The two wolves split up, the lieutenant going right while Ragnar went left. Both stopped either side of the chamber, forming a narrow passage for the duo to advance. One of the pair went to step forwards, paw in pocket, but his partner stopped him.
The traitor aimed the crossbow at Ragnar. The wolf flinched.
“Go next to friend.”
Ragnar swore under his breath, cursing the traitor’s vigilance, and crossed over to where Lieutenant Ziedik stood. The ranged thug aimed at them, gaze not shifting, while his partner advanced to the door. He reached again into his pocket and pulled out a pendant that dangled from a thread of string, a dull grey crystal framed in glinting gold. Ragnar watched as the thug placed the pendant upon the mantle and, almost immediately, a brilliant blue light forced the
