They went down into the wound together.
The eight thrones slid over the burning edge and dropped into the open vessel. Almond kept the fire alive around them the whole way, and every second of it pulled at him like a rope tied to his chest.
"How far?" Rudra asked.
Maya had her threads out below them. "Half a mile. Then the vessel opens into something much bigger."
"And once we're through?"
"Then I let go," Almond said. His voice was tight. "I can't hold this and fight at the same time. Not down here."
"And the wound closes behind us," Kael said.
"Yes."
Nobody said what that meant. They would be sealed inside the body, with no road back to the surface except whatever road they cut for themselves.
"Good," Ainen said finally. "I was worried we'd be tempted to turn around."
The inside of the vessel was a river.
