The Wicked House of Caroline

The carriage bounced along and shadows were cast into the luxurious compartment from the passing streetlights glowing with light pearls. Gerard was quiet across from her, beside some gifts that had been sent. He seemed almost afraid to speak since she’d come out of the room.

Beks leaned against the side of the carriage, gazing outside with blank eyes.

The Grand Duke knew.

He didn’t first hear about her from his aunt, Lady Rivah, whom she met at the museum the day before. He had first heard about a young man who broke a registration pearl at the Wealth Vaults a few days earlier, but because the pearls only register biha signatures, and not any names or place of lodging, no one could track her down.

The ancient pearls used for registration and identification could not be broken by someone with a large biha well, as the woman registering them had told her. However, biha from someone with a limitless biha well was a different story.

The Grand Duke suspected an Inheritor and had sent their people to search the city for a tall young man, likely from Langshe, but unfortunately for him, during that time, Beks had returned to wearing western clothing, and though wearing pants, was still very clearly a woman, so she was overlooked.

Just when the Grand Duke had feared that she’d already left, as it was reported that the twins never returned with Beks again, his aunt had run into her at the museum and told him about what she said about the tablets, and how impressed she was with Beks’ inquiries and interest in their history. Using her name and the information Lady Rivah told him, he was able to find Beks and send her the invitation to the palace with confidence.

She had asked him why he didn’t try to find her through the clients of the Wealth Vault, but the Grand Duke told her not to be misled by his enthusiasm with her. His search for Gurani was closely guarded. It was one thing if the entire world believed Gah-ruhn to be a mere legend that no longer existed, and in some cases didn’t exist to begin with, but if it were proven to be real, that knowledge could pose a danger to Gurani.

Specifically, a danger from the Temple.

The Grand Duke didn’t want to risk his search being found out by the wrong people, so unless they were directly involved, he didn’t want to ask them. In addition, he was suspicious as to why she didn’t appear with them again.

She explained that she was running errands and was very busy. Those two men with her were her fiancés and could be trusted. The Grand Duke was relieved, and also not surprised that she had two fiancés. Then again, perhaps he just accepted it because he knew she was an Inheritor.

The Grand Duke brought out some notes he thought would interest her. He’d compiled what he could of his family’s remaining notes on Inheritors, and he’d even gone through the trouble of translating them into Jasper, as that was what she was reported to have spoken at the Wealth Vaults.

He had chuckled sheepishly. “Unfortunately, I do not know Langsher.” She had been wearing men’s clothing from Langshe in contrast, so he had been relieved she spoke Jasper, as well.

As they were chatting about the island, Beks had skimmed through the book he’d given her. Inheritors were born ‘sickly’ and suffered the same symptoms she had when she was a child. They were caused by what she now knew was clashing biha. Spirit cores existing with biha wells could not coincide within most people.

However, for Inheritors born with both, they would continuously have fevers and lose consciousness because their spirit cores and biha wells were strong and competing, absorbing biha at a phenomenal rate, but retaining it. This amount of biha wreaked havoc on a child's body. It wreaked havoc on her adult one.

This was mitigated by bathing in bihar-rich water, which allowed for the release of contained biha. When the Inheritor was a small child, they would have a biha explosion, as she did, which would break an internal barrier between the two, allowing the spirit core and the biha well to not only exist together, but to work as one.

The younger they were when they had the biha explosion, the sooner they’d recover. The notes even recorded that the child would have a sudden spike in temperature, then take a small nap and wake up, refreshed.

Beks had been unconscious for three days, and from the description, as an adult, she had so much biha pent up that her explosion was far more painful than described in the records. And while Inheritors were exceedingly rare, there could be more than one at a time. In fact, it was noted that having more than one at a time was a good thing, as it was a combined effort to guide the kingdom and one Inheritor could teach the next.

However, there was no guarantee that an Inheritor would be born. There were some generations where up to three Inheritors were recorded at once, thought of varying ages, and there would be other generations that lacked an Inheritor, in which case a council of elders oversaw Gah-ruhn until the next Inheritor was born and ready to take on a leadership position.

As for the three-year-old last Inheritor recorded, the Grand Duke said the Temple caused their death, but there was no substantial proof recorded. The last records of the Inheritor noted that the child was female and had just ‘broken through’. As there had been no living Inheritor to guide her, she embarked on a discovery journey around and outside of Gah-ruhn to sharpen her divine guidance.

It was enroute to the basin to meet with the fledgling Temple that the child’s entourage was attacked and killed. It was suspected that since she was traveling in a large caravan, bandits might have targeted her, but if that were the case, why were there no survivors? Bandits would’ve been quick; taken what they wanted with minimal violence, and disappeared. There had been over a hundred people traveling with her, including master biha users and warriors.

Unless desperate, bandits wouldn’t have attacked such a formidable group.

Records say that the Temple found it strange that she hadn’t arrived when planned, so they sent people to try to look for them, only to find the remains of the entourage.

