Spellcasters

Chapter 10

"Quick," said Benemez. "Climb on my back. This whole place could go at any second."

"I'm not going out there," said Kaleb. The tomb trembled. Dust rained from the ceiling and the cracks in the walls splintered like shattered glass.

"You'd rather be crushed?" said Benemez. He dodged a falling rock. "We've not got much choice."

Kaleb gave in. Using Benemez as a platform, he heaved himself out of the trapdoor. Much more elegantly, Nyx leapt onto her master's back and jumped to the surface. Kaleb reached for Maylis but his hands were slick with sweat.

"You're too heavy," he said as she slipped from his grasp.

"No," said Maylis. "You're too weak."

She cried out with surprise as she found herself being lifted up. Benemez roughly shoved her through the door, jumped and caught the edge with the tips of his fingers. Kaleb and Maylis hauled him up.

"I don't need your help." He pushed them away.

They gazed at the sky. The sand cloud had settled but the sky was cut open into pieces. Black portals bled purple at the edges like wounds. Maylis shivered. She was reminded of the island The Sea Drinker had been anchored near. The same feeling had washed over her then, like balancing at the edge of a cliff.

"This way," said Benemez. "Come on Nyx."

The portals pulsated through dark clouds. They ran, hunched over with the weight of the storm at their backs. As they headed towards the grey mountains, sand battered them. Kaleb collapsed against a rock the second they arrived at the base of the sheer peaks.

"The climb starts here." Benemez pointed at the jagged path.

"I want to go to Terra," said Maylis.

"You've got a long walk then," The corner of his mouth twitched. "We'd be better off heading to my city, Slayhold. Of course, I don't care where you go."

A gritty thud sounded behind them and Maylis turned to see Kaleb had fallen face first to the ground. She darted to his side and pulled him up by the shoulders.

"Kaleb, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

He appeared uninjured but his eyes were clenched shut as if he were having a nightmare. He lurched and grabbed the front of Maylis's jacket.

"Ravenesca is hurting them," said Kaleb. "I can see it. Frida wants me to go back."

"It's too dangerous. You could end up in a coma again. Or worse."

"They want me to bring them all to Selandris."

"We can't let any of The Superiors return," said Maylis.

Benemez placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "The Superiors are long gone." He drew his weapon and pointed it at Kaleb's neck. "What are you planning?"

"Put that away," shouted Maylis. "You don't know our story, so back off." She held his hand and tried to reassure him, but Kaleb was deaf to everything except the horrors inside his own mind. "We can't go anywhere when he's like this."

"What's happening to him?" said Benemez.

"There's this magic wielder called Frida. She's able to enter people's minds. I guess she's trying to persuade Kaleb come back."