Chapter 113

Before they entered the keep, Arran gathered up the slain mages’ void bags . Even at a time like this, he wouldn’t risk losing out on any treasures — whatever dangers still lay ahead in the months to come, he would doubtless find some use for whatever possessions the bags held .

Snowcloud looked on with a bemused expression, but she didn’t say anything as Arran looted the mages’ bodies . Still, he felt some embarrassment at being watched while he robbed the dead .

“My grandfather wasn’t a Patriarch,” he said, by way of explanation . “I have to make do with what I can take . “

Snowcloud didn’t reply, although her expression turned thoughtful .

When Arran finished the grim work, he took a look around the courtyard . “You said they’d been taking slaves,” he said . “Are you sure about that?”

So far, the only people he had seen within the fortress walls were armed bandits and the mages who led them . There had been no sign whatsoever of any slaves, servants, or prisoners .

“I’m sure,” Snowcloud replied . “When you were training your Sense, I followed one of their raiding parties to the fortress, and they had several dozens of prisoners with them . “

“I suppose we’ll find them inside,” Arran said . “Let’s go . “

They entered the keep cautiously, both of them wary of any sudden attacks . Although the bandit Arran had questioned said there were only five mages, Arran did not put too much faith in the words . The man had hardly been in a calm state of mind, and even if he had been, he still could have lied .

Conscious of the danger they might still face, Arran kept both his Sense and his Shadowsight primed as they stepped through the keep’s massive doorway . If there was any danger, he would not be taken by surprise .

Beyond the keep’s doors they found a short hallway, and behind it lay a large dimly lit chamber that held several rows of tables . The tables were filled with fresh food — the mages’ last meal, Arran guessed . Yet well-used though the chamber seemed, there was no sign of any people here, either .

They quickly searched the ground floor, and at the back of the keep, they found a small open door that led outside . That explained why there were no bandits in the keep — they had clearly fled long ago — but it left open the question of where the prisoners were .

“We’ll have to check the floors above,” Arran said . Perhaps there, they would be able to find at least one or two people who had not yet escaped and knew where they could find the prisoners .

“Maybe we should split up,” Snowcloud said . “It will be faster if we—”

“No,” Arran replied before she could even finish the sentence . “We stay together . “

Once more, he found himself puzzled at Snowcloud’s naivety . It seemed that her sheltered upbringing and her staggering power had together left her almost blind to danger, with a casual confidence that could get them both killed if Arran did not put a halt to it .

Fortunately, she seemed to be aware of her own inexperience, and she had followed Arran’s lead without objecting . If not for that, Arran thought, he would already have left .

They found a staircase in a small room to the side of the main chamber and quickly made their way up the stairs .

The upper floors turned out to hold the mages’ chambers, which were spacious and well-furnished, though not to the point of lavishness . There were several items of interest here — gold, some scrolls, and a herb collection that caused Snowcloud to cry out in excitement — but once more, there was no sign of any people whatsoever .

As they made their way back down to the main chamber, Arran silently wondered where the prisoners were . Although it was possible that they had fled with the bandits, that seemed unlikely — the bandits had fled in a panic, and they certainly didn’t have the time to escort a group of prisoners out of the fortress .

“Maybe there’s a dungeon?” Snowcloud offered, her brow furrowed in thought . It was obvious that the absence of any prisoners mystified her as much as it did Arran .

“We’ve already searched the ground floor,” Arran said . “And there was no sign of any dungeon . “

“Give me a moment,” Snowcloud replied . For several seconds, she stood motionless, a look of concentration on her face .

Just as Arran was about to ask what she was doing, she exclaimed, “Found it!” and headed toward one of the small rooms at the side of the main chamber .

Arran followed behind her, puzzled . They had already searched the room and it was completely empty, without any doors or hatches .

Yet Snowcloud confidently walked inside, then put her hand against the wall . A moment later, Arran could feel Essence emanating from her hand, and at once, the wall slid to the side, revealing a stone staircase leading downward .

“How did you know about that?” Arran asked, both surprised and impressed .

“I saw a similar hidden door in the Valley once,” Snowcloud replied . “If you know what to look for and your Sense is strong enough, you can detect the Essence of the mechanism . “

Arran nodded, understanding that her Sense was still far superior to his own .

“Let’s head down,” he said . “If the prisoners are still in the fortress, they’ll be there . “

They headed down the stairs, even more vigilant than before as they descended . While this would be the most likely place to find any remaining prisoners, it was also the most likely place to find any remaining threats .

The stairway was long, but eventually, they reached a small room at its bottom . The room only had a single door, and behind it, they found a long, wide hallway . The sides of the hallway were lined with large metal cages, each big enough to hold over a dozen people .

Yet all of the cages were completely empty, and the moment they stepped into the hallway, Arran was hit by a familiar stench — the stench of death, only far stronger than he had ever encountered it .

They silently walked through the hallway, neither of them needing words to understand the fate of the prisoners . The only questions that remained now were who had killed them, and why .

Arran drew his sword as they advanced, gathering Essence in his left hand to attack the moment it was needed . Beside him, Snowcloud did the same .

Slowly, they moved forward, ready to strike in an instant . Yet no attacks came and no enemies appeared, and they reached the end of the hallway unhindered, finding that it led to a large circular chamber .

The stench of death was even stronger in the chamber than it had been in the hallway, and Arran immediately saw why: along the side of the chamber lay numerous piles of bones and severed limbs, haphazardly stacked as if they were trash . At a glance, he knew hundreds had died here, if not more .

Despite the gruesome scene, his attention was instantly drawn to the center of the chamber, where a small altar stood . The altar was round and drenched in blood, but about a pace above it, a bright crimson orb hovered in mid-air .

“Blood magic,” Snowcloud spat the words in a tone that held equal parts anger and disgust .

“What is that thing?” Arran asked, gesturing at the red orb .

“A Blood Crystal . Someone sacrificed thousands of people to make this… monstrosity,” she replied, her voice shaking with anger .

“The deserters?” Arran asked .

Snowcloud shook her head . “They weren’t nearly powerful enough for something like this . This… this requires great strength, and even greater evil . “

“Then we should leave,” Arran said . “Now . “

He quickly made his way to the center of the chamber and reached to grab the red orb from above the altar .

“What are you doing?!” Snowcloud cried out .

“I’m taking this thing,” Arran said . “It’s powerful, right?”

“You can’t do that,” Snowcloud said, voice filled with shock as she seemed to understand his intentions . “It’s evil . Thousands of people were murdered to create it . “

“Leaving it here won’t bring them back,” Arran replied . “And I played no part in their deaths . “

“But you did . “

The last words came from a raspy, hissing voice, and the moment Arran heard it, a wave of dread washed over him . It was a feeling of terror so strong it left him almost unable to move, and he instantly recognized it — he had felt the sensation once before in his life, and it was something he would not lightly forget .

He did not need to look to know whose voice it was .