Gah-ruhn sent their own people to investigate, and while the massacre site had been cleared by the Temple after they sent back the remains, the Gah-ruhn investigators found tracks that suggested the wagon carrying the child had turned around, and the entire entourage was moving away from the Temple.

Only the Inheritor could give such an order, and if she had done so, it could only mean that she sensed danger. The Inheritor was only three years old and her divine guidance had just started to evolve, so her assessment came too late.

Gah-ruhn biha users were so powerful that they were able to detect man-made anomalies in the surrounding area, which led the ancient people to suspect that the Temple had planned, or at least had a hand in the attack. But this was all based on speculation. They had no solid proof. No witnesses. The Temple appeared distraught, as well, and sent gifts for their inability to protect a guest.

That didn’t stop the suspicion, and the Grand Duke clearly believed it.

If she were being honest, Beks believed it, as well. There were plenty of legitimate members of the Temple who had no idea what other members of the Temple were doing. The left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing, sort of speaking. She knew that firsthand considering paladins had tried to assassinate not only her and her family, but Lucian, who was a priest and on a mission at the time.

This all left a lingering question: why would the Temple kill an Inheritor?

What did they have to gain if the Inheritor and Gah-ruhn were on good terms with them? At the time, the Temple was not even two centuries old. It was still a young religion, and having the backing of a powerful country would be a good thing.

Beks let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her forehead. “I swear, they don’t make any sense....” The more she thought about the Temple, the more it gave her a headache. The death of the last Inheritor was thousands of years prior, but if the Temple were involved, would the Temple pose a threat to Gurani Island and her people now?

She drew her lips inward. No wonder the Grand Duke hadn’t wanted to make any contact regarding his ancestral land except with her. Beks turned her head to the wooden box next to her containing three tablets. These were family relics that had been guarded since the Mahin family settled on Aceria after fleeing. The Grand Duke had given them to her as a token of trust.

Though she didn’t plan on returning to Gurani Island yet, she would have these sent back by her mother with instructions for Jonas to review them. Neither she nor the Grand Duke knew what the tablets contained, but if a scholar clan purposely brought it with them when they fled, the contents must’ve had some importance.

As for the Grand Duke’s wish to return to Gurani Island, Beks agreed, but she couldn’t go with him. She couldn’t tell him the details of what they were planning, so she kept it vague and said at the moment, she was on a mission that would take up to a year to complete. Perhaps a little more.

Could he wait one year?

“I will await the instructions of the Inheritor.” He had bowed his head to her. “And should you need supplies for your mission, Aceria will answer.”

Beks had bowed her head back in response. “I may take you up on that offer, Grand Duke.”

Even if the re-taking of Kadmus took longer than she estimated, she would arrange for a ship to come and pick up the Grand Duke in a year’s time to take him to Gurani Island. If at that point, the Grand Duke wished to move willing Acerians there, she would allow it. Elder Arash and the others would likely be ecstatic to find a sister tribe, as well.

The carriage turned the corner and approached the tailor shop beneath the house where they were residing. When the carriage stopped in front of the shop, Gerard got out first and held the door open for Beks before gathering the gifts to bring up. The Wild Dogs guarding the entrance to the house from within came out to assist.

She could smell the meal before she reached the upper floor living area. Beks paused for a moment on the stairs and smiled a bit, allowing the exhaustion of meeting with the Grand Duke and mulling over the Temple to fade a little before entering.

Her mother was the first person she saw, seated at one end of the table, leaning back against the wooden chair with her arms out and legs crossed, carrying all the confidence and grace of a formidable pirate captain. Across from her, the Crown Prince was seated and nodding thoughtfully at whatever it was Sybil had told him.

“Mommy.”

Sybil lifted her head the moment Beks entered and immediately uncrossed her legs and rose to her feet. “Welcome back. You are tired.”

Laz and Lucian, who were in the kitchen, looked over and were about to come towards her when Sybil swept past them to embrace her eldest daughter.

A wave of security filled Beks as she nestled against her mother. Her entire body felt heavy, but against her mother, she relaxed, as if she’d found support.

“Mommy,” Beks repeated in Sagittater. “I found another group of Gurani people. Aceria was founded and built by them, can you believe it? All of this...from ancient technology from Gurani.”

Sybil stroked the back of her head comfortingly. “Is that not a good thing?”

“It is. This group comes from scholars....They have records on Inheritors.” Beks pressed her head against her mother’s shoulders. “Mommy, Elder Arash was right about me...but why me? I’m not descended from the Gurani...I don’t even know how to use my biha properly, I-”

“There is time, and time allows for change and understanding.” Sybil let out a small hum and held her daughter. “It seems you’ve learned a lot. You must take time to let this information settle. Don’t overthink it soon.”

Beks took a deep breath and nodded.

“My lady, where do you want to put the gifts?” Hearing Gerard’s voice, Beks turned around and let out a heavy sigh. She motioned to the table still pushed against the wall from when she was looking at maps that morning.

