Free Warden (Blade Asunder Book 3) by Jon Kiln

leading them through an array of passageways.
    “Keep trying to befriend any that you can,” Ganry whispered quietly in her ear. “We will be in need of allies, sooner or later.”
    She smiled back at him. Was he setting her mind at ease or did he just give her an order? Still, he was right, not all the Akkedis would be hostile. Some may be sympathetic to their cause and willing to help once they were facing real danger.
    Ganry noticed that Perseus lagged at the back of the group. He was happy to give him this position as he could concentrate on what was to come in the front. Hendon was busy muttering to his staff but Linz, at least, seemed alert.
    They arrived in a large oval room and in the center stood a huge table, ladened with food of all varieties. Various meats, spiced vegetables and colorful fruits, were laid out for them. Myriam felt unsure and stopped in her tracks. Linz approached her, wondering what worried her so.
    “Myriam, what ails you?” he asked.
    “How do we know that none of this contains poison?”
    Hendon stood behind them and tapped Linz on the shoulder with his staff. Linz moved aside to allow Hendon into the conversation.
    “I have been speaking with Barnaby on such matters and he assures me all is well. He has looked into the food and there are no traces of anything harmful.”
    Linz was the first to sit down and eat, and the others soon followed. Even Perseus joined them and ate his fill. He knew he needed some newly stored energy, ahead of the battle to come.

17
    The same female Akkedis returned after they had eaten and took them all back to their chambers. Once she had gone, they all gathered in Ganry’s room, with the exception of Perseus who was acting rather strange. Ganry had caught him in his room, appearing in a trance. He had just assumed he was praying to whichever god he believed in.
    “You must thank the spirit of Barnaby for assuring us about the food.” Myriam’s voice broke Ganry’s thought. “We would have all gone to bed hungry if it were not for him,” she said to Hendon.
    “Actually, I’m beginning to think he’s more than a spirit, Myriam. I suspect he is from another dimension or world. When we talk, it’s as if he’s still alive, but somewhere else.”
    “How strange.” Myriam thought about what Hendon had said, but it was too fantastical for her to comprehend.
    “Why do you suppose we have not seen my grandmother yet?” she asked, changing the subject to something more earthly.
    “I’m not sure,” Ganry replied, “but I feel there is something going on here that we know nothing of. They are keeping something from us.”
    “You don’t think my grandmother to be dead, do you?” she dared to ask him.
    “If she were, I believe we would sense it,” Linz answered, recalling the strength of the stones and the magic within the D’Anjue bloodline. “I do feel a weariness in this place, but I suppose it’s the lack of fresh air to breath in. The air within the Cefinon Forest is humid, but this place is far worse,” Linz complained.
    “Living underground does not seem natural to me,” Hendon agreed. “I’m sure these creatures need air as much as we do, but they don’t seem to mind if it’s not fresh. I would miss the skies and the rivers. I do hope we’re not down here too long.”
    “I would leave now if we could, dear Hendon,” Myriam said, also uneasy with being deep underground.
    “Being down here is as natural as being on the surface. It’s just meant for different creatures. We are surface creatures and the Akkedis are more at home under the earth.” Ganry joined in the conversation. “Perseus and I will be going for a walk around the immediate corridors. I would like to map out this place a little, get some bearing of where we are.”
    “I’m afraid we cannot allow that,” a voice said from the opening doorway.
    Ghaffar walked in, leaving a couple of guards outside the door.
    “I trust you are much refreshed now that you have