into view long before Lizzan could see the city at its base. The chambers inside were said to have been carved into the heart of the mountain during ancient times, when Enam’s power still scorched the earth, yet nothing of those rooms could be seen from outside. Instead it looked as every other mountain did.
But they didn’t need to reach the city to know that all was not right, for the road was not all that was empty. On their approach, so were the fields and crofters’ huts, as if abandoned. Cold and heavy dread filled Lizzan’s belly and became a solid stone as they neared the city walls.
The city gate stood ajar. City gates were never ajar. They were open, or they were closed. Not caught in between.
They rode through the gates into the silence of a deserted city. While the Parsatheans stood guard, the Kothan soldiers quickly searched through the gate’s guardhouse and nearby homes. They returned to report that it seemed those who’d lived there had left in haste.
“What of livestock?” Kelir asked, frowning.
“Also gone.”
Expression grim, Aerax returned from his own search with Caeb at his side. “I’d wager that three full turns have passed since they have gone. There is no recent sign.”
“Either they sought shelter in the monastery,” said Preter, “or the monks invited them in.”
Lizzan looked to him in disbelief. “An entire city? And for so long?”
The monk nodded. “After the Destroyer came, we opened the ancient chambers that once housed cities many times greater than this one—so that if we failed again to protect our people, at least they might have a place to hide.”
“What would these people take shelter from?” Ardyl’s gaze rose to the monastery’s face.
There seemed a more pertinent question to Lizzan. “And is that threat still here?”
“Do you sense foul magic?” Kelir asked Tyzen, and the prince glanced to both Preter and Aerax before shaking his head.
“Only unease.”
“As we all feel,” said Ardyl before turning to Kelir. “Let us be hopeful, but not foolish.”
He nodded and looked to Lady Junica. “You wish to announce yourselves to the monks, but first let us be certain that no danger awaits you there. If your soldiers will escort you outside these gates, two of my warriors will remain with your party.”
Expression taut, Lady Junica nodded. “That seems prudent.”
Kelir looked next to Tyzen, who was already shaking his head. “I go with you,” the prince said. “I am no monk and only just learning, but it also seems prudent to have two magic users with you.”
“And I will be his guard,” said Seri earnestly. “If you have to fall behind so that Tyzen can escape, I will stay with him.”
Kelir’s jaw clenched and a war seemed to take place across his expression before he glanced at Ardyl. The other warrior tilted her head slightly, gave a light shrug, and finally he relented. “You must do everything I say.”
The girl beamed. “As if you were Ran Maddek himself.”
Kelir then looked to Lizzan.
“We go,” she said, meeting Aerax’s eyes. “Though Caeb will stay.”
The cat snarled and she reached down to grip his ruff, bending her head toward his. Quietly she said, “You must protect our horses . . . and the Kothans, too. But more importantly, we know not if the threat is out here or in there. If out here, we will need you to race to the monastery and warn us, so that we do not leave there and face an unexpected trap.”
Though he gave a frustrated growl, Caeb rubbed his face to hers in agreement.
She glanced up at Aerax, who nodded his agreement, as well. Under no circumstances did they want Caeb in that monastery, where someone might recognize him for what he was.
The Kothan soldiers were by now most familiar with Ferek and Raceni, whom they’d ridden beside for near a full turn now, so those two Parsatheans would remain with them. When all was settled for staying and going, Kelir led them on foot through the silent streets.
A great chasm lay between the city and the monastery, crossed only by a wide crystal bridge. If the chasm had a story, Lizzan did not know it—and Preter did not tell it, only warning them not to look down as they crossed, for the bottomless void often made visitors dizzy. She knew that Seri looked when the girl abruptly sucked in a breath and scooted farther from the edge, though they were already a safe distance from it.