He had lost the first good weapon he had ever owned, and for what? To protect an elf girl’s life? These were the people he was supposed to kill. Porak would have taken the sword from Riana and buried it in her back as soon as she turned. Not Jig. No, he had tried to help. See where that misguided effort had landed him. Unarmed, and soon to be tied up again like a slave.

Jig tried to tell himself it would have made no difference, that had he used his sword against the adventurers, he would have died instantly. He had seen them fight, and he knew he had no chance. But still the guilt and confusion warred. What was wrong with him?

His only consolation was that the Necromancer would soon make it right. Already one of the party had almost died, and they hadn’t even left the first room. What would they face beyond that door, and how many of them would wish they had drowned in the lake above?

CHAPTER 7 - The Heat of Battle

CHAPTER 7

The Heat of Battle

Barius was not happy. “We have still accomplished nothing! The door remains sealed both to my brother’s art and the elf’s tools.”

And the party is short by one finger, Jig added silently. He watched as Riana examined the lock. She struggled to grasp her tools with her crippled hand, a task made harder by fear. Her hands trembled as they approached the door, and she had yet to actually touch the lock.

Not that Jig blamed her. If he had been in her place, the last thing he’d want to do is poke around the trap a second time. But the ache in his jaw and the rope around his wrists made it hard to feel any sympathy. As Riana tried again to examine the lock, he commented, “I wonder if the Necromancer was clever enough to put a second trap on the lock.”

She leaped away from the door so fast that she tripped and fell. Her tools jingled as they hit the floor. Jig grinned at his mischief. The enemy might be stronger and better armed, but he could still cause trouble.

“Enough,” Barius shouted. He stomped toward Jig. “You will probe the lock for further traps.”

Wordlessly, Jig held up his bound wrists. Barius turned a deeper shade of red, and Jig wondered if he had pushed too far.

The prince grabbed the end of Jig’s rope and yanked him upright. He untied the knot and jerked the rope away so quickly Jig lost a layer of skin. Jig started for the door, but Barius caught his ear and held him in place.