He was coming with her. He trusted her.Did she deserve it?“What does it mean?” a deep voice came from around the bend and forced them both to step back farther into the shadows. She tugged on his hand and motioned forward. He nodded, and they moved in unison over the remaining ground to the curve in the tunnel.“It’s almost time,” another voice answered, the excitement brimming on the edges. “Why now?”“Because we did our job.” Yet another voice, this one thick with a rolling accent. “Our time of groveling in anonymity is almost over. It’s time to celebrate, not question the why.”Airiana’s gut tightened into a hard little knot of dread. She knew those voices. Beads of perspiration formed on her brow as her body flushed with heat. She inhaled and pushed back the nerves.Louk tugged on her hand. She looked back at him to see his brow furrowed and head tilted in question much like an inquisitive dog. She shook her head and turned back to the voices. The sound of boots crunching over rock was followed by the high pitch of metal rattling.
