The floor around the throne vanished. Darnak and Barius tried to cling to the now-floating throne, but couldn’t find handholds. Jig had one glimpse of Riana’s face before she fell. She had come over to watch the prince search, and thanks to her curiosity, she now tumbled after the others.

That made more sense, Jig decided as he crawled to the edge of the hole. So it had been a trap, not an escape route. Yes, that was more in keeping with the Necromancer’s style.

Darnak had set the lantern on the floor next to the throne. When the floor vanished, the lantern had followed the others into the pit, leaving Jig blind. He moved slowly and tested every inch of the floor as he went. A muted chuckle drew Jig’s attention away from the pit. Ryslind was awake and laughing, though the rag Darnak had tied into his mouth muffled the sound. The light from his eyes gave his face a demonic red tinge.

They’re going to die down there.

Ryslind’s voice spoke in his head. No, not Ryslind, but the second voice, the voice of whatever had taken control of the wizard.

Fools and children. Straum will slaughter you all like insects.

Jig walked over and kicked the wizard in the stomach. Why was everyone suddenly speaking in his mind? Bad enough when Shadowstar did it. Jig had nearly wet himself that time. Was he now to endure Ryslind’s babble as well?

Not for much longer, little goblin.

Jig’s eyes narrowed. Moving by the faint light from Ryslind’s eyes, he grabbed the ropes around the wizard’s ankles and dragged him over to the pit. His shoulder ached, but Darnak had done a good job, and his wound remained closed. Jig looked into Ryslind’s glowing eyes, and for the first time, he didn’t flinch away from that dark red light.

The only escape is to fall on that sword of yours.

Jig shoved him into the pit. Then he sat down with his legs dangling over the edge and tried to figure out what he should do.

“Which tile was it?” Jig slid his sword along the floor until it hit the slight dip that marked the edge of a tile. He tapped the next one with his sword. One of these had opened the walls. They had killed most of the creatures here the first time they triggered the trap, so if Jig set it off again, he should be safe. He hoped. Besides, the Necromancer’s wand was destroyed. This was probably the safest place in the whole mountain.

What frightened Jig was knowing that it was also the emptiest place. Aside from the bats and whatever else inhabited that chasm, he and Smudge were the only living things down here. He could survive for a few days if he stayed, but he would eventually go mad from hunger and thirst.