me. Maveryck’s magic struck the beast. When it released me, I kicked it in the head.
Stupid beast.
Magical blue flames surrounded the monster until it stilled, the all-consuming blaze burning so quickly it was soon reduced to blackened bones and smoking flesh.
Maveryck came to me, breathing heavily as he examined my arm. Greenish liquid wept from the wound.
“It poisoned you. This isn’t good.”
“Can you heal me?”
His eyes locked with mine. “I’ll do my best, but there’s magic in it. I’m not familiar with the type.”
“You’re not? I thought you knew everything there was to know about magic.”
“Only when I’m on Earth or Faythander. The powers on this world are completely alien.”
Searing pain tore through my flesh. He held my arm. A blue glow surrounded his fingers as he held them just above the wound. I winced as the venom burned through my blood, feeling as if it liquefied my bones.
“How quickly will it kill me?”
“You really want to know the answer?”
“I guess I don’t.”
Magic warmed my skin, its power tingling. The pain increased. Was Maveryck’s spell making it worse?
I breathed through my nose, hoping the pain went away soon. We didn’t have time for injuries. If we didn’t remove that stone in time, my brother and Olive wouldn’t be able to remove the sword, and we wouldn’t have the ability to stop the goddess who would destroy our world. I refused to let the bite of a mutated lizard stand in the way of that.
“I hate monsters,” I said.
“The feeling is mutual. Hold on, I think I know how to draw out the venom.”
My skin grew hot. Green-tinged blood drained from the punctures until the pain finally relented. Maveryck removed a clean cloth from his pack, wiped the punctures clean, then wrapped it gently.
“I’ll live, I hope?”
“Yes. But we should be more careful. That was one of the smaller ones.”
“Smaller ones?”
“Yes, the larger ones live deeper in the tunnels. Luckily, I know my fire works against them. Are you ready?”
I breathed deeply, sweat clinging to my brow. The pain was going away, but the venom left me exhausted. I would get over it. I didn’t have any other choice.
Standing, I took a deep breath. I could do this, but I needed a weapon.
After making my way to the gory remains, I picked up my knife. The handle warmed my hand but didn’t burn me. “Now I’m ready.”
“Good. Let’s move quickly. We’ve already lost time.”
I followed him around the corpse and into yet another passageway. This one was taller and broader than the others. The lights flickered again until they grew so dim it was hard to see the tunnel ahead of us.
The familiar sounds of mechanical clanking and whirring echoed. The noise grew
