Chapter 308 – The Price for Freedom

Chapter 308 – The Price for Freedom

Kai stared at the luminous bead vibrating in his palm. He wrecked his brain for an explanation other than the obvious—the cultists had raised the alarm.

Whether they had found the bodies of their comrades or captured other escaped prisoners, they would soon learn everything.

Dammit. It’s too early.

“Everything alright?” Kea whispered upon noticing him stiffen.

Kai waved the bead nonchalantly to mask his jittery urgency. “Yeah, we just have to hurry.”

“Is that…” She furrowed her brow before paling. “We— we must go faster.” Her gaze snapped between the branching caverns as if expecting to see cultists charging.

Kai lightly nodded as anticipation stifled his breaths.

The tunnels were silent aside from dripping rocks and the occasional stumble among the scared escapees. Even if the Stygian Circle discovered the empty cells, they’d still have to track them through the sprawling underground.

We still have time.

“What’s happening?” Flynn caught up at the head of the group, hunched to carry Rain on his back. “This is the fastest pace we can keep. Uh… do I remember wrong, or did that magic marble not glow before? Are we—”

“What are you three mumbling?” Derrell squeezed past Niel and Mari to join the party. “No need to be shy if you need my help.”

Anyone else wanna come?

Kai put the bead away before it attracted more snoopers. “It’s nothing. We were discussing how far these tunnels go.”

“Down to the abyssal layers and as wide as the Lake of Myst,” Derrell said with a dramatic tone. “The cultists killed the beasts around here, but it’s still easy to get lost. Which is why you should listen to m—”

“Wait.” Kai shushed his ramblings. “What did you say? These caverns extend beyond the lake?”

“Possibly.” Derrell shrugged. “A cultist complained about having to row a boat back and forth. He seemed to imply there was another option. Or it’s also possible I dreamed that conversation… You know, sometimes it’s hard to tell…” The man scratched his blond mop of hair and gave another shrug. “We’ll pick the best path if you follow me. Not to brag, but my Luck is really, really good. Like one in a million good. Once I…”

If it’s so good, how did you get kidnapped?

Kai exhaled a puff of vapor—the temperature had fallen just above freezing. Perhaps it was night outside, or they were further underground. The cold wouldn’t affect him much, but many escaped prisoners barely had rags to cover themselves.

They’ll collapse when the stamina tonic runs out.

Another reason to hurry.

“Tell me if you get any strong hunch. Otherwise, keep quiet. The echoes can carry far.” Kai pushed ahead where the tunnel became too narrow to get flanked.

Hobbes? Is it possible to find a way to the surface outside the lake? Yeah, I know we’d already be out if we could teleport like you, but… You’re a space cat, not a silly oracle cat. I know… Okay, stay close.

Behind the peeved mental remarks, his familiar admitted to not being all-knowing. He’d have to travel too far to find an exit on firm land that might not even exist.

You’re doing great, bud. Get us as far away as possible from the cultists.

Kai squeezed every morsel of his confidence through the bond. A potential underground path was much better than getting trapped on an island and swimming through beast-infested waters. If the cavern system reached beyond the lake, he could dig his own way out given time.

I did also tell Valela where we were going.

Knowing her, she must have alerted the Republic soon after he left the House of Mirrors. Kai only doubted whether the officials would get off their butts and do something. From the bead vibrating in his pocket, their time was tight.

If we go any faster, they won’t keep up.

Marching through the dark, craggy tunnels was already a hazard. The prisoners’ moods were high on the spur of their escape, but they had to stumble without light or warmth for hours more. His pragmatic side was thankful to the prisoners who ran on their own and provided a distraction.

How far do we have to go to be safe? Is there even a distance?

A vague sense of ominousness lingered in his mind. The cultists could be a mile away or hot on their heels.

How far does their base reach?

The passage opened into a vast cavern with a flattened floor and a crystal filtering light from above—at least the wards had gotten scarcer.

