Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(67)

We’d already been traveling all day, and night was quickly approaching. However, the forest seemed safer than the dark, rocky underground tunnels. “Can’t we go in the same way we exited the capital last time? Through the loose blocks in the wall?”

“Let’s go!” Vidar yelled up.

“This way is safer,” Anders said. “Trust me.”

I nodded and sat at the edge of the hole. Turning on my stomach, I slid my legs down. Anders grabbed my wrists and lowered me until Vidar had hold of my ankles. When Anders released me, Vidar set me on the ground. After my bo staff was handed to me and Anders joined us, Vidar lit a small torch. Anders led the way through the narrow tunnel. He warned me when the ground raised, lowered, or veered one direction or the other. He’d traveled this route so many times, he had its nuances memorized.

Being belowground made me anxious, and my hands began to sweat. It was hard to relax and trust that everything would be okay. That the ground wouldn’t cave in and crush us. That we wouldn’t get lost. The sound of our footsteps echoed off the rocky walls along with my labored breathing.

After thirty minutes or so, we stopped. Anders went on ahead to let the others know we were there and to make sure it was safe for us to enter into the main section of the mines.

“Are you okay?” Vidar asked.

“I’m a bit nervous.”

“Me too,” he admitted. “But neither Anders nor I will let anything happen to you.”

Little did he know, getting hurt or captured was the last thing on my mind. I was worried about running into Morlet while trying to free the Krigers. The tip of my bo staff was engraved with the marking choice. I had to remind myself over and over again that I was in charge of my future—it was my choice to be here, to free the Krigers, to face Morlet, and to kill. My life, my choice.

Yet, sometimes I felt trapped, as if there really wasn’t a choice—at least, a good one. I didn’t want to kill, but it was the only way to defeat Morlet and undo the terror he created. My choice was to save the kingdom of Nelebek, no matter what. The people deserved a better life, and it was in my power to give it to them.

Anders returned and motioned for us to follow him. The tunnel curved and then opened to a cavern so large that neither the top nor the bottom was visible. Keeping close to the rocky wall, I inched my way along the narrow path etched into the side of it. Luckily, after twenty feet we went into another tunnel, which took us to a small cave-like room where a dozen men dressed as miners stood waiting for us.

No one spoke as the three of us were handed uniforms, which we put on over our clothes. The workers started leaving via a tunnel at the opposite end of the cave.

My bo staff stood out, since we were supposed to be miners and they never carried weapons. Vidar took it from me and slid it down the back of his shirt and down his pants, concealing it beneath his clothes. He raised his eyebrows at me, asking permission. I nodded; it was safer with him. We followed the workers, Vidar trying to walk as naturally as possible with a long stick against his leg and back.

When we started ascending, a soldat blocked our path. “Your group is working awfully late,” he said.

“Yeah,” one of the men responded. “But we’re done for the day. Finally met our quota.”

“You’re the last group,” the man replied. “Go ahead.”

I kept my head down as we passed him and went up the steep incline toward the exit. The slope leveled out and fresh, cool air greeted us. When we walked out of the mines, it was almost dark out and close to curfew. We didn’t have much time to seek shelter in order to avoid being arrested. The group quickly split up into smaller groups of two or three, everyone heading home for the night. Soldats stood on the street corners closely observing the citizens hurrying about. They were probably keeping an eye out for me, but they didn’t expect I would be dressed in a mining uniform. Anders’s plan was brilliant.

The three of us swiftly made our way along the streets, not talking. Anders stopped before a nondescript apartment building and opened the door. We went inside, down a dark hallway, and entered the last doorway on the right. It was an unfurnished, dimly lit room filled with a dozen men I didn’t recognize.

Everyone’s eyes immediately went to Vidar. He pulled my bo staff out from under his clothing and handed it to me. It felt good to have the wood between my hands again. He smiled and addressed everyone in the room. “Thank you for coming. It’s going to be a long night of planning. First, allow me to introduce Kaia, the twelfth Kriger.”

I nodded my head once, wondering who these men were.

“Please give me a moment, and then we’ll begin.” Vidar gingerly took my hand and led me to an adjacent room with a single cot and nothing else. He closed the door.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The men out there are the leaders of our organization. We’re here to plan the Krigers’ rescue. Then they’ll pass the information down the line. This is the most effective way since gathering in large numbers is dangerous.”

Vidar pulled off his uniform, tossing it in the corner. I did the same.

“You can come out and listen to us, or you can use this time to rest for a few hours.” He pointed to the bed. “It’s up to you.”

Exhaustion consumed me, but I wanted to hear what these men had to say. “I’ll go with you.”