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Deep
Underground . . .
"He's
going to make it!" This time, it was Cat whose faith in their friend was
unshakable. Elidor crawled toward the hidden lock, as a shadow slashed
at his arms.
"Cat, hold
the lantern!" Davyn reached for his bow again, deftly swinging it from
his back and ripping an arrow into place. She held up the lantern, and
he lit his arrow before she returned her force against their enemies.
Arrow after
arrow flew from Davyn's bow, piercing Elidor's opponent. Elidor drew out
his lockpicks, lying on his belly as he worked the lock.
"I'm not
sure I can keep going," Davyn said. "I can't . . ." But he never got a
chance to complete his thought.
Just then,
Sindri's spell took hold. Guided by the kneeling Maddoc, his voice
swelled to a fevered pitch. A fireball burst forth from his fingers,
with such force that it shook the stone hall. It raced through the two
shadows before them, burning them to nothingness. The third shade,
farther away, recoiled from the flame though it was injured only
slightly.
"Now,
Sindri!" Elinor's shout resonated through the chamber as the fireball
died. He twisted his lock pick in the far keyhole. "NOW!"
Sindri dived
for the keyhole, grasped at the pick Elidor had left behind. He turned
the makeshift key, his eyes still watering from the fire-spell. But his
hand, first frozen by shadow, then scorched by fire, faltered.
The key did
not click.
The lock did
not open.
"Elidor!"
Davyn screamed, diving into the room toward his friend.
And a
thousand tons of stone began to fall.
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