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“I sent a few companions of mine down to investigate,” he said, gesturing to the caskets. “I even sent down a dead gorgon. They were all destroyed so utterly, I couldn’t so much as recall their bone shards. Whatever was down there was better off left alone. As such, I requested Healer Helena place a barrier to put an end to the threat.” His eyes sharpened. “How did you remove that barrier?”
“I—”
“Ah. Before you answer.”
The skeletons converged on me. They emptied the contents of the bag, forcing it into my hand, on my lap, and pressing them to my face. I almost didn’t need to look to know what they were.
Verity stones.
I thought fast. Lying simply wasn’t an option. I was not tough enough to withstand the torture of one verity stone. All of these pressed to my skin would burn me alive.
What do I do? Why isn’t Selene saying something? I have no way out of this!
“Speak,” Damien barked, making me jump.
“A curse,” I blurted. “I used a cursed charm to destroy the barrier, but I had no idea it would bring down all the barriers,” I rushed out. “I never wanted that to happen, I swear.”
Drakos studied me, but I was obviously telling the truth. My not screaming in pain was a good clue. “Where is this cursed charm?”
“In my hand.”
A slight nod and one of the skeletons took it from me.
“Why did you want into that chamber, Miss Vanda?” Drakos continued. “What do you know of what’s down there?”
“Tread carefully, girl,” Selene said as my lips parted. “Your mother’s usefulness ends the moment you become more trouble than you’re worth.”
My grip tightened on the stones. “I know what’s down there,” I rasped, shaking. “My mother.”
“Excuse me?” It was Damien who spoke. He moved into my line of sight, staring me down. “Did you say your mother?”
I nodded. “Two years ago, when you discovered the entrance, it was opened to let my mother and her abductors in. I came here and brought down the barrier to rescue her.”
Drakos and Damien exchanged a look.
“Why would your mother be inside an ancient chamber defended by the likeness of the gods?” Damien asked. “Who told you such nonsense?”
“It’s not nonsense. She was snatched from our home by monsters and brought here. I don’t know what their true purpose is, or what I’ll find down there, but I don’t care. I have to get her back.”
Drakos gave me a long, measuring look. “Who is your mother?”
“Her name is Irida Vanda.”
“I know of no Irida Vanda.”
I shrugged. “That’s not strange. You don’t know everyone in Olympia.”
Technically the truth. The verity stones let it slip.
“How old is she?” he asked.
“Why?”
“Answer,” he barked.
I hesitated. “She’s... forty-two now.”
“Then, I very well should know this woman. We would have attended the academy at the same time. I say again, I know of no Irida Vanda.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “You are either a clever liar, a filthy traitor, or a deluded little fool. You are rapidly running out of time to convince me of either.”
