Page 96 of Elysian

Once inside, the doors shut behind us, enclosing us in darkness. My vision adjusted. A small gas lamp came on, illuminating Tabby. She stood beside another man who was older with lines bracketing his mouth. She shoved the gas lamp handle at him, and he scrambled to catch it.

“Thank Saints.” Tabby ran toward Archer.

The bit of light allowed me to see Archer dismount and catch her. The bottom of her dress flared out as he twirled her. Their love was pure. I couldn’t help but compare it to myself and Cassiel. She had started assigned to him, and they had fallen in love. It was clear that was what she felt about him.

Cassiel moving to dismount brought me out of my mind.

“It took you long enough. I was close to sending out scouts to bring word back of you lot—” The older man stopped talking to gawk at Cassiel. “Saints,” he breathed. “Is that who I think it is?”

Cassiel said nothing, hand still outstretched to take mine. I shook my head, gripped the front of the saddle, and dismounted to the opposite side.

Morak walked over, leading his horse and took Abrax’s reins. Cassiel stiffened.

“Your Highness, we have a stall for your mount. He will be well taken care of,” Liadan said.

I worked on unwinding the satchel and tossing it over one shoulder. Abrax was guided away, leaving me staring at Cassiel across from me.

“I am so pleased you are all safe,” Tabby announced, approaching to grab my hands. She wound her arms around me. The softness of it—no expectation, just friendship—warmed my heart. Tears welled, and I blinked them away as I pulled back. She looked over my shoulder.

“My lord.” She curtsied. Cassiel kept quiet, but inclined his head. “Come, come, you must all be exhausted. I will take you to your chamber.”

She hooked her arm in mine and pulled me alongside her, striding over to the older man. “Amara, this is Waylan, one of the elders.” Waylan inclined his head and walked ahead of us. He seemed more worried than anything.

“Elders?”

“There is a lot to explain. We will get to it, but rest comes first.”

I followed her to the corner of the hovel. Dust tickled my nose, coaxing a sneeze free. Waylan crouched, bringing the gas lamp close to the ground to show a circular metal handle. He pulled it, then the slab of wood creaked and rested open. I could not see a thing until he stepped inside holding the gas lamp. Stone steps descended. Tabby released my arm, and I followed her downward. Deeper and deeper we walked. The walls had slabs of stone pressed against the surface and a thick stone-made paste slathered along to reinforce them. As we went deeper, there were hidden grooves carved into the walls. Not until we had gone deeper did I understand what they were all for.

On my next step, I looked to the side, and the following crevice came into view. A shadowed face greeted me; the lean body it belonged to sat against the curvature.

‘Above you. It will explain his presence.’

I looked up and there, hidden within the stone, were various blades jutting menacingly. The blades seemed to run along the entire wheel-like structure. The amount of traps tripled with the last stretch of steps until we reached the end. As we finally descended the final stretch, five individuals were there with weapons all pointed at us.

Waylan walked down with the lamp in hand and lit the stairs.

“It is us,” Waylan said, and the blades retreated.

Another light flared on, and it showed a chamber carved into a rounded entrance that led in two paths. Both people at opposite ends of the space reached to hang the gas lamps onto the hooks along the wall.

Three men held swords directed at Cassiel. They were rough-looking men, scars littering their skin, hair cropped close to the scalp. Cassiel flung an arm against my front and pulled me behind him.

“There’s no need for all this,” Tabby said sharply. None of them reacted.

“Put them down.” Morak’s order was abrupt and harsh. The three of them hesitated for a split second before retreating, shoving their swords into their sheaths. Morak jerked his head toward the rounded entrance that led deeper. “Get back to what you were doing.” He rushed people out of the way.

I caught sight of a child peering between the skirts of two women. He was a small boy in overalls. His wide eyes were fixed on Cassiel in fear and amazement. He caught me watching him and sank behind the skirts. Morak waved to the rest of the onlookers. The three men with their blades sheathed remained, leaning against the stone wall.

“They never believed they would be so near the king,” Tabby explained, wincing. “Forgive their impertinence.”

Cassiel didn’t spare her a look; he was too busy scanning every inch of the carved-out entrance.

“You mentioned you were not part of the Resistance last I saw you. Was that a lie?” There was no reproach in my tone. If they hid it, it was only for their safety.

“We were not, but after the King found us, we feared.” She trailed off. I touched her arm.

“I understand.”