The tunnel seemed to go on forever.
Korath stumbled through darkness so complete he couldn't see his own hands. Around him, others gasped and cursed, running blind. Only that thread of fresh air guided them, growing stronger with each desperate step.
"Light ahead!" someone called.
It was true. A gray glow appeared in the distance—moonlight, filtering through a crack in the stone. They surged toward it like dying men toward water.
The crack was narrow but passable. One by one, they squeezed through into cool night air.
Korath emerged last and nearly fell to his knees.
The forest stretched before them—massive trees with trunks wider than houses, their canopy blocking out most of the sky. Undergrowth tangled thick between the roots. Strange sounds echoed in the darkness: hoots, howls, the rustle of things moving through leaves.
Freedom. This was freedom.
It smelled of moss and rain and living things. So different from the mines that Korath's eyes actually watered.
"Don't just stand there," Sera hissed. "We need distance. Now."
She was right. Behind them, muffled shouts still echoed from the tunnel. The overseers would break through eventually—and when they did, they'd bring hunters. Trackers. Maybe even war dogs.
"Which way?" Tam asked. The young boy looked terrified, his eyes huge in his thin face.
Daven pulled out a crude compass—probably stolen during their supply raid. "East. Away from Ashkarn. If we're lucky, we'll hit the river by dawn."
"And if we're not lucky?" Brick rumbled.
"We die tired."
They moved into the forest as quietly as fifteen exhausted, terrified slaves could manage. Which was to say, not very quiet at all. They crashed through undergrowth, tripped over roots, made enough noise to wake everything for miles.
But they were free. Actually free. The thought made Korath want to laugh and cry at the same time.
"Keep together," Daven called back. "Anyone gets separated, you're on your own."
They traveled for hours, driven by fear more than strength. The forest seemed endless—trees upon trees, each one massive enough to have been growing for centuries. Strange plants glowed with soft phosphorescence. Eyes gleamed in the darkness, watching.
Korath's legs felt like they'd give out any moment. His lungs burned. His bleeding hands left a trail he tried not to think about.
Hunters can track blood, his mind whispered. They'll follow us easy.
"Stop," Sera said suddenly.
Everyone froze. She stood perfectly still, head tilted, listening.
"What is it?" Daven whispered.
"Not sure. Something's—"
A howl split the night.
It wasn't like any wolf Korath had heard before. This was deeper, with a metallic edge that made his bones vibrate.
"Iron-wolf," Brick breathed. "Shit."
More howls answered the first. Not close—not yet. But getting closer.
"Run," Daven said flatly. "Now."
They ran.
The forest became a blur. Korath's body moved on pure instinct, jumping roots, ducking branches. Around him, others sobbed as they ran. Tam fell; Brick grabbed him without stopping, carrying the boy like a sack.
The howls grew louder. The hunters had their scent.
"There!" Sera pointed ahead. Through the trees, Korath glimpsed moving water—a river, wide and fast.
"Cross it," Daven panted. "Might lose the scent—"
An iron-wolf exploded from the undergrowth.
It was huge—bigger than any normal wolf, with fur that gleamed like metal in the moonlight. Its eyes burned red. Saliva dripped from fangs that could bite through bone.
It hit Brick first.
The big man roared, dropping Tam and grabbing the wolf by its throat. They went down together, rolling through dead leaves. The wolf's claws raked Brick's arms, drawing blood. Its jaws snapped inches from his face.
"Help him!" someone screamed.
Korath didn't think. He swung his pickaxe at the wolf's side.
The impact jarred his arms. The wolf yelped, releasing Brick, and turned its burning eyes on Korath.
Oh no.
It lunged. Korath threw himself sideways, too slow—those jaws would close on his throat—
Sera's stolen whip cracked across the wolf's face.
The beast twisted mid-leap, landing badly. Sera cracked the whip again, again, driving it back.
"Move!" she screamed.
They ran for the river. Behind them, the wounded wolf howled, and others answered—so many others, closing in from all sides.
The river bank appeared suddenly. Korath didn't slow down. He just jumped.
Cold water swallowed him whole.
The current was stronger than it looked. It grabbed him, pulled him under. His lungs screamed for air. Which way was up? He couldn't tell—
Hands grabbed his arm, hauling him to the surface.
"Swim!" Daven yelled in his ear. "Don't stop swimming!"
They fought the current together. Around them, others struggled—some making it to the far bank, others swept downstream, disappearing into the darkness.
Korath's feet found mud. He crawled onto the shore, coughing water, and collapsed.
For a long moment, he just breathed. Each breath felt like a miracle.
"Count off," Sera's voice called. "Sound out if you made it."
Voices replied, scattered up and down the bank. Korath added his own, barely a whisper.
When the counting finished, they were twenty-two slaves lighter.
Twenty-two left behind at the collapse. Twenty-two lost in the forest. Or taken by the wolves.
Out of thirty who'd tried to escape, only eight remained.
And the night wasn't over yet.