No one spoke. The only sound was the pounding of the werewolf against their fragile protection and the sharp cracking of the amber.
“Is there another way out?” Kate finally asked.
Simon handed his sword to Kate before he went to the far wall. Using his own dripping blood, he runed the stones. Then he did the same to the floor. “We are surrounded by earth. There is only one door.”
She looked up. “The ceiling?”
Simon shook his head. “Stone foundation. Too thick.”
Hogarth set Imogen down gently. “When she comes through, I will take her. I will buy you time.”
Kate waved her hand flat. “No. We take her together. She’s alone now.”
“This way we don’t have to kill her later.” Penny smirked through the pain of her cradled broken limb.
Malcolm snorted a laugh as he inspected his pistols, muttering about ferocious women.
Charlotte crouched next to Kate and bumped her head against her much like Aethelred would do when he wanted attention. It was a little disturbing to see the young girl do it. Kate glanced up questioningly at Simon.
“Charlotte led us to you,” he said.
Kate dropped to her knees and embraced the young girl with unabashed affection. “Oh child! Thank you!”
Surprised, Charlotte’s arms slowly wrapped around Kate and her eyes brimmed with gentle tears.
Simon turned to Malcolm, and said, “Penny is right. Since Gretta is thoughtful enough to be right outside just now, this is the time to take her.”
“Good man.” Malcolm snapped the breech of his pistol closed.
“And since her presence in the hall means that Nick is likely dead,” Simon said quietly, “I believe I shall take the honor of destroying her.” Kate started to object, but Simon continued, “I’m the only one of us who could possibly stand up to her.”
“Perhaps,” Kate argued, “if you were well, but you’re exhausted and under the influence of the aether.”
“Yes, that’s very true,” He laughed bitterly and pulled the last three remaining vials of the revitalizing elixir from her bandolier.
“Simon, you can’t take three at once. It will kill you.”
There was a massive strike at the door and a chunk of amber flew across the room.
“The time for arguing is past, even for you,” Simon said softly and took her hand in his.
Kate shook her head defiantly. “Don’t play charming. We’re so much more powerful together. Whatever you’re thinking, there’s another way.”
“There is indeed, but it ends up with one or more of you dead. That I can’t allow.” His mouth was a firm grimace. He uncorked the small bottles. “When the doorway is clear, you will all need to move far away. Back into the tunnels. You won’t survive what I’m about to do.”
“Will you survive?” Kate asked.
“You shouldn’t worry, my dear.” Simon couldn’t look her in the eye.
Kate watched him sadly as he drank all three vials.
The rush of the elixir swept over Simon in a dizzying wave, every nerve and muscle coming alive with excess power. He crouched on the floor, swaying, on the verge of passing out. Kate took a step toward him, but he waved her off. After a second, he steadied himself and, using the blood dripping from his hand, inscribed a large rune on the floor. When he completed it, he pressed his hand flat. The rune glowed a brilliant green, then faded.
He stood slowly, breathing labored, his eyes staring unseeing into the distance. He began to speak odd words in a low voice and the tattooed runes on his body glowed, writing and rewriting themselves in chaotic repetition. He strode to the door, his feet crunching in the debris, lost in his own mind and surrounded by the aura of power sparking across his body. Light bled from every inch of him. He braced himself in front of the crumbling amber wall. The dark shape on the other side paused and cocked her head, staring in at the man.
He could feel the terrible tension in the room, so he glanced over his shoulder at Kate and winked. Then he wedged his fingers into the cracks in the amber and began to push. His arms quivered with effort. Fissures in the orange grew deeper. He grunted one last time and the giant crystal shattered into tiny pieces. His hand snaked out immediately and seized the werewolf by her leather armor. “Do come in.”
He dragged the surprised Gretta against him. He clamped his arm around hers, then twisted her neck tight against his inner elbow. He dragged her deeper into the room. She snarled in shock.
“Go!” Simon shouted. “All of you.”