City of the Dead (36 page)

Just then, she continued out loud, “Fish is worried that something odd happened in the portal that they’ use on the south end. He thinks somebody has been sneaking into that tomb. Maybe a graverobber. I said we could go and take a look.”

Gustin was still protesting that he wanted to see the sights, not more corpses and ghosts, as he followed her to the Dead End gate. But he did follow her and Sophraea noticed that the emerald gleam of his eyes was noticeably brighter under those lashes that were ridiculously long for a man.

“Stop complaining,” said Sophraea, unlatching the wrought iron gate. It swung open with a friendly creak, her uncles having decided to forge the squeak back into the gate hinges. She started down the moss-covered steps into the City of the Dead. “You know that as long as you are with me, you won’t get lost. Besides, Volponia gave me another ring from her jewel box. She’s almost certain that the spell in this one will work.”