“A gift fromTier,” Fibian replied.
“There’s noother way,” Cyrus said, “Virkelot’s running out oftime. There was a map in a lockbox back on Runa’s workbench. We need that map,and we need more blankets, because tonight we’re leaving this place.”
Chapter 7
ESCAPE
IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.The lastof the yeti had laid their heads down to rest an hour ago.
Cyrus sweatedwithin his custom-made fur clothes, staring down the darkened corridor. Wherewas Fibian? It was time to leave. This was taking toolong. How would Fibian hold everything with one goodhand? Cyrus should have gone to help. He looked to Edward, who warmed himselfon a stone beside the bed of coals. The spider had become so distant. Had Cyrusdone something wrong?
Thank theAngels. Theglow of two, pale blue orbs moved across the ceiling, emerging from the shadowytunnel. In the light of the coals, Cyrus could just make Fibianout, dressed in his stitched wetsuit. He carried the melon-sized lockbox underhis artificial arm. A yeti knife was belted around his waist, and Runa’scrossbow was slung across his back. Fibian fell fromthe roof, landing with a quiet plop several feet from the coals, in a pile ofpillows.
“I could notunlock the box,” Fibian whispered, “we will have tobreak it open.”
“No one sawyou?” Cyrus replied.
Fibian handed Cyrus the box and crossbow and unbelted the yeti knife that wasmore of a short-sword in the froskman’s hand.
“I do notbelieve so,” he said, dressing in his own fur clothing, “I found this among theshelves in Runa’s workbench.”
He withdrewCyrus’ sheathed knife from the collar of his seal skin suit.
“That’s whereit went,” Cyrus said, taking the knife and belting it around his waist.
He inspectedthe lockbox. The edges were made of engraved iron, and the sides wereconstructed of thick paneled wood.
Cyrus pulledtwo stolen water skins and a loaf of bread from beneath his fur blankets. Hehanded one large skin to Fibian. The second he slungaround his neck. The bread they broke in two. Each one stuffed a half into thecollar of his jacket.
“And these,” Fibian whispered, handing Cyrus the fur mittens they hadrecently crafted.
“Thanks,”Cyrus said, stuffing the gloves in his jacket pocket.
The froskman kept a single custom-made mitt for his remaining webbedhand.
“Edward, areyou ready?” Cyrus asked, reaching out his hand.
The spiderlooked up, his fur almost as white as the white of his large eyes. His gazedropped to the stone; then rose again to meet Cyrus’. He nodded yes and crawledinto Cyrus’ hand.
Cyrus gesturedto Fibian. Both gathered up the fur blankets and tossedthem into the coals. Then Cyrus collected the box up under one arm and allthree hid within the shadows, near the tunnel that led to the cave’s exit. Thefurs began to ignite. Slowly, the chamber filled with smoke. Much rose throughthe vents in the earth ceiling, but enough filled the room.
“Help, fire,”Cyrus shouted.
One of theexit guards came jogging down the tunnel and entered the chamber. It was atall, lean male, his beard only starting to show. He peered about the room.Cyrus and Fibian pressed themselves against the earthwall.
“Fire,” theyeti cried, moving towards the bed of coals.
Fibian crouched low and led the way into the tunnel. Cyrus followed, with Edwardon his shoulder.
Fibian’s eyes lit the passage like torchlights. He raised the crossbowto his shoulder. The weapon was one-handed, but in Fibian’srelatively slight grip, he had to use his artificial forearm to support the stalk.They rounded a corner. He pointed the crossbow at the second exit guard. The yetifroze, a look of rage and fear splitting her shaggy face.
“There is afire,” Cyrus said, “Your friends need your help. You can leave your spearhere.”
The guardmoved towards them. Fibian’s finger tightened on thetrigger. Cyrus felt Edward shift on his shoulder.
“We only wantto leave,” Cyrus said, “We can’t stay down here forever.”
The guardscrutinized the three of them. Then she studied the crossbow. Fibian’s aim did not waver. Finally, she dropped her spear,held her hands up in surrender and stepped slowly past the interlopers.
“You won’t getfar,” she growled.
“Let’s go,”Cyrus said.
They pushedforward through the tunnel, Cyrus following Fibian’sglowing lead. The three stopped short at a dead end.
“I thoughtthis was the way out?” Fibian said.
Cyrus lookedabout the tunnel, feeling his anxiety rise.
“What in Kingdom?”he cursed.
This was it?Had their plan failed before it had even started?
Cyrus spotteda vine dangling from the ceiling. He had a foggy recollection of a yeti, maybeTier, pulling a vine in a darkened hollow. Cyrus jerked on the tendril, prayingto the Angel King. Gears began to click. Then the floor started to rise.
“Thank theAngels,” he whispered.
Slowly, thesmoky tunnel was replaced by a dark, snowy forest.
The floorbumped to a stop. Crouching, Cyrus peaked out into the woods. The cold bit athis face. He felt his once-broken nose twinge. He pulled his fur hood over hishead and motioned Fibian forward. Edward scurriedinto the collar of Cyrus’ jacket.
Cyrus and Fibian took cover behind the trunk of a thick toweringtree. Cyrus pointed to a narrow footpath and motioned Fibianforward.
They fled likehunted foxes along the snowy trail, their heads low and their weapons at theready. Cyrus’ footsteps squeaked through the freshly fallen snow. With all thenoise he was making, he felt he might as well have had a bell around his neck.
Through thetrees, Cyrus spotted the sea. The sky was clear and the moon danced on the waveslike a phantom. He heard shouts far behind them.
“Keep moving,”Fibian demanded.
The iron boxwas growing heavy in Cyrus’ arm.
A massive grayshape stepped out from behind a great, white tree. It pointed a long staff madeof wood and steel at Cyrus’ chest.
“Runa,” Edwardgasped.
“Did youreally think you could escape?” Runa asked, “Did you really think I was foolishenough to believe you three would live among us for the rest of your lives?”she cocked the staff’s hammering mechanism, “I could never just kill you in coldblood, but the more time you spent among us, the more you would have put ideasof rescue in Tier’s mind. Eventually, she would have led you into themountains. Or you would have fled, after time, when our guard was down. Youwould have gotten yourselves captured by the klops,and led them
