by Kyle West
“So, the plan is to keep moving and hope Serah finds something she recognizes,” Cleon said. “Lovely.”
“If you have a better plan, I’m all ears,” she said.
“Can’t say that I do. Lead on.”
The next few hours passed in silence. The caverns of Psyche seemed truly endless. There was nothing but Fergus’s light sphere to lead the way, which needed to be refreshed every few hours. Lucian only hoped that with the light sphere and the concealment ward Fergus wouldn’t be overstretched. And he didn’t just have to do it in the near term. If they were really going into the Darkrift, he’d have to maintain that light for days, or even weeks, on end. Lucian couldn’t imagine the toll that would take.
And the thought of being down here that long was terrifying. They had enough food for a few weeks, but after that, they would have to supplement their diets with something underground. Lucian would have to trust Serah knew what was safe to eat. For as long as she decided to stay with them.
Most of the life Lucian saw seemed to be fungus, various mushrooms, and bugs. Lots and lots of bugs, and not small ones, either. He hoped there were better things to eat than that down here, but so far, it wasn’t looking like it.
“So, how long will it take to get to Dara once we find Slave’s Run?” Fergus asked.
“Well, finding the Run itself should take a few days at least, if not longer,” Serah said. “And after that, assuming we make good progress and don’t get lost, about another two to three weeks.”
“Math isn’t my strong suit,” Cleon said, “but doesn’t that work out to something like fifty kilometers a day?”
“That’s if you’re traveling above ground,” Serah said. “It’s about half that when taking Slave’s Run because you’re not weaving back and forth through the Riftlands. Slave’s Run is a straight shot so you can move as fast as your feet can carry you.”
“Three weeks to Dara is fine,” Fergus said.
“That’s only if we find the entrance to Slave’s Run,” Serah said. “I’ll do what I can to find it, but it might mean having to surface to reorient ourselves.”
“Whatever needs to be done,” Fergus said. “So, which way is the surface?”
“Up,” Cleon said, pointing his finger.
Serah shrugged. “He’s right. If we go up, we’ll pop out somewhere.” She nodded down the passage. “Let’s move.”
They had been walking upslope for hours before feeling the cool, night air of the surface. It was so dark that Lucian could hardly tell they were outside. Only the fresh, open air was a clue that they were outdoors.
“We should head back into the cave and set up camp for the night,” Serah said. “With daylight, we can orient ourselves a little bit. Pray we’re somewhere I’ve been before.”
“And if we’re being followed?” Cleon asked.
“Cleon’s right,” Fergus said, his eyes hooded with exhaustion. “We must press on.”
“Fergus, you won’t be able to hold that light much longer. And wyverns are always a threat, even this low in Snake Rift.”
“Serah’s right,” Lucian said. “You look like you’re going to keel over any minute, Fergus.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but in the end, sat on a nearby rock. Within moments, he was asleep sitting up and his light sphere had winked out, leaving the rest in darkness.
“Well, there goes our light.” A moment later, Cleon was using a floating fireball to provide light. “Let’s find some fuel for a fire. I’m burning ether here.”
“Will they be able to track us?” Lucian asked.
Cleon sniffed. “They’d have to be idiots to not pick up our trail. It just depends how that fight with the wyverns turned out.”
“It’s hard to imagine them winning that,” Lucian said. “There were so many.”
“Well, you can’t take anything for granted. But if we are to die, we might as well die well-rested and with a fire to warm our arses.”
They went a few meters inside the cave to gather some scrubby vegetation for a fire. It didn’t burn too well, but it provided enough warmth to cook dinner. They ate quickly, and once done, gathered enough scrub to keep the fire going all night. The risk of wyverns was simply too high, even if the fire drew attention. Lucian wondered from how far away it could be seen, even inside the cave as they were.
“Who’s keeping watch?” Cleon asked. “It’s not Fergus for sure, and it’s not me because I did it yesterday.”
“I can take first watch,” Lucian said. “Serah will have second.”
