They walked down the tunnel a hundred paces. Two. Connell softly counted out the distance they covered. The dogs padded ahead so as not to huff blue fire upon the humans. Dally thought the city revealed its age much more clearly here belowground. The tunnel was carved from solid rock, a gigantic tube perhaps ten paces wide—a perfect square with slightly curved corners. The floor and walls held a subtle ridged pattern, as though the tunnel had been fashioned by some magical drill.
Finally Connell said, “According to Alembord, we should be directly under the treasury.”
“Cast the dragon’s second spell,” Edlyn said. “Hurry.”
The casting contained none of the fireworks of the first. But its impact upon Dally was even stronger. Her gemstone’s force was reduced to a ruddy glow, yet it was enough. More than that. Dally cast the spell and stood entranced by the result.
“My dear,” Edlyn said, “we have very little time.”
The words were enough to bring the tunnel back into focus. “The vial is here,” Dally said.
They looked at her, their expressions colored blue by the dogs’ illumination. Both were severely intent.
Connell asked, “Are you sure?”
“I am. Yes.”
“Describe what you feel,” Edlyn said.
“I don’t exactly know how to put it into words.”
“Try,” Connell pressed.
“I can sense her so clearly . . . It feels as though she is standing here beside me.”
“Who?”
“The Lady Joelle.” Dally smiled. “She’s singing to me.”
Edlyn asked, “What is she saying?”
“Just one word. Hyam. It’s lovely.”
Connell planted his hands upon his hips and stared at the distant ceiling. “We could cut at an angle. Carve stairs in the side wall.”
“No,” Dally said. She pointed to her right. “The vial holding Joelle’s breath is right through there.”
“Of course,” Edlyn said. “The Milantians are suspected to be a race who prefer to live underground.”
“There’s more,” Dally said. “I feel the current.” She stomped her foot in the puddle. “Right here.” She lifted her wand, closed her eyes, and shouted the spell with such force her echo filled the tunnel. Or so it seemed to her.
When she opened her eyes, her wand glowed more brightly than all the dogs together.
Edlyn reached out. “Give me that. Now recharge ours while I make us an opening.”