Page 11 of The Edge of Darkness

“It’s best if I enter first,” Remic said quietly. “I do not sense anyone else nearby, but the air could be poisoned. Take a few steps back,” he ordered us. When we did, he ported to the front of the line, as there was no way he was going to bypass us physically with such a narrow space to move in.

“Please don’t say ‘on my mark’ again,” Roirdan whispered through the silence.

Remic turned back and glared at him before opening the door and peering out into the dimly-lit room. A few seconds passed before he said, “All clear.”

“Any smoke in the air?” Morah asked.

“No. No wards either.”

“Good. Let’s move.”

Remic led the way through the small storage room, which was faintly illuminated by the light filtering in from the connecting tunnel. It seemed like the space had been long forgotten about. Several tools and chiseled stones lay piled in the corner near discarded torches and other wooden planks, and a dozen or so cobweb-covered crates had been thrown into a heap and now sat collecting dust.

Remic spoke low. “Which way is it from here?”

“We should be under the Old Market,” Morah said. “Fallon should be due north of here. This is where we need to decide if Niall is closer in or further out, and split.”

Roirdan rubbed at his neck. “High-profile prisoners are either kept further away so that they’re less of a risk to others, or they’re kept closer so they can be constantly monitored or afflicted.”

“Not helping, Roirdan,” Maeson hissed under her breath.

“Well, you didn’t bring me along for sweet sentiments.”

“He’s right,” I said. “Sugar-coating it won’t make it any easier when we find him. We need to be prepared for what we might find. That goes for both him and Fallon.” I exchanged a look with Morah.

“But it’s only been four days for Niall,” Maeson reasoned.

“A lot can happen to a prisoner in four days,” Remic said grimly.

A chill went down my spine, and I straightened. “We need to go. We’re wasting time.”

“Can you feel anything in the mating bond, Auren?” Morah asked.

I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes. My essence whirled slowly in my mind like it was pacing, anxiously awaiting its other half. I reached out with it, calling to Niall like I would have if he were here. There was no audible answer, but I felt as if something was tugging on that invisible thread. A tiny twitch—enough to let me know someone was on the other end, but only just. It was as if it were nudging me to go⁠—

“Left,” I whispered.

“Left? You’re sure?” Morah asked. “How do you know?”

“A feeling,” I said, opening my eyes.

“If he’s west of here, that would put him under the healer’s quadrant which is just outside the palace grounds. And that means he should be in close enough proximity for the wards around Fallon to go down whenever you command them.”

“Let’s hope,” I said.

“When you get to Niall, have him reach out to me with his mind, and I’ll direct you to where I am.” She seemed so sure that this would work that I had no other option than to believe her.

I nodded in agreement. “Roirdan, go with Morah.”

Roirdan balked and began to protest. “Auren, are you sure⁠—”

“Fallon has been under poison for years now and there’s no telling what condition he’ll be in. I doubt he’ll be able to move, and Morah is going to need someone to help get him out in case we can’t make it back to you.”

The commander looked less than pleased, but he didn’t argue.

Maeson ducked back into the storage room and returned with a torch, enchanting it with her flame. She handed it to Morah with a small smile.

“Thank you,” Morah said, offering a smile back.