Chapter 17: The Dark Prize

Alyssa knew that she didn’t have the time, nor was it really the place to ask Derek all of the questions that she wanted, such as who wanted this book, or how he even knew of the Drund family, or how he even knew that this book existed at this specific fortress. She had re-cloaked herself and Markus, and also placed the spell on Derek, who was having difficulty keeping his mouth shut as he led the way to the casting room. It seemed he had to snicker, or make comical comments about things as they passed them, not seeming to care the danger he was potentially putting them all in.

“How do you know the layout of the fortress?” Alyssa whispered to Derek as the three of them waited in dark hall for a large contingent of soldiers marching to pass them by.

“How’d you know the layout?” Derek whispered back.

“I used a ritual,” Alyssa answered simply, not really understanding why he was asking her.