The next round of competitors would be posted at the first section of night. I was both anxious and leery to know. If I had drawn Delph, I didn’t know what I would do. I thought about us making a run for the Quag now. That would prevent them from taking my punishment out on Delph. Yet something held me back. Well, it was quite clear what was holding me back. I had given my word that I would fight my hardest in the Duelum. That had been my deal with Morrigone. She was not my favorite Wug. But a promise was a promise. I didn’t mind lying occasionally, particularly when it helped me survive. To go back on my word, though, that was something my grandfather never would have done. And neither would I. It would be a taint on the Jane name.
I usually couldn’t care less what other Wugs thought. But this was different. I would never forget the look Thansius had given me when the marks were revealed on my skin. I just wanted to show him that, well, that I was an honorable, if not overly clean, Wug.
I looked up quickly when I spotted his shadow across my workstation.
Domitar was staring at me. I glanced up at him expectantly.
“You did well last light, Vega, very well indeed.”
“Thank you, Domitar.”
“I won twenty coins on you, in fact,” he added in a giddy tone, rubbing his fat hands together.
I was very surprised by this, and my features must have revealed that.
He waved this look off. “I knew you would win. Cletus Loon is an even bigger idiot than his father.” He toddled off, chuckling to himself.
I went outside at the mid-light meal to bring water and some food to Harry Two. As I sat in the high grass, I stared up at Stacks. I had been to the top floor twice now. Once I had found Destin and the other time my past.
But was it the top floor?
I continued to gaze upward as Stacks soared on and on. It had to be taller than two floors. Which meant I had more of the place to discover. This was a ridiculously dangerous thought, I knew. I was one slip at the Duelum from going to Valhall for the rest of my sessions. But the sword hanging over my head had also given me true clarity of mind, perhaps for the first time in my life.
I was tired of so many questions on my part and no answers in return. Could I perhaps find some answers in Stacks, which seemed to have more secrets than any other place in Wormwood? Every time I had gone in there, I had come away with something of value. Could I try my luck once more?
When the bell rang for the end of work, I changed my clothes and waited outside for the other Wugs to leave. I was surprised to see Delph run up, his shirt soaked with sweat from his Wall work.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Duelum practice,” he answered.
“It’ll have to wait.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m sneaking back in Stacks after everyone has gone. I’ve been to the second floor. Now I want to go higher.”
“Are you nutters, Vega Jane?” sputtered Delph.
“Probably,” I answered.
“Krone’ll be looking for any chance to throw you back in Valhall. What if his blokes are watching us right now?”
“I thought of that,” I said. “I’m going to come back here a little later and sneak in the side. It would be pretty much impossible for anyone to spot me then.”
“Why go in a’tall?”
“I’ve been in there twice now and I’ve gotten out okay each time. And every time I have, I’ve learned something important. That’s where I got Destin,” I added, pointing at the chain, which sat around my waist. “And the Elemental and the Adder Stone.”
“But you said that was from the little room on the second floor. Now ya want to find a way to go higher, you said.”
“Right.”
“And I can’t talk you out of doing this?”
“No.”
He gazed up at Stacks. “So how do we do this?”
“We aren’t doing anything. I’m going in. You can take Harry Two to your digs and wait for me there. I’ll come by after I’m done here.”
“Either I go in with you, or I go and tell bloody Domitar what you’re planning to do. Bet he nips off to tell Krone.”
“Delph, you wouldn’t!” I said in a shocked tone.
“The Hel I wouldn’t.”
We stared at each other for about a sliver. He said, “I’m not letting you go into that place alone.”
“Delph, you don’t know what I’ve faced in there. It’s very dangerous and —”
“There’s Domitar leaving now. Shall I go have a chat with him?”
I looked over and saw Domitar and Dis Fidus leaving. I turned back and glared at Delph, whipping my hair out of my face.
“All right, but if you get killed, don’t come complaining to me.”
“Har,” he shot back.
Then a thought struck me. No, it was more a truth. I had given my word to fight in the Duelum, as hard as I could. If I did that, Morrigone said everything would return to normal. I would owe Council nothing. But I had no intention of staying in Wormwood after that. My parents were gone. My brother was lost to me. Morrigone had said that if I tried to leave, they would punish Delph. Well, our original plan of fleeing together solved that dilemma. And if Delph was going with me into the Quag, he had to learn, firsthand, how to handle himself in the face of things that a Wug was not used to confronting. Perhaps this night would be a good opportunity for Delph to be initiated into what lurked inside Stacks.
I looked up at him. “Delph?”
“What?” he barked, obviously ready for another argument.
“After the Duelum is done and you’ve won the thing, I’m leaving Wormwood. I’m going through the Quag. My mind is made up.”
“Okay,” he said, his features calming, but there was a heightened anxiety in his eyes, which I did not like.
“Are you still coming with me?”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Are you a nutter? Course I am.”
Before I knew it, I had reached up on tiptoes and kissed him.
“Vega Jane,” he said, his face red with embarrassment over the unexpected snog. And in truth, I had surprised myself.
I hunched over defensively. “Just to seal the covenant, Delph,” I said quickly. “That’s all,” I added firmly.
LATER, WE SNUCK around the side of Stacks after leaving Harry Two at my digs. We had taken a meandering route here and even practiced some for the Duelum, which was perfectly legal if anyone was watching. Then I had led Delph down a forest path, which I knew was a shortcut to Stacks. I defeated the lock on the same door as before with my tools while Delph looked on admiringly.
“Right good touch, Vega Jane,” he said.
I opened the door and we stole into Stacks. I knew which way to go, which was fortunate. Even though it was still light outside, it was dark and shadowy in here.
I felt like I could hear Delph’s heart beating behind me as I gripped his hand and led him along. We reached the second floor with no problem. I was listening for the sounds of the jabbits coming, but the only things I heard were my breathing and Delph’s heart hammering. As I’d suspected, the jabbits didn’t seem to come out until dark.
We walked along the second floor and I reached the wooden door. On the other side was the little door with the crazy Wug doorknob. I didn’t want to go that way again.
I turned and led Delph in the other direction. I heard no slithers, no footfalls other than our own. I said, “There is at least one more floor up. The only way I can see it being is down here.”
Delph nodded, though I knew he was too nervous and fearful to be thinking clearly.
All we found was a solid wall with no evidence of stairs leading up. However, as I leaned out a window, I could see the floor above us. There had to be a way up.