Heir of Pendel (A Pandoran Novel, #4) (45 page)

Soon, the low light melted into darkness, and I had a visibility of two feet. Theon must have had the tunnels memorized. We'd been walking in the darkness for about five minutes when Theon stopped. Magic tingled on the back of my neck, and I heard a soft rumble. The rumbling stopped, and Theon whispered, "Watch your step."

A hidden passage. I tested the darkness with the toe of my boot. The floor dropped into a staircase that led deeper into the earth. I followed Theon inside, and the air turned musty and frigid, and it smelled like an old tomb. He waited for all three of us to enter before closing the door behind us.

"Hey, Theology…how 'bout a light?" Thaddeus whispered as we descended.

"Not until we're farther from the door," Theon said. "The entrance isn't completely sealed, and the light could seep through the cracks."

"So help me," Thaddeus said, "after everything we've been through, if we die from falling down a staircase…"

"How'd you end up with him?" Theon asked me.

"It's a long story," I said.

"And I'd prefer it if that story didn't end in the next two minutes," Thaddeus said.

Theon paused and let out a soft whistle.

"Oh, so they'll see a light but they won't hear a whistle?" Thaddeus smarted off.

Another whistle echoed from deeper in the darkness, and a light bloomed at the bottom of our stair, where three men waited for us. They wore the traditional Nordic garb, and when they saw Theon, they looked relieved.

"The blazes is going on? Who are they?" Thaddeus asked. He'd stopped descending the stair and held his arm out, prohibiting Vera from walking any farther. Vera scowled, but I didn't know if it was because of the Nords or Thaddeus's arm.

"The guards were still preoccupied with the ravens when I left." Theon addressed the men at the foot of the stairs. "We left Gaff sleeping in front of their cells, but it won't be long before Denn finds out."

"And no word from the others yet, so I assume it's safe to go on," said the largest of the three Nords.

Theon nodded. "Good."

"What happened to him?" asked one of the men, gesturing toward me.

Theon's gaze hardened. "Denn."

"Since you brought it up"—Thaddeus moved down the stairs to stand beside me—"think we can stand here for two minutes while I take care him?" He nodded toward me. His question had sounded more like a threat.

Theon looked to me.

"I'm fine—" I started.

"Hellfire, Del Can't, I'm about ready to give you another black eye. You're not fine. You look like you've been through a meat grinder. Let me help you. You know I can."

I
did
know. Vera gave me a look that dared me to argue.

Thaddeus didn't wait for my reply and placed two fingers on my jaw. Magic tingled through my skin, numbing the pain in my jaw like a salve. I had to admit: My jaw felt infinitely better.

"Anywhere else?" Thaddeus asked.

"I think he cracked a rib."

"Fine, huh?" Thaddeus gave me a look. "You're as bad as she is." He nodded back at Vera, who looked proud of this accusation. Thaddeus felt along my ribs, and when he pressed over one in particular, I flinched. He frowned. "It's cracked, all right. I don't have potions to heal it completely, but I can help speed up the process and numb the pain."

"Go right ahead," I said, resigned.

Theon and his men watched. More tingling bled into my left side, slowly numbing the sharp cramp to a dull ache.

Thaddeus pulled his hand away. "The bruises will take some time to heal, but this shouldn't slow you down too much. I mean, you won't be operating at Del Can't speed, but you might be somewhere near V speed."

Vera jammed her elbow in his side and he chuckled.

I rolled my shoulder then took a full breath. My rib still pinched a little, but I could manage with this. At least it didn't hurt like the demons every time I breathed. "Huh. That’s much better, thanks."

Thaddeus snorted. "Don't act so surprised."

"Is Thaddeus a healer?" Theon asked. The people of Alioth prized their healers. But Thaddeus was no healer. He just happened to be the son of, perhaps, two of the most powerful people on Gaia. Of course, I couldn't tell Theon that.

I eyed Thaddeus with a slight smile. "Of sorts."

Thaddeus grinned back.

Theon looked at Thaddeus with new respect, then turned to address his men. "Aegis Alexander Del Conte…Todd, Bendik, and Niko." He gestured to each in turn. The Nords grunted in greeting, sizing me up in a way that gave me the impression they'd heard of me. "The other two are Aegises Thaddeus Mendax and Vera Neci."

