Priestess

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Skipping the last few rungs of the rope ladder, Ara dropped down. A few slaves eyed her warily. Bomin and Tenan hurried to her.

“Oh Missy, I thought never to see you again,” Bomin said as he hugged her waist. Ara hunched over to kiss the top of his head.

Tenan’s studied her warily. “You all right, sis?”

She had to resist the urge to explain how kind Zacar had been. “I’m fine.” She tossed Tenan their father’s old sword. “You should have it now.” She faced Bomin. “Where’s this door?”

Bomin’s grin spread from one ear to the other. “Behind you.”

Ara whirled to see the center of what used to be two staircases. “It can’t be! Right in front of them all this time?”

Bomin puffed out his chest as he often did when he was enormously pleased with himself. “That door will take you to the armory, the treasury, and a few other key rooms.” He handed her a hastily drawn map and smiled, delighted with himself.

Ara couldn’t manage to return his smile. “And what do we do when Kanovia’s armies come after on us? Slaves are no match for soldier’s and Hebocks.”

The twinkle left Bomin’s eyes. “I’ll take care of that.”

“How?”

He shared a glance with the other Miners. “There’s an underwater river we dammed up decades ago. I’m going to release it.”

She suddenly felt very cold. He would drown everyone inside the mountain. Including the slaves, if she couldn’t get them out fast enough. And Zacar. “How much time do we need?”

“They come for the slaves at dawn. You have until then.”

She pressed her lips. “All right.”

It had to be somewhere around midnight. That gave them six hours to get everyone out before the guards discovered they were missing. Ara reached down and undid the clasp, halting the cloaks power over her appearance. “Light,” she commanded as she held up her Nightstar.

Pure light pierced the darkness. People started and sat up, blinking. Awe struck, they stared at her. She knew how she must look—a tall Fairone with dark hair cascading down her shoulders and a white star in the center of her forehead. Reaching over to shake their sleeping neighbors, they made their way toward her.

She had to get them through the tunnels in an orderly fashion—panic would be their ruin. Whether she could do so remained to be seen. But if we do manage to get them out . . .

She thought of the Kanovian and Hebock infested Wild Lands they’d have to trek through before they reached a deserted Nonae—all without any provisions and an army on their heels.

Live first, Ara. Worry about the rest later. Like Jarrer taught you. Turning to Bomin, she whispered, “Gather the Miners you’ll need. Send others to the armory to pass out weapons.”

Bomin took the Miners aside while Ara addressed the growing throng that eclipsed her, “A plan for your escape has been set in motion. We will proceed down a secret tunnel to the armory and treasury. Take only as much as you’re able to carry a great distance.”

Doubt and fear seemed to echo off the stone walls. She remembered what Lodan had told her so long ago, “You’re destiny’s coming. You can either actively pursue it or it will pursue you, but you always have a choice.”

A feeble old man, trembling with terror, turned dread filled eyes to the others. His voice cracked as he spoke, “There’ll be torture for any who attempt escape.”