“They sent gifts?” Laz asked.

“It seems that Aceria and I are fated,” Beks said with a wry smile. She looked at Lucian, who bent over to look at the food that had been sent. “Lady Rivah told her nephew about what we discussed at the museum.”

Lucian lifted up the lid of a wooden box and his eyes widened. He looked towards Beks. “Tablets?”

She nodded. “I didn’t steal them.”

Laz let out a low whistle and stood behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

Beks nodded. “No matter what happens, in a year’s time, I want to bring the Grand Duke there.”

Laz paused, and then nodded. “All right.”

Beks tilted her head back against Laz. “Whatever we need for where we are going, as long as it is within its ability, Aceria will provide.”

Lucian lifted his head as his brows rose, impressed. “That is not a light promise.”

Beks allowed Laz to rock her gently in his arms as she looked up, dazed by everything she’d learned that afternoon. “He trusts the Inheritor.”

The two princes were quiet for a moment before Lucian let out a low breath and nodded. “Well...I don’t blame him.” His smile softened as he raised his hand and cupped the side of her face. “I also trust the Inheritor.”

“What is an Inheritor?” It seemed as if they’d forgotten about the man seated at the far end of the dinner table, looking from person to person with confusion and curiosity.

“While in hiding, my daughter and son had helped a tribe in the northern mountains flee following natural disaster and territorial disputes,” Sybil answered smoothly. “The tribe is very grateful to her and elected her as their leader - the Inheritor. They are in hiding at the moment.”

“I see.” The Crown Prince nodded with sympathy. “They are with your husband. Then, they are lucky to have such guidance during a difficult time.”

Sybil nodded and Beks kept her eyes on the gifts of fruit that Laz had shifted his attention to. Without looking away, she asked her mother in Sagittater. “You told him about the island?”

“No, I told him that our family was exiled, so we are living outside of Kadmus’ borders for the time being. I told him I also hope that your ex-fiancé is removed from power so that we can return home.” Sybil touched the top of her daughter’s head. “Don’t worry. The island and your royal brother remain secrets.”

“They have some fruit that’s quite rare. I’ll cut it up for dessert,” Laz said as he lifted up a spiny, tan colored fruit. “Beks, have a seat and relax. Lucian, pour her something to drink.” Lucian nodded and went towards the bottle of wine on the counter. “No, water or tea!”

“Right.”

Beks took a seat beside her mother and Lucian put a small cup in front of her and poured her some tea from a rustic teapot. He leaned against her ear. “If you want wine, just tell me.”

She chuckled and patted his cheek. “This is fine.”

As she cupped the tea in her hands, the Crown Prince spoke up. “I was speaking to your mother, Amrei, and she mentioned many good points. The concerns for my safety are valid.”

Sybil looked towards her daughter. “I told him that someone unprepared for a dangerous environment would only hold back and endanger those with more experience. If he wishes for the efficiency and safety of his cousins, then he should sit here and wait until they return.”

The Crown Prince nodded, though still looked disappointed. “It is true that I am not suitable for such a journey. My martial abilities are limited and I do not use biha. It is also true that should an animal attack, I would only be dead weight for my cousins. The same is true if I were injured or got sick. They will have enough to consider without worrying about my safety.”

Beks nodded and gave her mother a grateful look. “Thank you, Mommy.”

Sybil nodded. “Will you be staying, as well?”

Beks drew her lips inward. “I didn’t plan to.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “And why not? You are in the same position as the Crown Prince and lack experience, becoming a possible liability.”

Beks resisted the urge to shrink back. Her mother was right, but she wanted to go as the twins would likely need an extra hand in finding the cavalry.

“Your Grace, though Beks is untrained, we may need her mind to accompany us,” Lucian said with some hesitation. Laz brought out two large bowls of food and placed them on the table.

“We are also reluctant to bring Beks with us, but we may need her biha and her direction,” Laz told her mother. “Rest assured, Your Grace, we will protect Beks well.”

Sybil’s expression remained neutral. “Who else are you bringing?”

“Gerard,” Beks said. She hadn’t discussed who else to bring with the twins yet, as they’d mainly spent time trying to stop their cousin from coming. “Gerard’s wind biha will allow us to regulate the air around us as we ascend, enabling us to breathe properly and prevent light-headedness and other symptoms.”

Gerard stood up straight by the door and saluted. “It is an honor to accompany you, my lady!”

“Calm down, Gerard,” Laz said with a roll of his eyes. “Ideally, an earth biha user would also be very useful, but Jonas is indisposed.”

“Efran is on the crew of the ship,” Beks replied. Several pairs of eyes looked at her, but only Gerard nodded with approval.

“I can attest that young Efran’s earth biha has improved greatly, my lady. His focus has been on precision. It is just that his biha well is not very deep.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not deep. I can refill it as much as he needs,” Beks replied. She looked at the twins and her mother. “Efran is a young Dranga man who helped clear the canyon when they fled. Of the Dranga people, he is the most skilled in biha and I’ve asked the Elders to ensure his training when we parted.”

