Every step made the words more persuasive. Every level he descended seemed to add to the resonance of the spell. Was he not tired? Was he not worn down by his efforts? His shoulder was sore, his feet hurt and his knuckles were bleeding. Could he not simply sleep? He could sit down, right in this cave, and rest for a while. It would be harmless. Inevitable. Sensible. Drake shouldered on, knowing a spell when he heard one. The tunnels became darker and colder, secreted deep in the earth. He found marks of the viper’s passing, and felt the vibration of its hateful song beneath his feet. He thought of all the suffering it had created and marched on. Why did he want to save humans, when they could do so much ill to each other? He could imagine what had been done to Cassandra, and to Theo, all at the hands of the people of their village. They had always been afraid of him and his powers. Had that fear been turned against his family? Had they been destroyed because of their association with him?