Derrell used the wider space to poke his back. “You’re good at sidetracking me. Something’s up? I have to know what is happening to help.”

He’s not gonna give up, is he?

“I told you it’s nothing,” Kai said, hoping to drop the subject. Escaping was hard enough without the ex-prisoners going into a panic.

“Sure, sure…” Derrell rolled his eyes back so much he almost tripped on a rock. “Stupid pebbles… Wait! Did the cultist realize we escaped?”

I hate you. Damned snooper.

“Keep your voice down.” Kai grabbed his arm to drag him ahead of the main group, shaking his head as Kea was about to join. Flynn was murmuring to himself and hardly seemed to notice. “It’s nothing we didn’t expect. They still have no idea where we are.”

Hopefully.

“You don’t have to convince me.” Derrell attempted to free himself. “And I know I’m a treasure, but care to remove your grip? You’re gonna leave an imprint.”

Kai weighed the chances of Derrell making a bigger communion and let him go. “Sorry, I’m just nervous.”

“Yeah, being chased by a group of bloodthirsty nutjobs tends to do that.” Derrell nodded sagely as if he had a lot of experience on the matter. “I try to focus on the positives. This morning, I was chained in a cell. And now, look at me! Free as a butterfly! Things tend to work themselves out when you’re lucky.”

I was getting worried you hadn’t mentioned your Luck in the last five seconds.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Kai turned away to focus on replenishing his mana reserves.

Derrell either didn’t get the hint or—more likely—didn’t care. He strode by his side as if he were the one leading. “Do you have a plan besides running as fast as we can?”

“No, do you? I’m open to other ideas.”

“Well… you could let me help pick a path. Better than going at random.”

Kai almost groaned out loud, using Mind Split to speak with Derrell. “Did any of the tunnels we took give you a bad feeling?”

“No, but that’s not always how it works.”

“Did you have the whim to pick a different tunnel?”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Well, I—” His mismatched gold and blue eyes narrowed on him. “Now that you mention it, no. It’s strange. Some of my good fortune must have rubbed off on you. I’ve always been good at inspiring people, though…” Derrell leaned to stare uncomfortably close at his face. “What’s your Luck?”

Such a punchable face.

“That’s personal information.”

“C’mon, man. Just give me an estimate. I told you mine.”

“And I freed you from a cell and a fate worse than death. I say you got a pretty good deal.”

“Okay, okay.” Derrell rubbed his arms with a sulk. “Technically, it was your tall friend who unlocked my shackles, but fine. Let’s not get hung up on the details. I can smell a fellow gambler even if you don’t say anything.”

Uhh… At least he has lowered his tone.

Kai massaged his temples, wondering how much time the blabbering man could net them if he froze him to a wall to distract the cultists—alas, he had no mana to waste. “It’s not Luck. It’s that we’re not running blindly.”

“What?” His eyebrows spiked up his forehead. “Do you have a map…?”

“My familiar is scouting the path ahead.”

“Oh…” Derrell deflated, craning his neck to scan the man-made tunnel. “You mean that puffy silver cat? I was wondering where it had gone. I’m more of a dog person myself. Not to be judgy. Your cat looks like an indoor pet with all that shiny fur. Have you tried trimming it?”

No, I like having two hands.

“I’ll let you try if we survive.” Kai smiled, imagining the scene. “Hobbes can move faster than people think.”

“Really? Why did your friend carry him around then? You shouldn’t teach your pet bad habits. How can he act lazy in this situation?”

Spirits, I can’t wait to introduce you two.

Kai stopped at the entrance of a jagged cavern. A whisper sent a shiver down his back, making his heartbeat spike.

Not yet.

Just as he questioned if he had heard right, his thoughts were drowned in murmurs of danger. Hobbes reached through the bond—over a dozen cultists were on their tracks, seven tunnels back.

Shit! Why are there so many?

“This way.” Kai decisively jogged down a tunnel.