Chapter 26
Water rushed past in an unending torrent, pulling Elias’s legs against the stone he lay on, but only managing to pull free a boot to wash away in the black depths of the underground river. The pain of consciousness enough to repel him several times before he could fully grasp the world around him. With a grunt, he pulled against the cold stone beneath him, shaky hand slipping on the slick surface as he strained to pull himself fully out of the churning water.
His shoulders burned and protested his attempts. Against the pain, he dragged his body away from the water"s edge before stopping, exhausted, on the damp cave floor. The world around him loomed, vacant, a black void in all directions punctuated only by the roar of the river below. He probed around with his hands, felt a
