The rune was running on what remained.
Which was very little.
Damien crouched at the edge of it.
Examined the outer lines.
The construction was more sophisticated than the second base—not just larger, but more carefully layered, the seal built in depth rather than just area. Whoever had made this one had understood that a larger record required a more robust container, and had built accordingly.
It would have been difficult to open through finesse.
He looked at Cerbe.
The hellhound's three heads had been scanning the chamber since they entered, six eyes reading the space with the automatic vigilance that was simply its resting state. The middle head turned toward Damien as his attention settled on it.
Damien's eyes moved to the rune.
Then back to Cerbe.
Then to the rune again.
The middle head followed the movement.
"Hellfire," Damien said.
That was all.
Cerbe understood.
All three heads turned toward the rune simultaneously.
