Page 36 of Obsidian Dream

“When did you realize you were lost?”Rieka asked.

“Hours later.We must have been circling the entire catacomb, but we always returned to the same section.”

Khalida shifted in her seat.She grabbed the leather backpack next to her, unzipping it before she pulled out a thin black folder.“Where did you find the symbol?”

“Idris found it on our fourth search.On an archway, near the middle.It was on the edge, half hidden by moss.The sound of running water drew us to it.”Dante pointed to a dark line in the schematic.A black mark, grainier than the rest, protruded from the wall.“We found it just as our candles were dying.”

The soft hum of the plane filled the cabin.

“What is the plan?”Dante asked.

Talik almost fell out of his chair—the Atlantean never voluntarily relinquished control.Talik’s mind began running through scenarios, formulating what they needed to do.It had been decades since he’d done any mission planning, but it felt like he’d never left.“It should be relatively easy to retrace your steps—we have the added advantage of technology.”

“Only if it works,” Khalida interrupted Talik.

Talik chuckled but didn’t disagree.“Any more than two or three individuals in the confined space will create an unnatural heat pattern.If anyone is paying attention to the catacombs, it will let them know we are down there.”

Holding the folder with her left hand, Khalida turned the hologram so it faced them.“We move quickly.We can set up scanners at the entrance of the branches once we have cleared them—if there is anything larger than an oversized rodent within three hundred feet of the main catacombs, it will set off a silent alarm linked to us.”

“If the scanners are triggered, we return,” Talik said, emphasizing the last word.It would be enough of a warning that they had time to react.She nodded in agreement.

“We will also survey the area from the surface,” Dante added.

“Once we have secured the area, we can begin the search,” Khalida answered, excitement edging her tone.

Talik was not surprised.

“Moving backward from the farthest end will buy us the most amount of time and ensure that we don’t have any surprises as we make our way back to the library.”Khalida’s finger danced in the gray light as she traced the path they were to travel.“Six hours may be pushing it if there have been any landslides.”

It sounded like a decent plan.As long as Khalida was serious about returning at the mere hint of something down there with them.

“And Kade?”Rieka asked.Her gaze was still entirely transfixed on the hologram.

“He will need time to search through the hunters’ archives.”Dante tapped his knee.“Their records date back pre-Rome and may hold some valuable information.”

Khalida raised an eyebrow but said nothing.He knew that look well.This would not be the last of that conversation.

“Did Sypha tell you anything else?”Rieka asked, finally taking her gaze off the hologram.

Talik snorted.“No.‘Search for the symbol of Ninhursag, and you will find an ancient relic’ were their exact words.”

Dante chuckled.“Sypha isn’t purposely vague.”

Talik wasn’t sure if Dante was trying to convince himself or the rest of them.

“What about Chaucer?”Rieka continued.She tugged at her sleeve, the one that covered the gauntlet.

“Nothing,” Talik answered.Not that he was surprised.

Dante’s eyes narrowed on Rieka.“What did Chaucer say to you?”

When had Chaucer talked to Rieka?By the annoyance that flashed over Dante’s face, he had also been unaware of the interaction.

Rieka’s eyes narrowed at Dante before she glanced at Talik and Khalida.“He said the Anki do not like iron.”

Talik tapped the armrest.He didn’t trust Chaucer, but that was the second time iron had been mentioned.And he didn’t believe in coincidences.

Khalida opened the folder, slipping out the decrepit scroll.Now blank, there was no hint of the rotating archaic glyphs.She held it up to the light.The paper appeared even more time worn than before.