A Tribe of Dragons and Dreamers: A Trial of Kingdoms Book 2 by Sherry Leclerc

Author:Sherry Leclerc [Leclerc, Sherry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ternias Publishing
Published: 2023-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter thirteen

Tracking

Talwyn, Dreyken, and the three Dragon-folk protectors returned to Athnie’s chambers to start their search from there. Now, they made their way slowly from Athnie’s chambers and along the tunnel toward the throne room.

Talwyn led the others as she searched for signs of Athnie and her captors. She paused at a natural alcove in the stone wall, considering some small stones and scuff marks. Then she continued along the corridor again.

A short time later, they reached a divide in the passageway. One way led up toward the throne room. The other led to a rarely used tunnel that traveled slightly downward. This was the way Talwyn took now. She knew they were close to the outside wall of the mountain. Early morning sunlight peeked in through cracks here and there, and she could smell fresh air.

Talwyn kept walking close to the wall until she felt a slight breeze blowing through a crevice to her left. Moving closer to the wall of the tunnel, she noticed something. Like the one in Aleyn’s hidden armory, the crevice looked too small to fit through until you saw it from a certain angle. She ran her eyes up and down along the jagged rock surrounding the opening until she noticed a tiny thread of fabric that had snagged on a jutting stone.

Talwyn tilted her head toward the crevice. “This way.”

One protector, the huge brute named Tolus, looked at the opening, then back at Talwyn. “You’re joking, right?”

Talwyn just raised her eyebrows at him before disappearing into the tunnel.

She could hear Dreyken encouraging Tolus behind her. “Oh, come on now. Don’t be a coward. Talwyn knows what she’s doing.”

“One slight misjudgment and we could be stuck in there until we rot,” Tolus said.

“I don’t make miscalculations,” Talwyn called from inside the passageway.

“Well, there you have it,” Dreyken said, just before squeezing through the opening himself.

Tolus gave a huff behind them before squeezing his frame through the opening. Norshan and Helsi followed.

Before long, a crack opened in the ceiling above them.

Talwyn turned to Dreyken. “We’re in a crevasse. Did you know this was here?”

“I did. Though, as far as I’m aware, very few know about it, and it hasn’t been used in a long time.”

“And you?” Talwyn looked at the three protectors. “Have you ever heard of this passageway?”

“Not that I can remember,” Helsi said. The two males shook their heads.

“Well, this would seem to be more proof that the demonkin had inside help,” Talwyn stated.

“Do you really believe that, Lord Dreyken?” Norshan asked. “Is that possible?”

“The evidence would seem to suggest so.” Dreyken’s expression showed his disappointment and anger.

“Unbelievable,” Helsi said. She shook her head in disgust. “It goes against everything we stand for.”

Talwyn understood their feelings, but she’d had more experience with the demonkin than they had over the past four hundred years. “Before you jump to the worst conclusions, don’t forget that the demonkin have been manipulating others for centuries. It’s how they turned the humans against your people, and then my own.

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