NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY: The Adventures of the Creeping Bam (BOOK 4: The Hunt)

CHAPTER THIRTY: GAEL

The moment the door opens and Vandryss steps inside I know I'm going to die. I don't even have to see the particular look on her face to know that this does not bode well at all for either myself or my father, it's clear enough just from all the noise we've been picking up from outside. Even with the door locked tight I've still been able to keep vague track of what's going on out there, first hearing raised voices from barked orders and what I assumed was a distinctly increased level of concern. Then much more muffled sounds of struggle and violence from above, as well as more than one particularly large percussive crash that shook the building hard enough, even from all the way down here, that I almost lost my own footing. And now, finally, shouting from much closer, just outside, including more than one voice I recognised.

At least for a few moments, I was starting to hope, slender as it may have been. Hearing Shay in particular, it was almost a relief. Da was a good deal more worried up until then, finally giving up on trying to think of his plans for our escape, or more likely just my own, and instead simply starting to unburden himself as he saw the end potentially approaching for both of us. He told me that he loved me, that he was so proud of me, that he couldn't possibly imagine me turning out any more amazing than what he saw before him now. It was almost enough to make me cry, even as I tried hard to keep his spirits up, telling him we could still get out of this, that my friends could well win through out there. Certainly it sounded like a possibility.

Now, as Vandryss immediately focuses on me and her brows just start to knit while her lips draw thinner than I've ever seen them before ... honestly, even if they are winning out there I'm already doubting I'll actually live to see our victory. Then I realise that Tavarrat's stepped in with someone I don't know in tow, and turns her key in the lock to seal us in before finally stepping into the room proper. Looking a good deal more fretful than her companion, breathing hard in something approaching shock while her eyes are wide. As though her mind's not really here right now.

I take a big step back and the wall's right behind me, I can't go further. Sucking in a deep breath, I raise my hands, trying to come up with something to say that might defuse the mood that's already pervading the room, but nothing comes. Not that I could think anything up, I'm getting to know this horrible woman well enough to guess that she'll do whatever she wants no matter what I say.

Vandryss watches me for a long beat, her eyes slowly narrowing as she looks me up and down, then back up again, her jaw clenching and loosening over and over again just as her fingers keep clenching into fists and relaxing again. Finally she takes a step forward, then stops, hissing: "Damn it!" low but very full of venom.

"We can't ... Van, I can't just leave him!" Tavarrat's clutching her staff tightly, pacing over the same few feet back and forth while she's staring at the door. "This isn't right ... I can't do it. He's going to ... please, I need you to help me –"

"For fuck's sake, Luthan!" Vandryss snaps, turning to give her a sharp sidelong glare while her fists clench again. "He told you to go! He's fucking right, we need to go. He's buying you this chance. Do you want to waste it?"

Gods, this cruel bitch ... as much as Tavarrat has burned all her opportunities to make me feel sorry for her, I can't help feeling some small sympathy all the same hearing that. But I hold my tongue, trying my best not to draw unnecessary attention right now.

"Yes, you should leave." My father strikes up now as I hear the clink of his chains as he starts to draw himself up into a more upright sitting position, at least as much as he can manage given how exhausted and broken he is. "You should ... truly, it sounds like your time's running out quickly now. You could all just disappear now, and I'm sure that you'll be able to get away. I'm certainly not going to try chasing you. Not right now. Perhaps not at all, if you left us both unharmed."