I pulled Belen aside. “Seems a big coincidence that Quain knows this code.”

“Coincidence or part of Prince Ryne’s grand scheme?”

Too tired to argue, I said, “I’m going to bed. Wake me if there’s any news.”

Grabbing an extra lantern, I walked through the oversize loading doors into the next room, skirted the piles of dirt, and descended into the living levels of the mines. I’d been sleeping on the cot in Ryne’s office. My blankets smelled of spring sunshine and living green. I debated about taking the sleep powder. Would Kerrick’s scent keep the Tohon dreams at bay?

A light tapping sounded on the door. I answered. A man in his late twenties stood at attention.

“Private Beau, sir. I heard you wished to see me?”

Rather old for a private, but he could be a new recruit. “Yes. Where have you been?”

“Scouting in the tunnels, sir.”

“Are you supposed to be doing that?”

He blushed. “No, sir. Not without Sergeant Hogan, but I...was... I wanted to show a colleague this...rock formation...and...” Beau squirmed with embarrassment.

Ah, the old let-me-show-you-this-rock-formation move. Beau probably had a lady with him.

“That’s okay, you’re here now. I need you to help decipher the maps of the mines. We’re looking for an underground route to the northwest. One that will get us close to the Healer’s Guild.”

“No problem. That’s the three-triangle route. It’ll get you about two miles west give or take a mile,” he said.

Excited, I asked how to find this route.

“I’ll show you the entrance and the symbols you need to follow.” He picked up my lantern.

I hurried after him. We descended two levels and he headed to a tunnel on the far left. Shining the light on the wall, he illuminated a symbol that resembled three blue triangles in a circle with their tips touching. There were other symbols painted on the wall as well.

“This tunnel branches in different directions,” Beau said. “Just down here...” He walked farther in, gesturing for me to follow him. “Here’s an intersection. As you can see, the three triangles are painted on this branch, but not this one. All you need to do is follow them, and make sure you keep the symbol on your right, that means you’re moving away from the center. If they’re on the left, then you’re heading back. It can get confusing down here.”

I agreed. Too bad the shaft wasn’t big enough for horses. “How long does it take to get to the guild?”

“It’s not a straight shot. Four, maybe five days. Let me see...” Beau continued down the three-triangle tunnel until he reached another junction. “Ah, yes.” He pointed to a symbol that had four circles side by side. “This shaft is a shortcut and will eliminate a couple days. Hmm...three days total.”