“Or we could all just get enough sleep because we’re exhausted,” Serah said.
“Bad idea,” Cleon said.
“Fine, we’ll do it Lucian’s way. Wake me in a few hours.”
With that, she settled down to sleep.
Lucian streamed the group’s Psionic ward, something that was fast becoming a habit. After that, there was nothing but the darkness to occupy him. Darkness that made it impossible not to nod off.
He stood up, but he was simply so overcome that trying to stay awake was an exercise in futility.
He lay on the ground, not even having the energy to get out his bedroll.
Lucian awoke very much alive, which was enough to tell him that they hadn’t been tracked. Fergus was already up and preparing breakfast, and the others were soon roused by the noise.
He immediately felt guilty for falling asleep, but Fergus made no mention of it.
“Lucian, go check inside the cave with Serah and see what you can see.”
Together, they walked deeper into the cave. The tunnel was almost perfectly round, as if it had been artificially made.
“Looks like a well-traveled path,” Serah said. “It’d be best to get out of here as quickly as possible. Either way, doesn’t seem like we were followed.”
When they returned outside, the morning light revealed a deep, narrow fissure. Over the cliff was a few hundred meters drop to a dark, still lake running the fissure’s length.
“Looks like we’ve hit bottom,” Serah said. “Almost.” She took a good look around. “It’s still Snake Rift, though we’ve come down a bit in elevation.”
“How do you know we’re still in Snake?”
“I don’t think we walked far enough to cross over into Blue Rift. Blue Rift is mostly water and wider. I’m ninety percent sure this is Snake, and in the Lower Reaches.”
“So, what does that mean?”
“We’ll talk about it over breakfast.”
Around the fire, Fergus was passing around breakfast bowls.
Cleon still looked half-asleep, blinking drearily. “Please tell me it’s good news.”
“No signs of us being followed.” Serah took a bowl of porridge. “What’s more, that’s Snake Rift out there.”
“So, what’s our next move?” Fergus asked.
“Two options as I see it. Go back the way we came and try to find the Darkrift from there. Or, we can head down the Snake Rift and look for this tunnel I know. I think I can find Slave’s Run from here, but I’ll be surer of finding it from the other cave. But it’ll probably be a day or two of travel on the surface. Depends how fast we go.”
“The Zephyr could still be out,” Fergus said. “Probably is, actually.”
“If we’re staying above ground, then we need to head west, toward the Blue Rift,” Serah said. “I vote for that. Looks quiet out here. Plus, we can keep watch for the Zephyr and find a hiding spot if we see anything. If Fergus’s concealment ward isn’t spotty, our magic shouldn’t be detected.”
“My ward won’t be spotty, I assure you.”
“You’re saying you can’t find the Darkrift from this tunnel?” Lucian asked.
“I probably can, but if I can’t, it could mean backtracking. Or worst case, we lose our way entirely. Most of the shallower paths have markings to keep you on track, but once you get deeper, you have nothing but your wits to keep you alive.”
“Staying on the surface is the only thing th
at makes sense,” Cleon said. “Better to find the Darkrift from a place you know.”
“Surfacing will also give us the choice to continue on to Blue Rift if we want. Just one of dozens of rifts we’d need to cross to reach the Golden Vale, and then, Dara.”
“I will make that decision when it comes to it,” Fergus said. “If things are as quiet as you say, then I might be inclined to stay above ground. Especially if it seems like the Sorceress-Queen is confining her search to the Deeprift.”
“The Zephyr spotted us in Snake Rift,” Lucian said. “And the Zephyr probably knows we went underground. If they didn’t pursue us on foot, then they are surely searching the rift for us now.”
“A fair point,” Serah said. “However, Snake Rift is so-named because of its length and how it twists. There are thousands of caves leading in and out of it. It’s the worst place to try and look for someone.”
“But the Sorceress-Queen might be on board,” Cleon countered. “Lucian’s Psionic ward fell quickly.”
If not the Sorceress-Queen, then someone had been testing his ward yesterday. “I hadn’t set it since the night before, so it was weak already.”