The men also looked at Thaddeus with respect. With Vera, the men seemed intrigued, but then her expression grew murderous, and they all quickly averted their eyes.

Theon waved for us to continue, and we followed him down a long tunnel while the little light floated overhead. I still limped a little, but at least I could take full breaths.

"We're right beneath the town," Theon said to me as we walked. "According to my father, these tunnels were constructed as a place of refuge in the event of an attack from the skies."

The only enemy that had attacked from the skies had disappeared generations ago—up until recently. "These must be centuries old, then," I said.

"Aye," Theon replied.

"I'm assuming Denn and his men don't know about these tunnels?" I asked, noting a rotted wooden crate blanketed in thick cobwebs.

"Not yet." He made a right turn down a new tunnel. "They've been keeping a closer eye on the dungeons because they keep losing prisoners." Theon winked at me, nodding at our escort.

"Ravenshelm's occupied by shadowguard, then?" I asked.

Theon nodded. "The human ones." I was about to inquire about his father when I noticed our path ended in a stone stairway, where a few more Nords were seated around a table with a burning lantern. They glanced up, and one of them stood.

The one who stood started for us. "Took you long enough."

"Denn made a visit, and I had to wait for him to leave," Theon said. "Everything okay upstairs?"

"Far as we can tell." The Nord looked me over, then stuck out a hand. "Jenvald."

I took his hand, careful not to shake too hard. "Alexander Del Conte."

"Thought you looked a little familiar." He released my hand. "Met you once a few years back. You were with Lord Tosca. During the Rhyke's Campaign, I believe."

"Ah, yes. I remember," I said.

Wood creaked as Theon climbed the stair, which ended in a wooden hatch. He rapped three quick times, waited a breath, and then knocked three more times. There was a heavy scrape, as if something was being dragged across a floor, followed by a series of clicks, and then the hatch swung inward, casting us in honeyed light. A thick paw of a hand with an equally thick forearm reached down. "We'll be back," Theon said to his men as he grabbed hold of the thick hand and climbed out, and then the arm reached back down for me.

"I don't like this," Thaddeus said.

"A little late for that," I replied, grabbing hold of the person's wrist and wincing as that person pulled me through. I climbed out onto a wooden floor and stood, dusting my hands as the Nordic man bent over to help the other two.

I stood inside a small kitchen. A table and shorthair fur rug had been moved aside in order to access the hatch. The walls were covered with shelving, which sat mostly empty save a basket of fruits, a few loaves of bread, and a couple bundles of herbs. A small fire burned in the hearth, heating a kettle and a steaming pot—the culprits producing the strong scents of cloves and broth. I didn't notice any windows. We must still be underground.

Once Vera and Thaddeus were through, Theon closed the hatch. The grooves of the hatch matched the grooves in the floor perfectly, so even without the rug and table, it was difficult to spot.

"A couple of guards just left," the Nord said to Theon, "and I doubt any more will be back till breakfast. My men are upstairs looking out, but we best keep the table here just in case you four need to make a hasty retreat."

Theon nodded, then turned to face us. "Andrus, meet Aegises Alexander Del Conte, Thaddeus Mendax, and Vera Neci."

Andrus nodded, appraising me just like the others. Theon smacked a hand on Andrus's shoulder. "Andrus runs the only kitchen in town. We usually have a good number of eateries here in Ravenshelm, but Three Ravens is the only one in business right now."

"We can stay below if it's safer," I said.

"No." Theon shook his head. "We've got about an hour before the morning stragglers start arriving. I imagine you three need to eat, anyway. Especially you. Besides, Andrus wanted to see the infamous Aegis Alexander Del Conte." He winked at me. "Have a seat?" Theon gestured to the table. "Andrus, pour some drinks and…is there enough stew?"

"Aye, I'll serve some up."

"No, no…I'll do it." Theon headed for the fire. "You get the drinks?"

Andrus started for a hutch. He walked with a teetering gait, as if it took great strength to move each leg.

"Got a good year of fire and ice I been saving. Hope that's all right with you folks."

"Perfect, thanks," I said as Thaddeus and I sat on the bench at the table. Vera remained standing, leaning against the wall beside us with her arms folded over her chest, her gaze sharp and restless.

