Count Maren's blood struck the first chain.
The effect was immediate.
A deep metallic groan rolled through the chamber as the seven priest statues turned toward the golden cage. Their stone hands opened one after another, releasing chains that had remained tight for nearly three centuries.
The heart inside the reliquary beat harder.
Once.
Twice.
On the third beat, Teclos felt it through the soles of his boots.
Across the bridge, Valerius smiled.
"Your family was always obedient in the end."
Maren pressed his bleeding palm against the inscription beside the bridge.
"Do not speak of my family as though you knew them."
"I knew the first of them."
"You knew the man who buried you."
The smile disappeared.
Behind them, the first corpses reached the stairwell.
Captain Dalen stepped into the centre of the bridge and raised his sword.
"Whatever you are doing, do it quickly."
