looked to Julreus. The merman nodded.
“This is your task alone, Miss Taimi.”
“Really?” I said, my voice shaking. “I don’t think Readimina will mind, I mean she’s kind of not-“
“No, I mean we cannot join you.”
“What?” I stepped out of the way as Julreus extended a hand toward the doorway. His fingers touched something, a wave of magic energy emanating from that point.
“Yeah, I get the feeling that I really am not supposed to go in there,” Rio said.
I swallowed loudly and turned back to the door. Stepping forward, I opened it the rest of the way and stepped into the darkness inside. The metal grate on the floor made a harsh sound as my hooves hit it.
The room contained in the little stone dome was tiny and dark. I squinted. A stairway led down into the earth ahead of me.
I looked back one last time. Rio smiled and gave me an energetic nod. My eyes jumped to Levent. His gaze was steady as it met mine. Nothing was said, just a look. I took a deep breath and turned away.
I walked to the stairway and worked my way down, one step at a time. I kept one hand against the wall, keeping my balance as I plunged into darkness.
My hoof hit the ground hard as I reached the bottom of the steps. I looked ahead, unable to see anything but more darkness. I tried to calm my ragged breathing as I stepped forward and listened to the clang of my hoof on metal echo down the narrow chamber. Taking a deep breath, I continued forward slowly, my hand running along the wall to my right.
My fingers sunk into an indent in the stone and a blinding light grew against my hand. I blinked, eyes adjusting as the hallway was swept with blue. I looked to my hand, taking it away from the wall. Light shone through a glass notch in the shape of a handprint.
I blinked the spots from my vision and looked around. The hallway I was in took a sharp turn to the right ahead. Keeping my eyes and ears alert, I followed the path. I spotted another hand-shaped indent in the wall and pressed my fingers into it. It lit up just like the other.
I turned the corner and frowned.