Book Two: Chapter 100

He chuckled and shook his head. “No idea. I gave it to Zel when they had captured us, but when she didn’t use it, I wondered if it was some type of poison or something. As someone who has experienced Mandragora pollen firsthand, I can assure you that many of them will be more than a little sore in the morning.”

They both stood and approached the thick ladder that went up the wall. He climbed up first, walking cautiously toward the edge and marveling at the view. The tower had been built into the side of the mountain, but from here, he could see how the bottom of it sloped away into nothingness revealing the vast expanse below. Large holes had been cut in the stone, deep holes that looked like something had been mounted there.

“Ballistae.” Ratu said, reading his mind. “Think like a giant crossbow.”

“Strange.” The holes seemed to go around the perimeter of the tower. “Why would you need to fire giant bolts off a steep drop? Is someone attacking from the sky?”

“