Guild Of Zeroes

Chapter 32

Light filtered down through open trapdoor at street level, filtering through the hazy cloud of dust kicked my graceful entrance. I was lying flat on my back in some kind of dry storm drain. The tunnel was round and made of neat, red brick. Javelin hurried up the ladder I had completely missed and pulled an iron lid down over the entrance. A lock clunked into place and she joined us in the tunnel.

"If they get through that," she said. "I'll eat my boot."

A warm wave of pure bliss broke over me and I smiled. The dead weren't getting through that, not a chance. We were safe. At least for now.

Mouse shuffled a little ways down the tunnel and whispered a spell. A ball of light flickered to life on the end of his staff.

"Snip," said Javelin. "Can you walk? Or are we carrying you?"

"Doesn't feel like anything is broken." I held up a hand, waiting for someone to help me to my feet.

Javelin rolled her eyes and looked back up at the metal trapdoor, one hand on the hilt of her sword.

Quin pulled me to my feet and brushed some dust and debris from my armour. Their fingers found the dent in my vest and they gave it a poke.

I winced.

"Hurts?" they asked.

"Not bad. I don't think it went through."

They nodded. "We'll have to give it a proper check later. Yell if you start feeling faint or short of breath or anything."

I did my best to force a laugh. "We've been running like hell for as long as I can remember. Short of breath and dead tired is my normal now."

Quin shook their head and gave me a playful shove. "It hasn't been that long. You're really getting so weak minded that you can't remember last week?"

"Ouch," I said with a smile. "That is extra hurtful coming from you. If the person who had three quarters of their brains smashed out is calling me feeble minded then there must be something seriously wrong."

We started down the tunnel, following Mouse through the gloom.

"Excuse me," said Quin with all of the false indigence they could muster. "Three quarters is a bit of a stretch. It was half at most."

"Oh is that all."

Javelin groaned behind us and gave Quin a less than playful shove forward, urging them to pick up the pace. "You're both brainless. Can we stay focused. Please."

Well, that happy feeling of peace and contentment sure did last a long time. The fear and tension settled back over me like an itchy cloak and we walked on in sullen silence until we came to a T shaped intersection.

Mouse sank to one knee and picked something up out of the dust. He sat there for a long moment. Tears stained the dust at his feet.

I walked up beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Mouse? Are you okay?"

He stood and threw himself into my arms sobbing. I winced. I was still too tender to be catching wizards but I grit my teeth hugged him tight.

"I'm going to guess that's a no," I said.

"Gods," said Javelin. "You Tower Four Zeroes really are as weak as they say. Let's move. Pull yourself together."

I could feel Quin's anger even though their armour hid their expression and hampered their body language. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but I swear they were glaring holes through their helmet. The steel was glowing.

"Shut up," they snapped.

Mouse managed to pull himself together a little and led us to the path on our right.