by Jasmine Walt
Broghan licked my hand. “You won’t get in trouble for this,” he assured me. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but it wasn’t as if I could just banish him. He would probably come right back, and it was a waste of magic, anyway. “I am glad you’re here with me,” I admitted as I stroked his furry back. “It’s nice to have company in this gloomy place.”
We finished our picnic, and then Broghan morphed into an otter and plunged into the lake. I’d always been perfectly happy with my shifter form, but now that I’d met him, I was a little envious that he seemed to be able to change into whatever he wanted.
As Broghan splashed about in the water, I focused on my serapha charm, trying to sense Iannis. As before, there was no trace of him. I was certain that Ta’sradala had done something to disrupt the charm—there was no way he was dead. He’d been safe and sound at the palace when I’d left. Surely he was on his way over here by now, wasn’t he? Iannis was one of the most intelligent men I’d ever met—he would have figured out where I’d gone by this point. How much time had passed since I’d left? A week? By Magorah, the girls were probably worried sick. I felt bad for disappearing on them like that, but it wasn’t as if I’d had a choice. I hoped they were doing okay.
“Come on, Broghan,” I called as I headed toward the tunnel up ahead. “Let’s see where this thing goes.”
The challenge, I surmised as Broghan caught up with me, morphing into a giant bat, was to figure out how to get out of this blasted place. The bats, which had been hanging peacefully before, had awakened at my presence, and were flitting overhead in weird patterns. I conjured a glow light to help with illumination as we walked, but as we moved from cave to cave, there was nothing but endless caverns. This underground world was beautiful in its own way, full of glowing plants and wonderful rock formations, but aside from the bats, there was little to eat down here. I needed to find a way out before I ran out of food.
Broghan, for his part, seemed to be having the time of his life. He chased some of the other bats around the caverns and did somersaults and a few other aerial tricks. I told him to stay close to me so he wouldn’t get lost, but he only laughed. He probably couldn’t get lost if he tried, and found it amusing that I was trying to look out for his welfare.
Wondering if I could make the bats work for me, I picked up some pebbles and tossed them at the bats, noting which direction they fled. Several of them darted for one tunnel in particular, and I followed, hoping it led to the surface instead of deeper into the cave. I repeated the process a few more times, but eventually it became harder, as the bats would disappear through holes in the cave ceiling too high for me to reach. I tried to follow them with the levitation spell, but the bats were too fast. Some of them vanished through a confusing field of sharp and spiny stalactites that hung so close together they formed a lattice. I had to find a way around.
Eventually, I dropped back down to the ground again. Even though I was much stronger now, constant use of the levitation spell would deplete my magic eventually. There was enough illumination here from the glowing mushrooms that I extinguished my glow light. Broghan shrank into a normal-sized bat, albeit one with bright red fur, and landed on my shoulder.
“Tired of flying?” I asked as he leaned his warm, tiny body against my neck. Rather than answer, he licked my earlobe, and I couldn’t help giggling. Regardless of the consequences, I was really glad he had come along. Having a companion kept me grounded, which was more important than ever since I couldn’t feel Iannis anymore. I had not realized how comforting the tiny speck of his essence in the necklace had been until it went silent. One more crime to hold against his cursed grandmother.
Using the dim greenish light from the mushrooms, I tried to follow the bats’ trail from the ground. But the floor in this stretch of the cave system was brittle and uneven, and it was slow going as I picked a path between the various clusters of stalagmites. Some of them were taller than me, and I felt like I was walking through a forest of stone, while others were tiny, like thick blades of grass, and I had to skirt around them to avoid cutting myself on their sharp edges.
