Chapter Nineteen · The Rat in the Tower

“It itches.”

Lyra scratched at her arms, then her neck. She had rinsed off as best she could, but she was back in the same dirt-stiff clothes.

She turned over for the third time. Sleep wouldn’t come.

After the collapse, Sion had gone home. Lyra had returned to the inn.

Her arms ached. A whole morning digging, and for nothing. The shaft had collapsed that afternoon.

She closed her eyes. Opened them again.

The wanted posters she had passed on the way back came to mind.

Gemariel’s High Lord was hunting Vespergnaw. He had been behind a string of recent thefts.

Bold. Too bold.

In the palace, he wouldn’t have lasted long enough to finish a single cup.

She sat up.

A small pond out front.

Maybe she could wash her clothes now. At least she would have something clean in the morning, even if it wasn’t dry yet.

Lyra glanced toward the window. Night wind rattled the roof tiles.

What if someone was out there?

She shook it off. She wasn’t easy prey.

She reached for her sword.

Then eased the door open.

She stepped outside quietly.

Night pressed in on all sides. Lyra slipped off her outer layer and knelt by the pond.

She scrubbed. The water bit cold.

The surface held the distant tower, glittering.

Then she saw something move.

Lyra stilled. Ripples wavered.

She squinted up the narrow path toward the tower.

Three small shapes climbed in single file.

The fourth lagged behind, hurrying to catch up.

Her gaze stayed on them.

“Lyra.” A whisper brushed her ear.

She startled and turned fast.

“Shh. That’s the rat gang.”

Sion.

Lyra almost dropped the shirt into the water.

“What are you doing here?”

Sion pointed at the figures.

“I know his walk. The one in front is Vespergnaw. I’ve been tracking them since they passed my place.”

The wanted posters flashed in Lyra’s mind.

Ten gold.

A spark.

If she caught them, it would cover the inn.

She could get her horse back.

Leave this place.

“Let’s go.”

No hesitation. Lyra tossed the shirt onto a rock and grabbed her sword.

They moved along the rock face, keeping their distance from the rats.

At the base of the tower, Vespergnaw stopped.

“Hold up. Let me open it.”

There was no lock. Only three quartz pieces set tight in a triangle.

He pressed his ear to the stone door, then turned the first crystal.

The door gave a faint tremor. He smirked.

“Miners. Always showing off their rocks.”

He turned the second crystal slowly.

A soft click sounded inside the door.

He nodded to himself, then turned the third.

CLACK.

The tower door opened. A ward was already in place.

One of the rats darted in. Vespergnaw grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.

“You crazy? Rush in and you’ll break your bones.”

He dug into his pouch, scooped out a handful of faintly glowing powder, and tossed it across the threshold.

“Gotta break it with dust.”

The ward flickered, its light breaking apart.

Vespergnaw flicked his hand.

“Go.”

Three of them slipped inside and vanished.

Vespergnaw’s nose twitched. He turned, sniffing the air.

“Something’s off.”

Lyra and Sion eased back, pressing into the rock.

Lyra tightened her grip on the hilt.

Nothing.

Vespergnaw stood there a moment.

One last sniff, then he jumped in after them.

After a while, Lyra and Sion moved in.

At the tower door, Lyra crouched and scooped up some of the leftover dust.

“Hold this.”

Sion understood, opened a small pocket, and Lyra dropped the dust inside.

They slipped through the door.

It wasn’t dark. A spiral stair wound up out of sight. Lume Stones hung all around.

Sion went first. Lyra followed, light on her feet.

Voices drifted down from above.

“Stay focused. Quit picking up junk.”

“But this one’s bright.”

“Bright, my ass. Get over here and help.”

The two girls pressed close beside the inner doorway, listening.

Clink. A coin hit the floor.

Sion pulled a small mirror from her satchel and angled it through the gap.

Lyra whispered, “You’ve got a lot of tricks.”

“Street life.” Sion squinted.

They watched through the mirror.

Four rats had their arms around a large stone, straining.

They rocked it back and forth, trying to pull it free from four gold prongs.

Vespergnaw bared his teeth, face tight.

The stone was two-toned: violet above, brown below.

Flawless. Clear as glass.

Lume light cut through it, throwing violet and amber across the walls.

Sion drew in a breath. “God… this thing’s worth a whole mine.”

“Who’s there?” Vespergnaw’s voice snapped out. The rats froze, all of them turning toward the door.

Lyra and Sion stepped into the light.

“Ah. So it’s you. Knew I smelled something off.”

Lyra advanced, drawing her sword.

“You’ve taken enough from the town. Time to pay it back.”

Vespergnaw let go of the stone and dropped to the floor. The other three followed, keeping their distance.

No warning. Lyra rushed in, her blade cutting in.

Vespergnaw sprang up and slipped past the strike. His lip curled.

“Get her!”

The three rats bared their fangs and edged toward Lyra.

Lyra’s blade flashed under the Lume light.

It sliced the air.

They broke apart. Panic scattered them.

Sion cut off the door, a short knife already in her hand.

The rats took one look at her and ducked behind the pillars.

Lyra drove Vespergnaw around the chamber. He kept changing direction, hopping, slipping, never still.

“Is that it? Child’s play.”

He scooped up a handful of coins and flung them at her.

Lyra slipped past.

Vespergnaw wiped his nose.

“Come on, then. Catch me.”

A rat. Taunting me. Lyra’s brow tightened.

She lowered the tip of her blade and sank slightly. Eyes closed.

Come on.

Vespergnaw took it for an opening. He sprang onto the stone, pushing off to vault over her.

Clang. Sparks jumped.

The strike came like lightning, skimming his coat and driving into the gem.

A pulse ran through it. The whole tower shivered.

Vespergnaw hit the floor hard. Lyra’s point was at his throat.

The other rats rushed forward, then dropped to their knees.

“Hero, please. Mercy. Please.”

Vespergnaw muttered, “Useless.”

Sion rushed in and yanked his pouch free.

She dug through it. “Rope. Good. We’ll tie you with your own line.”

In moments, all four were bound together. The smallest one started crying.

Vespergnaw said nothing, his face gone dark.

Sion dragged them toward the door. The fattest tried to snag a coin with his foot.

She kicked him hard. “Hands off.”

Lyra turned back. Sion flicked the coin back into the pile.

“I was just checking,” the fattest rat muttered.

Lyra lowered her voice.

“We take them to the High Lord. When the bounty comes in, I’ll split it with you.”

She slid her sword home.

Lyra went still.

“Wait. My blade’s edge is chipped.”

Sion glanced over.

“From the gem?”

Lyra moved to the stone, fingers finding the cut.

Sion followed, the bound rats stumbling as the rope yanked them along.

A hairline seam showed where violet met brown.

Lyra studied it, eyes narrowing.

Something stirred at the back of her mind.

“There’s something inside.”

Her skin prickled. A strange pull settled in.

She needed to know what it was.