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Chapter Thirteen
Kassie and Rumal walked hand in hand in front of Kerak. Rumal held a torch in his other hand. At the very front of the long train of soldiers and allies, Loi led the way with Larvaste and Sabyn. They kept following the cavern deeper and deeper, the ceiling getting lower. Kassie’s heart beat fast at the horrible sense of claustrophobia that threatened when the floor started to climb and larger stalagmites appeared, making it a slow and complicated path that they helped Kerak to squeeze through. The darkness intimidated and more than once Kassie jerked in shock, thinking she’d seen something in the shadows the torch created. Rumal kept a tight hold of her hand and when they paused, while Loi assessed the correct tunnel to take, he pulled Kassie tight against him. She sighed and wrapped an arm around his back while they waited. No point moaning, she thought determinedly. But it will be so nice to get out of these caves.
A call travelled from the front of the line to where they stood near the back and the line started to move forward.
The next part is narrow. You will need to open it more for the griffons and dragon.
Can I do that? Loi thought to the plants. What about a cave in?
The rock is solid. It will hold.
You only need to move it a little.
Keep everyone back.
With a quick explanation to Sabyn and Larvaste, Loi climbed into the narrow section of tunnel and extended her arms. Eyes closed and about to reach out with her energy, she stopped at a sound.
‘Loi?’ Cat called quietly. ‘Let me know if you need a hand.’
‘Will do.’
Focusing, Loi extended her energy, flowing it over and into the rough but solid ceiling. With a deliberate motion, she pushed. The tunnel shuddered and chunks of rock fell around her but the ceiling now looked higher.
Well done!
Do it again.
Once more and they’ll fit.
Loi nodded to the voices and focused, readying to push again.
It felt horrible to stand in the entranceway to the tunnel when it shuddered again at Loi’s push. My stomach twisted with nerves, the shaking underfoot making me think of the earthquakes we feared on Earth. In Wellington you always thought an earthquake might be the ‘big’ one; long predicted and years overdue. The absolute darkness added to the anxiety; if I extinguished my energy I couldn’t see my own hand in front of my face. I wished we didn’t have to stand in single file now, wanting the reassurance of knowing someone stood alongside me.
The floor rumbled again and I flinched away from the wall when it shook. Taking careful steadying breaths I tried to focus on Loi and not the horrible truth in the back of my mind. Here we stood, miles beneath the ground, with nothing to protect us if the walls collapsed except for Loi.
All the more reason to focus on her, pointed out my rational voice while I calmed myself. I hoped the terror didn’t show too much on my face while I stared at those behind. Goblins clung to the sides and roof of the quaking cavern with unconcerned expressions and most those in the line behind me crouched, waiting, eyes wary but not terrified.
I sensed Loi moving and turned back. She appeared ahead of us and beckoned.
‘You can come, I’ve opened the way.’
I didn’t realize I held my breath until she said that and my head spun when I breathed in, stomach unknotting. I called the message back and climbed further into the tunnel. A goblin dropped from the ceiling right behind me and gripped my shoulder when I brightened my hands to lead the way. Now the soldiers and allies treated me just like one of the girls, which I preferred, no more annoying propriety and I enjoyed feeling useful without the fuss. While I walked slowly I felt more tugs through the hand on my shoulder, the line I led continually growing. The corridor extended for some distance and I thought to Sian, You might need to use water to ease Sito through.
Is it that tight? Sian sounded understandably worried.
It’ll be a squeeze.
Just when I thought that, the corridor widened and I slowed, stopping when I sighted Loi. She stood in the middle of a large cave, larger than the previous one we’d stayed in, and tiny lighted things fluttered around her.
‘Loi, what are those?’ I called in a quiet voice, not wanting to disturb them. Leynorah squealed and she and her mother leaped off my shoulders, flying straight for Loi and the lights. My jaw dropped when the two fae tackled one of the glowing things to the cave floor, gobbling it down and then lifted their heads to utter sharp whistles. Poor Loi looked horrified when answering whistles echoed from further down the corridor and more Halenine fae came whooping through, flashing past my head into the cave.
