Fortunately, we had my trusty companion with a damned good nose. I visualized the Sorceress. Trix lowered her nose to the stone and began to track.
Talakai was more cautious as we followed her, hugging a wall. “Do you sense anything?” Even his whisper rumbled.
I shook my head. “There is so much energy flying around, I can’t make sense of it. But I don’t feel the one that targeted me.”
The Dragon’s mouth pulled straight. “I hope Galeran’s curious enough to check you out and not flee.”
“We don’t know for certain it was him.” Lucas tilted his head, and his eyes flashed. “Nikolai thinks it is.”
It was unnerving having the powerful Bellati present, even if it was through Lucas. I hoped that if things got crazy here, Nikolai wouldn’t bring the whole academy down.
Or worse.
We came to another branch in the tunnels. Voices approached. Talakai tugged his hood tighter and took us straight into the center before the two mercenaries came around the corner.
“We’d better not end up sleeping in tents again, or I’ll be terminating my contract,” one complained.
“Be careful what you say,” a second voice hissed. “I hear those who tried to leave were bled dry by the Sorceress.”
Trix led us right past them, nose to the stone. Both cast us curious glances but kept walking. After they disappeared around a bend, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Act like you belong,the Dragon stated,and they assume you do.
Made sense. The tunnel led us deeper into the castle, but I started to look into the doorways we passed. Finally, I found one that might suit.
“Hold up,” I said to my companions, calling Trix to come back to me.
We entered the room. The door at the back provided access to an adjoining room that, in turn, exited back into the tunnel.
This would work. Both rooms were furnished—they looked as though they’d been lounges of sorts.
Talakai was watching me. “It’s as good as we’re likely to find.”
Lucas looked from him to me. “We aren’t tracking Isobel?”
“Isobel isn’t who we want,” I reminded him.
“But she’ll take us to Galeran,” the Morph said.
Despite following my thoughts, Talakai remained silent as I looked around. “We need to push the furniture back, clear some space.”
Lucas looked at me in confusion, but then his eyes flashed. “Can you really do that?” he asked me.
“Do what?”
“Nikolai says you can bring Galeran to you.”
Talakai picked up a side table and took it into the back room. I grabbed a chair and moved it against the wall. “Worth a shot, I figure.”
Lucas swallowed. “Well, for better or worse, the big guy says he can help.”
“Excellent.” I grinned at him. “Although, at the moment, his muscles would have been handy as hell. Let’s get this couch moved, shall we?”
57
Matt
I was going bloody bonkers.