I’d just spied another tunnel up ahead when my foot slipped on some loose pebbles. “Whoa!” I cried as I slid down a steep slope. Conjuring a light, my heart leapt into my throat as I shot straight into a wide, bottomless fissure. I dropped a good thirty feet before I managed to activate the levitation spell, but I was falling too fast by then for it to fight gravity. A scream tore from my throat as I continued to plummet, and I frantically searched Fenris’s spell catalogue, trying to find something, anything that could help me before I crashed into the rocks below…
Strong claws clamped around my arms, and I looked up to see Broghan flapping his wings above me, a giant eagle now. He soared out of the fissure and deposited me safely on the other side. I collapsed, my body shaking from delayed reaction, and I laid my head on the cool ground, panting with fear and relief.
“Thank you,” I choked out when I finally had enough breath to speak. “I thought I was a goner.”
Broghan nuzzled my face—he was back in wolf cub form again. “Watch where you’re stepping,” he said. “You gave me a scare.”
I laughed. “Gave you a scare?” I asked, rubbing the top of his head. He curled up against me, and we lay there for a long moment, until my legs had stopped shaking and I was ready to move on again.
We spent the next couple of hours climbing up and down through the caves, until my stomach was gnawing at me with hunger and my limbs were beginning to ache with exhaustion. It had been a long time since I’d done this much physical activity, and I’d been growing out of shape to begin with. Too many parties and meetings, and not enough sparring with Rylan—I’d make sure to keep up my form, if I ever got out of here.
When I got out of here, I corrected myself. I couldn’t accept anything less.
We paused for another short break to tuck into the last of the provisions, and between the two of us, we polished them off pretty quickly. Eventually, we came upon another underground lake, where I gratefully refilled my now-empty canteen. As I drank directly from the lake, I spotted some eyeless, pinkish salamanders as big as eels swimming in the water. Using a spell Iannis had taught me on our last vacation, I snagged one from the lake, then flash-roasted it. Broghan wrinkled his nose at the smell, and turned up his nose when I offered him a bite, but I devoured the whole thing. It tasted a bit sour, but the texture and color were similar to shrimp. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine I was in the palace, enjoying a seafood dinner with Iannis.
Hopefully I could do that soon, if I ever found a way out of these blasted caves.
We hiked through the caves for several more hours before I grew too exhausted to continue, then made camp in a relatively flat and dry spot. There were no twigs or branches around to light a fire with, but Broghan changed into a bear, and I curled into his furry bulk as I slept. His big, warm body was a welcome contrast to the frigid stone floor of the cavern, and I was able to catch a few hours of sleep before we continued on.
“Is that a light?” Broghan asked as we trudged through yet another stalagmite-filled cavern. Looking up, I saw him flit into one of the three tunnels up ahead. “Yes, I think we’re almost there!”
The excitement in Broghan’s voice sent a surge of energy through me, and I jogged to catch up with him in the tunnel. We came through the other side into a much smaller cavern, and sure enough, a ray of light speared through the endless darkness. Following it, I saw that it came from a hole in the wall a good forty feet up. From the light coming through, it had to be daytime.
“Dammit,” I said as I levitated up there to examine the hole. “This is way too small.” I stuck my arm through the hole, and the sensation of wind caressing my fingers encouraged me further. “We have to figure out how to enlarge it.”
My magic was starting to run low, so instead of using a spell, I found a sharp rock on the cavern floor and began chipping away. However
, without standing on anything but air, I didn’t have much leverage, so it was slow going. Luckily, the hole was being obstructed by encrusted bat dung and dirt rather than actual stone, or I would have been forced to use my magic to melt it away. Broghan turned into a dragon, then flew up to join me, using his sharp, steel-like claws to help me carve out the hole.
Finally, the opening was big enough for me to fit through, and I got onto my belly and wriggled out through the other side. But my relief was short-lived—the window we had opened was on the sheer, vertical side of a mountain. Terror gripped my throat as I stared at the verdant valleys far below—if I shimmied forward more than another foot or so, I would fall straight down and split my skull open on the rocky ground. And the winds here were far too high and unpredictable to risk the levitation spell.