In a short matter of time the Halenine fae devoured the glowing things, buzzing excitedly around Loi, congratulating her on the find, oblivious to her appalled expression while she stared at the glowing remnants scattered about the floor. Those behind me pushed past into the cave, looking around, and the Cavalry and General guard soldiers started to set the camp up. It felt strange to realize that the whole day had gone, the lack of light messing with my body clock. Loi stared at the glowing remains of the fluttery things and I made my way to her.
‘Errmmm…sorry about that.’
Leynorah sat perched on a rock, fiendishly waving some bits of glowing wings in either front hand, singing a little ditty of ‘Yummy! Yummy, yummy, YUMMY!’
Loi sighed.
‘S’okay. Guess they have to eat.’ She smiled, her fatigue obvious. ‘Can you do that thing again?’
We moved to the side, to keep out the way of the bustling soldiers and watched Loushka, Nesha, and then Tomiar squeeze through the tunnel. The griffons walked over.
‘Hope Sito can get through all right,’ Loushka thought.
‘Where’s Kerak?’
‘Waiting, he’ll come through behind Sito.’
Back in the corridor Sian beckoned Sito to lower his head and nodded to Rumal and Daron.
‘Help me get his armor off, Cat says it’s a squeeze.’
Daron bent and offered his hands, tossing her up onto Sito’s back. Some of the goblins who rode Sito already worked at the plates on his back, fingers deftly unfastening the numerous buckles. Amazing how creatures with such muscular limbs are so nimble of touch, Sian thought. She pushed herself to match their speed. They lowered each piece to Rumal and then to Cat and Loi who appeared to help.
‘Feeling okay?’ Sian called to Loi who stretched for a plate of armor a goblin offered down. Her friend looked good considering the effort and energy she had used to widen the tunnel.
Loi flashed a smile.
‘Yup! All good.’
When the last piece of armor rested on the pile behind Sito, Sian slid down, landing in Daron’s waiting arms and turned to look at Sito. The dragon’s brown eyes looked worried.
Forcing aside any sense of anxiety Sian smiled brightly at him.
‘Okay, Sito. Let’s take this slow and I’ll be with you the whole way.’
Loi, Cat, and now Kassie joined her, in front of the dragon, backing along the tunnel while the dragon eased himself in.
With the girls and men occupied with Sito, and Leseach standing at the tunnel exit with Rashid, it occurred to Ignatius that it might be the perfect moment. Everyone already in the cavern watched the proceedings, with little attention to anything else. With a quick but soft tread he located Leseach’s bedroll and medicine basket. It took him no time to locate the two bottles he wanted and with a glance to check no one observed, he unscrewed them and poured a small amount of each into a single bottle. He didn’t need much and didn’t want the Northerner to notice the reduced amount. Besides, if Catherine slept too deeply Leseach would know at once. With calm hands he made sure he replaced everything exactly as he’d found it and walked quietly back to his own bedroll and pack, tucking the bottle away. The sounds of excited, anxious voices caused him to glance up. Laura worked on the tunnel again; the dragon’s head now visible and Sian, Kassandra, and Catherine soothed the beast
when the floor shuddered. Ignoring them Ignatius turned and studied the cave walls; an indent in the wall midway on the right looked okay and he seized a torch to go check.
The floor shuddered while Loi worked the tunnel. Sian, Kassie, and I hugged Sito’s muzzle tight, smiling and soothing when the dragon’s eyes went wide with fear, the whites showing. Sian did fantastic, her voice not wavering at all while Loi deflected a rock that smashed down beside her. We spoke aloud and via our thoughts as we coaxed Sito to move.
‘Just a little further, wriggle your bum forward,’ Loi called. ‘You’re nearly there, honey.’
Sito wasn’t saying much and we could all feel his heart hammering away. It vibrated through his head while we stroked his muzzle. His head nearly cleared the tunnel but I knew his barrel chest would really be feeling the squeeze and the dragon breathed in shallow quick gasps.