Theon ladled broth into bowls, then paused to glance up at me. "Is it true?" Theon asked. "About King Darius? That he's…that Eris has proclaimed himself king?"

I threaded my fingers together and placed them on the table. "Yes."

Theon's shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, and Andrus's hand froze on the hutch.

"I was hoping Denn and his men were lying to us," Theon said.

"I wasn't there," I continued quietly. "I learned of it from Lord Dommelier just yesterday. Eris had many men on the inside. He murdered King Darius during a council meeting. Lord Dommelier said there…weren't any survivors."

A log cracked in the fire, and embers sparked onto the brick flooring at the base of the hearth.

"Your father?" Theon asked, his eyes filled with despair. He knew my father, his uncle, sat on King Darius's council.

I pinched my lips together, giving the subtlest shake of my head. Theon's gaze fell to bowl in his hands. "What about your mother?" The words dropped in a whisper.

"I don't know," I said. "She was still in Karth, last I saw her. She'd intended to return to mainland with one of the guild members, but I don't believe she would've made it there in time." I hoped she hadn't made it there in time.

"You were in Karth?" Theon looked at me in question as he brought over the bowls of broth.

We all ate while I told Theon everything, leaving out the part about Thaddeus's heritage and betrayal. No need to complicate things. Thaddeus gave his silent thanks by knocking my knee beneath the table. After I finished telling Theon about Daria and the dragons, Theon placed his hand over mine, his gaze all suspicion.

"I always wondered why you never took a woman. You could've had any woman in Alioth—probably all of Gaia, too—but you never even cast a sideways glance. I never knew why, but it's because of the princess, isn't it?"

I held his gaze. "Always."

He patted my hand and grinned, then leaned back in his chair.

I continued with my story, and when I told Theon that Daria had left for Orindor to marry Danton to help bolster Valdon's defenses, he pounded his fist on the table and said, "That lying sack of
kutt
."

I was surprised at Theon's outburst, though that one statement completely cleared his reputation in Vera's eyes, and she regarded him with new interest. She sat down beside Thaddeus at the table and made herself comfortable—eager, even—and she took a huge swig of her drink.

"I had no idea you felt so strongly about Danton Pontefract," I said.

He took a swig of his ale and slammed it down. There was murder in his eyes. "Danton got Meira pregnant."

Time froze as his words echoed inside my head. Danton…had gotten Meira—Theon's sister and my cousin—pregnant? I didn't know her well, but she'd always been a very sweet and beautiful young girl. But…spirits of the realm!

I opened my mouth to speak, but I wasn't sure what to say—to think, even. With Danton's reputation…yes, it was definitely plausible. Gaia knew he was fortunate something like this hadn't happened sooner, but for it to happen with Meira…

I raked a hand through my hair, feeling overwhelmed with shock. And anger. Loads and loads of anger. My voice trembled with it as I said, "Theon, I…I’m sorry, I had no idea."

Theon shook his head. "He and his father passed through a few years ago on business. Danton spared no expense charming Meira, making all sorts of promises he had no intention of keeping. I warned her, but she wouldn't listen. I warned him too, but he laughed me off. Of course, he left and she discovered she was pregnant a few months later.

"She wrote Danton, but he returned every letter unopened. Meira had the baby. A little girl with
his
eyes. My father tried contacting Lord Pontefract, only to receive a short and nasty letter saying he'd take no responsibility for Meira's whoring." Theon's fist clenched and unclenched on the table. "And since Lord Pontefract has a much bigger pocketbook, we were left without recourse and my family was threatened into keeping the
embarrassment
silent."

Thaddeus let out a long whistle beside me. "Whoa, Point of Fact's been busier than I thought."

I snapped my gaze to Thaddeus right as Vera whacked him on the head. He leaned back, away from both of us, palms raised in surrender. "It was just a joke! Hellfire!"

I looked away from him. I felt…too tight. Explosive. I fisted my hands and glared at my mug, trying to calm myself. That privileged little piece of
kutt
. I should've knocked him off Hell's Peak when I had the chance. To do that to Meira and leave her like that with his child…

And that same little piece of
kutt
was going to marry Daria.
My
Daria. My blood boiled. I'd never liked Danton before, but now I hated him.