Isaac landed in the armory before the others had made their way down, which was good because being transported by Willow hadn’t gotten any easier.

The bite on Isaac’s leg throbbed with agonizing pain. He dropped the scroll and sat on the floor and gingerly pulled up his trouser leg. The deep bite into his calf bled, oozing thickly with a greenish tinge. Poison?

“Ow,” Willow whimpered. “He can even hurt a wight. We don’t like him. Not one bit. We don’t like you, either, making us wait there.”

“Oh, boy,” mumbled Isaac as he examined his leg.

Willow lowered themselves to look. “Death bite,” they said. “Maybe it serves you right for making us wait.” Then Willow added, more quietly, “Or not.”

“Wonderful,” Isaac said. “Do not have time for this.” He stood, exceedingly dizzy. Whether it was the bite or the Willow-magic, he lurched and went down again. “Sir Bedwyr,” he said. “We need you.”

From Bedwyr’s visor came that quick blue flash.

“Wow.” It was Amelie. She and Lark, with Kat and Leo supporting Colin, made their way through the heavy door into the armory. “I never knew this was here.”

“Very magical place, this,” said Lark. “Ancient. Those knights, of course, found their way here later but this part of Rookskill is old. Almost as old as the oldest magic.”

Almost as old as the wraith, Isaac thought.

Kat and Leo brought Colin to lay him next to Isaac. Lark put her hands on Colin to revive him from his spell, and he sat up. “Where am I? Where’s Canut?”

“Isaac?” said Amelie, touching Isaac’s arm. “What’s wrong?”

He gazed at her as if through a haze. “Lots of iron here. Safe.”

“Show them,” said Willow. “Show them what’s going to kill you.”

Isaac pulled at his trouser leg again. The bite foamed green, and his calf had swollen grotesquely.

“What is that?” Kat asked. “What happened?”

“Wraith bite,” Isaac said. His tongue felt like lead.

“You need an antidote,” Kat said.

“But where? Where’s an antidote?” Amelie asked, her voice pitched high.

“I know,” said Leo eagerly. “I know what he needs. It’s in the Vault. I read about it in the history of artifacts. There’s one called the Elixir. The Elixir of Life. One drop and it revives anyone close to death. More, and it can even bring back the dead.”

“I remember it,” Amelie said. “The Elixir of Life. We read about it when we were there, Isaac.”

“All right,” said Isaac. The air around him was fuzzy. “After a nap.”

“No,” said Amelie, her voice sharp. “Now, Isaac. You’re going to call the Vault now. We need to get you the Elixir. Come on.” She pulled at him roughly, and he staggered to stand, leaning heavily against her.

“What’s going on?” Colin asked.