Cast Into Shadow

by Angela Colsin

  Yet, no sooner than he had the thought, he heard Kivsey giggling, and looked up to spy her going cross-eyed as she stared at a butterfly that had landed on the tip of her nose.

  The insect was probably drawn by the fragrance of the melon, and before he could prevent it, a smirk lifted the corners of his mouth.

  Pointing in his direction the moment she saw it, Kivsey suddenly announced, “Ah ha! I knew it!”

  Confused, Mikail asked, “Knew what?”

  “You are capable of smiling without breaking your face.”

  Her strange turn of phrase made it difficult to keep his smile from growing, so he didn't bother trying. Instead, he tossed the filleted fish on the grill, then snatched a piece of the melon and remarked, “I happen to smile quite often, human.”

  “You must really hate me then because all I've seen are scowls.”

  Mikail scoffed, stating honestly, “I don't hate you, though I'm not thrilled with the company. Your elven lineage aside, humans aren't renowned for their integrity or strength, and I'd rather you not forget that you won't get a pleasant reception in Satorala.”

  As he spoke, the butterfly took flight, and Kivsey watched it briefly, then gave him a more solemn look in stating, “I'm not expecting a welcome party or anything, Mikail. So you don't have to keep reminding me that I'm an outsider. I understand, and I won't forget.”

  Mikail sighed, wishing he could believe her. Kivsey may comprehend the situation, and even have his people's best interests at heart. But understanding? That was a different story, and he was actually worried for her time in Satorala if only because she wasn't turning out to be as elven as he'd expected.

  She hadn't shown any disdain for what he was, and honestly didn't seem to care. That alone proved she didn't believe Dok'aal were abominations, and probably only had basic knowledge of the tensions between them and elves.

  But for as human she was, her elven heritage was still there, and his people would definitely notice. This didn't mean the Council would deny her help—saying they could provide it—nor would they mistreat her as long as she was respectful.

  Yet, unless someone with status personally vouched for her safety in the city, there was no telling how she'd be treated just walking down the street.

  Of course, Mikail could always do so. Warlords such as himself were rarely challenged, and no one would question his reasoning. So if he announced that Kivsey was under his direct protection, she'd have an easier time during her stay.

  Still, that didn't mean someone wouldn't try to hurt her if they thought there was a chance to get away with it, and why did the thought make him so … angry? Perhaps even the remote possibility that this woman could be his was enough to rouse his protective instincts.

  It was a sensation Kivsey only compounded when she mentioned, “By the way, I'm going to cover my eyes before we leave this place. So you'll need to guide me out.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it's notable, and I'd rather not know which way to go from here, just in case.”

  Though he nodded in understanding, he hated how meaningful the sentiment was. Kivsey wasn't asking to be led from The Hamlet because she wanted to impress him. She simply respected his people's wishes, making it hard to know how to respond.

  Did he continue to treat her with indifference, or should he give her a chance?

  Either way, her sentiment made staying in The Hamlet for a brief respite easier, and he mentioned, “We'll use the cottages to get some rest after eating, then start traveling again at sundown.”

  “That works. How far are we from Satorala, anyway?”

  “If things go smoothly, we'll be there by evening tomorrow.” And I'll be fighting myself the entire way. Apparently.

  Mikail checked a groan. Why was he getting the feeling this woman was about to change everything?

  CHAPTER NINE

  ♦

  When Mikail said the rest of their trip would be downhill, he wasn't kidding.

  After their break in The Hamlet, the pair departed to make their way through one cavern after another, some of which were connected by long tunnels with inclines so steep Kivsey had to hold the Warlord's hand to keep from falling over.

  But despite the difficulties, their journey commenced without incident, and the further below ground they went, the darker the tunnels became. Yet, in wider spaces, there was enough illumination to allow Kivsey to see without her flashlight, all thanks to some surprising sources of bioluminescence—namely fireflies and glowworms.

