do it the easy way.” I tap at the metal plate that shields the locking mechanism. It looks like a standard, old-style prison lock. It’s big, black, rusty, and—hopefully—vulnerable to picking.
“How?” Greer asks.
“Basic military strategy,” I explain. “Attack the most vulnerable spot. The lock.”
I bend down, rip open the flap on one of my cargo pockets, and pull out a multitool—one that’s supposed to have a tool for every situation. I hope it lives up to the salesman’s promise.
Flipping through the seven thousand accessories, I finally decide on the flathead screwdriver. I shove the point into the keyhole, wiggle it around, and pray something happens. I’ve never had to pick a lock before. Monsters aren’t usually hiding behind closed doors—I find them in the open, on crowded streets, or in back rooms and alleys, hunting somewhere with easy access.
Now I wish I’d developed the skill.
After several jerks and pulls and twists and curses, feeling nothing but the scrape of metal on immovable metal, I give the door a solid kick.
“How are we supposed to get in?” I hate feeling helpless. “How are we supposed to get her out?”
“We simply have to think this through,” Greer says. “There must be a solution—something obvious that we just aren’t seeing.”
“Sillus help huntress.”
I turn to see the little monkey emerging from the labyrinth, running toward me, his teeth bared in a huge grin.
“How?” I ask.
He jams his fist into the air.
There, dangling from his little furry hand, is a set of thick black keys.
“Where’d you get those?” I demand, snatching the keys from him.
He shrugs. “Sillus find.”
Right. The unconscious dungeon guards.
“Nice thinking,” I tell him.
His little monkey face beams.
I choose one of the big metal keys, shove it into the lock, and turn. Nothing. I choose another. The third key finally works. With a heavy clank, I feel the lock mechanism roll over.
“Yes!”
Everyone cheers.
I yank the door open and dash to my mentor’s side.
“Ursula,” I say gently, kneeling down at her side. “It’s Gretchen. I’m here. You’re safe.”
She makes a sound.
“What’s that?”
I lean down closer, until my ear is right next to her mouth.
“Not safe,” she rasps. “Too dangerous.”
Yes, the world around us is dangerous and we won’t be safe until we’re home, but I can’t help but take a moment to look at my long-missing mentor. Seeing her in such an abused state hurts worse than the burn of monster venom in my bloodstream ever has.
“Leave,” Ursula whispers.
Warning tingles down my spine as everything falls quiet. Silence in a place like this is never a good thing.
“We have to move,” I command as I unlock her chains. “Now.”
Squatting down, I slip one arm under Ursula’s shoulders and the other under her knees. I stand too easily. She’s lost a lot of weight.
“Why?” Greer asks, panic in her voice. “What’s wrong?”
I turn to face her.
“You hear that?”
She tilts her head. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly.” I hold Ursula a little tighter. “This place just got deadly quiet.”
“Time hurry,” Sillus says.
Without bothering to agree, I take off through the maze, heading for the bridge. I hear the others following me, but I don’t take time to check. If something is happening, we don’t have a second to spare. Someone could be on the way to intercept us right now. With our luck, someone already is.
“Oh noes.” Sillus skids to a stop as he emerges from the labyrinth first.
Stepping out behind him, I see what’s waiting for us on the other side of the bridge: a group of soldiers, heavily armed with golden weapons. There are at least a dozen of them. They carry golden shields and wear golden helmets that clearly mark them as the Arms of Olympus.
I mutter a string of curses.
This is just what we needed.
“Where’s Thane?” Greer whispers.
He stayed behind to guard the
“How?” Greer asks.
“Basic military strategy,” I explain. “Attack the most vulnerable spot. The lock.”
I bend down, rip open the flap on one of my cargo pockets, and pull out a multitool—one that’s supposed to have a tool for every situation. I hope it lives up to the salesman’s promise.
Flipping through the seven thousand accessories, I finally decide on the flathead screwdriver. I shove the point into the keyhole, wiggle it around, and pray something happens. I’ve never had to pick a lock before. Monsters aren’t usually hiding behind closed doors—I find them in the open, on crowded streets, or in back rooms and alleys, hunting somewhere with easy access.
Now I wish I’d developed the skill.
After several jerks and pulls and twists and curses, feeling nothing but the scrape of metal on immovable metal, I give the door a solid kick.
“How are we supposed to get in?” I hate feeling helpless. “How are we supposed to get her out?”
“We simply have to think this through,” Greer says. “There must be a solution—something obvious that we just aren’t seeing.”
“Sillus help huntress.”
I turn to see the little monkey emerging from the labyrinth, running toward me, his teeth bared in a huge grin.
“How?” I ask.
He jams his fist into the air.
There, dangling from his little furry hand, is a set of thick black keys.
“Where’d you get those?” I demand, snatching the keys from him.
He shrugs. “Sillus find.”
Right. The unconscious dungeon guards.
“Nice thinking,” I tell him.
His little monkey face beams.
I choose one of the big metal keys, shove it into the lock, and turn. Nothing. I choose another. The third key finally works. With a heavy clank, I feel the lock mechanism roll over.
“Yes!”
Everyone cheers.
I yank the door open and dash to my mentor’s side.
“Ursula,” I say gently, kneeling down at her side. “It’s Gretchen. I’m here. You’re safe.”
She makes a sound.
“What’s that?”
I lean down closer, until my ear is right next to her mouth.
“Not safe,” she rasps. “Too dangerous.”
Yes, the world around us is dangerous and we won’t be safe until we’re home, but I can’t help but take a moment to look at my long-missing mentor. Seeing her in such an abused state hurts worse than the burn of monster venom in my bloodstream ever has.
“Leave,” Ursula whispers.
Warning tingles down my spine as everything falls quiet. Silence in a place like this is never a good thing.
“We have to move,” I command as I unlock her chains. “Now.”
Squatting down, I slip one arm under Ursula’s shoulders and the other under her knees. I stand too easily. She’s lost a lot of weight.
“Why?” Greer asks, panic in her voice. “What’s wrong?”
I turn to face her.
“You hear that?”
She tilts her head. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly.” I hold Ursula a little tighter. “This place just got deadly quiet.”
“Time hurry,” Sillus says.
Without bothering to agree, I take off through the maze, heading for the bridge. I hear the others following me, but I don’t take time to check. If something is happening, we don’t have a second to spare. Someone could be on the way to intercept us right now. With our luck, someone already is.
“Oh noes.” Sillus skids to a stop as he emerges from the labyrinth first.
Stepping out behind him, I see what’s waiting for us on the other side of the bridge: a group of soldiers, heavily armed with golden weapons. There are at least a dozen of them. They carry golden shields and wear golden helmets that clearly mark them as the Arms of Olympus.
I mutter a string of curses.
This is just what we needed.
“Where’s Thane?” Greer whispers.
He stayed behind to guard the
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