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"We would have to be careful how we use them, though," Ryziel said, rubbing his jaw. "We don't want to spur a cave-in."

"True, we would need to be careful. Keep the charges low. Don't use them unless absolutely dire."

"I will gather flashers as well. Though they draw some creatures to them, they might help depending on what we are dealing with," Ryziel said, still eyeing the supplies, thinking.

"Good." Xilya shifted her tail around and that seemed to be the end of their planning as she started for the door. "Ready the supplies, then. I will go above and get Aly."

Ryziel jerked his head around at her. "What?"

"I will bring her down so that she can be ready to go with us."

Ryziel choked down a snarl. "You will not. She is not going to be a part of this."

Xilya gave him an unhidden look of exasperation as she turned on him. "Must we argue this again? How many times do I have to tell it to you for it to sink in? We can't fit in those small spaces. We need someone who can."

"Nar will—"

"Nar will come this time, yes, as we won't be making a second trip if we can help it and need all the help we can get.Allthe help we can get." Xilya pointed at him, but Ryziel continued to shake his head.

"She can't come. It's too dangerous," he growled, turning from her, not wanting her to see his panicked expression. But she was right, of course; in all logical sense, they needed Aly again, no matter how much he didn't want to see it.

Xilya snorted. "So was taking her down to the Keep. But she went and she survived. We need to gather as much of what we can get in this hidden room and, hopefully, do it without disturbing anything. If we can do that, it will be no different than what she has dealt with before." Ryziel didn't speak, his mouth drawn thin. "And if it bothers you to have her close to you, then you needn't worry, I will guard her while you protect Nar."

Ryziel scowled, beginning to pace. "We have no idea what we are dealing with. I won't put her life in jeopardy again. I won't."

"Guys..." came Nar's voice, like a soft noise in the background, barely discernible.

"She has every right to be here, as much as us. We all risk something. And if I'm not mistaken by Nar's story, she had to do a great deal by herself when you were in your beast's hold."

"Guys," came Nar's voice, a little louder.

Ryziel growled low. "That won't happen again. And you sound so sure we will get in and out fine, but if you are wrong and something happens..."

"If it makes you feel better, I will protect her with my life. How about that?"

"And what if we're wrong? What if it isn't just one thing?" Ryziel swung his arm toward the console. "What if it is many things? How will we be able to—"

"It isn't!" Nar said, almost yelling.

The two went silent but didn't look away from each other.

"What do you mean?" Xilya spoke first.

"It isn't many things. It's definitely one thing," Nar said, swinging around in his high chair. "It's her."

Ryziel looked over, as did Xilya, and they saw that Nar's face was ashen.

"It's her," he repeated softly.

Chapter Twenty-three

Aly was working on the repair of another drillbot when Julian suddenly appeared out of the elevator and stepped over to her platform. The rain was just a light mist, a dazzling gleam of particles against the harsh light of the castors. It reminded Aly of the first night she had met Ryziel, and it had put her into a sour mood. When she saw Julian, her mood lifted slightly but only enough to greet him with a weak smile.

"Mind if we talk?" he said as he approached, gesturing for her to stand. Aly did, wiping her damp hands on her suit. She followed him over to the opposite side of the platform, near the rock wall and out of the way of others, knowing that this 'talk' must be the one Mark had warned her about.

"I thought you'd be working," Aly said as they stopped at the edge of the platform.

He leaned forward against the rail, looking down into the abyss. "They decided to let us off early." He shrugged. "So, I thought to find you."