“Nothing so far.” Rell crept along the room’s boundaries and as she rounded the first curve, her hands slid across a large square tile placed in wall. Warmth seeped into her palms. The change was almost imperceptible but definitely there. “Wait.”
Jade jogged to where she was standing. “Something?”
“Touch this,” Rell said.
Jade laid her hand against the tile and closed her eyes. “I don’t feel anything.”
“It’s subtle, but grew warm under my touch. Juna.” Rell waved the Tell over. “I think I might have found something.” Ravyn and Juna edged around the stone circle to where they stood. “Place your hand here.” Both women did as Rell told them. “Do you feel it?”
“Yes.” Juna’s fingers traced the symbol embossed on the stone square. “This is a Bringer symbol for king. Gregory told me there are several throughout Illuma Grand.” Ravyn removed her hand and Juna closed her eyes, pressing her palm flat against the symbol. “Strange that Gregory did not sense this when he searched the chamber.”
“I can’t feel it,” Jade said, “I’m a Redeemer and he’s a Shield. You said Tells are more sensitive to this. Maybe that’s why.”
“Perhaps.” Juna opened her eyes, a look of determination crossing her face. She braced one hand against the wall, and using all her force, pushed against the tile with the other. An almost undetectable scraping sound whispered. “I think it moved. Help me.” The four women placed their hand against each corner. “Ready? Push.”
Though awkward and unable to give it her full strength, Rell felt and heard the square move backward. “Again.”
The four shoved a second time and the stone tile scooted back another inch and stopped. A louder grinding sounded to their right and a doorway, seven blocks high and four wide, slid open. They looked at each other, each smiling triumphantly.
“Ravyn and Jade, guard the door while Rell and I check inside.”
Even though Juna’s reason for allowing Rell to stay was probably because she’d discovered the tile, a sense of pride swelled within her, replacing some of the uneasiness she felt over her reaction to Nab and his companions. Without objection, Ravyn and Jade skirted the room and took up posts outside the door.
Rell and Juna crept forward and peered into the dark interior of the large chamber.
“I can’t see a thing.” Juna stepped back out and pulled a low-burning torch from the bracket, shoving it inside the opening. Firelight danced against the walls, illuminating the first several feet. “This is it.”
They inched inside, Rell taking the rear position. Rusty brackets hung bolted into the walls and the faint outline of different weapons stained the stone. Long wooden tables sat empty, but the faint shapes in the dust indicated that even more weapons had once rested there.
Rell ran her fingers over the silhouette of an axe that looked very much like the one Luc carried. “If there were weapons here, somebody has removed them.”
“Not all of them.” Juna held the torch higher and moved forward.
A small collection of daggers and swords lay in a heap on the ground. Rell bent and picked up a dirk. Its edge gleamed in the torchlight. She flinched when a tugging sensation pulled at her hand, causing her fingers to wrap around the hilt.
Juna dragged her sword from her hilt and replaced it with one of the immortal weapons on the floor. Rell did the same, as well as shoving a dagger in each boot. Approximately ten weapons remained.
“Pick up as many as you can carry.” Juna tossed the torch aside and began collecting the weapons. “We’ll dole them out to the rest of the party.”
Rell stopped and looked at Juna. “I want to thank you for helping me this morning.”
Juna halted her collection and slowly stood to face her. “You’re welcome, but thanks are unnecessary.”
“I believe they are.” Bending, Rell picked up two more swords. “I was careless.”
“The power I felt from you was not that of a Bringer.” In an unusual display, Juna placed a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe being a Bane has changed you somehow. I don’t understand it, but I know my own struggles with being part of the Trilation.” Her hand slid free. “We have no Masters to teach us about our abilities, so we do the best we can.”
Her understanding gave Rell a small amount of consolation. “I suppose you’re right.”
Juna smiled. “I am. Now, let’s get these weapons upstairs.”
They finished collecting the pieces and exited. Once outside the small room, Rell stopped. “How do we close the chamber?”
“It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing left inside.” Juna headed for the door. “Let whoever stole the rest of these know they have been found out.”
When they exited the Council Chamber Jade’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. Rell shoved a sword and dagger at her. “Here, replace your old sword and shove the smaller blade in your boot.”
“Is this all there is?” Jade pulled a small dagger from her boot and tossed it aside. “I thought there would be more.”
“Most of the arsenal is gone.” The disgust in Juna’s voice echoed around the empty hall. “We already know some of the weapons have made it to the Shadow World as well as into the markets. No telling where the others are. This will have to do for now.”
The four women sprinted up the steps, slowing when they reached the final landing.
“We still need to talk to somebody about the missing Bringers,” Ravyn said, scanning the bustling area in front of them.
“Beatrice.” Jade gave a small bark of excitement and held up her hand. “Beatrice,” she called louder.
A redheaded woman turned, her face breaking into a wide grin when she saw Jade. She rushed forward and the two women hugged. Rell stepped back, wondering where her sister had met her obvious friend. Their relationship seemed far more than just acquaintances. Rell was struck by the realization that she hadn’t really known what Jade did or where she’d gone when they were apart. The memory of the lonely life she’d subjected Jade to while Rell had been a Bane rose up again. She pushed down the guilt and refocused on their mission. There was some comfort in knowing that she was trying to right her past wrongs.
“I’d heard you arrived.” Beatrice glanced around. “And that my uncle was not happy to see your group.”
“I bet not,” Ravyn said.
Beatrice wore the same gray garments as the other women. If she was of noble birth, her station was not defined by her clothing. “Who is your uncle?”
“Fromme Bagita.” Beatrice looked back at Jade. “Do you have word of Marcus?”
Taking her by the hand, Jade pulled Beatrice toward the wall. “Yes. We found him.”
“Where? Is he all right? Why haven’t you brought him to me?” The joy in her expression evaporated. “Is he dead?”
“No, but the situation is grave.” Jade lowered her voice. “He is being held in the Shadow World by the Demon King.”
“Who is Marcus?” Rell asked.
“One of those we found—” Jade pinned her with a pointed stare. “Beyond the room where Luc and I were held.”
What Jade left unsaid was that Marcus was one of the Bringers frozen in ice. Rell sifted through her memories of the people she’d seen, but there had been too many and she’d been too frightened by Sha-hera’s threats to remember. She nodded and said nothing more.
Beatrice’s eyes slid shut and she inhaled, as if stilling the urge to cry. The need to comfort the woman surged through Rell and without thought she placed a hand on Beatrice’s arm and sent calming thoughts to her. Instantly the woman relaxed, exhaling and opening her eyes.
“We’re going to try and rescue him.” Jade glanced around, lowering her voice even more. “But we need your help.”
“Anything.” Beatrice’s gaze skated over each one of the woman. “I’ll do anything to help.”