Jahr’ad stormed out of the room with Zariah and his men following him, leaving us alone in the room.
Feeling deflated, I slumped in my chair. “I hate him,” I said.
“The feeling is mutual,” Kull said.
Heidel spoke up. “But at least he told us what the cube said.”
“Yes, there is that,” I agreed. “What do you make of the witch’s message?” I asked Maveryck.
“I believe Jahr’ad’s interpretation is correct. The witch has been seeking the egg for many years, and it would make sense that she would demand its return in exchange for the release of your stepfather. However, I also believe that the witch knows how difficult is it to find the egg, making our task nearly impossible.”
I rested my chin in my hands, my heart weighing heavy in my chest. It was hard not to picture Fan’twar locked in a dungeon, being tortured or beaten or starved. Even though we’d learned the stone’s meaning, it seemed we’d come no closer to freeing my stepfather, and if we failed to free him, I couldn’t imagine what evil the elves would unleash on Faythander. Fan’twar wouldn’t be the only slave. The elves would make sure of that.
“Don’t lose hope just yet,” Maveryck said. “The witch’s egg is mentioned in other documents, one of which is in your possession, Olive. Do you still have the journal of the Madralorde brother?”
I thought back to where I’d put it last. “Yes. It’s in my pack in the room where Jahr’ad’s men were keeping Kull and Heidel. But should we bother with it? Shouldn’t we find a way to cure Kull first?”
“Kull will be fine,” Maveryck said, “at least, for now. Venom-drake poison takes days to work through the bloodstream. I will deal with Jahr’ad and have your magic restored well before then. But before I confront him, I’d like to give him a moment to cool down. Dealing with Jahr’ad now would be impossible.”
“What makes you so sure you can make him see reason?” Heidel asked.
“Because I understand his motivations, that’s why. I assure you, Kull’s health will be restored. While we’re waiting, we might as well get back to the room and try to find out what we can about the egg.”
“I agree,” I said.
We left the chamber and entered the catacombs. The hallway led us through the main chamber, where I tried to ignore the gore left over from Kull’s fight. We finally found the room where Kull and Heidel had been tied up, and I found my pack in the corner where I’d left it. Sitting on the floor, I rummaged through it until I found the journal. The others gathered around me as I carefully turned the pages. Outside, sounds of men’s voices echoed from the hallway, though no one seemed to pay us any attention. Slanting rays of sunlight shone through the room’s only window, which was nothing more than a narrow slit near the ceiling. Dust motes drifted on an unseen breeze. The window didn’t help with the stifling heat. Sweat beaded on my neck as I sat and scanned the book.
Time seemed a rare commodity at the moment. We had to find a way to cure Kull’s injury, I had to find a dragon’s egg, and we had to do it before Jahr’ad’s men kicked us out of here. No pressure.
“There,” Maveryck said as I stopped on a page with a drawing of a round circle with symbols inked around the edges. “As far as I’ve studied, I believe these symbols represent each of the Madralorde brothers. This one is the dagger of Xacvain; this is the staff of Zaladin. I believe this bell-shaped symbol represents the shield of Yerrish. And look here—this is a list of everything needed in order to accomplish the ritual to recall Theht. In addition to the weapons, the practitioner would need several other items to accomplish the ritual.”
I scanned over the list of items. “The heart of a jagamoor preserved in fae water. A fairy’s wings given willingly. The first breath of fire from a black-magic dragon.” I looked up. “But this still doesn’t tell us where to find the egg.”
“What do we know of the egg?” Kull asked as he paced the room.
“It’s the only offspring of the witch, and it most likely contains black magic,” I said.
“Yes,” Maveryck agreed. “It’s also valuable and was last known to be in possession of the elves, but where they are keeping it is a mystery.”
“Jahr’ad said the elves put it in a place no mortal person could find. Where could that be?” Heidel asked.
Maveryck shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense. If they put it in a place no mortal could find, then how were they able to put it in such a place?”
Kull rubbed his neck, and I saw the look of pain in his eyes. His wound was getting worse, and unless I got my magic back, we’d have no way to heal him. But one thing at time. First, we had to figure out where the egg was located.
“Maveryck, surely there must be someone else you know who would have more knowledge on such things?” Heidel asked.
“No. I’m afraid no one knows the dragon egg trade as well as Jahr’ad. There is a reason I risked our lives to come here.”
“I still haven’t forgiven you for that,” Heidel said. “My brother is dying because of you.”
Kull cleared his throat. “You would care if I die?”
“Care? No. Would it bother me a little? Possibly.”
“Then, are you still angry with me?”
“Of course I am.”
I scanned the journal
