Dark Light

Chapter 44

A SHORT TIME LATER SHE WAS STILL ON HER FEET, WALKING tensely back and forth in front of the chamber, hugging herself and concentrating on her breathing, when Elvis appeared.

He scuttled toward her down the glowing corridor, white cape flying. She heard the faint, familiar whine of a sled engine behind him. The vehicle rounded the corner a few seconds later. Fontana was at the wheel. Ray was in the passenger seat.

"Elvis." She swept him up into her arms and buried her face in his tatty fur. "I thought you guys would never get here."

Fontana brought the sled to a stop, vaulted out, and came toward her with long, swift strides.

"Are you all right?" he demanded.

The harshness of his voice made her smile a little. She understood. This was the way it had been when they had fled into the rain forest, and he had forced himself to remain on his feet until he got her to safety. A successful Guild boss had to know how to clamp a mag-steel lid on his emotions so that he could prioritize.

"Yes." She blinked back the tears of relief that filled her eyes. "I'm fine now that you're here."

"You scared the living ghost light out of me," he said. "Promise me you won't ever do anything like that again."

"Wasn't planning to make a habit of it."

He caught her in his arms and pulled her hard against him. Elvis, squashed between the two of them, squeaked in protest, wriggled free, and scurried up to sit on Sierra's shoulder. Satisfied that all was well, he preened his ruffled fur.

"I was so damned afraid," Fontana said into her hair.

"How did you find Elvis?"

"He found us down here in the tunnels. We were all headed in the same direction. He must have some kind of psychic link with you."

Ray prodded Harlan's body. "What happened to Ostendorf?"

She turned in the circle of Fontana's arm and looked down at Harlan. "I was running from him. He was using a locater to track me. I saw a shadow in a doorway and remembered what Fontana had told me about illusion traps. I had the ring in my purse."

Fontana's hand tightened on her shoulder. "You threw your purse into that chamber to lure him inside, didn't you?"

"Yes."

His jaw tensed. "You tossed away your only amber? Damn it, Sierra, if you had lost sight of it—"

"Take it easy," Ray said to Fontana. "It's an old hunter trick, and you know it. Sure, it's risky, but it wasn't like she had another option, now, was it?"

Fontana pulled Sierra more snugly against his side. "No, it's not."

Ray grinned. "Looks like the Crystal Guild has a brand-new legend, and the Curtain has another scoop."