“Hang on,” Broghan said as he crawled through the hole behind me. He launched himself into the air, and with a few flaps of his wings propelled himself upward, beyond my field of vision. I considered twisting around to see where he was going, but I didn’t want to accidentally fall off, so I waited anxiously.
A few moments later, Broghan soared back down, his dragon form ten times bigger than before. I ducked as his powerful wings blasted me in the face, and a small rock glanced off the back of my head.
“Climb on, quick!” Broghan ordered as I lifted my head. He pressed his body close enough to the mountainside that I could easily leap onto his back. But I was afraid that the blustery winds would carry me away before I landed, so instead I crawled carefully, gripping the tough membranes of his wings as I dragged myself across his big body. Several long, agonizing seconds later, I reached the depression between his wings and collapsed there, breathing hard from fear and exertion. I wasn’t usually afraid of heights, but it was a long way down from here.
Satisfied that I was properly mounted, Broghan launched himself from the face of the mountainside. I screamed, grabbing onto the spines jutting from his back as we plummeted straight for the valley below. We were in free fall for nearly a minute, and then he snapped out his wings and began to glide.
“You’re going to give me a heart attack,” I scolded as we coasted easily along the wind currents.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Broghan chided. “You’re stronger than that. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
Where indeed? I thought as we landed in the middle of a large field. His antics made me feel positively sedate and middle-aged in comparison, even if they had saved my life several times now.
A herd of deer had been grazing nearby, but they all fled when Broghan’s shadow covered the land. Thankfully there were no humans nearby to frighten—the last thing we needed was to draw attention to ourselves.
As I slid down from Broghan’s back, I marveled at how quickly my life had changed yet again. Just last week, I’d been wishing I could get away from the palace and all the duties that had come along with it. Well, I’d gotten that wish, and had spent the last couple of days living experiences I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams. Or rather, nightmares.
I’d take paperwork and committee meetings over dealing with Ta’sradala any day, I admitted to myself as I sat down in the grass. At least back home Iannis had been close by, and I’d seen him every night, tired or not. I missed him so badly, it felt like one of my limbs had been severed, leaving me with a phantom ache I couldn’t cure.
Broghan morphed back into the wolf cub and curled up next to me, as if he were trying to console me. He said nothing, simply being there for me as a warm and solid presence, and I was grateful for his company.
As we rested, I tried to muster some optimism. We’d made it out alive, and this had been the third and final test, hadn’t it? Against all odds, I’d survived all her challenges. If she stood by her word, Ta’sradala had no choice but to let me return home to Iannis.
Would she, though? Ta’sradala couldn’t be trusted to let me enjoy my victory; she might easily find some pretext to prolong this evil game of hers. People who accused others of cheating were most likely to do so themselves whenever it suited their purposes. A haughty Tua could be just as hypocritical as humans. And who would dare call her on her bullshit, anyway? Definitely not Iannis’s mother, who didn’t seem to have enough spine to stand up to Ta’sradala even if she wanted to. Anyway, I just wished she’d hurry up and spirit me back home. The sun was setting on yet another day, and I was running out of time.
15
At some point, I dozed off in the middle of the field, with Broghan using my chest as a pillow. I’d scrutinized the constellations above us earlier to try and determine if I was in Recca, but I hadn’t been able to come up with a definitive answer, so I decided I might as well try to regain my strength. I was just having a nice dream about being back at home, surrounded by Iannis and my friends at a feast and sinking my teeth into a juicy haunch of meat, when I felt myself suddenly yanked away.
Opening my eyes, I found myself prone in Ennartha’s garden once again, with the three women staring down at me. Deryna seemed relieved to see me and gave me a tentative smile. Ennartha was impassive, and Ta’sradala furious. I jumped to my feet, adrenaline rushing through my body as I realized I was finally back.
“I passed your tests,” I said, jabbing a finger at Ta’sradala. “You have to take me back home now!”
“Hmph,” Ta’sradala said. “I don’t know about that. The only reason you survived was because of that silly shape-shifter who helped you out. Who was he, anyway? I didn’t know any creatures like that lived in those caves.”
