CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE - What Courage Looks Like

"The ritual chamber is in the lowest level of the fortress," Aria explained as they moved swiftly through the servant corridors. "Three levels down from here, directly beneath the main hall." They had managed to evade the bulk of Victor's forces by taking rarely used maintenance passages that Aria remembered from her childhood. The narrow corridors were dusty and dimly lit, but blessedly empty. "How heavily guarded will it be?" Vulcan asked, keeping watch behind them as they moved. "Very," Aria replied grimly. "Victor will have his elite guards posted at every entrance. And if he's started the ritual already, there will be magical defenses as well." "Tell us everything you know about this ritual," Lucas urged, his hand never straying far from Aria's as they navigated the maze-like passages. Aria's expression darkened. "Not as much as I'd like. I've pieced together bits from overheard conversations and glimpses of Victor's private texts. It's old magic—the kind that was banned cent