Breaking Step (Dungeon Runner 3)

Breaking Step, Chapter 99

"Than I have, certainly. But than we have?" the sorcerer studied him, a smile forming. "Accept it. You're nothing more than the distraction in this team."

Jackal grinned. "I know I'm distracting you, but how about your stop eyeing me like that?" he paused as Don blushed. "My man doesn't share."

* * * * *

The trek to the floor's exit was arduous. City guards and dogs descended on them in droves. Even 'citizens' burst out of their houses to assault them. True to Don's prediction, Jackal threw himself at all of them, including the dogs. And true to Jackal's words, even without being at his best, he took down more of them than the team did, but at a cost, and he refused to let Tibs heal him, claiming he needed all his reserve in case the dungeon dropped the sky on them.

Considering that each time another group of dungeon creatures attacked, Sto went on a tirade about the Them and how they had no right to take control like they did, Tibs thought that danger was real. It also made him wonder what and how strong the Them was. He hadn't known something could take away control from Sto. Even Ganny could only make changes if he let her.

They remained on their guard even once they passed through the doorway. Sto had never put creatures or traps between it and the outside, but the way things had gone, they all understood things weren't normal.

There were no attacks, and the cleric healed Jackal as best she could, commenting on the corruption and eyeing Don as if he was the one to have done it.

Tibs shook his head each time Jackal opened his mouth. Even without trying, he could sense a secret trailing them, and now, he recognized it as what he'd felt through the town. Khumdar nodded, confirming he sensed it, too.

Even in the inn, he felt it.

Kroseph was at Jackal's side before they reached their table. "You look like you took on all of Serba's dogs."

"He did," Tibs said, looking around. Everyone looked exhausted, and he wished he could just hand out the rings, but the Them was still there by the door, some of that secret stretching throughout the room. "How's Russel?" He could at least help one person right now. If he could pull this off.

"Still under the weather. Silvie is in the kitchen today. I'll get your ales."

"You think he'd like me to visit?" Tibs asked before Kroseph stepped away. He wrapped the hand he dropped on Jackal's leg in darkness and wished he knew how to etch or weave with it. He'd have to rely on the Them having too much to pay attention to, to notice this.

"Sure?" the server looked between the two as Jackal placed a ring there without giving outward signs of the motion. Nothing about the secret changes, so it didn't know?

He sent the ring into the hidden space in his armor, hoping its enchantment worked on the Them as he stood, and again no changes he could sense. It followed him as he went up the stairs and knocked on a door. He entered without waiting, and Russel raised an eyebrow. He was reclining on one side of the large bed, pillows stacked under his back, looking pale.

"You look like you had a rough run," Kroseph's brother said.

"No more than the others," he replied, shrugging. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired and hoping it's going to run its course quickly," Russel answered. "The kitchen needs me."

Tibs nodded, and pulled a chair as the Them hovered in the room's corner as if it was looking over the carved stones on the dresser.

"It's just my luck to get the abyss cursed thing twice."

"That's not a thing," Tibs replied before realizing it, his attention divided. How long would the Them stay here? He couldn't keep the ring hidden once he handed it to Russel.