Ty, he called. Ty, are you still there?
Yes.
Ask Kehel if he's done with the child yet, he said tersely
What? Stallion, don't you dare keep me in the dark I am your Tehea and—
Ty, I haven't the time for this. Ask him.
He says he is. There was a pause, then, he asks what's taking you so long.
Tell him to get his behind over here—NOW.
Stallion, what is it? Why are you—?
NOW, Ty.
Gotcha.
He could hear the King's Own coming his way. He thought he knew what was down here, but there was one more door to check. Leaving the candle where it had been, he ran out the door and forced open the last door.
And stopped cold.
He could hear the King's Own coming. They were going to start climbing the stairs any minute. Thinking quickly, he decided: he could handle the children, but they would have to handle THIS.
But Ty would kill him if he didn't find out what was here. And the King's Own was going to break in any minute.
He used his common sense. There had to be about a hundred scrolls in here, and the King's Own would take them all to the King once found. Or destroy them. That'd take Ty off the edge. He took one that seemed under the heaviest protection, then left the door open and ran back into the dark doorway. Slamming the door shut, he thought for a moment. How could he keep the King's Own out of this one?
Cave it in, came a voice in his head. Terry smiled, nodded, and struck out toward the ceiling. It caved in immediately.
Thank you Tehea, he called.
Down that tunnel, Stallion, came the reply. I want a full report before sunrise. Her voice sounded gloating. He knew the drill: insult to win or go home in shame. He'd lost too often.
Gotcha.
That's my line! Ty complained, pouting evilly.
Its been stolen.
Kiss my ass.
You know you want to.
Damn you Terry!
Consider it done.
You son of a whore.
Leave my mother's honor alone. It's yours that shares her bed with anything.
There was a pause. He could feel her anger at the other end. He'd pushed it too far. She'd warned him not to mess with her parents.
You're dead, stallion. Practice courts as soon as you get back. Never mind the Weed's little warning.
He'll kill us both.
No, he'll just pick up what's left of you.
He meant to retaliate, but she was gone. He cursed his luck. He always lost. Why'd he always lose? Was there something wrong with him that—
What was that light in the corner?
He walked over to where the feeble candle shone, nearly falling headfirst into the darkness when the stairs began. When he was finally about three feet away from the light, he saw a torch on the side of the wall. Using his candle, he lit it.
All he could do was stare.
Ty had been right. This wasn't just something impersonal, not just a few rare hits on a group of pages. There was more. Much more.
And many, many more people than he had thought.