“So I see. But what of your other blade?”

“Here it is,” Kufa said, recovering the curved weapon by the light of the glow drones. She returned it to him, eyeing a crack that had all but split the blade in two. “Shame you can’t repair that as easily as your wrist.”

Dis tested the blade’s weight, sweeping it through the air. He grunted in displeasure.

“The balance is off?” Ro asked.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Dis fought the urge to throw the weapon to the ground. He’d forged that blade a lifetime ago, and now it was ruined.

“Then it’s a good job we still have this,” Kufa said, plucking her blaster from the tunnel floor.

“Will we need it?” Dis asked, turning back to the Eye. “I thought we were heading to a Shrine.”

Ro stepped over a still tentacle and carried on into the shadows without another word.

Dis didn’t know what he felt when they finally reached their destination but it certainly wasn’t surprise. His stomach turned, his head spinning as if struck. He stumbled, dropping the broken wingblade, and thudded into a wall. Ro was beside him in an instant, holding him up, his legs as weak as a newborn.

“Are you all right?” the Eye asked.

“I think so.” Dis opened his eyes and breathed deeply. They had emerged into a vast cavern, the glow drones high above them. Ahead was a frozen lake that Kufa was already scooting over, arms thrown out wide to keep her balance.

Dis steadied himself, breathing heavily. What in Talor’s name was wrong with him?

“Can you continue?”

“Of course,” he replied, his voice thick. He glanced down to his feet. The fallen wingblade had snapped in two. He left it, trudging after Ro who still had his helmet tucked under his arm. Every step was an effort, even before they reached the ice. Dis couldn’t work out what was wrong with him. Surely this wasn’t shock delayed from the attack. He had survived worse in his long life. Much worse.

Ahead of them, Kufa dropped to her hands and knees, crawling through an impossibly low gap in the far wall. Dis and Ro followed, Dis fighting back panic when his furs snagged against the rock. He flailed for a moment, unable to breathe, until Ro reached back into the crawl space, pulling him through.

“Can you stand?” the Eye asked.

“I can.” Dis used the wall to pull himself up, his body as heavy as his head was light. What was this? A lack of oxygen? That was certainly possible this far underground, but it seemed like something more. His vision was blurred, lights dancing in front of his eyes. It was all he could do not to curl into a ball.

Ro, on the other hand, was striding forward, looking around himself in awe. “This is it,” he breathed, voice full of wonder. “The Shrine beneath Golamaran.”