“Battalion Commander, I will vouch for Efran,” Gerard told them.

“What about Rid Calland?” Sybil asked. “He is the best earth biha user we have with us.”

“Are we allowed to bring him?” Beks raised a brow in question. Rid Calland lived up to her parents’ assessment of him, else he wouldn’t have been the one in charge to moving the stele when they were taken by the fog surrounding the island. She didn’t consider him because he was one of her father’s men, and she did not have authority to move them.

“He is a Thirnir and Thirnir are dedicated to the immediate family of the reigning Duke of Caroline,” Sybil replied. “And he happens to have come with us on this trip.”

Beks pursed her lips. She’d always considered Thirnir guards of her family, but only to be used strictly for guarding her family and under the orders of her father. Lucian and Laz took their seats with Lucian on Beks’ side while Laz was across from her.

Laz began to serve the food, only to have his cousin stop him, bat his hand away, and reach for the serving utensils himself.

“Having two earth biha users on a mountain isn’t a bad thing, Amrei,” the Crown Prince told her. “I would feel less worried the more skilled people are with you three.”

“As will I,” Sybil agreed. She allowed Laz to serve her food before raising her hand to signal him that was enough. “I am sure Efran can learn from Rid Calland, as well.”

Beks was quiet for a moment as both Lucian and Laz placed food on her plate. “Then, I will ask Daddy when I call them tonight.”

Sybil nodded. “I am sure he will agree.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

Every time Beks looked at the six people with her, part of her felt guilty. She was sure that when they made their vows to serve the House of Caroline as Thirnir, riding in the back of a covered donkey cart across an scorching environment they weren’t used to was not something they considered.

“Of course, you can take Rid Calland!” Her father’s voice had boomed over the urapearl, making it sound as if he were asking her why she was asking when it was obvious his answer would be yes. “If you need biha users, take Rid Norddottir, and Rid Haal, as well. Make sure you have every biha user you need!”

If she didn’t stress that they could only bring a few people with them, she was sure her father would send all the remaining biha-using Thirnir with him to follow her into the Forbidden Valley. Since she refused, her father assigned her three he considered the most useful for the situation.

Rid Calland used earth biha. Rid Felise Norddottir was a water biha user who both her father and older brother recognized. Rid Carl Haal rounded out the elemental biha users with fire biha. Rid Norddottir was the only water biha user who left Sagittate with them, as the majority had gone to the Northern Pass.

The three made up half the Thirnir who had escorted them to Aceria. The remaining three had stayed with her mother, who went to deliver the tablets to Gurani Island. Sybil had wanted to stay at Verkana, but there was no reason for Beks and the twins to bring the Red Iron Cavalry there.

The plan was to take them out into the desert and to the plains east of it. Beks had brought her urapearl with her and before she left, registered the urapearl the Grand Duke gave them to stay in contact with the Crown Prince.

If everything went well, that is, they found the Red Iron Cavalry, determined they were in prime condition to take to war, then they would contact the Crown Prince and the Wild Dogs guarding him, and have them rendezvous in the plains that were the borders of Langshe. Beks had arranged the Grand Duke to assist in essentially smuggling the Crown Prince out of Aceria when the time came.

Once Beks and the twins began the campaign to retake the Crown Prince’s throne, they would focus all their energy and effort into it, putting aside what needed to be done in preparation for Laurence’s own return. This was a matter of practicality and Laurence agreed.

He agreed to give them four months. If they did not contact him in four months, he would order the Duke of Caroline to search for them. Four months had been a battle for him to agree to and it was only given because four months was how long it would’ve taken for Beks to arrange for resources and have them brought to Kadmus, at the earliest.

That job was handed over to Deo while Beks was indisposed, along with several chests of gold bars and instructions.

Beks took a deep breath and leaned back against the walls of the donkey cart, closing her eyes. According to Laz, they would reach the location where he, Lucian, Gerard, and Jonas entered the Forbidden Valley soon. To one side of the donkey cart was a seemingly endless expanse of reddish-brown land ranging from dry, lifeless rock formations to weather beaten plains.

Past those plains, the climate shifted and it became a prairie and the territory of the Langshe Empire. Uncle Timur used to tell her about how horses flew through the high grasses before climbing the steppes. This was his territory.

She always thought it meant that this was where he felt most free and had great memories, but according to the Crown Prince, that region was literally Uncle Timur’s territory bestowed to him by the late Empress. That meant if he moved the Red Iron Cavalry from his territory to the Forbidden Valley, it wasn’t as large of a logistic nightmare as she thought.

“What is that smell?” Lucian asked from beside her. “I remember it wasn’t so strong last time.”

“Sulfur.” Several voices replied at once and the corner of Beks’ lips curled up. The smell was common in some areas of Sagittate, so the Thirnir were familiar. Even Efran knew the smell.

