Ryslind’s face was as cold as the marble walls, but his eyes burned brighter than Jig had ever seen. On Jig’s shoulder, Smudge grew warmer, echoing his unease. Jig tried to move Smudge back into the pouch, but the spider would have none of it. He wriggled free and ran back up Jig’s arm. After what they had gone through, Jig couldn’t really blame him. He simply didn’t want to burn his other shoulder. Besides, tucking Smudge into the pouch would put the spider’s heat closer to Jig’s dripping loincloth, and if he didn’t get dry soon, he would start to chafe.

But he couldn’t pay attention to Smudge, not without taking his eyes off of Ryslind. Jig knew Smudge well enough to heed his warnings, and at that moment, Smudge thought the wizard was dangerous.

“Yes,” Ryslind said softly. “Let me use my art once more. As if it were no more than a tool to be used at your convenience.”

Nobody missed the fury in Ryslind’s normally calm voice. Even Darnak froze, his quill leaking black ink onto his thumb and fingers.

“Easy lad,” Darnak said. “Barius meant nothing by it.” Jig wondered if anyone else saw the warning glare the dwarf shot at Barius.

“No need to apologize,” Ryslind said. “Indeed, without my power, we could spend the rest of our lives in this room.”

“Without your brother, we wouldn’t have come after the rod in the first place,” Darnak pointed out. “Without the elf, we’d have had a rough time getting through that first gate. And without me, you two would have killed one another before we ever made it to the mountain. We’re all needed here, and nobody’s questioning your importance.”

Jig didn’t find that reassuring. Nor did Smudge, if the waves of heat on his shoulder were any indication. He also noted that Darnak’s argument had ignored anything the goblin might have done for the group. Not that this came as a surprise.

Jig watched closely as Ryslind strode to one wall and raised his head. He studied the unbroken marble and frowned, as though insulted by its presence. The green tattoos on his hands began to glow. Once Jig thought he saw them move, like luminescent worms crawling beneath white skin.

Hands still at his side, Ryslind began to circle the room. Jig hurriedly got out of the way. So did the others, though Barius tried hard to make the move appear casual.

A few paces past Riana, the wizard stopped. “Here.” He raised one hand and pointed. Green light spread out from his finger to form a rectangle on the wall. His hand closed into a fist.

Nothing changed. Ryslind squinted at the door. “Ah.” Another beam of light struck the center of the door, revealing a narrow keyhole.