Page 38 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

Sooth walked up and placed his hand on the cell door. He moved his palm around on the

metal as if communing with it. Omar and the men looked on curiously as Sooth closed his eyes

and his hand stopped at a spot on the door. After a moment, he looked at Omar.

“She is there,” he whispered.

“Alive?”

“Yes.”

“How could he know that?” whispered one royal guard to another.

“What do we do?” asked Omar.

Sooth reached under his cloak and removed a small round, black object with a braided

horsehair fuse.

Omar looked at it curiously. “What is that?”

“An alchemist’s bomb. I was hoping not to use it. If the queen has fallen against the inside

of the door she’ll be harmed.”

After a moment of deliberation, Omar said, “Do it.”

Sooth pressed the bomb against the cell door. Like soft clay, it stuck. He grabbed a torch

and looked at Omar with trepidation.

“Go on,” the prince said softly.

“If you can hear me, my queen, move back from the door!” Sooth said.

“Stand back,” he said to Omar and the men.

They moved away as Sooth lit the fuse and it burned down— Bang!

The door blew open in a cloud of sulfur. Omar rushed into the cell. The dust and dirt only

deepened the darkness. Eyes were useless.

“Mother!” Omar said.

“Omar?” she whispered weakly.