“The smell is coming from the Vents of the Underworld, my lord,” the driver of the donkey cart told them over his shoulder. The burly, gray-haired man had a kraken tattooed on his forearm and was a technically retired member of Maritime Legacy. Her mother had arranged their lodging in Verkana, as well as their transport into the desert before they even reached the coastal principality.

One day, I hope to have people, too. At the very least, Beks was confident that her mother’s contacts wouldn’t reveal their whereabouts.

“Why do they call it the Vents of the Underworld?” Efran asked.

“There are days when you can see the hot fume coming out of the ground, like hot air coming from the cauldrons of the underworld,” the driver told him. “There is also that detestable smell.”

“And no one crosses the Vents?” Efran asked.

“Not only are the fumes too hot that the human body cannot function, and the smell makes one gag, the fumes themselves are toxic. Inhaling enough will kill a person.”

Efran gasped and withdrew on the bench.

“We’re not going through the Vents.” Gerard assured the youngest member of their team. “Although, we will still smell them from where we get off.”

“We’ll cover our noses and mouths,” Laz told them. “We’ll only travel during the day and we must stay together.”

“The canyon and cave system are very complex and it is easy to get lost,” Lucian said. “Jonas was an earth biha user and if it weren’t for him, we would’ve been separated multiple times.”

“Rid Calland, we will be counting on you,” Beks said, giving the man a nod. The Thirnir carried a serious look on his face and nodded in acknowledgement.

“How do you know when we get there?” Efran asked.

“There is a stream that empties to a pool in the rocks,” Laz replied. “It is surrounded by these thick plants, which we’ll need to climb around to get into the hidden entrance. The plants are harmless, but if you break any of the leaves and get the sap on you, it will cause a rash. Don’t drink the water, either. It’ll make you sick and ingesting enough will kill you.”

“You make it sound as if everything in this valley will kill us,” Efran said in a worried voice.

The corner of Laz’s mouth curled up with a grin. “Well, there is a reason it’s called the Forbidden Valley.”

Beks had never entered it. She’d only heard stories and wasn’t exactly sure what she should expect.

As the sun began to set, Laz had the donkey cart stopped. He paid the man as they disembarked, thanking him, to which the man laughed. His crinkled eyes looked at them as he smiled.

“The young madam saved my daughter’s life,” he replied as his eyes misted over at the memory. “It is the least I can do to bring her own daughter where she wants.” The young madam was Beks’ mother, and the driver tried to give the money back to Laz.

Beks walked forward and pushed it back towards him. “This is our thanks to you, sir. Please accept it.”

He hesitated and chuckled. “Direct and authoritative. You are the young madam’s daughter.”

The donkey cart tottered off into the distance and Laz gathered the group close. He looked toward where the sun was and adjusted his course. “Let’s go.”

Beks adjusted her satchel and followed behind him, beside Lucian. Gerard flanked her on the other side with the Thirnir and Efran following. As they walked, Gerard handed out pieces of cloth to cover their faces, as the stench of the Vents, though not as potent, could still be smelled.

“Your Highness, shall I use my fire biha to light the way?” Rid Haal asked from behind.

“Don’t!” Laz said, nearly whirling around. “We’re almost there!”

“And the fumes are flammable,” Lucian added, looking over his shoulder with a tired expression. Gerard sighed.

“We learned that the hard way when we first came,” he told them. “Though the fumes are far less thick here, even the smallest spark will spread wildly until the fumes are used up.”

Rid Haal sucked in a sharp breath and lowered his hands at once.

“How are you going to find the entrance in the dark, Your Highness?” Efran asked. The further they went, the more worried he was. His excitement at having a chance to go on such a mission had dwindled drastically from when they first told him.

Laz chuckled and looked over his shoulder. “Old nomadic secret.”

Beks rolled her eyes. “Stars. He’ll use the placement of the stars to lead him to the entrance.”

Laz choked. “How did you know?”

Beks raised a brow. “That’s an old sailor’s secret, too.” She’d learned a lot sailing with her mother. Maybe not how to swim, but she learned other things. The Thirnir and Lucian held back their muffled laughter.

“Your air of mystery isn’t very mysterious.” Lucian grinned.

Laz sighed and lifted his good hand into the sky. By now, the sunlight was just a sliver of orange in the horizon while a dark blanket speckled with stars remained. When the last bit of light disappeared, she felt a tingle against her skin and narrowed her eyes.

“By any chance, is the water bihar-rich?”

“I don’t know,” Laz replied. “We’re not allowed to touch it.”

“How do you drink water if we can’t touch any of the water?” Rid Norddottir asked as her brows knit into a worried expression.

“We need to get fresh water from inside any caves or crevices,” Lucian replied. “The water is poisonous here because of the runoff from the plants and animals into the rivers and streams. The water source here comes from runoff. Once we’re inside, if we source waters that haven’t reached the surface yet, we’ll be fine. That water is bihar-rich.”

