one back! Indeed, Cadderly would pay Rufo back. He found his heart in the thought of revenge.
Take Danica to the mausoleum," he said to Belago and Shayleigh. "If the dwarves and I do not come to you by the time the sun has begun its descent, set out far from this place, to Shtlmista or Carradoon, and do not return."
Shayleigh, as angered by the loss of Danica as any of them, wanted to argue, but as she started to reply, sharp pain racked her side. Cadderly had done all he could for her wounds; she needed rest.
"I will go with Belago to the mausoleum," she reluctantly agreed, accepting that she would only hinder her friends in her weakened state. She grabbed Cadderly's arm as he started to move away from her and lockei^his gray eyes with her violet orbs, "Find Rufo and destroy him," she said. "I'll not leave the mausoleum unless it is to come back into the library to your side."
Cadderly knew there was no way he would convince the valiant elf otherwise. Danica had been like a sister to Shayleigh, and the elf would never walk away from the one who had killed her sister. Understanding that sentiment, that he, too, would never walk away from this place unless Rufo was destroyed, Cadderly accepted her pledge with a knowing nod.
Anguish
Ivan and Pikel quickly rigged the rope so that Dan-ica's body could be lowered gently. Both the tough dwarves had tears in their eyes as they worked; Ivan reverently removed his deer-antler helm, and Pikel did likewise with his cooking pot. When the rope was ready, Cadderly could hardly bring himself to move Danica into position. His anger could not hold against that wave of grief, the feeling of finality as he tenderly looped the elven cord under Dan-ica's stiffened arms. He thought of going again into the spirit world to search for her, and would have gone, except that Shayleigh, as if reading his thoughts, was beside him, her hand on his shoulder.
When the young priest looked at the battered elf, her whole body quaking as she tried to hold her balance, he understood he could not expend the energy to go off again into the spirit world after Danica, that the consequences might be too high. He looked to Shayleigh and nodded, and she backed away, seeming satisfied.
It was decided that Belago should go down first, to cushion Danica's descent. The alchemist, seeming more determined than any of them had ever witnessed, took up the rope in both hands and hopped up onto the win-dowsill. He paused, though, then motioned for Ivan to come near.
"Ye got to do it," the dwarf said, coming close. "We need ye ..." Ivan stopped in midsentence, realizing Belago's intentions, as the alchemist extended his arm.
"Take it !' Belago offered, pushing the flask of explosive oil to Ivan. "You will need every weapon."
As soon as the dwarf had the flask in hand, Belago, without hesitation, slipped over the sill and descended quickly to the ground. Danica's body went next, and then Shayleigh, the injured elf needing nearly as much support as had Danica.
Cadderly watched forlornly from the window as the group slipped away toward the back of the library and the mausoleum. Belago had Danica's form over one shoulder, and though the load was extreme for the alchemist, he still had to pace himself so that the wounded Shayleigh could keep up.
When Cadderly turned away from the window, back to the room, he found Ivan and Pikel, helms tucked under their arms, heads bowed and cheeks streaked with tears. Ivan looked up first, his sorrow transformed into rage. "I gotta fix me axe," the dwarf said through gritted teeth.
Cadderly looked at the weapon skeptically - it seemed fine to him.
"Gotta put some silver in the damned thing!" Ivan roared.
"We haven't the time." Cadderly replied.
"I got a forge near the kitchen," Ivan retorted, and Cadderly nodded, for he had often seen the setup, which doubled as a stove.
Cadderly looked out the window. The morning light was full, sending long shadows to the west. "We have just one day," Cadderly explained. "We must finish our business before nightfall. If Rufo recognizes that we have been inside the library, as he surely will when he realizes that Baccio is destroyed, he will come after us with all his forces. I would rather face the vampire now, though only my walking stick and Pikel's club - "
"Sha-Iah-lah!" the dwarf said determinedly, popping the cooking pot