There were a few more unblocked tunnels situated around the room, but I doubted they went anywhere important since they weren’t blocked off. They were probably just tunnels carved out by the water over time.

A few torches cast light around the area.

“Dimic,” Cion said, “cut those ropes.” He pointed to the ones holding the slabs in place. “Kateri, come with me. We’re going to chop through those beams blocking the rest of the water.”

“I don’t think you are,” a voice called.

A figure meandered out of one of the unblocked tunnels and into the light.

My heart stopped.

Rodric.

Soldiers followed him.

“Run!” Cion shouted.

I turned just in time to see a guard in front of the keyhole. A large clanking reverberated through the room. Chains clinked to the ground. The tigers sprang to life. I was barely able to slam the door closed before one raked its claws right toward it.

I leaned back against the wood, my heart hammering in my chest.

We were trapped.

CHAPTER

26

Rodric sauntered closer. “I didn’t think you’d actually find this place,” he said. “But after I followed a little birdie into the desert tonight, I had to see for myself if you could figure it out. I couldn’t resist being here if you did.”

“No.” Cion went pale.

“Latia.” Dimic let out a whimper.

“Come on, Cion.” Rodric spit the name. “I always thought you were smart. I followed you when you used to meet her in the desert when I was still one of you. I knew she’d come in handy someday. And I was right.” He leapt over the small trickle of water flowing into the tunnel he’d emerged from. “I thought Dimic would be the one to lead me to you, but Latia was so much easier to follow.”

I couldn’t imagine what Rodric had done to her. I didn’t even know if she was still alive. Maybe she was somewhere bleeding and hanging from one of the towers.

I shook away the image. We needed to get away from Rodric before we could search for her.

But Cion couldn’t let it go. “What did you do to her?” he raged.

Rodric shrugged. “I made her sing.”

“You’re going to wish you were bitten by a yellow-spotted sand snake instead of facing me.”

“That’s funny,” Rodric replied. “I always thought of you as a snake—the way you crawl through the desert with that ridiculous sword of yours.”

Cion let out a cry and leapt off the ledge. He rolled forward, meeting Rodric’s blade.

The pack of soldiers gathered around the bottom of the ledge, staring up at Dimic and me. Several moved toward the stairs.

“I’m Princess Kateri,” I said to the soldiers. “If you throw down your arms now, you’ll not be punished. But any who stand with Rodric are traitors and will be dealt with as such.”

The men didn’t stop their advance.

“That worked well,” Dimic quipped beside me.

“It was worth a try.”