“But not this one.” Laz pointed out into the darkness and craned his head. “Do you hear it?”

Beks craned her head and heard the slight trickle of water.

“Remember, try not to break the branches or the leaves,” Lucian said as they moved around a dark hole, pressing their bodies against a stone wall. “Stay close to the wall and stay together.”

He grasped Bek’s hand in his and pulled her along. Beks grabbed Gerard’s sleeve and Gerard continued the train of people behind them. Their movements were slow, following the narrow path and carefully pushing aside small branches that sprung up from a plant that hid the water source.

Even though there was no real harm unless they drank the water or broke the foliage, Beks still couldn’t help but hold her breath and remain silent until they squeezed through a narrow passage. The stream was running at their feet to get into the space between the rocks.

“We climb up,” Lucian said. “Until the scent of the fumes has faded, then we can stop for the night and start a fire.”

Beks out a heavy breath of relief. “Do we have to worry about any wild animals?”

Laz shook his head. “Not in these rock mazes. For now, we should be safe.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

“I thought you said it would be safe!” Beks bounced along, thrown over Gerard’s shoulder like a sack of grain as they wove through narrow passages with stone on either side of them. Ahead of Gerard, Laz led the way with Lucian while Efran was running for his life with Rid Norddottir in front of her. Behind them, Rid Calland and Rid Haal used biha to delay the pack of sleek, black dogs with tall, pointed ears.

The sudden rock walls and the fire managed to hold them back, but they were persistent.

“We didn’t run into anything until after we left the rock maze!” Laz replied. “And even then, Gerard used his wind biha to move the blood scent away to divert them.”

“Battalion Commander, I don’t know why it isn’t working this time!” Gerard shouted. “I tried to push our scent down wind, but they still found us!”

“What are those?” Beks yelled.

“Some sort of wild dog,” Lucian replied.

“I think that much is obvious, Lucian.” Laz let out a snort.

“We can’t keep running,” Beks said. “Get into the nearest cave with a narrow opening. Rid Calland! Rid Haal! Follow into the cave and then seal the entrance! Leave only a small opening for air!”

“What if they wait outside?” Efran asked.

“We can consider things once we’re safe!”

“Up ahead!” Laz shouted and began to jump on top of a series of boulders leading up to a dark crack in between rocks. Lucian followed behind him, pulling up Efran as Rid Norddottir urged Gerard to get in first with Beks.

“Rid Norddottir, delay the dogs so the others can get in!” Beks yelled as she was carried into the dark tunnel.

She saw Rid Norddottir create several balls of water and then freeze them before launching them out. Beks let out a low hiss as she heard a dog whimper. Being struck by a solid piece of ice was akin to being struck by a rock. A few moments later, she heard Rid Callan yell for Rid Norddottir to get in, and then a low rumbling was heard.

Efran got up to help seal the entrance quickly, leaving only a fist sized hole at the top of the entrance to allow for air and light. He leaned back against the wall, letting out a heavy breath as Rid Haal created some fire to illuminate the small space. Laz let out a small laugh.

“That wasn’t so bad-”

A growl cut him off as the hole at the top was sealed by a snarling muzzle. Laz jumped in place and gasped as they all turned to look at glistening teeth and an upturned jowl. The creature tried to snap its jaws, but the hole was too small. Eventually, it seemed to realize there was no way in, but growling could be heard on the other side.

“To be fair to the Battalion Commander, our first few days since we entered, we hadn’t seen any animals,” Gerard said as he bent forward to let Beks down. “Last time, we were close to the valley before we saw animals. We’re at least another day or two’s walk, and the air has yet to begin to feel humid. This was unexpected.”

Though she was tall, Gerard was taller. She hadn’t had a chance to run when those wild dogs were spotted. Laz gave the order to ‘get Beks’, and the next thing she knew, she was moving along without her feet touching the ground. Struggling would make it more difficult for Gerard, so she cooperated by doing nothing.

“Perhaps you were lucky last time, Lt. Commander,” Rid Callan told them. “This time, we’re not.”

“At the very least, we have more biha users this time,” Lucian replied. He kept his eyes on the hole at the top of the entrance and took a deep breath. “I don’t know how long we’ll have to hide here.”

“There is also a chance that those wild dogs may not go far knowing that we are here,” Efran told them. “It is not uncommon for animals to stay within a hunting ground as long as there is food to be found.”

“Efran, please don’t call us food,” Laz said as he rubbed his forehead.

Beks looked around the cave. It was narrow, but it went deeper into the earth. She narrowed her eyes. “Rid Haal, please send a fireball down the corridor.”

“What if there’s a wild animal here?” Gerard said, preparing to draw his sword.

“If that were the case, it would’ve already been alerted to us with all the yelling earlier,” Efran replied. “And the inside doesn’t have any musky scents that most animals would have.”

The others agreed with him, as Efran used to hunt with the Dranga, as most young men his age did.

