“Yes. I’m glad. But Dalius—do you think they’re as strong as the walls? You said the magic is fading. How strong…are they?”

The [Knight] hesitated. He left the greatsword, his poor shovel, in the dirt wall as he floated over to inspect the great doors with Cara again.

“They’re not exactly the strongest. A truly powerful ward would have obliterated me in a moment—

without even having to touch it. I imagine these would react harder if you, say, threw a stone at them. I wouldn’t try. They might throw lightning bolts back.”

“But they could have weakened with time?”

He smiled.

“Certainly. The old wards are strong. But the new work looks shoddier. Not as perfectly made to last forever.”

Cara nodded. She inhaled and coughed on the dust. Her head swung as she heard a rustle. More mice.

She edged closer to Dalius. The doors.

“So. Dalius. Could you…break the doors if you had to?”

The [Knight]’s face froze. He floated there, as Cara studied him.

“…Maybe. Certainly, if they did not recharge as fast as I attacked. I—I’m unsure how strong I am. Or how dangerous they are. But I would not break the Tomb of Afiele’s wards lightly. Especially if there were another way. Like digging…”

“How long would that take?”

Cara glanced at the wall of dirt. Ser Dalius hesitated. He pulled at another part of the dirt, shrugged absently, turning his back to her.

“I can work nonstop, Miss Cara. And if I only broke to help you make water—”

“Dalius.”

The [Knight] didn’t turn around. His voice was cheerful.

“…A month, perhaps. Maybe more.”

Cara made a sound. She couldn’t help it. She shook her head involuntarily, hearing the rustling again.

The same sound as in her nightmares. She licked her lips. Coughed again.

“Dalius. I can’t stay in here a month.”

“But if it were that or breaking the wards—I swore an oath, Miss Cara. Not just to you—”

The [Knight] gestured at the tomb. Cara nodded. Her hands clenched and unclenched. She was shaking.

Shaking like she was an addict. And she was.

Sunlight. She dreamed it was beyond those doors. Like they were facing the sun. If she just got past them, she’d walk into the sun. Even rain. She’d take anything. Fresh air…her voice shook slightly. She mastered it. She was an [Actor]—

But she was speaking from the heart right now. She tried to face Dalius. Look him in the eye.

“I understand that. But Ser Dalius. I can’t survive a month.”

Dalius looked at Cara’s expression and his smile faded. He shook his head after a moment of palpable hesitation. He drifted away from her, refusing to meet her gaze, speaking lightly.