"Jude?"
He went still.
"Sol?"
"Jude, hurry!"
Jude entered the passage immediately.
Serena followed, and Layla came behind them.
The corridor was different from the one they had travelled through earlier. Its walls were smooth and almost black, reflecting the lantern light like dark water. Thin silver veins ran through the stone, pulsing gently.
At the far end stood another circular door.
This one was already open.
Beyond it was a vast chamber.
Jude stopped at the entrance.
The chamber was enormous, much larger than the underground hall they had discovered earlier. Its ceiling disappeared into darkness. Tall stone pillars surrounded a central platform, and each pillar was carved with hundreds of tiny symbols.
At the centre stood Sol.
He was beside a low stone table, examining something placed upon it.
"Sol!"
The boy turned.
"Jude!"
He ran towards him.
Jude dropped to one knee and caught him.
For a moment, he simply held the boy, checking his arms and shoulders.
