Finn’s POV
The silence in the tunnel was deafening.
Where a crying, terrified ten-year-old boy had stood just a second ago, there was now nothing but a foul-smelling pile of rotting swamp mud and a broken silver chain. The sharp, biting stench of dark magic and wild garlic filled the damp air, completely eradicating the illusion.
A collective, horrified gasp echoed from the dozen resistance fighters gathered at the edge of the corridor.
Gareth stumbled backward, his broadsword clattering against the stone as he gripped his temples with both hands. A violent shudder ripped through his massive frame as the dark magic that had clouded his mind suddenly evaporated.
"Gods..." Gareth choked out, his eyes wide with a sickening realisation. He stared at the mud, then slowly turned his horrifi
