Chapter Sixty-Three:
“Gambles on Ice”
Moisture clung to the moss-covered stone walls, the scent of damp rock and stagnant water lingering in Raya's former prison. A steady drip echoed from somewhere unseen, the sound of a chain clinking softly against rock carried through the quiet. The dungeon was cold, but as Raya bent down, fingers wrapping around the hidden lever, a freezing gust rose from beyond the wall. She paused for a moment, glancing at Ani beside her.
"You ready, Ani?"
Ani gave a light woof, his glowing eyes steady, unwavering.
Raya exhaled slowly, steeling herself. Then, she pulled.
The frozen stone resisted at first, stubborn and unmoving. A second later, it gave way with a crack, fresh ice fracturing as a hidden mechanism groaned to life. The wall shifted, grinding against itself as it revealed another narrow passageway descending into darkness.
Raya eyed the gaping stairway with weary resignation. "Another dark, scary staircase. Why can't it ever be a room full of fluffy bunnies?"
As if in response, Ani’s fur began to glow with a soft, warm orange light, casting unsteady light against the ice-rimmed walls.
Raya braced for what lay ahead, inhaling deep. "No mistakes this time."
The frozen air fled through the open passage, as if it too, was terrified of what lay below.
A shiver ran through Raya as she rubbed her arms, the thin fabric of her outfit offering no protection against the bitter cold. It was getting worse, sinking into her skin. Her teeth began to chatter. She glanced around and spotted a discarded blanket in the corner, filthy, but still intact. Grimacing, she snatched it up and pulled it around her shoulders, the fabric stiff with age and reeking of mildew, but it was better than nothing. She adjusted the blanket tighter, trying to seal in whatever warmth she had left before taking that first careful step downward.
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She began her descent, Ani’s glow illuminating the first few steps. As she moved forward, something unnatural happened, the torch along the wall suddenly ignited, its flames weren't normal. Purple and black fire burned in eerie silence, its fingers of dark light scratching across the walls as if searching for something.
Each time she neared another torch, it ignited instantly, only for the previous one to dim and die, leaving nothing but ice and stone behind.
The deeper she went, the worse the tempatures became. The once-solid stone steps now had inches of slick, frozen layers coating them, treacherous and uneven.
Her boot slipped. The world tilted.
She tumbled forward, but before she could crash down the stairwell, a strong pull at her clothes yanked her back.
Ani.
She steadied herself, heart pounding. "Thanks, boy."
Ani gave a soft huff, his glow unwavering, and they continued their decent into the chilling depths.
Raya’s fingers were frozen stiff, aching with each slight movement. She tried to blow warm air onto them, but the cold bit through, numbing her fingertips even further. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she buried her hands into Ani’s fur, letting the warmth seep into her skin.
As she knelt there, taking in the chamber, the eerie silence was punctuated by the faint sound of ice forming, settling with a faint creak, accompanied by distant voices from deeper within, too soft to make out, but undeniably present.
As Raya stepped deeper, the black and violet flames lining the walls pulsed, then, all at once, they turned blue. A long hallway stretched before her, lined with the now-blue torches. The voices ahead grew louder, yet the words remained indecipherable, just on the edge of understanding. Raya frowned and glanced down at Ani. "What are they saying boy?"
Ani perked up, ears twitching before he suddenly hurried ahead, tail wagging.
Raya blinked. "I guess it's good then?"
Picking up her pace to keep up, she followed Ani down the long corridor. At the end, a door stood waiting, heavy and wooden, untouched by ice or frost. Ani stopped before it, tail wagging like an eager dog waiting to be let outside.
She hesitated for only a moment before pushing it open.
Inside, the space was nothing like the frozen passage she had left behind. A warm, firelit common room greeted her, filled with wooden tables and chairs. Seated at one of the tables, casually leaned back, was a man in a dark blue coat lined with thick fur. Across from him sat the robed woman, the very same opponent from that night. And standing beside them, calm and composed, was a boy with silver-white hair, his sharp blue eyes meeting hers the moment she stepped inside.
The wizard turned to the boy, his expression knowing. "You were right, Arlo. It did get her to come down here."
Then, with a smirk, he looked to the robed woman. "You owe me 100 coin."