I froze, looking around. Broghan wasn’t anywhere nearby, and the snakeskin belt he’d previously disguised himself as was gone. “Broghan?” I called in mindspeak, a little anxious. “Are you okay?”
There was no reply.
What had happened to him? I guessed that when Ta’sradala had transported me back, Broghan had not come with me, since he wasn’t attached to my body like he’d been last time. He was probably still in that field, poor thing. I hoped he would be all right on his own, though from recent experience, he seemed quite capable of taking care of himself.
“You never specified that I couldn’t use outside help,” I said tersely. “I’ve won your game fair and square. Now take me back.”
“And why should I listen to an impertinent mortal like you?” Ta’sradala asked, looking down her nose at me. “You do not make demands of a Tua—you get on your knees and beg.” The malicious glitter in her eyes told me even that would be no use—she would enjoy my humiliation without yielding an inch.
“I shouldn’t even have to ask!” I thundered, losing my temper completely. “You told me that if I won, you would let me go, and I have! How are you any better than us ‘mortals’ if you can’t be bothered to keep your own word?”
“She has a point, Mother,” Ennartha said uneasily. “Surprising as it may be, she has completed the challenges.”
“That is for me to decide!” Ta’sradala exclaimed angrily. “Besides, promises to humans don’t count. Are you actually taking this pitiful mortal’s side?”
“You are the worst person I have ever met,” I hissed, my entire body vibrating with anger. I wanted to claw Ta’sradala’s perfect face off, and indeed I might have thrown a punch or two if I didn’t value my life. “I used to think that mages were the worst, but you are even more arrogant than they are, and faithless to boot.”
I had to wonder if the mages got that side of their personality from the Tua, if Nalan and Alara’s theory was correct. Or maybe power just naturally corrupted people and gave them that false sense of superiority. There were plenty of humans who were just as insufferable. At least Iannis was nothing like this crazy bitch. I felt a strong wave of longing, wishing he was here by my side.
“How dare you!” The Tua drew herself upright, and I braced myself for another magical attack.
“Go ahead,” I taunted. “Choke me or burn me or send me into another dimension. That’s what you always do when you’re at a loss, isn’t it?
You can’t bear to confront me so you throw your power around like the big bully you are.”
Ta’sradala froze. “Please,” Deryna begged, filling the shocked silence. “Our guest is speaking out of despair at being hopelessly outmatched, and she has just been through several exhausting, dangerous ordeals! Don’t regard her words—her nerves must be shot. Consider the consequences before you do anything else, Ta’sradala. If Iannis finds out that you have hurt his beloved, or worse, he will never forgive any of us.”
“I don’t need my grandson’s forgiveness,” Ta’sradala said coldly, but she lowered her hand. “This mortal may be stronger and luckier than I’d been led to believe, but her impertinence is unforgiveable. We cannot allow such an undesirable trait to be grafted onto the family tree.”
“Still,” Ennartha said, and I blinked in surprise to see her speak up, “we should not be too hasty. Perhaps we should wait for Iannis to arrive and explain himself. We might yet convince him to desist from this match.”
I shot her a glare—thanks for that. I was never going to like my future mother-in-law, but now she’d destroyed any chance of us getting along.
“He is surely going to arrive any day now,” Deryna added, “and will be furious if his bride is not here.”
“On the other hand”—Ennartha pursed her lips—“since he has not turned up yet, perhaps he is already thinking better of the connection and is too busy with his politics to chase after this girl. For all we know, the wedding may already be called off.”
Fat chance, I thought contemptuously. She did not know Iannis at all if she really believed that.
“Besides,” Deryna said, frowning thoughtfully, “didn’t you tell us once that the Tua realm is forbidden to humans—and shifters, we must suppose—without special permission of the High King? I understand he was not pleased when Ennartha took Iannis there all those years ago. Did you get permission before sending Sunaya there?”
