Bastion of Sun

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Danger Within

Evangeline whisked to the double gold doors, her fist raised to knock.

"Wait," Ayva said, reaching out.

Evangeline hesitated, looking back, her pretty face confused.

"Do you sense that?" she asked turning to Zane.

"Danger?" he asked, reaching for his blade. He pushed Hannah behind him protectively but she pushed him off. She half expected a growl to emanate from the back of his throat.

"I..." Ayva closed her mouth. She didn't know how to explain it. All the way up she'd felt eyes upon her, from the sun walkway to the stables. Only now inside the halls she felt them fall. Something else unsettled her stomach now, standing before the doors. "I'm not sure, but something isn't right." She looked to the doors—seamless creations of gold with two phoenixes entwined upon the gilded surface. They were huge, as if all of Yronia's gold had been smelted down and forged into these giant double behemoths; but no light leaked from beneath the door's frame.

She realized she was still holding Evangeline's wrist and shook herself, releasing it.

Evangeline smiled serenely. "You've no need to worry, Ayva. We're in the safest part of Vaster—perhaps all of Farhaven. Lightguards guard every level of the Apex's hundred floors. An army, or the R—" she hesitated, swallowing her words. What was she about to say? Ronin? "Nothing can get to us here." And she knocked on the golden doors—four raps in rhythmic succession.

"You can't blame us for a little caution," said Hannah. "You see, we've traveled a long way for this moment, so you can understand why we're—" Hannah was saying, but Ayva wasn't listening as the doors opened and Hannah's words fell flat.

Darkness.

That was what Ayva felt. An absence of light. It made her heart clench and her palms sweat. The room was in almost complete shadow, save for a few shreds of light that seemed haphazard, as if reflected from outside the walls.

She narrowed her gaze.

At the far end of the room, a figure stood. He wore white robes, but his face was too hard to see from here. Ribbons of light fell on a glass casement in the center of the room. A glass case the same size as a sword.

Could it be?

"Father?" Evangeline's voice trembled, stepping forward. "Is that you? Father?"

"Evangeline, wait—"

The doors shut with a crash and the room plunged into a false night. Evangeline gave a cry of surprise. But Ayva was silent. She knelt to the ground and listened. "What's going on?" Evangeline called. "Father?" Ayva couldn't see Evangeline, but she felt her presence a few feet ahead, her voice sharp with panic. Just then, she heard a small scuffle of boot against marble.

Someone else.

Zane sent the same message through the bond. They see us. They've had time to acclimate to the darkness.

No, it's too dark, she said, knowing somehow, they're sensing us through noise. "Be quiet, High Lady," she said as softly as she could to Evangeline, who groped in the darkness beyond.

But the girl ignored her or didn't hear. "Father?" Evangeline called out loudly. "Where are you?"

Just then, there was a bellow. With her hand to the marble, Ayva felt the ground rattle, footsteps pounding. Someone was charging. Evangeline cried out. Ayva was quicker. Judging where Evangeline stood, she dove, tackling the High Lady, bringing her to the ground. Steel flashed in the darkness. She sucked a breath in as the man's dagger missed. He rolled over them. Another figure was instantly on top of her. She felt thick, rough fingers grab her arm, prying them away from Evangeline with brutal strength. Ayva grit her teeth, and snatched her dagger from her side and cut. There was a sharp and angry cry. Female? Surprise shot through her and her attacker held on. Suddenly, Zane was there. He roared in fury, barreling into the figure on top of Ayva and the High Lady. There was a crash and they tumbled into the darkness.