“The Venori?” he asked.
“They’re around. I’m not sure where.”
“Let’s get what we need and get out of here fast, then,” Solène said. “I could live quite happily not seeing one of those creatures ever again.”
She cast another light, illuminating more of the cavern. Other than their footfalls and breathing, the only sound was of dripping water, falling from the countless glistening stalactites lining the roof. Gill felt a shiver run over his skin as he looked up at them. If one fell, it would spear right through whatever it hit.
The new light fell on an object sitting amongst a cluster of stalagmites. It looked like a chest, but it had slowly been swallowed up by the mountain. Only the top remained visible, its metal bands and latches and wooden frame looking unnaturally fresh considering how long it must have been here. Magic, once again. Was there anything it could not do?
“What happened to the chest?” Gill said, unable to work out how rock might have grasped it as it had.
“The water falling from the roof,” Pharadon said. “It’s gathered around the chest and is starting to turn it into a stalagmite. We may have to break it free.”
Loud hammering was something Gill would have preferred to avoid, though he realised the Venori were attracted by other things. He scanned the cavern as he advanced on the rock-encased chest, but there was no sign of the Venori, nor any trace of them having been there—not that Gill had any idea of what he should be looking for.
“I think it’s safe,” Gill said, fully aware that Pharadon probably had a better sense for where the Venori were than he did. Still, he was there as the muscle, and he reckoned he should at least maintain the illusion that he was protecting them.
Pharadon moved forward and inspected the chest. His face broke into a smile when he placed his hands on it. Opening the latch, the dragon in human form gave the lid an experimental tug; it opened as though the hinges had been oiled that morning. He let out a sigh of relief.
“They’re here,” he said. “Intact and unused.”
“Gather them up and let’s get out of here,” Gill said.
“How many are there?” Solène asked, craning to see.
“Three,” Pharadon said as he picked them up, one at a time, and deposited them in pouches in his cloak that appeared to form out of nowhere as Pharadon required them.
“Three Cups,” Solène said.
Gill didn’t like the consternated tone of her voice.
“You’ll use one of them on the goldscale,” she said. “What will you do with the others?”
Pharadon shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter. Once the goldscale is enlightened, the two of us will be able to enlighten any other juveniles we come across. We’ll have no need of the Cups. I have no interest in shaping the types of magic the old temple priests created. They’re of no use to me. Would you like them?”
“No!” Solène said, her harsh voice echoing around the cavern.
The question had been innocently asked, but the strength of Solène’s reaction allowed Gill to piece together her concern. They had fought so hard to stop Amaury from getting his hands on an unused Cup. Now there were more, and who knew what might happen if they fell into the wrong hands.
“No,” Solène said again. “No human should have that type of power.”
“What they offer is not so great a step beyond where you already are,” Pharadon said.
“Might they help us against Amaury?” Gill said.
“Giving anyone else that type of power would be an act of madness,” Solène said. “Who would you trust with it?”
The king was Gill’s first thought, but he quickly dismissed it. Solène was right. The Cups were too dangerous to let out into the world.
“Can you destroy them?” Solène said.
“I … I’m not actually sure,” Pharadon said. “I don’t know if anyone’s ever tried. In any event, I’m not willing to risk any of them until I’ve brought the goldscale to enlightenment.”
“We can’t let anyone use those Cups,” Solène said.
The tension in the cavern rose instantly. Gill watched Solène carefully. Whatever she did, he would follow, but he wondered if this was where their common cause with Pharadon came to an abrupt end. A lot of unpalatable courses of action flashed through Gill’s mind. Pharadon would be tough to take down, unless Gill could get to him before he left his human form.
The silence that followed Solène’s declaration seemed to stretch for an eternity. Gill was glad he was already holding his sword—this was the moment he would have drawn it otherwise, and that rarely defused a situation.
“Once the goldscale is enlightened,” Pharadon said, “we can try to destroy the other Cups. If we can’t, I’ll take them far into the mountains, where your kind will never find them.”
Solène nodded slowly, and Gill let out the breath he’d been holding, as quietly as he could. The sound of footsteps flooded the cavern. The Venori had decided it was time to make their appearance.
In the open space, Gill was concerned that they might be swamped by the demons, that their incredible speed would make them impossible to hit. At least Solène’s issues with killing didn’t seem to extend to the Venori. He didn’t fancy his chances of fighting them off alone.
The three of them gathered at the chest. It sounded as though the creatures were coming from the passage they’d used to enter the cavern.
“Are there any other ways out of here?” Gill said.
“Plenty,” Solène said. “I’ve no idea where any of them lead, though.”
“Looks like we’re fighting our way out, then,” Gill said. They were surrounded by the pool of light created by Solène’s magic, which showed neither the edges of the chamber nor the Venori, though Gill could hear them shuffling around just beyond its periphery. His skin crawled as he thought of them, out there, concealed by the darkness, balancing the danger against their hunger. That they wouldn’t actually eat him, merely drain him of the vital Fount energy within his body, was no less disconcerting than the idea of having them gnaw on his bones.
“Why aren’t they coming at us,” Gill said.
“I don’t know,” Pharadon said. “The Venori are almost as much of a mystery to me as they are to you.”
Guttural sounds echoed about the cavern—the demons were talking to one another.
The tension was reaching a breaking point. If something didn’t happen soon, Gill would rush into the darkness and let the dice fall where they may.
“Cover your eyes,” Solène said.
CHAPTER 36
Gill had fought by Solène’s side enough times to not ask, “Why?” He trusted her, and covered his eyes with one hand just as the cavern exploded with light. It would have been silent, were it not for the pained hisses coming from all around him. If there was ever a better invitation to act, Gill hadn’t seen it. As soon as the searing light fighting its way between his fingers faded, he charged.
The Venori were stumbling around, startled by the sudden illumination. Though Gill cut two down before they even started to come out of their daze, he didn’t get long to congratulate himself on his swift reaction. He could see at least a dozen more, all beginning to regain their senses.