  The insects lit the larger caverns in vibrant shades of green, blue, and yellow, illuminating the surrounding rock formations and plant life in an ethereal way. The ceiling was covered in numerous webs that caught the light as well, offering a sparkling glow that was difficult not to admire.

  Eventually, they found a stream that Mikail seemed intent to follow, and from that point on, the foliage grew thicker and more otherworldly, until reaching an area where giant mushrooms stood over fifteen feet tall. With dark stems and caps marked by bioluminescent veins glowing a pale blue color, the stalks served as a keen reminder that Kivsey was worlds away from home—and she couldn't stop herself from asking one question after another.

  Surprisingly, Mikail didn't seem annoyed in answering. He even made sure to point out natural hazards, such as a grouping of large snails moving near one of the streams. With colorful shells that stood about a foot in height, they slowly made their way, seeming innocuous enough.

  But the sticky mucus their bodies secreted was extremely toxic to ingest, even for immortals. So touching them was out of the question.

  Kivsey kept it in mind, wondering if Mikail's qualification of such information meant he was starting to warm up to her, or if he thought she was too inept to take care of herself.

  It was hard to say. He'd admitted to having little faith in human integrity, and probably thought even less of her specifically for being part elven. But most of their chatter since leaving The Hamlet was relatively casual, and though she had no desire to impress the Warlord, she'd enjoy the chance to prove his disparaging comments wrong.

  Still, and whether he thought she was reliable or not, he had no compunctions over confessing other matters, starting when he directed her to wait for a moment not far from the cavern's exit.

  They'd been traveling for most of the night at that point, and she knew Satorala wasn't far away. So his sudden request seemed strange, prompting Kivsey to ask as he walked toward the tall stalks of several mushrooms, “Where are you going?”

  Stopping, Mikail looked over his shoulder and replied, “I need to relieve myself. So unless you'd rather me stay in case you need protection—”

  “No, no,” she quickly interrupted. “By all means, go, answer the call of nature, big guy.”

  Amused at her discomfort, he smirked before disappearing beyond the stalks, and Kivsey shook her head. Their teasing aside, Mikail's insinuation that she needed his protection only fed her desire to make him eat his words—though she really doubted he'd take notice regardless.

  So she remained silent while waiting for the Warlord to return. Though, after several moments passed, she almost called out to ask if he was being picky about where he went. Yet she stopped herself in favor of taking a curious look around the cavern instead. Somehow, the air seemed to be shifting, as if a draft was passing overhead, causing the nearby plants to shiver.

  Simultaneously, a low rumble sounded just outside the cavern's exit, and Kivsey quickly looked back. Sadly, her surroundings were too dim to allow her to see anything specific, but the rumble soon repeated—and this time, it was punctuated by a soft growl.

  It wasn't the first time she'd detected such a sound in these caverns, and thanks to Mikail's input, guessing wasn't necessary to identify the source. Wyrm.

  Realizing one of the creatures was about to enter the cavern, her heart thumped in fear as she quickly sought some place to hide. Thankfully, there were plenty of options around—the mushrooms stalks were larg
e enough to provide cover, and she ducked behind one just as the predator emerged from the same tunnel she and Mikail were about to take to exit the area.

  The creature's head was reptilian, almost dragon-like, with a thick plate fanning out over its crown and two, glowing red eyes scanning its surroundings for prey. Kivsey could only guess how long the serpentine body was as it slithered into the cavern, but it had a circumference of about five feet—big enough to swallow her whole.

  Furthermore, several thick, protective scales covered its back, proving these creatures would be a challenge to take on.

  As the wyrm drew further inside the cavern, Kivsey quietly moved around the stalk to make certain it wouldn't see her in passing. Soon, she found herself stuck between the mushroom and a stream where several large, poisonous snails were silently making their way as if nothing was wrong.

  She ignored the creatures, much more concerned with the wyrm as it came to a stop, its body only ten feet from the opposite side of the mushroom she'd hidden behind. Following its halt, the sound of rocks crumbling came from the ceiling above, as if the beast was … digging?

