Chapter 36: YouOre a Maiden?

Ambrose Drak

Inside the stone-stacked entry, he leads her down a narrow corridor that opens to a large chamber carved into the bedrock.

Overhead, light from the setting sun shines through a gaping hole. The trickle of running water fills his ears.

"The air." Mercy's close enough to him that her breath blows across his skin. "It's warmer than outside. Why?"

He follows the trickle to a watering hole inside the chamber.

Meelo leaps off Mercy, then drinks from the clear pool.

On one knee, he stoops next to the polecat. He plunges his hand into the water, then brings it to his mouth. "That's because a hot spring flows underfoot."

She kneels next to the water and holds her hand over the steam coming off the surface.

Ambrose stares at Mercy. "Even the water is warm."

"What are you looking at?" She wipes at her cheek. "Do I have something on my face? Is it mud?"

"A little." He reaches out to caresses her jawline.