Page 38

"At once."

"The atmospheric system was compromised. Seal every outer entrance. No one leaves House Obsidius."

The order travels through the lit wall. A deeper alarm begins below us as Grolm locks the spire.

Beatrix pulls my cloak closer. "If this was a failed regulator, sealing the spire could trap the vapor."

"The vents are drawing again."

She tips her head, listening. Air moves through the overhead channel with a thin mechanical rasp.

"Weakly," she says.

"Enough to keep us breathing."

Boots pound beyond the far bend. Four guards appear carrying hooked blades and an iron lever. Grolm leads them, his bone-white carapace marked with black dust from the lower levels.

His crimson eyes pass over me, then Beatrix, then the cloak around her.

He asks no question about it.

"Report," I say.

"Failures in six southern chambers. No deaths confirmed. Zog has contained the central discharge, but the regulator core is unstable."

"Clear this passage. Escort Beatrix to secure quarters."

Beatrix draws herself upright beside me. "I can walk."

"Then walk with guards."

"Draxon."

"The discussion has ended."

Green eyes sharpen beneath strands of dusty mouse-brown hair. The look promises a later argument. I prefer it to the unfocused stare she wore when the vapor stole her breath.

Grolm signals two guards forward.

I lower my voice. "Choose a room beyond the southern air channels. Place water and clean clothing inside. No servants until the spire is secured."

"Yes, my lord."

Beatrix catches my wrist before I turn away.

Her hand circles the carapace below a shallow scrape on my left forearm. The cut came from the ceiling plate when I followed her through the opening. Red grit has already lodged along its edge.

"You are bleeding beneath the plate," she says.

"It can wait."

"Carapace infection is still infection."

"So is suffocation. Zog requires my attention first."

Her grip remains for one heartbeat, then releases. "Do not let a Soz'garoth seal it with chaos magic before I see it."

It is an order delivered by a human inside my own damaged spire.