Together, they moved again, silent and ghostlike, sliding past the unsuspecting guards who paced the tunnels with slow, distracted steps. The danger of discovery pressed close, but Kai and Varaan were shadows given shape and will, slipping through the cracks of the fortress with practiced ease.
Ahead, the tunnel wall fractured into a jagged fissure—a narrow opening carved by ancient tremors or erosion, barely wide enough for a single person to squeeze through. The edges were sharp, rough-hewn, biting into exposed skin and clothing, but there was no hesitation. Kai dropped low, sliding into the crevice, the chill stone scraping against him as he wormed his way forward. Varaan followed with feline grace, folding herself into the narrow passage like liquid shadow.