Leseach watched while the three girls kept the dragon calm. Perhaps it was due to their strange upbringing that they didn’t hesitate to coddle a beast that could wipe out villages. While Leseach admired Sito, she would never talk to him like an infant. But Sian and Cat stroked and cuddled the creature’s muzzle, with Kassie perched beside his ear, crooning to him. It seemed wrong to watch such a fearsome creature in such a situation. From the other side of the tunnel entrance, Rashid glanced her way and smiled, gesturing at the dragon then lifted his hand and eyes upward in an expression of bemused humor.
Leseach stared with flat eyes at the man, and then turned her attention back to Sito. The over familiarity he regarded her with insulted her, and gave rise to the urge to challenge him to combat. He really needed to know his place.
A faint prickle at the back of her neck made her glance instinctively to the side, meeting Rashid’s eyes. The Lieutenant’s face lit in a smile at her look. With a silent growl she jerked her eyes away, feeling more annoyed at the attention.
Why is he not threatened? What’s wrong with the fool, she growled in her mind yet again. Irritation bubbled up and she turned her back on the tunnel, walking across to her bag while plotting various methods to get rid of the man. Other than Ignatius, none of the others annoyed her quite like Rashid. His silent, continual observation made her feel inadequate though he never spoke a word of judgment. Trying to shake off the irritation his constant gaze aroused, she marched to where Ignatius worked at the Princess’ tent.
Ignatius jolted when the Northerner appeared next to him, face contorted in a scowl, and his stomach clenched while he waited to deny the accusation.
‘Why does that stupid male smile at me?’
The snarled question caught him by surprise and he gaped at the angry woman. Leseach looked just as surprised at the outburst and her jaw stiffened.
‘Why did you put it there,’ Leseach nodded at the tent.
The brisk accusing tone irked and he snapped, ‘It was the most suitable position.’
Leseach made a noise of derision while regarding the tent, arms crossed over her chest.
‘I suppose it will do.’
With gritted teeth Ignatius managed to keep his tone diplomatic.
‘Was there something you wanted, Leseach.’
It wasn’t a question.
She turned that calm gaze with the smug undertone on him, making his blood boil and he pressed his lips tight. Then she turned and sauntered off. A good portion of his being screamed in fury at her obvious desire to anger him and Ignatius stayed rooted to the spot, silently counting to twenty and back until the anger faded.
We cheered when Sito cleared the tunnel. Kerak, Rumal, Daron, and the goblins, all carrying pieces of the dragon’s armor, looked relieved when they entered the cave behind him.
‘Are there any other tunnels like that?’ Sian asked Loi.
Loi shook her head.
‘No, that was the tightest.’
‘Oh good.’ Sito’s relieved thought made everyone smile.
Compared to that tunnel, the next few days felt easy and my vision slowly adjusted to the constant darkness, even if the anxiety it caused didn’t abate. If I ever wondered what purgatory might be like, now I knew. Stuck in this absolute blackness with the constant cold and damp would drive anyone mad. Everyone drew closer to one another in this strange underworld and some of the goblins sang, those funny rasping voices echoing along the line while we edged through corridors and caverns. Now and then, when picking our way through the rocky caves, we spotted the tiny lighted things dancing in the air. None of us girls ever got close to actually see what they looked like though; the Halenine fae swooped on them the instant they sighted them.
They must taste good, I thought, watching Leynorah snatch the last bit from another fae’s claw. Her mother scolded her and ordered that she give it back but the one she stole it from allowed her to keep it. Such a little brat, I thought in amusement.
I liked getting to know the others and now that I had the worst of the grief under control I enjoyed chatting with everyone. When we settled in a cave for the night I helped the Medanga centaurs organize dinner while Ignatius and Leseach rehearsed their daily squabble over where to put the tent. Rashid hovered in the background, observing, and several goblins made bets on who would be the first to die, Ignatius or Rashid. Overhearing the earnest conversation while they debated the offences of either ‘victim’ I chuckled and exchanged a look with the self-appointed head chef of the Medanga centaurs. He grinned while breaking the hard bread into small pieces.