“It’s a risk we’ll have to take,” Fergus said, deciding. “These caves are unsettling, and all the more so if they are unrecognizable to Serah.” He looked at her. “So, it’ll take one or two days to reach this other cave entrance?”
“Hard to say. Once we’re on the trail, things should start looking recognizable. The path will branch two different ways. Down will lead to the Darkrift, and up will lead to the Blue Pass.”
Fergus heaved a sigh. “Well, I don’t like being out here. But I believe the risk of wandering these dark tunnels and hoping for the best is more dangerous.”
“I agree,” Cleon said.
“Same,” Serah said.
All eyes went to Lucian. He certainly didn’t like the idea of going above, but Fergus was right. These tunnels were unsettling, and if he were forced to be in them, it would be best for Serah to recognize which one it was.
“I’m for it,” he said. “But we have to make sure our wards are set well. The Sorceress-Queen is probably out there hunting us.”
“I’ll strengthen my ward today, committing most of my ether,” Fergus said. “Just stay close and it will keep anyone from sensing us. That, I guarantee.”
“Will you be okay doing that?” Serah asked.
“I’ll be fine,” Fergus said. “It isn’t like we have a choice, anyway.”
Lucian didn’t like the sound of that, but he realized Fergus was right. This was as good as it was going to get.
Lucian could only hope it was good enough.
26
Even if the surface was more dangerous, being in the light again was worth it. The only sounds were their footsteps and the wind. Snake Rift was rougher than the Deeprift, with less vegetation and more rocky outcrops and rockslides. Lucian got the feeling there were few, if any, people who lived here. There was no sign of another human being, or even an animal.
It just needed to stay that way.
After half an hour, it was clear they were in some tributary of the rift rather than the main rift itself. The fissure was so narrow that it would be difficult for the Zephyr to maneuver. However, the entrance to the Darkrift could only be accessed from the main part of Snake Rift, which would be much wider. Lucian could only hope that the earthen tones of their clothing would blend with the gray rocks and brown dirt. They stayed as close as possible to the rock face, which would make them harder to pick out.
By noon, they had reached the main rift. As Lucian had suspected, it was tall and wide enough for the Zephyr to maneuver easily, though the many twists and turns might prove a barrier.
Serah looked each way, her eyes following the line of the trail leading westward. “This way.”
She went left, which led down toward the water. Everyone followed.
After an hour of walking, Cleon broke the silence. “It’s too quiet.”
Serah rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re going to complain that things are too boring now.”
Cleon cracked a smile. “Beat me to the punch.”
“Let’s pray it stays boring,” Fergus said. “I would very much like to return to Kiro alive.”
“Same,” Cleon said. “Though at this point, I would settle for mere survival.”
They walked for hours, the narrow sliver of sky above only growing marginally brighter. True to its name, Snake Rift swerved back and forth, delving deeper into Psyche’s surface. The light from above became a thin crack, and their surroundings were so dim that it was almost as if they were underground again. The water had become a fast-moving stream, tumbling over rocks, and frothing white. Lucian imagined that stream didn’t end until the Moon Sea tens of kilometers below them.
“I think we’ve made it,” Serah said, stopping near a boulder with a Septagon carved into it. “This marks the boundary of Snake Rift and the beginning of the Darkrift.”
Lucian looked above, only to see a small sliver of light. Rock arches covered the space above just as often as open air, creating faded sunbeams that illumined dancing motes of dust. Little by little, the surface had transformed into an underground cavern, though Lucian couldn’t have said exactly when the transition had occurred.
“Well, at least we can’t be followed here by the Zephyr,” Fergus said. “But it seems the option to go on to Blue Rift has been taken away.”
“There’s still a branch that will lead us there,” Serah said. “If I can find it.”
“Lead on,” Fergus said. “And stay alert. They probably suspect we are heading this way, especially if they check the Blue Pass and find it empty.”
