Suddenly, an explosion sounded. The entire grotto was rocked by the force of the blast, and everyone fell as dirt and rocks showered down on them from the ceiling. Water splashed from the falls.

“Get away from the waterfall and the pool!” Empress Aki shouted. “That’s acid in there.”

Daemon just managed to get himself and Sora away as another explosion shook the cave.

“What’s happening?” Sora asked.

“I don’t know!” Daemon crammed the pouch with the soul pearl into his tunic. “Just—whatever happens next—protect the empress!”

“I don’t think you have to worry,” Fairy said calmly. “At least not because of the blasts.”

“Are you insane?” Sora said. The explosion seemed to have jolted her out of her grief, at least for the moment.

Fairy only smiled. “Haven’t you guys wondered where Broomstick’s been all this time?”

Daemon realized that the soul pearl wasn’t reacting to the explosion; it wasn’t ryuu coming to get them. Hope rose like a phoenix in Daemon’s chest. “Are you saying—?”

Broomstick’s voice echoed from inside the grotto walls. “Hey-o, Your Majesty, are you in there?”

Chapter Fifty-Three

We’re here!” a woman shouted from far away.

“Your Majesty, is that you?” Broomstick called. “I’m a taiga, come to rescue you, although it seems like you almost didn’t need my help.” The tunnel she’d dug was truly impressive. The Dragon Prince wouldn’t have left her with a shovel, which meant she must have scraped her way through the clay with a stone. Wow.

“You were the one signaling me from the other side of the rock, weren’t you?” the empress called from the other end of the tunnel. “I have all three of your friends with me. We’ll come your way.”

Broomstick heaved a sigh of relief that Fairy, Wolf, and Spirit were safe. He kept one ear on their approach and another on what was happening outside the hole he’d blown. The explosion hadn’t exactly been quiet. They probably had company coming soon.

Fairy appeared first, mud smeared all over her face but grinning. “What took you so long?” she asked.

“It’s good to see you, too,” Broomstick said. “Everyone all right back there?”

“Yeah,” Wolf said from farther down the tunnel, “except your massive backside is blocking the light, and I can’t see where I’m going.”

Broomstick laughed.

“Thanks for getting us out of here,” Fairy said.

Empress Aki poked her head around Fairy and greeted him. “Ah, our savior. Thank you. Most would not risk their own lives to save those already doomed.”

“Your Majesty, I didn’t think twice about it.”

“That’s because you’re cast from pure honor.”

Broomstick blushed as he bowed. Or he attempted to bow in the cramped tunnel.