‘My bet is always on Rashid. His attention drives her mad.’
I considered that.
‘Yes. But she’s always hated Ignatius.’
The stocky centaur passed a massive bowl to me and I sat cross-legged with it in my lap, tearing the large strips of dried meat into small pieces. The head chef intended to make something edible out of it all, though I did wonder how.
‘Yes, but that makes sense to her. Rashid’s attention doesn’t.’
I nodded in agreement and held the bowl up.
When we sat down to dinner the meal surprised most. The head chef utilized a variety of boring ingredients to make something akin to a gumbo and the result impressed us all. Tasty, edible and filling; the centaur received a hearty applause for his efforts. After helping with cleaning up I crawled into bed, pleasantly tired and wondered if I’d dream of him again when I dozed off. Not clear like the first times on the ship, Alek had started appearing in my dreams again.
Even in deep sleep I felt my heart race and a smile spread when my gorgeous raven haired guy held me close and whispered words I longed to hear. The images faded as I reached for him.
Then abruptly woke to discover my hands flat against a man’s bare chest.
She gasped and Ignatius froze, horror snaking down his spine at the realization. Doing the only thing he could think of, he feigned ignorance.
‘Ca-catherine?’ he stuttered, not hiding the shock.
‘Oh my god, I’m so sorry!’ The hands jerked back and she whispered the words in a tone of dismay. After a long pause, she gave a nervous giggle.
‘Did I wake you?’
The situation did strike him as funny and he worked at keeping his voice neutral, sleepy.
‘Uuhh, yes. Is something wrong?’
‘No. I was dreaming. Sorry to disturb you.’
He waited until she settled down, then slowly lay back. The shock left him feeling wide awake and he lay there thanking his good fortune that she hadn’t realized.
Must put more of the mixture in tomorrow night, he thought, can’t have her waking.
When the lights turned up, signaling morning, I waited for Ignatius to dress and leave, hoping like mad it had been a dream. The rational voice in my mind cringed.
Nope. Real.
With a silent curse I dressed and climbed out of the tent. Ignatius, naturally, waited outside.
‘Ignatius. Please tell me that was a dream.’
His mouth quivered, lips hinting at a smile while he stared resolutely at something beyond my head.
Breathing in through the nose, I considered it, twisting my lips and nodded.
‘Excellent. Pretending that didn’t happen.’
The corners of his eyes creased as he regarded me in amusement.
‘Indeed.’
Ignatius grinned when Catherine’s eyes narrowed to green slits and she pivoted, stomping off to breakfast while muttering a string of unflattering comments. The exchange left him curiously stimulated. About to follow the Princess, he halted at Leseach’s voice.
‘Was there a problem?’
‘No!’
The look of victory on the Northerner’s face caused Ignatius’ jaw to stiffen as he realized she’d overheard. Leseach studied him while slowly crossing her arms behind her back, a hand on either elbow.
‘Perhaps,’ she said in a soft, easy voice, the underlying threat loud and clear. ‘Perhaps I should be keeping a closer eye on Her Highness.’
Holding his gaze for a moment Leseach turned and walked after Catherine. The light sense of joy at teasing Catherine evaporated, replaced with the strong urge to break something.
Or someone, he thought, staring after the tall blond, observing how the fabric across her back created an excellent target and his trigger finger twitched. Silently cursing the alien he turned away, his appetite gone, and went to pack up the tent.
*~*~*
Chapter Fourteen
I walked beside Loushka today with Leseach on the other side of the griffon. Ignatius stayed at the head of the group, which allowed me plenty of time to silently obsess over the silly incident. It would help so much if he were ugly with no resemblance to Alek at all, I thought scowling at a stalagmite. I scratched at the chainmail covering my hand making it even itchier while this strange underlying anxiety nagged at me. I can’t understand why it’s bothering me so much, I tried to talk sensibly to myself before the skin-crawling sensation made me scratch at my hand again.
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