Rid Haal increased his flame and peered down the corridor. He drew his hand back and shot forward a flame, but it didn’t get far. It collided with a wall before going out, but shined some light into a narrow tunnel to the side before it did. Rid Haal shook his head, disappointed. “I’m afraid I don’t have the skill to control fire at such a distance as Lord Amadeo, my lady.”

Beks shook her head and extended her hand to his shoulder so she could refill his biha. “It’s fine. I have a better idea. Gerard.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Remember when we were clearing rooms on the Inheritor’s Tier, and you used wind biha to clear the dust and debris out, and found additional chambers because your wind was seeping through stone cracks? You need to do that now. I want you to release a narrow, but constant stream of wind into the tunnel. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but I want you to feel for any resistance against something solid. Can you do that?”

Gerard nodded. “Yes, my lady. If there is a dead end, I will feel resistance against my wind biha and it will be pushed back with nowhere else to go.”

“Then do it. If it’s promising, we can go deeper into the cave to see where it leads. As long as we have you, we’ll be able to get air, anyway.”

Gerard bowed his head and moved to stand in front of her. Beks refilled his biha before he started and kept her hand on his shoulder to give him a continuous supply. The hairs around her face began to move as Gerard released wind collected from around him, forward. He closed his eyes to concentrate while everyone else in the tunnel was silent.

His brows twitched every now and then. “It goes quite deep. Narrow at times...and the tunnel curves.”

“Does it go up or down?”

“Down.”

Beks let out a low breath. “Keep going as far as you can go until you feel resistance.”

Gerard tensed. “My lady....” The wind around him strengthened and he seemed to put more energy into his efforts. His brows knotted as his lips tightened into a light. “My lady, I’m not feeling resistance.”

Beks cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“The distance between my wind and a surface to push back against is very great....” His eyes opened and his hands dropped. He let out a heavy breath and wiped his brow. “My lady, I think there is a large cavern.”

Beks’ brows shot up. “Well then...shall we see where it goes?”

“Beks.” Lucian stopped her. “Are you sure that’s wise? What if it’s dangerous?”

Beks cupped his face in her hands. “There is a pack of wild dogs waiting outside to eat us. I’m willing to take the risk to see what other option is if we have one.”

The man took a deep breath and relented. “All right.”

“Be systematic about this,” Laz said. “Rid Haal, please light the way as much as possible. Rid Callan, follow him and prepare for any loose rocks on the path or dangerous cracks. If there is, bridge the gap. Efran, keep your guard up. If any stone starts to fall, you are in charge of steadying it or holding it back until it is safe.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Efran saluted him as he’d seen the soldiers do.

“Gerard, keep the air flow,” Laz told the large man. “The rest, stay close. We must maintain a visual on each other the entire time.”

“Yes, Battalion Commander.” Gerard stood at the ready as Beks made sure everyone’s biha well was filled before they began to move.

They first had to squeeze through a tunnel, and it wouldn’t be the only one they had to take turns going through. At times, bags needed to be passed before a person could fit. Other times, the tunnel was wide enough for three people to walk shoulder to shoulder.

Beks’ eyes flickered around the tunnel, taking in every detail she could and occasionally asking Rid Haal to shine light on a crevice once more so she could get a better look.

“What do you think?” Lucian asked as they walked along.

Beks had asked Rid Norddottir to drop some water on the ground a few times, just to see where the slope was, as in the dim light and the disorienting environment, she couldn’t tell easily if they were going up or down.

However, as Gerard had said, it seemed that they were going down.

“My lady,” Rid Norddottir tensed up. “I sense water...bihar-rich water.”

“Where?”

“It should be coming up,” Rid Norddottir said. “There is humidity.”

“An underground river?” Lucian asked. “We didn’t run into one last time.”

“There are a lot of things that you didn’t run into last time, Your Highness,” Sir Callan said with a tired sigh.

Beks looked down. She’d been careful about watching her step, as occasionally, there had been uneven ground or holes, but aside from portions that were narrow, the floor had been surprisingly even. It had a layer of dirt and there were pieces of rocks everywhere, but it just felt too flat to be natural.

“I hear the river,” Sir Haal said from the front of the group.

As they approached, they heard the steady gurgling sound of moving water up ahead and Beks narrowed her eyes. “Is that the cavern you were talking about?”

Gerard’s head bobbed up and down. “Yes, my lady. It’s a large cavern.”

The tunnel grew wider the closer they got and soon, they could feel air rushing out from the cavern, the humidity, and the sound of water moving directly in front of them. Laz grinned. “Air has to come from somewhere. There may be a way out.”

Rid Haal stopped and lowered his head. “Your Highnesses, my lady, the pathway seems to end.”

“What do you mean ‘end’?” Laz asked, his grin falling.

Rid Haal knelt down and waved his fire across the floor. It illuminated the ground they were walking off before being cut off into darkness. Several people let out low hisses and gasps. Rid Haal looked at them with concern. “It ends.”