Lucian clasped his shockspear tighter, looking back over his shoulder and half-expecting to see pursuers, Mage-Knights in their colored robes and bronze-clad hoplites. And the purple-caped, purple-plumed man Cleon had called Mage-Lord Kiani. Going underground again didn’t feel right, but there was no choice but to keep moving. Anyone could be behind them, and Lucian didn’t want to meet potential enemies.
It was only a few hours more before the skylights disappeared altogether and the Darkrift began living up to its name. Fergus had a light sphere always following the group, along with his strengthened concealment ward. He showed no signs of fatigue, but Lucian knew if there was ever a fight, it would be up to the rest of them to pick up the slack.
They were still following the stream, which ran by the trail. It had narrowed significantly in the last few hours, but now it ran even faster. The stream and the echo of its flowing water were the only sounds. If the rest of the trip were this peaceful, Lucian would be a happy man.
Serah led at the fore, and turned her head while walking. “Once we go away from this stream, we will have to be quieter. Things down here are not keen on sight, but you will not believe how they can hear or smell.”
“What’s down here besides gloombats?” Lucian asked.
“Nothing you really want to meet,” Cleon said.
“Burners, mostly,” Fergus said. “Frays with minds so rotten they are more animal than man. They’ll attack anything that’s not them. It’s the last stage of a frayed mage’s life.”
“So, they just stay like that until something kills them?”
Fergus nodded. “Or until they kill themselves. They lie inert in dark places, mostly. Places like the Darkrift are perfect for them, and one of the reasons this place is so feared.”
“Can we get moving?” Cleon asked. “I’d like to make Slave’s Run as soon as possible, and not think about what might be lying in the dark.”
“I second that,” Serah said.
They continued. Lucian tried not to think about the threats that could be lurking around every bend. This was made worse once he had to take over the light. Even Fergus couldn’t maintain two wards for hours on end, so he let Lucian take over the light sphere at least. Radiance was not Lucian’s strength, but Fergus needed the break. By this poi
nt, Lucian’s Psionic ward had dissolved, meaning he had the ether to spare for a Radiance ward.
Now, the tunnel was completely black. It was hard for Lucian to tell the time, but by now, it must have been dark outside. They had been walking for hours with not so much as a break.
“When do we set up camp?” Lucian asked. His voice was louder than he thought, even with the rush of the stream.
“Keep moving,” Fergus said. “We only camp once we’ve found a good spot.”
“What’s a good spot?”
“That,” Serah said, pointing. “Can you brighten your sphere, Lucian?”
Lucian did so, increasing the amount of ether. Across the stream rose a steep ledge that looked climbable. But it wasn’t the ledge Serah was pointing out. There was a fissure entering the rock face, shadowed in darkness, that the sphere light couldn’t quite reach.
“That looks promising,” she said. “We can get some shuteye. Even as bright as Lucian’s sphere is, it won’t reach in there.”
“Sounds good to me,” Cleon said. “Will there be room for everyone?”
“I can go check it out,” Lucian said. “The rest of you can wait here.”
“I can boost you,” Serah said. “Wouldn’t want you getting yourself killed this early.”
Together, they crossed the stream. Lucian was surprised at how much force the water exerted. Though the water only went up to his knees, he kept slipping. It was easier to be pushed around in this low gravity. A waist-high stream might be enough to carry him off.
“Careful,” Serah said.
The stream emptied in a small, dark pool that looked deep, and it seemed that the pool joined another fast-moving stream, where the trail picked up again. Lucian only had eyes for the cliff, though. He dropped his pack and instantly felt much lighter on his feet. He scaled it easily, only a few flecks of rock crumbling away from his efforts. There was no need for Serah to give him a lift with her magic.
Once he’d reached the top, he found the ledge was quite narrow. He headed for the fissure running into the wall, his sphere light revealing an empty chasm about two meters deep. It was tall enough to cover even Fergus’s head. It was about twenty meters long and a quarter of that wide. It would be the perfect place to hole up. Assuming they slept as far from the pool as possible, no one could see them from the trail. All they had to do was clear their tracks.