  Carefully risking a glance around the stalk, she realized that was precisely the case. The wyrm had lifted its head toward the cavern ceiling to push its horned snout into the rock. Why, she had no idea, but the more important question was where the hell is Mikail?

  Most likely, the Dok'aal had cloaked himself and was making his way to her position even now. Or maybe he was planning on killing the wyrm, it was hard to say.

  Regardless, Kivsey quickly ducked behind the stalk again when the wyrm suddenly lowered its head to the floor and started sniffing as if it'd caught an interesting scent. Would it be too much to hope she wasn't the source? That seemed to be the case when the plants nearby swayed as the wyrm snorted, proving the beast was sniffing in her direction.

  The notice had her trying to formulate some kind of escape plan if she was found—which thankfully didn't turn out to be necessary.

  Without warning, the sound of screeching bats filled the cavern, a swarm of the winged mammals taking flight into another tunnel from somewhere nearby. There was no way to tell what startled them, but the vibrations in the ground resumed as the wyrm started moving again—away from her position.

  Perhaps it was following the flying creatures out of the cavern, or noticed something else it would rather have for dinner. Either way, its departure brought on a sense of relief as she risked another look around the stalk to see that the coast was clear.

  Still, she didn't automatically step out into the open. There was no way of telling how safe things truly were, and waiting for Mikail to return before making any movements seemed like the safest course of action.

  As the thought struck, she finally learned Mikail's location once the wyrm disappeared into the adjoining cavern. Almost instantly, the creature let a loud roar that was punctuated by Mikail's menacing growl with a tremor spreading through the floor. Apparently, he had intended to kill the creature, and Kivsey quietly stepped away from the mushroom she'd hidden behind while staring in the direction the sounds were coming from.

  A rock wall was blocking her view of the fight, but she didn't have to see to know their movements were both swift and powerful—it was felt in the various quakes at her feet, and whatever Mikail was doing, it didn't seem pleasant because the creature suddenly wailed as if in agony.

  The sound had her cringing, and though the commotion came to an abrupt stop, she couldn't quite relax. Not only was Mikail's well being in question, another roar sounded only moments after their fight stopped.

  And this time, it was coming from directly behind her.

  Seeing anything more dangerous than a goblin roving the caverns so close to Satorala was rare. But the recent food shortage caused by the ogres would've forced certain predators to expand their hunting grounds.

  So though it wasn't common to find a wyrm in the area, Mikail wasn't entirely surprised, and wasted no time distracting it from Kivsey by startling several bats sleeping on the underside of a mushroom cap nearby.

  Once the sound had drawn the beast's gaze, he allowed it to see him moving into the adjacent cavern, successfully luring the wyrm away to be killed without endangering the human.

  Like clockwork, the wyrm followed, and their ensuing fight was a short one, mostly due to the beast's small size. After only a few moves, it lunged in an attempt to catch Mikail in its mouth, and he quickly dodged by rolling left, then turned to thrust his blade into its eye, stabbing deeply enough to bring its life to an end.

  Blood spurted, the wyrm's body shuddering violently before exhaling its last breath, and he finally drew his blade back and swiped it right while surveying his kill with a mild scoff. Small fry.

  This wyrm was definitely a baby—he hadn't even broken a sweat taking it out.

  But sadly, its young age was a good indication that at least one sibling was somewhere in the area. After hatching, wyrms always hunted in pairs, refraining from working solo until they were larger and more capable of surviving alone.

  This made it imperative to rejoin Kivsey and vacate the cavern as soon as possible.

  Sheathing his sword in preparation to move through the shadows to where his human companion was hiding, the moment he took a step, a loud growl sounded, immediately followed by Kivsey yelling, “Shit!”

  Her expletive was followed by a heavy tremor rolling through the floor, and Mikail rushed ahead, rounding the rock wall just in time to see another wyrm the same size as the first quickly slithering into the tunnel they needed to take to reach Satorala.

