“It’s where the Dark King used to send his warriors as a final test. If they made it through the course, and most didn’t, he would place them in his secret guard. Only very few of those who went inside, made it out alive. Which is why Kier shut it down when he took the throne,” I said, trying to pull all the data and information from my brain. Details about this place were sketchy, but I had come across some information about this bad boy before breaking into the Dark Fortress.
“Impressive,” Zahruk said with a tilt of his head. “But it’s not that simple. Those who make the journey can use no glamour, no magic. Those who journey with us can use simple glamour, but not to assist those who will try to enter the labyrinth.”
“Define simple glamour, because nothing with you guys is ever simple,” I quipped, eliciting snorts from the men.
“Fair enough,” Zahruk mused, with a sexy smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. “We can glamour things like food, water, and fire. Basic survival items only, nothing defensive, meaning no weaponry so we will have to glamour what we think we will need ahead of time and bring it with us. This actually applies to as many of our basic needs as possible so we won’t be tempted to use magic unnecessarily. No sifting as we use the ability in battle, so this trip will be on horseback. Break the rules governing the labyrinth, and you cannot go inside.”
“Shit, so you guys will be roughing it.” I laughed, the men did not look happy about this thought.
“Well, anything regarding the labyrinth is called a trial for a reason. It is supposed to test your mind, body, and resolve,” Zahruk countered.
“This is going to be good. I can’t miss or be tempted by something I hadn’t gotten the hang of yet. You guys on the other hand…” I teased them with a small smile. “I studied what information was available on the labyrinth before I took on the Dark Fortress. If Kier shut it down, does he have any idea of what is inside? We can’t afford to go in blind. It’s a Fae creation, so it’s gonna be full of tricks and crazy shit.”
“We know a little about it. Kier has given Adam a rough draft idea of what should be there, but like many things in Faery, it will have changed with time since it was given life from Kier’s father. Everything in Faery changes. Unlike your world, Synthia, Faery gives rights to the land. Which means it’s a living breathing world. We are going to have to go in fairly blind, and hope for the best,” Zahruk replied.
Every eye in the room turned to Ryder as he made a disgruntled sound. “Kier said whoever we send through it has to be pure of heart, pure of intention, and sane of mind. There’s nothing in the Dark Kingdom that shows how to make it through this labyrinth. He sent Adam to help us, since we need someone from the royal line to access the start of the labyrinth.”
“Question, the Light Fae had all the relics, so why didn’t they know about the other pieces?” I asked, thinking out loud.
“The Light Fae wouldn’t use the relics. The Queen wasn’t stupid. She was blinded by the love of her child. We think one was hidden by the Dark King, and one by your grandfather, Synthia. Two were hidden by my father, and those we will save for last, since he was a sadistic prick.”
“So the ancients might have known about these safeguards, and this scroll had the information on it. I’m surprised that at least the Heirs weren’t told about it. Seems a bit short sighted to me.”
“Not necessarily.” Ryder mused. “I was barely through Transition when they hid the relics, and even though I knew most of what my father was up to, he didn’t tell me everything. This would have happened sometime around the eleventh century. Our history is much like yours. Over time, it becomes useless and forgotten. Unlike you, we don’t always teach our children of our history in books. The fact that your Guild has our scrolls is telling, because that means the Mages infiltrated one of the Castes. That’s the only way to explain how they would have obtained it. Alden is looking for more, but we are out of time. We need to start collecting them before the others figure out what we are up to.”
“Okay, so we have the Dark King’s son helping now. You also have me to open the Blood…err whatever theirs is called, or where it’s hidden. And, we have you to find your father’s. So why are we still sitting here?” I asked, tapping my fingers on the table as I watched him.
“Because we need to be fully fed before the trip, and since you are coming with, I’m bringing more people than I had planned to. Eliran will also be coming with us, as well as a few others. This won’t be a simple thing, Pet. We can’t sift until the trial is complete, nor can we use magic for protection. Riding there will take weeks.”
“I don’t need to travel with a doctor, Ryder. I’m pregnant, not sick.”