After a while of walking, I was getting used to the extra weight. But the glares I felt at my back were heavy. Most of those ahead of me were doing their best to keep a distance.

“Magic, huh?” Troy carefully whispered into my ear from behind.

“Yah not scared like the others?” I sighed.

“I’m behind you. Even if I was scared, I can’t do anything about our distance. So, I mind as well, like you,” he chirpily answered with his lame logic.

I swallowed a chuckle and smiled, then dropped it when I caught the eyes of a bull helmet head directed toward me. After a while, the attention was turned away. The henchmen stood before us. Their bronze bull helmet reflected the torchlight about the etched bull eyes. I was surprised they could see, as the only face openings were nostril holes for breathing.

They connected a chain link to my iron cuffs and proceeded to do the same for Troy and others behind us until one long chain ran through all of our cuffs.

We shuffled as one line down a stone corridor where gusty winds howled and chilled our skin. That wasn’t the only thing sending chills to my skin. Troy must have sensed something, because I would feel his hand warming my waist occasionally to keep me steady.

My mind began to recap the recent event with the elderly magis. My muscle memory knew about magic. In fact, I felt my whole being was so steeped in the stuff that wielding it was instinctive. Yet, I also felt my body had issues with control, so to continue to use it would lead to an unstable base. Anyway, to wield magic was illegal unless licensed, based on recent conversations.

“That was magic?” I whispered to myself.

“Don’t worry. Maybe illegal for anyone not a licensed magis, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” Troy answered in my ear.

He must’ve felt I was nervous, for his words carried the intention to comfort. But instead, his hot breath made my nape itchy.

“Ugh. Itchy!” I squirmed about, so much I was shaking the line and causing others to stumble.

A henchman stepped up to me and raised their gauntlet hand. They unhooked a dagger from their arm sheath. My eyes widen with apprehension as they raised the dagger close to my view.

“Um, let’s talk about this. I’m sure being itching isn’t against rules.” I nervously muttered.

The dagger’s edge inched closer. I gulped when it went high and closed my eyes as I saw it swoop down toward my neck.

“Huh?” I opened one eye as I felt an edge scratch my itchy spot until it wasn’t itchy anymore.

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The scratching stopped, and the henchmen carried on.

Our line was soon carrying on down our path without issues. The air became denser as we descended the stone corridor. I glanced about and saw we had been walking through a rock fissure, with a roof of darkness over my head. The path became harsher and narrower. We were traveling deeper into an unmanned terrain by the feel of it.

Eventually, the corridor ended at a circular platform, which creaked and sighed against shrieking winds. We were herded to the platform’s center before a rusted iron wheel. Two henchmen tugged at the wheel to turn it in a direction.

We wobbled into each other as the platform rotated and jolted to a stop before the start of a rocky stairway cut into a cliff face. Misshapen steps descended into a howling darkness. Icy winds were turning my hands numb and leaving a slight sting to my eyes.

I gulped and squinted away the pain; wiped my runny nose to my shoulder. It was then I saw an iron plaited rope running a trail down the side of a cliff face. The other side of the stairway was pitch black, formless.

The henchman threw three small bronze balls into the air. The balls didn’t fall but sailed down the stairway to illuminate the way ahead. We were tugged in the direction of the balls and followed their lead down the stairs. They were slippery. Exhaustion brought uncertainty to our balance.

I screamed when I was yanked backward and about to topple over the edge and into the formless space. Ferocious winds wrapped itself around my body and kept me steady. I heard a loud whoosh behind my back and a blood-curling scream recede into silence. Hands kept my body steady and stable on the rock. I was yanked closer toward the cliff face. I felt my heart thump a million miles an hour with a realization that I had been a hair’s breadth from my doom.

“Troy!” I whispered with worry.

“Still here. Close call, wasn’t it?” Troy was doing his best to sound calm, but his voice was quivering. Of course, we nearly fell over the edge.

I returned my attention to the fluttering balls of light ahead as we continued our descent. Eventually, we entered into a cavern of dry rock, which was illuminated by burning sconces.

Troy sighed his relief into my ear.

I felt his hands to my waist again and frowned. They were becoming too familiar with my curves.

“Oi. We’re on solid ground now. If yah still want yah fingers attached to yah hands, let go of my waist.” I gave the friendly warning over my shoulder.

“Oh? But your body’s keeping my hands warm. Although, there’s not a lot of meat on your bones,” Troy cheerfully whispered his explanation.

So, I was nothing more than a heat pack to him. Before I could say more on the matter, I noticed one of the henchmen glancing our way. I straightened up and made sure I wasn’t going to give them a reason to run a sword through me.

We trekked along a straight and narrow path, which eased into the opening of a small anti-chamber. Where we were herded onto its circular floor. One of the henchmen raised a hand with a stop gesture. We stood silently as one line. They then commenced to remove the chains from our iron cuffs.

However, no one dared to move unless permission was given. A henchman gave us a hand gesture to sit on the ground. I sighed with relief when I slumped down to feel cool stone to my skin.

“Still alive.” I heard Kalia whisper next to me.

I nodded. “Good to see Little Miss Royalty able to survive this far.”

She sat cross-legged to my right. Troy assumed the spot to my left. Henchmen passed a cup of water around. We gratefully took hefty sips. When they saw we had rested enough, they got us up and re-organized us into one attached line again. This time, Kalia was at my front and Troy at my back. I found some small comfort being in-between them. We entered into another long and windy rock corridor.