“One…Two…” Zachary intoned before violent cursing erupted from below them. Nodding Zachary dropped to a crouch and pulled his backpack from his shoulder. “It’s a little over twenty feet. The rest of us will want to climb down rather than jump.” He informed them as he drew coils of silk rope from his bag.
“Swords.” Havoc’s voice called faintly up to them and Zachary pitched the Firym’s weapons through the hole without bothering to look up from the rope he was busily uncoiling.
“Damn it!” Havoc’s echoed response brought a faint smile to Zachary’s face and he glanced up at the two of them impishly.
“Got him.” Zachary observed with a wink then stood and gazed around the hall for something to tie the rope off on. With a faint frown he settled on a door and busied himself for several minutes securing the rope to its handle.
“We would be better off with a rabid bear as our guide.” Dray whispered in her ear and Zoelyn fought back a smile as Zachary turned toward them.
“I’m not sure how the rope will hold up if it spends too long in contact with the stone Havoc melted so climb quickly.” Zachary tossed the rope through the hole as he spoke and motioned them both forward.
“Bloody hell.” Dray grumbled as he scrambled for the rope and held it away from the edges of the hole. “You first Zoey I’ll hold it for you.”
“Think I found the prison entrance. Big bad looking iron bound door at the end of this hall.” Havoc called up to them as Zoelyn hesitantly took the rope and tried in vain to spot the ground below the hole.
“Wait for us before going in. If they do have an ambush set it will be behind that door.” Zachary called back to him and motioned for her to move quickly. “He won’t really wait for us so go as quickly as you can without falling.” He urged.
“I’m not fond of heights.” Zoelyn sighed as she clutched the rope and braced herself against the sides of the hole. Logic won out over caution as the still heated stone around the edges of the hole began to warm her feet through her boots. “I’m not sure I like you right now Havoc.” She mumbled as she scurried down the rope and for one of the few times in her life she was grateful that she always wore gloves. She knew Dray’s hands wouldn’t fare so well on the climb down. The silk rope was lighter to carry than any other kind, but it was also slick under her grip and with nothing to brace her feet against it was difficult to control her momentum.
“I know I don’t like you right now.” Dray called in a louder voice as he followed quickly down the rope. Cursing softly he landed gracefully beside her and shook his hands in annoyance. “I think we are making this more complicated than it ever should have been.” He added with a sigh.
“Grim is actually the one that made it complicated. If not for the Stonevines we could have walked straight in without wasting time circling the building first.” Zachary corrected as he landed lightly beside them both and stalked off down the hall in pursuit of Havoc.
“He has a point.” Zoelyn observed glumly.
“Grim did what he did for a reason.” Dray objected stubbornly and Zoelyn smiled in response. She had seen the way Dray watched Grim at Delvay and hadn’t missed the tinges of hero worship that had filled the Blight’s eyes. Grim had served Dray’s father loyally, and he was the last one living that had truly known Micah well. She doubted there was anything Grim could do to turn Dray against him because of that fact alone.
“You actually waited.” Zachary said sounding astonished as they reached the end of the hall and found Havoc leaning against the stone wall with his arms crossed.
“It’s immune to fire.” Havoc informed them all as he pointed a thumb toward the wooden door. “Protective wards or something.”
“So you waited unwillingly.” Zachary corrected with a smirk and let out a quiet sigh before glancing at the two of them. “Can either of you pick locks? I can’t use Oblivion here or my brother will know what I’m about and I’d rather avoid that.”
“Look at you sneaking out of the house and past curfew too.” Havoc teased with a wide grin. His green eyes danced with merriment and Zoelyn marveled at how much he resembled Finn when he smiled.
“Sure to be grounded.” Zachary agreed dryly but was smiling as well as he watched them both hopefully for any sign that they had thieving talents.
Zoelyn exchanged glances with Dray before shaking her head slowly and taking a hesitant step toward the door. “Havoc.” She began in a wavering voice as she pulled one of her gloves off. “If I destroy the wards protecting the door can you bring it down without killing everything beyond it? I mean if the children as just past this door and you cook them it kind of ruins the rescue mission.”
Havoc’s brow creased as he seemed to consider the question. Chewing on his lower lip he dropped to a knee and slid one finger under the edge of the door. With a slow nod he examined his bent finger and stood once more. “It’s about three inches wide. If they don’t get hit by shards of wood they should be fine. I can keep the fire under control and just take out the section by the doorknob.” He explained then slammed a fist loudly against the wooden doors. “Stand back from the door it is going to kind of explode a bit!” he bellowed.
“Explode a bit.” Zachary repeated with muffled laughter as he shook his head and stepped further back down the hall. “You are such an idiot.” He added with a wide smile.
“Havoc, what if that was a guard’s room?” Zoelyn asked quietly as she stared at the Firym in disbelief.
“Then I actually get to hit something with my sword soon.” Havoc returned and waved a hand toward the door. “Please get on with it. At this rate Grim is going to have all of the real guards dead by the time we get out of here.”