Rid Callan walked towards the end and knelt down. He put his hand over the edge. His brows came together before he laid on his stomach and hung one arm completely over the edge. He looked up, towards Beks.

“It’s a drop.”

Beks drew her lips inward and frowned. “Is there any way for you to find out how far or make a pathway down?”

“I can. Haal, can you bring your fire lower?”

“Yes, sir.” Haal laid on his stomach as well, holding out his hand with a head-sized flame dancing on top of it. Rid Callan concentrated and Beks felt the earth move just a bit as the family sound of stone grinding against stone was heard.

“Well, it worked, but I’ll need to go down. To keep going. Haal will need to come with me so I can see.”

Beks nodded. “Then do so. Rid Haal, please light the lantern. This is not a rush. If you are tired, rest. If you run out of biha, I will come to you.”

“We will come back to you, my lady,” Rid Callan told her. “Please, just wait here.”

Beks could do nothing, but nod her head in agreement. The lantern from one of the bags was lit and placed on the corner where they stood. Beks knelt down and prepared to sit by dusting the ground, but stopped when there was more dust than she thought.

Of course there is, Rebecca. This is a cave. She rolled her eyes as she sat down. Something hard hit her tailbone and she grimaced. She let out a small hiss and rolled on to her knees.

“Are you all right,” Lucian asked as he knelt down beside her. “Don’t be so quick to sit. Let me clean it for you.”

“It’s fine. I just sat down at the wrong angle.” Beks assured him and patted her butt, where she’d been jabbed, and then reached down to check the floor and wall to make sure she wouldn’t repeat her mistake. As she wiped off some layers of dirt, she narrowed her eyes.

Beks knelt down and used both hands to move dirt aside and clear the space, but her hands hit a hard ledge. Frowning, Beks moved more dirt and drew her head back. It wasn’t just a protruding rock.

It was a stone brick.

Beks dug out the dirt around it, getting the attention of Laz and the others who’d remained with her.

“My lady, do you need help?” Rid Norddottir asked.

Beks got up to her feet. “Please wash away this loose and piled dirt until it hits stone.”

Without question, Rid Norddottir created a stream of water around one arm and pointed with her palm. The stream shot out, blasting the dirt away from the stone, revealing low bricks that appeared to be a lip. The stone beneath had straight lines, suggesting that they were blocks.

Beks’ heart began to race as she knelt down and touched the wet, cleared area. “This is man-made....” The wall was too straight, the bricks were slightly worn, but were definitely shaped into rectangles.

Beks grabbed the lantern next to her and lifted it up, along the side of the tunnel entrance. The edges were straight, as well, and when she ran her hand along, she could feel a pattern of solid stone bricks.

The memory of the first time she stumbled on the island and found the stone path along the river struck her, and she held her breath in anticipation. She suddenly felt it was too familiar.

She lifted the lantern and walked along the edge, lifting it up to inspect the entire outer rim of the entrance. When she got to the other side. She pressed her body against the wall and leaned out.

“Beks!” Laz rushed and grabbed hold of her arm as she nearly dangled herself and the lantern out.

She ignored the cries around her, telling her to get back into the tunnel and to be careful. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe as her eyes ran up the length of an exposed column running up the side of the entrance, like a door frame.

She lifted the lantern as far as she could. The reach of the light was limited, but she could see something embedded into the column far above her.

She almost trembled with excitement as she pulled herself back in and immediately looked around.

“Lucian!” Beks shouted.

“What? What’s wrong-”

She whirled around and looked at him with intensity in her eyes. “Fill the room with light biha!”

Lucian drew his head back, surprised. “Light biha? Beks, light biha doesn’t work like fire. It needs a light pearl-”

“I know! That’s why I’m telling you to do it!” Beks almost yelled as excitement filled her. She handed the lantern clasped in her hand to Efran and grabbed Lucian’s arms. “Fill the room with light biha!”

He blinked and nodded. “I don’t know how big the room is, so my light biha may not be enough.”

A brilliant smile filled her face. “Don’t worry. That’s why I’m here.” She squeezed his arms. “I won’t let you go.”

His face reddened as he swallowed hard. “All right.” He closed his eyes and Beks could feel energy condense around him. He took two deep breaths before grimacing, releasing a surge of biha into the air.

Almost at once, something pale and white began to glow above them, just outside the tunnel entrance. Lucian kept pouring light biha into the air without any direct focus, and one by one, orbs began to glow.

First, it came from the columns on either side of them, then it expanded.

Efran and Rid Norddottir gasped as Beks lifted her head. Still holding on to Lucian’s arms, she turned her body, looking around into what was a dark abyss as glowing pearls fixed upon columns lining the cavern were awakened.

Her light laugh filled the air as her heart tightened in her chest.

She knew they had to be there when she felt the columns.

“Beks....” Laz said, almost breathless. “How did you know this was here?”

She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I didn’t know....” she whispered. “It was just a feeling.”