  Such swift movements could only mean it was chasing what it considered prey—in other words, Kivsey—a chilling thought. The adolescent wyrms were much faster than the adults, and tended to lunge more quickly. She'll never outrun it!

  The thought had Mikail increasing his pace, and as a testament to the wyrm's speed, it disappeared from his line of sight for several moments before he accessed the tunnel.

  There, he spied its spiked tail up ahead, still moving in swift pursuit, and knowing it could catch up to Kivsey at any moment kept him running at top speed and too preoccupied to consider why he was so anxious to reach them.

  Instead, he focused solely on stopping the wyrm from hurting her, which meant jumping onto its back for what was sure to be a bumpy ride. Not only would he have to watch out for low overhangs of rock in the roof as they passed, he also ran the risk of being crushed if the creature lifted its tail before he'd climbed further up its back.

  But it was the only way to stop the animal, and the moment he was close enough, Mikail leaped ahead with all his strength.

  Flying through the air, he surprisingly overshot his mark. Instead of landing near the spikes of its tail as intended, he found himself grasping a horn armoring its lower back. But despite the advantage his position offered, an icy and altogether merciless sense of fear consumed him when he realized why he'd landed in such a position—the wyrm had slowed down.

  And there was only one reason a wyrm would slow its pursuit.

  It just captured its prey.

  Immediately, he moved up the creature's back with every intention of stabbing his blade into the head as soon as he reached it. With any luck, the wyrm hadn't actually bitten Kivsey—they sometimes swallowed their prey whole—and he could pull her from the beast's throat before any real damage was done.

  Still, with the rock walls passing at slower speeds, and just as the wyrm was about to emerge in the next cavern, it suddenly convulsed, thrashing so hard that Mikail was forced to dive forward and off of its back before he was crushed against the ceiling.

  Landing on the ground near the tunnel's exit, he emerged in the next cavern just as the wyrm slammed its body into the wall, then quickly turned to watch the beast writhing in pain.

  Such behavior made him wonder if Kivsey was in its mouth, using her pocketknife to try cutting her way out. She needs help!

  Preparing to move in and offer assistance,
his ears were suddenly hit with the exclamation, “Damn, those things can move!”

  Surprised, Mikail spun around to see the same human he'd intended to save standing ten feet away, hunched over with her hands planted on her knees as she heaved for breath. At the same time, a thud sounded when the wyrm's head hit the ground and, with a final shudder, its eyes ceased glowing.

  The silence that followed amplified Mikail's confusion, approaching the human to ask, “What happened?”

  Still winded, she answered, “I fed it one of those snails. Figured if I threw it in the air, the wyrm might catch the snail in its mouth, and I was right.”

  With a victorious smirk, she looked at the creature and added, “Dumbass.”

  For reasons that had nothing to do with his harsh run, Mikail's heart thumped in his chest, a grin nearly curving his lips over Kivsey's attitude. She sounded so satisfied by her victory—and it was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen.

  Yet he was still too bewildered to give a proper response.

  “Snails?” Looking at the wyrm's corpse, then ahead again, realization finally dawned. The poisonous snails.

  Mikail hadn't considered using them as a weapon before, mostly because he didn't need to. He was strong enough to take a wyrm down without much fuss, making it pointless to resort to more creative tactics.

  But despite his gratitude for Kivsey's ingenuity, his fear was quickly renewed as he drew in even closer, demanding, “You didn't touch it, did you? Their poison is sticky, and it's hard to wash off!”

  “No, I used my sleeves to cover my hands,” she explained, holding up her arms as if to point it out.

  Without pause for thought, Mikail drew his dagger and grasped the cuff to cut the fabric away. There was a good possibility a trace of the poison was left on her clothing or skin, and he was unwilling to risk her life by leaving it there.

  Kivsey seemed surprised by his reaction as well, particularly when he tossed the severed fabric aside, then took her wrist and drew her to a nearby stream of water.